Merry Christmas from the Holy Land

Midnight Mas at the Nativity Church in Bethlehem Tonight

Merry Christmas to all Christians around the world!!! May you get all the presents you wish for, travel to places you want to see, get to gather around you the family and friends that make you happy, eat a delicious holiday meal, and enjoy this cheerful holiday with all your beloved….

I wanted to show you a little bit of beautiful Bethlehem, but the videos I found on YouTube were so depressing, I’ve decided to spare you the political conflict on this spiritual day. Maybe the church doesn’t allow tourist to bring in video cameras while the midnight mas is going on, and maybe the people inside are just not into filming cause they are too busy enjoying their private moment with God and Jesus…. Either way I couldn’t find a nice video of this special mas and there for will humbly offer a modest video presenting the church of nativity on a regular day. The narrator has a very strong Arab accent but if you listen closely you’ll have no problem understanding what he says…

If you are in Israel and wish to visit Bethlehem tonight, you can take a bus from Jerusalem or join an organized group which goes from Tel Aviv or Nazereth. Non-Israelis should be completely safe in the holy city and the trip is not long (20 min from Jerusalem). Traffic can be a little busy and the security check points when crossing to the west bank also, but it’s definitely worth your while….

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Every One…

Hanuka Party with a Miraculous Line-Up

Trance away this Friday: Celebrate Hanuka and prepare for New Years Eve.

Hanuka is already here, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner, and its time to get your party gear out of the closet and reserve a ticket to a once in a year party…Check out the invite and realize that a line-up like that is a uplifting Hanuka miracle for veteran Trance fans:

Oren Coma's Full-On Hanukah Party

So don’t let the holiday donuts or potato patties keep you at home… The party is at Comfoet 13, a big and very cool club located in Florentine neighborhood (South Tel Aviv); the tickets are not expensive (60 ILS on pre-sale), as are the prices of alcohol (if you’re into other things, come prepared); the crowed is lovely (Oren Coma’s veterans has been with him since 97 and they still kick ass 2-3 times a year…), the sound system at Comfort 13 is supper pro and the line up, like I said above, PARTY!!!

For pre-sale price contact Oren @ 052-2833428 and get your ticket ready. See you all there.

A big Miracle Indeed  this Hanuka – The Veterans of Trance are Going Out

Taste of the Kinneret Festival

Visit the Sea of Galilee and enjoy a tasty festival

The Jordan Valley, Tiberias and the Kibbutzs and Moshavs around the Sea of Galilee will host in the next two weeks (Fri-Sat 19-20 of Dec. and 26-27 of Dec.) the forth Taste of the Kinneret Festival. If this is your first time to Israel you should probably know first that the Kinneret is what we Israelis call the Sea of Galilee. The next thing you should probably know is that the area surrounding the lake is gorgeous and that you must skip this part of Israeli. The third thing you should know is that there’s lots to see around the Kinneret, and that’s on top of the famous religious sites (mostly Christian) scattered around the holly lake. The forth thing you should know is that the food festival will give you a chance to get to know the very friendly local population while enjoying excellent goat cheese, Golan Heights beef, locally made Belgian pralines, fresh local vegetables and fruits, fish and herbs.

Pralines @ Galita Chocolate Farm

You should start planning your trip by visiting the Jordan Valley web site, the English version offers info on accommodation, restaurants, galleries, beaches, lakeside camping areas, picnic sites, national parks, jeep tours, hiking, water parks, grocery stores, souvenir shops, museums, SPAs and more attractions. The main problem with the site is, that the English version does not contain info about the food festival, and so I’ll do my best giving you a few ideas… I’ll ignore activities that seem to require understanding Hebrew in order to enjoy them.

Bred Legend – backing bred and cookies with local bananas and dates, touring around the Naharaym Bridge. Sun-Thur 9:00-15:00, Fi-Sat 10:00-16:00. Info and Booking: 04-6752685 04-6753336

As Is Farm – Children and adults tasting and making goat cheese at As Is dairy farm. Milk goats and buy a picnic basket for your trip along the Jordan river. Info&Booking: 057-7292996

Tzel Tamar – In the shadow of the date tree is a wonderful restaurant with lots of green space around it for the kids to run wild and play. Special dishes for the festival will be served on the weekends. 04-6756688

Bengali Hummus – freshly made hummus and Moroccan style fish (from the near side fish farm) at Kibbutz Afikim. Sun-Fri 10:00-16:00 and Sat 11:00-16:00. Info: 04-6754393

Prehistorical cooking at Sha’ar HaGolan – Visit the Yarmukh culture museum at Kibbutz Sha’ar HaGolan and back food using prehistorical methods. Info&Booking: 04-6677386

Smoked Beef at Jordan River Park – family activity plus watching the art of making smoked beef. Fri and Sat (based on booking only) 052-6517744 or 052-2385744

Fish on the lake and South American Tapas – enjoy the beauty of the lake and fresh fish or beef tapas at the port. Kibbutz Ein Gev 04-6658008 or 04-6658037

Marinado Beef Joy – family size burger (1.1.kg) and more special festival dishes at Marinado meat restaurant near Ein Gev. Info&Booking: 04-6658555

Turkish cuisine at the Scottish Hotel – enjoy a wonderful brunch based on Turkish influences at one of Israel’s most beautiful hotels.Special classical concerts will be held at the hotel church. Info: 04-6710710

Al HaNa’har – On the river, a small and lovely bistro on the Jordan River, looks like a bar in the mid west but the food is great and so is the view (right on the water). Every day from 19:00 Reservations: 04-6759690

Cakes and Dates – special cakes at the local patisserie, dates and what you can make with them tours and more activities at Kibbutz Kinneret. Each phone for a different activity: 04-6709954  04-6759687  04-6759123

Galita Chocolate Farm – Learn about chocolate and make class A pralines at kibbutz Degania B’. The chocolate is out of this world, and the place is very inviting and fun for kids. Info: 04-6755608

Winter Breakfast at Vered HaGalil Farm – ride horses and enjoy a farm style breakfast overlooking the lake from Moshav Korazim (very close to many Christian attractions). Info: 04-6935785

Jeep Trip and Poyke – take a jeep tour and enjoy a wintery poyke (iron pot)of chicken and root vegetables. Info: 050-4000779 and 050-4040535

Jeep Tours and Chocolate – Fun jeep tours around the lake and the southern Golan Heights, plus stop for herbal tea and pralines from Galita chocolate farm (See above). Booking: 04-6734855 and 054-2325206

Go wild in the Sea of Galilee – Bon Appetite!!!

Red Band N Mosh Ben-Ari’s Dick

Watch a clip from Israel’s Funniest TV show – Red Band

The story of Red Band, in short, goes like this: Red Band (played by Muppets…) was a successful band in Israel during the 60s. After a few years of local fame, the lead singer, Red (the Muppet with purple hair), decided to go to America and become a huge star over there. It didn’t work out as he planned but he did stay in America for 30-40 years doing whatever and now he is back in Israel trying, with his old mates, to put together a comeback tour. The band has a manger and a PR “whore”, a mouse called philip who’s in charge of the drugs, a shrink and many friends in the local music scene. Red speaks only English, everyone else on the show speaks Hebrew. Each episode is dedicated to an Israeli musician who comes in and tries to help the band with their come back. Usually it ends badly, since Red is a horrible person, rude and direct, arrogant, chauvinistic and mean…The musicians who came to the show agree in advance to check their pride and ego at the door, and so each episode makes fun of a different Israeli singer. In between jokes and offensive behavior, the band sings with the guest star, usually a cover to a famous sixty song. The clip I chose is from an episode with Mosh Ben Ari, a famous singer who has a dedicated followers tribe here in Israel. Check it out….

Isragirl Presents : Red Band & Mosh Ben Ari, Video by Hot ©

Red Band started as an Israeli street performers group who used Muppet and sang beautiful cover versions to American and English songs on Rothschild St, Tel Aviv. People who would stroll down the boulevard would stop, sing with them, throw some money at their collecting hat, tell their kids something educating about Bob Dylan or the Beatles and carry on… I saw them a few times and thought they were really cool, luckily, I wasn’t the only one… and this year with the help of talented writers like Sharon Kantor, Red Band made it to cable TV.  The first season was great, and you can download it on the internet and laugh your ass off… Remember, only Red, the main character speaks English…but he is the funny one, so if you are stoned enough you’ll be able to enjoy the show even if you don’t understand a word of Hebrew. Plus, the music is awesome!!!!

Trivia Tip: Red Band was the opening act in the Deep Purple concert in Israel this year.

TimeOut Restaurant Awards 2008 – Part 2

Excellent Recommendations for Eat Out Options in Tel Aviv

OK, so we are back on the subject of eating out in Israel, or Tel Aviv to be exact…Just keep in mind that this list of TimeOut winners is not completely free of commercial and business interests, and while traveling in Israel try and update your info and get fresh local tip…Plus, keep in mind that Israel offers excellent street food and you don’t have to eat in fancy restaurants in order to get an authentic taste of the country.

Eyal Shani Art @ The Salon

Chef of the Year - Eyal Shani, owner of The Salon, a unique restaurant which opens only twice a week (Wed-Thu) for those lucky who know Shani or managed somehow to get a table otherwise…Add: 8 Ma’avar Yabok, Nakhalat Yitzhak, Givataim. 052-7035888.

Best Sea Food & Fish Restaurant – Chloe’lys (Chef Victor Gloger). Excellent restaurant, expensive….Add: 16 Aba Hilel Silver, Ramat Gun. 03-5752445.

Best value for your money – Giraffe (noodle Bar). Always a good choice if you want to eat tasty food and not spend too much…Add: 44 Iben Gavirol, Tel Aviv. 03-6916294; 3 HaBarzel st, north Tel Aviv 03-6476661; 9 HaSadnaot, Herzliya 09-95483555.

Best Italian Restaurant – Pronto (Chef Rafi Eder). 26 Nakhmani st. Tel Aviv 03-5660915

Best Kosher Restaurant – Deca. Fancy, expensive, takes itself very seriously. Add: 10 HaTa’asiya St. Tel Aviv. 03-5629900.

Best Pizza – Two winners in first place: Icberg Volcano (Add: 3 HaTa’arukha St. Tel Aviv 03-6026000) and Tony Vespa (Add: 140 Rothschild st. 03-6858888; 267 Dizingoff st. 03-5460000).

Best Restaurant for Romantic Dates – Dalal. When I go to eat, I don’t want my man to be in a romantic mood, I want to eat like a cow and hope he is not expecting sex afterward…Add: 10 Shabazi st Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. 03-5109292.

Best New Restaurant – Cafe Italia, by local restaurant tycoons Yarzin Brothers, owners and founders of Mozes (Burgers), Zozobra (Noodles), Tony Vespa (Pizza) Aad HaEtzem (Meet) and more. Cafe Italia is an Italian restaurant, the food is supposedly fabulous and the atmosphere very relaxed. Add: 6 Kremnitzki St. Tel Aviv 03-5612888.

Mozes Art Burger

Best Burger - TimeOut winner is Agadir, but my personal tip is to avoid all Agadir restaurants (see my last post for more info), their burger is bad!!! Ignore this unjustified win and skip to those who came in second: Mozes (35 Rothschild st Tel Aviv; 26 HaBarzel st north Tel Aviv; 14 Shenkar st. Herzliya. Phone for all three: *9449), and Wolfgang @ 40 Lilinblum st, Tel Aviv. 03-5177155.

Best Delicatessen – TimeOut winner is Hinnawi, major advertisers in the magazine. Hinnawi does sell good meet for BBQs but its not really a delicatessen, so again, my tip would be to ignore this win, unless you are looking for meet specifically, and check out two excellent delicatessens located in north Tel Aviv: Ronimotti, which came in second and specializes in fresh pasta and everything you will need to make amazing Italian food at home (Add: 24 Raul Valenberg st. Tel Aviv. 03-6470247), and Delicious where the meet is the best, the fresh fish also and you will find amazing things from all over the world (Add: 12 Kehilat Venetzya st. Tel Aviv. 03-6491122).

Enjoy the amazing food of Tel Aviv – Fresh Exciting and not Expensive

TimeOut Tel Aviv Restaurant Awards – Part 1

Best places to eat and drink according to TimeOut TLV

A couple of weeks TimeOut Tel Aviv published its annual food awards issue. The winners were elected by people who live in Tel Aviv (special ballot postcards were waiting at every nominated restaurant, bar, pattiserie, cafe etc.), and by TimeOut food critics. My advice to you is to consider these winners while in Israel and to check out the chosen spots for a special dinner, a drink or a coffee…. However, please remember that TimeOut is a commercial magazine, and although it prides itself with journalistic integrity, I find, as an eater and a reader, that they allow themselves to “be nice” to those who advertise a lot in TimeOut even if the food of the advertiser is not that amazing. The ultimate example that many of my friends will agree on is Agadir, a well known chain of Hamburger restaurants in Tel Aviv. The first one, that opened over 10 years ago in Nakhalat Binyamin, was pretty good, but since they started opening one restaurant after the other something bad happened to the meet and although many find it tasty, I strongly recommend to avoid all Agadir restaurants. As a serious hamburger person, who knows how to work with meet and what a GOOD hamburger should taste like and feel in my belly, I think that Agadir shouldn’t even be amongst the nominees for best hamburger restaurant, simply because its not good and there are fantastic hamburgers in the city (e.g. Coffee Bar, Mozes, Odeon, Meet Bar, NG, Gily’s and the ones I make myself at home with meet from Delicious, the best butcher and Deli in north Tel Aviv). But Agadir advertises a lot in TimeOut, so somehow they win this category every year… Another example is Aroma, the biggest coffee chain in Israel, which is ok (compared with Starbucks its even great….) but their coffee is definitely inferior to Joe’s, Ilan’s, Arcafe, Cafe Neto, Espresso Bar etc. Still, every year Aroma is nominated (and some years it even wins the category of coffee chains) just because they advertise a lot… With all this in mind, take a look at the list of winners and enjoy the food in Israel, it is absolutely amazing….

Isragirl Presents : Refael Restaurant, Photo by ROL ©

Best Restuarant in TLV 2008 – Refael (Chef Rafi Cohen). 87 HaYarkon St. Tel Aviv o3-5226464; Second place went to Messa (Chef Aviv Moshe). 19 Ha’Arba’aa St. Tel Aviv 03-6856859

Most Trendy Restaurant 2008 – Hotel Montefiore (by the locally famous restaurant tycoons Rutti and Matti Brudo, owners of the much respected and loved Coffee Bar and The Brasserie – two of the most popular restaurants in Tel Aviv….). 36 Montefiore St. Tel Aviv 03-5646100

Best Bistro 2008 – The Coffee Bar, by Rutti and Matti Brudo (See above). I love this restaurant and I think it offers one of the best lunch deals in the city. 13 Yad Harutzim St. Tel Aviv 03-6889696.

Best Asian Restaurant – Sushisamba TLV (Chef Nitzan Raz), the only Sushisamba out of the US is a mere 5 min drive from my apartment, can you believe it? too bad I cant afford to eat there as often as I want. 27 HaBarzel St. Tel Aviv (north) 03-6444345. Second place went to The Giraffe’s Officers Club (I thought it was nice but nothing really special….). 21 Ha’Arba’aa St. Tel Aviv 03-6851155.

Best Dish 2008 – Pumpkin Carpaccio by Deca. 10 HaTa’asiya St. Tel Aviv 03-5629900. I think its a strange category to begin with (cause its too much a matter of personal taste), so I’ll name the other restaurants that was nominated in this category, obviously for other dishes: Cucina Tamar, Yoezer Wine-Bar, Toto, Orca, all five are very popular restaurants – all expensive too…

Best Meet Restaurant 2008 – NG (second year winning this category). 6 Ehad HA’aam St. Tel Aviv. 03-5167888 The restaurant is great though if you come from South America or Texas you might be disappointed. My tip to you, if you live in a country that is known for its meet, will be to concentrate on other food types while in Israel, the stakes here will never be as good as in Argentina…. Other good meet places are: A place for meet in Neve Tzedek, Stephan Brown, Meet Bar, Hadson and Poyke.

Part 2 of this post will include best chef, best Italian restaurant, best kosher restaurant, best place for dates, best ice cream, best new restaurant, best health food etc…

Check out the Restaurants of Tel Aviv, you will love them!!!

Rufus Wainwright in Tel Aviv

Two concerts by Rufus are a great excuse for a post

Some lucky people (like myself), will get to see Rufus Wainwright this week in Tel Aviv and that’s a great excuse to play his music (and theatrical videos) on my blog. Rufus will preform at Heikhal HaTarboot on Wednesday 26.11 (8pm), big concert hall at the center of the city; and at Riding 3 on Thursday (8.30 pm), sited around tables in a more Darkish atmosphere at a club in Tel Aviv port…

Isragirl Presents : Rufus Wainwright, Video by AngelBoston ©

I’m not sure there are any tickets left, I bought mine two months ago and already it was hard to find sits in the middle, front or back…I did notice that there are a few tickets for sale on Yad2.co.il – but you’ll need to know Hebrew to search and find these. I think Tel Aviv will compliment Wainwright’s Cabaret style and it seems to me that a very warm audience is waiting for him here. The local GLBT community is extremely excited, as expected…

Rufus Wainwright in Israel this Week… Hallelujah

Trance and More This Weekend….

Party on Tel Aviv - Thursday and Friday’s recommendations

Long week and very little time to post….However, for those in the city or somewhere else in Israel (After all from Jerusalem or Haife it will be less than an hour drive…), here are a few party ideas…

Isragirl Presents : Oforia Live, Video by Romickey ©

Thursday

Trance – Every Thursday is a Thursday for Trance, all you have to do is get to Comfort 13, a really friendly club (not to big, not to small) in Florentin neighborhood. The atmosphere is cozy, and the Israeli trance tribe is always welcoming. Tonight Skazy will be there with his special noise, plus Kox Box from Denmark, Chicago (Ibiza) and the Israelis Ras-Dudu and Shinobi… Free entrance for women till 1am. Tickets are not expensive and you have good LSD on you this dance floor will provide the time and space to burn it off.

Queer and Anti-Real-Estate – Strange combination of politically aware queers and activists demanding the return of public space to the people of Tel Aviv. The line is called Miss-Chief 2, and if that sounds like your thing, go to the Space (12 Ametz St.). DJs Michel La Hysteric, Sima, Shokolove and Yotam Avni.

Progressive Thursday – Last party (for now) of this famous party line at Maxim club (Near Dizingof Center). If progressive is your thing, this is the place to be tonight. The crowed is energetic and if you understand Russian, you’ll feel at home.

Friday

Trance – Vatikim Party (veterans party for oldies over 30) by Oren Coma at Cult Club (used to be Cultura: 154 Hertzel St). Nice crowed in a cool space, excellent atmosphere and people who fell in love with trance when it still had some soul…DJs: Rocky (Chemical Crew), Oforia (The Great Ofer Dikovsky…Watch the clip above), Pixel (Home-Mega), Exile (GBU). Pre-sale at 70 ILS 052-2833428 (Oren).

Dusty Kid – at Barzilai club (13 HaRekhev St), bringing the winning formula of eclectic Techno, New Rave, Naughty Acid and crazy Disco… Need I say more?

Also on Friday: Hip Hop at the G-Spot (40 Saleme St). The Alternative Line (Grange, Metal, Brit-pop and such) at the Fifth Dimension (HaMeimad HaKhamishi, Tel Aviv Port). 70-80-90 music at the Layla Party line, this Friday hosted by the BlackBook and All-Night-House by DJ DEDE at Hellen Keller (113 HaKhashmonaim st.)

Parties and Hang-Outs this Weekend in Tel Aviv

Fun-Walk on Tel Aviv Beach

The best way to start your day in Tel Aviv: Beach Walk

MC Carolina and Funset are in charge of the audio setup and Tel Aviv Beaches do the rest. Check out this friendly video of all those healthy types taking their power walk on the beach early in the morning. If your staying in the city, the beach cant be more than 5-15 min walk from you and this is the way to start your day, breakfast will be all the more delicious afterwords….
Isragirl Presents : Take a walk on the wild side, Video by kuvaev ©

Early morning walk on the beach is also recommended for those staying in Herzliya, Netanya, Ashdod, Caesarea or Haifa (even though most hotels in the latter are situated on Mount Carmel, so you’ll need a ride to the beach). And if power walking is not really your thing, you can always meditate, read or just listen to music. The beach vibe will work it’s wonders on you as long as you welcome the new day with an open heart… and remember: you are on a vacation….

Enjoy Life, Enjoy the Beach… Tel Aviv Awaits You!!!

Historical Day – Good Morning America

Barack Obama won the election – A dream turning into reality

America decided to embrace the hope and change Obama promised and took a huge step towards living Martin Luther King’s dream. People keep saying that this is unbelievable and that “who would have thought that the Americans with their history of black slavery and segregation, will let this happen…”, well underestimating the Americans is a world-uniting hobby, but this time we were all wrong… Apparently, America is capable of changing, it is no more racist than any other country and it brings today new hope for the entire world.

Isragirl Presents : South Park: American History, Video by sgtNov ©

Obama’s victory will hopefully put an end to the long history of American fear and excessive use of military force. It just may bring a wind of change to international diplomacy and thus open new doors for peace negotiations in conflicted areas around the globe. As a citizen of the Middle East I am very optimistic today. I am aware of the concerns many Israelis articulated over the past few months (Regarding Obama’s “pro-Arab” opinions), but I do not share these irrational allegations, I believe fear in it self is a form of terror, it is the worst enemy of any peace talks and it only leads to more bloodshed.

Congratulations America – You Proved the World Wrong!!!