- daily star - ...Despite all of this, Baz and his team have come up with a festival of world music that, though not on par with last year's hugely successful edition featuring reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, pop-rocker Bryan Ferry and glam-rockers Placebo, is still a celebration of music that is rarely witnessed in Lebanon.

"It has been a nightmare but I am confident we have put together now a tight line-up that is worthy of the Byblos Festival brand," Baz told The Daily Star.

For the two nights of July 22 and 23 a Lebanese audience will have the opportunity to witness the popular rock of Roger Hodgson, the lead singer and guitarist of 1970s and 80s band Supertramp. They will have the chance to listen to the brilliant abstract jazz of pianist Brad Mehldau and his trio, (July 24), as well as the Cuban sounds of Omara Portuondo - one of the few remaining living stars and only female one, of the now legendary Buena Vista Social Club (July 29).

Add to that the 20-string Armenian Serenade Chamber Orchestra with a deep and haunting classical program (July 31), and the oriental jazz of the stunning Azerbaijani pianist and singer Aziza Mustafa Zadeh (August 4) followed by a Rahbani family musical based on Gibran Khalil Gibran's famous book "The Prophet" (August 17-20).

Baz is also putting on, as he does every year, a show of the Arab Star Academy kids though this is not strictly part of the Byblos Festival on July 15.

Perhaps the best thing, though, about Byblos is the setting. All the performances take place in the heart of the ancient town's old quarter with the backdrop of the fantastic Crusader Citadel magically lit against the night sky. The whole experience of Byblos, like Beiteddine and Baalbek, is one of elegant beauty and singular moments with the buzz of the modern-day souk surrounding the festival and fine foods available at the restaurants in the old port and town center. Go for a weekend, stay the night and enjoy the city's beaches during the day. A great advantage of Byblos is that it is just half-an-hour's drive from Beirut, a much shorter journey than those to Baalbek and Beiteddine.

For more information or tickets for the Byblos Festival go to www.byblosfestival.org or contact the Virgin Megastore Ticketing Office on +961 1 999666

-finkployd

Monday Night Blues (Jazz) @ The Quad(rangle)

Live Jazz musicians and singers - 2 saxists, 4 guitarists, 2 drummers, and 3 singers.

Sweet, harsh, mellow, blue, red, and just about every Jazz style is churned out all evening, non-stop till about 1-1:30 AM.

Drinks are reasonably priced, but due to the crowd, we advise you double-check your bill for double-billing (hey, it happened to us!!).

For reservations (and directions) call The Quad @ +961 (3) 654 257


























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Le Quad a su se faire remarquer par sa simplicité et son atmosphère chaleureuse: tables de billiards, fléchettes...Chaque lundi soir ya un band qui joue du jazz: la musique est vraiment réussie!
Les prix sont extrement raisonables.
Très conseillé les lundis soirs.

Laurence

Maybe not a Che Guevara, but nonetheless a revolutionary.

He practices The Art of Manyakeh... and so his campaign is riddled with such hilarious quotations:

Change a letter in my slogan and you'll better understand what I am running for.

Why the drill in your hand?
>> "To penetrate the election lists."

His name is, Pierre el Hishash (Pierre the PotHead).

He ran in the June 2005 parliamentary elections of Lebanon, and won a few notable votes.



-finkployd

A church bell tower in Beit Mery just over Beirut.

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A journalist fallen...



R.I.P

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Brummana, Lebanon has been labeled The Flower City...



Why? Here's why:



For more information about Brummana, Lebanon, visit this link:

The Flower City

Altitude 700-800 meters.
Overlooking Beirut & the Bay of Jounieh.
Covered in evergreen pine forests.
5-15 degrees C in winter
15-30 degrees C in summer
Observes two to four snowfalls a year.

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