[Source]

It seems to me that Lebanese are more worried about getting food or alcohol-poisoned this year than paying 200$+ for an NYE party. Some friends and colleagues I’ve talked to booked their NYE party in restaurants and pubs where they knew the owners, in order to make sure the alcohol being served is not bad.

“Mna3rif Sa7ib el ma7al. Ma binazzelna bda3a madroube”

“3al 2aleele mna3rif el owner. Binazzelna Vodka mazbout”

“Sa7ebna el owner. Ma be3tal ham tkoun el 2aneene madroube 2awou fi chi bil akel”

Watch out what you’re drinking and make sure the bottle is sealed. To stay on the safe side, drink Almaza. Nazzalo el Chatawé!

MTV: A blast targeted the Senses health club and spa in Kaslik, causing material damage

Future News: An explosion shook a nightclub in Kaslik, causing material damage only.

I just read this news on Naharnet. Why would anyone target Senses in Kaslik? Even though the blast only caused material damage, its timing and location are worrying.

Let’s just hope it’s some personal matter not more.

Update: According to VDL radio, the bomb explosion at the senses club was due to a personal dispute between the investors.

The first explosion was on November 16 targetting a night club and a liquor store, then on November 23 targetting a weapons’ stock pile, and the last one occurred today at 5 am targetting a restaurant that serves alcohol.

Since explosions have been targetting liquor stores and pubs in Tyr, why didn’t the minister of interior send few units to guard those places in order to prevent future bombings?

Despite all that, the restaurant’s owner Zuhair Arnaout insisted that “he will fix the damage, go ahead with the celebrations and serve alcohol”. I’m not sure how many people will be ready to risk their lives though and go to his party.

I finally got to experience nightlife in Hamra tonight for the first time since back in 2000 (I’m old and live abroad so don’t hate me). Last time I partied in Hamra, Blues Alley was kicking ass and I’m not even sure if the place is even around today. The night started off typically with me lost in Beirut. I was trying to get to the main Hamra Street and didn’t know where that was. Finally spotted two guys walking on the side of the road so I pulled over and asked for directions. Turns out they were European tourist but were still able to point me towards Hamra Street. Embarrassing to say the least.

I was supposed to meet up with a friend at a pub called Black Lilly but I got there early and decided to kill time walking in Hamra. Noticed some people walk into an alley and decided to follow them and to my surprise I ended up surrounded by around 6 to 8 pubs. I was in heaven. I called my friend up and told him where I was, he told me to wait for him at a place called Colon. Once he got there we went pub hopping and I have to say Hamra is way cooler than Gemmayze. Going back tomorrow night!

I am not sure if it’s a nightclub/pub or a restaurant but it’s a risky investment if you ask me to open a nightclub/pub on the road facing ATCL. The only pub that opened and survived in that area is Estredite and we all know why.

There’s an army base nearby as well, so don’t expect the soldiers to be very happy if there’s noise and traffic.

I’ve been hearing for quite some time on Mix FM about the 80′s night they organize every Thursday at B018.

Can anyone give me a feedback on it? Is it as good as it sounds?

The only inconvenience I found is that it’s on a Thursday but it apparently kicks off around 11 pm, which is reasonable.

That’s some great news but a bit hard to believe to be honest. I wish they could provide more information as to what criteria are being considered when ranking those towns?

According to this list, Beirut is ahead of Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro, Ibiza, Budapest and many others.

But in spite of its history of violence, Beirut puts great stock in having a good time. And there’s no shortage of trussed-up beautiful locals keen to be seen in Beirut’s bars and clubs.

Don’t even think about going out in Beirut before 10pm – and even then, it had better be for dinner. Dancefloors are dead until around 1am.

While there are a raft of upmarket clubs around town – such as Sky Bar, the ultra-glam venue affording a panoramic view of the Mediterranean coastline and boasting a filthy rich clientele of local celebs – we prefer the quirkier nightspots. [TNT]

Looks like it wasn’t all work and no play for Richard Quest. CNN just aired a segment on the Beirut Night Life scene covered by Richard Quest. Pretty cool. [YouTube]

Thanks Caline

I have cousins who just came in from LA and I want to take them out to either Skybar or White tomorrow does anyone know how I can get a table? We’ll be around 10 people.

If any blogger knows about the nightlife in Lebanon and follows it closely, it’s Gino and I must agree with him that SkyBar Beirut is not worth the visit anymore, not because of its music or atmosphere but because of the way they treat you. I haven’t set foot in SkyBar this year and am not planning to. You need “wasta” to book a table, you need “wasta” to go in even if you have your table, you need an hour from Biel’s entrance to get to it because of the traffic and on top of all that, you are left waiting in endless lines and arguing with brainless bouncers.

Let’s not forget about the bill of course.

If you are looking for more reasons to stay away from SkyBar, read Gino’s post [Here].

Madeleine Lichaa! (Since Ivy was obviously dying to know)

I don’t know which one the winner is in the picture but I am guessing the one sitting in the middle. She’s the nicest looking of all.

Funny though how Lebanese like to sneak in a beauty pageant competition into every festival or event. I wonder what were the questions they asked them?

- How can one become a mermaid?
- How’s the sea doing these days? Chou se3er el le2oss?
- We hear a lot of pirates are stealing boats these days. What will you mermaids do to take out that threat?
- If you had 10 sea pearls, what will you buy with them (Except your voice)?

Ex-BBC current CNN journalist and reporter Richard Quest was at Pier 7. I thought that was pretty cool since he’s always very preppy on TV. [Link]

Seems to me no one’s checking pictures before publishing them at the Beirut Night Life, or maybe they just don’t care. [Link]

Cool video by White on Clubbing in Lebanon.

Via Gino’s Blog

I’ve come to realize that the place causing most of the traffic on the maritime road facing City Mall lately is a new open air night club in town, called Pier 7.[Chahe's post]

I don’t want to judge it before going there but is it a smart idea to open an open-air place in an industrial area and facing the Karantina garbage mountain? Can you imagine the smells there? How about the inexisting parking spaces in that area that Chahe mentioned as well?

It is always refreshing to see new places opening up, but I wish people thought a bit further before rushing and opening new places just because that’s the trend and “of course its gonna work”.

I am not saying the place is bad, just that this is a very bold move to open there, so the expectations will be very high from people and any ‘smelly’ night might cost the place dearly.

Gino went to the opening night and wrote a review for those interested in reading it [Review]. No mention of smells though, maybe he had a cold.