Showing posts with label Tel Aviv Hot Spot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tel Aviv Hot Spot. Show all posts
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tel Aviv Hot Spot: The Stern1 Bar
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Video: Tel Aviv Purim Madness 2011
Purim always marks the beginning of springtime and summer festivities as the weather gets warmer and the parties star moving outside. But this year, Tel Aviv's Purim celebrations were especially numerous and especially exciting with so many wonderful costumes wandering the streets, hopping the bars and decorating sidewalks all over town.
The Purim holiday - which officially fell on Saturday evening, March 19th and lasted through Sunday evening, March 21st (with Shushan Purim on Monday March 22nd)- seemed to extend over the entire week, with parties beginning on Thursday evening and continuing all the way through Monday.
Wait, scratch that- they are still going on! (Who's going to the Desert Ashram Galactic Purim Rave with me this coming weekend?!)
And with such energy and vibrancy shining this Purim (and with the fantastic weather we've been having) it would be a shame not to share some of the extraordinary funness of the week.
So, I put together a short video of the costume fever and party madness that overtook Tel Aviv this weekend and hope you enjoy!
The Purim holiday - which officially fell on Saturday evening, March 19th and lasted through Sunday evening, March 21st (with Shushan Purim on Monday March 22nd)- seemed to extend over the entire week, with parties beginning on Thursday evening and continuing all the way through Monday.
Wait, scratch that- they are still going on! (Who's going to the Desert Ashram Galactic Purim Rave with me this coming weekend?!)
And with such energy and vibrancy shining this Purim (and with the fantastic weather we've been having) it would be a shame not to share some of the extraordinary funness of the week.
So, I put together a short video of the costume fever and party madness that overtook Tel Aviv this weekend and hope you enjoy!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Video: Tel Aviv Nightlife is Hot Hot Hot!
Comedian Benji Lovitt, a native of the U.S.A who made Aliyah and now does stand up in Israel, goes into the hottest Tel Aviv nightclubs to find out what makes Tel Aviv such a super sexy hot spot.
Sponsored by "Size Doesn't Matter", a Canadian Israeli advocacy group, the "Man on the Street" video is actually really fun. You should check out the Size Doesn't Matter website : it's really nicely done, and there are some great shots of Israel- specifically Tel Aviv.
I agree with what most people say: the nightlife in Tel Aviv is hard to beat. People in this city work hard and party hard. They like their dance clubs, their pick-up bars, their chic cafes, and their comfortable pubs.
Let's see how Benji tells it:
Sponsored by "Size Doesn't Matter", a Canadian Israeli advocacy group, the "Man on the Street" video is actually really fun. You should check out the Size Doesn't Matter website : it's really nicely done, and there are some great shots of Israel- specifically Tel Aviv.
I agree with what most people say: the nightlife in Tel Aviv is hard to beat. People in this city work hard and party hard. They like their dance clubs, their pick-up bars, their chic cafes, and their comfortable pubs.
Let's see how Benji tells it:
Monday, January 17, 2011
Tel Aviv Hot Spot: The Hoodna
I'm as surprised as you are that I'm writing up the Hoodna (הודנא), since, at this point, I think it's a well known Tel Aviv attraction of sorts. But, since it was my neighborhood Tel Aviv bar for over a year, and the first bar I ever sipped a beer at in Tel Aviv, I have to pay tribute.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tel Aviv Hot Spot: Ze Pequeno on Ladies' Night
If you are a Tel Aviv female and you aren't going to Ladies' Night at Zé Pequeno, you are wasting your money somewhere else. Not only is this new Tel Aviv hot spot is a cool, fun, warm and friendly bar, but their lady's night special is simply unbeatable.
Ladies' Night Special:
I have never heard of a better deal. Every Wednesday night, they offer their famous Ladies' Night Special. It goes like this: if you are, of course, a lady, you pay 26 shekels for a pink plastic cup that must hold about 1/3 of a liter which gets you free refills all night. You can fill it with nearly anything you want all night (top shelf alcohol and bottled beer excluded). This means, you can start with a cup of Champagne, then move onto a Weihenstephan wheat beer on tap, top that off with a glass of red wine, and then ring in the whole night with a rum and coke or whisky and soda- all for 26 shekels. All you gotta do is fill your cup at the bar.
Location:
Aside from the fact that the name, taken from the 2002 Brazilian movie "City of God", is semi-unpronounceable, this bar is super fun. Centrally located in Tel Aviv on Ben Gurion Avenue just on the corner of Ben Yehuda Street, Zé Pequeno is slightly hidden behind its sister café, Buskapa. The two places are separate, but equally cool. Just know that if you're looking for the bar and not the café, you should choose the entrance behind the friendly Russian security guard hanging out on the sidewalk.
Ambiance:
Zé Pequeno's decor isn't much to write home about, which I kind of like. It's simple and relatively small. The central wooden bar is large and square and takes up most of the space with nice, tall leather bar chairs with backs running around its perimeter. It leaves room for about two small, high-seated tables for couples, 3 larger, high seated tables for 5 to 7, and one slightly cramped sofa area with two low, wicker sofas.
The place doesn't start filling up till about 10-11pm, so if you get there any time before then, the music is pretty mellow (think Van Morrison's "Moondance") and not too loud and the lights are dimmed, but not too dimmed. Once the crowds start rolling in, the music gets a bit more peppy, and much louder (think the Killer's "When you were young") and the lighting gets much dimmer. Personally I prefer getting there early,just because I hate it when a bar isn't completely packed to full capacity, but you still have to scream in order for someone to hear you. It ruins the conversation, and I always wake up with a sore throat.
Service:
There is usually a total of three servers- two cute bartenders and a hostess/waitress. On busy nights you'll find a hostess as well. In my experience, the bartenders have been sweet and seem to do their best to keep everyone happy, but when the place gets pack, there isn't much that can be done- two is too few. Also, the fact that there is only one waitress that wanders around the tables taking orders means that if you're sitting at a table, it will usually take a while for you to get your drink. So don't come super thirsty. The pace in this place is a bit slower. But, again, I also kinda like that too.
Summary:
All in all, Zé Pequeno is a good, chill place to grab a drink with friends in the center of the city and an AMAZING money saver if you hit it up on Wednesday evenings.
Adress: Ben Gurion 22, Tel Aviv Telephone: 054-222-6950 Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8pm-4am Friday: 8pm-4am Saturday: 8pm-4am | כתובת:בן גוריון 22 תל אביב טלפון: 054-222-6950 שעות פתיחה: א' - ה': 20:00 - 04:00 שישי: 20:00 - 05:00 שבת: 20:00 - 04:00 |
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Israel Loves GLBTQs: Dr., can you check my butt?
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| Courtesy of 365Gay.com |
Tel Aviv is especially well known for being a city of free love, gay pride and colorful characters. According to Wikipedia, the city was named as "the gay capital of the Middle East" by Out Magazine and "the final gay fronteir" by Ynet News. This year thousands came to participate in Tel Aviv's famous Gay Pride Parade.
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| Courtesy of Haaretz.com |
I just had to post these three new ads, wonderfully directed by Adi Halfin, are targeting a well-established audience in Israel: The GLBTQ community.( If you aren't familiar with the long, politically correct and well-thought out term, GLBTQ refers to Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Trangenders and Queers). And yes, they get sick too and need medical care just like heterosexuals do.
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| Courtesy of backseatblogger, although I think this guy stole all his pics from somewhere else. |
Lesbian Ad:
Translation:
GIRL1: Omg, this car is amazing. It's not like any car you've ever driven. First of all, the seats-- they are all...Leather. And the speed- Oh the speed! You just hit the gas and it's VRrrrrrrrrrrrom, vrrrrrrrrom, vrroooom!
GIRL 2: No no! Speed? I don't think he should have a license at all! Let his friends be the ones with the car- why him?
DOCTOR: Ahem. Maybe first we should talk about the process.....the sperm donation...?
(girls giggle and hold hands)
DOCTOR: So, which one of you will be carrying the child?
(Girls point at one another)
GIRL 2: But we decided it would be you!
GIRL 1: But you're older than me.
GIRL 2: By two months!
GIRL 1: I'm dying to see you fat already.
GIRL 2: But your genes are better than mine. You're Morrocan.
GIRL 1: So, I'll get fat, and you'll be pregnant. (Pause) I'm calling your mother.
Text: Clalit Clinic at Meir Gardens. Feel Comfortable.
TransgenderAd:
Translation:
DOCTOR: Natan Shtein=Levi? Natan?
(Clicking of high heels on floor-pan out to hot blonde)
BLONDE: *Sneeze!* Not Datan. Dida. Dida Joy.
DOCTOR: Dida?
BLONDE: Dida, Dida.
DOCTOR: Ah, Nina!
BLONDE: Nina.
DOCTOR: Ok, Nina. Eh, first I have to clear something up......Where did you get that gorgeous handbag?! Err, so, you're congested? Yes? Come on in....
Gay Ad:
Translation:
DOCTOR: Hello, er, Roni?
RONI: Yes.
DOCTOR: Please, have a seat.
RONI: No, it's ok, I prefer to stand.
DOCTOR: Ok. So, what's the problem?
RONI: Uhhh, I have a pain.
DOCTOR: Where does it hurt?
RONI: Uhhh, in... in the back? In my lower back?
(Doctor shrugs)
RONI: Down below....?
DOCTOR What happened? Did something happen?
*Phone Rings*
DOCTOR (on the phone): Hello? How are you buddy? Ok, and he wore a condom? And you? Oy, I forgot... you....I forgot. Ok, well, when you get back to Israel come in to see me and we'll make sure its nothing serious. My pleasure. (hangs up the phone.)
I'm sorry. So, where were you saying it hurts?
RONI: In my butt! (Fade out)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Otto Bar on Rabin Square: New Tel Aviv Hot Spot!
Surprisingly stylish and well designed, Tel Aviv's Otto Bar (אוטו בר), or Otto 76, is a great place to grab a well-made drink with a lady-friend or pick up a billiards game with the dudes. The owners couldn't have picked a better location. The place is smack-dab across from Rabin Square at 76 Even Gvirol- the center of the white city near some of the hippest, coolest Tel Aviv restaurants and pubs.
Don't be surprised if you pass by the entrance several times on your first trip there. First off, I was certain the place was called "Auto Bar" and when I tried to look up the address, I didn't understand why there was nothing on the internet about this place. Then, once I figured out that "Auto Bar" was really "Otto bar" and I jotted the address down, I still had trouble finding it. The bar is hard to catch, being that there is no real door. The face of the opening corridor looks like a storage unit filled with crates of beers, and unless you know what you're looking for, you might have to do a double take.
The relatively new Otto Bar can be plagued with long lines, since that is the way of hot new Tel Aviv bars, but if you make it there during the week, you should have no problem waltzing right in. Passing the hostess, one enters the dimly lit storage unit and follows the music down a short flight of stairs. The stairs open up to a vestibule lined with light wood-paneled walls and glass windows. Behind the glass more aesthetically stacked beer crates, wine glasses, wine bottles and kegs sit peaking through iron metal fencing.
Walk through two swinging wooden doors to enter and you have a view of the entire bar before you. The bar is low and very central, taking up most of the floor space as typical Tel Aviv pick-up bars do. But this isn't a pick-up bar. Well, not completely.
While the seating is tight and the bar area can get packed, there are some benches and booth-like seating off to the sides near the billiard tables. These are good for groups of friends, or simply side make-out sessions. But, their bar tenders are unbelievably good looking, so I recommend trying to get their early to stake out a seat at the bar.
High-quality beer appreciation culture is also taking hold of this Mediterranean city and Otto Bar caters to the beer lover without question. They have an extensive beer list in addition to their wine, champaign/kava and cocktail lists which I personally appreciate being a sel-proclaimed beer-o-phile. Apparently their prices are a bit steep (their 1/2 liters (Chetzis or חצאים are 400ml) but I don't expect any less from a hip new place like this.
What makes the Otto Bar even more attractive is its fantastic decor. I do have to give them kudos on that. The Otto Bar has classy and warmly lacquered wooden paneling to give it a cozier, classier ambiance, while the walls are a rustic stone giving it a touch of "we're having a party in the basement" kinda feel. The seats are upholstered in dark brown leather (or faux leather) with those buttons that make the seats look like grandpa chairs from the 1940s and all supporting columns are tastefully tiled in black and white. If they had a piano and a lounge singer, it would bring the decor together. But they don't.
The music is good, though it isn't too unique. Lost of interesting 80s music like Squeeze, early Depeche Mode, Brian Ferry and the Police mixed in with some pop music of the 90s and Indie Rock of today. They are nice background tunes that make it easy to mix and mingle, but they don't make you want to get up and bust a move.
Overall, I'd say Otto 76 draws a crowd that ranges from their md 20s to late 30s which keeps the scene tame and charming and dress-code-free. I showed up in a tank top, jeans and sneakers, but I was eying a number of other women in tight mini dresses and stilettos.
Don't be surprised if you pass by the entrance several times on your first trip there. First off, I was certain the place was called "Auto Bar" and when I tried to look up the address, I didn't understand why there was nothing on the internet about this place. Then, once I figured out that "Auto Bar" was really "Otto bar" and I jotted the address down, I still had trouble finding it. The bar is hard to catch, being that there is no real door. The face of the opening corridor looks like a storage unit filled with crates of beers, and unless you know what you're looking for, you might have to do a double take.
 |
| The Entrance to Auto Bar, 76 Even Gvirol |
The relatively new Otto Bar can be plagued with long lines, since that is the way of hot new Tel Aviv bars, but if you make it there during the week, you should have no problem waltzing right in. Passing the hostess, one enters the dimly lit storage unit and follows the music down a short flight of stairs. The stairs open up to a vestibule lined with light wood-paneled walls and glass windows. Behind the glass more aesthetically stacked beer crates, wine glasses, wine bottles and kegs sit peaking through iron metal fencing.
Walk through two swinging wooden doors to enter and you have a view of the entire bar before you. The bar is low and very central, taking up most of the floor space as typical Tel Aviv pick-up bars do. But this isn't a pick-up bar. Well, not completely.
 |
| The Bar. |
While the seating is tight and the bar area can get packed, there are some benches and booth-like seating off to the sides near the billiard tables. These are good for groups of friends, or simply side make-out sessions. But, their bar tenders are unbelievably good looking, so I recommend trying to get their early to stake out a seat at the bar.
High-quality beer appreciation culture is also taking hold of this Mediterranean city and Otto Bar caters to the beer lover without question. They have an extensive beer list in addition to their wine, champaign/kava and cocktail lists which I personally appreciate being a sel-proclaimed beer-o-phile. Apparently their prices are a bit steep (their 1/2 liters (Chetzis or חצאים are 400ml) but I don't expect any less from a hip new place like this.
 |
| Pretty wine. Pretty cups. Pretty wood. |
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| People, you can't find Sam Adams in most Israeli Bars- bug Otto Bar has got crates of it! |
What makes the Otto Bar even more attractive is its fantastic decor. I do have to give them kudos on that. The Otto Bar has classy and warmly lacquered wooden paneling to give it a cozier, classier ambiance, while the walls are a rustic stone giving it a touch of "we're having a party in the basement" kinda feel. The seats are upholstered in dark brown leather (or faux leather) with those buttons that make the seats look like grandpa chairs from the 1940s and all supporting columns are tastefully tiled in black and white. If they had a piano and a lounge singer, it would bring the decor together. But they don't.
The music is good, though it isn't too unique. Lost of interesting 80s music like Squeeze, early Depeche Mode, Brian Ferry and the Police mixed in with some pop music of the 90s and Indie Rock of today. They are nice background tunes that make it easy to mix and mingle, but they don't make you want to get up and bust a move.
Overall, I'd say Otto 76 draws a crowd that ranges from their md 20s to late 30s which keeps the scene tame and charming and dress-code-free. I showed up in a tank top, jeans and sneakers, but I was eying a number of other women in tight mini dresses and stilettos.
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| Billiars. Otherwise known as Snooker. |
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| I'm crap at playing, but I must say, I always enjoy it. |
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| Tacuma, Hagar and I smilin' it up. |
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tel Aviv Hot Spot: DJ Eliezer Rocks The Radio Bar
Went out last night to celebrate with friends at the relatively new bar, Radio E.P.G.B. Tel Aviv's equivalent to Time Out or the Village Voice, Achbar HaIr, has highlighted it as being one of the best bars in Tel Aviv. It's definitely got that Tel Aviv feel - the decor isn't exactly right, but its trying, and there is that residue of "pick-up-bar" in the layout. It's one of those bars with two older Russian bouncers at the discreet entrance which isn't much more than the walkway to an apartment.
Radio is a basement bar with more space than you might expect when you first walk through the felt curtains into the dark, cellar-like room. There's even a pool table in the back room. The walls are made-to-look-cruddy washed stone, which is meant to give it some sort of grungy New York feel, and the large bar sits low in the center with elevated platforms filled with couches, chairs and coffee tables lining the walls. These are the corners you reserve for your party so you can have a corner all to yourself. They are by far the best seats in the house. You can easily see and be seen. But, if you're not on a platform, you're stuck swimming in the throngs of people below that crowd the bar and attempt at dancing despite the floor traffic.
Apparently their cocktails are also something special. They have one called "Flaming Boey" which looks amazing -it comes in this sexy glass that looks like a large champagne coupe. It's appropriately pink and the ladies love it. I of course was just happy that they served half liters of beer. Most new sexy bars in Tel Aviv only serve 1/3 liters.
What really makes the place special is the music. Radio has live shows of all kinds each week that range from indie rock to punk to hip hop. Last night's DJ seriously rocked the turntables with some fantastic mixes - unique and classic, and some tunes of his own . I especially liked this original cover of Roxy Music's "Love is the Drug".
DJ Eliezer - Love Is The Drug
Radio is a basement bar with more space than you might expect when you first walk through the felt curtains into the dark, cellar-like room. There's even a pool table in the back room. The walls are made-to-look-cruddy washed stone, which is meant to give it some sort of grungy New York feel, and the large bar sits low in the center with elevated platforms filled with couches, chairs and coffee tables lining the walls. These are the corners you reserve for your party so you can have a corner all to yourself. They are by far the best seats in the house. You can easily see and be seen. But, if you're not on a platform, you're stuck swimming in the throngs of people below that crowd the bar and attempt at dancing despite the floor traffic.
Apparently their cocktails are also something special. They have one called "Flaming Boey" which looks amazing -it comes in this sexy glass that looks like a large champagne coupe. It's appropriately pink and the ladies love it. I of course was just happy that they served half liters of beer. Most new sexy bars in Tel Aviv only serve 1/3 liters.
What really makes the place special is the music. Radio has live shows of all kinds each week that range from indie rock to punk to hip hop. Last night's DJ seriously rocked the turntables with some fantastic mixes - unique and classic, and some tunes of his own . I especially liked this original cover of Roxy Music's "Love is the Drug".
DJ Eliezer - Love Is The Drug
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| Courtesy of עכבר העיר |
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| Courtesy of עכבר העיר |
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| Courtesy of עכבר העיר |
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| Me and my friend Arbel- DJ Eliezer right behind us |
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Tel Aviv Hot Spot: Is Ha Tachanah a Tourist Trap or a Nicety?
I have to write about "HaTachanah" (התחנה- the station) not only because I just visited the finished site for the first time this past week, but also because that same week both Haaretz and the NY Times did a piece covering the newly renovated station.
HaTachana is the old Jaffa railroad station which had fallen into disuse and disrepair. When I first moved to Tel Aviv in 2007, I didn't even know the thing existed. It was all boarded up and hidden from view. Little did I know that it was undergoing a massive restoration which the Tel Aviv municipality had approved in their effort to connect Jaffa and Tel Aviv.
The original station was built in 1892 for a line that ran from Jaffa to Jerusalem and operated until the founding of the state in 1948 when it was basically abandoned. It was actually the first railway line built in the area between Turkey and Egypt and the first advanced long-distance transportation method, replacing what had for centuries been the camel!
It's really too bad that the Jaffa-Jerusalem line no longer exists. Would you believe that the state is still in the process of building a straight rail line from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv?1 How long is this gonna take, people!
My whining aside, "Hatachanah" first showed its new face in 2009 as the host of "Wet Paint" or "Fresh Paint" (צבע טרי), the annual Tel Aviv contemporary art fair that features dozens of local galleries and emerging Israeli Artists. The 2009 exhibit was beautiful and really showcased the vast potential of the new space.
One year later and the Tachanah's restored buildings are filled with bookshops, cafes, restaurants, jewelry stores and boutiques. There's a chic outdoor Tapas bar called "Viky.Christina", a cute pub called "Shushka Shvili" and a number of what they call "Concept" gift shops with cool Israeli chatchkis that range from arty coasters to designer t-shirts.
On Friday mornings there's an organic market, "Orbanic", from 8:00am till 2:00pm, Thursday evenings feature the cool designer fair, "Unique", with art, crafts and sophisticated design products accompanied by live music and DJs, and each month there is a featured art exhibit that costs only 15 shekels (about 4 dollars) for admission.
Anthony Grant writes in his August 6th Wanderlust NYTimes Magazine column that a visit to "Hatachanah" is "... like being on the fast track to Tel Aviv’s new-school cool."
He argues that with the "...upscale jumble of refurbished rail cars, freight terminals and train tracks to nowhere (and how’s a bit of defunct British air base for an extra shot of atmosphere?), HaTachana raises Tel Aviv’s style bar."
But Haaretz.com's Esther Zandberg is not as impressed. She titled her piece on the new station, "Tel Aviv's first tourist trap." According to Zandberg, the renovated station is a theme-park style, albeit successful, tourist trap engineered to "part tourists from their money". She uses words like "forgery", "preservation overload" to describe the new Station and seems to view with great spite any form of "commercialization" or "development".
I'm just going to have to go ahead and disagree with her.
To begin with, Tel Aviv has had a number of terrible tourist traps. This is certainly not the first. The northern port is one of the most notorious with a brightly-lit view of the sea luring unknowing visitors to expensive restaurants that serve American, French and pretty much all non-Israeli cuisine, and shops like Puma and Diesel that aren't much different than what you can find in the states.
HaTachanah is something different. The boutiques are local, the place is small, and the buildings aren't massive hangars with no character. The evening fairs are fun, warm and family-oriented. There is no gaudy clubs or over-done decor. Everything is surprisingly tasteful. There is something nice and quaint about the restoration, even though Ms. Zandberg writes it off when she laments (using completely improper English grammar) the fact that, "Marketed as a historic site, what remains are prehistoric background props."
I have to say, I'm all for tourism in Tel Aviv, especially if this is what the traps look like. Although, the way I see it, the new Tachanah is really a trap for Tel Avivians who want a to spend a nice warm summer night strolling with friends or family in an old-train station turned cool hang out.
Ms. Zandberg does have one thing right: this renewal project doesn't exactly fulfill the cities hopes of connecting Jaffa and Tel Aviv. I mean, I don't think that there is one product sold in any of "Hatachanah"'s stores or boutiques, aside from beer and coffee, that I can actually afford to buy. It is an all out Western feel- total Western-chic, and I can't imagine your average Jaffa-dwelling Arab taking his family for a stroll around the area. However, tt certainly brings northern Tel Avivians south and entices tourists to wander towards Jaffa. I can't imagine anyone in Jaffa has a problem taking tourists' money, or anyone's money for that matter.
All in all, I think that Zandberg should take the stick out of her butt and start enjoying life. Hatachanah isn't an "illusion" nor does it have a "synthetic feel". It's just new and, well, not in poor taste - nor is it falling apart like so many of the run down buildings around town. I really don't think it's claiming to be anything but a nice, hip outdoor shopping area for families and young folk. And it does a good job at being just that.
HaTachana is the old Jaffa railroad station which had fallen into disuse and disrepair. When I first moved to Tel Aviv in 2007, I didn't even know the thing existed. It was all boarded up and hidden from view. Little did I know that it was undergoing a massive restoration which the Tel Aviv municipality had approved in their effort to connect Jaffa and Tel Aviv.
 |
| Photo from nytimes.com- The old Jaffa Station |
The original station was built in 1892 for a line that ran from Jaffa to Jerusalem and operated until the founding of the state in 1948 when it was basically abandoned. It was actually the first railway line built in the area between Turkey and Egypt and the first advanced long-distance transportation method, replacing what had for centuries been the camel!
It's really too bad that the Jaffa-Jerusalem line no longer exists. Would you believe that the state is still in the process of building a straight rail line from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv?1 How long is this gonna take, people!
My whining aside, "Hatachanah" first showed its new face in 2009 as the host of "Wet Paint" or "Fresh Paint" (צבע טרי), the annual Tel Aviv contemporary art fair that features dozens of local galleries and emerging Israeli Artists. The 2009 exhibit was beautiful and really showcased the vast potential of the new space.
One year later and the Tachanah's restored buildings are filled with bookshops, cafes, restaurants, jewelry stores and boutiques. There's a chic outdoor Tapas bar called "Viky.Christina", a cute pub called "Shushka Shvili" and a number of what they call "Concept" gift shops with cool Israeli chatchkis that range from arty coasters to designer t-shirts.
On Friday mornings there's an organic market, "Orbanic", from 8:00am till 2:00pm, Thursday evenings feature the cool designer fair, "Unique", with art, crafts and sophisticated design products accompanied by live music and DJs, and each month there is a featured art exhibit that costs only 15 shekels (about 4 dollars) for admission.
 |
| Photo by Doron Saar of the NY Times - Friday Morning Organic Market |
Anthony Grant writes in his August 6th Wanderlust NYTimes Magazine column that a visit to "Hatachanah" is "... like being on the fast track to Tel Aviv’s new-school cool."
He argues that with the "...upscale jumble of refurbished rail cars, freight terminals and train tracks to nowhere (and how’s a bit of defunct British air base for an extra shot of atmosphere?), HaTachana raises Tel Aviv’s style bar."
But Haaretz.com's Esther Zandberg is not as impressed. She titled her piece on the new station, "Tel Aviv's first tourist trap." According to Zandberg, the renovated station is a theme-park style, albeit successful, tourist trap engineered to "part tourists from their money". She uses words like "forgery", "preservation overload" to describe the new Station and seems to view with great spite any form of "commercialization" or "development".
I'm just going to have to go ahead and disagree with her.
To begin with, Tel Aviv has had a number of terrible tourist traps. This is certainly not the first. The northern port is one of the most notorious with a brightly-lit view of the sea luring unknowing visitors to expensive restaurants that serve American, French and pretty much all non-Israeli cuisine, and shops like Puma and Diesel that aren't much different than what you can find in the states.
HaTachanah is something different. The boutiques are local, the place is small, and the buildings aren't massive hangars with no character. The evening fairs are fun, warm and family-oriented. There is no gaudy clubs or over-done decor. Everything is surprisingly tasteful. There is something nice and quaint about the restoration, even though Ms. Zandberg writes it off when she laments (using completely improper English grammar) the fact that, "Marketed as a historic site, what remains are prehistoric background props."
 |
| Photo By Doron Saar of the NY Times - Entranceway of Hatachanah |
I have to say, I'm all for tourism in Tel Aviv, especially if this is what the traps look like. Although, the way I see it, the new Tachanah is really a trap for Tel Avivians who want a to spend a nice warm summer night strolling with friends or family in an old-train station turned cool hang out.
Ms. Zandberg does have one thing right: this renewal project doesn't exactly fulfill the cities hopes of connecting Jaffa and Tel Aviv. I mean, I don't think that there is one product sold in any of "Hatachanah"'s stores or boutiques, aside from beer and coffee, that I can actually afford to buy. It is an all out Western feel- total Western-chic, and I can't imagine your average Jaffa-dwelling Arab taking his family for a stroll around the area. However, tt certainly brings northern Tel Avivians south and entices tourists to wander towards Jaffa. I can't imagine anyone in Jaffa has a problem taking tourists' money, or anyone's money for that matter.
All in all, I think that Zandberg should take the stick out of her butt and start enjoying life. Hatachanah isn't an "illusion" nor does it have a "synthetic feel". It's just new and, well, not in poor taste - nor is it falling apart like so many of the run down buildings around town. I really don't think it's claiming to be anything but a nice, hip outdoor shopping area for families and young folk. And it does a good job at being just that.
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| Photo from http://braids-and-bows.blogspot.com On the tracks of Hatachanah |
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| Another beautiful shot by braidsandbows. Check out their gorgeous blog! |
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