Credit Jaimee Lee Haddad
After this week of high stress in Lebanon, it's important to carve out a few small moments to shift your focus and give yourself a break.
If you’ve been stuck in a loop of doom scrolling, refreshing the L’Orient Today’s live news blog or bringing up regional tensions in every conversation, you’re definitely not alone. But it’s just as important that you give yourself some downtime too — it's good for your wellbeing, your brain and it can even boost your productivity!
Taking your mind off the situation may feel nearly impossible right now, that’s why we’ve pulled together a few reads to help inspire you to take a relaxing moment for yourself. Whether it’s curling up with a good film, discovering your new favourite album or nourishing yourself with a comforting meal, this weekend’s Breakfast in Bed has a few ideas for ways to unwind — at least for a short while.
1. Enjoy the sound of Beirut’s returning young music scene
We have plenty of music recommendations to spice up your weekend playlists. Romy Abu Fadel introduces us to some young, up-and-coming musicians who are determined to bring Beirut’s music scene back to its former glory. She meets the artists, recommends her favourite tracks and gives us some anecdotes from their budding yet already inspiring musical journeys.
Illustrations by Jaimee Lee Haddad
2. Join Cordon Courtine for dinner at Jean Claude
Our discerning food critic visited Jean Claude, a French-inspired bistro in Achrafieh. While its understated elegance comes with a hefty price tag and a few service hiccups, it's worth experiencing the sophisticated flavors of their classic menu even if just vicariously through the vivid descriptions of Cordon Courtine.
Illustrations by Jaimee Lee Haddad
3. Discover golden treasures in Chouf
This August, the historic Beiteddine Palace in the Chouf mountains is offering a perfect weekend oasis: a serene and tranquil setting, filled with evocative Lebanese art. Zeina Zalzal takes us on a tour of the palace’s exhibitions, featuring a stunning gold-leaf installation to celebrate the power of the sun, and oil paintings that capture the lush landscapes of southern Lebanon.
Illustrations by Jaimee Lee Haddad
4. Queue this Sudanese film for your next Netflix night
This weekend I’m looking forward to watching the highly acclaimed Goodbye Julia. After its premiere at Cannes Film Festival, Mohammad Kordofani’s debut film is now available for us to enjoy at home on Netflix! Admittedly it might not be the most relaxing watch but, from Sarah Kanaan’s review, it sounds like a moving portrayal of the human experience in Sudan amid ongoing turmoil.
Illustrations by Jaimee Lee Haddad
5. Watch shooting stars light up the Lebanese skies
Finally, a reminder that the year’s most spectacular meteor display, The Perseid meteor shower, is expected to reach its peak this Sunday night (Aug. 11). With the help of Malek Jeddah’s top tips, you should easily be able to spot ten meteors per hour and in some years it’s even been possible to witness a burst of up to 200 beautiful shooting stars an hour. Happy stargazing!
Illustrations by Jaimee Lee Haddad