
Illustrations by Jaimee Lee Haddad
This week started off with ‘Blue Monday,’ supposedly the gloomiest day of the year, and an extra bizarre one if you were watching the presidential inauguration. So I think we deserve a collective pat on the back for getting through that milestone and nearly making it through what often feels like an interminable month.
How will you be treating yourself this weekend? Perhaps you’ll be tuning in to watch the Australian Open finals. While sadly Lebanese player Hady Habib won’t be taking home the trophy this time, his interview with L’Orient Today left me hopeful for his promising future.
And if tennis isn’t your thing, there’s also a wide selection of cinematic, literary and chocolate treats in this week’s lineup.
Hady Habib on making history
Hady Habib’s historic run at the Australian Open was nothing short of exhilarating. Watching the young star save match points, win five consecutive tiebreaks and compete as the first Lebanese player in a Grand Slam came as a much-needed boost for national morale. In an interview with Gabriel Blondel, Habib tells us about the pressure and pride he feels when representing his country on the courts.

The double lives of Ghassan Abu Sittah
Over the past year, Ghassan Abu Sittah’s voice has echoed worldwide. His firsthand accounts of working in Gaza’s hospitals have been harrowing and his advocacy, galvanizing. Jim Quilty divulges details from the recent documentary about Abu Sittah, taking us beyond what we already know about him and revealing the contradictions of his multifaceted life.

What does the word ‘Lynchian’ mean to you?
Last week the world marked the loss of one of the most confounding but revered filmmakers of all time – the legendary David Lynch, master of the surreal and a personal favorite of mine. What legacy does he leave behind? And how can we define the essence of a ‘Lynchian’ film?

The ultimate sweet treat (if you can find it)
Unless you’ve avoided social media completely over the last year, there’s little chance you’ve missed the viral sensation that is the Dubai chocolate bar. The decadent pistachio-Knafeh-filled confection is so coveted it’s become the Willy Wonka golden ticket of the Instagram age. What’s behind this craze and why can’t anyone get their hands on it?

A murder mystery with a Beiruti flavor
Personally, I’m more excited to get my hands on David Hury’s new noir novel Beyrouth Forever. The story follows a grumpy, former Kataeb militiaman turned cop investigating the murder of a renowned academic and historian who threatened to rewrite Lebanon’s past – a plot steeped in Lebanon’s refusal to confront it. Hury explains why Beirut was the perfect backdrop for his first crime novel.

Beirut’s galleries are buzzing again
Feeling a little grey this January? Beirut’s galleries are offering the perfect antidote. From vibrant collages to bold abstracts, this month’s exhibitions are bringing back some much-needed color and creativity to the city. Zena Zalzal takes us on a tour of what’s on offer.
