Living in Beirut often feels like a negotiation between the past and the future. On the one hand the city feels desperate to modernize, rushing toward the future with shiny new boutiques and hope for the new government’s vision, on the other hand reminders of its past are everywhere and the place is haunted by its history. 

This week’s selection of stories covers both these realities, with one eye on new developments in the city and the plans being laid by the new tourism minister Laura al-Khazen and another at the cultural conversations around the forgotten streets of Beirut, the country’s war-torn past and its historic cultivation of a musical icon. 

Sit back and enjoy!

Introducing: Chronically Online

First up, I am extremely excited to announce the debut of Chronically Online – a brand new column courtesy of L’Orient Today’s very own Nima Salha. Every other week she’ll be giving us her judicious take on the hottest social media trends defining the zeitgeist, with a special focus on how they are received in the Middle East. This week she dissects the ‘Trad Wife’ phenomenon… Nara Smith fans assemble!

A new vision for Lebanese tourism 

“Tourism in Lebanon should not be limited to the summer season,” says Laura al-Khazen, Lebanon’s new tourism minister. Judging by the recent offerings in Breakfast in Bed – I quite agree. How does the illustrious minister plan to tackle her new role?

Beirut’s retail therapy

I have to say the prospect of an Alo Yoa store opening in Beirut, sparked more excitement in me than I care to admit. That being said, not everyone is pleased with the grand plans to revive Beirut Souks. Is your favorite shopping spot included in the forthcoming lineup?

Lost in translation?

Have you ever watched a film with subtitles and felt like something was a little off? At times subtitles distort or censor what we watch, while at other times they can be a leveler, allowing access to wider audiences. Jim Quilty’s exploration of the Arab Image Foundation’s new film program makes us reflect on the art of subtitling in ways you may have never previously considered. 

Lebanon’s Guernica 

Spain has Picasso, Lebanon has Abdel Hamid Baalbaki. Now, with his beloved Odaisseh home in ruins, the Sursock Museum gathers Baalbaki’s art in a tribute to his legacy, showcasing his portraits of Beirut’s underprivileged areas and his 1977 mural, dubbed Lebanon’s Guernica. Take a sneak peek at the exhibition here. 

Tiny Tim’s Lebanese roots 

Having garnered admiration from the likes of The Beatles and Bob Dylan, it seems Tiny Tim was robbed of the popular recognition he really deserved. Thankfully, Yara Malka has stepped in to shine a light on this ukulele-strumming misfit from Metn who tiptoed his way into music history. 

Beirut drawn back to life 

There are certainly areas or aspects of Beirut that feel other-worldly to me. In their comic ‘Genie of Beirut, Street of God’s Fortune,’ Selim Nassib and Lena Merhej resurrect one such place: a vanished neighborhood, where daily life was a delicate dance of barbers, grocers and sunbathers from all cultures until war crept in….