Do you ever get that strange, overwhelming feeling on a Friday evening? Instead of relief, I sometimes catch myself spiraling into a low-level panic about how to cram as many activities as I can into the subsequent 48 hours. 

This of course turns out to be very counterproductive to my two sacred days of rest and recuperation. So every now and then, I find it useful to remind myself that I don’t have to be doing a million extravagant things at once to “maximize” my weekend. There can be real merit in the smaller moments too; going for a walk and really looking at what treasures lie in the surrounding nature, bingeing a new TV show with your friends, or devoting yourself to a delicious new recipe. That’s the inspiration I’ve taken from this week’s Breakfast in Bed at least. What do you think?

A Lebanese drama … the good kind

Ramadan TV season always delivers a hit or two, and this year, Bil Dam, is stealing the spotlight. Packed with family drama, revenge plots, and all the messy relationships of a good soap opera, it’s no surprise it’s become the most streamed show in Lebanon and beyond.

Will Gal Godot get her happily ever after?

Another day, another Disney controversy. This time it's the live-action film of Snow White, featuring former IDF soldier Gal Gadot, that finds itself on the chopping block. The film hasn’t been released yet and already people are calling for its censorship. Will Lebanese authorities let it through?

A few of Raphael’s favorite things 

Were we all collectors as children? I know I certainly was and so too was Lebanese sculptor Shaha Raphael. “In her childhood, every time she was lost, she was found collecting everything hidden beneath the ground: rock fragments, pieces of wood, fossils.” This fascination is what formed the basis for a beautiful exhibition shown in Paris last week.  

We could (not) be heroes

Also in Paris, our journalists dropped into Dominique Edde’s annual lecture at the Institut Monde Arabe where she posed the question “can we be human before we try to be heroes?” From Gilgamesh to Gaza the Lebanese writer explored the myths and realties of heroism throughout the ages…Lots of food for thought. 

Yes, veggie food can be delicious

Now that the temperature has sadly dropped again in the last few days, at least we can take comfort in indulging in some hearty, home-cooked food this weekend. Jaimee Lee Haddad’s offering of a veggie-packed lasagna that combines layers of chard, zucchini and a cashew-based cream is one I'm dying to try even as a devoted cheese enthusiast!