I’m writing this, staring longingly with one eye at my coffee and with the other at the weekend ahead. This week has felt slow for me, while the month has flown by in a blink! It’s weird how flexible time can feel.

For the next couple of days, I’m planning on a mix of hiking, eating and maybe a spot of music, too. I’ve found that variety is the secret ingredient to elongating the days. With that in mind, this week’s selection covers a little bit of everything to help you make the most of wherever the weekend takes you.

Vernis Rouge unfiltered 

If you watched the Voice France, you might remember French Lebanese performer Vernis Rouge from her cover of Bande organisée. Now she’s back with a punchy new EP and a very candid interview with L’Orient Today talking about music, identity and owning her sexuality.

Office politics, on stage 

That leads us nicely to another pick for this week that touches on themes of female empowerment. Rana Khoury directs the play Contractions at Le Monot Theater, exploring societal pressures on women in the corporate world, drawing on her mother Gisele’s flair for social commentary and activism.  

Chronically online: Your Arab boyfriend should have seen the tests coming

It’s not often that I find myself siding with boyfriends as a species, but Nima Salha presents their case rather well. In the second installment of her new column, Chronically Online, she humorously dissects the online trend of testing romantic partners through viral tests like the “orange peel theory.”

Cartoons in Burj Hammoud

We talk about films and film festivals a fair bit here in Breakfast in Bed, but this week we’ve got something a little quirkier to share – a film festival showcasing animated short films from around the world in Burj Hammoud’s vintage cinema. If you need a little escape from reality next week, this one’s for you. 

TV series Mouawiya: Provocation or education? 

Have you heard all the buzz about the TV show Mouawiya? A new MBC show depicting the life of Mouawiya Ibn Abi Sufyan, founder of the Umayyad Caliphate and the Fitna between Sunnis and Shiites. While the show has garnered success, it has also stirred some controversy… Read Rana Najjar’s article to make your mind up about it. 

 A bowl of sunshine

For a meal that’s perfect for this lovely warm weather, Jaimee Lee Haddad offers you a nutritious recipe that perfectly encapsulates her own love of color and creativity.