Art: Deca Dance

Eat Well: Brasserie

This week, I revisited Brasserie and was reminded why this recurring favorite is always a mood lifter. Despite its location in the center of the city, just across from Rabin Square, the restaurant is faithful to its eponymous Parisian aesthetic, thus not only causing it to stand out, but also making a stop here feel like a mini vacation. Large mirrors, dark wood, french doors, lines of booths, and an ample bar create a stylishly subdued atmosphere for which the clientele is eager to dress up a bit. Upbeat music plays and excellent cocktails, from caipirinhas to martinis, help along the congenial atmosphere.

The menu, written in both Hebrew and French, is filled with classic dishes from the latter's cuisine: moules frites, roasted chicken, nicoise salad, and steak tartare all make an appearance, as do mouthwatering pomme frites (cleverly wrapped in a faux newspaper) and a decadent "American style" hamburger. Expect efficient service from waiters who are dressed the part and make sure you leave room for a rich dessert.

Image credited to Haaretz.com.

Imbibe Well: Hotel Montefiore

"The Best Two Hours in Town" is how Hotel Montefiore bills its happy hour, and it's not an overstatement. Where else can you get history (the building has been restored to its original 1920s glamour), elitism (this boutique hotel only contains twelve rooms, while its restaurant is known to be exclusive), an elegant aesthetic (the team behind Coffee Bar and Brasserie has brought their distinctly European look here as well) and ridiculously low-priced drinks (an entire menu under 30 NIS) all rolled into one?

If it sounds too good to be true, it isn't. Seven days a week, from 5-7 p.m, Hotel Montefiore shakes off its reputation for expensive taste and instead offers a list of excellently mixed cocktails, including Kir Royals, Mojitos, Lychee Martinis, and Vodka Sours, each for only 29 NIS, a price that would be low even for a corner cafe, much less an upscale institution. A single glass of red wine goes for 20 NIS, white for 18 NIS, and it gets better: no matter if you order one round or two, you'll receive complimentary potato chips and miniature sandwiches. All in all, the waitstaff is attentive, the clientele well-dressed, the mood serene, and the presentation immaculate, making the atmosphere perfect for an afternoon apertif.

Impressive style and delicious substance, for once without the hefty price tag attached. As deals like this are rare, and space is limited at both the bar and tables, it is recommended to call ahead for reservations.

36 Montefiore Street
+972 3 564 6100
www.hotelmontefiore.co.il

Image credited to the Hotel Montefiore website.

Art: Fresh Paint, DocAviv, and Houses from Within

Get ready for an art-filled week. First up is Tel Aviv's third annual Fresh Paint Art Fair, which opens today in Yaffo. The showcase for contemporary artists and galleries is unfolding in a newly renovated warehouse along the old port, as well as in several other nearby buildings. At last night's preview, a packed crowd remained until late in the evening, indicating that, this year's fair is hotter than ever, with the focus as much on the art as the fashionable people viewing it.

From Wednesday through Saturday, entrance is open to the public for a fee of 35NIS. The ground floor contains works by artists who do not yet have gallery representation, while the upper floor is built as a series of showrooms for Tel Aviv's main contemporary galleries. Both levels have their own merit: many of the emerging artists' works, while ranging in their taste and ability, are at least financially accessible. The mini galleries, on the other hand, provide a compressed tutorial on what is considered to be the best work the city has to offer. Rather than trekking the streets from gallery to gallery, visitors receive a taste of them all in one place.

Stop at the Caffe Tazza d'Oro cafe on the top level for sea views and a bite to eat. Visit the bookstore for gifts, and especially make sure to check out the "mystery postcard" room. This is a wonderful gimmick in which hundreds of handmade postcards are displayed, each one designed by either an unknown or famous artist. No names appear on the cards, so you must purchase one to find out if you've just made the best investment ever or thrown 180 NIS down the drain.

Fresh Paint Contemporary Art Fair
May 5th & 6th: 12:00 - 22:00
May 7th: 10:00 - 18:00
May 8th: 10:00 - 22:00
www.freshpaint.co.il


Next up, DocAviv begins May 6th and runs until the 15th, with films showing at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, the ZOA House, and the Tel Aviv Museum. The program boasts twenty-two documentary works, half from Israel, and half from international directors, as well as student competitions, meet and greet events, and special screenings. Advanced ticket purchases are recommended and special deals are available for packages; normal entrance is 35 NIS per ticket, although a reduced fee of 25 NIS is available for filmmakers, students, soldiers, and senior citizens. The complete schedule is listed on the DocAviv website.

DocAviv
May 6th - 15th
Daytime and nighttime screenings.
www.docaviv.co.il


Finally, Houses from Within is an annual two-day event in Tel Aviv that offers a unique opportunity for visitors to view inside private residences, business, and historic sites around the city. In the organizations own words' it is an event to "open your eyes and mind to the built environment" around you, and it certainly serves as a sort of bonding experience for the city. This year's open properties are listed on the organization's website, which helps guests conveniently sort through the selections by area, type of activity, or specific timeframe. Reservations are needed for the most in-demand properties, so it's wise to plan ahead if there's something of particular interest. Otherwise, a hardcopy of the schedule is available in the weekend magazines and can be used for touring the day-of. Cost is free.

Batim me'Befnim (Houses from Within)
May 7th & 8th
Each property has separate hours.
www.batim.mouse.co.il

Images credited to the Fresh Paint, DocAviv and Batim me'Befnim websites.

Trend: Chain Necklaces

Forget dainty charms hung from a sliver of a chain. The new trend across fashion blogs and magazines is the necklace made of hardware, a statement piece comprised of a mass of heavy chains in various sizes and metals, sometimes knotted together, sometimes cascading to great lengths. Even J.Crew, the bastion of preppy style, has not remained immune to this new punk look: the necklace shown above is one from their new jewelry line designed by Dana Lorenz of Fenton/Fallon.

While shopping this week at HaShouk HaCarmel, I raided the two jewelry stands and found quite a selection of chains in various sizes, all costing around 20NIS per necklace. These fabulously inexpensive alternatives can be layerd on top of one another or knotted by hand. Below, a detail from my favorite pick:


Top image credited to J.Crew (www.jcrew.com).

Eat Well: Charcuterie

Now is the time to enjoy the outdoors in Israel. The unbearable summer heat has yet to hit, but the weather is perfectly warm enough to enjoy an evening meal outside without needing to jostle for space next to an electrical heater.

Yaffo immediately comes to mind in such weather, because of its concentration of dining and nightlife options that are tucked away in HaShouk HaPishpishin. The streets of the old flea market which, during the day can be somewhat of a tourist trap, come alive with a diverse crowd at night, several hours after vendors' stalls have been closed.

One of the largest and, perhaps, best-dressed crowds can be found in front of Charcuterie, a restaurant that spills out of its tiny closet-like space to take over nearly an entire block with tables and a makeshift outside bar. The menu is decidedly simple, with several typical appetizers, pastas, salads and, of course, the tasty platters of charcuterie meat for which the place is named.

The music is loud and the drinking is heavy. Well-heeled Tel Avivians converse animatedly and the entire scene eventually assumes the look of a lively street party. Charcuterie's new extension, a similarly styled bar with a small selection of the restaurant's meats and appetizers, occupies a corner spot just a few doors down, thus increasing the block's traffic.

Reservations are essential, unless you're a small group happy to angle for a position at the outside bar, whose seats are kept open on a first-come-first-served basis. The whole menu can still be ordered here, making it a perfect option for those hopping back and forth along the flea market's alleys, shifting through the different scenes at Yaffo's plethora of new outdoor dining options.

3 Rabbi Hanina St.
Yaffo Flea Market
+972 03 682 8843

Travel Well: Toledo

We're exactly a third of the way through Spring today. Even though most of the country's official "days off" have passed for the moment, and much of the world is grounded because of continuing complications with falling ash, I'm still hoping to finally get the foreign vacation I've been craving.

Last year, my boyfriend and I spent a wonderful five days in Spain, the highlight of which was our picture-perfect stay at a parador in Toledo. Spanish paradores are a unique brand of hotels that provide high-level accomodations in historic buildings. Preserving the traditional style of their locations, but bringing modern amenities and services, is the charm of the paradores.

Hotel Conde de Orgaz certainly deserves its inclusion in this club. The rooms are serenely simple, consisting of tiled floors, dark wood details, and large windows that lead to private porches overlooking one of the most astounding views imagineable.


Toledo is nestled like an island between gorges, and the Hotel Conde de Orgaz is perched across the river, high on the banks of The Emporer's Hill. The specific view from this location is known as a favorite of painters and was even captured by one of Toledo's stars, El Greco. True relaxation consists of sitting out on the Parador's veranda at sunset, savoring the scenery, drinking cerveza and snacking on olives and cheese.

Exploring Toledo itself is a romantic adventure, as you wind through its tiny cobblestone streets and lovingly preserved monuments. The city's main cathedral is an astounding example of Gothic architecture, while El Greco's mural, El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz, at La Iglesia de Santo Tome, is one of art history's significant treasures. Pick up some marzipan, a Toledo staple made at nearby convents, and nibble your way through the city's multitude of tapas bars. Toledo is nothing if not a feast for both eyes and stomach.


Parador de Toledo (Hotel Conde de Orgaz)
+34 925 221 850
http://www.paradores.es/en/tratarFichaParadorCabecera.do?parador=079