Hi everyone. In case you were wondering where I’ve been, I’m in Beirut! Taking some time off to spend with family here. Beirut is as vibrant and alive as ever. Here are some photos from Beirut by Philippe Laurent. More here.

I’ll be keeping you posted on the latest and greatest of the ArabNet 2010 Conference. Meanwhile, check out the website here and the blog here.

ArabNet 2010 is the first international conference for the Arab web industry, bringing together leaders from across the MENA, Europe and Silicon Valley to discuss cutting-edge trends and emerging opportunities.

Through pitch sessions, the conference will feature the region’s brightest ideas and most promising Internet start-ups, and connect them with the internet ecosystem: incubators, angel investors, venture capitalists, established Internet companies, NGOs and influential bloggers

Under the patronage of H.E. the President of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon, Mr. Saad Hariri, The International Business Alliance Group (IBAG) Presents ArabNet 2010 Trends and Opportunities in Arab Web Business

25-26, March 2010
Habtoor Grand Hotel, – Beirut, Lebanon

I love these photos by Krikorian I came across on flickr. Especially the one of the elderly woman..
See more here.

Vartan Avakian -
“Untitled Neon Signs for Burj Hammoud (2a) and (2b)”, 2009
Neon, 135 x 435 cm

Bassem Feghali is the sole mastermind behind all of his unforgettable impersonations. From Marilyn Monroe to Mariam Nour, the vision starts with him. ‘I do a lot of research for each and every production I intend on creating. The Internet makes it easier nowadays and I’m definitely not the first to do any of this,’ he modestly admits. ‘I draw my inspiration from other mavericks in the field; researching, observing, visualising…it all helps develop the skill.’

Courtesy of Timeout Beirut

For full article, check out the upcoming new March issue 19.

Born in Beirut in 1962, Pierre Koukjian fled Lebanon with the outbreak of civil war in the mid 1970s, spending several years living in Germany, France and later the Far East.

“Impressive People,” is a collection of oil paintings by Koukjian that iconifies artists, politicians and world leaders into intrepid oil on canvas works that possess an evident monumentality.

Noise at Gallery Sfeir-Semler is Curated by Negar Azimi and Babak Radboy for Bidoun on view
11th December 2009 – 3rd April 2010

with Vartan Avakian, Steven Baldi, Walead Beshty, Haris Epaminonda, Media Farzin, Marwan, Yoshua Okon, Babak Radboy, Bassam Ramlawi, Mounira Al Solh, Andree Sfeir, Rayyane Tabet, Lawrence Weiner, Alessandro Balteo Yazbeck

How beautiful is this color palette from Georges Chakra couture Spring/Summer collection 2010. Gorjeous. I love the deep blues, the yellows, and the reds..strong but delicate.

Sally K’s Paintings are characterized as fun, flirty, and feminine. I love to see them when I’m out and about in Beirut.

While walking through a quiet neighborhood in Gemmayzeh, Beirut last year, I came across the most beautiful Graffiti I had seen. Arabic Typography!! How fresh is that? Took a couple of pics.

Well, browsing through the web today, I came across a shop selling Sarah’s Bag clutches and guess what? There it was…the grafitti that had sparked something special in me. Glad she noticed it too.