On May 22 the final game in the volleyball championship organized by XXL was held between the two competing teams, Anwar and Zahraa. The final match, which was held at the Michel El Murr stadium in Jdeidi, brought together fans of both teams, who cheered throughout the game. The beautiful XXL girls handed out energy drinks at the game to refresh players and audience members alike. Both teams played very well but unfortunately there can only be one winner and Anwar , who are also the Lebanese reigning champions, took the title for this championship. At the end of the event trophies and awards were given out and XXL celebrated the victory with champions!

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“In music the passions enjoy themselves.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

The Lebanese are renowned for their many talents, and music is definitely one of them. With so many outstanding DJs in the country, we thought we’d shine a spotlight to highlight some of the best talents in the field by launching the DJs of Lebanon. It’s a way to thank them for providing the soundtrack to some of the best nights of our lives and keep the beats going and going and going.

Lebanese Duo Jixo and Danz are among the many expats that moved to Dubai for “day jobs” but by night these awesome guys are DJs that are seriously heating up the nightlife scene in the UAE with their events and permanent gigs at the likes of Blue Marlin Ibiza, plus international affairs. Check out our interview with the musical pair:

How did each of you begin your DJing careers?

It all started when we first decided to buy the pioneer CDJ 100 back in 2002, since we both have the same passion for music. A year later we started spinning in small gigs in Beirut till the time we decided to move to Dubai for job opportunities and everything has gone well since then.

Who and what are the inspirations for your music?

We get exposed to various genres and styles of music due to the fact that Dubai is hosting top quality international DJs on a weekly basis. It’s a good source of inspiration, especially when we get the chance to perform alongside these big names.

How would you define your genre of music?

Nowadays there is no ONE specific genre of music. We can simply say it is a combination of disco, deep, groovy house and can goes up to tech or definitely techno. It all depends on where and when we are performing.

Where can we listen to you play?

You can catch us spinning at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE on Fridays and/or Saturdays. District Lounge DIFC is also another night spot we spin at, in addition to various local events.

What was your favorite event or show you ever played and why?

Every event or venue has its own unique vibe, but the first thing that comes in our mind was our gig in Ibiza last summer, in addition to the Blue Marlin Ibiza Formula 1 event in Abu Dhabi. It was good a feeling to be performing while watching the race

Do you have any albums or are you working on one?

We always wanted to start producing, however our day jobs are taking a lot of our time and till now we didn’t manage to finalize what we have already started. We should be working on some tracks in the second half of this year.

What brought you to Dubai?

We both work in the media industry, we got a nice opportunity in two well reputable media house companies.

What’s the difference between the clubbing scenes in Dubai and Lebanon?

The scene in Lebanon started earlier and at some point it was the number 1 destination in the region with no doubt. Unfortunately the unstable situation didn’t help much to keep this momentum going. However the positive vibe will always be there!

The Dubai scene is getting really mature. We can really see the difference today after being in the UAE for 5 years. The cosmopolitan side of the city is making it really special and the ongoing weekly events are just making people appreciate  the music more and more.

Do either of you have any other projects going on right now, other than DJing?

Yes, we both work in the media industry in two different media house companies. Danz as a digital account manager & Jixo as an outdoor account manager.

Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

5 years is a long way but all we can say is that things are on the right track ! We already played in a few countries such as Malaysia, Greece and Ibiza. More opportunities are to come but our main priority will always be our “real” day time job.

What’s the most difficult part about being a DJ?

Being up-to-date and constantly looking for fresh sound.

What’s the best part of being a DJ?

The DJ is the only one to know what’s coming next… seriously now, the best part is seeing a responsive crowd!

Do you have hobbies? Can you tell us more about those?

Football, Darts, pool table and list goes on

Where can we follow your news and updates? Do you have a fanpage?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jixo-Danz/168201566544533?ref=hl

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/jixo-danz

What are your favorite tunes on your iPods right now?

Too difficult to answer this one, every genre has its own mood and timing.

How would you describe Lebanon in one sentence?

The city that never sleeps.

How would you describe Dubai in one sentence?

A very convenient and interesting city to live in.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thank you to all the people who supported us throughout these years. Without music life would be a mistake

The city dates back around 9000 years and has been almost continuously settled. Situated in Lebanon’s northern Beqaa valley, Baalbeck is home to some of the best preserved Roman ruins in the country, and the world. It was conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 BC and became a major city in the Greco-Roman era, at the time called “Heliopolis” or City of the Sun.

The historical monuments at Baalbeck, which was a pilgrimage site, are a Lebanese landmark known the world over and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. These remnants of Roman rule in the region include the temples of Jupiter (Baal), Venus and Bacchus.

Tourists flock to the site all year round to witness the immensity of the ruins and wonder at the well-preserved relics of the ancient world. Every year the temples also form a surreal backdrop for the Baalbeck International Festival, where musical, dance and theatrical performances are staged in the beautiful, unique and truly magnificent setting.

Don’t miss paying a visit to this unique world-renowned site only 85 km away from Beirut, and if you’ve been, keep coming back at different times and season to see it in all its glory throughout the year.

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YOLO is every cluber’s favorite RnB night in the B-City. Now imagine Fatman Scoop taking over YOLO and setting the club on fire! The wild crowd at white bounced like crazy to the great performance of Scoop and the sizzling hot dancers. Cocktails were flowing and all the sexy party people were there to shake the floor! BeirutNightLife.com took part of this awesome event and brought you back those great moments!

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Yet another exciting game was held at the Michel El Murr stadium in Jdeideh in a Lebanese volleyball championship sponsored by energy drink giant XXL. The team Anwar played against Zahraa in a great game, while audience members cheered and supported their favorites. As always present at the event were the beautiful XXL hostesses offering the crowd energy drinks. Both teams enjoyed the refreshing drinks and gave their best performances but ultimately it was Anwar that won the game. BeirutNightLife.com was there to cover the event and share the pictures with you!

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The fabulous Cannes Film Festival is a place for big parties, big dresses and big dreams. It’s where the who’s who of the movie industry meet once a year to watch new films of all genres, from around the globe. From extravagant parties, to star-studded movie premieres it’s also the place to be for fashionistas. Held in the paradise coastal city of Cannes in the south of France, every year this is where the glitterati of fashion and film have a date.

This year’s 66th annual Cannes Film Festival opened on May 15 and is coming to a close this weekend on May 26. The head of jury for this year’s main competition, the Palme d’Or, is the renowned moviemaker Steven Spielberg, while New Zealand director Jane Campion is head of the jury for the Cinéfondation and Short Film sections and the French actress Audrey Tautou was the host of the opening ceremony and will also do the honors at the closing ceremony on Sunday. The festival opened with the premier of the highly anticipated The Great Gatsby, and will close with the film Zulu, by French director Jérôme Salle. Awards at the ceremony include Palme d’Or, the Grand Prize of the Festival, Jury Prize, Best Short Film, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, as well as others in other sections and given by independent entities. On May 26th the Award of the 2013 Festival de Cannes will be held to reveal all the big achievers of the year.

Even though Cannes is primarily about the movies it’s also a place for fashionistas to show off their most glamorous looks and for top couture designers to showcase their latest pieces on the beautiful frames of celebrities and guests. This year Lebanese designers’ most beautiful gowns were again prominently seen on the red carpet. Elie Saab dressed actresses like Dita Von Teese, Rosario Dawson and Aishwarya Rai, Lebanese director Nadine Labaki and TV personality Mona Abou Hamze, models Irina Shayk and Petra Nemcova as well as many many others. Zuhair Murad dressed the likes of Eva Longoria, Cheryl Cole, and Alessandra Ambrosio.

The event of the year will come to a close this Sunday and Beirutnightlife.com will keep you posted with all the winners!

When Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund step on Wembley stadium tomorrow night, the world of football will be witnessing what will probably be the most exciting game of the season between two German sides looking to win Europe elite prize, the Uefa Champions League.

Borussia Dortmund will be aiming for their second European glory, after they beat Juventus 3-1 to claim the trophy in 1997, while four-time champions Bayern Munich, will try to end the final curse that hold them back in 2010 against Mourinho’s Inter Milan in 2010 and last year against Chelsea.

Injuries

Dortmund will miss their prolific play-maker Mario Gotze, who was confirmed out of Saturday’s clash due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the return leg of the semi-finals against Real Madrid, but the good news is that centre-back Mats Hummels who was a doubt for the final due to his ankle injury is progressing well and will probably start for Dortmund.

As for the Bavarians, defender Holger Badstuber who will be sidelined for months and midfielder Toni Kroos who picked up a muscle injury in the quarter-finalof the UCL first leg against Juventus are both set to miss the final.

Probable Lineups and Tactical analysis

With the absence of Mario Gotze, klopp will most likely play with 4-3-2-1 instead of his usual 4-2-3-1 with Reus going deep into the center to support Lewandowski alongside with Kevin Grosskruetz from the left and Jakub “Kuba” Błaszczykowski from the right, while Bender and Gundogan helping Reus when the team is set to defend.
In the defense, with Hummels fit to play no major change seems to happen, as the German centre defender is expected to partner with Subotic, while Schmelzer is set to defend the left side and Piszczek on the right.

Bayern Munich will most likely continue to play with the same 4-2-3-1 formation which helped them demolish Juventus (4-0) and Barcelona (7-0) on their way to the finals.
Manuel Neuer as a goalkeeper, Dante and Van Buyten in the centre-back, while German brilliant captain Philipp Lahm on the right side and Alaba on the other side, Javi Martinez will be just in front of the four defenders while Schweinsteiger slightly ahead of him building the attacks.
Robben will continue going wide on the right side with the absence of Toni Kroos while in-form Franck Ribery occupying the left side.
Thomas Muller will continue his role as the main provider for Mandzukic who is expected to start ahead of Mario Gómez.

Strength Points

Dortmund will allow Bayern to have the ball and play their game, as they will rely on the counter attacks which they are brilliant in, specially with key-player Gotze out of the clash, going full speed with Gundogan and Bender trying to provide the ball to Marco Reus as much as possible, who himself will support Lewandowski in the box, also Grosskruetz and Kuba will have a major mission in Dortmund’s counter attacks from the wings along with their defensive mission by trying to keep Lahm and Alaba in their half of the field and not providing Muller and Mandzukic with many balls.

Bayern, on the other side, will possess the ball as usual (second team after Barcelona with possession percentage) and will dominate the midfield most of the game with its powerful midfielders Javi Martinez, Schweinsteiger, Ribery and Robben, and will rely deeply on their wings with Lahm and Robben on the right side and Alaba and Ribery on the other side.

All of the above are probable formations, tactics and overviews which are still not confirmed, one thing we are sure about is that this Saturday night we will witness one of the most exciting games of the season from the players and from the coaches.

Source: http://sportsoverviewblog.blogspot.com/

Since Baume & Mercier was founded in the heart of the Swiss Jura in 1830, it has continued to expand into new markets around the globe, and travel has become an essential part of its history. That is why it was a natural choice to add a Dual Time watch to the Clifton collection: a watch that functions in such a way as to enable the simultaneous display of two different time zones on its dial. This efficient, understated piece fulfills the needs of metropolitans who travel for professional or personal reasons and who wish to check the time at home, as well as the time where they are, at a glance.

The art of travel makes up part of the historic heritage of Baume & Mercier, as the Swiss watchmaker understood the importance of taking its influence beyond the boundaries of Europe as early as the 19th century.

Aware of the potential that the new territories represented, the company, formerly known as Frères Baume, established a branch in London as early as 1851 under the name Baume Brothers. The company’s activity, which had its beginnings with a focus on the Swiss Geneva area and the British Empire, would reach North America when a subsidiary was opened in Philadelphia in 1876. A vast network then formed, encompassing India, Africa and even Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Burma.

By the end of the 19^th century, the brand had acquired a solid international reputation, and received a number of awards and gold medals for its polished timepieces at exhibits and international fairs in Paris, Melbourne, Zurich, Amsterdam, London, Chicago, and elsewhere.  With their precision and fine crafting, Baume watches beat records and won competitions in the field of chronometry, including those organized by the Kew Observatory near London. London played an essential role in establishing the global time standard: the Royal Observatory is found there, and the original meridian that was used to determine mean solar time, known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)*, runs through it.

Clifton GMT, both elegant and timeless

Baume & Mercier pays homage to this great past with two GMT watches that complete the Clifton men’s collection. These elegant, timeless watches are a demonstration of Baume & Mercier’s ambition to provide travelers with useful functionalities. These luxury timepieces both feature a 43 mm diameter case in brushed satin-finish steel with the date display in the three o’clock position, available with a silvery dial or anthracite dial with sun satin finish.

These models contain an automatic mechanical movement known for its reliability and precision:  ETA 2893-2. With the Dual Time function, it enables the watch to simultaneously display a second time zone, indicated by the red dot at the end of a fine hand that goes around the dial once every 24 hours. This marvel of balance is understated, simple to handle, and useful for everyday use. It is mounted on a black or maroon bracelet fastened by an adjustable triple folding buckle with security catch.

Clifton GMT: time in motion

* Since January 1, 1972, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) has been replaced by Coordinated Universal Time  (UTC), the time standard defined by the combination of a multitude of atomic clocks located all over the world.

Clifton GMT (ref 10111)

The elegant new Clifton GMT model 10111 is a traveler. It was designed for men who regularly roam the planet and who wish to check the time at home, as well as the time where they are. This watch comes in a 43 mm diameter case in brushed satin-finish steel with a shape inspired by that a 1950s Baume & Mercier watch. It contains an automatic mechanical movement visible through the sapphire case back (ETA 2893-2). The slate dial with a sun satin finish is illuminated by a set of golden hands, and shows the date in an open display in the three o’clock position. In addition to the local time, a second time zone is indicated by a fine hand that goes around the dial once every 24 hours. This metropolitan, timeless piece is mounted on a maroon alligator skin bracelet fastened by an adjustable triple folding buckle with security catch.

Clifton GMT (ref 10112)

The understated new Clifton GMT model 10112 has a silvery dial with sun satin finish on its 43 mm diameter case in brushed satin finish steel. It contains an automatic mechanical movement visible through the sapphire case back (ETA 2893-2) enabling the simultaneous display of a second time zone. With the additional feature of a date display in the three o’clock position, this Clifton model is mounted on a black alligator skin bracelet fastened by an adjustable triple folding buckle with security catch.

A modern and contemporary art fair devoted to the emerging artists of the ME.NA.SA region (Middle East, North Africa, South & South East Asia); BEIRUT ART FAIR prepares its new edition at the Beirut International Exhibition Leisure Center (BIEL) from the 19th till the 22nd of September 2013 under the impetus of Laure d’Hauteville, Pascal Odille and Jean-Marc Decrop.

The enthusiasm generated by the first three editions testifies to the genuine artistic and economic boom in the region. In 2013, BEIRUT ART FAIR continues its exceptional artistic initiative and secures the patronage of the President of the Republic of Lebanon.

Underlining its widened scope of international modern and contemporary art and the challenges it faces today, BEIRUT ART FAIR pursues its evolution in 2013 and gains by introducing a renewed cultural program promoting plurality within the ME.NA.SA artistic trends.

This year, BEIRUT ART FAIR features some forty galleries hailing from over 15 countries. May they be from renowned or undiscovered artist, rising or established stars of the art market, all the exhibited works testify as to the effervescence of contemporary artistic creation in the region. This diversity of trends mirrors the artistic ferment which renders today’s and tomorrow’s art world vibrant across the globe.

Honoring South-East Asia

This 4th edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR is an opportunity to introduce, for the first time in Lebanon, an Asian pavilion, proof as to the strong rise of art in this part of the world.

The pavilion, curated by Richard Koh, brings together 19 artists through 9 internationally recognized galleries: Art Seasons Gallery, Chan Hampe Gallery, Vivi Yip Gallery, Richard Koh Fine Art KL, Umahseni Gallery, Gallery Rachel, Blanc Gallery, Gallery D-9, Finale Art File. They offer an overview of contemporary art in South East Asia; from Singapore and Thailand to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

- Singapore is represented by the artists: PHUNK, David Chan, Robert Zhao Renhui, Vertical Submarine and Ruben Pang. – Indonesia is represented by Angki Purbandono, Aditya Novali, Agung Kurniawan and Syaiful Aulia Garibaldi.

- Malaysia is represented by Chang Yoong Chia, Justin Lim and Saiful Razman. – Thailand is represented by Kedsuda Loogthong and Attasit Aniwatchon. – The Philippines are represented by Jay Ticar, Liv Vinluan, Annie Cabigting, Allan Balisi and Yasmin Sison.

It is worth pointing out that during the former editions of the fair, the galleries of Richard Koh Fine Art (Indonesia), Langgeng Gallery (Indonesia), UCCA-Edition (China), Platform 3 (Indonesia), Darga Gallery (Indonesia) and ChinaToday (Belgium) were a huge success.

Design featured at BEIRUT ART FAIR

This year, the fair continues to expand its sphere of activity by encompassing contemporary design. The guest of this « discovery » space will be the art critic Jérôme Sans, who shall select 10 artists representing the new generation of Lebanese designers.

This design hub invites art collectors, lovers and professionals to discover the ambitions of an ever-changing young artistic scene.

Photography with “Generation war” An exhibit supported by Marine Jacquemin

BEIRUT ART FAIR has invited Katya Traboulsi to transform one of the fair’s spaces into an unprecedented display. The exhibit titled “Generation War” showcases the works of six Lebanese photojournalists born in the sixties: George Azar, Patrick Baz, Aline Manoukian, Samer Mohdad, Jack Dabaghian and Roger Moukarzel.

When war erupted in Lebanon in the 1980s, the six of them were barely 20 years old.

Through their lenses, scenes from daily life transcend with humor, cynicism and surrealism.

Their attempts at immortalizing moments amongst the rumble and deserted streets were picked up by the international press, publishing their photographs across the globe: Paris Match, The New York Times, Newsweek, International Herald Tribune, Al Jazeera International, Agence VU, AFP, Reuters, Sygma…

Today, they are regarded as great reporters and press photographers with international recognition.

By supporting « Generation War », Marine Jacquemin, journalist and great reporter, gives tribute to the talent of these six photographers, whom she befriended not only in Lebanon but also in Somalia, Rwanda and Bosnia…

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These events are complemented by a program of round tables and conferences on themes such as photojournalism and its fate, with the “Generation War” exhibit as a backdrop, and the exposure of South-East Asian artists on the international scene.

In parallel, BEIRUT ART WEEK shall descend on the Lebanese capital from the 18th till the 24th of September 2013. This route gathers some twenty projects combining installations, sculptures and interactive performances that will take shape across Beirut landmarks such as the city-center souks, Zaitounay Bay, Saifi Village and Harbour Square.

From September 19th till the 22nd, BEIRUT ART FAIR will position Beirut as the cultural and intellectual capital of the Arab world, making the city a hub of contemporary art at the crossroads between East and West.

The new kid on the cinema block, VOX Cinemas, had one hell of an opening party on Tuesday night to celebrate its launch in the brand new Beirut City Center in Hazmieh. The state of the art VOX Cinemas boasts 15 fabulous screens, in addition to the biggest screen in Lebanon, the 20-meter VOX MAX in a theatre that seats 455 people, plus 4 luxurious VOX Gold cinemas for those looking for a cozy VIP experience. The opening was paired with the premier of the highly anticipated action movie The Fast and the Furious 6 in 3D, which was shown at VOX MAX. The event was an invitation-only affair, drawing many media figures in the country to try out the venue. Beautiful leggy models from the LIPS agency welcomed guests, and a dance show was held. In theme with the movie, there was also a car exhibition showcasing some awesome extreme sports cars, as well as a drift remote control car challenge. VOX sure broke into the cinema circle with a bang. See you there!

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