Missing Z Domination Competition

After meeting 'Z liberation cell' (who stole the famous Zs from Zaatar w Zeit signs all around Lebanon) last Friday night, many important information concerning this whole mystery were revealed.
In fact, we are convinced that the Zs had to be removed!

So basically we decided to team up with 'Z liberation cell' to make a big buzz and make the Zs missed from everywhere!

Why?

You'll find out in around 10 days!

How you will be helping us?

Easy!
The competition is composed of 3 easy and very quick steps:

1. Like the Missing Z Domination page on Facebook.
2. Upload a funny/weird picture or photo of a missing Z.
3. Make your friends like it.

Don't forget to like the Zaatar w Zeit page.

Prize?

Upload the funniest/weirdest photo and get the most likes and the following prize is yours!
The prize is a Zaatar W Zeit new loyalty card filled with points worth of 600$ spending at Zaatar w Zeit!
You heard me! Filled with points obtained by a 600$ spending at Zaatar w Zeit!
This card can be used in any of Zaatar w Zeit branches for Dine-in and Take-away.
So hurry up! unleash your creativity and help us with the Missing Z Domination!
And the winner will be announced in around 10 days!

P.S.: You can't win if you got likes on a lame photo! BE CREATIVE!

Zaatar w Zeit and the Missing Z

After all the buzz about the Zaatar w Zeit 'Missing Z' campaign, I just want to share my thoughts and not criticize it since it didn't finish yet, even though I noticed some obvious mistakes.

Anyway, I just want to show my respect for what Zaatar w Zeit are trying to do.

It could've been a normal marketing campaign like any other campaign any restaurant will probably do.

But they preferred taking it to the next level, giving a full focus to the online social media especially by selecting the most influential bloggers in Lebanon and trusting in what they can do.

Maybe some bloggers went on TV, or written about in a magazine, but this is the first time in Lebanon, a marketing campaign is totally depending on bloggers, which we can't but respect.

Anyway, in a few hours, some things will be revealed and hope the Zs will be found and it will be a happy ending!

You can check how the Zs were stolen here (I loved this video!)

John Paul II and the wazawiz

May 1st is the day of the Beatification of the pope John Paul II.

And the month of May, in Lebanon, is consecrated to Saint Mary, our Lady of Lebanon.

5 mysteries of the Rosary were held yesterday night from the 5 places the pope loved around the world:

1. Krakow, Poland
2. Bugando, Tanzania
3. Harissa, Lebanon
4. Mexico city
5. The Shrine of Fatima

I had the honor to participate in the prayers for John Paul II yesterday around 11h15 pm in Harissa.

Concerning the Lebanese traditions, I remembered why I stopped going to Harissa on the first of May.

What was ironic yesterday, is that the church wasn't full when we were sharing live prayers for John Paul II, but you can find hundreds and hundreds outside, and thousands in Ghosta (a town near Harissa full of restaurants), dabke on the road, scooters, "modest" couples, cursing, smoking... On the other hand, you can find Sri-Lankans carrying flowers and heading to Harissa to pray!
I was so pissed to see that yesterday!

Guys, if you want to go to Harissa with your friends, the question should be:
"Badkon notla3 NSALLEH bi Harissa?" and not "Ta3o notla3 NWOZZA bi Harissa"

Save Beirut Heritage - Call for action

"I got this email, and I thought it is worth sharing."

Save Beirut Heritage is calling for a sit in on Sunday May 1st at 12 noon at the previous location of Cinema Vendome, Mar Mikhael Street.
This is a Report of an abomination that happened in the recent days. For Arabic, read this:http://www.al-akhbar.com/?q=node%2F10615

HAR properties managed to obtain a permit of demolition for 3 significant heritage buildings in Mar Mikhayel near the previous cinema Vendome Cinema in order to make space for a 30 story tower called AYA tower (Plot Beirut 663).

The only compromise was to keep the facades; this is unacceptable.

Furthermore, these permits were obtained through political coercion and gross abuse of power by the owners of the plots; namely Mr. Fahed Rafic Hariri, Mr. Michel Pharaon, Mr. Antoine Samaha and Mr. Fouad Zeidan.

You will find attached photos of the recently demolished buildings, feel free to use them in your respective publications. "The photos in this post"

The buildings demolished had been previously classified as architecturally significant by a committee designated by the Ministry of Culture. This same committee resigned once Minister Salim Wardeh succumbed to political pressure and overturned their decision to preserve the buildings. He granted demolition permits.

In the same breath, three more significant buildings were granted permits and are in imminent danger:

1 - A gorgeous building that is owned by Mr. Michel Pharaon in Achrafieh will be demolished so that he could build parking space and raise it by 3 stories.

2 - Sodeco Plot 5, owner by Mr. Michel Pharaon and Mr. Samaha: A beautiful traditional house.

3 - Abdallah Al Yafi's Villa that will be demolished to be 'reconstructed' as part of a 30 floor tower.

Save Beirut Heritage is calling for a sit in on Sunday May 1st at 12 noon at the previous location of Cinema Vendome, Mar Mikhael Street. We as the Green Party of Lebanon Highly encourage the participation in this sit in.

"This is their website: Green party of Lebanon"

Moving SKYBAR

The rumors seem true. SKYBAR is moving to BIEL's first parking on the left.

They took over a huge space in that parking, and it seems it is going to be a massive building!

So now you think: Cool! SKYBAR surrounded by a huge parking! so we can park wherever we want without giving our cars to the valet parking guys!

Well, think twice, I'm sure they'll find their way to wreck your car and make you pay for it ;)

Traffic Hell towards BIEL

The next forum is the yearly International forum of recruitment ‘FORWARD’. And this year, they are introducing for the first time, the Business forum: the business Opportunities, Services & supplies Fair which will be held alongside FORWARD.

Where: BIEL - Beirut

When: from Wednesday the 27^th till Saturday the 30^th of April 2011 starting 4pm until 10pm.

In case you are searching for a job, or willing for a change, check both Forward or Business forums websites for more details. The list of exhibitors is still ‘Coming soon’.

And in case you are not interested, save the date, and try to avoid the Beirut seaside, because it will be a hell of a traffic, since BIELs architects decided to design one tiny entrance for the whole Marina which, by coincidence, contains parking lots for more than 10,000 cars usually used by Downtown employees and sponsors the biggest events in Lebanon!

I personally never benefited from this forum except for some hats and mugs.

Surviving Lebanon - Unavoidable Tips - Part I

'If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere'
By "here" I mean Lebanon and not New York... Excuse me Sinatra and Jay-Z.
I decided to write some ‘unavoidable’ tips if anyone ever decided to survive Lebanon.

1. First and typical tip: Don't watch, listen or read the news! Or you’ll be singing Roberta Flack’s ‘Killing me softly’ soon; I mean really soon!
2. Don't panic when you see equipped soldiers or tanks on the road. That's normal. Surely not stable, but normal.
3. You need to know and trust a doctor. It would be better if he's from your relatives, and more specifically, the relatives that you do not share any kind of property (Land, building, ...) with! Or you'll find yourself killed by a 'law abiding' doctor.
4. You need to know and trust an auto mechanic. Or you will be changing the whole engine each time you go changing your car's engine oil.
5. Never drive when you are already angry. keep a stress ball in your car.

I feel like I can write a whole novel about 'Surviving Lebanon'.
Feel free to comment and share your tips/ideas.