Tel Aviv 100 – Opening Event

The long awaited Tel Aviv Centennial festivities begin this week. The main event is the Centennial Opening Concert this coming Saturday night (April 4th, 20:30) in Kikar Rabin. Based on what T in Tel Aviv saw this week in Rabin Square, the concert is going to be quite a production. The reported figures are: 5 tons of sound equipment, 20 tons of lighting equipment and 1700 feet of projection screens.

Kikar Rabin, Tel Aviv Municipality

Scheduled to perform are popular Israeli artists including Miri Mesika, Matti Caspi, Shlomo Gronich, Berry Sakharof, Monica Sex (yes, that’s the name of the band) and the Israel Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta. Also on the program are 100 roller bladers, dancers from 12 community centers throughout the city, theater groups etc. At the end of the event, Mayor Ron Huldai will light 100 candles on a giant birthday cake. (wonder if it’s chocolate or vanilla???) Such an event would not be complete without a fireworks display.

A young Tel Avivian holds a Tel Aviv 100 flag

T in Tel Aviv will provide updates of most of the Centennial events so check www.tntelaviv.com often. Better yet, subscribe and receive updates by e mail. To subscribe simply click here or on the link located above the Tel Aviv 100 logo to the left.

In Tel Aviv This Week:

Revealing the Hidden City – A joint project of the Centennial Committee, Yad Ben Zvi ( Hebrew site) and volunteers from community centers around the city. Thousands of pictures from private albums have been scanned and are already displayed on major streets such as Ben Gurion Blvd. in Tel Aviv. To see some of the photos click here.

Tel Aviv Time at the Tel Aviv Museum - A photography and video exhibit by artists from the last decade. Now through May 2nd.

The Tel Aviv Municipality has opened an information center where information about tours, sightseeing and maps are available. The center is located at 46 Herbert Samuel Street and is open from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. on Fridays. Tel: 03-516-7188

Tchochkes – “Because a little decoration is such a nice thing”

By definition the Yiddish word "tchochkes" means little things or small toys. In T in Tel Aviv’s house it means little decorative things that you place throughout the home or office space for decoration, accent or stuff you just don’t know what else to do with!

Thanks to my friend Patti Boker Elkon and her partner Shira Abel Shvo, “Tchochkes” is now a website that's a great resource for design ideas and useful information. Patti and Shira are based in Israel but Tchochkes is universal in its concept and presentation.

Today, Patti posted about the ceramics gallery Shlush Shloshim located in Tel Aviv's Neve Tzedek neighborhood. T in Tel Aviv enjoyed Shira's recent post: "Tel Aviv Here I Come".

Their decorating advice can be fun and good natured....recent posts that you might find interesting: “What not to do with an orange sofa” followed a few days later by “What to do with an orange sofa”.

Patti is also a color and Feng Shui consultant so her very practical post “Color Tip for Selling a Home” is based on over 20 years of experience.

Tchochkes is a wealth of information. Enjoy!

Tel Aviv Centennial – Be Part of the Mosaic!!!

The Tel Aviv 100 festivities will kick off during the first week of April. This is a good time to subscribe to T in Tel Aviv so that you'll receive updates about events throughout the year. Subscribing is simple: Just click on the “subscribe to” link located to the left directly above the Tel Aviv 100 logo.

Speaking of photos….

The daily newspaper Haaretz and the Tel Aviv Municipality are assembling a giant mosaic of individual photos of Tel Avivian’s that will be screened at Tel Aviv 100 events. Submit your photo (Hebrew site only) and keep your eyes open when you attend a Tel Aviv 100 event.

Turkish Coffee Festival in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Center

There’s still time to stop by the Elite sponsored “Turkish in the Center” event in the Dizengoff Center. Until the 27th of March a festival of Turkish coffee awaits you. T in Tel Aviv has yet to taste flavored Turkish coffee drinks but for 7 NIS you can try such flavors as cinnamon, toffee and vanilla. Who knows what the future holds, but for 20 NIS you can have a cup of Turkish java and your coffee grounds read.

Available for purchase is everything you would ever want or need to prepare Turkish coffee at home. If you can’t make it to Dizengoff Center try the recipe for Turkish coffee below. If you don’t own a traditional “cezve” a small saucepan will do….not authentic but you’ll get the idea. It is very important that the coffee is very finely ground, even finer than an espresso grind.

A traditional Turkish Cezve
Turkish Coffee

1. Measure out 1 teaspoon of ground coffee for every 2 oz/60 ml cup per demitasse cup and place it in the 'cezve' or saucepan . Add the amount of cold water you will be using by measuring out enough to fill however many demitasse cups you are making.

2. If you would like to add sugar, do it now. One teaspoon per serving. Stir the mixture until all of the coffee and sugar sink to the bottom. There is no more stirring allowed after this point.

3. Place the mixture on the heat. Allow it to come to point where a foamy froth starts to rise to the top of the pot. Do not let it boil!

4. Remove the pot from the heat before the froth boils over.

5. Return to the heat and repeat frothing a second and third time.

6. After the third frothing, pour a bit of the froth into each cup.

7. Return the brew to the heat and bring to an almost boil one last time, then immediately pour it into the serving cups over the froth, grounds and all.

Allow the brew to sit for at least one minute to allow the grounds to settle to the bottom.

Drink up UNTIL you start to taste the grounds.

Fresh Paint 2 – Contemporary Art Fair in Tel Aviv

Fresh Paint 2 will be held from March 18th -21st at the newly restored Jaffa Train Station (“HaTachana” compound) located just south of Kaufman Street, between Neve Tzedek and the sea. Visting hours are Thursday the 19th, 16:00 – 20:00, Friday the 20th, 10:00 – 18:00 and on Saturday the 21st, 11:00- 21:00. Entry is 20 NIS and includes the lectures and workshops.

Among the 17 galleries showing are Alon Segev, Noga and Gallery 39. In addition over 70 unrepresented artists will show over 1500 works of art. This is a unique opportunity to acquaint yourselves with lesser known Israeli contemporary artists. All works of art will be for sale on a “cash and carry” basis.

There’s a nice selection of restaurants within walking distance of the “HaTachana” compound:

Suzanna - 9 Shabazi St, Neve Tzedek, 03-517-7580

Dallal - 10 Shabazi St. Neve Tzedek, 03-510-9292

Bellini - 6 Yehiely St, Suzanne Delal Center, 03-517-8486

2009 Gourmet Food Week

Between the 8th – 18th of March make sure to take advantage of Maariv’s 11th Gourmet Food Week. Over 100 restaurants throughout Israel (Hebrew site) are participating with special 3 course meals priced at 89 NIS per person. Restaurants include Forelin and Kimmel in Tel Aviv, Vaqueiro and Darna in Jerusalem. The Belgian beer Leffe is also a sponsor so a glass of Leffe will cost 15 NIS throughout the week.

In light of the success of the last year’s food week Maariv is continuing its cooperation with the non-profit organization “Negishut Yisrael” (“Access Israel”) which is dedicated to making Israel accessible to all. Their very helpful English website offers information for disabled and elderly travelers to Israel.

B'Te'avon....Bon Appetit!

Purim and Hamantaschen aka Oznei Haman

The sights (colorful costumes), sounds (the reading of the Megilat Esther) and tastes (Hamantaschen) of Purim (Tuesday, March 10th) makes this one of my favorite holidays. Toy stores began selling costumes a few weeks ago and Hamantaschen or “Oznei Haman” (in Hebrew) appeared on bakery shelves soon after Hanuka’s “sufganiot” were removed.

Any number of bakeries including Lehamim on Hashmonaim St. in Tel Aviv or any of Roladin’s branches sell “Oznei Haman”. Alternatively, roll up your sleeves, get the kids into the kitchen and make your own.

Below is a recipe for Hamantaschen dough from Judy Zeidler’s book: The Gourmet Jewish Cook. Be creative with your fillings – jams and chocolate chips are easy and quick! I highly recommend doubling the recipe!


Bet you can't just eat one!

Hamantaschen Cookie Dough Recipe

1/4 pound unsalted butter or nondairy margarine, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
Grated zest of 1 orange
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until well blended. Beat in two of the eggs and the orange zest, blending thoroughly.

Add flour, baking powder, salt and blend until dough is smooth.

Transfer to floured board and divide dough into three or four portions for easier handling.

Flatten each portion with the palm of your hand and roll it out 1/4-inch thick. With a scalloped or plain cookie cutter, cut into 3-inch rounds. Place one heaping teaspoon of filling in the center of each round. Fold the edges of the dough toward the center to form a triangle, leaving a bit of the filling visible in the center. Pinch the edges to seal them.

Place hamantaschen 1/2 inch apart on a lightly greased foil-lined baking sheet and brush with the remaining egg, lightly beaten. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to racks to cool. Makes 5 to 6 dozen. (T in Tel Aviv finds that the recipe really makes 3-4 dozen of small hamantaschen)