Walking with the King – Israeli style
Filed under: A New Reality, Food, General, Israeliness, Music, Pop Culture, design
Even my wife can't resist the magnetism of the King.
An oasis of kitsch from the King right off the Neve Ilan turnoff on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway, the Elvis Inn is now an Israeli landmark that should not be missed – especially if you want to go home with an Elvis portable alarm clock or a postcard of Elvis as the baby Jesus, or a Bedouin nomad. It’s the kind of place that John Waters or David Lynch would have thought up for a scene for one of their movies.
The Elvis Inn is actually a restaurant – a garish, American-deco diner at that. You can’t miss the place, with the huge Jurassic Park-like statue of Elvis outside. But rather than serving the traditional cheeseburger and fries – after all, this is Israel – you can get your fries with pargiyot, kebab and any number of grilled Middle Eastern delicacies.
[The music is a taped loop of greatest hits by the King, which I'm sure the staff must be sick of hearing by now. The gift shop is chock full of the Elvis memerobilia described earlier, and the wall and ceilings are jam-filled with photos of 50s Elvis, pre-army Elvis, movie-star Elvis, Las Vegas Elvis, and wall murals of the King's numerous movie rolls. Then there are the statues and figurines throughout the restaurant - magnets for photographs. We went home with an Elvis Inn mug, and a few pilfered Elvis sugar packets.
A visit to the Elvis Inn shouldn't be missed - for a combination of Israeli and American pop culture excess at its most peculiar. Even better if you can make it on the annual commemoration of Elvis's death, when the cadre of Israeli Elvis impersonators converge for an evening of sneering and attempts at Israeli accented "Jailhouse Rocks."
Accessorize it
Filed under: Art, Business, General, Israeliness, design
Eva Teffner necklace and earrings
With discounts of 20%-30% on the current season, and 60%-80% on previous seasons, deals are clearly to be had. And while I don’t know all the designers who will be present, I can tell you that Or Forbin, whose line of jewelry, Eva Teffner — named for her grandmother — will be there, and she offers some extremely clever and affordable costume jewels. She uses elements of collage, printing on metal and then incorporating that into the earrings, pendants and pins that are part of her inventory.
The Mohawk Returns to TA
Filed under: General, Israeliness, Music, Pop Culture, design
An Israeli with a Mohawk at Nitzanim Beach (Photo credit: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images)
But given the centrality of hair in my life for the last week, I paid special attention to a Haaretz Gallery article this week about the increase of Mohawk haircuts on the streets of the Big Orange. It’s a look that attracts attention, as pointed out by Haaretz writer Tahel Frosh — whether it’s a modified, messed up or done up Mohawk. And given the recent harkening back to the 80s in the fashion world, it’s not a big surprise that this particular Punk style — and my mushroom head — is back.
According to stylist Maayan Goldman, the fashion statement being made by the current Israeli variation says, “I am not radical in any way, but I am here. I have fashion sense, but I’m not going to die for it.”
I mean, after all, it is just hair. It grows back.
An Israeli diamond in Manhattan
Living in Israel, we’re always used to some people – both native Israelis, immigrants and visitors – saying, ‘why can’t they do this like in America?’ about some particular thing that bothers them.
So, it’s especially gratifying to learn that an Israeli model for something is being adopted in the US. In this case, it’s the shining star of Ramat Gan, the towering Diamond Exchange, which is going to be copied to build a Manhattan Diamond Exchange.
According to a report in Ynet, the Internationl Gem Tower which is due to be completed in mid-2011, will house the largest diamond and jewelry center in the US, and will revolutionize the Manhattan’s diamond district.
Builders of the new project, US-based Extell Development, claim that hundreds of people in the diamond business around the world are renting old, dilapidated buildings in the New York diamond district, and are forced to deal with below par work conditions on a daily basis.
Extell additionally claimed that the existing level of security is insufficient for dealing in diamonds and jewelry. This also happens to be the reason the American company takes pride on the fact that it has planned the new complex based on the Israeli model, in which four buildings are interconnected through a system of bridges, which provide diamond dealers from around the world comprehensive and total answers for all their needs. The model has been combined into one 34-storey, 70 sq. meter (about 750 sq. feet) building
The new center is in actuality an exact copy of the model used in the Israeli Diamond Exchange, which is located in Ramat Gan, and will provide all the necessary services for the industry under one roof and will up the level of personal security provided to those working in the field. The project will cost an estimated $750 million.
“Israeli diamond dealers have grown accustomed to doing business under the mantle of increased security provided by the diamond exchange in Ramat Gan that provides quite a wide range of services,” said Extell’s Senior Vice President of Project Management, Raizy Haas. “The tower that will be built will provide the perfect response for all the needs of the diamond and jewelry dealers, including the most advanced security methods in the world.”
The head of the Israel Diamond Exchange President Avi Paz told Ynet he wasn’t surprised that the Manhattan tower is going to be based on the Israeli model: “From India, from Turkey, and from other countries, people have come to learn from us how to organize secure compounds for diamond dealers. We teach them how to provide a commercial infrastructure for the diamond dealer from a security perspective and supporting services for the diamond dealers.”
Looming like a beacon of light off the Ayalon Freeway, the Israel Diamond Exchange has always been a source of Israeli pride. Now that light has just gotten a little brighter.
Mama Mamilla
Filed under: A New Reality, Business, General, Holidays, Israeliness, Life, design
Even though I should be used to it, I can never seem to get over what a hopping place
Jerusalem can be. Maybe it’s from growing up in a small New England city where three cars at a red light constituted a traffic jam.
Yesterday, part of the family took a stroll along the Alrov Mamilla Avenue, the posh outdoor shopping promenade that opened up a year or so ago, just outside the Old City walls. Granted it’s during Hol Hamoed Succot, so people are on vacation, but the place was bursting – like the Maine Mall on Black Friday after Thanksgiving.
Around a third of a mile long pedestrian mall with mostly upscale shops and restaurants geared to tourists, the $150 million, the classy avenue was designed as a luxury destination in the style of Los Angeles’ Rodeo Drive or The Grove. Of course, those places don’t have The Tower of David looming over it in the background.
There’s about 140 businesses, including international names like Rolex, H. Stern, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Nautica, and Tommy Hilfiger, as well as local chains like Castro, Ronen Chen, Steimatzky Books, and Cafe Rimon.
The Alrov Mamilla Avenue also includes the luxury David’s Village residential project, the David Citadel hotel, the Karta parking lot (site of plenty of haredi Shabbat protests recently) and the newly opened Mamilla Hotel. During the Ottoman period and the British Mandate, Mamilla was a successful financial district, but in the 19 years between the War of Independence and the Six Day War, Mamilla fell into decay. Looking at the area now, it’s hard to remember how dilapidated it was only a few years ago.
We stepped in to check out the first Gap store in Israel, and enjoyed ogling the merchandise, while rolling our eyes at the prices, browsed through the crafts fair on the upper level, and enjoyed the street musicans along the way. The place was bustling with energy and excitement, and provided further proof that Jerusalem is one rocking place.
Pin-ups
I’m a sucker for calendars, because I love the feeling of filling up the days of the month with what’s happening, from dentist appointments and school events to visits from friends, deadlines and, hopefully, vacations. So the advent of a new year is always advantageous for me, because everyone is passing out calendars these days.
There’s my fruit-and-vegetable guy, who always prints a magnetic one for the fridge:
And Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, which runs the pool and gym complex in our area, was offering their own version this year:
My mother-in-law always buys one for us each year, because she’s also a big fan of calendar-filling:
And then I noticed this item in Ha’aretz, pointing out that this year’s Carlsberg Beer calendar is using Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef as the pinup figure to be admired, rather than the usual photos of good-looking young folk quaffing a few cold ones. According to the report, the calendar, which was distributed along with the Shas newspaper Yom Leyom, was seen as disrespectful by more than a few in the ultra Orthodox community. I can see that. But I gotta get a copy…
Israeli Hallmark
Filed under: Art, Business, Holidays, Israeliness, Pop Culture, design
If you haven’t sent out those Rosh Hashana greetings yet — whether in card or email format, or, lo, facebook — never fear. A fantastic Jerusalem collage artist has created greeting cards that will negate all belated wishes, because they’re just so fun and clever.
Yael Bar, according to her bio, is a Jerusalemite who has never lived in Tel Aviv. (Another reason to like her.) After earning a first degree in the history of art and theater, she is now a recent graduate from Bezalel. I think she’s looking for a job, but in the meantime, is making these one-of-a-kind greeting cards that include all sorts of Israeli and non-Israeli personalities, from Shoshana Damari to Leonard Cohen.
Besides the Rosh Hashana editions, which I’m sending to my nearest and dearest, there are cards for all sorts of occasions, from Mazal Tovs and Chag Sameachs to her particular take on Israeli life, with collages lifted from recent newspaper articles, such as Divorce in Modi’in and prime ministers’ ranking.
My favorite Jerusalem gift store, Nisha, was selling the cards, but you can also contact Yael by email and order some of your own.
LoveBox
Along very Israel21c lines, Israeli Roy Shechter was having a hard time dealing with negative images of Israel, so he decided to take action. He teamed up with an American friend to create a website showing the best parts of Israel, as well as a few Israel ‘Loveboxes,’ filled with Israeli items that can be sent to loved ones. The idea being to connect you to Israel even when you’re not here, with things like soup nuts and Bamba. You don’t have to necessarily spend money; there is, of course, a facebook group option, where ‘friends’ such as Zeev Bielski have commented with admiration.
According to Roy, the lovebox concept is simply a way for Jews to feel connected to Judaism and Israel even when they are not in the Holy Land or don’t always feel they can display their Judaism proudly. So take a look at the loveboxes and see what you think. There’s a certain charm to the website and the idea, what with ‘The Gathering of the Tribe Lovebox,’ ‘The Israeli Wannabe Lovebox,’ and ‘The Worried Jewish Mother Lovebox.’ For just $19.90, $29.90 or $39.90, and a collection of kiddush cups, Psalms key chains, Turkish coffee, Bamba, sunflower seeds, Elite instant coffee and instant soup mix (+ soup nuts), you can show your love of Israel.
A kitchen chair
Filed under: Business, General, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life, design
This can be filed as an only-in-Israel story. I think. In any case, it goes like this: I’ve been looking for the right kitchen chair for several years now. We’ve been doing just fine with our Esther hand-me-downs, a very common wooden-frame, cushioned seat that is fairly ubiquitous in Israeli homes, but is simple, inexpensive and fairly long-lasting. And now that two of them have highchairs strapped to the seats, and food being smeared all over, I’m not unhappy to be sticking with the hand-me-downs.
However, my mother and I were looking for an outing, and I was thinking that a kitchen chair search could be just the ticket. Remembering that I’d seen chairs that I liked in my local Aroma branch — Emek Refaim in the German Colony — a smooth wooden L that is printed with an image of woven fabric, I decided to ask at Aroma where they’d purchased the chairs. No idea. So I called Aroma headquarters, pressed 1 for customer service and was very surprised to have the phone answered on the first ring by ‘Reuven’ who cheerily greeted me and asked how he could help me. I told him that I had a strange question and he told me that no question I could have would be strange. Hmm. So I asked and he told me to call the franchisee of the Emek Refaim branch, or his manager, and I’d have an answer. I did, and Asi told me that they’d bought the chairs at an all-chair store in Ga’ash, which is a shopping center mecca just north of Tel Aviv, and, incidentally, the first shopping center to be open on Shabbat.
Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the great customer service, and while I do love Aroma, hadn’t expected quite that level of American friendliness and professionalism. So much so, that I used this story as an example of how Israel is sometimes positively influenced by American customs, in a talk I gave to a Birthright group the other night. But back to Aroma and kitchen chairs.
We drove to Ga’ash, and given that Asi didn’t remember the name of the store or its exact location, it took about half an hour and a few false starts before the postmistress of Kibbutz Ga’ash told me that I was looking for a store called Pick-Up, located just across the parking lot from the Ga’ash Hot Springs (which were discovered when the kibbutz was digging for oil, no joke). We got there, maneuvered the stroller in, and found said Aroma chairs as well as a few other options, all currently being considered. There must have been some 500 straight-backed chairs in the store, as well as outdoor seating, in case you’re looking for chairs.
We then went to Aroma for lunch, mostly because it was easy to find– although it would have been more fun to find a different cafe in Rishpon — and as I sat on their plasticized rattan couches with white cushions, I could appreciate just how much Aroma invests in its furnishings, because now I know.
And that, is the end of the story.
Refugee models
Filed under: Business, General, Israeliness, Politics, design
Interesting item in Ha’aretz Gallery this week: The Tees Factory brand has put together a photography project/marketing campaign for its latest catalog, using African migrant workers from Tel Aviv in order to promote awareness of the campaign to deport them.
The catalog depicts four Africans, all of whom were found on Chelnov Street in South Tel Aviv, wearing items designed by Tees Factory. Of course, as the article points out, there’s something of a gap between a fashion catalog selling several-hundred shekel tee-shirts and an issue that is supposedly being exposed. Particularly when you find out that the ‘models’ were paid NIS 50 and a tee-shirt, a common barter system among professional models in Israel, according to Ayala Amit, the Tees Factory founder.
The label ‘Tees Factory’ is based in Tel Aviv and sold at several stores and clothing fairs. Made in Israel, the design motifs “are a mixture of Jamaican street culture, 50’s [sic] and 70′ [sic] Americana and our very own local Tel Aviv chic,” according to their Facebook page. The company also
“holds a strong dialogue with the local music and nightlife scene. Through working with local musicians on joint projects, supporting live shows from abroad, endorsing music events with local artists and dressing local DJs and musicians for whose work we have respect for.”
Well, you can’t say they didn’t have their heart in the right place. Just a slightly flawed method for publicizing the issue.
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