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Tel Aviv celebrates it’s 100th birthday

Tel Aviv’s 100th birthday celebrations kicked off on April 4th in Rabin Square before a crowd of 400,000, who came to celebrate in the most energetic, optimistic, liberated, and colorful city in the Middle East, and some say it’s the most bustling, youthful and fun city in the whole world. The gala event started with a stunning concert highlighted with a multi-media sound & light show and performances by top Israeli artists: the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta, Barry Saharof, Matti Caspi, Shlomo Gronich, Miri Massika, Monica Sex, dancers and acrobats. Rock bands played on the roofs of nearby buildings, while impressive historical pictures of the first Hebrew city were displayed on huge screens. This amazing happening concluded with an impressive fireworks display and a massive street party.

Tel Aviv features sky-scraping towers and stylish hotels by the Mediterranean Sea front promenade, offering one of the world’s most spectacular urban beaches of vast and pristine golden sands.
Fashionable nightclubs, hip bars, fine restaurants and colorful cafés make it hard to imagine that exactly 100 years ago, there was nothing here but sand dunes and a few dreamers who started building the first Hebrew city of Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv 100 celebrations from gigagil on Vimeo.

Over the next nine months, more than 400 special events will be held all over the city, including music and art festivals, sporting events, special historic exhibitions amidst community projects, and many others.

Some of the main 100th birthday events promise a lot of fun and surprises!

In honor of Tel Aviv’s first mayor, Meir Dizengoff, a special statue of him riding his horse will be erected in front of his historic home on Rothschild Boulevard, created by the sculptor David Zangelovitch.

Sports: Tel Aviv will host the international marathon on April 24th and in June the European Windsurfing competition, takes place on Gordon Beach. Olympic medalists and contenders are expected to participate in this world class event. The 18th Maccabi Games will be held in the city in July.

Architecture: The annual “White Night” celebration will take place on May 27th. Stunning Rothschild Boulevard, the location of some of the most beautiful Bauhaus buildings, will become one big street theatre with professional actors playing scenes from the early 1920s.

Culinary fairs: The city’s famous fruit and vegetable market will be open till dawn, as well as the nearby Nahalat Binyamin Street with its arts & crafts fair. Restaurants and bars will be open all night.

Blues Festival: Music, art and food will be celebrated in Old Jaffa. A happening featuring street music, art galleries and fine restaurants will be open at the renewed Old Jaffa Port.

On July 16th, for the first time in Israel, Milan’s La Scala opera house will perform Verdi’s Requiem in HaYarkon Park for free.
The Rosh Hashana holiday will be celebrated at Rabin Square with a spectacular flower carpeted square.

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Hakosem's Street Food Stand: Where Street Food Meets Restaurant in Downtown Tel Aviv

Hakosem's street food stand is a popular destination for foodies in Tel Aviv, Israel. It's located in the lively area of Florentin, which is known for its vibrant street art scene, trendy bars, and diverse culinary offerings. Hakosem's stand stands out not only for its delicious food but also for its cool music and design. The stand has a laid-back vibe with outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying a quick meal on the go or sitting and savoring the flavors of the Middle East. At Hakosem's, the falafel is the star of the menu. These golden and crispy balls are made from a mixture of chickpeas, herbs, and spices, and are fried until crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The falafel is served in a warm pita and topped with creamy tahini sauce, spicy dressings, pickles, and Israeli salad. It's a flavorful and satisfying meal that's perfect for lunch or dinner. In addition to falafel, Hakosem's also offers a variety of other Middle Eastern dishes. The hummus, in particular, is a must-try. It comes in different styles, including with mushrooms or shawarma, and is served with warm pita bread. The shawarma is also a crowd-pleaser, with juicy and flavorful meat served on a skewer with pita and toppings. Despite being a street food stand, Hakosem's is almost always crowded, especially during lunchtime when there can be a line of 10 people waiting to order. However, the wait is well worth it for the delicious food and friendly atmosphere. Overall, Hakosem's is a great spot for anyone looking for tasty, authentic Middle Eastern street food in Tel Aviv. Whether you're a local or a tourist, you'll appreciate the delicious food, friendly service, and cool vibe of this popular food stand.

Tel Aviv port - Night Time, busiest nightlife center of the city

The Tel Aviv port was shut down in the 60's as an active sea port, and was awaken in the 80's as a nightlife and water sports center. Nowadays it is the busiest nightlife area of the city. Some of its bars and clubs are certainly worth a visit even just to get a glance of the crowded mingling scene of Tel Aviv's nightlife. The biggest club in the Tel Aviv port area is TLV. It used to be one of the city's nightlife scene leaders for years, but has no fixed schedule anymore. TLV still holds parties every once in a while, playing mostly house and trance music, so if you consider yourself a clubber, you might want to check if there's a party there during your stay. The club itself is equipped with a state of the art sound and lighting systems, and has a sea front section with cool vibes. Whisky-a-go go, one of the hottest bars in Tel Aviv, is just nearby. This is where Israel's famous actors, models, athletes and celebrities come to eat, drink and mingle. Whisky-a-go go is a mixture of a lounge, a dance bar and a dining place. After midnight, the atmosphere there changes, while trendy DJs lift up the energy level. Another trendy place is Shalvata (which means peace or tranquility), named after a famous mental institution in Israel. Shalvata Offers a relaxed atmosphere, good music and superior view of the Mediterranean, accompanied by friendly service, though it tends to get very crowded on summer weekends and holidays. Galina is another Mega-bar at the Tel Aviv port which is friendly, well designed and usually quite packed. It is built around a round bar that occupies most of the space, a design that makes it a good place to meet people and mingle. There are many other bars in the Tel Aviv port and there's always enough parking. You can also take a bus all the way to the north end of Dizengoff and just follow the crowd, on their way for another night of drinking and dancing till dawn.

Experience Mediterranean Flavors at Mena - A Bistro Restaurant on Yarakon Street

I recently visited Mena, a Mediterranean bistro restaurant located on Yarakon Street, and I must say, I was impressed. The restaurant is under the direction of Chef Yanon Elel, who has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens around the world. The restaurant is beautifully situated on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, offering a stunning view. Mena's emphasis on Mediterranean food is evident in every dish they serve, and the freshness of the ingredients is apparent. The menu is carefully curated, with classic influences and European flair that doesn't compromise on the small details. I had the pleasure of trying several dishes, and each one was better than the last. The winter menu features a variety of dishes, from sourdough bread with butter, dua, olive oil, and balsamic from Modena, to sweet potato roulade with confit garlic, feta, hazelnuts, and olive oil. The standout dish for me was the chopped liver with pepper jam, crispy shallots, sour leaves, and African bread. It was a unique twist on a classic dish, and the flavors were perfectly balanced. Mena's menu options are a delightful blend of Mediterranean cuisine with European influences, offering a diverse range of dishes to suit all tastes. From classic favorites like Caesar salad with parmesan and crispy potato, to more adventurous options like fish carpaccio with pistachio vinaigrette and chili, the restaurant caters to a variety of palates. Vegetarians and vegans will also find plenty of options, including the red root vegetable pasta with silan, za'atar, and feta, and the greens in the oven with caesar aioli, parmesan, crispy potato, and soft egg. The menu is carefully curated to highlight the freshest ingredients, and the staff is knowledgeable about each dish, making recommendations and accommodating any dietary restrictions. Overall, the menu options at Mena are a delicious journey through the flavors of the Mediterranean. The service at Mena was impeccable, and the staff was attentive and knowledgeable. They were able to match the needs of our group in terms of food, style, design, and service. The published menus can be slightly changed if necessary, which is a nice touch. Overall, I highly recommend Mena for anyone looking for a Mediterranean dining experience in a beautiful setting. The prices are reasonable, considering the quality of the food and the level of service. If you're looking for a place to host a small event, Mena is the perfect choice.

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