Deek Duke gets burried in the snow - almost

Image source

Deek Duke is back after that influencer campaign yucky campaign (here). Now it is buried in the snow. Well, almost. So, what does the ad say? That they deliver under snowy conditions? That it is time to ski but not forget the burger? That is is better to hide your mouth but save the burger? Well, on the positive side we don't need to indulge in influencer idiocy, on the flip side, not sure how conceptual this is or how tempting. But as of late I have seen too many ads which are there without a concept that this just seems to be a minor addition to the melee. And so here we are, as the storm keeps pounding Lebanon, someone already is thinking about the snow.

Fakhry broasted & grill - après moi, le déluge

Well, if you can't beat them, join them!

Today a video was heavily circulated of a major - major flooded road. The video starts right in front of the "Fakhry" broasted & grill chicken shop in Hazmieh and on it goes with water clogging the street. 

Fakhry not to be drowned in the cacophony of the voices (har har) went on the attack launching an ad that says "but we're coming over to you" indicating that even with the incredible water flooding, they were ready to deliver orders.

Well, that's really one way to look at the situation but the ad is super timely and within the circumstances well done.... 

The weather report according to Almaza

Almaza our national beer continues with its strategy of covering more or less daily events when they are worth celebrating (see here, here, and here for examples) and this weekend, Lebanon experienced its first taste of summer. Weather was nice, temperatures began to climb, and whereas the livin' is not easy one can always pretend. Cue the weather forecast courtesy of Almaza: The sun is a 5505 Degrees, the sea at 25, the air at 30, and Almaza? -2 thank you very much.

So yes, refreshing, cold and refrigerated. Of course, prices are soaring all over so people can no longer consume alcohol (even if locally produced!) with the same insouciance they used to. But then again I suppose a beach outing is never complete without Almaza, neither is a picnic or a family Sunday lunch.

So I guess it's sunny with a chance of Almaza.

Lebanon: Not a normal autumn in Beirut this year.

Artwork by Tarek Chemaly (Autumn in Beirut)

There is a proverb that goes: Autumn in Beirut and spring in Damascus.

Both cities are renowned to be blessed by temperate, lovely weather in those two seasons. Sure, some years Beirut goes directly from hot-summerish to cold and very winter-damp (with humidity that either sticks to the skin or pierces to the bone). But in the years when autumn hits, it's precisely that wonderful passage between the seasons. I have moved from Beirut in 2010, and where I am there is that temperate lovely transition whereas technically we are still not in autumn.

By now, we tend to cover up at night, the August congestion has left the weather. People tend to wear an additional layer at night. Veranda sitting is brought-down to a minimum. And of course, any student would be now in pseudo-panic mode because yes, it is back to school mood. Actually, you feel the kids really - really - milking the end of summer by playing more intensely to make up for the days that will come especially that this year schools in Lebanon are gearing up to welcoming the students in situ.

Sure, this autumn seems more melancholic than normal. What's with all the issues compounded on top of one another and all the rationing in addition to all the economic downfall that has laid its great shadow on the Lebanese population. And this too can be felt in the air. Almost palpably. Yes, yes, new government has been formed yada yada. But people are now more realistic. At least more of them are. They know how difficult the situation is and that the times of miracles are long past. 

So there, a new season is upon us.... and yes, "the autumn leaves" will soon be drifting "by the window". Tomorrow we will make a big cleaning in the upper floor as we prepare to lock the house upstairs for winter.... Still too early to do so downstairs. But there is nothing usual or normal about these times. Just one foot in front of the other, one day at a time.