Yesterday, I visited Lebanon’s only Contemporary Ceramics Studio, the appropriately named Ceramic Lounge. It is in the squeaky-clean area of Beirut that promotes itself as an “art village”. Here’s the concept at the lounge. You go, choose a white ceramic thing (they have all kinds of table/kitchen wares, plus boxes, banks, ornaments, coasters, decorative figurines, etc.), choose some colors and start painting. For those who doubt their own creative genius, they have tons of ideas, patterns, things to trace and things to out-right copy. While you work, you can eat. They offer drinks and light snacks. When you finish your meisterwerk, they glaze and fire it for you, ensuring the colors last.
There are a lot of things to praise about the Ceramic Lounge. The staff were helpful both in person and on the telephone (oddly rare in Lebanon, or maybe its just the language barrier striking once again). The atmosphere there is accordingly relaxed, open, and fun. The quality of the finished product is beyond dispute (microwave, dishwasher, everything-safe). Not least of the lounge’s merits is the food. I can, with confidence in my objectivity, state that their cheesecake is THE best I have had in Lebanon. That alone might justify a visit.
Lest you think that I’m just advertising for them (NO web presence?—a cause in itself for demerit) my experience there was not all roses, sunshine, and happiness. The cost of everything in the lounge is unnecessarily high, and prices are poorly explained. One tiny item, a desert and a drink cost over $20, which admittedly precipitated a slight decline in my avid interest in making their art a part of my life.
4 comments:
It does sound like a pleasant place and may not be too bad of a price if the one tiny item was a piece of pottery and as well you got a desert and drink. I think its attraction is aimed at the novice like me rather than the frugal art master such as yourself. Maybe we can go by and take a look when I am out there. Grandpa Dan
Let's do it. You can make a nice souvenier of your visit.
Dear Mr. / Mrs. first comment
It seems like you don’t go out much, travel much or do anything to find that 20$ are expensive for ceramic painting, good time, desert and drink????
Moreover if you found weird that the people where helpful unlike the Lebanese people then why the *** everyone visits Lebanon and adores it.
Have you ever been to France, Germany turkey Cyprus I am sure they were very welcoming and helpful.
it is really sad how you saw that people in lebanon are unwelcoming...
Lebanon receives millions of tourists daily this is due to the great quality of service, great hospitality, wonderful service and good prices...in addition to the awesome diversified nature..
you might like to do another visit before you decide about Lebanon...
anyways, you are always welcomed...
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