Hamra Street
Encyclopedia
Hamra Street or Rue Hamra, (technical name : Rue 31, 31st Street, شارع ٣١)is one of the main streets of the city of Beirut
, Lebanon, and one of the main economic and diplomatic hubs of Beirut. Due to the numerous sidewalk cafes and theatres, Hamra Street was the center of intellectual activity in Beirut during the 1960s and 1970s. Before 1975, Hamra Street and the surrounding district was known as Beirut's trendiest, though in the post-war period it has arguably been eclipsed by Rue Monot in Ashrafieh, Rue Gouraud
in Gemmayzeh, the fashionable Rue Verdun
and the lavishly rebuilt downtown area
. In the mid 1990s, the Municipality of Beirut gave a face lift to the street to reattract tourists all year round. Today it is a commercial district with a number of hotels, furnished apartments and coffee shops.
on Bliss Street
at the end of the 19th century.
- One of the Arab region's most dynamic areas. Frequented by the Arab region's most prominent writers, intellectuals, artists.
- First act of resistance against the Israeli occupation in 1982 at the Wimpy Cafe (now Vero Moda store).
winner and Los Angeles Times
journalist Borzou Daragahi
described the street as "Hamra, a bastion of liberalism, embraces multiple religions and political views amid sectarian conflict." Hamra Street has a mix of all religions present in Lebanon, particularly Sunni Muslims, Greek Melkite Catholics and Greek Orthodox. However, Hamra remains Lebanon
's secular haven and the least religiously-affiliated area around Beirut
, as the area hosts a limited number of churches and mosques in contrast with other districts. However, one group remains absent from Hamra Street: Lebanese Jews, whose numbers in Lebanon
have fallen from 20,000 in 1948 to fewer than 100 today.
, Gloria Jean's, Caribou Coffee
, Costa Coffee
and Starbuck's), as well as many local shops. It is also known for its tourist appeal and variety of hotels. Its main landmark is the Crowne Plaza
. The street buzzes with life during the summer when many tourists, especially from the Persian Gulf area, flock to Lebanon.
Before the Lebanese civil war
, Hamra Street was known as Beirut's "Champs Elysées" as it was frequented by tourists all year round. Beirut's Piccadilly Theatre was one of the major theaters in the Middle East
. Hamra Street is a first-rate commercial district which proudly displays the latest fads in fashion. It also hosts a good number of hotels, furnished apartments and coffee shops that cater to visitors and students from the nearby American University of Beirut and Lebanese American University.
Hamra no longer functions as the cosmopolitan bastion of sectarian Lebanon. The Lebanese civil war and the ensuing government regulation that enforced rent control on all of the buildings removed the neighborhood's elite, pre-war cachet. However, the neighborhood remains trendy and profitable because of:
1) the historical significance of the neighborhood;
2) the attraction of "authentic" Beirut to foreign tourists, particularly those from the Persian Gulf;
3) the historic Hamra red light / supernightclub district, and the present acceptability of opening pubs, bars, and public cafes that serve alcohol in the district;
4) the current locations of the Lebanese Central Bank (Banque Du Liban), many private banks, multiple major newspapers (As-Safir, the wartime and pre-war headquarters of An-Nahar, and the near neighbors Al-Akhbar and Al-Mustaqbal), and many Lebanese government ministries (including the Ministries of Interior, Information, Tourism, and Economy and Trade), which have existed in Hamra since before the civil war;
5) the close proximity and economic focal points of four of Lebanon's most significant universities: the American University of Beirut, the Lebanese American University, the Armenian Haigazian University, and the government run Lebanese University Law Faculty.
6) the booming commercial scene in Hamra St. that is a combination of retail shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Although it has yet to revive fully its pre-war legacy, Hamra Street has undergone many renovations and is still regarded by many as the heart of the city.
The festival has encompassed a vast number of activities and events that target all age groups. Participation in the festival is flexible, and it greatly encourages amateur musicians , Artists and Free-lancers in all fields of the Arts. A wide variety of professional musicians perform after 8:30 p.m. each night while Amateurs reign the stages during the day. The Inauguration & Carnival Parade includes Carnival Float (Char de Carnaval), Dancing Groups, Zaffee loubnaniyya, Harley Davidson Owners HOG, The Beirut Orchestra, University Clubs Parade, Firemen, Croix Rouge Libanaise, Fuel Tankers with donkeys, Vegetable Chariots, Street Artists (Fire eater, stilt walker, etc…), Vintage Car etc… and a firework show afterwards.
More Activities:
with the Ras Beirut
neighborhoods. The street begins at the intersection of Rue de Rome and runs west until the intersection of Rue Sadat. Hamra Street is also a walking distance from the American University of Beirut
on Bliss Street
, Haigazian University
on Rue Michel Chiha and the campus of the Lebanese American University
as well as Rue Jeanne d'Arc
and René Moawad Garden
on Rue Spears
.
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon, and one of the main economic and diplomatic hubs of Beirut. Due to the numerous sidewalk cafes and theatres, Hamra Street was the center of intellectual activity in Beirut during the 1960s and 1970s. Before 1975, Hamra Street and the surrounding district was known as Beirut's trendiest, though in the post-war period it has arguably been eclipsed by Rue Monot in Ashrafieh, Rue Gouraud
Rue Gouraud
Rue Gouraud is a mixed residential and commercial street in Gemmayzeh, a neighborhood in the Achrafieh district of Beirut in Lebanon. The street, which was named after the French General Henri Gouraud, has become one of Beirut's trendiest streets with numerous high-end restaurants, French cafes,...
in Gemmayzeh, the fashionable Rue Verdun
Rue Verdun
Rue Verdun, or Verdun Street, is an upscale commercial and residential street in Beirut, Lebanon. The street, which is a major shopping center and tourist attraction, was named in honor of the Battle of Verdun during World War I. However, "Verdun" remains the street's unofficial name...
and the lavishly rebuilt downtown area
Beirut Central District
The Beirut Central District or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a...
. In the mid 1990s, the Municipality of Beirut gave a face lift to the street to reattract tourists all year round. Today it is a commercial district with a number of hotels, furnished apartments and coffee shops.
History
- Opening of American University of BeirutAmerican University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
on Bliss Street
Bliss Street
Bliss Street, or Rue Bliss, is one of the principal streets of the Hamra area, which is within the Ras Beirut District of Beirut in Lebanon. The street, which is parallel to Hamra Street, runs east-west, connecting with Rue Clémenceau on the east and ending at Avenue General de Gaulle that runs...
at the end of the 19th century.
- One of the Arab region's most dynamic areas. Frequented by the Arab region's most prominent writers, intellectuals, artists.
- First act of resistance against the Israeli occupation in 1982 at the Wimpy Cafe (now Vero Moda store).
Demographics
Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner and Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
journalist Borzou Daragahi
Borzou Daragahi
Borzou Daragahi is a print and radio journalist and the former Baghdad bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times. A U.S. citizen of Iranian descent, he was a 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for his coverage of Iraq and led the bureau that was named a 2007 Pulitzer finalist for its Iraq coverage...
described the street as "Hamra, a bastion of liberalism, embraces multiple religions and political views amid sectarian conflict." Hamra Street has a mix of all religions present in Lebanon, particularly Sunni Muslims, Greek Melkite Catholics and Greek Orthodox. However, Hamra remains Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
's secular haven and the least religiously-affiliated area around Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, as the area hosts a limited number of churches and mosques in contrast with other districts. However, one group remains absent from Hamra Street: Lebanese Jews, whose numbers in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
have fallen from 20,000 in 1948 to fewer than 100 today.
Economy
It hosts a large number of western chains (including Radio ShackRadio shack
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
, Gloria Jean's, Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee Company is a specialty coffee and espresso retailer, the second largest in the United States after Starbucks. Caribou sells coffee, tea, and bakery goods in 415 company-owned coffeehouses in 16 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 126 franchise locations worldwide.-...
, Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is a British coffeehouse company founded in 1971 by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa, as a wholesale operation supplying roasted coffee to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops. Since 1995 it has been a subsidiary of Whitbread, since when the company has grown to over...
and Starbuck's), as well as many local shops. It is also known for its tourist appeal and variety of hotels. Its main landmark is the Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza Hotel (Lebanon)
The Crowne Plaza Hotel is a five-star Crowne Plaza hotel in Beirut, Lebanon. The modern hotel makes a notable towering mark on the landscape, overlooking Rue Hamra street in the city...
. The street buzzes with life during the summer when many tourists, especially from the Persian Gulf area, flock to Lebanon.
Before the Lebanese civil war
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
, Hamra Street was known as Beirut's "Champs Elysées" as it was frequented by tourists all year round. Beirut's Piccadilly Theatre was one of the major theaters in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Hamra Street is a first-rate commercial district which proudly displays the latest fads in fashion. It also hosts a good number of hotels, furnished apartments and coffee shops that cater to visitors and students from the nearby American University of Beirut and Lebanese American University.
Hamra no longer functions as the cosmopolitan bastion of sectarian Lebanon. The Lebanese civil war and the ensuing government regulation that enforced rent control on all of the buildings removed the neighborhood's elite, pre-war cachet. However, the neighborhood remains trendy and profitable because of:
1) the historical significance of the neighborhood;
2) the attraction of "authentic" Beirut to foreign tourists, particularly those from the Persian Gulf;
3) the historic Hamra red light / supernightclub district, and the present acceptability of opening pubs, bars, and public cafes that serve alcohol in the district;
4) the current locations of the Lebanese Central Bank (Banque Du Liban), many private banks, multiple major newspapers (As-Safir, the wartime and pre-war headquarters of An-Nahar, and the near neighbors Al-Akhbar and Al-Mustaqbal), and many Lebanese government ministries (including the Ministries of Interior, Information, Tourism, and Economy and Trade), which have existed in Hamra since before the civil war;
5) the close proximity and economic focal points of four of Lebanon's most significant universities: the American University of Beirut, the Lebanese American University, the Armenian Haigazian University, and the government run Lebanese University Law Faculty.
6) the booming commercial scene in Hamra St. that is a combination of retail shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Although it has yet to revive fully its pre-war legacy, Hamra Street has undergone many renovations and is still regarded by many as the heart of the city.
Hamra Street Festival
Hamra Streets Festival is launched in the autumn of each year under the patronage of the Prime Minister. It is a convivial and cultural festival, its aim is to exhibit the cultural and artistic diversity of Lebanon in general and Hamra Street in particular.The festival has encompassed a vast number of activities and events that target all age groups. Participation in the festival is flexible, and it greatly encourages amateur musicians , Artists and Free-lancers in all fields of the Arts. A wide variety of professional musicians perform after 8:30 p.m. each night while Amateurs reign the stages during the day. The Inauguration & Carnival Parade includes Carnival Float (Char de Carnaval), Dancing Groups, Zaffee loubnaniyya, Harley Davidson Owners HOG, The Beirut Orchestra, University Clubs Parade, Firemen, Croix Rouge Libanaise, Fuel Tankers with donkeys, Vegetable Chariots, Street Artists (Fire eater, stilt walker, etc…), Vintage Car etc… and a firework show afterwards.
More Activities:
- Promotional offers from Hamra Streets Shops, Restaurants, Bars and Coffee Shops.
- Biggest concert in Lebanon on three stages; around 40 local professional groups were announced from Rock, Blues, RAP, Electro, Jazz, Fusion, Oriental, all style are represented showing variety of a true Lebanese Bands!
- Arts and Crafts Stands: Artists and Amateurs will get a chance to show their works such as jewelry, accessories, t-shirt print-mugs, artisans at work etc… with the participation of the Lebanese Handicraft Group.
- NGO and Awareness Stands: Will be present such as Arc-en-ciel, Lebanese School For The Blind and Deaf, Ahlieh School, Nahawa al Mouwatiniyeh and others.
- Photography and Paintings Exhibitions in all the streets with the participation in photography of Laki Hamra’I/Spread Minds and Mazen Jannoun as well as our contestants. Painters will have opportunity to exhibit their paintings all around Hamra Street.
- Short Films Screenings in zawareebs of Hamra: Short Movies, mainly produced by students of LAU, IESAV and other universities to be confirmed. A contest is being set up for best short documentary.
Geography
Hamra Street runs east-west, connecting Beirut Central DistrictBeirut Central District
The Beirut Central District or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a...
with the Ras Beirut
Ras Beirut
Ras Beirut is a luxurious residential neighborhood of Beirut. It is the most cosmopolitan and open-minded area of Beirut, where sizable populations of Christians, Muslims, and Druze coexist peacefully. It is known as the cultural and intellectual center of Beirut...
neighborhoods. The street begins at the intersection of Rue de Rome and runs west until the intersection of Rue Sadat. Hamra Street is also a walking distance from the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
on Bliss Street
Bliss Street
Bliss Street, or Rue Bliss, is one of the principal streets of the Hamra area, which is within the Ras Beirut District of Beirut in Lebanon. The street, which is parallel to Hamra Street, runs east-west, connecting with Rue Clémenceau on the east and ending at Avenue General de Gaulle that runs...
, Haigazian University
Haigazian University
Haigazian University was founded in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon. It offers programs leading to Bachelor's degrees in the Arts and Sciences, as well as Master's degrees in the Arts. All degrees from Haigazian are recognized by both the Lebanese government and the Association of International Colleges...
on Rue Michel Chiha and the campus of the Lebanese American University
Lebanese American University
The Lebanese American University is a secular, private and independent American university located in Lebanon...
as well as Rue Jeanne d'Arc
Rue Jeanne d'Arc
Rue Jeanne d'Arc is a street in Beirut, Lebanon named in honor of the patron saint of France, Joan of Arc. By 1919, Rue Jeane d'Arc was one of the main arteries that radiated from Bliss Street and by 1930, the urbanization of the street had reached 35%....
and René Moawad Garden
René Moawad Garden
The René Moawad Garden is located in the Sanayeh district of Beirut, Lebanon. The garden is one of the oldest public open-air spaces in the capital. Khalil Pasha , commander of the Turkish Sixth Army during World War I ordered the creation of the garden in 1907.-Name:The garden has changed names...
on Rue Spears
Rue Spears
Rue Spears is a street in Beirut, Lebanon that was named after British General Edward Spears who in 1940 liaised with General de Gaulle and his Free French movement to liberate the Levant. He was appointed the British minister in Beirut in 1942. Spears would later also urge the Lebanese and...
.