There's a salsa club in the basement of a building at 42 King George St. in Jerusalem called Mirage. They offer lessons every Thursday, so a group of went last night! Even with my two left feet, it was a blast. They had beginning to advanced lessons, and trust me, there are some very talented salsa dancers in Israel, including my own beloved teachers, an Argentinian couple who live in my apartment complex.
I'm continually impressed by the variety of activities here in Jerusalem. It may have taken me a good four months to find all of these hidden treasures, but at least I've found them and can share them with the world.
Here are some more random eclecticisms in the Ir HaKodesh:
Soup in the Gan: A friend and I chanced upon this home-made backyard soup event in the German Colony. You enter this person's apartment, go directly to the kitchen and sample the soups. There was a spicy Thai soup, lentil, leek and potato, minestrone and some creamy squash soup. We chose the lentil and Thai, and took a seat at a little bistro table set up in the garden behind the building, where there were string lights, tables, couches and chairs set out to seat around 30 people. It was brilliant, not to mention packed with people. The meal included fresh bread and butter, lemonana, and two huge bowls of soup for 50 shekels (around $12).
Smadar Theatre: On Lloyd George St. off of Emek Rafaim. It's a bar/restaurant/movie house. Open on Shabbat, if that's your thing. The last time I went there, I saw "Other People's Lives," a movie about Communist East Berlin right before the wall fell. An awesome artsy movie. And "La Vie en Rose" showed there-- the brilliant biography of Edith Piaf, the little French sparrow who let her incredible talent get stumped by drugs and partying.
Link Bar and Restaurant: OK, I have to include my all-time favorite place, Link. Right off of King George, where the Maalot parking lot is. There's always a good atmosphere, good wine. good company.
