Monday, June 1, 2009

Astral- the armo club












One other thing that I just had to see here was the Opera club. This club is in the basement of the Opera house, and it is supposed to be the ghettoest mirror club in all of Yerevan. Thanks to my luck, we go and they tell us that they close at 11:30. Yeah right. So we detoured to another place, Astral. This club is equally ghetto (but it has no  mirrors to dance in front of).  I just so badly wanted to see a mirror club, but anyway.

The club was full of high school kids- most of them on senior trip from America. Very entertaining. They even has belly dancing and break dancing shows. Who does that in a club?? 

It was an experience nonetheless.

We even became local celebs featured on a paparazzi site-check it out:
http://paparazzi.am/newblog/?p=3448#more-3448


Mokka patisserie











You can get a bit of Paris in Yerevan at this patisserie. The dessert just looks so beautiful here, it tastes pretty good too. But my favorite part was the Alice in Wonderland decor, I just wanted to take the place home with.

If you're ever there go for the peach trifle. It sounds weird but it's really good. 

On an unrelated note, I've become such a local that when the waiter hands me an English menu he says : "Vochinch vor kez el em angleren talis (Is it ok if I give you an English menu?). Ya!


Cascade







The area surrounding Cascade has to be one of my favorite neighborhoods in Yerevan, because  you have such a beautiful view of the city. It's like a small corner of Europe in Yerevan, with cobblestone streets, lots of statues, and of course the Cascade steps. Unfortunately, the Cascade project is not complete because the developers ran out of money- but they made a great start. Hopefully one day, they will complete the project and it will house a modern art museum all the way at the top!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Phoenicia







If you ever need to propose to someone while in Yerevan, Phoenicia is the place to do it. The restaurant is like a charming little cottage, located right next to the Cascade- perfect location. The cuisine is Armenian with a French flair. By Yerevan standards it is definitely on the more expensive side, but it's well worth it. 

The service is impeccable, the food is creative, and the wine is gigantic. I was served with one of the largest wine glasses I've ever seen. It was so cool. It's just too bad the restaurant was completely empty.

(Images from top: the outer door to the restaurant, the empty interior- hey at least we had the place to ourselves, Ani- my fabulous dinner companion, the mediterranean platter,  my imam baldi (an eggplant dish), the huge wine glass).


Friday, May 29, 2009

Malkhas Jazz Club












Yerevan has some really hip places...for example, Malkhas Jazz Club, named after the most famous Jazz musician in Armenia. This one is the brand new location, done up in a completely American style, with glass walls, bamboo, and showcases of their own brandy. 

The place offered cigars, cocktails, some really awesome ice- cream and great music. If you're ever in Yerevan, don't miss this place.

Paruyr Sevak








On the way back from Noravank we passed though the village of Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak. The Paruyr Sevak house museum is located there  among the grounds of his summer home. The house is in a very beautiful spot, surrounded by trees that he planted himself. Multi-talented guy. 

The museum showcased a mural of Sevak going through different stages of his life, it also had many of his books, office furniture and other nicknacks. He is buried on the grounds as well, with a big tomb stone commemorating the spot. 

(Images from  top: The walkway to his home, the entrance to the museum, his tombstone, office furniture, the mural, some of his books, check out the typewriter).