You’re going to have to make some tough choices this week as Amman’s arts and culture agenda is packed with some pretty cool events. The highlight is the Hakaya Festival, which returns in its fourth edition with diverse theater performances and storytelling activities from Jordan, the region, and abroad. Following their successful performance at the Citadel last night, attended by around 1000 people, Mashrou3 Leila perform again tonight, with an opening act by Zeid and the Wings. Read Roba Assi’s review and check out her video snippets of yesterday’s concert. [caption id="attachment_11076" align="alignright" width="154" caption=""Sugarcoat Melting" - exhibition at Zara Gallery"][/caption] You also have some interesting art exhibitions opening: Cattle Republic’s Ahmad Sabbagh and Michael Schinkoethe return to Zara gallery with an exhibition titled “Sugarcoat Melting”, and Orfali Gallery in Um Uthaina hosts a joint exhibition by three artists. Makan art space...

[caption id="attachment_7017" align="alignright" width="231" caption="Work by Artist Sabhan Adam"][/caption] October just keeps getting better with a busy and eclectic cultural agenda. The New York Tap Ensemble comes to Amman with a unique dance performance following a successful show here two years ago, Zara Gallery hosts a very special exhibition of the private collection of Syrian Artist Sabhan Adam, and the Sufi Dance and Music Festival kicks off at the end of the week. Tomorrow, Makan Art Space hosts a debate titled "Besides Art.. What is Art?" tackling questions on politics, resistance, censorship, and the ideas behind the current exhibition of Annemarie Jacir and Nidal al-Khairy. The European Film Festival might be over, but this week brings you a number of excellent German films as part of the "20 Years of German Reunification" events, which include lectures, a photography exhibition, and a...

Highlights of this week include a fundraising performance by Al-Hannouneh group tonight, a night of Sufi music by Turkish artist Mercan Dede at the Citadel tomorrow, and a concert by a new quartet led by bassist and composer Yacoub Abu Ghosh at Mohtaraf Remal on Thursday. Over the next three days the Royal Film Commission is holding screenings of Syrian Films starring renowned Syrian actor Bassam Koussa, who will be present. Turtle Green is hosting writer Omar Khalifah on Thursday to read from his first collection of short stories, published this week by Dar Azminah, and sign some copies. Read on for details on these events, and more live music and different performances and activities. Sunday August 29, 2010 Fund raising performance by the 'Hannouneh group for Popular Arts' and Suhour dinner, at the Holiday Inn Hotel, 10:30 pm. Ticket price...

This is going to be a short cultural week, with Ramadan starting Tuesday or Wednesday. But the coming three days are PACKED; Sign of Thyme are playing live at Blue Fig, Bayt Al-Ruwwad is holding a special concert on the International Day for Oud at the Hussein Park, the Jordan Festival continues with a performance by Trio Khoury Nawajazz emsemble at the Citadel, and the Arab Cultural Center in Jabal Luweibdeh is holding a special event to commemorate poet Mahmoud Darwish. Makan Art Space concludes a one-month student residency with an open studio tonight showcasing the work of four young artists who explore the theme of social media and the internet with different installations. Monday night at the Children's Museum, children from refugee camps are presenting a musical performance, choreographed by dancer and choreographer Cristina Caponera, with original music by Marco Melia. The Jordan Media Institute is hosting an open day on...

While cultural events and concerts tend to slow down during Ramadan, they intensify in the two weeks preceding it. This week features the Amman International Dance Festival, organized by Tempo Dance School, with diverse performances by world class dancers. There's even more dance this week as Al-Hussein Cultural Center hosts a performance of Palestinian Folklore and another of Circassian dance, while the Jordan Festival features dance and acrobatics by the Shaoline Monks from China. There are also numerous concerts this week that cater to very different tastes; from Ateek's Sacred Music concert "Another Sky" at the Royal Cultural Center on Saturday, to Amer Al-Khuffash's album launch concert at Virgin Mega Store on Wednesday, to Jazz by Omar Al-Faqeer at Jara Theater on Friday, and more. Classical French Films, Indian Film, Amman Tech Tuesday's Gaming Edition, bazaars, exhibitions, and the last weekend of Jara Market all await you this week. Remember also that many...

This week is packed with an exciting variety of cultural events; the Amman Summer Festival brings you daily performances by local artists in the beautiful outdoor theater of the Hussein Park. The Jordan Festival features the Palestine Youth Orchestra on Wednesday, and battle of the Bands continues at the Crown Plaza with some new faces and young local bands. UNESCO along with the Jordanian Caucasian Cultural Society are organizing a "Night of Cultural Diversity in Jordan", featuring   Jordanian folkloric dance, Circassian dance and music, Bukhari poetry from Uzbekistan, Kazakh music, Turkish music and dance,  Chechen music, Armenian folkloric dance and music, and poetry from Daghestan. Be sure to check it out on Friday at the Roman theater downtown. Tonight and tomorrow, hop to Mohtaraf Remal in Luweibdeh for "Jayeen min Falasteen" (Coming from Palestine) where a...

Get ready for lots of local talent this week. The Amman Summer Festival kicks off today in the outdoor theater of Al Hussein Park, bringing you diverse performances by local artists every day, free of charge. A group called the Young Pen League is organizing an open poetry slam on Saturday at Mohtaraf Remal, so if you write poetry and would like to share it, or if you would just like to listen, don't miss it! [caption id="attachment_6268" align="alignright" width="291" caption="Refuge Urbanism"][/caption] An interesting new exhibition titled "Open City: Refuge Urbanism" is opening at the National Gallery of Fine Arts on Sunday, and new Jordanian feature film "Cherkess - Al Sharakissah" will be screening at the Royal Cultural Center on Monday. Jordanian Pianist Yasmine Alami is performing with the Amman Symphony Orchestra this wednesday Al-Hussein Cultural Center, and Jordanian...

This week's treat (besides Germany vs England and Portugal vs. Spain), is numerous gigs and concerts by local musicians. Percussionist Nasser Salameh will be joined by Oud player Ahmad Khatib from Palestine for a concert on Thursday. Tareq Abu Kwaik and his band El-Morabba3 will be performing their original music at Souq Jara Theater on Friday, and Yousef Kawar will be playing a show of electronic music and visuals at Liquid in Jabal Luweibdeh.

You also have the start of the Jordan Festival with a tribute to Um Kulthoum. Classical music lovers can enjoy a concert of Bach, Schubert, Beethoven & Dohnanyi by Trio PSOPHOS on Thursday, which is an unusually busy night on the culture scene this week as it's also the day for Jamm's live band night.

If you missed the theater performance of "Sulaima" during the Amman International...

You might want to pull yourself away from some of the World Cup games this week (or rejoice if you're not watching to start with), because there are some very interesting events taking place around town. On Tuesday, make sure you stop by Makan for Eric Gottesman's exhibition "It is (Promised and) Written", where he explores the idea of broken promises and shares broken promises he's been collecting from people of all ages and walks of life. It's a great week for film lovers; "Critical Mirror; America Looks at the Iraq War" continues until tomorrow, then you have three days of documentaries on the occasion of World Refugee Day, before the Franco-Arab Film Festival kicks off on Saturday. If you're into theater (and speak French), don't miss the play "Avec mes Meilleurs Voeux" tonight at al-Balad Theater. Tomorrow enjoy food...

On Tuesday May 25th 7iber.com turns three years old, and we're celebrating with a storytelling and open mic night on the beautiful terrace of Dar al-Anda in Jabal Luweibdeh, complete with balloons, cake, and birthday hats. Don't miss it! Summer is here; time to enjoy Amman's evenings in the open air with outdoor concerts and screenings. Sign of Thyme are playing at the JARA Theater on Friday, and Autostrad are playing along with Egyptian-American musician Kareem Salamah at the Hussein Park Theater on Wednesday. On Monday, check out the Young Leaders Social Media Cafe launch, and two documentaries on poetry and music duos at the RFC's Film House. There's plenty more, so read on and enjoy. We hope to see you on Tuesday. Sunday May 23, 2010 Book of the Week, Presentation and Discussion, Department of the National Library, 6:00 pm. Theatre Performance "Two...