Sometimes I’m ahead of my time when I post about people, bands, places or things and sometimes I’m behind. Remember, I have a good reason: I had a baby đ One of those spots I forgot to share with you out there is Yafo Creative.
“Yafo Creative is a guest house* and creative content center** in the heart of Jaffa â A multi-disciplinary production hub where projects are ideated and developed by our community of Israeli and international artists.”
*The house was established in 2014, and gained a fast reputation for its exclusive Friday dinners featuring some of the most
exciting local artists, who organically started performing after meals. Artists of all backgrounds – music, dance or visual art, started an interdisciplinary dialogue. The newly renovated space is nestled in a secret spot in Jaffa and offers four elegant and design rooms featuring 50-ft-high ceilings suitable for one or two guests, each with a Queen-sized handmade eucalyptus bed, local vintage furniture and changing art exhibitions. Yafo Creative offers travelers insider guidance and a unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with locals in an authentic, dynamic and inspirational spot in Israel. Room price is 90$ and more info can be found on Airbnb.
**The Yafo Creative community consists of international and local artists, tastemakers and producers, who together, bring culture to a wider audience around the world, as well as international culture to Israel through various channels, including pop-up events, monthly âcreative dinnersâ, theatrical productions, exhibitions, films, music and photography. Yafo Creative develops select artists within the community through strategic channels and services â including branding, multimedia production and filmmaking â to further promote local art and spark new conversation and collaboration, crossing boundaries of genre and medium.
I recently went there to hear my friend and personal genius Rotem Bar Or (from the band The Angelcy) perform solo during an “intimate session” and luckily he played my new favorite song, untitled and unreleased; here’s a glimpse for your ears only:
On Tuesday May 20th theAngelcy will be performing live at the Barby to celebrate the release of their well expected album ‘Exit Inside’. TheAngelcy, a most unusual Israeli Indie band, speaks of a very personal, local and contemporary reality in universal, international English that is both simple and poetic. The band’s music is being arranged in a tiny room in one of the most under developed neighborhoods in Tel Aviv, and from there reaches hundreds of thousands of listeners around the world, featured on radio, television and cinema, and of course on stage, in venues and festival in Israel and abroad” Tickets: 
Where do I start my Leonard Cohen story and how do I tell it? Needless to share the part of I’m a fan; loving his music and admiring the man. My story with LC started in my mother’s womb as my father promoted his shows in Belgium in 1974 and 1980 – my birth year. Fast forward to 2009: After working on his legendary concert in the Ramat Gan Stadium in Israel on September 24th, I was asked to join the tour in July 2010 as production assistant. When I got the call from Leonard Cohen’s tour manager, I was first of all very flattered and honoured. Of all working people they met over the years, they had chosen me. Luckily I didn’t have too much time to think, stress and prepare; we were leaving 3 weeks later. For 4 months and a half. 3 months across Europe then New Zealand, Australia, West Canada and the US. As it has now been a long time ago, some memories fade and one keeps mostly the good ones. Yes I was homesick many times. Living in a hotel, out of a suitcase and traveling is not made for everyone. Timing wasn’t good for me either for personal reasons. Being on the move all the time is not an easy thing when you are attached to your family and friends and to your comfort zone(s). But what a ‘mazal’. To see the world and to be part of the most wonderful touring company, the Unified Heart Touring Company. It’s hard work and it’s boring, it’s fast and it’s slow, it’s joy and it’s tears, it’s close and it’s far, it’s winter; it’s summer It’s all of it. All together I visited 45 different cities/countries and did over 60 shows joining the last leg of an ongoing 3 year world tour – that ended up continuing till 2013. I have visited the tour in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and kept in touch with LC until he died. So blessed to have had the privilege to work and know this man. As I said in this 
