Beirutista Featured on "Malini Angelica" YouTube Travel Documentary About Beirut

A little over three months ago, on October 1, 2022, I met with video creator Malini Angelica at L’Appartement terrace in Beirut. Malini, visiting from London to film a YouTube travel documentary with her partner, had come across my blog Beirutista and wished to meet in person. We agreed to a casual rendezvous at a venue of her choosing, and conversation flowed naturally as we sipped on Qanafar rosé from the Bekaa region.

Among a number of things, we spoke about my Lebanese-American upbringing in southern California, the transition to Lebanon over one decade ago, the birth of Beirutista, whether or not there is a real Lebanese identity, and the current state of affairs inside these borders. The videotaped exchange lasted an hour or so and would be incorporated in a travel doc destined for Malini’s eponymous YouTube channel.

Three months later, exactly on New Year’s Day, the video was released, and you can see it here (jump to 21:30 to catch my segment). Only a few short minutes of our dialogue made the cut, so if my words seem terse, bear in mind that they’ve been edited. (No, I didn’t polish off my wine glass in one quick gulp, as that last take would have you believe!).

If you do get around to watching, let me know what you think in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you, dear reader!


Catch me on Malini Angelica's YouTube travel documentary on Lebanon


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