I'm sure many would agree when I tell you that Jabal Amman is my favorite part of town – especially the First Circle and Rainbow Street, with all its surrounding area. I absolutely love the aura of the place, I love Amman's old houses there, I love how cozy the streets feel, and I love the diversity it offers… bringing modern enjoyable hangouts with the most wonderful view and feel of the old town. Think Wild Jordan the Café, Coffee 'n News, Books@, the Bakehouse, the Royal Film Commission with its great summer terrace… and while we're at it, let's not forget the Amman Bowling Center (the one and only AbudDahab) and the legendary Falafel Al-Quds… Oh and the original and brilliant JARA flee market.
It's great that the municipality is recognizing the vivacity and importance of Rainbow street (officially known as Abu Baker Al-Siddeeq Street) with major plans for renovation and revitalization to take place at the beginning of 2006, as reported in Al-Ghad. The emphasis will be on highlighting and bringing forth the cultural character of the street which has been built 80 years ago.
On the entrance of the street at the First Circle, big banners will hold the tag line "My Street of Many Colors", and will tell its history. On top of the old Rainbow Cinema theatre, a huge screen will be set up, displaying old films from the 60's and earlier.
At the corner of "Nzoul el Serveece", underneath the old trees, there will be a kiosk facing an old house that the municipality is turning into a museum with Bohemian graffiti and old paintings, and that overlooks Amman's Castle (Jabal el-Qal'a). Pedestrians in the street will be able to enjoy traditional delicacies and drinks with flavors from the early 20th century, before they reach the old house of the late King Talal, where his late Majesty king Hussein spent his childhood and youth until the early 50s. The municipality will bring down four stores that are blocking this old building, and will have in their place a kiosk selling and distributing brochures about the history of the street and the royal house.
At the end of the street, plans are to build a new parking lot that can take up to 120 cars, as well as a café.
Rainbow street is also home to the Center for Studies on the Built Environment, the Jordan River Foundation Show Room, and the British Council.
Experts assure that 'neo-liberal' restructuring projects like Abdali's 1 billion dollar project are not what will help Amman compete with cities of the region such as Beirut, Cairo, and gulf cities in drawing foreign tourism and investment. The emphasis should be on Amman's unique characteristics, namely it's topography (with the old stairs connecting its streets), downtown (el Balad) with the surrounding neighborhoods and hills, and the quiet residential areas with a special Ammani architectural style.
Cheers to the Amaneh for their vision and efforts… I can't wait for this one to be done; I'm definitely optimistic and excited!
Oh – and forgive my poor attempts at translation, I would highly recommend that you read the article in Al-Ghad if you can, very nicely written and a very interesting and enjoyable read.
It's great that the municipality is recognizing the vivacity and importance of Rainbow street (officially known as Abu Baker Al-Siddeeq Street) with major plans for renovation and revitalization to take place at the beginning of 2006, as reported in Al-Ghad. The emphasis will be on highlighting and bringing forth the cultural character of the street which has been built 80 years ago.
On the entrance of the street at the First Circle, big banners will hold the tag line "My Street of Many Colors", and will tell its history. On top of the old Rainbow Cinema theatre, a huge screen will be set up, displaying old films from the 60's and earlier.
At the corner of "Nzoul el Serveece", underneath the old trees, there will be a kiosk facing an old house that the municipality is turning into a museum with Bohemian graffiti and old paintings, and that overlooks Amman's Castle (Jabal el-Qal'a). Pedestrians in the street will be able to enjoy traditional delicacies and drinks with flavors from the early 20th century, before they reach the old house of the late King Talal, where his late Majesty king Hussein spent his childhood and youth until the early 50s. The municipality will bring down four stores that are blocking this old building, and will have in their place a kiosk selling and distributing brochures about the history of the street and the royal house.
At the end of the street, plans are to build a new parking lot that can take up to 120 cars, as well as a café.
Rainbow street is also home to the Center for Studies on the Built Environment, the Jordan River Foundation Show Room, and the British Council.
Experts assure that 'neo-liberal' restructuring projects like Abdali's 1 billion dollar project are not what will help Amman compete with cities of the region such as Beirut, Cairo, and gulf cities in drawing foreign tourism and investment. The emphasis should be on Amman's unique characteristics, namely it's topography (with the old stairs connecting its streets), downtown (el Balad) with the surrounding neighborhoods and hills, and the quiet residential areas with a special Ammani architectural style.
Cheers to the Amaneh for their vision and efforts… I can't wait for this one to be done; I'm definitely optimistic and excited!
Oh – and forgive my poor attempts at translation, I would highly recommend that you read the article in Al-Ghad if you can, very nicely written and a very interesting and enjoyable read.
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