A Jordanian NGO redefines community service and helps the environment. Launched in March 2007 by Rabee Zureikat, “Zikra” is dedicated to promoting community service in Jordan and more specifically to helping the people of Ghore El Mazraa, a neglected area on the shores of the Dead Sea.

It's also a way of bringing people from completely different walks of life together.

The Nabatean ancient city will host "Aswatuna Arab Choral Festival" starting tomorrow. The event is an innovative one, gathering Arab choirs with musicians from around the world – with a special Swedish presence. (The Swedes masterminded the project).

The bad news? Customers will have to make it to the mall for their croissant and café au lait.

The good news? An open-air terrace will be added this summer for al fresco ice teas and good old people watching.

If you’re not up for the café in a mall experience – though it might be a nice break between two shopping sprees – Café Paul is a great place to buy some patisseries (éclair au chocolat anyone?), bread (whole wheat, cereal, rye or olives are some of the options) and viennoiseris (pain au chocolat, pain au raisins and the list goes on.)

The Amman Link

Opened last July, on a street called Rainbow (yes, rainbow), Rima Malallah’s gallery slash boutique is definitely contributing to Jabal Amman’s growing reputation as the artsy neighborhood in town.

A young visual artist with a degree in Fine Arts, Malallah trained and worked in the US  before making it back to Jordan and opening her very own gallery. "I make everything you see in the store. Every little thing … I really encourage people to visit, see the work, have a feel for it."

The Amman Link

To me, it was more than a mere restaurant. The opening of Zaatar W Zeit marked the end of my cravings for the true Lebanese manakish. After successes in Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the tastiest middle eastern food chain finally made it to Jordan, with two new eateries.

The Amman Link

Usually, gym cafés are pretty bland, unless your gym is part of a five star hotel, which can be the case in these parts of the world. But let’s just say, speaking generally, that gym food equals Gatorade plus a dry mixed salad with corn and tasteless tomatoes.

THE AMMAN LINK

Paris has the Galeries Lafayette, London has Harvey Nichols and the Middle East has, well, all of the above* as well as Lebanese retail group ABC.

Might be hard to believe, but the ABC department store was founded way back in 1936. To this day, it’s the only retail business in the Middle East member of the International Association of Department Stores (IADS). No fake Prada’s here!