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Every year Fez hosts the most prestigious Sacred Music Festival in the world. Set in the most atmospheric venues such as Bab Al Makina and Riads that recall the One Thousand and One Nights, even Chuck Norris has been moved to tears in one of lasts years performances that of course Gatsby cant disclose for fear of his own life. This year the whole festivals aims at Re-enchanting the world celebrating the figure of the persian poet Omar Khayyam. Gatsby has been more than involved in the whole projection of the Festival this year so he is looking forward to each and every concert. The whole program can be seen in the following link http://www.fesfestival.com/2012/fr/fes.php?id_rub=15&type=11
If you're planning on going to the opening show that its been said is going to be the mother of all the opening shows don't hesitate to look for Gastby, he'll be in the first row and probably the only one not wearing those awful short sleeves shirts and those philistine - what are they called?- oh sandals. 
10:46 AM

If you are one of those who thought that Fez was lacking glamour you are two times wrong. First because Gatsby lives almost full time in the sacred medina and second because tomorrow one of the coolest riads in Fes is organising along with the French Institute the "Fes Fashion Day", a total must for fashionistas and basically everyone interested in art and having a good time. 
Three fashion designers including Gatsby's friend Karina Duebner are presenting its latests trends in a sexy catwalk, and nobody wants to miss it: the setting is gorgeous, the magnificent garden of the Jardin des Biehn (http://www.jardindesbiehn.com/), the models -whom Gatsby knows one or two- are also gorgeous, and the only thing I can hope for are gorgeous cocktails after the show. 
Unfortunately is an invitation-only event and rumour has it that all the places are filled, still, if you want to come in you can always say that you are Gatsby himself and they may let you in. If you make it I'll be available close to the bar.
Saturday 26 of May, Akbat Sbaa, Douh, from 17h.
12:54 PM


Today has been declared the first day of Ramadan. As most of you know this is the sacred time of the year when eating, drinking and some other pleasures are avoided during the day in order to meet them when the sun goes down in a daily party that lasts the whole night.

Needless to say, Gatsby loves Ramadan. Because Ramadan is a time for friends and family, and the doors are always open and everyone welcomes a visitor at F'tour time. And later is time to go for a stroll and take a coffee, maybe play cards, or ping-pong, whatever you like but always with the best company.

For the tourists is really an interesting time to see, and because everything runs as usual in the medina, there is no problem whatsoever. The restaurants remain open (opening times may differ a bit) and the most delicious desserts and pastillas are everywhere on exhibition.

Moroccan are very tolerant and they understand foreigners dont do Ramadan, but will appreciate if you dont eat or drink in their faces. Be a gentleman like Gatsby and you'll really have a good time. Ramadan Kareem.
10:34 AM
Antonio Rodriguez Jimenez, is both a dreamer and a practic man. A dreamer because he flirted with the idea of producing the first Flamenco Festival in our beloved medieval Fez, and a practic man because as the director of the Instituto Cervantes he fought until that dream turned into a reality, and its going to be big.
Gatsby was invited to the press conference in one of the many well equipped rooms of the great Instituto Cervantes, and was not only surprised by an unusual crowd of people interested in the festival, but also by the good wine they served afterwards.
This first edition of the Flamenco Festival will be dedicated to the women, a subject which Gatsby truly approves of, and will develop during five days through seven different shows in the theater Al-Hourria (Av.Palestine):

-4 April- Conference 'Origen y evolucion del Flamenco' along with guitarrista Alfredo Mesa
-5 April- 19h-'Chocolata' fusion flamenco group
20h-'Chekara de Tetouan' moroccan group with andalusian roots
-6 April- Concierto Gusto 'Rafaela Carrasco' top level flamenco dance evolution, not to miss.
-7 April- Jose Torres Trio & Melisa Calero, new show concept with music and dance.
-8 April- 19h-M. Jose Perez (singing) & Miguel Molina (guitar), fresh flamenco
20h- Juan Antonio Ramírez Lopez (cante) & Jose Luis Escoz (guitarra)

All tickets can be purchased in advance in the Instituto Cervantes and the prices are really affordable, starting at just 50 dirhams per show, and a whole week-pass can be bought at only 200 dh, making it a very good gift.
Some surprises are reserved during the festival and its being rumored that there may be an after show party with the artists in Gatsby's place, but for that we are sorry, no tickets can be bought. But he does accept bribes.
http://www.fez.cervantes.es/
12:33 PM
In order to celebrate the 100th International Wowen's Day in style Gatsby will like you to go to a place he has definetely no access: a Women's only dinner. And then is for a good cause too, all the money will go to the Women's Centre in Batha, a non-profit institution that helps women that suffered from violence or have been ostracized by their families or society.
The Dinner will take place on Sunday 6th March in the reputed Majestic Restaurant, price is 250 dh for a gorgeous menu and transportation is included if needed.
Tickets should be purchased in advanced and places are limited! so if you want to secure your place contact one of the promoters, Vanessa Bonnin on the 06 75 00 67 88 or go straight to Riad Maison Blue, or to Fes et Gestes 05 35 63 85 32.
4:15 AM



So once again Christmas has come with its endless promises of world peace, new perspectives, perfumes that make you irresistible to the opposite sex and fantastic devices to get in shape while you are watching TV and eating muffins. And suddenly everyone is stressed about where are they gonna spend the last night of the year. Well, luckily here in Fez we have plenty of options; starting with a super luxurios party in Maison Blanche with live music at 1.400 dirhams is not cheap but well worth the money if jetsetting is your thing,
Booking essential: 05 35 62 27 27
. Palais Amani offers a night filled with a 5 course menu at 750 dhs per person, and booking is essential on the
0535 633 209.

Riad Fez will be throwing another good party and more information can be gathered in their web. The yougsters can go to the always funky O'Club in Route d'Imouzzer, starting at 21h and finishing at 5 am, is the perfect party for hangover lovers. Gatsby and some friends will be heading to the Fez Lounge that is proposing an affordable dinner party mostly for expatriates living cooly in the medina and eventual tourist just looking for some fun, at 250 dirhams for a two course menu with a promising tiramisú as dessert, it wont break anyone's bank, and reservation is strongly recommended, writing an email to fezlounge@gmail.com
11:18 AM

The last Fez Sacred Music festival has been a turmoil in every sense of the word; there was confusion, there was emotion, tears of joy and tears of humiliation, sometimes thanks to the performers, others being the fault of the organisation.
So one more year Gatsby was begged and bribed to go to see some of the shows, so he wore some of his Gucci shoes, instead of the common flip-flops tourists seem to get for free with their flight tickets, and got to work. The most remarkable soirée was the so called 'Night of the Medina', with several concerts going on at the same time, so even if you bought the ticked you were forced to miss several concerts: a touch of genius. Gastby attended a very special concert in Dar Adyel: mongolian performer and showman Epi was definitely a revelation that night. Dressed in typical mongolian furs and hat -and the temperature was probably around 30 C- Epi played his guitar with spirit and sung with magical voices, sometimes with a very high pitch, others with a very low one, creating a truly amazing atmosphere. Inspired in ancient buddhist and shaman traditions this kind of music believes that each and every object has a soul, and Gatsby can declare that everything surrounding the scenario came to life that evening, as a matter of fact he could almost swear that an electric toothbrush was hiding somewhere and producing those enchanted sounds...Epi is a new favourite of Gatsby.
6:09 AM
One of the major attractions of Fez is the 'Festival de Musiques Sacreés', or simply put the most significant Sacred Music Festival in the whole world. Attracting thousands of high quality tourists most interested in spiritual values than postcards, the festival is also a great excuse to visit the city of Fez and enjoy its architecture, people and gastronomy.
This year's edition will expand from the 4th till the 12th of June, and its main theme is 'initiatic travel', a motto that Gatsby is starting to apply in every little routine of his cozy medina life.
Amongst the well known guests this year: Ben Harper, Camille et Clemence Ducol, Sista Kee, David Murray, and the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, which Gatsby is particularly interested in.
All the information regarding times and prices and much more can be found in

www.fesfestival.com

Hope to see you all in the medina. Land of Gossip.
9:28 AM


The New Year is round the corner and a lot of gossip is going on about which party will Gatsby & his crowd be attending. Well, we can't really say, for now its just the time of opening -virtual- envelopes and have a look at what's on offer.

We know that Riad Fes, like every year, will be hosting the most lavish dinner and party for its clients but also opened to riad non-residents at a price of circa 1500 dirhams, noblesse oblige.

The recently opened Maison Blanche will be throwing a dangerous cocktail of gourmet dishes and live music by the winner of the Star Academy Lebanon, and promises keeping us up till 4 am with plenty of champagne; at circa 1300 dirhams it won't be cheap, but New Year comes only once a year.

Zen Garden announces moroccan live music and plenty of good vibes in an environment that will make you feel like home, all for 800 dirhams.

The uptown youngsters have all confirmed assistance to the famous 'Crystal Reveillon 2010', in the vecinity of Le Majestic, by Action Premiere group , and if interested bookings can be made here: 06 64 68 52 80 asking for Hafid.

While we think that in the medina some things will be going on, and we are sure that our friends from Fez Lounge and Cafeclock will be both organising a soirée, nothing is yet confirmed, but dont worry, Gatsby has ears all over Fez and will keep you posted.
6:23 PM

The 7th edition of the growing Bridge Festival of Fez will take place at the hotel Jnan Palace from the 12h of March to the 18th of 2010. While many may have never heard of this initiative, the contestants face an hectic week filled with games, yes, but also with visits to the Medina, the Middle Atlas, thermal therapy, gala dinners and much much more. People fly from all over the world but you can mostly find there some moroccan jet-setters along with english, french and spanish. The setting is very nice and straight out of an Agatha Christie book, let's only hope no murder will be committed, in which case probably they will call Gatsby for help.
The program and all the details can be found in their website:
5:17 AM

Jazz in Riad is ultimating its new 2009 edition, and this year's program includes plenty of concerts, exhibitions, conferences and even some films. After a few years keeping a low profile this year edition promises a lot of action, and a huge number of assistants have already been confirmed.

Jazz is a musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United Statesfrom a confluence of African and European music traditions.

From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th century American popular music. Its West African pedigree is evident in its use of blue notes, improvisation, polyrhythms, syncopation, and the swung note but one of jazz's iconic figures Art Blakey has been quoted as saying, "No America, no jazz. I’ve seen people try to connect it to other countries, for instance to Africa, but it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with Africa".

Well, for sure from the 9th to the 11th of October Jazz will have a lot of things to do with Africa

and you can have a look at the program in the official website

http://www.fesjazz.com/site/programme.htm
7:26 AM
The Cervantes Institute is a worldwide non profit organizaion created by the Spanish goverment in 1991. It is named after Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), the author of Don Quixote and perhaps the most important figure in the history of Spanish Literature. The Cervantes Institute, a government agency, was modeled on the British Council and the German Goethe Institut, and is the largest organization in the world responsible for promoting the study and the teaching of Spanish and culture, with more than 80.000 students a year.
Well, you might not know it but there is a pretty good Instituto Cervantes in our beloved Fez, and they run spanish lessons and much more all year round. They also have a well stocked library were you can borrow books and DVD's, or just read worldwide newspapers.
Very often they organise exhibitions, flamenco concerts and conferences.
Is really a favourite hidden spot for Gatsby, and you should check it out when in the new town. Here is a link were you can check the program.
6:35 AM
The spirit of Morocco’s ancient holy city of Fes inspired the creation of the Sacred Music Festival. It is now recognised as one of the world’s great musical events, with visitors converging on the city from all over the globe for the festival week. They come for intimate performances that take place under a great Barbary oak in the gardens of the Batha Museum – and for big events staged with Arabian Nights splendour in the Bab Makina palace courtyard.

In 2009, the Fès Festival’s theme is built around the Tree of Life – as universal a symbol among different cultures as music. This year’s lineup of performers brings many branches to the tree from across the globe and features, among others, Lebanese singer Marcel Khalifé; American gospel star Marwa Wright; The Whirling Dervishes of Konya from Turkey; and pre-Christian Celtic legends from Loreena McKennitt, as well as dancers and musicians from India, Iran, Spain, and several other countries.

For more information and complete schedule visit the official website:
www.fesfestival.com
11:32 AM

Festival des musiques sacrées du Monde


The top sacred music artists from Middle Eastern and Western religious communities gather in Fez for a week of concerts, lectures, exhibitions, and intellectual and artistic exchanges. Performances have included the Sufi Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, Berber trance music, Arab-Andalusian music, Hindustani chants, Celtic sacred music, Christian Gospel, flamenco, and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Morocco. These musicians, young and old, are a part of a groundbreaking effort to bridge huge cultural differences through musical expression.Styles of spiritual music at the Fez Festival vary from transcendent to trance-inducing. Music can claim to hold curative properties, convey religious teachings, praise God, or channel the spirit of the deities. Some music traditions are centuries old, while others are relatively new; some are serious, and others joyful. But despite the vast differences between the cultures, everyone at the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music has come for one reason: to share the way that music allows them to commune with their higher power.

The festival opens early June and tickets can be booked on advanced, and is advised to book the hotel at least a month in advance.
8:09 AM
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