'Bourdain in Beirut' airs tonight on the Travel Channel @ 10pm EST

[me b zola]

From the Travel Channel:

August 21, 2006


Special! Anthony Bourdain in Beirut

In July 2006, Anthony Bourdain and his crew traveled to Lebanon to film an episode of No Reservations. They discovered a beautiful country filled with proud, generous people and delicious food. However, within 24 hours of arrival they suddenly found themselves stuck in the middle of an intense, uncertain, and violent conflict. From their initial glimpse, to the destruction that followed, Anthony Bourdain in Beirut is the story of what Anthony and his crew saw and experienced during their nine days in the country.

Watch Anthony Bourdain in Beirut on Monday, Aug. 21, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

http://travel.discovery.com/fansites/bourdain/beirut_special.html?clik=fsmain_feat1

And this is an article that Anthony Bourdain, while in Beirut as the bombs were still pounding Lebanon, wrote for Salon.com:

Watching Beirut die

We went to Beirut to film a TV show about the city's newly vibrant culinary and cultural scene. Then the bombs started falling, and we could only stand on the barricades of our hotel balcony and watch it all disappear -- again.

By Anthony Bourdain

From where I'm sitting, poolside, I can see the airport burning -- the last of the jet fuel cooking off like a dying can of sterno. There's a large, black plume of smoke coming from the South of the city -- just over the rise, where the most recent airstrikes have been targeting the Shiite neighborhoods and what are, presumably, Hezbollah-associated structures. My camera crew and I missed it the first time they hit the airport. Slept right through it. Woke up in our snug hotel sheets to the news that we wouldn't be making television in Beirut (not the show we came to do anyway), and that we wouldn't be getting out of here anytime soon.

Any hopes of runway repair followed by a flight out disappeared two nights ago, when we watched from the balcony of my hotel room as missiles, fired from off shore, twinkled brightly for a few long seconds in the air, then dropped in lazy parabolic arcs onto the fuel tanks.

We knew by that time what was happening in the South: Hezbollah rocketing Israel, the Israeli army mobilizing along -- and even crossing -- the border, firing artillery, reserves being called up. Frightened visitors from other Gulf states and the Lebanese -- including our local fixer -- had headed for Syria, but planes had been hitting that route out repeatedly, making the already unattractive option of camera-bearing Americans crossing into that unwelcoming country even less attractive. An exit by sea was out of the question in light of a total naval blockade. We were stuck. The other American guests -- at first secure in their "this doesn't concern us" and "they won't target us" and " we're just waiting for word" mode, were now visibly worried.

~more @ link-->must watch ad to read more~
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/07/28/bourdain_beirut/index_np.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Oh, sure.

Same night as Lee's Katrina documentary. Maybe I'll catch both.

Bourdain's an awesome liberal.

[me b zola]

2. I know, it bites about the timing

We don't have HBO, so we're having someone else tape Spike Lee's documentary for us.

I didn't even know who Bourdain was until his article in Salon, now I'm a faithful viewer:)

[Scout1071]

3. Wow. I am so thankful for TiVo (DVR) technology.

This is not to be missed. Thanks for the heads-up, I had no idea this would be on. I'll call my mother as well. She's a huge fan of the show.

But, tonight, Spike Lee is a must see. The good news for those without DVR is that the Travel Channel reruns often.

[Bozita]

4. Thanks for the heads-up!

[me b zola]

5. Watch for re-airing of this show!

It was an a fantastic show, emotional. If you are expecting Bourdain to come out swinging at the bush* administration--well, this isn't the show. What Bourdain does is fantastic. At the end when the film crew escapes Beirut, Bourdain does show the contrast between the incompetent misAdministration vs the very competent military--you can't help but think of the insanity of Iraq when you see this.

If you can, watch a re-broadcast of this show. :thumbsup:

[XOKCowboy]

6. Sorry tried to keep my thread kicked

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1957126&mesg_id=1957126

Incredible show. It's reshowing right now.

[me b zola]

7. .

:hi: