BLOOMFIELD SCIENCE MUSEUM. Kids will leap at the chance to interact with
scientific phenomena in fun, hands-on exhibits covering topics such as gravity,
waves, electricity (be prepared for a few shocks), and lasers. (Take bus #9, 24, or
28 to Hebrew University, Givat Ram campus; the museum is opposite the stadium. «561 81 28.
Open M and W-Th 10am-6pm, Tu lOam-Spm, F lOam-lpm, Sa 10am-3pm. NIS27, students and
seniors NIS15.)
Tel-Avivians hate to admit it, but Jerusalem's nightlife is no longer joke-worthy.
Once the city's conservative majority is safely tucked into bed, the bar and club
scene comes to life, peaking Thursday to Saturday nights. Friday night in Jerusa-
lem is like a dam bursting; the flood of energy into the cityscape would make a
rabbi's hair curl. Cultural events, from lunchtime chamber music to the early sum-
mer Israel Festival, add to Jerusalem's arts scene. Buy Friday's Jerusalem Post for
the "In Jerusalem" insert, the best weekly info in English; Kol Ha-Ir provides the
best info in Hebrew. The municipal tourist office in Safra Sq. (see Tourist Informa-
tion, 9) also gives out detailed monthly calendars in English. The JOH can help
you find gay nightlife (see 00). In June, look out for Student Day at Hebrew Uni-
versity, with trips during the day and fireworks at night.
BARS
In the Russian Compound (Migrash Ha-Russim), two blocks down Heleni Ha-Malka
St. east of Zion Sq. (toward the Old City), neon beer signs glow through the crisp
night air in the shadow of the stately Russian Orthodox church, luring alcohol lov-
ers like moths. After midnight, stylish bars in old stone buildings fill to capacity
(and overflow into the street) with a young, hip crowd. It's not hard to choose a
haunt to suit any mood; they're all concentrated around two blocks and many
offer extra entertainment like jazz or karaoke on certain nights. The midrahov area
offers some less rowdy and more plain escapes from this crazy scene; it's only five
minutes away, so you can easily hop back and forth.
RUSSIAN COMPOUND
Ш Mike's Place, 7 Heleni Ha-Malka , on the corner of Horkanos. Tightly
packed (but in a cozy way) English-speaking crowd puts away Guinness, smokes nargi-
lah (NIS15), and digs excellent live music every night starting around 10:30pm. Happy
hour daily 5-8pm (all drinks half price) and midnight-12:30am (cocktails and shots half
price). Also serves light pub food (pizza NIS10; cheesy fries NIS20). No cover. Open
daily 5pm-3am.
Kanabis, 11 Moonbaz St. , upstairs from Tarabin. Large bar-restaurant-
dance floor with outdoor terrace overlooking the Moonbaz scene. Karaoke M-Tu nights
beginning at 10pm. Beautiful circular bar with 3-page cocktail menu. Individual pizzas
and salads NIS30-35. Cover Th-Sa NIS30; M-Tu NIS25 works as a food and drink
voucher; W free. Open M-Sa 8:30pm-4am.
Sergey, 15 Heleni Ha-Malka St. , at the corner of Moonbaz St. No-frills bar
packed with an intellectual twenty-something crowd of Bezalel Art Institute students so
hip they don't even wear black. Decent selection of food. Pizza NIS30; crepes NIS28;
salads NIS30-36. Beer NIS16-25; mixed drinks NIS30 and up. Min. charge on week-
ends NIS20. Open daily from 7pm.
Tarabin House, 9 Moonbaz St. Mellow oasis among the rowdy pubs and
dance clubs, with candles, pastoral Bedouin murals on the walls, and jungle-prints.
Nargilah lover's paradise; all-you-can-smoke NIS25. Moderately priced small meals and
many, many cocktails (NIS30). 21+ (flexible). Open daily 8pm-morning.
Strudel Internet Cafe and Bar, 11 Moonbaz St. , anchoring the western
end of the block. Popular with Anglophone expats, Strudel retains a cool atmosphere
despite the packs of American Hebrew University students gathering forces on their way
to the Underground. Don't expect privacy while surfing. Happy hour 7-9pm and mid-
night-12:30am (half-price drinks). Open M-F lOam-late, Sa 3pm-late.