Jerusalem hotels, restaurants, attractions, tours & events. Helping since 2008

Summer festival season marches on in Jerusalem. The One Square Meter poetry festival at the Botanical Gardens and the In House Festival, part of the Jerusalem Season of Culture, kick off next Tuesday, but no sweat - there's plenty of great stuff happening to keep your mind off the heat until then, including musician Peter Roth's tribute to Israeli songwriter Shmulik Chizik at Beit Avi Chai and the second annual Big Lebowski Festival. Read on for our top picks.

• The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra dedicates its last concert of the Light Classical Series season to music from Westerns, tonight at the Jerusalem Theatre. Amos Talmon conducts the program which includes original country western music favorites by by Gounod - Faust, Shostakovich, Tiomkin, Morricone, and more.
  
  
• If you will it, dude, it is no dream: the Lebowski fest is back in town for its second run. The event tonight will be packed with bowling, White Russians flowing freely at the bar, and cover band Long Time Gone performing Creedence Clear Water Revival (the Dude's favorite music). The Dude abides!
  
  
• Go to Azza! The street that is. This week's Front Stage street party takes to the streets of Rechavia, with cultural events, food, and fashion on Azza Street, Ben Maimon Street, and Radak Street in Rehavia from 12:00-18:00 on Friday. Entrance is free for all and includes both outdoor and indoor events, and a live performance by Amir Lev.
  
  
• Musician, producer, and arranger Peter Roth pays tribute to Israeli songwriter Shmulik Chizik, drawing on his album "Shar Chizik" on Saturday night as part of Beit Avi Chai's series of Saturday night "Renewal" concert series, at which contemporary artists play new arrangements of songs that shaped Israeli culture.
  
  
• Get your creative juices flowing and make your Pinterest board a reality at the Jerusalem Mall (Malcha)'s two week long hobby and crafts fair. Planning a summer party? Looking for ways to keep the kids busy over vacation without emptying your wallet? Stock up on arts and crafts supplies while the youngens take advantage of the creativity corners.
  
  
• Sunday is a regular work day in Israel so on Monday it's already time for a midweek chill out. Kedma, the kosher brasserie on Alrov Mamilla Avenue just kicked off all new Monday night parties, where you're invited to sit back, take in the clear Jerusalem night air and stunning Old City views, enjoy a drink, and perhaps even some dancing.
  
  
• The 5th annual One Square Meter poetry festival begins on Tuesday at the Botanical Gardens, featuring readings, writing workshops, a debut performance of Roni Somek's poetry, Michal Zehavi's exhibit "Artist Book," and many other poetry encounters. Alma Zohar will kick off the festival with a live show which will include poetry and prose readings.
  
  
• The "In-House Festival," a festival of theater, dance and music, kicks off on Tuesday, boasting original productions that re-examine the roles of audience, artist and location. Performances will take place in houses and unconventional performance spaces across the city, including caves, synagogues, kitchen tables, and more.