Out and about: Top 10 things to do

Make the most of your leisure time by choosing one of these 10 weekend activities.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Barney's Version 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Barney's Version 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
1. FILM: BARNEY’S VERSION
This adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s award-winning 1997 novel stars Paul Giamatti as Barney Panofsky, who meets the great love of his life, Miriam (Rosamund Pike), at the most inopportune time imaginable: his wedding to his second wife (Minnie Driver), a wealthy Jewish princess and compulsive shopper. Standing in the wings is Barney’s father, Izzy (Dustin Hoffman), who continues to stick by him, as his loyal right-hand-man.
At selected cinemas throughout the country.
2. EXHIBIT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF IRANIAN JEWS
Admire illustrated manuscripts in the Judeo- Persian language and other artefacts as part of Beit Hatfusot’s latest exhibition, “Esther and Mordechai’s Orchard: The Story of Iranian Jewry.” The exhibit encompasses the social, cultural and political aspects of Jewish life in Iran during the religious community’s 2,700-year history in the country, with around 1,400 years under Islamic rule. Illustrated marriage contracts, rugs and carpets, costumes, paintings, photographs and reconstructions of the Jewish home and synagogue are displayed.
Ongoing at Diaspora Museum, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, (03) 640-8000.
3. SUPERHEROES ALONG THE BOULEVARD
Holon’s Cartoon and Caricatures Museum presents a series of photos by French artist Laurent Lagarde, featuring comic-book superheroes against urban backdrops of famous buildings and architectural landmarks around the world.
Ongoing at Rehov Weizmann 61, Holon. (03) 652-1849.
4. MUSIC: MASHINA MADNESS
Two decades ago, the international rock world may have had U2, Queen and R.E.M., but we had our very own Mashina. Together with singer/songwriter Ehud Banai, Mashina guitarist Shlomi Bracha cowrote the song “Rakevet Laila Lekahir” (Night Train to Cairo). This helped Mashina break out of obscurity and into the charts. Since then, Banai and Mashina have cooperated on various projects. Now, Israel’s alltime top rock band will be celebrating its 25th anniversary at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club. NIS 100/120.

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Tonight, 10, Rehov Kibbutz Galuyot 52, (03) 518-8123.
5. JAMMING WITH YEHUDA
Yehuda Katz of Reva LeSheva takes the stage at Jerusalem’s Yellow Submarine with a show promoting his new album, I Won’t Come Without You. The album was produced by Gilad Vital and includes the participation of Avi Agvava, Asaf Buchman, Oren Zur, and others. Themes include love of the Land of Israel as well as searching for one’s home after years of wandering. NIS 50/60.
Saturday, 10 p.m., Rehov Harechavim 13, Talpiot, (02) 679-4040.
6. MIXED BAG: A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Back by popular demand! Ever wanted to learn the ins and outs of shopping in Mahaneh Yehuda? Take a one-hour walk with itinerant shopper Sybil Kaplan, food writer, Jerusalem Post food columnist and cookbook author. Bring some bags, take notes and stay on to wander through on your own. In Hebrew.
Monday, 9:15 a.m. Meet on Rehov Agrippas by entrance of closed shuk (next to flower vendor), (02) 566-1181 to pre-register.
7. TOUR: A DIG AT THE BIBLE
Beit Guvrin National Park offers an exciting array of one-day archeological tours every Saturday led by experts in the field. Highlights include digging and sifting as well as an exciting crawl through unexcavated cave systems. There will also be a demonstration of the making of olive oil at the site of an ancient olive press. Tours are conducted in English or Hebrew.
Every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., (08) 681-1020.
8. FESTIVAL: IT’S A BIRD’S LIFE
Galilee plays host to the annual International Bird Watching Festival. Among the anticipated bird sightings are great crested grebes, great and pygmy cormorants, tufted ducks and assorted gull species. Activities include free guided daily tours to the best birding hot spots in the area, a hands-on ringing demonstration and bird identification workshops in the field.
Runs tomorrow through Saturday and January 6 through 8, www.parks.org.il
9. THEATER: LIFE ON A ROCK
Hasimta Theater presents a production of Athol Fugard’s The Island. This powerful South African political play revolves around two prisoners in Robben Island prison camp as they rehearse for a performance of Sophocles’s Antigone. One discovers he will shortly be released; the other is a lifer, so there is a meeting of hope and despair. Translated by Anton Shammas and directed by Alon Tiran. In Hebrew.
Tonight and tomorrow, 9 p.m., Rehov Mazal Dagim 8, Old Jaffa. (03) 681-2126.
10. UPCOMING MUSIC: JAZZ ITALIAN STYLE
Catch world-renowned Italian jazz pianist Stefano Bollani as he performs his own adaptations of classic pop and rock songs at Tel Aviv’s Opera House. Over the years Bollani has recorded and performed with the likes of Lee Konitz, Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea. Bollani was here last year to pay tribute to Israeli songwriter Sasha Argov.
January 14, 9:30 p.m., Sderot Shaul Hamelech 19. (03) 692-7777.