Welcome to Summer in Jerusalem!

You might have already visited the intriguing Old City, shopped and lunched at the pedestrian mall at Ben-Yehuda, and wandered through the fascinating alleyways of the Machane Yehuda Shuk (outdoor market)…looking for more?  Here is just a few of the many ongoing events taking place in Jerusalem this summer:

Thursday Night Retro-Fair:

Here in Israel, you never know what might just turn up:  a fabulous find , a historical treasure, the perfect gift, a memento of this ancient and intriguing  place!  Thursday evenings at the Retro-Fair, you will find it all – antiques, collectors, vintage items, second-hand items, and much much more!

Have a fascinating find?  Get a free evaluation by an internationally reknowned antiques expert – David Ben-Ami!

And if your sleuthing has left you hungry for healthy eats,  an organic vegetable farmer’s market will be taking place too, starting at 1:00PM,  in the garden of the Arcadia Restaurant (Agrippas Street).

When:  Thursdays from noon till 10:00PM, through October 2012

Where:  City Center,  Pedestrian Mall,  Agrippas St. & Ben Yehuda St.

Price: FREE

Kid-Friendly Night Safaris at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Every Thursday evening – a unique treat for kids and the entire family:  a fun Night Safari that will satisfy your natural curiosity about plenty of night creatures, big and small.  Take advantage of the cooler evening hours to be out discovering who else is out, too – porcupines, bats, lizards and spiders, nocturnal plants, and insects, just to name a few.

Where:  Botanical Gardens,  near the city center &  Sacher Park

When:  Thursday nights.  Registration: 7:00PM,  tours depart 7:30PM

Price:  35 NIS,  Family ticket (up to 4 people) 120 NIS

For more information, please visit the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens’ website at: http://en.botanic.co.il/

The Butterfly Effect – New Performance at Mini-Israel

With their motto being  “Whatever your desires, Mini Israel has it all… small.”, this is one tourist attraction that is a definite must-see.  Surrounded by Bonsai trees,  and populated by thousands of mini-inhabitants, you will find (directly at eye-level) over 380 exact-replica, built to scale (1:25) models of Israel’s most important sites.  These include both historical and modern sites,  archeological and architectural landmarks,  and religious places, old and new.  Mini-Israel also offer a wonderful 3D movie taking you through all of Israel’s wonderfully varied landscapes.

Throughout July and August, Mini-Israel will be presenting a new and spectacular performance:  The Butterfly Effect.  Taking place in their brand new ampitheatre, the show is a creative combination of laser technology, acrobats, daredevil air stunts, and video art, all set to a brilliant thematic storyline and an original musical score.

The Butterfly Effect 

When: 8:30 PM

Price: 20 NIS,  in addition to park entrance fee

Mini-Israel Park

Where:   Latrun (just outside Jerusalem)

When:   June 10:00AM -6:00PM;       July – August: 5:00PM -10:00PM  weekdays; Fridays 10:00AM-2:00PM

Price:   24 NIS children ages 2-5, 59 NIS youths ages 5-18, students, the disabled, & senior citizens, 79 NIS Adults

The entire Mini-Israel park is wheel-chair accessible.

For more information, please call:  1-700-559-559

Link to Mini-Israel website: http://www.minisrael.co.il/english-info-mini-israel/