promotes young underground
artists from the nabe.
Insider tip: If you want to
explore more of this contemporary
neighborhood, sign up for The
Next Florentin Urban Culture
Tour with the Street Wise HebrewGuy Sharett.
Although the Design Museum Holon
only opened five years ago, it is
already considered one of the
world’s best contemporary art
museums. Acclaimed Israeli
architect, Ron Arad, created
the innovative structure, which
resembles a giant armload of
tangled red bangles. The permanent
collection presents the best of
industrial, fashion, textile and
jewelry design, while the changing
exhibitions feature everything
from lesser-known pieces from the
Alessi Museum to examples from
the early years of bicycle design.
Insider tip: It’s well worth the
20-minute taxi ride from Tel Aviv.
Shopping Galore
With its burgeoning stylish young
population, Tel Aviv has become
Israel’s fashion capital with a
plethora of prestigious designer
boutiques (both international and
local) new luxury malls, pop-up
stores and open markets, all
vying for the techies dollars.
Kikar Hamedina has pretty much
kicked Dizengogg Center to the
curb for posh shopping. Exclusive
international designer stores
including Gucci, Chanel and Versace
surround this grassy “State Square.”
The pretty neighborhood of Neve
Tzedek also offers upscale
shopping, but here you’ll find
mostly local designers inhabiting
the quaint boutiques and galleries
hidden along the winding alleyways.
Insider tip: Agas & Tamar create
incredible “story-telling jewelry”
from found flotsam and jetsam,
ancient coins, precious stones, gold
and silver. Tell them your purchase
is to be a gift and they’ll wrap it
in a darling handmade muslin bag.
The Carmel Market, the frenetic
soul of Tel Aviv, is filled with
colorful stalls selling everything
from fresh-baked Yemenite
pancake-like flatbread called saluf
to knock-off sunglasses. Shopping
for an impromptu picnic yielded
glistening black olives, hummus,
flaky cheese burekas, hot pita,
perfectly ripe tomatoes, succulent
red strawberries, shelled pistachios,
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