Entertainment

Be’er Sheva is a surprisingly lively at night, especially around Trumpeldor St. Most of the bars open at 8 or 9pm, but remain quiet until about 11pm, when an almost exclusively Israeli crowd starts pouring in. Trombone, on 18 Ha’Avot St. (tel. 27 7g 70), at the comer of Trumpeldor, is another informal restaurant/pub with a more intimate atmosphere. Beer NIS6 and main dishes from the kitchen NIS7-15. (Open nightly 8:30pm-4am.) The wildest place in Be’er Sheva is HaSimta (The Alley), 16 Trumpeldor St. Prepare for a deafening mixture of Israeli, American, and European music, and a crowd that sings along. Must be 18. (Open nightly 8pm-3am.)

If you’re too sober for the pub scene, head for one of Be’er Sheva’s several movie theaters, four of which are in the Kanion. To cool off, dive into the swimming pool at the Beit Yatziv Youth Hostel, 79 Ha’Atzma’ut St. (Open Sun.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm, Sat. 830am4pm. Admission NIS10, Sbabbat NIS12. NIS3 discount for hostel guests.) More mellow still is an annual international harmonica and accordion festival with street performers and classical, pop, blues, and soul concerts. The festival is in early July; ask at the GTIO for details.