As part of its annual Badaro Open Streets event, the Badaro Merchants’ Association, in coordination with the Public Interest Design, organized during the weekend a big festival on its main street, which included an open fair for popular shops, restaurants and cafes in the neighborhood, in addition to an exhibition of traditional mooneh products and crafts run by Suk El Tayeb. The Association’s president George Brax noted that the purpose of the activity was to develop the area and strengthen relations between its residents and the touristic establishments as well as the economic, trade and social institutions operating there. The festival, Brax said, sends a clear message to local and foreign public opinions that the Lebanon is a “life loving nation” determined to fight to defend its economy and the spirit of coexistence. In this respect, Beirut Mayor, Bilal Hamad, praised efforts by Badaro merchants, and particularly expressed gratitude to Brax, whom he described as the “dynamo” for the development and revival of Badaro neighborhood.(Al Diyar, September 21, 2015)