"THINGS SOCIAL"
In line with the small town nature of Karmiel, much of the socializing is done in-home. Invites for dinner, coffee, etc. are the backbone. As is true pretty much anywhere, families with young kids will tend to stick together and socialize according to which school the children attend or families that attend the same synagogue will do things together. There are or have been at one time or another book clubs, bridge groups, mahjong groups, scrabble clubs, choirs and choral groups and lots of folk dance opportunities (this is Karmiel, after all). People are likely to socialize according to language groups.
In line with the small town nature of Karmiel, much of the socializing is done in-home. Invites for dinner, coffee, etc. are the backbone. As is true pretty much anywhere, families with young kids will tend to stick together and socialize according to which school the children attend or families that attend the same synagogue will do things together. There are or have been at one time or another book clubs, bridge groups, mahjong groups, scrabble clubs, choirs and choral groups and lots of folk dance opportunities (this is Karmiel, after all). People are likely to socialize according to language groups.
The older English speaking 'crowd' gets together on Saturday evening to sit outside of the English Speakers' Club, weather permitting, (next to Bank Hapoalim in the old commercial center) and shmooze and have a coffee or a whiskey. This is in addition to the regular morning hours (see below.) Also, occasionally a speaker comes to the club, usually on a Monday evening. In addition, there is the every-now-and-then bus tiyul or vacation in Eilat. The club library, which stocks current English language paperbacks, is open every (S-F) morning. Club membership includes library privileges. The club is open every morning from 10:00 till 12:30, M-F. On occasion, there is an evening 'social,' i.e., pizza party, wine & cheese get together, etc. Friday a.m., people sort of drop in, read the paper, catch up. The bridge club meets twice a week during the day. Most of the membership is of retirement age, but don't let that stop you! They're pretty sprightly, friendly and have lots of Karmiel experience.
Food and restaurants:
As of this writing there are no kosher restaurants in the old center of town, one kosher dairy restaurant (Café Café) in the Hotazaot Karmiel strip mall in the industrial section; two kosher meat restaurant (Shipudei Hatikva and Mad Bull) in the My Center strip mall in the industrial section, a kosher bakery/café (Assif) on the main road through the industrial section (next to the Orange cellphone store); a number of kosher “workers’ restaurants—meat—usually open only for lunch—in the Industrial Zone itself, and one kosher restaurant on the ‘Midrahov” (HaBimah). There are additional kosher bakeries that sell pastries and such (ie., Sami Burekas in the old center—super coffee and great challot!). There is a kosher falafel stand at the base of the “Old Kanyon,” Kirkar Hagalil. There a 3 sushi restaurants, several chain store restaurants (Aroma, Burgus Burger Bar, Art d’Coco, etc.) as well as privately owned. None of these is kosher. There is a kosher butcher shop, Ohf Tsfat, in the industrial zone. Naturally, the supermarkets carry kosher meat and poultry. There is a fresh fish store in the industrial zone (kosher) and lots of supermarkets, including 2 that cater to the Russian population and several Russian mini markets, all of which sell pork and international products. They also sell a large variety of alcoholic beverages and wines. Alcoholic beverages may not be consumed on the street, i.e., no can of beer while you stroll, plus convenience stores are forbidden to sell alcohol after 11 p.m. The new total of Karmiel supermarkets is 9, with more to come.
In addition to the above, there are a number of restaurants (kosher) which prepare food for take out on Friday mornings and before holidays. These include: The hotel (Cochav HaGalil), Tamuz (both prepare many different choices, both mizrachi and European), Mamun (left at the first traffic light in the industrial section where the gas station is) (primarily mizrachi), Shipudei Tikva (mizrachi) in the "MY Center" opposite Big, and others.
In addition to the above, there are a number of restaurants (kosher) which prepare food for take out on Friday mornings and before holidays. These include: The hotel (Cochav HaGalil), Tamuz (both prepare many different choices, both mizrachi and European), Mamun (left at the first traffic light in the industrial section where the gas station is) (primarily mizrachi), Shipudei Tikva (mizrachi) in the "MY Center" opposite Big, and others.
Cultural Center website
http://www.karmiel.net/tarbut/hehal%20hatarbut.htm (Hebrew website)
On Saturday nites in the summer, the municipality sponsors an evening of Israeli folkdancing in the new plaza in the old center of town, near the old ‘canyon.’ Parents and kids, couples, singles, all are welcome. The music usually starts around 19:30 and goes on till 23:00 or so. A couple of coffee shops and pubs are open.There is also Israeli folk dancing night at the Conservative synagogue each Wednesday night.
Second run films are shown at the Hechal Hatarbut (cultural center) on Saturday nites at 21:00. There is talk of building a movie theatre in town. We had a multi-plex in one of the shopping centers for a few years, but they moved out. The deputy mayor announced a few months ago that 3 new VIP screening rooms are planned for the space underneath the Hechal. There are at least two snooker halls.
I highly recommend the Karmiel Folk Club which meets at 21:00 on the first Thursday of the month at Moshav Shorashim. Personally, I believe "Folk Club" is much too narrow a name. Lots of different kinds of performers here, both international and domestic, for nis 35. Don't miss Open Mik month (April). It is so not karaoke.
I highly recommend the Karmiel Folk Club which meets at 21:00 on the first Thursday of the month at Moshav Shorashim. Personally, I believe "Folk Club" is much too narrow a name. Lots of different kinds of performers here, both international and domestic, for nis 35. Don't miss Open Mik month (April). It is so not karaoke.
The Municipality owns and operates the “Park Mishpacha” (family park). Entrance is free to Karmiel residents (show your teudat zehut ‘ID card') for free entrance. Mini golf, picnic tables, playground equipment, etc. Really nifty. Park HaGalil (site of the NBN summer picnics) is spacious and beautiful, with a lake and waterfalls. Free entrance. Bring your own picnic.
There are at least 4 gyms in Karmiel that I know of, holmesplace.com,
a gym called Pegasus which seems to be primarily for guys into bodybuilding with separate facilities for women, and a third whose name is YES. This is all in addition to the swimming pool and health club operated by the Municipality called "Top Club."
In addition, the reshet matnasim (community center network) and several other organizations sponsor various activities such as Pilates, yoga, belly dance, sr. citizen's exercise, and others. Kupat Holim Clalit and Kupat Holim Macabbi also have exercise classes for seniors or those with special needs. The network of senior citizens centers (there are 3 in Karmiel) also sponsors exercise classes, dance classes, Hebrew lectures, and day trips. These are all heavily subsidized.
