“Goodbye Morocco” – Filming Tangier’s American Steps

Maybe the Escalier Américain or drouj merican didn't need a thorough steam cleaning for the shooting of "Goodbye Morocco," Nadir Mokneche's forthcoming film.  Sometimes grungy is authentic, and if you don't have to paint on fake dirt, it's much cheaper. The Legation's medina neighborhood was the site for some location shooting this week.  We've been … Read more “Goodbye Morocco” – Filming Tangier’s American Steps


Tangier – Worthy Of UNESCO Status?

The Kasbah Museum (Moroccan Ministry of Culture) partnered with Italian NGO COSPE to host a two-day seminar on Tangier's architectural and cultural heritage.  A worthy effort, one that this city sorely needs, with developers greedily eyeing every square meter of available land. A parade of presenters, including a Moroccan director at the Paris Institut du … Read more Tangier – Worthy Of UNESCO Status?


Tangier Inaugurations: From Steam Train to TGV

First train arrives in Tangier's Charf Station, 1920s Print from Donald Angus Collection of glass negatives, No. 86 TALIM library, Tangier American Legation Yesterday's ceremony to mark the start of construction of Africa's newest TGV or high speed train line brought French President Nicolas Sarkozy and King Mohammed VI to Tangier.  As a relatively frequent … Read more Tangier Inaugurations: From Steam Train to TGV


Freedom Riders at the Legation

Freedom Riders premieres in the Arab world.  At TALIM. In partnership with the American Embassy in Rabat and the Sundance Institute, last night the Legation hosted a showing cum discussion of the award-winning documentary "Freedom Riders" in the presence of the film maker, Stanley Nelson. I do not say award-winning lightly.  Stanley Nelson, already a … Read more Freedom Riders at the Legation


Tanjazz and New Orleans’ Musical Ambassador

Louis Armstrong and Lillian Boutté. For a long time, they were New Orleans' only "Musical Ambassadors," though some other jazz greats have since joined their ranks. So Tangier was honored to have Lillian Boutté & The Gigolos for the latest edition of Tanjazz, an annual festival that attracts a wide audience of Tanjawis and visitors … Read more Tanjazz and New Orleans’ Musical Ambassador


Portugal, Morocco, and the Price of Glory

Thanks to a kind member of the TALIM board, I've been alerted to an exhibit in Washington's National Gallery of Art, "The Invention of Glory."  Subtitled "Alfonso V and the Pastrana Tapestries," the exhibit features "The Conquest of Tangier."  The exhibit is open through January 8, 2012. Today's Washington Post, in an article by culture … Read more Portugal, Morocco, and the Price of Glory


Mapping Mittelmeerland – An Architectural Mediterranean

Mittelmeerland will investigate the future of the Mediterranean and research six different cities over three years. In the second workshop we will study the dynamic territory of Tangier and the mutual dependencies of land and water. The Archictectural Association (AA) School of Architecture, London Yesterday's final session of the 10-day Mittelmeerland workshop in Tangier featured … Read more Mapping Mittelmeerland – An Architectural Mediterranean


His Emancipation From Slavery Would Be Agreeable To Morocco’s Emperor

Note: In our continuing series of posts touching on the long history of Moroccan-American relations, we reproduce below the text of a passport issued to the “Prince Among Slaves,” Abd al Rahman Ibrahima Sori.  Passports in those days were not what we think of today; they were basically safe conduct letters. The President at whose … Read more His Emancipation From Slavery Would Be Agreeable To Morocco’s Emperor


Judged For Its Cover: Enchantment Wins Design Award

Breaking news from the graphic design world: Graphic Design USA presents a 2011 AMERICAN GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARD to Studio Schaad Design for Enchantment Book Cover and Spreads. We are very pleased for Cathleen Schaad of Studio Schaad, who has designed a beautiful book, beautifully written by Boston University professor Diana Wylie. Ever since its publication … Read more Judged For Its Cover: Enchantment Wins Design Award