Out and About: Top 10 things to do

Rona Kenen performs at the Barby Club, Tel Aviv; take the family to Jerusalem's Mahla Mall for ice skating.

Rossini Opera  (photo credit: Courtesy )
Rossini Opera
(photo credit: Courtesy )
FILM
1. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
While working to solve the mystery of a 40-year-old murder, a discredited journalist (Daniel Craig) and a mysterious computer hacker discover that even the wealthiest families have skeletons in their closet in this David Fincher-directed remake of the 2009 Swedish thriller of the same name.
At selected cinemas throughout the country.
KIDS
2. ON THIN ICE
Get your skates on! The plaza outside Hamashbir at Jerusalem’s Malha Mall will be transformed into a 100-meter ice-skating rink throughout January, providing a magical winter experience for the whole family. NIS 20.
Runs Monday through January 28, from noon to 10 p.m., www.azrieli.com
EXHIBITION
3. REACHING FOR RUBENS
 The Israel Museum’s latest exhibition sheds new light on Peter Paul Rubens’s seminal painting The Death of Adonis (ca. 1614). For the first time, drawings, preparatory oil sketches and paintings of the same theme by other Flemish masters of Rubens’s time are brought together to illuminate aspects of his special interest in the subject of Venus and Adonis, a result of his readings in classical literature.
Starts Tuesday at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, www.imj.org.il
MUSIC
4. KEEN ON KENAN
With three solo albums behind her, a faithful musical following and collaborations with renowned musicians, Rona Kenan is back with a new show. According to many critics, Kenan’s melodies are concise and passionate, her texts are personal, and her presentation is sensitive and honest. Kenan’s special acoustic performance is complemented by a full lineup of double bass, piano, drums, guitar and string and wind trio. Catch her as she performs new arrangements for many of her songs, as well as songs never performed live before.
Wednesday, 10 p.m., Barby Club, Tel Aviv, www.barby.co.il
ART
5. OFF THE BEATEN TRAX
The Muslala Art Trax project offers art, culture and humous lovers a unique way to explore Musrara, one of Jerusalem’s most fascinating neighborhoods, through the eyes of contemporary urban artists. The project comprises a colorful weekly Saturday morning English-language tour of Musrara and its hidden art, led by tour guides who are Jerusalem artists that combine their passion for the city with their artistic approaches. The tour ends at a local humous place where participants can purchase lunch.
Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m, www.muslala.org
THEATER

6. A DISH BEST SERVED COLD
Habimah National Theater’s artistic director Ilan Ronen presents his production of the modern classic The Visit of the Old Lady by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. In The Visit, starring Gila Almagor, a woman who has become extremely wealthy returns to her native town for vengeance. In Hebrew.
Saturday, 8:30 p.m., Habimah, Tel Aviv, www.habima.co.il
OPERA

7. FEEDING ON ROSSINI
The second in Nitza Shaul’s popular series on the childhoods of famous composers is called Opera in Tomato Sauce and presents Gioachino Rossini. He was a prolific composer and an excellent amateur chef. The performance will feature excerpts from Rossini operas The Barber of Seville, Cinderella and others, performed by a string quartet. Pianist Nitza Shaul will host the program, accompanied by opera singers Yevgeny Lavie and Niva Eshed; with dancers of the Zramim Studio choreographed by Dina Telem.
Runs Tuesday through next Thursday, 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Israeli Opera House, (03) 692-7777
SPORTS
8. UP TO SPEED
Experience the new single-rider biking trail inaugurated recently in the Ben-Shemen Forest, 32 kilometers long, making it one of the longest biking trails in Israel. The trail goes through Ben-Shemen’s ancient forest scenery and passes by the oldest cypress and pine forest in Israel. After about seven kilometers, the trail splits and becomes the Anava trail. Throughout the trail there are observation points that overlook Modi’in and towns in the Shefela and the coastal plain.
For more info, visit www.kkl.org.il
MUSIC

9. JAMMIN’ WITH JANE
Musical and cinematic pop culture icon Jane Birkin will be coming to Tel Aviv for two performances. The 65-year-old British-born Birkin emerged as a prototype mini-skirted “swinging London” scenemaker in the 1960s, appearing in the film Blowup and beginning a torrid romance with French singer/actor Serge Gainsbourg. Birkin startled the world when she and Gainsbourg recorded a duet “Je t’aime” (I Love You) in 1969 that became a hit despite being banned by most radio stations for the sexual moans heard in the background. She has continued an active acting and singing career ever since.
January 13 and 14 at 10 p.m., Reading 3, www.reading3.co.il
FESTIVAL
10. SWING TIME DOWN SOUTH
Twenty-four years after the summer festival kicked off, Eilat will have its very own pared-down winter version of the Red Sea Jazz Festival. Some 100 local musicians and 70 international artists will grace the Eilat Port’s Hangar 6 indoor stage. This includes some of the biggest names on the global jazz scene, such as the Karl Seglem Quintet, the Kora Jazz Band and the Youn Sun Nah Quartet.
Runs January 19 through 21, www.redseajazzeilat.com