Hands down, 8 mm is the coolest video rental store in Tel Aviv. Located just off of Dizengoff Square, I rely on them often for my at home entertainment. But, until recently, they had been no help with my nights out. Having discovered the formula for the hippest rental joint in the city, the proprietors of 8 mm have expanded their business to include the new 8 mm Piano Bar. I first learned of the venture from an advertisement at the rental store, a chill place that draws a variety of film lovers and makers and whose employees refer to their mainstream rival (The Third Ear) as, "the corporation." 8 mm's gift is in the ambience it creates, a comfortable atmosphere of home in the heart of the city. Located on Washington Street in Florentine, the piano bar's seating extends beyond the bar into a quiet, tree-lined street - a perfect setting for a sole sax player to finger "Take 5" as arm-locked couples stroll on by. The outside area is relaxed with tables for smokers and drinkers enjoying a Tel Aviv evening. Just inside there are several small white tables intimately surrounding a black, grand piano, the room's focal point, with red lighting to enhance the romance of the black and white décor. The whole experience emanates forth from the piano. I arrived before the show so my date and I could soak up the vibe and enjoy a drink or two in preparation for the performance. By day the venue serves as a coffee shop; by night a bar filled with the young, relaxing amongst their peers and eager for some good live music. The service was slow, probably because the show this evening displayed the prodigious talents of the bar's own staff. Haran Drori, a staff bartender, mainlined the event, at times solo on the piano while at others accompanied by a guitar or bass. She seamlessly weaved her voice with the piano in her bluesy style topping off the experience as a whole. The show felt like a night at home with lights dimmed, some good company and a nice bottle of wine. A couple at the table closest to the piano, practically on stage, made out throughout with barely a break for air while a cute lesbian couple cuddled in a booth in the corner. The audience sat in silence, soaking up the scene as Drori's voice resonated throughout the bar. We sunk back in our chairs, comfortably enjoying the music, atmosphere and a nice buzz. Drori returned for a far more casual set, after a break, consisting of only a few songs - including the ever recognizable "Stand By Me," performed with a bass accompaniment. During the piece the bassist used his instrument for percussion while the electronics guy playfully plugged him in and out of the speakers. The result of the contrasting sets was precisely what makes 8 mm so lovable - professional quality with a familiar feel. The venue has a show almost every night, and checking it out is a must. Come alone, with friends or, as I found to be particularly apt, as a couple and enjoy the confidence that a good time is in store. One, that I will describe with my final words, akin to eating warm apple pie while sipping a cocktail - a touch of comfort on a night out. 8 mm Piano Bar (25 Washington Street, Tel Aviv, (03) 602-1628) is open seven days a week from 8:30 AM to last customer.
