133 Articles
Cairo is a metropolitan city. Millions of people from every face of the earth visit the Egyptian capital each year, in groups or individually. Some stay longer than others, but ultimately, everyone sees it in a different light. Using art to mirror this multi-layered experience is not an easy feat. While many such attempts land …
We are part of a global movement, said Sarah Rifaat, one of the organizers of 350.org day of climate action, an event that took place last Saturday and saw environmental activists from around the world gathering to put a stop to global warming. Marking 50 days before world leaders meet at the United Nations climate …
Desert or sea? Both. Car or plane? Car. Hotel reservation? No, tents. Destination? Marsa Alam. Planning my holidays has always been spontaneous. Within Egypt, I consider myself well-traveled. Over the years, along with a few friends, I have developed a penchant for everything that is unconventional, rugged and unmarred by commercialization. Recently, five of us …
CAIRO: The constant gridlock that has become the emblem of Cairo’s streets has driven many to join the suburban sprawl. But while those migrating away from the city enjoy clean air and parking spaces, the larger part still commutes to the city everyday for work, school and other services. Despite the increasing number of people …
Over and over again, across countless art spaces, foreign artists have shared their view of our multi-layered, metropolitan capital; a theme that has not only been exhausted to death over the last 10 years, but has also been an easy trap for clichés. Sawy Culture Wheel’s hidden Shadow Hall has managed to break the chain …
The fluidity of music across borders is not new to cultures. Long before visas and travel permits were a requirement for crossing borders, music was as a matter of course exchanged between traders alongside goods. Nowadays, musicians with different cultural influences find it hard to find the time and space to discuss musical inspirations and …
The art of writing Arabic verses and proverbs is the epitome of fusing art and literature into one piece. El-Sawy Culture Wheel’s Earth Hall is currently showing calligrapher Muhammad Saad El-Mahdy’s solo exhibit titled “Ibda’at Khateya. The collection includes a series of proverbs, Quranic verses and excerpts from old Arabic poetry artfully inscribed on paper …
At the peak of the current economic meltdown, the worst the world has seen in decades, famed Egyptian mountaineer Omar Samra s heart was racing as he prepared to break the news to his boss at the time. He was going to quit. Ever since he graduated from college Samra, the first Egyptian to climb …
The little black dress is the most prevalent item in every woman’s wardrobe. Whether you’re a fashonista or exercise mild interest in the world of what’s vogue, you will most probably own a simple black dress. Fashion is an art, and just as an artist translates ordinary objects into captivating creations, you should be able …
For Khan El-Khalili’s frequent shoppers, a miniature Nefertiti statue that’s labeled ‘Made in China’ has become a common site that carries a great deal of disappointment. The labyrinthine-street market that was once known for its authentic Egyptian-made souvenirs now features stalls of Chinese-made goods, inspired by the Pharaohs, sold by Egyptians. And that’s not a …
Razz is what you get when you fuse freewheeling jazz with strong rock beats echoed by an electric guitar fed with expressive Arabic lyrics. The ingredients are simple: rock, oriental and jazz. El Geneina Theatre audience experienced this innovative new sound last Thursday in a short but playful performance by young Jordanian singer/songwriter Aziz Maraka …
The fusion of Arabic musical traditions with jazz has become an established subgenre slowly gaining popularity among both Egyptian and Arab listeners alike. The large attendance of Lebanese singer Rima Kcheich’s April concert came as a surprise to many, partially due to the occasional avant-garde aberrations that distinct this fusion. Two consecutive sold-out concerts by …
Riding a motocross calls for specific characteristics: vigor, steadiness and minimum body weight. When it comes to Freestyle Motocross (FMX), however, the ingredients differ. Versatility, flexibility and ultimate boldness seem to be the main components, coupled with a penchant for flying high and an ability to entertain a crowd of several thousands. Twelve riders from …
Ramadan, and its accompanying festivities, is more than just a religious pillar; it s a time when families get together, when people try to do more good. Festivities, manifested in the colorful lanterns adorning every corner of every street in Egypt, to name one, have become an integral component of the holy month. Artist Ibrahim …
Cairo Opera House’s Artistic Creativity Center hosted this week a screening of a series of mostly Egyptian short narratives and documentaries produced by students of the Arab School for Film and Television. The screened film are the product of a series of workshops organized by the school in Cairo and Alexandria whose aim is to …
Most people fear public scrutiny; we find comfort in belonging to a group, in knowing that someone has our back covered, in believing that we are not being judged on the basis of our appearance. Clearly, that’s just wishful thinking. It’s one thing to feel sidelined and bullied in school. It’s another when you’re a …
As people’s idea of marriage turns more materialistic by the minute, traffic reaches a new level of chaos everyday and education levels topple further, Egyptians put on their creative hats in an attempt to brush off such realities, at least for one night. Sawy Cultural Wheel’s monthly Jokes Café, held last Sunday, was nothing out …
Ever wonder why most children grow up watching musicals? Why “Marry Poppins and “The Sound of Music remind you of your old living room? It’s simply because they’re utterly and purely joyous, easy to memorize and have proven to be timeless. The stage of the Cairo Opera House has nurtured hundreds of talents, showcased a …
When Omar Mansour was younger, he decided to travel the world. Although a common childhood fantasy, to Mansour, it was far from being simply a flight of fancy. At 35 years old, the Alexandrian Bedouin has journeyed the Middle East, Europe and the east coast of North America. Next month, Mansour is taking his bike …
If someone were to set foot in a cabaret today, it would probably be for a cheap night out, a bachelor party or a desperate search for a one-night stand; or so it seems. If you were to walk into Cairo’s downtown cabarets 60 years ago, however, you’d come across an entirely different picture: a …
School’s over, summer has arrived and it’s time to hit seashores. Whether or not you’ve worked off some of that winter weight, you’ll soon have to find some figure-flattering swimwear that will take you through your weekend getaways and turn heads at pool parties. This season’s runways have brought elegance to the sexiest of summer …
It is all so common to recognize your own passion only after people start commending a talent that you have yet to realize. Mona Abd-El Aziz inherited the passion for baking from her grandmother, but only with the help of her friends was she able to turn this passion into a mini-business. Abd-El Aziz’s baking …
In an effort to protect Egyptian children from exploitation, abuse and violence, Hanfaninha Studio Gallery is organizing a two-day exhibition to raise funds for a project designed to educate 25 street children, victims of child labor and students from marginalized communities, about their rights as Egyptian citizens. Artists from different backgrounds have donated their work …
Whether or not you intend to review it, dining at a five-star hotel is unquestionably one of the joys of living in the city. For that reason, my lunch partner and I were equally exhilarated on our way to the JW Marriott’s Lemongrass last Saturday. Inspired by the fields of the Far East, and keeping …
we are all familiar with the legendary Egyptian black and white films, those which featured cinematic giants such as Faten Hamama and Shadia. At the peak of their careers in the 1940s and 50s, and up until today, such heroines have become quintessential icons of the dramatic nature of Egyptian women. In an exhibition that …
As soon as I received an invitation to attend the weekly fish buffet at Omar’s Café in the Cairo Marriott, my stomach was dancing on the inside and my taste buds were tingling in anticipation of a savory dinner. On regular days, Omar’s Café serves an array of tantalizing dishes, from clear lobster soup and …
Egypt has long cultivated a culture that loves to dance, dating as far as its ancient pharaoh civilization. While the temples of Memphis have been home to some of the most historical forms of dancing, Egypt’s great dancers who emerged in the 30s and 40s took dance to a completely different level. Dance was elevated …
Continuous cooperation and long-term culture bridging were the focus of a press conference held last week at the Goethe Institute to launch a new project called New Orient II: Cairo, Beirut – a three-way initiative between Egypt, Lebanon and Germany. Centered on creating cultural dialogue, the festival will be held in three major German cities …
Sandwiched between leading Cilantro and popular, posh Coffee Bean and the Tea Leaf, the Bean Bar joined the coffee-mania industry kicking off its first branch on Zamalek’s Abu El Feda Street. Overseeing the Nile in one of Cairo’s trendiest neighborhoods, Bean Bar, brought to Cairo by Ezz El Arab for tourists’ restaurants five months ago, …
Cairo Marriott’s Torii was obviously made to garner rave reviews. The artful presentation of the food coupled with authentic interiors and prompt friendly service make for a comfortable and enjoyable meal. The freshness of the ingredients instantly transports you to Asia, a heaven of exotic tastes. The appetizers, the sushi and the dessert will satisfy …