The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

As we toast once more to the Egyptian national holiday calendar
for the gift of three day weekends, we can’t help but feel a little anxious.
With January the 25th upon us, we worry of how many more wounds
might be inflicted on our sweet lady, Cairo. This weekend is a time of
reflection and commemoration. But not everyone got the message.

Amici never needs an excuse for a party and this Thursday,
the Zamalek cocktail specialists continue their ‘why not?’ attitude with ‘Party?‘
– a party, funnily enough, with DJ Simonn. Elsewhere, Y Lounge hosts a special performance
by shaabi superstars, Oka and Ortega, while soul diva, Michelle Rounds, takes
to the stage at Zamalek’s Jazz Mate.

More jazz comes courtesy of full-time crooner, Ahmed
Harfoush, who returns to his home away from home, Saigon Restaurant &
Lounge. Local talent is aplenty, as rockers Jailbirds and Beatles tribute band
Glass Onion take to the stage at Cairo Jazz Club and Nagham Band perform at
Sufi in Zamalek. Meanwhile, After Eight in Downtown Cairo welcomes Salalem back
to the stage, while Eureka hosts another Karaoke Night.

If fist-pumping is your forte, Roof Bar’s ‘Weekend Warm-up’
and O Bar’s ‘House Arrest’ should do the trick.  

Friday sees DJ Samba and DJ Fahmy take to the decks at Cairo
Jazz Club, while DJ Feedo brings his urban sensibilities to O Bar’s R&B
Night. The infamous Cairo White Club will be graced by another form of monkey,
as part-time model part-time DJ, Adrienn Leval – aka DJ Baby LA – provides the
music. Elsewhere on Cairo’s exciting nightlife scene, DJ Zizo entertains at
Roof Bar’s ‘Friday Fever‘, while contemporary Oriental musician, Mado, performs at After Eight.

Saturday begins at Photopia, where a Photographers Open Day
invites the city’s amateur snappers for a day of all things camera. Egyptian band,
Wasla, make their debut performance at Cairo Jazz Club as part of a double-header
which includes indie-pop songstress, Sara El Gohary, while Just Muzik launches
its new weekly night at the Nile Maxim, DV8.

Elsewhere, Nūn Center is hosting its weekly Farmers Market and
after-hours club, Bamboo, welcome DJ Aly and DJ Kiko for Lebanese Night.

The local art scene in Cairo is growing by the day and this
we’ve seen several new exhibitions launching this week, including group
exhibition, ‘Al Mahrousa’, which is being showcased at 6 Contemporary Arts in
Zamalek to commemorate the Egyptian Revolution.

You’d have to be living under a rock to be aware of this year’s edition of the Cairo International Book Fair; but worry not, the Middle East’s biggest literary event of he year runs till Tuesday.

One last thing; stay safe and have a good weekend, Cairo.