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

Hello Cairo!

Can you smell it? Can you smell summer inching its way closer to us? For some, that smell would come in the form of an all too familiar mix of petrol and tarmac, with a hint of trash. But being the eternal optimists we are at Cairo 360, we’re looking forward to a bit of sunshine.

In the meantime, this weekend brings us another kaleidoscope of events.

Thursday is a big night for music, with Lebanese band, Mashrou3 Leila, returning to the city for a special performance at AUC New Cairo. Elsewhere, Sufi hosts a gig courtesy of eclectic band, Looperia Project, while Cairo Jazz Club welcomes the talents of the Ka-settes and Screwdriver.

On the clubbing front, byGanz has put together a little shindig at the Clubhouse with Toyboys leading the way, DJ Feedo is holding down R&B Night at  Otium and DJ Simon is back at Roof Bar, while Air Nights returns to Y Lounge. House fans are spoilt for choice, with Tamer Auf spinning at this week’s House Arrest at O Bar, while 4 The Love of House welcomes the Awadi Brothers at Tamarai.

On a different note, the DI-EGY Festival continues at both the British Council and Gezirah Art Center, whilst the Women Pioneers Film Festival launches tonight at Cairo Opera House’s Artistic Creativity Center, showcasing the work of some of the most influential women of the 2oth century.

Friday sees the return of Al Hezb El Comedy, who’ll be setting up at Makan for a night of stand-up, while Amici Heliopolis invites one and all for another edition of Lebanese Friday Nights. Tamarai, meanwhile, continues its increasingly popular Top of the Pops night and Cairo Jazz Club welcome DJ Loulli and DJ Mayounah, while DJ Feedo makes another appearance, this time O Bar’s R&B Night.

Live music come in the form experimental group, Kompressor, who will take to the stage of 100Copies Music Space, while in Zamalek, Noha Fekry performs live at Jazz Mate, while Shababeek Cultural Center welcomes Cairenes of all dispositions for an open mic night.

In one of the more interesting events of the weekend, Le Passage Hotel are hosting Dog Day Out; a family-friendly day dedicated to man’s best friend.

Cairo Jazz Club ends the weekend on a bang, as Saturday sees Sara El Gohary and Salalem perform, while the opening of Hal Badeel Festival’s second week kicks off with screenings and live music at Townhouse Gallery.

At Darb 1718, open mic initiative, Mashrou3 Al Mareekh joins forces with Harassmap for, Mareekh Harassmap (clever), while Amici Zamalek winds the weekend down with Wine and Fondue Night. Across in the east, meanwhile, Amici Heliopolis welcomes Cairo to another of its Greek Nights.

Elsewhere, Nun Center’s weekly Farmers Market continues to attract Cairenes from all over and the Goethe Institute hosts two film screenings; 2011’s Gerhard Richter Painting and 2009’s Close to You.

There’s plenty of new art in Cairo’s galleries this weekend, including Ayman Taher and Ahmad Keshta’s ‘The Sixth Sense’ at 6 Contemporary Arts and ‘From the Memories of a Folk District‘ by Adel Tharwat at Al Kahila Art Gallery. The pick of the bunch, however, has to be at Artellewa, where Mohamed Fattouh’s ‘The Leader…?’ questions the notion of leadership and offers alternative perspectives to the answer through mediums of photography, collage, graphic and Arabic calligraphy. Meanwhile, ‘The Parenthesis Show’ at CIC comes to a close this weekend.

Remember, Cairo: this is just a teeny-weeny snapshot of the gigs, exhibitions, parties and festivals taking over the streets of the city this weekend! Check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more.

Have a great weekend – be good!