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

Hello Cairo!

As we move deeper and deeper into the
harsh, unforgiving winter, the weather is becoming bitterly cold. That’s no
excuse to stay in; though! We all love a good duvet-day every now and again, but
there’s just too much going on in the Cairo – the city that literally never
sleeps!

It’s shaping up to be a pretty big Thursday, none more so than at Cairo
Jazz Club, where acoustic-indie maestro Hany Mustafa will perform before the
always vibrant Wust El Balad. Live music will also come in the
way of American alternative hip-hop group Legacy’s gig at Rawabet Theatre in Downtown Cairo. Egyptian group Leil We
Ein are a band to watch out for; their oriental and blues fusion will be on
show at El Sawy Culturewheel.

El Sawy Culturewheel will host two interesting talks this evening, including a lecture by acclaimed author Alaa El Aswany and a discussion on rebuilding Egypt by Dr. Hany El Banna of Islamic Relief.

Speaking of interesting (and quirky), Chicago-based artist and writer Nick Briz will Skype into the
Townhouse library tonight to discuss various issues related to glitch art with the
audience.

Cairo Opera House is back in full swing
with a host of events tonight, the highlight of which is the Cairo Opera Ballet
Company’s performance. Back over in Downtown, the effervescent NubaNoor will
perform their mesmerising Nubian songs at El Tamboura Hall, while clubbers won’t
want to miss DJ Feedo’s hip-hop and r&b mixes at Stiletto’s re-opening.

If you can’t make it to Stiletto, then
there’s always Friday at Purple on
the Imperial Boat in Zamalek, where DJ Feedo will spin his urban beats once again.
Across the other side of the Nile, Yasso Lounge will host Nacelle’s Friday Night House Sessions, with DJs Aly B and Tito taking charge of
the decks.

Elsewhere, Salalem will perform at
Bikya in Nasr City, and will host a little Q&A where fans can get a little
closer to the band. Over at El Sawy Culturewheel, the performance artist Mido Zoheir
will perform ‘Azraa’; a one-man show of music and poetry that is garnering
great acclaim already.

If you haven’t got an advent calendar or
started putting your Christmas tree up, then the Christmas and New Year Bazaar
at the Intercontinental Cairo Citystars may well be the thing to get you in the
spirit!  There’s also the Designopolis Christmas
Festival to look forward to.

Down at that end of the woods, Tache Art Gallery
will host the launch part for the book Siwa:
Legends and Lifestyles in the Egyptian Sahara, a photographic memoir and
coffee table book that celebrates Egypt’s beauty, culture and heritage.   

Wind down the weekend with a chilled out Saturday at Cairo Jazz Club to the
sounds of Tony Kaldas with his unique and contemporary covers of classic Arabic
songs. Alternatively, you can head over to Wikalet El Ghouri in El Hussein for
some magical music combined with traditional dance performed by El Ghouri
Tannoura Dance Group, or enjoy one of the week’s many new exhibitions.

Aymen Taher’s underwater-influenced
paintings are on show at Gezirah Art Centre, Gamal Meleka’s dynamic
impressionistic work can be seen in a month-long showing at Safar Khan Gallery
in Zamalek, while ‘Portraits’ is an exhibition of famous faces sculpted in bronze
by Ahmed Askalany.

Also worth a look is ‘The Nile and the Alps’ exhibition at
Cairo Opera House. Adel El Basiouny’s
work reflects his ideas and impressions over the course of his residence
between Switzerland and Egypt during the past two
years, and the contrast of his life experiences in those two places.

There you go
Cairo! Wrap up warm, and have fun!