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

Hello Cairo!

Here we are again our one and only true love; holder of our heart and the meaning of our existence, perched on the edge of the week, waiting to dive head first into the weekend and all you have to offer. Yes, Cairo, our ever loyal city, we’re speaking to you.

Thursday starts off nice and easy with ‘È stato il figlio‘ screening at the Italian Cultural Institute and a soul soothing Sufi Recitation taking place at Sufi with Shehab El-Din and Wael Serag El-Din; elsewhere, ReTune Live will take place at El Genaina Theatre, showcasing the best of Egyptian underground music, while Hassan Ramzy and Shady Ahmed put on an acoustic performance in Bikya Maadi.

More music can be found at Jazz Mate, courtesy of Noha Taha and Karima Hossam, while UK indie-pop musician, Georgia Black will share the evening with Screwdriver at Cairo Jazz Club. The Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble will also be performing at El Gomhouria Theatre.   

Apart from the usual weekly events, a Galabeya Party takes over Almaz, or for a taste of something less Egyptian, Cairo Expats can be located at the Greek Club.

For those who fear change, the usual suspects are still available, namely DJ Simon at Roof Bar, Salalem at After Eight, House Arrest at O Bar, and Top of the Pops at Tamarai. Sigh.

Start Friday bright and early – yes, it’s hard – with El-Fit Festival Vol. 2 at Uptown Cairo, nearby, Arabella Country club try to keep fit with an Aqua Zumba class. But who are we kidding, Fridays are made for sleeping in.

Roof Bar entertains those unable to get out of the city with a Pool Party featuring DJs Zizo and Fady, while Egypt’s very first roller derby team, CairRollers, will Block Like an Egyptian at the Maadi Club. On top of this, Graffiti welcomes ID Vodka to continue their journey as part of their ID Destinations.

Al Hezb El Comedy can be found this evening at Bikya Maadi, Sarah Essam performs at Jazz Mate, Nagham Masry will be at El Sawy Culturewheel, but the proper fist-pumping will be taking place at Otium with On the Mix.

Saturday strolls along with Kids Read taking place at Dandy Mega Mall, where the little ones will have storytime, as well as other activities, to keep them busy. Ahmed Harfoush will take over Le Deck for some ‘Jazz on the Nile, while Malaleem and Salalem do their thing at Cairo Jazz Club.

Despite facing trouble, Cairo Opera House is going strong with several events this evening; the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Eman Abdel Ghani, as well as Mario Hussen, will be putting on concerts in each hall.

Elsewhere, Megawra is hosting an interesting talk on ‘Save Alex’, a grasscairorevamp_users group that supports the conservation of Alexandria’s architecture.

A few exhibitions have opened in this past week; ‘Banner & Posters’ at AUC is aptly made up of banners and posters, Al Masar Gallery and its Art Lounge have launched their summer ‘Gallery Artists’ group exhibition, ‘The Rhino Story’ by Ahmed Sabry is showing at Mashrabia Gallery, and last but definitely not least, Darb 1718 is showcasing some fashion set to appear in Paris Fashion Week 2013, titled Exorcising Fashion: The Network Exhibition.

This is just a snapshot of the weekend’s fun; check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more!