Community Times December 2018 Issue

Since 1996

December 2018

IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1996

AFTER COLLEGE BLUES

THE DILEMMA OF WOMEN’S PORTRAYAL ON SCREEN

INNOVATIVE CHRISTMAS TREE IDEAS FESTIVE DESSERTS PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS

Publisher Live Colors, Nicosia Managing Partner Najla Riad Associate Partners Ahmed Samy Mohamed Maher

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

EDITOR’S NOTE

Editor-in-Chief Moguib Roshdy Acting Editor Najla Riad Assistant Editor Rawan Abdel Latif

WRITERS Ahmed Kafafi, Hadeel Hegazi, Katharina Froehlich, Noha Kandil, Rana Kamaly and Yasmine Mabrouk

Dear Reader

ART DEPARTMENT

December has arrived, and the festive season is upon us. Since many of us are preparing for Christmas and New Year celebrations, we have brought you several topics that will fit this month’s positive mood.

In our Style section, you can find all the innovative ways to decorate or put together a unique Christmas tree, complementing our Cuisine section, which will show you all the festive desserts you can prepare for your friends and family.

Senior Graphic Designer Alia Azzouz

SALES DEPARTMENT Sales Director Rania Halim Rana Touban

PRODUCTION MANAGER Enas Adly

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

As we welcome in the New Year and bid farewell to 2018, we are presenting you with a review of the past year. In the Feature section, you will be able to find Community Times’ top choices that include everything from restaurants to local designers.

There are also several events happening this month, and our Culture section is filled with art exhibitions, musical events and special articles on women’s portrayal in movies over the years, as well as the effects of “addictive” digital music. Also a first was the Ted Salon event that took place at the Mena House last month, which we covered in Entrepreneur.

As December also marks a break in the academic year, we addressed the issue of after college blues that many fresh graduates often experience, as well as the international exposure students can receive from the CISV program in Education.

Distribution Manager Rana Ezzat Salem Tantawi

Office Manager Magda Adib

FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS Hazem Abdel Tawab Mohamed Mostafa

Office Clerk Mohamed Adel Office Custodian Ismail Othman Distribution Al Ahram, Next Media Mohandessin, Zamalek, Heliopolis, Maadi, Nasr City, New Cairo, 6 October City, Sheikh Zayed City

As this month is also about giving back, we have included an article in Fieldwork that talks about the Zein initiative that gives hope for a better future for orphans.

In our Travel section, we take our readers to all the hidden cities in Germany that are home to incredible views and historical monuments.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Address: 48 Abdel Moneim Hafez Street, Midan El Sabaa’ Emarat, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt Tel/Fax: (+202) 2290 8127 - 2415 8762 Mobile: 0100 005 2322 - 0100 005 2323 E-mail: editor@live-colors.com Website: published by LC Live Colors Nicosia, Cyprus

!e Editor editor@live-colors.com

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A FE AST OF FESTI V E FUN AND FL AVOURS.

16 SARAY EL GEZIRA ST., PO BOX 33 ZAMALEK, CAIRO 11211, EGYPT. T: 00. 202.27.28.3000 CAIROMARRIOTTHOTEL.COM ARABIC.MARRIOTT.COM/CAIEG

U N T I E T H E R I B B O N O N C H R I ST M A S A N D N E W Y E A R C E L E B R AT I O N S AROUND THE PAL ACE AS EYES S P A R K L E A N D L I G H TS T W I N K L E W I T H J OY F U L D E L I G H T .

Laughter, music and the happy chatter of loved ones and dearest friends make the sweetest sounds. Ristorante Tuscany brings hints of Italy for a gourmet Christmas Eve dinner while Omar´s Café hosts Christmas lunch buffet. Spend New Year’s Eve enjoying the spectacular belly dance show and live oriental beats at Egyptian Nights and dance to the DJ at Omar´s dinner buffet ... then stay for Omar´s legendary "early bird" breakfast and the Garden Promenade “brunch“.

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communitytimes

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2018 TOWN TALK

BUSINESS

33

06 Talk of the Town News

56 Business News

STYLE

DESTINATIONS 60 TRAVEL

12 Innovative Christmas Trees

Germany: Where Busy Cities and Peaceful Countrysides Meet

CULTURE 18 ART

Art D’Egypte at Manial Palace

66

20 “Something Else” Exhibition 19

24 BOOKS

Festive Titles for the Holidays

26 EVENTS

Events You Do Not Want to Miss FILMS Women’s Portrayal on Screen

36 MUSIC

75

Addictive Digital Music

FEATURES 38

COVER: Since 1996

CT Top Choices

December 2018

COMMUNITY IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1996

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ENTREPRENEUR Ted Salon at Marriott Mena House

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EDUCATION CISV: Unity in Diversity

50

After College Blues

AFTER COLLEGE BLUES

THE DILEMMA OF WOMEN’S PORTRAYAL ON SCREEN

INNOVATIVE CHRISTMAS TREE IDEAS FESTIVE DESSERTS PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS

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FIELDWORK Zein: An Initiative That Gives Hope for a Better Future for Orphans

CUISINE 70

“Chefs United Brunch” at Aqua E-Luce

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Festive Desserts Perfect For Christmas

SOCIETY 78 Social Events and Gatherings

LET’S PART Y AT THE PYR AMIDS... ‘20s’ ST YLE .

B E D A Z Z L E D ! W E LC O M E T H E N E W Y E A R F R O M O U R H E AT E D M A R Q U E E I N T H E G A R D E N S O P E N I N G O N TO T H E F LO O D L I T P Y R A M I D S , I N C L A S S I C ‘ G R E AT G ATS B Y R O A R I N G 2 0 S ’ ST Y L E . . . A N D I N D U LG E I N O U R F I V E- C O U R S E SET MENU. Dance to the DJ, then join Crash Boom Bang Band’s midnight countdown with belly dancer and more DJ-ing into the early hours of 2019.

Can’t wait? Then don’t. Christmas Eve in 139 Restaurant has Wave Jazz Band on stage while lobster and salmon are the stars of a lavish ‘ice display’ buffet ... with a supporting cast including gourmet salads, carvery and yummy desserts. Savour exotic Christmas flavours with Asian and Indian choices for the connoisseur.

6. PYRAMIDS ROAD, P.O. BOX 12556, GIZA, CAIRO, EGYPT T: 00. 202.33.77.3222 F: 00. 202.33.76.7777

TOWNTALK Heliopolis Towers Hotel Brings the Freshness of Alexandrian Seafood to the Heart of Cairo Heliopolis Towers Hotel recently hosted a mouthwatering event bringing Alexandria to the heart of the Cairene capital.

Celebrating the best of the Mediterranean city, the worldrenowned hotel has pulled off an unrivaled seafood day under the theme of “a piece of home”, gathering celebrities and influencers originally from Alexandria at “Aqua E-Luce” to enjoy the themed seafood event and feel at home.

Towers did not just offer a plethora of seafood including calamari, shrimps, crabs, clams and lobsters, but also

charged its best. Their chefs, with a reputation for creating the best authentic seafood platters from around the world, were on hand to cook for the attendees.

The secret to this enchanting event was “freshness” as the fish were brought straight in from Alexandria ahead of the event, providing a real taste of the exquisite seafood Alexandria is best known for.

The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo Has Added a New Member to its Kitchen The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo announced the appointment of Chef Jean-François Lavialle as the new Executive Pastry Chef. Chef Lavialle was born in France and started his apprenticeship in pastry in Angers close to Paris. He grew up with pastries and loved every aspect of making desserts. At the age of 17, he started this career in hospitality with Claridge Savoy Compagnie in London.

He is most famous for the highly appreciated dessert called “Tarbouch” which he created while he was at Mazagan Kerzner International in Morocco with the Designer Hicham Lahlou.

Chef Jean-François has won a few gold medals. He also worked at Atlantic Palace in Agadir Morocco for the Royal Family.

Prior to joining The Nile Ritz- Carlton, Cairo he was the Executive Pastry Chef at The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah for the opening of this magnificent property.

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Mercedes-Benz is the World's Most Valuable Premium Automobile Brand Mercedes-Benz climbed to the top ten most valuable global brands and now is ranked in 8th place. Mercedes-Benz is still the only European brand in the top ten.

"Once again we are the world's most valuable premium automobile brand,” says Britta Seeger, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales.

The strengths of the Mercedes-Benz brand lies in its long tradition, great innovative strength, the will to constantly reinvent itself and the abiding principle of its founding fathers only to be satisfied with the best.

From the invention of the automobile to the largest manufacturer of luxury vehicles and a provider of comprehensive mobility services, Mercedes-Benz always looks for the best answers to the mobility needs of people.

Al Ahly for Real Estate Development – Sabbour Invests 2.5 Billion EGP in The Ridge Residential Compound

offers a diverse mix of units, with sizes ranging between 260 m2 and 380 m2, including standalone villas, twin houses, and townhouses.

Al Ahly for Real Estate Development announced the launch of its latest project, The Ridge, a mixed-use urban community in Mostakbal City.

The project covers an area of 1 million m2 and features eight types of elevations all of which offer a total of 1,400 units. With an approximate built-up area of 400,000 m2, The Ridge sees an investment of 2.5 billion EGP, while delivery of phase I is projected for 2023.

“The Ridge is inspired by the fact that it is developed on an area that possesses different elevations which helped in introducing a variety of designs as well as exploring an array of unparalleled views. What makes this project different is that units are distributed across different levels and incorporate a number of non-symmetric designs, alongside new colors and materials that cater to the preferences of the new generation and their day-to-day lives,” said Eng. Ahmed Sabbour, Managing Director of Al Ahly Sabbour.

Ideally located 30 km east of Greater Cairo, The Ridge is in close proximity to New Cairo City from the west, and the New Administrative Capital from the east, as well as Cairo International Airport. Apart from two clubhouses, The Ridge

The Ridge stands as the second residential compound, following Alaire, to be developed within the city of Odyssia, which covers 2.4 million m2 and is the product of the latest collaboration between Al Ahly for Real Estate and El Mostakbal for Urban Development with projected revenues of 35 billion EGP. Sabbour added that the ability to fulfill the company’s strategic vision has been made possible through the partnership with El Mostakbal explaining that Al Ahly Sabbour has had a positive experience in its working relationship with El Mostakbal throughout the years. He further stated that “El Mostakbal is a company driven by a clear strategic vision and the expertise of its management. Our partnership is based on trust and mutual benefit and the most successful partnership is one which provides synergy,” he clarified.

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TOWNTALK L’Oreal Egypt Celebrates the First Edition of L’OrealUNESCO for Women in Science Programme L’Oréal Egypt honored three exceptional female scientists with the 2018 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards at a ceremony held last November.

Over the past 20 years, the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO have supported 3,022 talented young female scientists through research fellowships. These L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science fellowships are awarded annually at national and regional ceremonies held in 117 countries, among this number 16 exceptional Egyptian scientists has been recognized.

THE 2018 FELLOWS: EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN IN SCIENCE Three young promising Egyptian researchers who all share the same passion towards science received For Women in Science Egypt Fellowship: Dr. Amira El Yazbi: Post-doctorate fellowship Alexandria University, who completed her studies in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, and obtained her master's degree in analytical chemistry and her doctorate degree in chemistry.

Dr. Marwa Balaha PhD: student Fellowship who is a researcher in the field of drug design.

Dr. Noha Mostafa: a researcher in the field of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry.

Tie the Knot at Safir Hotel Cairo Celebrate your wedding with elegance at Safir Hotel Cairo. The hotel presents a wide array of packages specially tailored to suit all tastes with competitive prices, as well as a team of gifted chefs who are ready to dazzle your guests with spectacular buffets combine a tempt presentation and superb taste. Wedding planners will pleasantly help you in all the details to make sure that your big day is special. Crystal ballroom is a great choice as it can host up to 300 guests, whereas Bubiyan ballroom accommodates up to 200 guests.

Mohamed El Sharnouby Sings “Al-Nafseya” Live for the First Time at The Marquee in Cairo Festival City Celebrating the re-opening of The Marquee Theatre, Cairo Festival City welcomed music sensation Mohamed El Sharnouby who serenaded the crowd with an exquisite musical experience and topped it off with a live signing of “El Nafseya”.

From TV drama actor to chart-topping musician, El Sharnouby shared The Marquee stage with internationally-renowned composer Omar Khairat, Lebanese songstress Tania, and Asala prior to his headlining performance. The multitalented artist stunned audience members with his impressive vocal abilities and cemented his place as a voice to be reckoned with.

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TOWNTALK Egypt Tech Startups Receive Vote of Confidence from Wamda Capital’s Investments in Aqarmap & Crowd Analyzer Wamda Capital’s recent investments in two Egyptian tech startups – Aqarmap and Crowd Analyzer – is a vote of confidence for other entrepreneurs in the country and investors abroad.

With Egyptian startups securing bigger and later stage investment rounds in 2018, the venture capitalist firm says the pipeline potential in the MENA region’s most populous country looks promising.

Earlier this year, Wamda Capital became one of three Series A investors in Aqarmap, an online real estate marketplace based in Egypt that helped sell more than 15,000 properties in 2017. Wamda Capital also participated in a $1.1 million funding round for Crowd Analyzer – an Arabic-focused social media monitoring platform founded and developed in Egypt in 2013, with headquarters in Dubai.

According to Seedstars Insights, the first half of 2018 saw 13 deals in Egypt, including Samsung’s acquisition of knowledge engine startup Kngine. With a total of ten disclosed investments amounting to $17.8 million, H1 2018 saw a 21.4 percent increase in funding over the total $14.66 million raised in 2017.

Xiaomi Introduces Mi 8 Lite and Mi 8 Pro in Egypt Xiaomi introduced Mi 8 Lite, the latest model in the company's flagship Mi 8 series, Mi 8 Pro that adds futuristic pressuresensitive in-display fingerprint unlock, Mi Home Security Camera 360° and Xiaomi Band 3.

As with Mi 8, the rear AI dual camera uses the Sony IMX363 as its main sensor, which comes with 1.4µm large pixels for images with less noise, along with Dual Pixel Autofocus to dramatically improve focusing speeds so you won't miss your shot.

Stylish gradient design

Qualcomm SnapdragonTM 660 for a fast, fluid experience

The design of Mi 8 Lite was inspired by famous French Impressionist painter Claude Monet, whose paintings are renowned for bringing out the effect of light on natural colors.

24MP front camera produces With over 24 million pixels, the front-facing Sony IMX576 sensor on Mi 8 Lite is able to capture images in great detail. In low light conditions, the sensor uses Super Pixel technology to combine the information of four pixels into one large pixel, resulting in improved clarity, especially in indoor scenarios.

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Mi 8 Lite is designed for high performance and great power efficiency. Mi 8 Lite offers AI face unlock and a rear fingerprint sensor so securing your device is a seamless experience.

Mi Home Security Camera 360° 1080P This home surveillance camera offers 24/7 home protection with 360° coverage of your entire home. Equipped with night vision, intelligent motion detection, real-time two-way talk, users can monitor their home’s real-time status at the palm of their hands.

Xiaomi Band 3 Xiaomi Band 3 has a large OLED touchscreen display in addition to a physical button for easy control. It is an all-round upgrade on Xiaomi’s wildly popular fitness tracker, complete with a more comfortable and secure wrist band, along with a 20-day battery life and 50-meter water resistance.

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STYLE

Innovative Christmas Tree Ideas As we welcome in Christmas and the festive spirit, many of us start preparing weeks ahead of time. Whether you are looking to decorate a traditional tree, but in a unique way, or you want to go all out for creative Christmas decorations that are against the grain, we have put together a few innovative ideas for you.

TradiTional WiTh a TWisT Feather Filled Tree If you manage to get your hands on a traditional Christmas tree, but it feels a little empty with many spaces between the branches, you could always fill them with fluffy feathers that will add texture and volume. You can then add the usual ornaments, or even add flowers and ribbons for an extra touch.

Courtesy of Jewelled Interiors

Beachy Tree While some of us may not be huge fans of the winter, preferring the warm days in front of the beach, this alternative will take you back to the summer all the while celebrating the festive spirit. Decorate it with turquoise ornaments, a collection of your shells and a starfish tree topper.

Courtesy of Crafts by Courtney

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Rainbow Tree Although a very simple touch, buying and rearranging your ornaments on your tree to create ombre rainbow colors will definitely add a pop to your house.

Courtesy of Lines Across

Citrus Ornaments Christmas trees do not have to only be used solely as a decorative tool, but rather you can also use it to create a homey fragrance to your house. Of course, there is a certain earthy smell to every tree, but if you hang dried fruits or gingerbread ornaments to it, it will smell even more fragrant.

Courtesy of Annie Schlechter

NoNtraditioNal trees Tree of Books For all the book lovers out there, you can always arrange a pile of books to look like a Christmas tree. Starting with a large base at the bottom that narrows down when you get to the top, decorate it with fairy lights and place an ornament on the top. You could also rearrange your bookcase to form a tree.

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STYLE On-the-Wall Tree This option can prove to be a great activity that kids can help out in. Whether you will be placing ornaments or photos on a board, or sticking them straight onto the wall, it is a creative look that is appealing to all ages. Get your children to collect toys, ornaments, letters, photos or stickers, and let them place them onto the wall to create a Christmas tree.

Old Newspapers Taking care of the environment is a key topic that many are now fortunately becoming more aware of. Recycling is a great go-to, and what better idea is there than to create a Christmas tree out of old newspapers. Just roll several newspapers together, stick them to a pole and add an ornament to the top.

Pinecone Tree Pinecones are a reflection of the winter festivities, and so rearranging them to form a Christmas tree can also be a creative and easy idea. Start with the larger ones at the bottom, making sure you secure them with a form of glue, and add the smaller ones at the top.

Courtesy of Country Living

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AdvertoriAl

DURING “CAIRO ICT 2018” ORANGE EGYPT AWARDED BY OOKLA AS THE FASTEST NETWORK IN EGYPT During Cairo ICT 2018, Orange Egypt was awarded by Ookla as the fastest network in Egypt, with data speed matching international standards and superior to all other networks in the country. This assessment, based on network tests taken with Speedtest during Q2 and Q3 of 2018, entitles Orange Egypt to claim it operates the fastest network in Egypt and use the commercial rights of Ookla in its campaigns.

The efficiency and the speed of mobile networks in Egypt have been tested through a number of standards based on data resulted from tests by the internet users. According to such tests, Ookla Speedtest application measures the speed of operators in a market and based on rigorous analysis determines which performs fastest in the award period.

On this occasion Eng. Yasser Shaker, CEO and Managing Director of Orange Egypt, said: "The Company has earned this award to become the fastest network in Egypt based on global standards. This award is a result of efforts and investments amounting EGP 4 billion during the current year to increase the efficiency of the network and its infrastructure”.

For his part, Adam Keating, Ookla’s Director of Sales EMEA said “Six months ago, Ookla awarded Orange the Fastest Mobile Network Award. Today we award them again, based on the Results of Q2 and Q3. This is the first time an Orange company has won the award twice.

Eng. Yasser Shaker, CEO and Managing Director of Orange & Adam Keating

“By winning this award again, Orange demonstrates their outstanding commitment to delivering a strong network and fast speeds to their customers across Egypt,” added Keating.

H.E. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and MCIT Dr. Amr Talaat

Eng. Yasser Shaker, CEO and Managing Director of Orange Egypt

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AdvertoriAl

Planning Your Special Night at Hilton Cairo Heliopolis Weddings are a once in a lifetime experience that couples get to share with their loved ones, making it a special night that they treasure for the rest of their lives together. While it is filled with unforgettable memories, it also comes with a pressure to plan accordingly to make sure the day and night goes smoothly without any errors.

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We had the chance to check out the Canyon ballroom at Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, and found that it will help make all your dreams come true and will provide the perfect setting for a comfortable, yet luxurious wedding. With a capacity to hold up to 2,500 guests, you won’t have to worry about selecting certain people to invite, or having to leave out a friend or family member. Everyone you and your fiancée want, can be there.

Along with its size, the endless amount of windows gives the room added space, making it feel more open and comfortable. We also found that there are endless ways to to decorate it to your liking.

Regardless of the color scheme, table settings or arrangements that you desire, the hotel’s events team will help make everything happen.

The team works together closely with the couple and the rest of the hotel’s staff to ensure that the

couple’s focus is solely on enjoying their night, rather than stress about the logistics of it all.

From the wedding cake, buffet and decorations to the dance floor and flower arrangements, the hotel will have them covered.

Although it does prove to be a perfect pick for a wedding, the ballroom is also a great option for events in general. Whether corporate or social, the space proves to be enough for any large party looking for an elegant backdrop for their event.

All in all, Hilton Cairo Heliopolis will offer you a great balance between simplicity and luxury to cater to your event needs and to create a night you will not forget.

Book your wedding now at Hilton Cairo Heliopolis: 02 26960000 Or e-mail them at caihe_catering@hilton.com december 2018 | Ct

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CULTURE Art ART D’ÉGYPTE NIGHT AT THE MANIAL PALACE MUSEUM “NOTHING VANISHES, EVERYTHING TRANSFORMS”

Art D’Égypte presented “Nothing Vanishes, Everything Transforms,” the second in a successful series of pop-up shows to be held at different heritage sites across Egypt.

Curated by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, “Nothing Vanishes, Everything Transforms” was held from October 28 to November 28. This collection of artworks, installations and performance pieces by 28 of Egypt’s contemporary artists was presented at the Manial Palace Museum in Cairo, creating a unique dialogue between contemporary Egyptian artists and Prince Mohammed Ali’s creative journey.

The inaugural event was held under the auspices of the Minister of Antiquities. H.E. Dr. Khaled El-Enany, who presented heritage preservation initiatives undertaken to promote and conserve Egypt’s rich cultural heritage.

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For one enchanting evening, guests were able to witness a unique blending by Egyptian contemporary art practitioners.

Guests experienced how the backdrop of the Manial Palace imbues the contemporary works with deeper resonance and enhances their ability to build the next layer of the Egyptian story.

It shows that Egypt continues to play a crucial role in contemporary artistic and cultural life.

The artworks on display draw upon various elements of the styles, movements, colours and themes of art and transform them into multifaceted conversations that reflect and reinterpret

the complexity of Egyptian culture for the 21st century’s global audience.

Art D’Égypte is a privately owned Egyptian multidisciplinary firm founded by Abdel Ghaffar to support the Egyptian arts and culture scene.

It provides art consultancies to institutions, corporations and private collectors as well as curatorial services to artists, art centres and foundations, art projects, public spaces, museums, and art appreciators.

Among the participating artists were Adam Henein, Ahmed Farid, Ahmed Askalany, Esmat Dawestashy, Nadine Hammam, and Huda Lotfi.

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CULTURE Art “SOMETHING ELSE” TRIGGERS AUDIENCE TO IMAGINE - A PARALLEL WORLD BY SUBVERTING UNIVERSAL TRUTHS

BY HADEEL HEGAZI

After the state halted its Cairo International Biennale in 2010, Darb 1718 kick-started the “Off- Biennale: Something Else” festival in 2015 to act as a parallel platform to Cairo’s official Biennale. From offering a platform for the contemporary art community to connecting the local with the international artists, the festival is a podium for artists to voice out their opinions and sentiments through a variety of mediums.

Darb 1718’s main building lies inside the humility of the suburb of Old Cairo and flocks of arts and culture enthusiasts gather from everywhere to celebrate the official opening of the second edition of the festival.

What if Eve didn’t eat the apple and was not chased out of Paradise?

What if Neil Armstrong never walked on the moon?

What if Christopher Columbus didn’t discover America?

A mélange of people from different parts of the world enjoy good food, with captivating views not only from over the rooftop but also of the variety of artistic flairs displayed in every corner. The 45-day festival invites art lovers with all arts penchants to devour the cultural representation that serves different forms of artistic displays, from visual arts, live performances and video, besides a two-month wealthy program of talks and workshops.

Under the theme of “What If Didn’t Happen”, Something Else kicked off at the beginning of November at Darb besides other venues in downtown Cairo, and will las until December 15. The festival’s main curator is Swiss visual artist Simon Nijami. When he was a young artist, he did not expect that his creative juices would lead him to curate an international Biennale in an old capital in a Middle Eastern country.

Based on the “What ifs” hypothesis, the festival aims to encourage the audience to step out of the ordinary and to imagine a parallel world based on their wishes and assumptions. To imagine a different past creates a different present and future. This year ’s platform is a bid for 100 artists from over 26 countries as well as the audience to imagine and draw a different history, apart from the conventional reality that we grew up holding on to.

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SIMON NIJAMI - THE MAIN CURATOR

YOUSSEF LIMOUD - EGYPT

“With the theme, I intend to force people to think seriously and revisit history. They are summoned to question about historical events, the planet and themselves,” he says. The hard to please curator praises the work of the young artists, “I don’t easily get entertained by artwork, but young artists’ work appeals to me the most, because they have little experience and they create magic.”

The first encounter with the “Geometry of the Passing” installation can leave you feeling both peaceful yet chaotic, which is what its creator, Egyptian artist Youssef Limoud, planned to invoke when building the handmade fenced city.

Nijami boarded on the journey of the Off-Biennale by Darb 1718 since the first edition.”

The importance of such an event is that there is nothing to be sold, and so you have a space to create and try whatever you want and get out of your comfort zone,” he adds.

“The installation comes as part of a big project which I started right after the idea of the Arab spring came about and left behind ‘Ruins’ such as in Syria and Libya, even countries like Egypt in which the ruins are more emotional rather than in a form of destructed homes,” Limoud explains.

The capturing installation is a city - or a boat - built of stones, pieces of wood and gravel and fenced with thick thread, with a pigeon standing in the middle. “In this installation, I chiefly use materials collected from the streets like dumped scraps and wood pieces; all these elements function in all of our lives differently. From these materials, I designed and built something you can perceive however you want to.”

Limoud also highlights the concept of time and decomposition, The materials I use have certain roles that now occupy another employment.”

Meanwhile, Limoud makes sure to reflect upon the festival’s main theme, “I am keen to dispose of everything technology related. I try to only use simple materials to build a very primitive construction.”

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CULTURE Art LAVAR MUNROE BAHAMAS Munroe an American artist originally from the Bahamas, is also an academic and researchbased art teacher.

His “The Snake” piece of art leaves everybody nothing short of speechless. “I have been working with mythologybased art since 2010.

ALBERTO PEREIRA - BRAZIL On the right building of the Pottery Village preface, in which Darb 1718 lies, there are huge black and white portraits for two not very familiar faces; brothers Mostafa and Mohamed Nageh - two workers from Darb’s production team.

Brazilian artist Alberto Pereira designed and posted them as part of his participation in the Biennale.

“For me, I love to show the men and the effort behind the scenes, not only the artists deserve to be looked at with admiration,” Pereira says.

This is his first visit to Egypt, and once he stepped into the place, Mostafa was the first one to greet and show him around. “I didn’t prepare something in advance because I like to build a human connection first then show a character value. It doesn’t make sense to create something in Brazil, from my culture and my habits and exhibit it in Egypt. So I first talked with Mostafa, then I took pictures for him amidst his objects and belongings, then I did the paste up on the wall,” Alberto explains.

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Snakes had been present in all religions and myths like the Greeks’ half dog and half human creature, and so I create the dual human skull snake. With its dual head, it demonstrates a dual identity,” he explains.

It took Munroe two weeks to build the 45-feet snake using multiple tools like skull, wood, and feather.

The artwork is not really open-ended but it leaves room for discussion. He says, “I know snakes don’t have feathers, but because I work with myths, I leave people to imagine whether the serpent is devilish or an angel.”

SHEILA ZAGO BRAZILIAN CURATOR Zago is a Brazilian art professional and educator.

For the Off-Biennale, she organizes a series of talks and workshops relatable to the theme one way or another.

“From paste-up to wall painting workshops, we want to invest the audience into the story. Through the various mediums, they are allowed to speak up and express themselves,” she says.

The curator strongly believes in the importance of the internalization of art as a tool for people to meet, debate and expose to different perspectives.

“Some workshops are held in Darb 1718 venues and others will take place in Ezbet Khairallah because it is a community that is deemed more invisible. It is quite clean as a slum community and people are friendly. We want to integrate with the people of these areas who usually don’t have access to art practices.

The workshop is open to everyone to just apply and attend there, so the stigma gets broken,” Zago says about the program she curated for the

Biennale.

For the second edition, Zago invites artists from Yemen, Brazil, USA, Syria, Japan, India and Lebanon, to take on the experience alongside her. “It concerns me a lot that people see various art displays and are open for a dialogue. It doesn’t matter if people like the art pieces or not, what matters is the dialogue that it ensues,” she adds.

“Decades ago you had to live in Paris, New York, and London in order to meet other people and artistic tastes, but now the Biennales are up to 200 worldwide and I am happy to see Cairo on the map.”

The festival serves its artistic representation with the audience until mid-December. The audience has a good chance to satisfy their artistic thirst and attend the exhibitions as well as the workshops and talks, all for free. The festival’s theme summons you to unleash the limits upon your imagination, break through the traditional blueprints, and dare to shift the story.

Darb 1718 Website: darb1718.com Facebook and Instagram: /darb1718 Something Else Festival Website: somethingelseoff.com Facebook and Instagram: /somethingelseoff

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CULTURE Books FESTIVE TITLES TO READ THIS HOLIDAY SEASON HOLLY AND IVY

BY FERN MICHAELS Airline heiress Ivy Macintosh faces thoughts of yet another festive season alone. Since the plane crash that claimed the lives of her husband and two children eight years ago, she’s been submerged in grief.

THE USUAL SANTAS

BY VARIOUS AUTHORS This captivating collection contains the most hardboiled of holiday noir, and heartwarming reminders of the season’s spirit.

Nine mall Santas must find the imposter among them. An elderly lady seeks peace from her murderously loud neighbors at Christmastime. A young woman receives a mysterious invitation to Christmas dinner with a stranger. Sherlock Holmes’ one-time nemesis finds herself in an unexpected tangle in Paris while on a routine espionage assignment. Jane Austen searches for the Dowager Duchess of Wilborough’s stolen diamonds. These adventures will whisk readers away to Christmases around the globe, from a Korean War POW camp to a Copenhagen refugee squat to the streets of Thailand.

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When 11-year-old Holly Greenwood knocks on her door, Ivy’s self-imposed exile is shattered. Holly has an extraordinary voice, and wants nothing more than to perform in an upcoming Christmas musical.

Holly’s father, Daniel, doesn’t allow music in their home just as he refuses to talk about Holly’s mother. Ivy has no idea how closely she and Daniel are linked by their tragic pasts, yet she’s drawn to the warmth she senses beneath his gruff exterior.

As Christmas nears, their shared concern for Holly begins to draw Ivy back into the world again, and toward a family who may need her just as much as she needs them.

THE RANCHER’S CHRISTMAS SONG

BY RAEANNE THAYNE Music teacher Ella Baker ’s plate is already full, but when single dad Beckett McKinley’s twin boys need help preparing a Christmas song, Ella agrees on one condition: they teach her to ride a horse. She’s hoping to mend her relationship with her rancher father, aside from the crush that’s lingered since her one and only date with Beck.

It isn’t disinterest urging Beck to keep his distance — if anything, the spark is too strong. Soon what started as an innocent arrangement is beginning to feel a lot like family. However, with the holidays approaching, Beck and Ella will have to overcome past hurts if they want to keep each other warm this Christmas.

MR. DICKENS AND HIS CAROL

BY SAMANTHA SILVA

CHRISTMAS IN LONDON

BY ANITA HUGHES It is a week before Christmas and Louisa Graham is working 12-hour shifts at a bakery on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

When a young cooking show assistant comes in from the rain to buy all her cinnamon rolls, she doesn’t know what to do.

But the show burned the rolls they were supposed to film that day, so she agrees.

For Charles Dickens, each Christmas has been better than the last. His novels are literary blockbusters, and he is famous on the streets of London. He and his wife have five happy children, a sixth on the way, and a home filled with every comfort they could imagine. But when Dickens’ newest book is a flop, the glorious life he has built for himself threatens to collapse around him.

His publishers offer an ultimatum: either he writes a Christmas book in a month, or they will call in his debts, and he could lose everything.

Grudgingly, he accepts, but with relatives hounding him for loans, his wife and children planning an excessively lavish holiday party, and jealous critics going in for the kill, he is hardly feeling the Christmas spirit.

Dickens seeks solace and inspiration in London itself, his great palace of thinking.

On one of his long walks, in a once-beloved square, he meets a young woman in a purple cloak, who might be just the muse he needs. Eleanor Lovejoy and her young son, Timothy, propel Dickens on a Scrooge-like journey through his Christmases past and present—but with time running out, will he find the perfect new story to save him?

SEVEN DAYS OF US

BY FRANCESCA HORNAK It’s Christmas, and for the first time in years, the entire Birch family will be under one roof.

Even Emma and Andrew’s elder daughter will be joining them at Weyfield Hall, their aging country estate. However, Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home because she has to. Having just returned from treating an epidemic abroad, she’s been told she must stay in quarantine for a week, and so should her family.

For the next seven days, the Birches are locked down, cut off from the rest of humanity.

Younger, unabashedly frivolous daughter Phoebe is fixated on her upcoming wedding, while Olivia deals with the culture shock of being immersed in first-world problems. Emma hides a secret that will turn the whole family upside down.

The next morning, Louisa finds out that her cinnamon rolls were a hit, but the star of the show was allergic, and the whole crew is supposed to leave for London that afternoon. They want Louisa to step in for their annual Christmas Eve Dinner TV special at Claridge's. It’s a great opportunity, and Digby Bunting, Louisa’s famous baking idol, will be there. Even if he does seem more interested in her than her food.

Then there’s Kate, the show's beautiful producer. On their first day in London, she runs into the skinny boy she jilted at St. Andrew's in Scotland 10 years ago. Now he’s a handsome, brilliant mathematician, and newly divorced. Their familiar spark is still there, but so is the scar of how they left things. Kate and Louisa are busy preparing for the show, but old and new flames are complicating their work.

In close proximity, not much can stay hidden for long, and as revelations and long-held tensions come to light, nothing is more shocking than the unexpected guest who is about to arrive.

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CULTURE Events hoh and Cairo steps ConCert The Marquee, Cairo Festival City 20 December

Colored Christmas event El Mohandseen Club 20 December

Performing along with HOH band, which consists of three musicians from different groups together - Hany Adel (Wust El-Balad), Ousso Lotfy (NaghamMasry) and Hany El Dakkak (MassarEgbari) – are Cairo Steps, who merge oriental music with modern jazz.

Time: 8 pm Tickets are available at TicketsMarche.

Popular remixes by Disco Misr, along with the unique tunes of Sharmoofers and El Esseily’s hit songs will all be performed live at El Mohandseen Club during an anticipated Christmas event.

Time: 6 pm Tickets are available at TicketsMarche.

lugharetm The Greek Campus 14 December Red Bull Music presents the raps of Abyusif as well as Islam Chipsy’s music together at a live concert in Cairo’s downtown area.

mahmoud el esseily and Cairokee Misr University For Science & Technology 14 December A powerful line-up is in store at MUST, where singer Mahmoud El Esseily will be performing along with the popular band Cairokee at 6th of October.

Time: 7 pm Tickets are available at TicketsMarche.

Time: 6 pm Tickets are available at TicketsMarche.

yehia khalil ConCert Cairo Opera House – Small Hall 13 December Yehia Khalil is one of the most respected and talked about drummers, bandleaders, creative producers and jazz musicians who is a phenomenon in the music scene today.

Time: 8 pm

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nutCraCkEr BallEt Cairo Opera House – Main Hall 26 to 30 December Performed by Cairo Opera Ballet Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra, Hoffmann's story The Nutcracker was greatly simplified for the two-act ballet.

A young girl's enchanted present leads her on a wonderful Christmas adventure in this beautiful classical ballet, danced to Tchaikovsky's magnificent score.

la traviata opEra Cairo Opera House – Small Hall 15 December Live from the Metropolitan Opera is La Traviata (The Fallen Woman), a three-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi that is based on a play adaptation of a novel by Alexandre Dumas, and was first performed in Venice.

The opera is set to an Italian libretto.

Time: 8 pm

omar kHairat ConCErt

Gala El Hadidi CHristmas ConCErt

CHristmas ConCErt witH walt disnEy Cartoons

Cairo Opera House – Small Hall 16 December

Cairo Opera House – Small Hall 30 December

Legendary soloist Omar Khairat will entertain the crowd with his piano masterpieces.

Time: 8 pm

Time: 8 pm

Time: 8 pm

Cairo Opera House – Main Hall 17 and 18 December

tHE sinatras CHristmas niGHt Darb 1718 25 December The Sinatras is a band that was originated at the AUC and plays tribute to the legendary singer Frank Sinatra. They will be performing at Darb 1718’s “Mazzika x El Sat7”.

Time: 8 pm Tickets are available at TicketsMarche.

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CULTURE Events

ChristmAs And new YeAr At interContinentAl, holidAY inn And stAYbridge suites CAiro CitYstArs Esplanade is treating its guests to a gastronomic international buffet as you enjoy the enchanting tunes of jazz with a live band and Christmas songs from the 20th until the 25th of December.

Bellini will set the mood with an international drink list and pub style menu, live band and DJ on the 24th. Asian food lovers can enjoy the finest selection of Japanese cuisine at Shogun. Celebrate Christmas the Italian way at Maestro to the fine tunes of the guitar.

AnomAlies Art exhibition Falaki Theater Gallery – AUC Tahrir 4 to 13 December “Anomalies” are exceptions, points of deviance. This is an art photography exhibition of selected works by over forty alumni students who completed the “Introduction to Digital Photography” course at the Visual Arts program between Fall 2013 and Spring 2018. Students taking this course come from various academic backgrounds and are novice photographers who work on creating photographic bodies of work, or series. The images chosen to be part of this exhibition stand-alone, separated from the complete series.

Anomalies is curated by Heba Farid, adjunct professor at the Visual Arts program.

Gallery hours: 10 am to 10 pm daily.

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For celebrations with an oriental taste, experience authentic Egyptian cuisine at Al Khal restaurant and for some Lebanese extravaganza; Fayruz is the place to enjoy your favorite dishes with a live band and belly dancer. The Lounge offers a buffet for a minimum of 25 people.

Ring in the New Year in style at Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars. At Windows, treat yourself and the ones you love to a one-ofa-kind gastronomic gala dinner set menu with oriental music, a belly dancer, live entertainment and a DJ. If you want to embark on a journey of authentic Indian cuisine, Indira is the place to be.

Celebrate the night the oriental way at Fayruz with a belly dancer and a finely selected set menu, or savor the best of Egyptian cuisine at Al Khal. Get in New Year ’s Eve groove at Bellini with a three-course set menu, a DJ and a belly dancer. For a more relaxed experience, dine at Shogun or Maestro.

Longer-stay guests can enjoy the holidays in the “home from home” Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars for a relaxed and private celebration.

GlitterinG Festive Celebrations at historiCal destinations Give your seasonal celebrations a more exotic twist this year and embark on a fabulous journey through enchanting festive moments in Luxor and Aswan.

At Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, enjoy the company of loved ones over a festive dinner of “1902” restaurant favorites, surrounded by festive decorations and accompanied by lively piano tunes. Bid farewell to 2018 and welcome 2019 and indulge in an Arabian inspired experience with a hearty seven-course gala dinner, accompanied with live entertainment by the music band, oriental belly dancer and DJ. At Sofitel Luxor Winter Palace, celebrate Christmas with a grandeur Victorian style. Indulge in a five-course menu at the “Victorian Lounge”, surrounded by decorations and accompanied by lively piano tunes. Take a seat in the elegant “Royal Tent” with a hearty six-course gala dinner, accompanied with live entertainment by a Pharaonic show, Tannoura dance, oriental belly dancer, DJ beats and Harpist.

Christmas and new Year’s eve at marriott mena house, Cairo The iconic Marriott Mena House is celebrating this festive season with lots of culinary surprises that are tailor made to please the whole family and loved ones during Christmas and New Year Eves.

On Christmas Eve, 139 Restaurants will be the venue for exceptional buffets including Asian, Indian and seafood selections in addition to Noel sweet treats while the Wave jazz band sets the Festive mood. On New Year ’s Eve, you will be taken back in time and revive the 1920s majestic era as they set up the perfect ambiance, decoration and entertainment.

On this spectacular night, the hotel’s chefs will create an exceptional buffet full of delights, from seafood to Foie Gras and the very famous Chocolate Mousse, while celabrators enjoy the DJ, live band show and oriental belly dancing with the magnificent view of the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Christmas and new Years at sheraton Cairo Enjoy a great Christmas Eve dinner with your family and friends at the first New York Italian restaurant in Egypt “Giannini’s” with great jazz music that sets the Christmas vibes and amazing food by Chef Antonio who prepared a special set menu.

You can also celebrate Christmas day at studio 70 or Rawi nightspot, and enjoy a belly dancing show and dance all night on the DJ music.

Kick off the New Year with a fancy dinner at Sheraton’s VIP club lounge with amazing views on the 26th floor and an extravagant set menu.

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CULTURE Events

CELEBRATE THE SPLENDOR OF THE FESTIVE SEASON AT THE NILE RITZ-CARLTON, CAIRO A carefully curated program of exciting happenings during the festive season at The Nile Ritz-Carlton is guaranteed to create long-lasting memories for the whole family.

SANTA CLAuS IS COmINg TO THE PALACE The festive season is about to begin and this year the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino is hiding a lot of surprises for extraordinary Christmas and New Year celebrations.

For Christmas Eve, Ristorante Tuscany will be offering a set menu of Italian specials. A very unique Christmas lunch buffet will be available at Omar ’s Café on Christmas day. Time to bid farewell to 2018 at Egyptian Nights with a mixture of oriental and Christmas vibes, where guests will enjoy a set menu carrying a wide variety of cold and hot mezzahs in addition to Cairo Marriott’s signature grills and desserts. An exclusive open buffet will be available at Omar ’s Café on New Year ’s Eve. For a one-of-akind closing, Harry’s Pub is there for an ultimate ending.

Spend the first day of 2019 at Omar ’s Café and Garden Promenade which will be welcoming guests with a breakfast open buffet followed by Cairo Marriott’s signature brunch buffet. A full entertainment program including a belly dancer and DJ tunes will be awaiting the guests at Empress Lounge.

Christmas treats such as Santa Claus chocolates, cookies, Christmas cake and ginger bread houses are available at The Bakery.

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Santa Claus will accompany children to lighten the Christmas tree in the lobby and capture special moments by taking pictures with him.

Culina will offer a uniquely indulgent brunch experience with a variety of proteins, rich BBQ, sushi, carving stations, seafood, seasonal salads, and dessert offerings while enjoying live jazz entertainment and the Christmas spirit.

Boasting authentic oriental dishes from all over the Middle East, Bab El-Sharq will celebrate Christmas and New Year by offering prefix dinners featuring traditional oriental flavors while guests enjoy the artistic shows by the belly dancer.

For Italian cuisine lovers, Vivo will offer a five-course dinner experience in a modern, contemporary setting overlooking infinite views of the Nile and Cairo Tower.

Overlooking Cairo and the Nile in all its magical glory, NOX invites guests to celebrate the arrival of the New Year with a luxurious and fun night of dancing to one of Cairo’s best DJs and entertainment lineups.

The intimate and elegant Ritz Bar features a menu with an array of signature festive cocktails. The Lobby Lounge also offers Christmas chocolate snacks, drinks and kids’ activities for your loved ones.

The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo will offer exclusive Christmas spa packages and activities for hotel guests and their children including Christmas movie programs.

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CULTURE Film

THE DILEMMA OF WOMEN’S PORTRAYAL ON SCREEN SEXISM VS. FEMINISM

BY NOHA KANDIL

Jessica Chastain (Photo Credits - The Guardian)

"I was surprised with the representation of the female characters on screen, and I do hope that when we include more female story tellers, we include ones that are proactive, have their own point of view and don't just react to the men around them," with those remarks, American Actor Jessica Chastain has summarized her experience as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

Chastain stirred up quite the conversation with her comments about women’s portrayal in movies she judged, opening viewers' eyes to the disappointing truth that women are still regarded as a secondary supporting gender to men.

As shocking as Chastain's comments came off, they actually just hit the tip of the iceberg for a deeply-rooted issue. The lack of gender diversity and the evidence of male domination in the film industry is a problem that has been going on since the establishment of the field.

Even though there have been changes over the years with women occupying more major roles and getting more recognition, such changes are still counted as minimal compared to what it should be.

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Florence Lawrence (Photo Credit - Vanity Fair)

e nity Fair)

WE EXAMINED WOMEN’S PORTRAYAL IN HOLLY WOOD MOVIES AND ITS DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Carl Laemmle

THE FIRST SCREEN PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN The first woman movie star in Hollywood was Florence Lawrence. Lawrence's first motion picture role was in a silent film called “Daniel Boone”, playing an equestrian, which is basically the only reason she was hired – for her ability to ride horses.

Lawrence's name was kept hidden for three years, going on to anonymously star in over 50 movies from 1906 to 1909, which was because producers back then were scared that being popular would lead to her asking for more money. Therefore, women in that business were referred to by the name of the production company, and hers was the “Biograph Girl”.

The title “The First Movie Star ” was given to Lawrence not because of her talent, but because she was the first woman to be given credit publically for acting in a movie; and it was all a part of a publicity stunt that was the first of its kind at the time.

Carl Laemmle, the founding father of the Universal Studios, was the man behind that stunt, in which he spread the rumor of Lawrence's death in a streetcar accident. Laemmle then put an end to the rumor by posting a counter ad titled "We Nail a Lie", stating that the actress was alive, mentioning her name for the very first time.

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CULTURE Film TIMELINE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION IN MOVIES

THE 30'S

THE 40'S AND 50'S

The 30's was the era of The Great Depression in the United States, during which women took on bigger roles within their households as well as taking on jobs to help support their families.

It was an era when women and men had to work together as equals to survive the economic and financial struggles.

Author Maria DiBattista in her book “Fast-Talking Dames”.

According to DiBattista, women were portrayed as strong, witty and charismatic figures who masterfully express themselves with words.

"Because of them, I came to experience the gratification in giving a good account of yourself. If I had not had their example, I might have passed my adolescence muttering that there was little for me to hope for in a world that paid so much attention to the likes of Marilyn Monroe."

Also, the 1930's saw the rise of the “woman's film” genre, which basically included storylines revolving around women for female audiences. That genre disappeared for decades after until it came back in the 90's.

THE 60'S

Sound of Music (Photo Credit - BBC)

Marilyn Monroe

After the conclusion of The Great Depression followed by World War II in 1945, people were craving peace more than anything else.

Therefore, men and women embraced their traditional roles and cherished domestic family life more than anything, which again was shown in movies.

Women in movies and in media during those years were generally confined in the "perfect housewife" roles with their husbands calling all the shots; basically a solid demonstration of what we refer to now as “sexism”.

Moreover, this era has witnessed the rise of the “Male Gaze”, a concept that was introduced later on in the 70's, which basically describes the viewing of women as sex symbols in movies, and there is no better example than Marilyn Monroe, who gained her fame during the 50's because of her roles.

The 60's witnessed a revolution in the film industry, and is commonly referred to as the "New Hollywood", which was fueled by young filmmakers who were influenced by European cinema and avant-garde productions.

The streets were witnessing the Women's Liberation Movement, during which women protested the unfairness of gender hierarchy and sexism in all aspects of life. More women rose to stardom during the 60's, and some of the most iconic movies with women in the lead were produced, like “Breakfast at Tiffany's” starring Audrey Hepburn and “The Sound of Music” with Julie Andrews.

Despite such transformations, women continued to be sexualized in the majority of movies, with few exceptions.

“That Girl” sitcom was one of those hopeful exceptions, with Marlo Thomas in the leading role, playing a single, independent working woman, a narrative that was seen for the first time.

Breakfast At Tiffany’s

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THE 70'S AND 80'S The 70's and 80's were decades during which the concept of feminism went public, with more independent women roles portrayed on the screen. Those decades have seen the rise of women as action figures, starting with Pam Grier, the queen of action movies in the 70's, followed by Sigourney Weaver starring in the iconic Ridley's Scott “Alien” franchise.

More women gained the power to speak their mind on inequality and sexual objectification in movies, which drove film critic Laura Mulvey to create the term “The Male Gaze” in her essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema” that was published in 1975, in which she argued that women have always been looked at as an object in Hollywood movies.

Another concept that supported the feminist movement in cinema during the 80's was the Bechdel Test, which was created

by American cartoonist Alison Bechdel.

THE 90'S

Clueless

The 90's witnessed the rise of the “Riot Grrrl Feminist Subculture” and the “ThirdWave Feminism Movement”, during which women continued what they started in the preceding decades.

The concept of feminism continued to grow, putting emphasis on and spreading the call for gender equality and women’s rights.

Consequently, the concept of feminism spread across Hollywood and was reflected on screen through iconic movies like “Clueless”, “Matilda”, “Thelma and Louis”, “Fargo”, and “Silence of the Lambs”, among several others.

The test was introduced in 1985 by a female character in Bechdel's comic strip “Dykes to Look Out For ”, stating that she only goes to see a movie if it satisfies three main rules - 1) The movie has to have at least two women in it, 2) Who talk to each other, 3) About something besides a man.

Matilda

WOMEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY'S FILM INDUSTRY According to research done in 2017 by “The Centre for the Study of Women in Television and Film”, women occupied 37% of the total major roles, 34% of all the speaking characters, and only 24% of all the lead characters in that year. Those numbers are proof on how far the film industry still is from reaching gender equality.

If it wasn't for the “Me Too” and the “Time is Up” movements that spread over the past year, there would be nothing of real change to write about, except that more heroines are seen on the screen and that we should now use the word "Actor" instead of "Actress" when referring to women, because actress sounds inferior.

Both movements shed light on the issue of sexual harassment in the film industry, with many women coming forward telling their stories of abuse, taking down some of the industry's top moguls. They opened the door to many conversations, discussing particularly pay inequality.

The impact of such movements on the roles that women occupy on screen is yet to be seen, however, the fact that women gained the complete liberty to discuss issues that were tabooed for so long, is a sign that we are moving in the right direction, especially that it has spread beyond Hollywood to other countries.

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CULTURE Music

Is there anythIng called addIctIve dIgItal musIc?

by Ahmed KAfAfi

You come across them everywhere: around the streets, on the metro, in coffee shops, beach resorts and elsewhere. Young people with headphones connected to their mobiles and glued to their ears.

Are you listening to Om Kolthoum? Halim? Amr Diab? Tamer Hosni? Or others? One can never guess what type of music that transforms them to an ethereal state in which they seem to be cut off from the real world.

Of late, psychiatrists have sounded the alarm, warning that what might cause those youths to look semi-conscious is a type of addictive digital music.

Over the last two years foreign as well as Arabic media channels have been highlighting the issue. Now a lot of young people around the world are getting high on the Internet, thanks to MP3s that trigger a state of ecstasy which is very similar to drug addiction. The phenomenon is called ‘i-dosing’ which involves finding an online dealer who can hook up youngsters with ‘digital drugs’ that transport you to a dreamy world through your headphones, the press reported.

According to reports, ‘i-dosing’ involves listening to music that is available on the ‘Youtube’ such as the (Gates of Hades). Recent research has proven that addiction can also be induced through other synthesized material that give the same effect as natural drugs. The desired effect comes when the addict complies with the conditions of listening to the music. Those include putting a headset in the ears, relaxing in a room with dim light, covering the eyes and focusing on the digital track for half an hour or 45 minutes.

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This type of addiction has first been discovered by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs that immediately began to warn parents.

Oklahoma's Mustang Public School district has taken the new craze seriously and educators have gone so far as to ban iPods at school.

But the Internet is a global medium that seems to have also been hit by the threat. In Egypt, specialists have started to become aware of the practice in 2011 when local media began to highlight it. Generally music is known to have a soothing effect on the brain, and this might have caused some to argue about the impact of the digital drug.

Reading about it on world news websites, some youths refused to believe until they tried it.

Egyptian psychiatrists have also awakened to the practice and the issue is becoming controversial among them. Dr Heba Youssef, the forensic medicine specialist at Port Said University, pointed out that each tune in this music unleashes a certain type of neurotransmitters that trigger addiction. The headphones used generate frequencies in the right ear that are different from their counterparts in the left ear, all of which creates disorders in the secretion of the brain and the nervous system, she explains.

Those tunes are diverse in their impacts, for one gives the effect of heroin, another cocaine and others the effects of different types of drugs. There is music with tunes that slow down the functions of the brain and nervous system causing difficulty in respiration and loss of consciousness. Other tunes stimulate the same functions leading to fast respiration and heartbeats as well as convulsions, added the specialist.

The secretions of the neurotransmitters control the body’s vital functions like muscle movements and brain responses like happiness, memory, time control, balance and consciousness. But Dr Hossam Moati, the brain specialist, argues that such music can’t be dubbed digital drugs. He explained that two basic conditions are necessary to call a case ‘addiction’: dependence as well as symptoms like hallucinations, acute pain, lack of concentration and aggressiveness, all of which don’t accompany listening to that type of music.

Digital music gives a deep feeling of relaxation, so much that some who get used to it say they experience a feeling of unrest when they abstain from it, which is medically incorrect, for there is nothing called unrest in addiction, refuted Moati. Music is still used by psychiatrists in their treatment programs, he added.

Like the effect of the cell phones on the brain, addictive digital music could remain bound to much research and analysis before a decisive responsible statement is concluded.

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FEATURE

Community Times Top Choices of 2018 Organic Local Foods MALAK'S HONEY It is raw, unfiltered and with no preservatives or additives.

Malak’s Honey’s sales profits help carefully selected Egyptian charities.

MINNIE'S DRIED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Using solar energy, Minnie’s high quality dried products have no added sugars or chemicals. Among our favorites are their dried mushrooms for a delicious mushroom cream soup.

TABI3Y

MAKAR FARMS

One of CT’s favorite places that we seek at food market bazaars.

Other than their variety of organic vegetables, you can also get fresh eggs and poultry from their stands.

This farm has some of the best fresh vegetables and fruits on the market. Some of their produce are not found in the supermarkets but can be ordered directly, such as uncommon salad varieties, mustard leaves, Brussels sprouts, and white asparagus.

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Local Clothes Wear MOBACO LEATHER HOME One of the older stores that is still sought after by leather wear lovers. Accessories, bags and quality jackets are offered there.

Mobaco’s cotton is one of the best in the market. They offer everyday wear for men, women and children. Natural fabric is also used like cashmere, wool, linen silk wear.

CONCRETE

BOHO GALLERY

A good choice for men's wear. Well-tailored suits and accessories are offered as well as children's wear under the brand Little Concrete. The men's section carries formal and casual men's wear.

Boho Gallery was almost the first to exhibit the work of young aspiring designers who want to display their work.

Their style is very different compared to other pop-up boutiques, where some of their bags are actually hand-painted.

Other than clothes, they offer a few home accessories as well.

MIX AND MATCH Mix and Match has come a long way since it started. The product finish is just perfect, mostly specializing in casual, simple and easy to wear clothing, as well as good quality and taste for larger sizes.

SAHARA COLLECTION Comfortable clothing with style can be found at Sahara Collection, where quality fabric is used in their versatile styles.

Most styles are the type you can wear morning to night with ease.

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FEATURE Local Designers AMINA K. Started by Amina Khalil in 2009, she decided to create a new concept through combining traditional Egyptian silhouettes and giving them a modern western twist, introducing a new style to the market.

Amina’s style aims to use Egyptian resources in every detail, fabric and workmanship. Production is carried out in local workshops, mostly handmade, allowing her to pay closer attention to details while adding a personal touch.

NEVIN ALTMAN Nevin Altman creates beautiful authentic products. Some of their best products include light cotton embroidered shawls with hand-rolled tassels and hand embroidered bags and purses all made in different regions in Egypt.

RAFIK ZAKI Rafik studied in Milan and brought his experience to Cairo. He mostly focuses on dresses that can be worn on any occasion, depending on whether you accessorize it up or down.

His designs are elegant, easy to wear and feminine.

SAYA SWIMWEAR It is rare to find a local swimwear designer, but Sara El Mofty ventured in that field and has been quite successful because the material used is of good quality. The pieces are designed to be worn day and night where you can transform a swimsuit into a top paired with a skirt or pants.

JAYDA HANY Another designer who has ventured to create a rare product in Egypt is Jayda Hany, who decided on designing women’s shoes with an architectural twist. She always viewed shoes as a mobile structure and consequently developed her idea into actual footwear.

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Ice Creams COLD STONE This is a chain store that is known for the designyour-own creation that is hand-mixed on a granite slab. They also offer a variety of shakes, among other products.

STAVOLTA What is unique is that their ice cream introduces traditional flavors depending on where they are located. You will find fruit flavored ones as well as local ones like hibiscus, pistachio and halva ice cream.

HAWAII

RIGOLETTO

Only found at supermarkets, however, when it was first introduced it did not receive much revue.

Today, Hawaii has upgraded its brand and every flavor tastes exactly as is mentioned on the box.

Their chocolate flavor is to die for.

Rigoletto was created in 1989, and was a pioneer as the first ice cream parlor in Egypt and the Maadi and Zamalek branches became popular hangouts. Still going strong, the company has introduced a large variety of ice creams and ice cream cakes since its inception.

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FEATURE Cairo's Restaurants BIRDCAGE Located at Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel, you can never go wrong at this Asian restaurant. The food is amazing, bringing all the Thai flavors to the dishes.

TUSCANY Another restaurant based in a hotel is Tuscany at Zamalek Marriott. This is a great Italian experience. Some of the best food in Italy comes from the region of Tuscany and that is what you will get at this restaurant.

OLIVO

DON QUICHOTTE One of the restaurants that has kept its standards in both atmosphere and food is this one that is based in Zamalek. It is still considered one of the favorites among Cairo’s residents. A must-try is their large variety of appetizers.

Creating new buzz, Olivo is the perfect mix between a pizza parlor and a bar. If you are looking for a more intimate experience, visit it during the earlier hours.

Their pepperoni pizza is indescribable. If you want a more upbeat atmosphere, make sure you reserve later in the night.

LA TRATTORIA Another restaurant that has stayed on top of the favorable restaurants among diners is La Trattoria, which is a great gathering place for friends and family. A must-try is their Vitello Tonnato and Carpaccio di Manzo.

KAZOKU A fusion of Asian dishes is what you will find in this restaurant. A very relaxing atmosphere while enjoying Japanese inspired cocktails and signature dishes.

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ANDREA NEW GIZA A popular go-to for those looking for flavorful grilled chicken and delicious Egyptian appetizers, Andrea has been famous for generations.

However, their fairly recently opened branch in New Giza offers more than just good food.

Located on a hilltop, you drive upwards for a little while until you reach the destination, and so you get to enjoy your food with a spectacular view of Cairo in an elegant setting.

Cairo’s Boutique Hotels WINDSOR HOTEL The Windsor is a venerable Cairo institution with a rich history and warm hospitality. Built at the turn of the last century as the baths of the Egyptian royal family, the Windsor served for many years as a colonial British officers club before being purchased by a Swiss hotelier as an annex of the legendary Shepherds Hotel and converted into the “Hotel Windsor-Maison Suisse.” Today, the Windsor's guestrooms retain an ambiance of faded grandeur and the hotel's famous Barrel Bar remains a popular Cairo rendezvous.

TALISMAN HOTEL A charming boutique hotel, Talisman is distinguished for its wide spectrum of colors in its designs that offer an oriental feel. Every room is designed differently, conjuring an Arabian nights atmosphere.

HOTEL LONGCHAMPS This family-run boutique hotel carries a lot of warmth. The hotel’s lobby is covered with posters of artists and musicians and antiques. There are only 30 rooms, but it is known for its quality in the upkeep of its rooms and in the food offered.

VILLA BELLE ÉPOQUE Villa Belle Époque was built in the 1920s, and refurbished to reflect its colonial origins. Occupying a 1300 m2 plot, the hotel, its swimming pool, sundecks and patios are surrounded by lemon, mango, olive and guava trees, intermingled with centennial palms.

Richly, yet understatedly decorated with a period feel, and embellished with works of contemporary Egyptian art, Villa Belle Époque allows visitors to relive the comfort and elegance of a bygone era while enjoying every modern amenity.

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COMMUNITY Entrepreneur TED SALON AT MARRIOTT MENA HOUSE: A TALK WITH THE SPEAKERS

BY KATHARINA FROEHLICH Last month, a Ted Salon event was held at the Marriott Mena House’s ballroom in Giza.

The event was the outcome of the newfound partnership between TED and Marriott Hotels and is part of a series of events in different cities all over the world.

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to ideas worth spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks delivered by today's leading thinkers and doers.

The TED Fellows program selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Along with the two TED Fellows Meklit Hadero and Karim Abouelnaga, we also had the chance to hold an exclusive interview with the Senior Vice President of Marriott Hotels, Julius Robinson, who is a lover of Egyptian cuisine and never misses out on visiting the historical sites when in Cairo.

Hadero is an Ethiopian-born singer who currently lives in San Francisco, California, where she opened a center for likeminded Ethiopian and Eritrean singers and artists. Abouelnaga is an entrepreneur from New York City with Egyptian roots who is fighting to improve the school system in the United States.

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JULIUS ROBINSON What is the background of the partnership between Marriott Hotels and TED? This relationship began around two years ago.

Marriott Hotels strongly believe that travel inspires the mind, and TED believes that their talks inspire new ideas.

We had an opportunity a few years ago to talk about what a partnership could look like along the shared values and then decided to go through with it.

Marriott Hotels have a rich heritage of hospitality.

We want to create opportunities and experiences for people to have something new and something familiar. While TED is not as old as the Marriott name around the world, we think they have similar authentic values.

"Ideas Now Have a Place to Grow". What were the reasons behind choosing this name for the partnership?

People come up with new ideas when they are in an environment that stimulates them and supports their overall thinking, and so if we can reduce the level of friction in someone’s travel journey, then we place them in the right mindset to really develop the new idea.

Why was Egypt chosen as the first destination in the Middle East for this partnership?

This part of the world means a lot to Marriott.

Our hotels have been here for quite some time, reaching over 18 in the region.

Specifically, with the addition of Mena House and the role it plays here in the Middle East, we thought it would be a wonderful idea to showcase the beauty of the property and to reinform Marriott's commitment in this market.

Right now, Cairo's resurgence is very special: The hotels are full and there are a lot of activities taking place. We want to set a signal to say that the market in Egypt is thriving, and that we are excited about what will happen here.

What are Marriott's prospective plans in Egypt and the region?

For this continent, in particular, we have talked about doubling the hotel portfolio. There are a few new hotels that you will soon experience on the North Coast at El Alamein, as well as in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Clearly, your role is very global. What are the challenges that come with that?

We have nearly 500 hotels in our portfolio, so providing that consistent level of service and quality and at the same time making sure that the properties are regionalized so that people get a local experience along with one they are accustomed to is the toughest part.

Do you always try to find speakers that have something to do with the reality of the country?

Definitely. We find speakers that are relevant because our hotels are so diverse, we want to make sure that we talk about the diversity of the hotels and of our guests all around the world.

The two people that we chose for this event, Meklit and Karim, represent something very particular and unique. They both bring a modern perspective to old-world culture and history that is rich, and so we thought it was a great opportunity to have them come and share their stories.

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COMMUNITY Entrepreneur Entrepreneur

KARIM ABOUELNAGA You emigrated to the US at the age of six with your family and haven't returned since. How is it to be back in Egypt?

We grew up in a very Arab-centered community in the US, which is why even though I haven't visited my home country since I was a child, I still feel that my roots are from here. Even my mother only spoke to us in Arabic, and so we are all fluent and never had any problems with the language.

Your work now is related to your critique on the American educational system. Could you please share your opinion on this?

The American school system is a class problem. It is about the people who have access and money and the people who don't. Just like here, there are private and public schools in the US. You can go to school and then get out and have nothing to do - no job opportunities or skills. If you are born poor, you have an 80 percent chance of staying poor for the rest of your life.

What about the American dream?

People just assume opulence when you go there but it is not like that. Just like anywhere else in the world, there is a lot of struggle in the US, especially if you are not born into a wealthy family. The question is how do you create opportunities for those who need it?

Based on this, you founded the organization "Practice makes Perfect" at the age of 18. Please tell us about it.

"Practice makes Perfect" is an organization that targets low-income families whose children struggle during the long summer gap because they don't have anything to do. That is when I came up with the initiative to engage those children who usually don't have access to fun educational programs during summer. We work with schools in low-income neighborhoods to provide free education in entertaining ways for motivated children for five weeks.

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We try to make our programs exciting and don't follow the normal school curriculum. We do maths and reading of course, but there are also trips, electives, and building new relationships.

It's about making the learning process engaging.

What lead you to establish the organization?

When I got to college, I did some research on the topic and was shocked to find only 11 percent of students from lower-income families manage to go to university and then also reach graduation. If your parents didn't graduate from university, you only have a one in 10 chance to graduate yourself.

It felt like a moment of obligation to me. This is what I was supposed to be doing and I had a responsibility to do it.

My parents immigrated to America and my father passed away early, and so we didn't grow up with a lot of money or privilege, and because of that, we went to all of these struggling schools. I personally got lucky because I had mentors from nonprofits who helped me.

How do the summer programs work?

We reach out to schools that become our source of funding. They pay the fees for the students and they also get to pick the kids, and so it is not open to everyone. The only thing we can choose is if we are going to work with a school or not.

How many people are you currently reaching?

Right now, we are working with 31 schools in New York City to make our program work. We are opening the program for around a thousand children each summer.

How did you get to TED later on?

I applied three years in a row, but then finally last year, in 2017, I was accepted. I met a lot of interesting people through TED and it also helped spread the message of my organization on a larger scale.

MEKLIT HADERO You have experience in Egypt already because of the Nile Project that you started in 2011 with Mina Girgis. What was the project’s aim and how did the idea develop?

We wanted to connect the Nile’s 11 countries together. It all started at a music concert in Oakland, California, where we were wondering why we knew so little about each other's cultures.

We share an ecology, me from Ethiopia and Mina from Egypt. The management of the Nile is an important 21st Century issue and we thought that perhaps music could play a part in connecting the citizens of the river together.

We brought musicians together from the 11 countries to learn about each other's music and create music together. The first residency of the project was in Aswan in 2013.

What are the aspects that the Nile Project has achieved?

Not only have we connected neigbouring countries through our common art, but Girgis has also expanded it to a Nile scholarship program and opened it for Nile fellows to join all kinds of educational programs, and he continues to take this project forward. Through music, we created a cultural curiosity. Even though I left the project, it is still close to my heart.

You then started a new initiative in San Francisco called "Home Away From Home".

We brought together Ethiopian and Eritrean artists in the bay area and created a project where people could get together and establish new music and art based on migration stories they had. Like that, we could really ground ourselves by what we had in common.

You fled from Ethiopia with your parents when you were a child. Do you go back from time to time?

We left when I was two and travelled to the US after a short stop in Germany. We lived in many states when I was growing up: Washington DC, Iowa, New York City and Florida for my parents' fellowships, and actually couldn't go back to Ethiopia until the government changed when I was 21 years old. Since then, I go there all the time.

Do you see your parents as an inspiration for your success?

My parents are a huge inspiration to me. They taught me how to follow my dreams and my

visions with so much perseverance, especially my mother. She was the first woman to graduate from her medical school in Ethiopia. My parents have been my biggest supporters even though they didn't want me to be a musician at the beginning.

How is the reaction of Ethiopians to your projects and your music?

I actually have this funny situation of becoming a star in Ethiopia. I am on TV all the time, for example, the biggest radio station held an interview with me about a year ago which they replay all the time. Ethiopians have been so open to me. In general, we deal with a lot of stereotypes about our country, so the fact that I am out there representing it in a different light is what people back home appreciate.

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Education

UNITY IN DIVERSITY MY EXPERIENCE AT CISV

BY YASMINE MABROUK

BACKGROUND

PREPARATIONS

CISV was founded by child psychologist, Dr. Doris Allen in the late 1940s who developed the concept of an organization that would foster inter-cultural understanding and friendship as an essential step toward world peace.

With CISV Egypt, all adult leaders have to take part in various trainings starting early September to get ready in time for the summer camp. !e first training is a general two-day camp as an introduction to CISV, to know the mission and vision, programs, peace education and more.

!e first Children’s International Summer Village (now known as CISV), was held in Cincinnati in 1951. Over the years, CISV volunteers have organized over 7,000 international educational programs from some 300,000 participants. Today, it offers experiences for all ages, starting with children aged 11, through to young adults.

CISV Villages,consists of international camps that bring 11-year-olds together to learn from each other and the world around them. !e children come from many different countries to take part in a variety of educational, cultural and entertaining activities. Each Village welcomes delegations from 10 to 12 countries, and each delegation includes two boys and two girls, accompanied by an adult leader. !e camp is coordinated by adult staff that is supported by Junior Counsellors (age 16 to 17). Adult leaders are responsible for four kids, being their legal guardian for 28 days.

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Following the general camp, all leaders with the CISV Village committee in Egypt planned for a mini camp that invited the children who were accepted in the program.

CISV Egypt had eight leaders who would travel to eight different countries that summer. !e result was 32 kids and eight leaders for two days.. !e leaders plan for activities and schedule entertaining activities.

THE MONTH BEFORE !e last month before travelling, the committee chooses the country and the kids. I was going to go to LĂźneburg, Germany with four brilliant kids. Before travelling, I got to hang out a lot with the kids, where we went to parks and had lunches. I was also in contact with their parents on a daily basis.

Leaders have to participate in specific trainings on what exactly to do in camp, how to communicate with other cultures, how to plan an activity, and what topics would be sensitive to discuss. !ey are also educated on risk management, understand the child protection policy, and certified in first aid training. !e village committee in Egypt was amazing. !ey gave a lot of time and effort to make sure that the leaders were comfortable and ready to embark on the journey.

CISV GERMANY !e day of travel went smoothly, and the excitement from the kids was unbelievable.

We ate pizza during our transit, talked and played cards for hours. Once there, the kids went to host families for the first weekend, while I went directly to camp, which was a public school in LĂźdenburg. !at weekend, I met all the other 12 leaders who were from other countries. We were introduced to international and local staff that would be helping with all the logistics in terms of food, transportation, and medical help.

After the first weekend, the children arrived at camp and the atmosphere blew up. In the following week, the leaders planned for activities, worked up the schedule for the day, and made sure shower time was handled, because the idea of 48 kids showering in an hour in limited showers was challenging. After the week ended, I took my leaders’ day off during the weekend, where I was able to go to Berlin with a few friends. It was 48 hours of total bliss.

NATIONAL NIGHT

GOODBYE GERMANY

In camp, each delegation has to perform a national night, which is an activity for two hours where they showcase their culture, whether in the form of a dance, food, or games to the rest of the camp. For my delegation, the children and I decided to create a treasure hunt where all kids, leaders and staff had to pass four stages in order to find the gifts. We also performed a dance that everyone learned at the end of the camp.

!e final two weeks included activities that were more challenging to the kids, in terms of cultural acceptance, simulation games, and stereotypes. In those two weeks, I discovered how kids could take messages and apply them to their daily lives, or daily thoughts. It was very touching to find children from different parts of the world comfort each other. Kids who had felt home sick the first few days were hugging each other at the end. We ended the camp with a gala night, where kids dressed up in fancy, followed by a sentimental writing session in journals for each person in camp.

THE REST OF THE MONTH !e camp followed a daily schedule that consisted of flag time, in which kids all over joined hands to sing the CISV song at 7 am, followed by breakfast, then cleaning time, then three activities with lunch, and dinner in between. !ere was also free time and a siesta hour for nap time where the rest of the leaders planned for the following day.

Every night, the kids would wear their pajamas and huddle up to sing lullabies that would usually be followed by bedtime. In the middle of the month, the leaders had a free weekend while the kids went to another host family.

It was a roller coaster of events with kids getting to know each other and playing around for 28 days, learning about others in a safe environment. I learned a lot about responsibility and friendship, and it is safe to say that I now have a friend in every part of the world.

For more information about CISV: CISV Egypt: Website: eg.cisv.org Instagram: @cisvegypt

CISV International: Website: cisv.org/

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Education

Youth: The After-College Blues

By Yasmine Mabrouk

To all the recent graduates, congratulations, you have finally finished 16 to 17 years of education. However, we will not discuss graduation, but rather what comes after, touching upon the time you were sitting in your room with a degree hanging on your wall and the helium balloons on the ground, desperately asking “What now?�

FINDING YOUR PARACHUTE You are now enjoying all the new adventures, having the time of your life and spending a lot of time with your friends, family and pets.

However, like a freefall, the adrenaline starts to fade and it is time to start pulling up the parachute. You might panic, or even start to stress over where this is going. Questions and thoughts start pouring in: Is this it? Will I not do anything with my diploma? Are all of my friends working except for me?

TAKE THE BREAK One thing fresh graduates usually do after graduation is to travel, which may seem like a typical action, or even be considered clichĂŠ.

However, packing up a suitcase and travelling somewhere, whether another Egyptian city or somewhere abroad, is legitimate. Other graduates actually get an opportunity for a job and dive right in.

However, the best time to take a break is now.

Start by writing a list of all the things that you want to do and never had the opportunity to actually do, such as travelling for a whole month abroad, or as simple as learning to drive. It could be learning to play the cello, training for a triathlon, going to a yoga class, or just catching up on all the series on Netflix. It is a time to rediscover passions and hobbies. You deserve the break.

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A lot of sources are here to tell you that this is normal. In fact, those questions mean that you want to have a purpose in life, and that is why you have that diploma.

However, the one thing you should know is to not compare yourself with anyone. Therefore, in this phase, it is recommended that you slow down on the Instagram scrolls and speed up with that LinkedIn profile you have been avoiding.

Job-hunting is a long process that will take a huge amount of hard work and patience, so breathe, take a step back and keep free falling in all of your hobbies, but understand that it is time to find your parachute.

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? Author Richard N. Bolles introduces a whole new world for job-hunters in his 2018 edition book called “What Color is Your Parachute?”

In this phase of your life, he explains, is all about learning what you do not like. It is a process of elimination, as taught in SATs. It is the time you decide on the color of the parachute, also known as the job for you. If you are lucky, you have an already established idea for a startup and you know what to do and the steps it would take to grow and maintain it, or you actually have an eye for some corporates that you know you have always wanted to join.

The next step is crucial and it is summed up in one word: research. It is important to know that a lot of people have done what you want to plan to do, so start learning.

Applying to jobs from different ranges of fieldwork also allows you to experience interviews and communicate with people in the field. A key tip Bolles explains is that interviews are a twoway conversation. If you are interested, you can find “What Color is Your Parachute?” at all Diwan Bookstores. It will help you understand how to search for what you don’t want, prepping for interviews, and choosing careers.

HAVE FAITH In conclusion, in whichever phase you are in, whether you are still taking that well deserved break or you are on your way to an interview, have faith in yourself. If you believe that this job is not for you, and you actually went to the interview and felt like you could not handle it, then definitely decline.

Try to quite down all those voices around you insisting that this is the best job you will get, or that you are taking such a long break.

Many have had their fair share in declining offers because they believe that it will not make them happy, whereas some have spent more than four months building up their hobbies.

So, have faith in yourself and faith in the journey.

You will find a job that you will either love or hate, but from now on, this journey is all ups and downs so embrace it.

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Fieldwork

Zein: An Initiative That Gives Hope for a Better Future for Orphans

By RAnA KAmAly

As this season is all about giving back, we thought about introducing an initiative that works hard to bring hope and positivity to orphans’ lives, and show that all you need is the right set of skills and a motivated team that believes in them and wants to help.

Lamia Hassanein, owner of Tanis for textile, in collaboration with Awlady orphanage in Maadi, decided that the kids at the orphanage were special and deserved a better future with better jobs.

She approached Awlady’s board of trustees who were super supportive and agreed right away.

“

I wanted to do more than just donate money. After brainstorming a few ideas, I realized that I wanted to teach the children something that would make a difference in their lives, and that led me to the thought of establishing an arts and crafts school.

”

ABOuT THe InITIATIve Zein is an art and crafts initiative that offers orphans between the ages of six and 20 a variety of workshops that aim to empower kids to be independent and tap into talents they didn’t know they had. So far, Zein has been working with 60 kids from Awlady, and hopefully this initiative can spread out to other orphanages in the future.

The project began almost two years ago, starting with Awlady as it is a well-reputed orphanage that has been around since 1953, and home to over 300 kids.

Hassanein resorted to an old friend, Mohamed Abaza, for help, who was very keen to support as it was his dream too.

“We started with art lessons, and then we wanted to do more. We wanted to improve their life, and so we started painting their classrooms and their bedrooms. We then took it a step further, starting to make kilims in cooperation with El Mokattam NGO that provided the teachers and the necessary materials,” Hassanein adds.

Hassanein started gathering experts in the fields or art, pottery and fashion design, and allowed the children to color on many different materials, like paper and cloth.

Realizing that the designs that were made were actually pieces of art, she took the colored textiles and made pillow cases, table mats, and other products out of them. They also taught kids to do pottery and employed experts to see it through for the final stages, seeing as ovens can be dangerous.

It wasn’t until products were made that Hassanein decided to name the initiative and brand Zein, meaning something ‘positive’,” she explains.

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OvercOming challenges Then, a challenge posed, as many of the kids over 14 years old were not really interested in the simple arts and crafts, and she wanted kids of all ages to be involved. She came up with the idea of sending 15 girls who were interested in fashion design and tailoring to take courses for two months, but that proved not enough time for them to master the skills. Hassanein then turned to Waleed Khairy, the right hand fashion designer of Marie Louis.

“He was super excited about the idea and immediately told me that he would volunteer. The results were amazing. He changed the kids, the way they dressed and their ability to create in just a year and a half,” she says.

“Those of you who want to be mediocre tailors to shorten pants and make tops tighter should not attend the classes. I am here to teach you to be real fashion designers and professional tailors,” Khairy would tell the kids, according to Hassanien. He also started to take them to fashion shows and competitions.

“Whenever he was invited to judge a fashion competition, he would tell the organizers that he would not take money, but in return ask for the girls to be able to attend the show,” she adds.

What is different about their products is that they are actually of good quality and are creative, as well as being the first to sell contemporary designs. “The products should sell themselves.

Let us be honest, people usually buy NGO arts and crafts to help out, but if they do it once, they usually would not do it again,” explains Hassanein.

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Fieldwork

Expanding thE initiativE After this initiative had been operating for over a year, it was time to take it to the next level.

Hassanein decided to make an exhibition and invite the community to see for themselves.

However, it wasn’t just another simple exhibition, Hassanein resorted to the expert in the field and a close friend for over 25 years, Sahar El Arishy, an entrepreneur, a pop up event planner and the founder of 18.213, an experiential story-telling platform. She is a very selective event planner who only chooses clients she believes in and who show her the purpose behind the work.

“When Hassanein approached me, I was excited and saw it as an opportunity to support these amazing kids, especially after seeing their creative products. She told me she knew I was the only person who would be able to fully understand the project and shed light on her brand Zein, and so I designed the whole thing, including its marketing.

It was a huge success, and we invited the Minister of Social Solidarity, Ghada Wali, who had been following Zein and was supportive from day one,” El Arishy says.

To be able to truly convey the message behind Zein, El Arishy decided to let the kids design the display at 18.213 and took the girls to check out the place for themselves. "They were inspired and said that they did not feel like they were in Egypt anymore. I could see the spark in their eyes, and I remember being so moved and felt the impact I made with a simple gesture of interest. I told them that if they later can create a collection that is of quality, I would provide them with a free pop-up event. I think now they have a purpose; something to work towards,” El Arishy adds.

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However, the night they were supposed to install the display, their supervisor ’s mother passed away and she was the only one who could take them out.

“I was devastated as I really wanted them to do the installation themselves. But after a while, I found three of them at my place, finding out that their supervisor had called and gave them permission to come,” Al Arishy mentions. “The girls put the dress together just as I dreamed. I turned on loud music and made popcorn, and we turned it into a party.”

“I was so happy to do this because I think most orphans in Egypt are marginalized and often hold sad stories. I felt like I needed to help change that image, to show the positive transformation that these kids can go through, and shift the paradigm.

Through the event and the campaign ‘I Can Be’ (a campaign specifically designed for Zein, that was dedicated to tell the world that any kid can be whoever they choose to be), I think we managed to portray that, as everyone left believing that these children had a future. We had high profile attendees with positive comments. I think they will remember the story and take it forward,” mentions El Arishy.

What they Learned “They learned how to be committed and responsible, and to perfect everything they make.

They now put their all into whatever they do, and this is a very good value to posses. Their sense of color and dimensions evolved and their selfconfidence improved; their behavior in general changed. They also now have a platform to express their feelings through art and practice freedom of expression,” Hassanien says. “Art is therapeutic to them,” adds El Arishy.

This experience did not not just lead to behavioral changes, because of these new acquired skills, they now have a shot at positive job opportunities, because their skills are needed, and Khairy was willing to help the talented ones find jobs in the fashion industry if they want to, according to Hassanein.

Hassanein advises donors to not just donate money. “You can donate your time, effort and expertise too. I think this is even more important to the children. If you want to donate cash, then do so in the kids’ accounts, not just to the orphanage, so when they grow older and they want to get married or move on they have some money to start with.”

You can contact Zein to order their products, offer help or communicate any ideas through their email: zeinbrand@yahoo.com.

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BUSINESS EMIRATES NBD DIVERSIFIES ITS SERVICES TO GUARANTEE CLIENT SATISFACTION Emirates NBD launches Emirates NBD Money Market Fund “Mazid” with a cumulative periodic return.

attract new customers and satisfy pre-existing ones.”

Emirates NBD Investment Fund aims to provide investment vehicles to their clients. Hermes Fund Management manages funds according to investment controls and determined by the bank, and provides daily liquidity by calculating daily return on the Fund Investment certificates.

Customers invest in the fund through transferring the amount of investment required to a number of certificates (units) based on the value of the unit declared by the bank to its customers on a daily basis.

Returns are added to client investment certificates at the end of each day as the fund is to invest in short-term debt instruments (with a maturity of less than 13 months) such as short-term debt securities, treasury bills, government treasury bonds, term deposits, bank deposits.

Mr. Mohamed Berro, CEO of Emirates NBD Egypt, said: “This fund grants customers the freedom to invest in the fund and get a high return. The new Fund will attract a large number of customers, individuals and corporates, as it allows flexibility of withdrawal, deposit and daily return. Since this fund is launching for the first time, it’s bound to

Emirates NBD Egypt will receive the subscription requests through its branches.

The minimum subscription will be 25 Investment certificates with a par value of EGP1000 per IC. The subscription will end on 13 January 2019.

INERTIA CONTINUES TO INVEST IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Commenting on the partnership, Inertia’s Chairman said, “We are aware of the hardships that face the Egyptian youth as they start their careers and we hope to help them gain confidence in their abilities while giving them entrepreneurial experience.”

Inertia Egypt announced its partnership with INJAZ Egypt on the Young Entrepreneur Program, in collaboration with iSpark, as part of its wider CSR strategy to enable Egyptian youth to become entrepreneurs of tomorrow. This program ends in March 2019.

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The Young Entrepreneurs Program is a 30+ hour company simulation program led by experienced trainers who provide private school students with a comprehensive entrepreneurial education by delivering Injaz Egypt’s famous Company Program content alongside iSpark’s boot camp.

Students will work in teams during the program to create their own enterprises. Based on the teams’ performance, 50 of them will be selected to enter a final competition to showcase and pitch their startups for a chance to win a variety of prizes.

NARRATIVE SUMMIT 2018 EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

Narrative Summit was held last October under the Patronage of Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly with the participation of three ministers and 23 local and global speakers.

The Narrative PR Summit is considered the first international meeting of public relations in Egypt, organized by CC Plus, a corporate communications and media consultancy agency.

The summit started as an event, and evolved into an initiative and a movement to encourage and energize the notion of Nation Branding. Narrative Summit 2018 has come a long way since its first edition in 2016, as it won the patronage of the Egyptian government and engaged top speakers and officials. Narrative’s vision is to reflect on and support Nation Branding by creating and growing leadership.

This year, they had very strong partners besides the Egyptian government, including the UNFPA, US Embassy, SEBA, AUC, Injaz, EJB and Oxford Business Group. Each of these platforms have good reach and were able to expose their message on global platforms.

A group of international and local speakers attended the summit, including Dr. Ghada Waly – Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat – Minister of Tourism, and Eng. Randa El Menshawy – the First Deputy Minister of Housing Utilities & Urban Development.

The summit’s third edition aimed to forge a new domain for experts and market leaders to talk about the unified front that this nation needs in order to enhance its advancement opportunities and communicate a positive brand to the world.

Lamia Kamel, Director of CC Plus, revealed that the summit would introduce strategies for the development of Egypt, as well as illustrate a benevolent image about Egypt on all levels through local and international narrators who reflect their accomplishments in the fields of investment, entertainment, technology and economy, and then showcase that as a model for successful Egyptian calibers.

The 2018 edition’s speakers included: Mahmoud Mohieldin – World Bank Group Senior Vice President, Dr. Natalia Kanem – United Nations Under-Secretary General & Executive Director of UNFPA, Sam Werberg – Press Attaché & Spokesperson at US Embassy Cairo, Ayman Baky – Founder of Baky Hospitality, and many others.

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BUSINESS ALL YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS AT STEIGENBERGER EL TAHRIR HOTEL Steigenberger El Tahrir offers German precision guaranteeing a hassle free and smooth experience when it comes to business functions. State of the art meeting facilities and highly equipped conference rooms promising an exquisite experience. With easy and central access to main sights, international guests will be able to enjoy their limited leisure time.

The six boardrooms and business reception offer the perfect spaces to hold discussions and talks.

The Diamond Ballroom can host up to 250 people in a Theatre Set up, while smaller boardrooms catering to differently sized business functions and needs.

Furthermore, the organized coffee breaks serving delicious snacks and refreshing drinks, are the perfect opportunity for re-energizing and networking. For the evenings, networking events can be held in the cocktail room, providing guests with an exclusive and luxurious atmosphere to expand their business network.

In addition to this, Steigenberger El Tahrir also provides dedicated meeting planners on-site to help ensure that all organizational demands are catered for in a timely and professional manner.

MINISTER OF INVESTMENT AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, TATWEER MISR AND GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK BREAK GROUND FOR THE FIRST “GEN” ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION HUB IN MENA REGION In the presence of the Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Tatweer Misr signed an MoU with Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), to develop an entrepreneurship and innovation hub under the management of GEN. The hub will be located on the 90 acre College Campus in Bloomfields in Mostakbal City.

GEN is a platform of programs and initiatives that help align a varied collection of players, programs, and information to better support entrepreneurship.

GEN@Bloomfields is expected to be operational by 2021 and will host several technology labs, “stateof-the-art” work stations, co-working space, think tanks, a gym, lounge, boardrooms, training rooms, and an atrium which will be used for networking and events.

The Minister stressed, “Supporting Entrepreneurs that bring new and innovative solutions that tackle the challenges facing our country, is a priority for our government.”

Through its partnership with Tatweer Misr, GEN will focus on bringing best-in-class programs, communities and support from its network, operating in 170 nations, to Egypt’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

Accordingly, the campus will offer a 360-degree turn-key solution to start and scale - from

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the initial concept all the way to sustainable commercialization. Participants will also have direct on-hand access to a global and diverse team of experienced entrepreneurs, mentors, scientists, managers, CEOs and funders all under one roof to nurture and support them during every step of their journey.

“Tatweer Misr have been strong proponents of entrepreneurship and education with a strong track record of activities supporting their vision to create a base where entrepreneurs can emerge with the requisite skills base and support that would propel them to a higher level enabling them to contribute to job creation and poverty eradication, whilst harnessing the values and principles of a true entrepreneur,” remarked Ahmed Shalaby.

The groundbreaking event appropriately coincided with the opening of Global Entrepreneurship Week – an effort to help anyone, anywhere start and scale a new business. For one week each November, roughly 10 million participants take part in 35,000 events, activities and competitions in more than 170 countries around the world.

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DESTINATIONS Travel

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GERMANY: WHERE BUSY CITIES AND PEACEFUL COUNTRYSIDES MEET

BY KATHARINA FROEHLICH

Germany, known for its well-going economy, history and famous cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, is already really diverse from a superficial point of view.

Seeing as I was born in Germany, and have lived there until I turned 21, I will introduce you to Germany from an insider ’s perspective; something you might not have had the chance to experience yet.

PLACES TO GO When I think about Germany, what first comes to my mind are the beautiful landscapes and the many castles and historical places. Thankfully, I have had the chance to travel to many different countries in my life, but comparing them to Germany has many times highlighted the beauty and variety of sights of my own country. In just about any small town, you can find some kind of historical site that is worth exploring.

Surely the big cities, especially Berlin and Munich, are great destinations, but I also recommend getting a little bit off the beaten track and try to explore publicly unknown places as well.

Therefore, I picked out a collection of wonderful mid-size cities that might not be as well-known, but are absolutely worth a visit.

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Travel

HEIDELBERG Heidelberg is mainly known its famous university, the old town, and the castle.

The city has around 150,000 inhabitants of which a large percentage are university students from different parts of the world.

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UNIVERSITY The university building is not only interesting for students but also for visitors. It was founded in 1386 and is, therefore, the oldest university in Germany.

A fun fact to know is that the first bicycle was created by a graduate of Heidelberg University.

HEIDELBERG CASTLE The Castle is one of the most famous sights in all of the country, although it is not so well-known among foreign tourists.

It has an astonishingly long history dating back to the 13th Century when the Winter King, Frederick the Fifth, lived there.

OLD TOWN SQUARES The old town consists mostly of small streets with houses that follow the rules of traditional German architecture.

In the shops, you can find anything from international brands, high fashion clothing, and tacky souvenir shops.

The main square, Marktplatz, is not particularly quiet, but it is an entertaining place to sit for a drink and to people watch.

A great place to rest after a long day is the restaurant “Goldener Falke”, which is located centrally and offers a variety of popular local cuisine including pumpkin soup, pumpkin risotto, and a “flaming cake” which is basically a pizza.

Walking through the castle’s premises brings you back to a different time. On top of that, it is located on a hill, and so you will surely enjoy your view of the Rhine valley and the city. The Gothic-Renaissance architecture of the castle is truly impressive.

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Travel

FREIBURG Freiburg is a Bavarian city located in the Blackforest. It is also the perfect starting point for a day trip.

Your trip to Freiburg can well be for up to one week, especially if it is in the summer months.

Compared to Heidelberg, Freiburg is slightly bigger, with a number of around 220,000 inhabitants.

THE BLACKFOREST This is the biggest in Germany and is said to be the green lung of the country. It is a popular holiday destination for many Germans, especially in the summer months, during which you can do a lot of different hikes in the area.

The best places to visit in the area are “Feldberg�, which is both: the name of a mountain and of a town, and also Titisee-Neustadt. There, you can take a long walk around the lake in the shaded forest and see the real German countryside at its best.

If you are not into walking, you can also enjoy a bike ride through the forests. Bicycles can be rented for a small fee in any bigger village in the forest.

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THE CITY The historic old town is small and easily walkable, making Freiburg’s sightseeing enjoyable.

My two most recommended places in the city center are the “Markthalle” and the “Freiburg Muenster ”.

“Markthalle” is the German translation for an indoor market. You can also find all kinds of different foods there at fair prices.

The Freiburg Muenster, on the other hand, is one of the famous churches in Germany.

The church is generally popular among tourists for its astonishing Gothic architecture and because its spire reaches 380 feet high.

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Travel

DRESDEN Dresden is located on the opposite side of Germany compared to the other two cities with a population of more than half a million residents.

Dresden is located in the former eastern part of the country, which explains the fact that the lifestyle there is quite different.

Although the political situation in Dresden has been quite difficult in the past, the city still has a unique culture. After all, it is also close to the Czech border, and so a day-trip to the country can be easily arranged by your hotel.

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THE OPERA HOUSE The Semper Opera is located in Dresden’s Theaterplatz, which can well be classified as one of Germany’s finest public squares, and is built in the style of the High Italian Renaissance. Tickets are available between Euros 30 and Euros 100, depending on the seating area and the type of performance.

THE ROYAL PALACE AND ZWINGER Dresden is home to the oldest public museum, the Dresden State Art Collection, inside the Royal Palace. You can find priceless art, former opulent court clothing and intricate needlework, as well as Augustus the Strong’s personal garden tools along with explanations about their significance.

The Royal Palace is also a jewel to see and has been home to Saxony’s royalty since 1485. Guided tours are available for a small fee depending on the length of the tour required.

Another equally interesting palace is the “Dresden Zwinger ”, which is also home to famous paintings by artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, and Vermeer.

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Travel HISTORY Unfortunately, the Germans are not the proudest of their country’s history. The Second World War left a big mark on the country, which can be noticed until now.

However, it is notable that the famous German saying, “time heals all wounds” is true and a new, successful country has been built.

GENERAL INFO ABOUT GERMANY PEOPLE Whenever I tell anyone in Egypt that I am from Germany, what usually comes into their minds is that we are hard workers, punctual, boring and maybe sometimes even racists or unfriendly.

All of these traits hold a little bit of truth, but clearly everything is not as bad as it seems and while there might be some who are examples of these stereotypes, there are also those who are totally different.

Addressing others is typically not one of the strengths of Germans.

My advice in these situations is to just ignore any rude way of talking, smile in their faces and be happy. Generally speaking, the Germans have their own way of being and behaving and while social interactions (also between two Germans) might sometimes seem a little harsh, always keep in mind that in their hearts they are good people.

Germans are particularly known for their strong work-ethics. This can be a benefit when you are looking for a job.

LIFESTYLE There are two different kinds of lifestyles: the city and the countryside.

In major cities, life is very exciting with many different events every day and night, especially for the youth. On the contrary, it has to also be taken into account that around 50 percent of the German population lives in the countryside.

There, it is quite different, especially considering that shops and restaurants close around 8 p.m., and most shopping malls and supermarkets will be closed on Sundays.

However, the countryside is very peaceful.

Whether it is a small town or a metropolis like Berlin, you will always find things to do in the weekend, such as heading to parties, clubs or one of the famous events, such as the annual German Oktoberfest.

My personal favorite is the Carnival celebration where people dress up in crazy costumes once per year for around one week and basically everyone goes wild.

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FOOD

PLACES TO STAY As in many countries, Germany offers AirBnB, which is nowadays the predominant accommodation go-to where you can find many options on their homepage.

If you are looking for something more comfortable, I recommend the following hotels. In Dresden, the Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe is a good option for a four-star hotel.

The all-time favorite of most of the population is bread. Germany currently holds the Guinness World Record for having the highest amount of different kinds of bread registered. There are 3,200 entirely different kinds, which show all the ways that bread can be made and this number does not include the many kinds of sweet pastries that there are. My personal favorite is the famous German Nussecke, a dough of nuts next to chocolate and on buttery shortbread. Simply delicious!

Apart from all of these, you should be aware that Germans also enjoy eating fruits and vegetables and are generally trying to lead a rather healthy lifestyle.

You will also find many vegetarian and also vegan or gluten-free restaurants. If you are not into healthy food, the German Currywurst, which is a yummy sausage in bread with a curry-flavored Ketchup, or the famous German Pretzels will be your savior.

Staying in the Hotel Hirschen in Freiburg will allow you to feel the real German spirit in the city center. An architecturally beautiful hotel is the Hotel zum Ritter St. Georg.

IN A NUTSHELL There is no specific season that I would recommend, because each one has its own charm. In spring, you can enjoy all the flowers after the long winter break, in summer there are many events and music festivals, autumn offers you the view of colorful forests before the leaves fall in winter. Then, there is the Christmas season, and is just magical because of the many markets and beautiful lights in all streets.

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CUISINE

The Perfect “Chefs United Brunch” at Aqua E-Luce Thanksgiving Sides Experiencing International Cuisine at Heliopolis Towers Hotel

While breakfast usually offers an enticing variety of food, it is sometimes difficult to catch the breakfast menu as places usually stop taking orders by 12 pm. Seeing as Friday is the first day of the weekend, we all look forward to a late breakfast or an early lunch that will help launch us into the holiday. That is where the idea of brunch first came into action.

“Chefs United Brunch” is a concept that was introduced by Heliopolis Towers Hotel at their “Aqua E-Luce” restaurant, which not only provides guests with that early lunch experience, but also presents an incredible array of international dishes from all over the world, allowing you to get a taste of global dishes all in one place.

We had the pleasure of attending the opening event that brought with it chefs from all around the world who came together to produce authentic dishes that represented and stayed true to their culture. Also attending the event that was brought by Cairo’s finest wine brand “Cheers” were exclusive business influential figures, media personnel, celebrities, and food enthusiasts who all shared a passion for food and dining.

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The restaurant itself added onto the positive atmosphere, with delightful indoor plants that lightened the mood, along with elegant table settings that complimented its surroundings and provided guests with comfort and luxury all in one place. Also exceeding expectations was the hospitality, friendliness and organization of the restaurant and the hotel’s staff who were always keen to offer a helping hand and answer any inquiries we might have.

When it was time to sample the food, we were presented with an international buffet that included appetizing meals from Thailand, Mexico, India, France and Lebanon, to name a few. This fusion of flavors allowed us to visit three different continents, enabling us to experience the delicious dishes of Europe, the Middle East and Asia all under one roof. We could not help going back to the buffet for seconds.

We were also entertained by background music and the fresh November breeze. The entire day proved to be a well-rounded experience that offered everything from flavorful meals and a picturesque setting to great company.

You can enjoy “Chefs United Brunch” every Friday from 2 pm to 6 pm at Aqua E-Luce restaurant, Heliopolis Towers Hotel.

For reservations, please call 0226960000

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CUISINE

F e stive De sser ts P erfect for C hr istmas C hr istmas Cookie Dough Dip INGREDIENTS ½ cup non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt 5 tablespoons of butter, softened 60 grams cream cheese, softened ¼ cup flour ½ cup powdered sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup holiday sprinkles divided use Graham crackers or fruit, for dipping DIRECTIONS Place the butter, cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl. Using a mixer, beat the mixture until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Add the flour and vanilla extract and beat for another minute.

Add the yogurt, ¼ cup at a time and mix on low to combine.

Stir in the sprinkles, reserving 2 tablespoons.

Place the remaining sprinkles on top of the dip for decoration.

Serve immediately with fruit, graham crackers and other dippers.

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C reme Br ule Sugar Cookie s INGREDIENTS For the cookies: ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened ½ cup light brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar 1 egg 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt For the frosting: 225 grams cream cheese, softened 1¼ cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ cup sugar

DIRECTIONS For the cookies: Preheat oven to 175C and line two cookie sheets with parchment.

Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in egg and vanilla.

In another bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt, then add mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth. Dough will be thick.

Place tablespoon balls of dough onto parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake until edges are starting to brown, 7 to 8 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

For the frosting: Beat cream cheese until smooth.

Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth.

Put sugar into a small bowl. Spread some frosting onto tops of each cookie, then press into granulated sugar, coating frosting with sugar.

Just before serving, use a kitchen torch to caramelize sugar on top, then set aside to cool. If you don’t have a kitchen torch, heat broiler and broil cookies until sugar caramelizes, 1 to 2 minutes.

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CUISINE

C ranber r y C hee secake INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

For the cheesecake:

For the cheesecake filling:

Cooking spray, for pan 3 225 gram bars of cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 3 eggs ¼ cup sour cream Zest of 1 large orange 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 160C and grease an 9-inch pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar.

Add eggs, one at a time, then sour cream, orange zest, flour, vanilla, and salt.

For the crust: 1 sleeve graham crackers, finely crushed 5 tablespoon melted butter ¼ cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon Pinch of salt For the cranberries: ½ cup water 2 tablespoons orange juice 1½ cups sugar, divided 1 cup fresh cranberries

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For the crust: Mix together crackers, melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Press mixture into prepared pan.

Pour filling over crust.

Wrap bottom of the pan in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet.

Bake until the center of cheesecake only slightly jiggles, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Turn off the heat, let cheesecake cool, 1 hour, then remove foil and refrigerate until firm, at least 5 hours and up to overnight.

For the cranberries: In a saucepot over medium heat, combine water, orange juice, and ½ cup sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

Add in cranberries and toss until fully coated.

Transfer onto parchment paper and let cool, about 15 minutes.

When cool, toss in remaining sugar and top cheesecake.

F r uitcake INGREDIENTS For the cake: ½ cup chopped pecans ½ cup chopped pistachios ½ cup slivered almonds ¼ cup shredded, sweetened coconut ½ cup butter, softened ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar 3 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped ½ cup dried cherries, chopped ½ cup dried apricots, chopped For the glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar ¾ cup milk DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 175C. To a large baking sheet, add pecans, pistachios, almonds, and coconut.

Bake until golden and toasty, 10 to 12 minutes.

Let cool and set aside. Lower oven to 160C. Spray a small bundt pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars.

Add eggs and vanilla and beat to combine.

In another bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.

Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until combined. Add in toasted nuts and fruit.

Transfer to bundt pan and bake until golden and toothpick comes out clean, 70 to 75 minutes.

For the glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar and milk until smooth.

Once cake is cooled, drizzle with glaze.

Ginger bread Oreo Tr uff le s INGREDIENTS 225 grams cream cheese, softened 3 cups of Oreo Cookies, finely crushed 3 tablespoons molasses 2 teaspoons ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 500 grams white chocolate or white candy coating, melted Sprinkles DIRECTIONS Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.

Add molasses, ginger, and cinnamon; mix until evenly distributed.

Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 minutes.

Dip balls into melted white chocolate and top with decorative sprinkles.

Place in single layer in a waxed paper-lined pan.

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CUISINE

The Perfect Thanksgiving Sides

Snickerdoodle Blondie s INGREDIENTS

Cooking spray ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter, softened 1 cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¾ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 175C and grease a 9x9-inch pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.

Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.

In another bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and beat until just combined.

Press batter into prepared pan and sprinkle top with cinnamon sugar.

Bake until golden and still slightly soft in the middle, 25 to 30 minutes.

Let cool completely before slicing into squares.

C hocolate P eanut Butter and Toffee C rackers INGREDIENTS 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup salted butter 1 sleeve salted crackers ¾ cup peanut butter 1½ to 2 cups chocolate chips Sprinkles DIRECTIONS Cover a 9×13 inch baking dish with foil.

Spray with nonstick cooking spray or grease with oil.

Arrange the crackers in one layer in the pan, leaving a little bit of room between each, and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 200C. Melt the butter and brown sugar in a small nonstick saucepan.

Bring to a boil without stirring for three minutes.

Pour the hot mixture over the crackers and bake for 5 minutes.

Drop the peanut butter onto the hot cracker and toffee mixture; bake for another 1 minute to melt.

Spread the peanut butter.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips; bake for another 1 minute to melt. Spread the chocolate evenly and top with sprinkles.

Freeze or chill for 1 hour or until set. Break into small pieces for serving.

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SOCIETY Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars Celebrates Indira’s 10th Anniversar y

To commemorate a decade of success, Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars has recently celebrated Indira’s 10th anniversary with media celebrities, where a team of talented chefs added to the atmosphere by cooking everything to order on show.

Guests enjoyed authentic Indian dishes while being entertained by a joyful Indian dance show.

“The World is your Runway" Event for Charms JW Ladies Society Club JW Marriott Hotel Cairo hosted an exclusive Charms JW Ladies Society event featuring Saeed Ramzy, the styling expert in Egypt’s fashion scene to give insights and tips for the latest fashion trends of Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 held at Lemongrass Garden.

The attendees were mesmerized by the enticing Asian restaurant offerings “Lemongrass” prepared by our talented chefs in a remarkable atmosphere by the pool along with the joyful DJ tunes and the unprecedented hospitality.

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Marriott Egypt Hotels Say Thanks During Global Customer Appreciation Week 2018 Last November, Marriott International Hotels all over the world celebrated Global Customer Appreciation Week (GCAW). On that occasion Cairo Marriott Hotel and Marriott Mena House, Cairo along with all other Marriott hotels in Egypt had their very special way to thank their customers.

The highlight of the week featured an unforgettable closing ceremony at the Marriott Mena House, Cairo. The event started with a short video showcasing all Marriott hotels in Egypt .

Guests were entertained by Nesma Mahgoub’s outstanding performance followed by cheerful vibes as Oxana took the stage with an amazing belly dancing show.

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SOCIETY Sheraton Cairo Celebrates its Legendar y City by Paying Tribute to Iconic Landmarks On a very special weekend full of celebrations, Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino brought together guests, customers and local residence to unveil its extensive transformation in a weekend full of celebrations.

“Heart for the City” is a tour that celebrates communities and Sheraton’s role within them, featuring one-of-a-kind immersive experiences designed specifically for each destination. As part of Sheraton’s transformation journey, the tour offered visitors the ability to immerse themselves in the future vision of the Sheraton Hotels brand experience.

Guests got a peek at the upcoming redesign of Sheraton via a dynamic projection experience that showed visitors how the brand would utilize space redesign and curated amenities and services to enable gathering and productivity.

Steigenberger Alcazar Hosts the Egyptian Media Delegate for the World Youth Forum 2018 Steigenberger Alcazar hosted the Egyptian media delegate covering the World Youth Forum for the second consecutive year in Sharm El-Sheikh last November.

Media figures were welcomed upon their arrival, and during their stay, the hotel team was keen to offer the finest service starting from the comfort of accommodation, daily lavish variety of open buffets and all other services which the VIPs may need.

On the relaxing melodies of violin, the guests enjoyed a lavish cocktail reception and a tailored night program at Marha Bar.

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