Community Times November Issue 2016 by Community Times

November 2016

Since 1996

IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR 20 YEARS

EGYPT THEN:

MUSIC INSTRUMENTS STREET PEDDLERS SPORTS EGYPTIAN WOMEN SPEAK UP RESTAURANTS ARCHITECTURE

STARTUPS:

YOUTH THAT HAVE MADE IT

Editor’s Note

Publisher Live Colors, Nicosia Managing Partner Najla Riad Associate Partners

This month, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day, where they thank some of the local natives who have helped them settle in their land. It may not be significant to us here, but what is significant is that it is a time where families gather to fix a meal together and enjoy each other’s company. We also do that during Ramadan and Coptic and Muslim occasions and because the hectic life has made it hard for families see each other all the time, we should always bless the times we can to get together. On another note, we have a section this month highlighting some of our heritage and especially Port Said’s heritage buildings. There are also the street peddlers that have been offering the same for decades and it is unlikely that they will be an extinct commodity any time soon, we also included the reviving of the kilim carpet manufacturing with a modern look and visiting some of the old food establishments that still exist, narrating very interesting stories of their history.

Ahmed Samy Mohamed Maher

EditoriAl dEPArtMEnt Editor-in-chief Moguib Roshdy Acting Editor Najla Riad Assistant Editor: Rawan Abdel Latif, Editor & Social Media Manager Tamer Hegab

WritErS Ahmed Kafafi, Enas El Masry, Ola El Soueify, Rana Kamali, Alia Mostafa, Mona El Husseini

Art dEPArtMEnt Art director Khadiga El Badan

Wish you a good read and stay healthy with the change in seasons.

Senior Graphic designer Marina Raafat

SAlES dEPArtMEnt the mobile speaking on r le d ed p oman inner ready. e month: W me to get d ho at Photo of th ns io g instruct phone givin

Sales director Rania Halim Sales Manager Sayed Kamel Account Executive Michel Nagy

Production MAnAGEr Enas Adly

AdMiniStrAtion dEPArtMEnt distribution Manager Rana Ezzat office Manager Magda Adib legal consultant Ashraf Soliman Financial consultants Hazem Abdel Tawab Ahmed Abbas

office clerk Mahmoud Abdel Aziz office custodian: Ismail Othman distribution Al Ahram, Al Akhbar, Next Media Mohandessin, Zamalek, Heliopolis, Maadi, Nasr City, New Cairo, 6 October City, Sheikh Zayed City

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: www.communitytimes.me © Copyright 2004 Community Times is a monthly publication published by LC Live Colors Nicosia, Cyprus

The Editor

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Ct | nov 2016

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CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2016 SPOTLIGHT

05 TOWN TALK

COMMUNITY

Talk of the Town News

48 ENTREPRENEUR

08 STYLE

Thriving Startups

Dolz House Statement Accessories

50 FIELDWORK A Survey on Egyptian Females

CULTURE 14

Miramar Novel Revived

Falaki Theater’s Upcoming Plays

TRAVEL 54

Columbus - Ohio

MIND, BODY & SOUL 12

The Largest Integrated Medical City Opens in Egypt

OUT & ABOUT 58 CUISINE

November 2016

Since 1996

IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR 20 YEARS

STARTUPS:

EGYPT THEN:

MUSIC INSTRUMENTS STREET PEDDLERS SPORTS EGYPTIAN WOMEN SPEAK UP RESTAURANTS ARCHITECTURE

YOUTH THAT HAVE MADE IT

Thanksgiving Recipes

FEATURES 18

Saving Port Said’s Heritage

Section on Heritage in Egypt

62 CALENDAR

November’s Culture Events

55 SOCIETY

REAL ESTATE 70

- Abraj Misr Partners with Marriott International - Azha Launches a New Village

COVER PHOTO

NOV 2016 | CT

SpotlightS towntalk ge Hilton Re-opens Poolside Loun

Hyundai Motor Global Brand Value Continues to Grow

“Breezes”

zes, bration for the re-opening of Bree Ramses Hilton hosted a lavish cele of the s view king thta brea With . grill the refurbished poolside lounge and ctable unwind while being treated to dele Nile, Breezes is the perfect spot to and shisha. oriental dishes, signature cocktails With an infinity bar and a heated pool, Breezes is the ideal getaway from the city, while being in the heart of Cairo. Guests can choose to sit in the open-air area or in the shaded terrace, wherethey can enjoy the ongoing deep house and lounge music during the day, and live music in the evenings. p

Despite yet another challenging year for the automotive industry, Hyundai Motor’s global brand value increased 11.1% to reach $12.55bn, securing its place among the biggest brands on the planet. The Korean company also moved up one place to 6th in the global automotive industry top 10 brands, ahead of Audi, Volkswagen, Nissan and Porsche and is the 4th most valuable high-volume automotive brand. Hyundai Motor maintained global sales at five million units, helped by successful launches of its Creta, Sonata and Tucson models, while reinforcing its Modern Premium brand philosophy through increased differentiation between the Hyundai and Genesis brand identities. The Hyundai Motor brand is set to achieve even greater heights with electrified IONIQ models, high-performance Hyundai N cars and futuremobility focused Project IONIQ moving the brand into new automotive spaces. p

Vuclip Launches VOD Service Viu and Announces Orange Partnership

Nespresso offers a Deeper Taste of Brazil Inspired by the rich, colourful and vibrant Brazilian coffee culture, the experts at Nespresso have created Cafezinho do Brasil, a unique and powerful Limited Edition Grand Cru. Set to transport your taste buds to the pulsing centre of a thriving Brazilian town, Cafezinho do Brasil has been designed to reflect the best sensorial qualities of a Brazilian cafezinho or ‘small coffee’. The Nespresso team spoke with locals to discover the flavour and aromas associated with their ideal cafezinho. Cafezinho do Brasil is a pleasantly bitter blend of select Arabica beans from Southern Brazil that are enhanced by pulped natural, sweet Bourbon. A velvety textured cup with an unexpected walnut and sandalwood aroma, and unusual herbal notes reminiscent of thyme or rosemary. p

Ct | NOV 2016

Vuclip, a media company, and the leading premium video-on-demand (VOD) service provider for emerging markets, launches Viu in Egypt. Viu is a direct to consumer VOD service that has already achieved major success in the East. To amplify its efforts to deliver the best entertainment throughout Egypt, Vuclip has entered into a strategic partnership with Orange Egypt. Orange customers will now have access to Viu premium content for a defined time period through their subscriptions. Viu offers unlimited downloads and streaming of content for free on the mobile app or desktop. Content includes latest Arabic, Hollywood and Bollywood movies, popular Arabic and International TV series, some of which have never been aired in the Middle East before, as well as all the musical hits. Optional paid subscription includes an ad-free experience, as well as access to additional premium content for 45 Egyptian pounds per month.

Cairo Marriott Invites U.S. Press for #Activ8Egypt The Cairo Marriott shows its support for the #Activ8Egypt campain that aims to revive tourism in Egypt. A media trip to the hotel was organized by The American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s tourism committee for a selection of top American media figures to help promote the campaign. A dinner at the Marriot’s Royal Eugenie Salon was set up for the delegates to enjoy a meal prepared for them while learning about the history of the Al Gezira Palace and its original paintings and antiques. The group was then escorted on a tour of the palace that was built in 1869 by Khedive Ismail to host Empress Eugenie during the inauguration of the Suez Canal. Coming all the way from New York, Argentina & Mexico, the journalists visited Cairo, Luxor & Sharm El Sheikh to promote the comeback of Egypt as a prime touristic destination. p

Bolton’s Stay at Fairmont Heliopolis Fairmont Heliopolis and Towers hosted the multiple Grammy Award-winning singer, Michael Bolton and his team during his stay in Egypt as the exclusive Hotel Partner and Sponsor for Michael Bolton’s Mega concert held by RMC Egypt at Cairo Fairground. Knowing that Italian Cuisine is one of his favorites, Leonardo Restaurant was chosen for a very special VIP dinner hosting him and his VIP guests where Chef Federico offered them Italian authentic delights. p

OPPO Launches Stunning Selfie Expert F1s Smartphone Brand Expands Local Presence with Regional Hub OPPO has announced the local launch of its photography focused F1s, as well as launching the stylish new device and its ambitions to grow the brand locally through the establishment of a dedicated marketing center for the Middle East and North African (MENA) markets. F1s Launched Across MENA The latest addition to OPPO’s F Series, the F1s offers greater camera features and improved technologies. The F1s comes with a 16MP front-facing camera and a 13MP rear camera, both designed to maximize light sensitivity and capture clear and detailed photos, in all lighting situations. In addition to its camera features, the F1s is equipped with OPPO’s industry leading 0.22s fingerprint reader and sizeable 3075 mAh battery. With 32GB of storage as standard, the F1s is powered by an octa-core processor and 3GB RAM, offering fantastic value for an excellent user experience. OPPO Establishes Regional Marketing Center OPPO’s new marketing center will be headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, and will look after markets in Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Qatar and UAE, with others to follow in the future. Not only will the center strengthen OPPO’s sales network across each market, but will help to create more local jobs, with over 90% of the workforce from the local area. The dedicated center will allow the company to further grow its local partner base, enabling more consumers to experience OPPO’s devices for themselves. The regional hub will also help to boost brand awareness through sponsorships and marketing activities, which have been key to OPPO’s recent successes on the international stage. p

NOV OCT 2016 | Ct

SpotlightS towntalk

Nissan Supports Valuable Customers During Back-to-School Season Nile Project Launches University Program The Nile Project is launching its university program with its inaugural class of Nile Fellows to bring together students from Nile basin countries to work on solving river sustainability challenges. This one-ofa-kind program is the first multi-disciplinary, trans-boundary platform for environment-oriented youth in the Nile basin to work together and conceptualize the Nile River as a shared resource and ecosystem. In partnership with six universities in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, this 12-month leadership program will encourage fellows to travel, meet and collaborate with each other. Through their annual Nile gathering and online dialogue tools, fellows will join a support network of like-minded peers in order to share their experiences and findings. Beyond these opportunities, Nile Fellows will hone their leadership, communication and organizational skills while learning about the different cultures and ecology of the Nile basin. They will be mentored by professionals and will learn how to use design-thinking tools to reach innovative development solutions. They will also be given the opportunity to prototype and test these solutions in different communities. p

Marriott International Completes Acquisitions of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) has completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., creating the world’s largest and best hotel company. Marriott now offers the most comprehensive portfolio of brands including leading lifestyle brands, Marriott will match member status across Marriott Rewards – which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards – and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), enabling members to transfer points between the programs for travel and exclusive experiences when they link their accounts later today. The Rewards are the most recognized and awarded loyalty programs in hospitality. Together, these programs will offer members more benefits when they link their accounts, as well as new destinations such as Aruba, Tuscany’s Serchio Valley and Kruger National Park in South Africa for SPG members and the Maldives, Bora Bora and Santorini, Greece for Marriott Rewards and The RitzCarlton Rewards members The new company will operate or franchise more than 5,700 properties and 1.1 million rooms, representing 30 leading brands from the moderate-tier to luxury in over 110 countries. With the completion of this acquisition, Marriott’s distribution has more than doubled in Asia and the Middle East. p

Ct | NOV 2016

The summer is coming to an end and another new school year has just begun. It’s the season where valuable Nissan customers are exposed to the road more; from driving to college, or dropping children to school, to running tedious errands for school supplies. At times like these, they need their Nissan models for sustenance and support. This is exactly why Nissan Motor’s 22 dealerships across Egypt are giving a 15% discount on spare parts and labor fees as well as a free oil filter and oil change. Since Nissan understands the struggle of the back-to-school season, it has decided to take part in making their customers’ lives a bit easier. As part of making all buyers’ lives less stressful, Nissan’s sales and aftersales mobile application makes it easier to book their car appointment during any time of day at whichever dealership or service center is more convenient for them. Customers can check their service costs prior to visiting the service center. As mentioned before, Nissan focuses mainly on the comfort and practicality of its customers through innovative concepts and ideas. p

STYLE

Dolz House: EssEntial statEmEnt accEssoriEs

If you are a jewelry-lover and interested in owning trendy hip pieces, Dolz House accessories will definitely grab your attention. By Ola El Soueni

olz House was founded in 2013, by Dalia Hosny, “I have always been a huge jewelry lover, obsessed with owning statement pieces that are unique; so I started creating jewelry for myself by coming up with a design, then have a jeweler execute it for me working closely with him to fine-tune the final details,” explains Hosny. “What really motivated me to start my own business was an incident that happened in London. I was walking down the street wearing one of the necklaces I designed and was stopped by a very nice lady who complimented my necklace and asked where I got it from. When I explained to her that I made it myself, she insisted to buy it at whatever cost. That boosted my confidence and that is when I decided to turn my obsession into a profession and establish my own brand,” added Hosny. Hosny is fond of vintage jewelry, especially semi-precious stones and spiritual pieces. “I have developed this hobby of collecting vintage stones a long time ago and it delights me to marvel at these precious objet d’art,” mentioned Hosny, whose work is inspired by many aspects and interests, among which is the Asian culture, that is reflected in many of her designs.

Ct | nov 2016

What makes Dolz House’s accessories easy to wear is that they can be effortlessly dressed up just as easily as they’re dressed down. “I believe that stylish accessories can transform a woman’s outfit and portray whatever look she wants,” commented Hosny. “I can’t express how happy I was to hear positive feedback on my designs. I appreciated the love people had for my jewelry, which gave me confidence to kick off my dream business,” highlighted Hosny, who is a holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication. The evolution of Dolz House’s designs and the uniqueness of each collection made the brand echo with originality and exclusivity. “I try to buy exquisite material including the stones from my travels to help design accessories that are each special in their own way. I do use some local materials as well to encourage local suppliers, because at the end of the day, my brand is Egyptian,” said Hosny. “The brand name is based on my nickname: Dolz. I believed incorporating my nickname in my brand would reflect my identity that is also very much present in my designs. “House” reflects my plans to create a larger variety of products rather than being restricted to jewelry only. These additions are coming up this winter, so stay tuned,” announced Hosny.

Dolz House’s collection includes necklaces, anklets, bracelets and bangles. “My first collection was made with gold, a material I love working with. I also went on to launch some of the jewelry in silver, which is a more versatile material. The theme of my debut collection was all about vintage ‘bone-carved stones,’ such as Ganesh and Buddha pendants,” mentioned Hosny, whose upcoming collection is set to launch by winter 2016. Dolz House currently has a gold-plated line, which is easy to wear with radiant and nude colors that compliment the stones used. “I think my greatest achievement is that I took the risk and started up my business all on my own. I do everything myself, which to me is very rewarding,” she says. One of the main obstacles that she faces is always being on the look for out-of-the-box, best quality uncommon materials. “Ganesh gold necklaces are my personal favorites. I simply treasure them because they were the first pieces I ever designed and what inspired me to carry on and expand. I have a soft spot for them,” commented Hosny. Dolz House’s collection can be found in all of Mohamed El Sagheer Beauty Salons, as well as in Boutique 51 in Zamalek and L2 in Mohandesin, with more venues coming up. p Instagram: Dolzhouse

PreParing your skin for the winter season Harsh winds, cold temperatures, and dry air tend to sap skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and stressed. 1. Change it: Your skin will probably need more moisture more often. If you usually use a lotion, you may need to switch to a cream a couple times a week to replenish lost moisture. 2. Choose your cleanser carefully: Cleansers can strip your skin of natural oils, dry it out, and over time, lead to more visible lines and wrinkles. Try to choose more nourishing options. 3. Exfoliate: Exfoliating brings back that youthful glow that is so often lost during the winter months. Exfoliate twice a week. 4. Protect: Winter weather appears to be less sunny, but remember—those harmful UV rays are still out there. Always protect skin with a safe sunscreen like one that contains zinc oxide, and wear protective hats and clothing. 5. Shorten your showers: Hot water feels great in the winter, but it saps skin of its natural oils. Try to limit your long, hot showers and baths to once or twice a week, and choose lukewarm the other times. Always apply moisturizer immediately after patting skin dry. 6. Eat right most of the time: Simple sugars and carbohydrates stimulate reactions in skin that can lead to more acne breakouts. Avoid these during your daily life and you’ll experience fewer setbacks when you indulge at the holidays. nov 2016 | Ct

Advertorial

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LakeHouse The Club draws on the legendary five star excellence of the Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo, located alongside, and nestles on the edge of the premium and secluded LakeView compound. Membership of LakeHouse The Club offers a masterpiece of gourmet cuisine, indulgence and health and fitness options for families, their children, couples, individuals and corporate clients. All of this in a captivating setting of gardens, greenery and patios where warm breezes rustle the palms while cabanas and loungers offer a tempting escape from the cares of city life. LakeHouse The LakeHouse is Cairo’s oasis ... a world that answers every conceivable need or desire. Three restaurants, O Café, Puff and Energia ... The lavishly-equipped, professionally-staffed Lakehouse Gym ... facilities for squash, tennis, soccer ... two swimming pools including one Olympic sized ... are just part of the story of this exclusive and luxurious environment.

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MIND, BODY & SOUL

This project reflects one of the government’s plans to regain investors’ confidence in the Egyptian economy

The Largest Integrated Medical City in Egypt:

Batterji Medical city

Middle East Healthcare Company (Saudi German Hospital) announced last September the signing of an agreement by the company’s board of directors that assigned the administrative supervision of Batterji Medical City, to be established in Alexandria’s Alex West, under the trademark of Saudi German Hospital.

Ct | NOV 2016

he Batterji project consists of four phases, where the first is to include a 300-bed general hospital estimated to cost EGP 1.5 billion, and staff residence with investment costs of EGP 110 million. The second phase of the project is to include seven specialized hospitals costing EGP 5 –6 billion, in addition to staff residences at around EGP 20 million for each hospital. The third phase includes a clinic medical tower with an estimated cost of EGP 200 million, and finally, an academy for Medical Science & Technology with an investment cost of EGP 700 million. Mohamed Hany Khodeir, Chief Executive of General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), has emphasized that establishing such a medical city in Egypt by Saudi investors with a capital of EGP 8 billion highlights Egypt’s position on the global economic map. Egypt possesses various potential to attract investors, and these kinds of projects reflect the government’s plan to boost its economy and regain the confidence of investors and foreign corporates in Egypt’s market. Khodeir has also mentioned that the project in Alexandria has several benefits, among which being a tangible added value to the curative tourism in Egypt to serve the MENA region and Africa, since it is located in one of the most popular touristic cities in the Mediterranean Basin. According to him, the medical city will provide hundreds of job opportunities and will contribute in producing expert Egyptian medical calibers, as the project includes an Academy for Medical Science and Technology that supports the health system in Egypt. Sobhi Batterji, founder and CEO of Saudi German Hospital Group, has expressed his delight with setting the foundation stone of Batterji Medical City, which will be considered as the largest integrated medical city in Egypt. Batterji added, “We trust the Egyptian medical sector and are always keen on providing special medical services. We believe that we have a responsibility towards social care programs.” The Chairman of Barons Court and Ledgers (owning company

of Alex West), Alaa Salem, has emphasized that the Alex West project is considered as the extension of Alexandria Governorate’s investments, touristic sites and services. According to Salem, Alex West is an integrated venture that includes huge active investments, and provides more than 10 thousand direct job opportunities. Salem added that the Alex West project follows the state’s development strategy in terms of developing and advancing the regions surrounding large governorates, through establishing and implementing different service projects. Moreover, he mentioned that the project of Batterji Medical City is an added value to the Alex West Resort, since it belongs to Beit AlBatterji, one of the best medical institutions in the Arab region with international high-standard medical services and which possesses several achievements. Dr. Mohamed Hablas, CEO of Saudi German Hospital in Cairo, saidd that Batterji Medical City is the successor of the 300-bed Saudi German Hospital in Cairo, which started its operations in Egypt in October 2015, and is now considered as one of the largest specialized hospitals in Egypt. The administrative supervision of the hospital is also assigned to the Middle East Healthcare Company. The establishment of the medical city’s general hospital in Alexandria is expected to be completed by 2019. It will provide specialized medical services to Egyptian citizens who live in the northern cities, in addition to visiting patients from Libya, since Batterji Medical City is located five hours away from the land road of the Libya-Egypt border. It is also worth mentioning that the Middle East Healthcare Hospital is in charge of the administrative supervision of the hospitals owned by Beit Al-Batterji Medical Company outside Saudi Arabia, according to agreements between the two parties. Middle East Healthcare Company is to announce any further developments related to the project of Batterji Medical City.p

NOV 2016 | Ct

Culture Art

The first solo exhibition in Italy of Deutsche Bank’s

“Artist of the Year” 2016

AXXI, together with Deutsche Bank, presented the first solo exhibition in Italy two months ago, devoted to Basim Magdy, who was the honoured Deutsche Bank’s “Artist of the Year” 2016, an annual award for emerging or mid-career artists who have distinguished themselves for their creativity and the significance of their work. The exhibition entitled “The Stars Were Aligned for a Century of New Beginnings”, was inaugurated last April at the Deutsche Bank Kunsthalle in Berlin and, after MAXXI, it will move to the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago. The Basim Magdy exhibition at MAXXI is part of Expanding the Horizon, a new initiative promoted by the museum to further develop its global ambitions and explore a new form of public space generated by the collaboration between the museum and other institutions and private collections. Over 30 works, including films, projections, photographs, paintings and installations from 2006 to 2016, comprise the exhibition, co-curated by Britta Färber, Chief Curator of Deutsche Bank and Anne Palopoli, Curator of MAXXI. The Stars Were Aligned for a Century of New Beginnings initially sounds optimistic. In the exhibition, Basim Magdy plays ironically and humorously with a constantly changing cycle of hopes, utopias, and defeats. While the artist, who was born in 1977 in Assiut (Egypt), and now lives in Basel and Cairo, invites visitors to take a journey into the future, he is primarily concerned with the present. His work, consisting of slide projections, photographs, works on paper and installations, combine into a stream of images that reflects the fluid boundaries between reality and virtuality. Among the works on display is The Future of Your Head (2008), a sculpture incorporating a two-way mirror with a message formed out of sparkling Christmas lights, suggests that we can leave behind our self-reflectic causal thinking and our anthropocentric worldview.

Ct | nov 2016

The significant trilogy of films produced in 2014 (The Everyday Ritual of Solitude Hatching Monkeys – The Many Colors of the Sky Radiate Forgetfulness – The Dent) shows, in post-apocalyptic scenarios, that societies are bankrupt, entangled in absurd rituals of preserving the past or megalomaniac projects. The works on paper, distinguished by their psychedelic colours, show groups of researchers roam between futuristic buildings and radio stations as in Miniature Existence (2009), or well-dressed people celebrate the collective failure of a world in which human civilization seems to have come to an end as in A Recollection of Past Errors Manifested as a Crustacean (2013). At the centre of the exhibition is Magdy’s large-scale 64-part photographic work An Apology of a Love Story that Crashed into a Whale. Commissioned for this show, the work impressively illustrates Magdy’s handling of photography and text. However, the installations, films, photographs and drawings of this Egyptian artist emanate a strange tragicomic joy; what makes them so unreal is the use of hypnotic music, acid colours, the old-fashioned flavour of the texts, with which he creates suggested narratives that leave conclusions open. What he tries to do with his work is to propose more open alternatives, free from hierarchies and ideologies. The way in which he combines text and images, the poetic and sometimes absurd form of his works, reveal his view of reality, which invites us to think laterally, accepting contradictions and rejecting dogmas. Basim Magdy constantly reflects on the movement of images and information, and questions the manner in which we ourselves store and share our memories, a fact that somehow sets our future in predetermined structures. He uses his personal vision of the future as an opportunity to criticise the present, and his surreal humour puts us face to face with what we often reject: the uncertain and uncontrollable. p

Advertorial

OPPO Launches Its stunnIng seLfIe exPert f1s camera PhOne

n a spectacular celebration at the Royal Maxim Kempinski hotel in Cairo, OPPO celebrated the launch of its latest addition to its F series, the photography focused OPPO F1s. The mega celebration was attended by glamorous guests and public figures, OPPO officials headed by their Vice President and Managing Director of International Mobile Business, Sky Li, as well as a number of regional and local press and media personalities. As well as launching the stylish new device, OPPO also announced its ambitions to grow the brand locally through the establishment of a dedicated marketing center for the Middle East and North African (MENA) markets. The celebration was hosted by famous MC, Razan Maghraby, and featured magnificent entertainment by superstars Janaat & Samo Zain. The attendees tremendously enjoyed themselves and – throughout the event – were able to experience the breathtaking state-of-the-art technology of the new OPPO F1s Camera Phone. The new OPPO F1s Selfie Expert offers greater camera features and improved technologies to ensure users capture every moment in vivid detail, even in low-light environments. The F1s comes with a 16MP front-facing camera and a 13MP rear camera, both designed to maximize light sensitivity and capture clear and detailed photos, in all lighting situations. In addition to its camera features, the F1s is equipped with OPPO’s industry leading 0.22s fingerprint reader and sizeable 3075 mAh battery. With 32GB of storage as standard, the F1s is powered by an octa-core processor and 3GB RAM, offering fantastic value for an excellent user experience. “We know local consumers are going to be delighted with this device, from its stunning design to its powerful cameras and secure Touch Access, its the complete package,” Andy Shi, Brand Director, OPPO MENA said. He added, “The F1s has proven to be an incredible success across the globe, and we’re excited to launch it locally, further building our brand across the region.” The new device was launched in Cairo and will be available throughout the MENA region on Oct. 29th, including Egypt, Algeria and Morocco.

Culture Books

MiraMar by Naguib Mahfouz By: Alia Moustafa

Summed up in a few words: This is Egypt. Miramar, a novel by the well-known Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz, has all aspects of the Egyptian culture bound in one novel. Written in the nineteen sixties, it is set in Alexandria at a Pension called Miramar. Mahfouz’s novel follows the lives of seven main characters, using a special technique in writing to show the reader every character’s perspective on the same story.

iramar is divided into five chapters. Mahfouz chose four of the seven characters to base the chapters on. The first story-teller is Amer Wagdi, a retired journalist. He is the oldest of the Miramar lodgers and lives more in the past. He also feels neglected and forgotten. The second storyteller, Hosny Allam, is an uneducated land-owner who doesn’t do anything but sleep around and drink. The third is Mansour Bahy, a man who hates himself, thought of as a traitor and feels guilty about his friends being arrested. The fourth and final character is Sarhan Al Beheiry, who is a man from a small town, working in the government and trying to make enough money to support his family. However, these are not the only characters we encounter in Mahfouz’s novel. In every chapter, there are three other characters we repeatedly meet: Marianna, Tolba Marzuk and Zohra. Marianna is the Greek lady who owns the Miramar pension who is a very nosey old woman. Marzuk, a lodger, is a man who has been greatly affected by the revolution and had all his property and money sequestered by the government. Lastly, Zohra, a very important character in Mahfouz’s novel; she works at the pension and whom all the men have a certain kind of emotional relationship with. All the characters are very well presented, making them feel real. There is the gold digger, the lustful, the indifferent, the opportunist, the nostalgic and the simple. They all represent different social classes, where they each have their problems and live in their own worlds, but they all come together at a certain point. That is what interested me most about the novel. Many would think that Miramar is a political novel; on the contrary, politics is but a background aspect of Mahfouz’s book. The novel’s plot consists of various aspects: love, greed, betrayal, guilt, nostalgia, and most importantly, murder.

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What really intrigued me to keep on reading was the murder aspect. With every chapter and every perspective, I collect pieces of information in order to come to the conclusion of what happened and who was involved. That is why reading the different perspectives was important. After every event or encounter, I took pieces from each chapter to put together into a bigger picture that made it all clear. As readers, we get to experience every emotional aspect the characters went through at the same point of the plot. I think that’s a whole different experience than reading a novel written from one perspective. Other than the social class differences, we find that there is a generation gap between the old Miramar lodgers and the young. Wagdi, Marzuk and Marianna seem to be attached to the old days when Marianna was beautiful and had a rich husband, and when Tolba had it all, and the days when Amer was a motivated journalist. On the other hand, Hosny, Mansur, Sarhan and Zohra are trying to live in the present, to get by day-by-day, or trying to find new businesses to open. The one thing most of them seem to agree on is whether the 23rd July revolution was a good or bad thing for the Egyptian people. Miramar is a great novel. It does not solely focus on the revolution or on politics. It does, however, focus on the daily life of different people. It shows how in Egypt there are traditions and cultural rules that the majority abide by, and yet there are some people that stray from that path and live outside the norm and that people’s intentions aren’t as they appear to be on the outside. The author’s simplicity in presenting his ideas and the complexity of the plot shows how much skill this great author has. Mahfouz’s novels are known to be very complicated and hard to understand, but this novel is quite different and much easier to go through. It is truly a page-turner and you are constantly guessing what will happen next. I would highly recommend Miramar as a weekend read. p

Culture Stage

Out of Cage November 4th & 5th at AUC’s Falaki Theater at 8 pm In this performance, you will get to witness how any artistic expression in a certain field, like acting, can transform into a parallel expression, like music. Ten artists from different fields with diverse talents will be presenting a contemporary performance and will exchange different methods of artistic expression through music, movement and acting. The idea behind this performance will be to portray how every form of art includes some sort of musical cogitation, which contemporary art refers to as: Interdisciplinary Theatrical Music. This idea has been inspired by American music composer John Cage in his book “Song Books”, one of the most influential works, and includes four phases: songs, songs with electronics, directions for a theatrical performance, and directions for a theatrical performance with electronics. To apply the concept, the artists used Ma’at Ra’ cards, an Ancient Egyptian twist to the popularly used Tarot cards. Each card has a certain title and connotation, and every artist has to express three cards using three different artistic expressions using musical tracks, or theatrical acts, or both together. Through the preparations for the performance with the assigned artists, and under the supervision of Wael Sami El Kholy and Pascal Viglino, these compositions will be merged to create an artistic performance. Tickets: EGP 20 (Seating will be on first come first serve basis. No entrance is allowed after the show has started). p

Ubu Roi

November 14th to 16th at AUC’s Falaki Theater at 8 pm Tickets will be available for sale at Studio Emad Eddin Foundation starting from the 9th of November, and on the 14th, 15th and 16th starting from 6.30 pm by the door at AUC’s Falaki Theater. This play will have you jumping off your seat with laughter, amazement and the occasional shock to your senses. The play is directed by the Australian-Egyptian director Mohammed Hashem, the script adaptation by playwright Muhammad Marros, the performance is designed with art works from Australian visual artist Simon Fisher and finally, the choir is conducted by the amazing Amy Frega. The cast was handpicked after many months of searching for the most appropriate players for this timeless piece “Ubu Roi”.

Ubu Roi was written in 1896 in French by Alfred Jarry, inspired from when he was a 16 year old school boy, as a way to ridicule one of his professors who he perceived as ugly and mean, which Jarry saw as a symbol to all the ugliness and mediocrity he saw in the world. It transformed theater and the arts as we know them today. Ubu Roi is a play with quick wit and strange language, but in a way, it depicts reality. It went against the conventional theater that used ordinary props and polite dialogue because Jarry believed that it was unrealistic, seeing as no one would normally speak and act in such a manner, however, it was received with much controversy. Ubu Roi is the first play of its kind, and it took other theatre makers nearly fifty years after it to begin the Theatre of the Absurd, a movement that also introduced bizarre settings and strange dialogue. However, if we think of our daily lives, they are filled with irrational relationships and the world is absurd, so why can’t theater or even film reflect this? Ubu Roi was performed twice in Melbourne Australia by the 5-Pound theater who are now collaborating with Mohammed Hashem, a director who trained for both directing and acting in Australia and the UK. Hashem has directed and acted in plays and films in Australia, the UK, Spain and Paris, gaining over 15 years experience. He is also an award winning filmmaker, radio broadcaster, published poet and lecturer at the American University in Cairo. The script was first translated from French to English by Patrick Whittacker U.K, later adapted by 5 Pounds’ director Jason Cavanagh into colloquial Australian-English, and then the award winning scenario writer, Muhammad Marros, turned it into an Egyptian classic. p

NOV 2016 | Ct

FEATURE

Save

Written and photographed by Ahmed Kafafi

Port Saidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Heritage

Overtaken by wars and commercial activities, Port Saidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s architecture heritage, a mix of Arab, Italian, French and Greek styles, has been neglected so much, that today the city is engaging in a fight against greedy contractors aspiring to replace historical houses with high rise buildings. However, Port Saidis have decided that enough is enough and are taking major actions towards the preservation of their history and identity. For many, the way out is to raise funds that would help turn the coastal city into a tourist destination.

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his is a large group of people who have gathered at one meeting point: the Suez Canal Museum in Port Said, once the house of Empress Eugenie of France. From there, they went to several sites in the historical coastal city: the lighthouse, De Lesseps’ residence, the Roman Cathedral, the Arab Quarters and the Foreigners’ Quarters, home to French, Italian and Greek architectural styles. This was just one tour among others which they stage regularly to familiarize the young generation with their city’s heritage. They would stop at one of the deserted old houses, pose for photos and videos to upload them on their Facebook page ‘Port Said Ala Adimo’ (Port Said That Was) to draw attention to places that have been forgotten or sidelined. Today, these century-old constructions have come into the limelight as greedy investors are aspiring to demolish many of them to raise in their places residential towers that would fill their coffers with posh apartments worth millions of pounds. The prices offered by the investors to the property’s impoverished owners is likely to make them win the battle. If eventually that tug-ofwar were to be rounded off in the interest of investors, the Canal city would suffer an irreparable loss of both identity and history. Located at the mouth of the Suez Canal, where the water passage meets with the Mediterranean, Port Said was a vital commercial hub that helped create a multinational society of foreign settlers who had all taken up trading and shipping. The city has also witnessed a series of battles that began with the Suez War in 1956 to the Attrition and October Wars that transpired between 1967-73. Port Said features buildings, churches, schools and museums, many of which date back to the 19th and early 20th century. As the Port Saidis sensed the threat to their heritage, they launched an awareness campaign that started one year before the outbreak of the January 25 Revolution, but with the chaos that reigned in the wake of that political upheaval, the campaign slowed then picked up again with the ardent efforts of many Port Said-based societies such as the ‘Alliance Francaise of Port Said’, ‘The Egyptian-French Friendship Society’, the ‘Port Said Society for Heritage Protection’, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture’s ‘El Gehaz El Qawmi Lil Tanseek El Hadari’ (National Organization for Urban Harmony), in addition to the locals’ own groups, like the ‘Port Said Heritage Initiative’ and ‘Port Said Ala Adimo’.

NOV 2016 | Ct

FEATURE The initial attempts of these societies have yielded fruit as court decision no.1096 was issued by the Egyptian cabinet in 2011 to name some 500 buildings in Port Said, as well as 200 others in the suburb of Port Fouad, as part of a protected heritage. Regrettably, many laid hands on some of the buildings by finding loopholes in the law, so much that fresh calls are stressing the necessity of laying down a strategy for the conservation of the heritage based on sustainable development. Plans vary from a tourist destination to a major restoration project, but those plans can’t see daylight until the struggle against the fierce wave of investments comes to an end.

Foreigner’s Quarters

The visit to Port Said’s ‘Hai El Afrang’ which makes up the city centre, is the best example of how several old historical houses are left deserted or neglected so that they would eventually be offered for sale. “Neglecting a house is the first step towards getting rid of it,” stresses renowned Port Saidi journalist Skina Fouad who has been one of the biggest supporters of the heritage campaign.

“Since 2011, I’ve participated many times in seminars and conferences related to the issue, and I continue to appeal to conscientious officials to save what remains of the city’s history, she adds, “We’ve lost many of the old buildings and we have to take serious steps towards protecting the rest.” According to Fouad, those steps consist of listing demolished buildings against remaining ones as well as counting the number of deserted houses and finding a way to breathe life into them. She also demands that interested groups in the city’s heritage should merge into one entity that can take powerful decisions. Echoing Fouad’s viewpoint, Port Saidi businessman and amateur photographer Hashim Morsi underlines that estimably around 15% of the old buildings have already been pulled down using loopholes in the law. “But I would like to stress that, so far, there are no statistics to show what has been left out,” informs Morsi. “Initially, the problem began due to the total lack of people’s awareness about their heritage,” says Ahmed El Esawy, head of the Suez Canal Museum in Port Said and member of the Supreme Council of Culture’s History and Heritage Committee. “But that quickly changed as the Port Saidis started to sense that the city’s heritage is in real danger and action should be taken towards saving it,” he says. “The Arab Quarters are intact, the architectural style there is found in many parts of Egypt, but where the Foreign Quarters are located is invaluable as they make up the city centre and the commercial district.”

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The good news is that a plan is underway to develop the historical part of Port Said into a tourist site in the fashion of Khedivite or Islamic Cairo He adds, “The contractors are on the hunt for any old deserted building in this area to set up in its place a tower that would overlook the sea, as well as the Suez Canal, and provide an ideal location for businesses due its closeness to the market. Our goal now is to document such buildings.” El Esawy points out, “Practical steps would soon be taken to implement such documentation. Seven experts from the History and Heritage Committee will accompany a municipality official in their tours through the main seven districts of Port Said to locate historical buildings. A century-old building is counted as a monument that can’t be touched, he adds, “The problem is that the owners of those houses are so poor that a million pounds for them is a lucrative amount.” One idea by Skina Fouad is to involve the owners by suggesting to turn their homes into a tourist destination. Thousands of people pass by the Suez Canal, where some stop for a few days to load and unload. Inviting them to a one-day tour and also invite the grandchildren of the Europeans who lived in Port Said, was suggested, as well as organize events to commemorate the inauguration of the Canal. Port Saidi businessman Ayman Gabr agrees, “Shaping up Port Said as a tourist destination is a feasible project.” He adds, “The good news is that a plan is underway to develop the historical part of Port Said into a tourist site in the fashion of Khedivite or Islamic Cairo. The project targets the old buildings, the shops and the streets that will all be restored in line with international standards. That will be a turning point for all Port Saidis.” Awareness is shaping up, activities abound and suggestions are flowing. There is hope that with all such zeal, the historical city would once again see its heydays. As the Suez Canal was launched, Port Said became once more a commercial hub. Today, it’s about time it should be rewarded with what it really deserves: a project that would highlight its everlasting commercial as well as touristic aspects. p

NOV 2016 | Ct

FEATURE

Heritage Buildings in Alexandria and Cairo

By: Rawan Abdel Latif

For decades, Alexandria and Cairo have been the cities to look to when thinking of diversity, heritage and tradition. Many groups and nationalities that have lived there or passed by have all left behind pillars of their culture in some way. Unfortunately, many of these sites and monuments have become victims of demolition, leaving our rare commodities under threat by those who do not have an interest in preserving age and architecture. Protecting these historical venues hasn’t been the sole concern here, but rather maintaining them in good condition.

lexandria, for centuries has been a great example of cultural diversity. The city is overflowing with buildings, gardens, mosques, churches and clubs all from an array of backgrounds with different inspirations. From the famous Roman columns, to the Italian artistry and the Turkish design, Alexandria has always attracted tourists from around the world with different interests. Mentioned are some of these endangered buildings:

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Aghion Villa The Aghion villa was built in 1927 by brothers and French architects: Gustave and Auguste Perret, who later went on to build the villa of Elias Awad Bey in Cairo and Ali Yehia Bey in Alexandria. Located in Wabour AlMaya, one of Alexandria’s then niche districts, the building was constantly under threat of being demolished. In 2009, an attempt was made by the owners, but wasn’t fully continued due to the attacks they received against this action, especially from “Save Alex,” a campaign created by angry Alexandrians who wanted to preserve and protect their city’s cultural heritage. Unfortunately, as of a few months ago, the villa is to be replaced with a luxurious residential tower. The villa was listed as one of the world heritage sites according to UNESCO. The building was designed for the Perret brothers’ fellow architect: Gustave Aghion. Inspired by both Egyptian and French heritage, the villa was uniquely designed with red bricks on the exterior, large columns and a garden with a pool. Because of its history and beautiful architecture, the villa had annually attracted Italian and French tourists to its site.

Cicurel Villa Even though it was removed from the cultural and heritage site list, this villa, built in 1930 by a JewishTurkish merchant, has deep architectural roots and strongly reflected this cosmopolitan city at that time. Located in Roushdi, Alexandria, the building was inspired by French and ancient Egyptian architecture, but also incorporated the presence of the Turks, Greeks and Italians. The campaign “Save Alex,” as well as many of this city’s residents, held demonstrations in 2012 to prevent having it demolished after several illegal attempts. Unfortunately, the villa stayed under threat for years, leading to the destruction of most of it this year.

Villa Ambron Also under threat of becoming a high-rise apartment building is villa Ambron, a building located in AlMaamoun Street in the Moharam Bek district. Italian architect Aldo Ambron built this now neglected villa in 1920. Once home to author Laurence Durrell, famous for writing The Alexandria Quartet, the building was among dozens of heritage buildings in Alexandria under threat, or already destroyed. This house was also home to many historical figures like Egyptian painters Saad el-Khadim and Effat Nagui, as well as Italy’s exiled king Vittorio Emanuele III. The once beautiful, large gardens of the villa had been destroyed and turned into apartments by the owner during the 21st century. Its detailed Roman columns were falling to pieces due to lack of maintenance and care. NOV 2016 | Ct

FEATURE Aziza Fahmy Palace This immense palace overlooking the sea was known as the summer home for Aziza Fahmy and her family. Built in the late 20s or early 30s by well-known Italian architect Granato, the building was often seen as an attempt to revive the neo-renaissance and classical Roman style. As simple as the palace appeared on the exterior, with its large windows and columns, its interior was beautifully detailed, especially its high ceilings. Unfortunately, it is now looking to be turned into a hotel.

nown for the pyramids of Giza, the Nile and the Sphinx, Cairo has always been on the list of places to visit for tourists wanting to take a look at the marvels of the past. In the midst of these great monuments, some old buildings that still hold much architectural and cultural significance can be overshadowed:

The former National Democratic Party (NDP) building in Cairo Located on the famous Tahrir Square, this tall building has become a landmark to the Egyptian population. Because of its history relating it back to the previous toppled regime, many of the residents are for demolishing this building, especially after being burned during the 2011 revolution. However, many people are not aware of the architectural benefits and history of it. Designed and built by Egyptian architect Mohamed Riad after the 1952 revolution, the National Organization for Urban Harmony was now looking to restore it. Unfortunately, due to the wall built and recent additions on the exterior of the building, it is now not being presented as the architectural gem it was. Egyptian archaeologists are showing their support in having it renovated and reused.

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Villa Casdagli Now listed as an Islamic monument, Villa Casdagli can be found on Simon Bolivar Square in Garden City. This villa, built in the early 20th century by Austrian architect Edward Matasek, was known for its detailed, symmetrical exterior, unique architecture and European style paintings. Originally built for, and named after, the British-Levantine businesses man Emanual Casdagli, this building has been reused for different purposes: it became the U.S. embassy in Caro from 1943 until the 1952 revolution, then became an all-girls school, until finally having the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) decide to restore it. Even though it was damaged and looted during the Mohamed Mahmoud clashes in 2012, the SCA announced that the restoration project was to continue.

Sabil and Kuttab of Katkhuda Built in 1744, this famous 2-part building can be found in Al Muiz Street in Islamic Cairo. Known for its large domes and detailed columns, Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda, an Egyptian architect at that time, designed this Sabil and Kuttab to reflect the very distinct Ottoman and Mamluk architecture. The first part of the building, the Sabil, was an area to be used as a public water fountain. The second part was the Kuttab, a small elementary school that was usually used to teach the Quran. Bibliotheca Alexandrina is also focused on raising awareness and protecting the Sabil and Kuttab of Katkhuda.

Villa of Count Patrice de Zogheb Built in the early 1900s, this Italian inspired villa reflects neoIslamic revivalism. Now the Toshka School, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is not only looking to revive it, but to generally raise awareness of Alexandriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s architectural heritage. They also look to teach the next generation the important and significant architectural buildings.

Prince Amr Ibrahim Palace The Prince Amr Ibrahim Palace was built in 1921 by Garo Balyan, and was at the time the princeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer residence. Found in Zamalek, this building has become state-owned property after the 1952 revolution, and is now a ceramics museum that displays items from many Islamic countries, as well as an art center. Being a part of the Muhammad Ali dynasty, the palace was decorated with a neo-ottoman style, contrasting yet complimenting both the Andalusian styles as well as the European. The wooden mashrabeyas (popular in Islamic Cairo), lanterns, high ceilings and marble floor all created this architecturally historic building. p NOV 2016 | Ct

FEATURE

The origin of these traditional hand-made rugs came from the desert dwellers of Africa, Central Asia or even South and Central America. It was an answer to the basic needs of farmers and migrants who looked for dry and carpeted tents and warmer bedding. Pastorals and breeding of sheep, goat, horse and camel guaranteed a supply of wool and raw materials for weaving the rugs. Preparing dyes constantly became richer by plant growing and discovering of plant and animal sources.

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Kilims

Traditional Takes a Turn Photo Courtesy of Ibrahim Shams and Salma Adel

By Rana Kamaly

he flat-weave technique probably began at about 1,000 BC, based on the discovery in Fostat, Egypt of flat-woven textiles that date from the seventh to the eleventh century BC. However, Peter Davies has written in his book “The Tribal Eye: Antique Kilims of Anatolia” that flat weaving techniques seem to have entered Egypt from Syria, and not the other way round. Unfortunately, since kilim designs have not evolved with time in Egypt, they became redundant, where most new homes preferred a more subtle and modern look and craftsmen of kilims started suffering greatly in selling their products. However, one couple decided to help revive the craft through creating designs that fit a more contemporary taste, collaborating with workshops across Egypt to produce new designs. Ibrahim Shams and Noha El Taher, husband and wife, both graduates of the German University, are the founders of a company called “Kiliim”. We met with Noha who graduated with an Applied Arts major specializing in graphic design to find out more on their new endeavor.

When and how did the idea start? It all started four months ago when Ibrahim was fed up with corporate life and was looking to start his own business. The idea came about after shopping for a kilim rug for our newborn daughter’s room. We wanted a colorful handmade rug, but felt that the kilims we saw lacked contemporary designs and good color coordination. After speaking to one peddler selling rugs on the street, we realized that there was a market gap and decided to start the company offering a variety of unique designs. We were mainly saddened about the idea of the extinction of the talent our craftsmen, especially with the high demand in both local and global markets that obviously have been vastly changed in recent years. So Shams started researching places where kilims were sold and found that there is no single place

NOV 2016 | Ct

FEATURE where you can find a wide range of designs and colors that match different interior design styles, especially contemporary ones. So we decided to design and build a brand that offers what is lacking in the market.

What are the obstacles you faced?

I worked as a teaching assistant at the GUC after graduating. Social entrepreneurship and designing for a cause were key themes I used in my teachings alongside Professor Jochen Braun. When Shams became passionate about the project, I thought it would be a good idea to modernize and sustain the craft by adding an artistic touch to the industry, seeing that handmade crafts have so much more potential with new designs.

What are people’s reaction to your designs? What’s the average price and dimension of the kilims?

Shams then researched where most kilims are made, and found out about a village called Fowa near Kafr ElSheikh that used to host thousands of kilim workshops and was always dubbed as the hub of kilim-making in Egypt. Sadly, all news headlines were speaking of how the kilim-making industry was dying and Fowa’s craftsmen were abandoning their inherited craft due to lack of demand. Knowing no one in Fowa, Shams headed there and spent days interviewing craftsmen who confirmed that the industry was dying. Determined to reverse that, Shams selected a couple of craftsmen with workshops and partnered with them to start manufacturing the designs I was working on, and established the company and brand “Kiliim.” We currently work with seven craftsmen that come from families of kilim makers. Despite their deteriorating situation, they were very excited and willing to bring back their dying craft to life. We consider them partners in this business where we help one another, each in his area of expertise, to put the craft back on track. Now and after two months of our official launch, we’re expanding into a third workshop where we plan on employing 2–3 new craftsmen to fulfill the orders we’re getting.

How would you describe the new designs? Because I have a background in graphic design, and the passion for it all, I became Kiliim’s chief designer. I create designs with simple color schemes and more modern shapes that are still inspired by the traditional kilims, however, made to fit a contemporary home.

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Finding reliable craftsmen who are willing to work and give it their best and working with very limited resources (specifically budget).

We’ve gotten really positive feedback towards our products. Our current collection of wool kilims consists of 12 designs, however, we also can custom-make a design based on a client’s specifications. As per our research, we have three standard sizes, which over 90% of our customers found perfectly matching their home settings ranging from small to large area rugs that can cover a whole reception). Our price range starts from as low as EGP 600 and goes up depending on the size and type of kilim requested.

How can people buy your Kilims? As our website is under construction, we currently take orders through our Facebook shop where we offer a free service of bringing kilims to our customers’ places so they can check them out in their setting before buying them. We’re in the process of establishing partnership with prestigious furniture stores/interior designers where our customers can also see our products there.

How do you see the future of the company? We hope to turn the company into a multinational supplier. Additionally, we aim to create a “Kiliim Academy” for teaching the craft to younger generations in different Egyptian provinces like Sinai and Upper Egypt, where people currently do not see a future in the craft and seek jobs in Cairo for a better lifestyle. Along the way, we hope to bring back Fowa as an international hub for kilim-making and through the flourishing of the industry, helping the development of other sectors of the village such as health, education, culture and environmental sustainability. p To get in touch, please visit Facebook: Kiliims Egypt

Advertorial

In collaboration with the international CallisonRTKL: DMA for Design and Engineering Consultancy to Hold a Global Forum this November to Review the Latest Trends in Developing & Planning New Cities (Real Estate Global Trends)

Cairo, October 20, 2016, Four Seasons Nile plaza

MA for Design and Engineering Consultancy + CallisonRTKL and the School of Business Administration at the American University will be holding a global forum on November 2nd, 2016, that will review the latest and most vital international developments and trends in planning new cities and mixed-use projects. The forum will be in collaboration with CallisonRTKL, the global expert in architectural design and planning of new cities and commercial, administrative and major projects in the world. The conference shall discuss CallisonRTKLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expertise, live experiences and background with city designs, as well as the new global trends in new urban planning and the importance of digital and smart management upon planning cities. Moreover, it shall review the most important scientific findings in the field of Malls & Retail (the evolution and future of malls & retail across the globe), which will be positively reflected on the Egyptian real estate development market. From his side, Eng. Wael Ezz El Din, CEO of DMA for Design and Engineering Consultancy, emphasized that seeking the blend and integration of global expertise and integrating them with local and regional expertise, in order to reach new heights for the real estate development proficiency is considered the most important step in progress and change for the Egyptian real estate industry. This unity between various experts and motivated entities reflects positively on the provision of services and products in the real estate sector in Egypt and the Middle East, thus amplifying the fact that the real estate industry is a key pillar in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic sector.

He explained that smart designs and smart management of the new cities have become urgent in our contemporary world, where technological solutions impose themselves anywhere, in every city. Also, that multiple technology uses have become a reality that should suit the common life we live. It is worth mentioning that DMA was granted many awards, one of which was the Quality Commitment Award, an award won for the first time by an Egyptian organization, which evidently was held at the QC Conference in London, November 2015. Also, DMA has extensive experience that extends beyond 28 years in the field of real estate on the local and regional levels, where it relies on and systematically offers unique, attractive, and efficient designs across a variety of real estate sectors. On a separate but similar note, CallisonRTKL is considered a multifaceted pioneer in the field of real estate development, designs, hospitality, engineering consultancy and planning new cities. CallisonRTKL has been engaged in the design of some of the most significant projects in the Middle East, especially in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It has always met the needs of the real estate development sector through the participation of its 2000 experts, which are represented in its offices spread throughout 18 countries worldwide.

JAN 2016 | Ct

FEATURE

our Music

heritage There are many traits that one can easily attribute to the majority of Egyptians; among the common features that are beyond controversy or doubt is their love for music. By Enas El Masry

oaming near and far from one corner of the country to the other, Egypt offers a wide and rich array of music that is as varied and original as its numerous indigenous cultures. Not only is each Egyptian culture famous for its own distinguishable music, it is fair to say that Egypt today â&#x20AC;&#x201C;as it has been for several decadesremains an epicenter for the Middle Eastern music industry and a hub for budding underground musicians. However, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overnight that Egyptians grew an interest and a fine taste for music. As a matter of fact, dating as far as the earliest recordings of human history, music was integral to the everyday lives of Ancient Egyptians, which shows from the uncovered collection of instruments they used as well as the drawings found in tombs and on ancient artifacts. Music in ancient egypt Long before music was merely a form of entertainment, Ancient Egyptians paid it great respect to the extent of including it in their religious lives. Known as the goddess of joy, feminine love, fertility and motherhood, Hathor was also considered the embodiment of music, joy and dance. Although Hathor appears on the inscriptions of the earliest dynasties of around 3100 BC, it is believed that her cult dates even farther to pre-dynastic times. Similarly, the deity Bes who was known to fight off evil was also symbolic to all that is good and pleasurable â&#x20AC;&#x201C;naturally including music. Nonetheless, the deity that was considered to be the personification of music was the goddess Merit.

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Like all matters of religion, music did not reside solely within houses of worship, it resonated throughout the ancient kingdoms’ lands bringing worshippers and deities closer within temples, as well as bringing families and friends together after long days of work. However, musicians also followed a hierarchy which specified who performed for the royal families, the gods or the public masses. Although several instruments were recorded to have been used in Ancient Egypt, the harp is considered to be one of the most celebrated instruments for its confirmed Egyptian origin. Other instruments that were used but without clear traces to their place of origin include the sistrum, flute, clarinet, drums, lute, tambourine, oboe, cymbals, castanets, lyres and the arghul. Thousands of years later, many of Ancient Egypt’s musical instruments still live on taking slightly different forms and names such the ney, mizmar and cymbals. However, it wasn’t solely the use of instruments that stood the test of time, but Egyptians’ fondness for merging music and spirituality as well. Music in Modern egypt Even though Ancient Egyptian temples are no longer used to give thanks to the gods, worship houses and spiritual gatherings across the country still resonate with music that specifically seeks out God; you may now know them as gospel music and hymns or dhikr (remembrance of God). It remains a common practice for Egyptian Christians not only to sing to and about God, but also to use the cymbals the same way their ancestors used them for rhythmic purposes in temples. Similar to Christian hymns in their scarce reliance on musical instruments and melody, it is believed that Sufi (Islamic mysticism) dhikr and chanting bear great similarity to the rhythms and instruments used during ancient times which include the ‘ney’ and ‘duff’. However, music today does not solely stop at spirituality and chanting. As a matter of fact, many indigenous Egyptian cultures continue to face the dangers of losing their iconic identities against the many features of globalization. After centuries of passing down an authentic taste of music, each group of Egyptians has managed to articulate its own recognizable approach to music which relies on Egypt’s heritage of musical instruments. Today, music remains one of their primary frontiers for saving their

NOV 2016 | Ct

FEATURE

NubiaN Spreading across the southernmost lands of Egypt, the Nubian culture remains one of Egypt’s oldest and richest cultures. Dating back to as far as Ancient Egypt, the Nubian culture, including its dance and music culture, is known to be greatly inspired by the Nubians’ proximity to all that nature preaches.

Mostly based on the sharp, resonant sounds of the rababa, mizmar, arghul and darabuka among others, Musicians of the Nile is fairly Upper Egypt’s most internationally acclaimed troupe. Since they were discovered by Alain Weber in 1975, the troupe has toured some of the world’s biggest music festivals, spreading the Saidi vibes across Europe and the world.

Vibrant as it is, today’s Nubian artists rely on a diversity of instruments to portray their cultural heritage including ancient instruments such as the duff and lute. Among the most famous Nubian artists are Hamza el-Din, Ali Hassan Kuban and Mohamed Mounir. Although their music bears various influences, such as jazz or reggae, the artists continue to revive their heritage through their music which they perform not only in Egypt, but around the world as well.

CoaStal aNd bedouiN Believed to have been one of the early variations of the Ancient Egyptian harp, the semsemia is one of the most iconic Egyptian sounds. While semsemia is commonly associated to the cities of Ismailia and Port Said, it is often paired with the mizmar and played by the Bedouins of Egypt’s western desert and Sinai.

upper egyptiaN ‘Saidi’ On a different note of vibrant music, Upper Egypt –which covers almost the entire southern half of the country from Assiut to Aswan- is home to some of the liveliest and accentuated Egyptian music that combines poetry, history, storytelling and reflections.

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Among the most famous sawahili (coastal) music are Aid el-Ghannirni and Abdo el-Iskandarani. Despite the vast differences between the music genres performed across Egypt, each narrates one part of Egypt’s identity that is only enriched and emblazed with its cultural diversity. p

FEATURE

Street Food:

An Icon in Egypt’s Heritage Street carts are, and always have been one of Egypt’s important cultural icons. Residents have become accustomed to their presence in all the different districts, and as the seasons alternate, people notice the change in the variety of carts available in Egypt’s streets. Behind each of these carts and cart owners lie different stories, history and experiences. By Rana Kamaly

Teen Shokki/Prickly Pear Prickly pear grows in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. They are particularly popular in Mexico, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East countries. Every time I stand by a cart to pick up my daily dose of prickly pear, I wonder how the man manages to peel it without getting injured. “We have these special gloves, but after a while, you master the technique and the thorns don’t really hurt anymore. It’s like we have a layer of dead skin on our hands,” said Samy Sameh, a shokki cart owner. This is a seasonal cart mainly available in the summer as a refreshing treat in the sun, and can be found in almost every street in Cairo. Prices vary from one fig to another depending on the size and weight. This year, sellers started turning it into a juice, especially during Ramadan to hydrate people after a long day of fasting. “I don’t think this is a dying trade. On the contrary, the hotter it is, the more in demand we are. Also, people will never be able to peel it on their own, it’s just a huge hassle, so they keep coming back to us,” Sameh says. These types of figs, recently ranked as one of the most popular Egyptian fruits, are also known to help with dehydration, digestion and weight loss and in modern holistic medicine, they are used to treat type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, colitis, diarrhea and benign enlargement of the prostate gland.

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Freska (Italian Wafer Cookies or Pizelles) Freska is an Egyptian wafer sold only on beaches in the summertime. It is made from two thin circular wafers filled with a thin layer of honey syrup and was introduced in the Egyptian market by Italian/ Austrian wafer manufacturer, Elledi. Other varieties of Freska includes hazel nuts or grated coconut. “Freska, Freska, Freska,” is the common calling we all know to be the freska peddlar on the beach. Originally found in Alexandria, freska selling has expanded today to all across the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In the past, the Alexandrian peddlar used to wear the traditional Alexandrian costume: a colorful vest, a wide belt and loose pants with a scarf and a hat, but today you will find them wearing normal clothing . However, the price of this sweet has been constantly increasing from one year to another. “It’s all because the prices of the nuts have increased, so as a result, the freska price would have to as well,” says Mostafa Saad, one of Sahel’s freska peddlers. His whole family usually makes his daily supply of freska overnight then he starts selling early in the morning everyday, “I started working when I was 15 years old, as my father was getting old and couldn’t do it anymore. My first week was so hectic and tiring as I spent 9 hours a day going back and forth between Sahel’s compounds. During my first day, I got into a huge fight with another freska seller. Unknowingly, I stepped into one of his compounds since it was difficult to tell which compound was whose territory after hours under the sun’s heat. My dad went over to him and apologized on my behalf, and even though I didn’t get the chance to sell anything in his compound, we agreed to settle things by letting him sell in one of our compounds for a whole week, which was a huge disappointment to my dad.” “During my first week, I felt so envious of the people relaxing on the beach while I had to keep walking back and forth, but then my mother explained to me that these people pay a lot to be there and they work really hard for it throughout the year, while I get to enjoy this scenery everyday for free. I make it a mission each year to save up a little so I can relax for a couple of days on the beach without having to work. Now I really enjoy my job. Yes, some days are hectic and unbearable, but when I have a pleasant customer, it really makes my day.”

3rkosos/Liquorice Drink This beverage has been around since the ancient Egyptians, as it was recorded to have been an admired drink back then. It is said that the plant was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Also, Arabs have used it as both a juice and as a medicine. Since the Ottomans, the 3rkosos peddlar was known for wearing a tarboush, a vest, a red thick belt wrapped his waist and the huge container of juice carried around his back with a leather strap. However, this look is rarely found today as a lot of them just wear a white galabia. As a cart owner told us, “It’s too hot now to roam around in these clothes during the summer, as well as it being too costly to maintain the cleanliness of the outfit.” Other than the summer season, this juice is also popular during Ramadan, seeing as it’s a cultural tradition for people to drink local juices during the holy month. However, recently, the distinct qualities of a 3rkosos peddlar is disappearing gradually, explains Mohamed Fathy, one of Heliopolis’ oldest 3rkosos peddlars, “I inherited this job from my father with all the customs and equipment, but was recently forced to modernize my look. Instead of roaming around the streets carrying my equipment, I rent a cart for 100 pounds a day and display my juices on it using stainless steel and plastic disposable cups.” “I have to admit that this is easier for me because I would get exhausted at the end of the day from carrying everything on my shoulders. However, I used to be able to cover more grounds per day, and now I have become more lazy as I find cover in the shade. It has become more challenging to

“A customer once told Saad that ’a beach without freska, is not really a beach. You complete our vacation with your tasty snacks sir.’ This just made me feel very special as I was helping make someone feel happy, apart from the fact that my family relies on my income,” he says. For the rest of the year, Saad’s family sells their products to the freska peddlars in the city that have recently been spotted outside of clubs and crowded areas.

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FEATURE

Hommos el Sham/Chickpeas

sell in the streets nowadays, as many ready-made juices are marketed in a more presentable way and with reasonable prices in supermarkets, so we do not have as many customers as before. Some people who find it more convenient buy from us as they don’t have to park somewhere and go inside a store.” “I have to say I have some regular customers that have been with me for 10 years now. They come for my unique-tasting juice made from my own rich recipes. I don’t boil the 3rkosos, but rather just drop it in water to give it color, and then I leave it for a day or two so that the flavor is strong and rich, encouraging customers to come back.” During the rest of the year, Fathy works different jobs seeing as there isn’t always demand for it and doesn’t bring in enough income. Fathy also explained that one of his major obstacles is that “Everything is becoming more expensive and people expect my price to remain constant. Some people try to bargain the price down to half, so I try to cut down my profit to avoid increasing the price too much. However, why do people accept that the supermarket goods increase in price, but expect the 3rkosos to always remain the same?”

Roasted Peanut Carts This is a cart available all year round and is found mainly in downtown where people gather around to buy their snacks before heading into theaters or clubs. “This trade is slowly dying because they are no longer allowed to sell outside of movie theatres in order to eliminate outside competition for the snack bars found inside,” says Magdy Saeed, a cart owner. He also complained about the increase in the cart rental price since he can’t really own one, as it is very expensive to maintain.

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This is another popular drink around Cairo’s most famous and crowded bridges where people gather to have a special cup of hommos, feel its warmth and enjoy a nice view of the Nile. Because of its rich mixture of herbs and hot pepper that immediately warms you up, it is available only during the winter. Even though some of the old roaming carts concept is gone, new ones have taken their place. Today, you can find a lot of youth opening creative food carts with modern designs that they are trying to make a living from. This business seems to be going strong in Egypt and is not looking to die down anytime soon. If we also observe other countries, we will find street carts available in different forms selling a large variety of food. Street carts offer a fun and culturally rich experience in most countries. After all, you can’t ever fully understand the culture of a country without trying their street food; it’s just part of the experience! p

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FEATURE

Egypt Then By Enas El Masry

For as long as humanity can recall, necessity has always been the mother of invention. While it may have taken past innovators years to develop and introduce new technologies, it is almost daily today that we are presented with new gadgets, appliances, applications and others. With such flux of ingenious advancements, it has become more likely that we easily adopt new technologies, and less likely to notice the drastic change they bring about our lives.

ost of us recall our first mobile phone, our first computer, the first time we subscribed to satellite channels, and many more firsts. As fun and amusing as those memories tend to be, they are usually accompanied with a subtle recognition of how being introduced to such technologies were track altering for the rest of our lives. Today, almost all Egyptians go about their lives connected to their devices but disconnected from the real, tangible life surrounding them. Nonetheless, there was a time before the technological boom when Egyptians led a rather different lifestyle and was all about getting together and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. For the fun of strolling down memory lane, here are some features that once defined the lifestyles of many Egyptian families:

Home Delivery Concerned about the traffic jam and the hassle one has to go through to make the simplest purchases, there isn’t a modern home in Cairo that doesn’t resort to home delivery, if not even rely on it for the most part. Today, almost anything can be delivered from fast food to pharmaceuticals, vegetables and fruits, clothes and much more. While some may label this trend as a recent one, it does bare roots in a much older time when it was frowned upon for women to go grocery shopping themselves. “It wasn’t about forcing her to stay home,” explains 56-year-old Olfat Ghali. “It was rather to guarantee her comfort and make sure all her needs were met without her having to bother with daily shopping.” To meet the daily needs of the Egyptian homes, street vendors roamed the city selling what every house needed on a daily basis: milk, yoghurt, bread and even blocks of ice. However, there was a twist to it. Instead of packing milk and yoghurt in disposable packages made of plastic or carton, they used to sell them in glass bottles and glazed ceramic pots, to be exchanged the next day for new full containers.

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While this may not have been a daily necessity, Ghali was exceptionally enthusiastic recalling the Groppi ice-cream cart which circled Heliopolis –where she grew up- every evening during the summertime. “They would be dressed in the Groppi uniform with a khaki hat and a pair of white gloves, if my memory serves me right,” she added with a warm smile on her face. For some families, it was the house’s helping-hands who were responsible for buying and picking up the goods from the vendors. But for the remaining majority, housewives relied on the famous wicker basket where they put in the money and lowered it so the vendors would throw in the purchased goods.

someone needed to contact them, what was even more popular was the grocer’s telephone set,” Elmasry adds. Although the ability to make direct calls was life changing, some of today’s simplest telecommunication attempts were once quite tedious to say the least. Even if one owned a telephone set, they still had to visit the nearest central office to place a call outside their city or outside the country. If they were expecting to receive a long-distance call, they could also request that the switch operators would direct the call to their home landline. Going hand-in-hand with telephony was also telegraphy; remember that? “It’s the equivalent to today’s text and instant messaging,” Elmasry explains. “As opposed to writing letters, which would take days to reach the recipient, telegraphs were the fastest means of communication for those who didn’t own landlines.”

Furthermore, where there were no elevators, such baskets would go back and forth between any given building’s floors should neighbors wish to send or exchange anything.

Gadgets and Home Appliances There are many gadgets that we have today outlived or gotten so used to that we take their presence for granted. To most of the youth, television now comes in second to online streaming, landline-telephones are one step away from becoming a thingof-the-past, and refrigerators are beyond everyone’s conscious appreciation. However, there was once a time when all of the above were the latest booming technology on the market, and they sure were all the rage. “It was the year 1960 when we bought our first television set, and we were the first house in the neighborhood to own one,” reminisces 63-year-old Ossama Elmasry who grew up in Cairo’s al-Daher. “Needless to say, the TV was a breakthrough, but it was especially during football games that all of our friends and neighbors would come over to watch the athletes work their magic – before that, we would have to listen to the commentary on the radio and imagine what the games looked like.” But that wasn’t the only reason neighbors would come over. Before telephones were widely available to the masses, and back when landline numbers still consisted of five digits, Elmasrys’ house was one of the first to have its very own landline. “Although some neighbors would pass on our number in case

Given how it was one of the speediest forms of communication, telegraphy was mostly used to share warms wishes with newlyweds, or to send condolences to the deceased’s families. “This was so popular that the telegraph operators even had default text for both, and they would instantly ask ‘death or marriage?’” says Elmasry. The 20th century sure did witness the rise of some of the most revolutionizing electronics, and for many housewives, refrigerator came on top of the list. “If it meant anything, it was that housewives didn’t have to cook fresh food every day, and that we certainly weren’t obliged to finish the food either lest it went bad,” says Ghali. But before Egypt knew refrigerators as we know them today, there was an even older, less practical fridge. Up until the early or mid-60s, the most commonly used fridges were known as ‘sarabantina’ (an Egyptianized word for ‘serpentine’ - the coils of the cooling system). Unlike modern fridges, the sarabantina was a wooden box that had to be loaded with huge blocks of ice and salt - to delay the melting of ice. “Due to their inefficient cooling capability, we mostly used the sarabantina for cooling fizzy drinks,” Elmasry recalls. In the meantime while humanity was trying to find its way around cooling systems, Egyptians lived the golden days of the zeer and olla. Made of ceramic, often unglazed, the olla was pivotal to all households. “There was always a copper tray filled with water were the ‘ola’ rested by the window,” says Ghali, explaining that there used to be a ledge beneath the main windows in most of Egypt’s old buildings.

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FEATURE

Cairo’s Biggest Playground: The Street For many parents, especially in the posh neighborhoods, it may sound like a very dangerous thing for their children to play with their friends on the street. However, long before playgrounds, or even youth centers, all the children had were the streets. Back then, as it still is today, football was the primary activity around which boys gathered. Although some children preferred to play with the regular football, the sock-ball was the real king of the streets, the ultimate test for true, unmatched football skills. “The wide popularity of the sock-ball spurred from various aspects. For starters, it was easy to make out of the simplest resources. All you did was stuff a sock with sponge, then drip ‘kolla’ glue all around in a circular motion to hold it together,” explains Elmasry. “It was also very convenient for small spaces, like playing inside the house. Needless to say, maneuvering such a small ball really accentuated true skill.” It wasn’t long before the street sport grew a solid fan-base, claiming its very own unofficial grounds around each block. “Right down our street, the intersection would be shut every Friday for the weekly sock-ball tournament where all the neighbors would gather to watch the best talents their neighborhood had to offer,” says Elmasry. “As a matter of fact, many of the 60s’ football stars started off by playing sock-ball on the street,” Ghali added. Hopscotch, hide and seek, and other fun games kids invented among themselves, were common in the streets. Besides the sock-ball tournaments and other games, the streets of Cairo were also home to many street performers who spread joy and color across the city. “It was very common to stumble upon pianola players, acrobats, firespitters and other street entertainers,” says Ghali.

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To think that such a stroll down memory lane takes us no longer than 50 or 60 years, it makes us wonder what we’ll soon remember as technological history. It’s only when we think we’ve seen it all that something new sweeps us off our feet – we can only wait and see. p

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FEATURE

Sport in Egypt: A Forgotten Time from the Glory Days Mona El Husseiny

Knowing that I am a devoted reader and a lover of all things old, my mother passed down to me a worn-out gem of a book that belonged to her great grandfather.

port in Egypt takes the modern reader through a journey of a land whose traces seem to only exist in books, films, and photographs, leaving it to come alive in one’s imagination how glorious Egypt once was.

The King and Sports “Sports is an ambassador which knows no politics, no frontiers”, reads the introduction by H.M. King Farouk, which is included in the first edition of Sport in Egypt by James Wentworth Day. In a heartfelt message, the king expresses his well wishes to the author and is grateful for his compilation of the various sports in Egypt at that time, and for his aim to bring visiting sportsmen to the country. Country Life first published Sport in Egypt in 1938 in the U.K. The book dedicates each of its 15 chapters to a kind of sport, written by contributing authors and J. Wentworth Day. Some of the chapters are mostly technical and others are quite descriptive and dreamy, which awakens an intertwined sense of wonder and a feasible reality. In a time when it was fashionable for countries to promote their tourism by advertising the different sports they offer, the Director-General of the State Tourist Bureau in Egypt, Achmed Seddik Bey, decided to organize a campaign that would bring visiting sportsmen to explore and enjoy yet another wealthy asset that Egypt has to offer. From shooting and hunting, to riding and racing, to fishing and sailing, the land of standing antiquities and timeless tombs offers a playground of natural reserves and a collection of magnificent climates for sportsmen to practice their preferred activity.

The Prince and Horsemanship The first two chapters are written by H.R.H. Prince Mohamed Aly, and are titled, The Arab: The Finest Horse in the World. In the two chapters, the prince expresses his early interest in horses which led him to breed Arab horses for 35 years. He accurately describes the types, colors, markings, and breeding of the Arab horse, and includes related proverbs and quotes from the Quran and the prophet Muhammad. He also offers advice on how to choose a stallion, how to care for a stable, including the grooming, rearing, clipping, and washing of the horse. He ends the second chapter with a tale about Hassan, one of his favorite horsemen, who embodied the finest characteristics of the craft. Hassan would show off his skills to the prince’s European visitors and would teach the horses impressive knacks that are fully described by the prince in the book.

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A Woman Angler and the Red Sea In a sensitively written chapter on fishing in the Red Sea, Mrs. John Bowen writes a brief descriptive memoir of the first time she visited the Gulf of Akaba in Sinai, and caught a 55-pound Barracuda. Mrs. Bowen recounts the trip from Cairo to Sinai vividly describing the meals, the accommodation, the fantastic scenery, and she passes on anecdotes that she experienced along the way. In a stroke of beginner’s luck, she catches a large Barracuda fish that almost knocked her off the small fishing boat. She concludes the chapter by describing her days in Sinai as the most exciting days of her life that left her with memories that will forever live with her.

The Island and the Sporting Center The final chapter of the book is written by Paul R. O Curling, where he depicts the cosmopolitan city of Cairo and the Gezira Island. He describes the different sports that are available at the National Sporting Club of Cairo, currently known as El Ahly Club, and the Gezira Club, including polo, golf, tennis, swimming, and more. Championships that took place in the club were attended and supported by the Royal Family. Curling intimately describes the social and entertainment life in 1930’s Cairo, which elicits sentiments of awe and nostalgia for a time one never lived. He describes Cairo as the city that “never appears to go to bed, and the variation of the evening entertainment is endless”. Thus, he generously lists the variety of refined evening

activities, some of which include dining and dancing to the music of the military dance orchestra in the club, dinner at the Shepherd’s hotel followed by a few dances in the Isis Room, or a later adventure to the Continental Cabaret, which hosted shows of incredibly high standards and where one had the chance to see famous artists in Cairo before Paris and London. Similarly, one could catch a Hollywood film in Egypt before major European cities. All in all, reading Sport in Egypt provoked feelings of marvel, tinges of pride, and waves of sadness at how far-fetched this land of elegant sportsmanship, refined art and preserved nature, now seems as I live and write from its center.

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FEATURE

Old Restaurants with Tales of Heritage

& Revolution Mona El Husseiny

Egypt is rich with historical sites and long-standing temples scattered all over its glorious land. In Downtown Cairo, one manages to retrieve echoes of tales about revolution, literature, and poetry in the coziness of restaurants and cafes that maintained their heritage throughout the change of times. Le Grillon Located on Kasr El Nile Street, Le Grillon is found at the entrance of an alley, next to the Automobile and Touring Club of Egypt. The entrance is a short corridor whose walls are adorned with caricatures by cartoonist Raouf Ayad and paintings by local artists, each with its personal story, inscribed dedication, or poem. One of the most captivating paintings of the lot is a large oil painting by Salah Enani depicting the crowd that used to visit the place. Amongst the wall art is a pin board of fliers and posters advertising current and upcoming cultural and artistic events, concerts and exhibitions. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor areas. The outer area resembles a tea garden and has the same furniture that would be found in current sporting clubs. The indoor area is more formal and is only open at night. There’s a bar and a collection of paintings on the wall, in addition to other decorative wooden objects. Besides its old and simple decorative style, Le Grillion has a rich history full of documented tales and archived photographs. It was founded in the 1940’s and was considered a center for the aristocratic Egyptian society at the time and home for intellectual, artistic and literary talks and debates, frequented by the most prominent literary figures, journalists, actors and artists of the day.

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Le Grillon is closely linked to the Qasr El Nile Theatre where Umm Kalthoom would have her monthly concert every first Thursday of the month. The concert’s attendees would meet at Le Grillion for drinks or a meal before the concert and would come back during intermission and after the show was over. In the 1950’s and 1960’s Le Grillon was frequented by famous movie stars such as: Sabah, Nadia Lotfy, Samia Gamal, Amina Rizk, Roshdy Abaza, Fareed El Atrash, Abdelsalam el Nabulsi, Abdelwehab and his wife, among others, many of which dedicated personal written letters and memoirs to the cultural hub that

Estoril In a passageway that connects two taller buildings, Estoril was established in 1959 by a Greek called Zananiri. The owner took advantage of the almost ready-built passageway and built two walls, renovated the ceiling, and housed a resto-bar that still operates till this day. His wife was called Leontine Zananiri and the electricity meter is still registered under her name. In the 1970’s the current owner, Gamil Helal, bought the restaurant, which is now managed by his son and daughter, Marise and Nabil, of Greek and Syrian descent. The retro sign that reads Estoril at the entrance is unique and noticeable in the passageway that connects Kasr El Nil and Talaat Harb streets. The wooden door has been flapping open and shut through time and is the one component that hasn’t changed since the opening of the restaurant. The restaurant is designed like a passageway, a straight line all the way to the kitchen and toilets. On the left and right are tables and couches. The left wall has been transformed into a gallery/exhibition

represented more than just a restaurant. Stories and tales are retold about the celebrity customers of Le Grillon; such as the time when Fareed El Atrash suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital by the restaurant’s staff, and how Abdelwehab was rather iffy about his food so he would have the waiters bring him water to the table so he can wash the fruits himself. The current manager of Le Grillon, Suhayl El Any, of Iraqi descent, took over the restaurant in 1989. At the time, he was studying engineering in Cairo. Besides his studies, he was greatly invested in the world of literature and was a member of the writers union. He aspired to develop the restaurant into a literary hub for his fellow members and acquaintances to convene and discuss like-minded ideas. Thus, the place began to be frequented by members of the writers union who would spread the word to their acquaintances and the intellectual and literary community began to grow under the roof of Le Grillon. El Any is currently in the process of writing a book about Le Grillon, which is expected to be published next year. “Le Grillon is not just a restaurant, it’s a historical venue,” Al Any muses with modest pride.

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FEATURE

for local artists to portray their work and sell it. On the opposite wall hangs historical art, black and white photos, and old movie posters. At the end of the restaurant, there’ is a bar operated by an old Nubian dressed in a green galabeya and headpiece that match the green bottles of Stella beer. One of the most striking pieces of wall art is a framed collage of a 1966 New Year’s Eve menu, black and white photos, and an article written by Diana V. England published in an old newspaper, where she describes her party’s dining experience and reviews the quality of the food. The framed menu is signed by the American actor, Robert Taylor, and is comprised of a menu that cost 2 pounds and includes a choice dishes such as Filet de Sole Normande and Dindon de Fayoum a la broche with a side of legumes cote d’Azur. Fifty years later, in 2016, the menu doesn’t offer such a mouthwatering variety and the food quality has significantly deteriorated, which resulted in most customers usually settling for ordering drinks and mezzas. Like its neighboring restaurants and bars, Estoril was a meeting point for artists, journalists, ministers, and political activists. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, when tourism was booming, the restaurant used to host large tourist groups who used to stop for a quick lunch and be instantly replaced with another large group. Employees of neighboring airline offices and other businesses used to stop by Estoril for lunch and had close ties with the staff, who trusted them to pay their bills later if they so pleased. Currently, Estoril is no longer frequented by such

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notable individuals, but instead, has become another bar in downtown Cairo where the hip crowds, sporting shorts and flipflops and the expats in Cairo go.

Café Riche Rich with a history that dates back over a century, Café Riche is located on Talaat Harb Street, amidst window displays of commercial fashion shops. The café is the oldest prodigy of its neighboring restaurants and harbors a similar atmosphere that most probably inspired its predecessors. In 1908, Café Riche was founded by a German who later sold it to a Frenchman who was then succeeded by Greeks. In 1962, it was finally purchased by Abdel Malak, an Egyptian who was a frequent customer, and is now owned by his sons, Magdi and Michel.

Spies, intellectuals, and politicians would meet up at café Riche to form alliances, plot revolutions, and draft revolutionary speeches. Below the café lies a secret cellar that housed a printing press operated by revolutionaries to spread pamphlets that called for the overthrowing of the British occupation (like a manually operated Twitter account) Café Riche was a center for political and revolutionary rendezvous and was considered a pivotal location for many historical happenings such as the attempted assassination of Youssef Wahba Pasha who was the Prime Minister of Egypt in 1919. It was also damaged by the earthquake of 1992, which destroyed the basement’s foundation. Spies, intellectuals, and politicians would meet up at café Riche to form alliances, plot revolutions, and draft revolutionary speeches. Below the café lies a secret cellar that housed a printing press operated by revolutionaries to spread pamphlets that called for the overthrowing of the British occupation (like a manually operated Twitter account). The café was not solely concerned with politics and overthrowing monarchs, it also advocated art, music, and literature. In the 1920’s the owner at the time would get in trouble with the local police chiefs over getting a permit to host open-air concerts. The police finally issued the permit and Umm Kalthoom had one of her first concerts there in 1923. After the success of the revolution and during Nasser’s rule, the café began to take on a more cultural and artistic swerve. Naguib Mahfouz was one of the most prominent customers and wrote a book titled “Karnak Café” about the place, its customers and the stories that were told in this historical venue. He was quoted saying, “I used to listen to many things which people expressed. Had I not written them, they would have been lost. So I wrote.” Mahfouz held a weekly literary salon that was open for discussions, conversations, and debates. Café Riche also became an inspirational space for creative minds including artists, novelists, journalists and poets such as Ramsis Yonan, Abdel Monem Ibrahim, Ali Amin, Salah Jahine, and others. Inspiration was contagious and waiters took on names of renowned ancient poets. Several prominent authors started literary works from the heart of the café. Taha Hussein started the journal, Al-Katib Al-Misri, from there.

Like all things subject to the decay of time, Café Riche’s intellectual atmosphere started to wither along with the rulers that drove the country to suppressed doom. What was once a source of revolutionary freedom, great literary pieces, recited poems, and refined musical concerts, slowly became another café for the sneering elite and the pompous empty minds that discussed people rather than philosophical ideologies, ancient mythologies, history of great nations and universal poetry. Revolutionary spirits were revived once more in Riche during the January 25th revolution, but in the loop of time, history repeats itself and once again Riche returned to being another old café in downtown Cairo that serves drinks and barely edible food. Regardless of the many political and bureaucratic difficulties that Riche has faced, it continues to stand still against the storms of uncontrollable change. Portraits of artists and authors long dead continue to come alive in the inside room of the café, making them eternal in the timeless space that Riche embodies. As poet Naguib Surur said on a more morbid note in 1977, “the whole world is Café Riche, where everyone drowns their shame in the voids of their glass tumblers.” p

NOV 2016 | Ct

Entrepeneur

Thriving Startups By Rawan Abdel Latif

iven Egypt’s questionable past and unforeseeable future, business startups have constantly found themselves caught in a struggle. Those of them who have managed to overcome obstacles have bloomed and become known names in the industry. Meanwhile, those who were unable to fight through the difficulties, or failed to produce something unique that penetrated the market, have found themselves in a limited or failing business. However, some distinctive projects, as the ones mentioned below, have carved their own way into the Egyptian industry, and have very rapidly found success.

IT Smart

“I eventually want the entire country to use technology for education.”—Ramy Saied

GebRaa: Egyptian Handcrafted Treasures “Our audience is people who want unique production. We are against mass production and environmental pollution.”—Rania Salah GebRaa is a social enterprise founded by Rania Salah that works to preserve authentic Egyptian crafts that are at risk. This startup is driven by two factors: identity and competitive edge. A true one of its kind, GebRaa believes in reviving cultural heritage by providing high quality handicrafts that reflect the work of this nation’s locals, Bedouins and tribes. Through this, it increases awareness of Egyptian craftsmanship. This enterprise gives these groups a stable income as well as providing highly needed jobs in this field. In order to maintain the high standard, GebRaa also trains artisans to produce these products. GebRaa’s products vary from bags to accessories to clothing created by materials such as the mother of pearl and the Khayamiya. All of their products are handmade and eco-friendly, adding on to their unique and traditional element. Currently, their handicrafts are being exported, and now have a large customer-base in USA and Europe, besides soon, they will be looking to create an online platform for the Egyptian market. GebRaa is the winner of SEED Initiative award in 2011 and the Development Market Place Award in 2013. You can find GebRaa at the Greek Campus in downtown Cairo. Facebook: GebRaaofEgypt Instagram: gebraaeg Website: http://www.gebraa.com

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Founded by Ramy Saied and Ahmed El Gendy, IT Smart is an integrated IT solutions service provider that targets to serve businesses such as schools, in Egypt and the MENA region. The startup’s main aim is to introduce technology into learning. IT Smart not only implements their customers’ ideas, but also helps in the development process beforehand, to ensure the best customized platform. It also offers after-sales services, such as training and quality support. In order to successfully merge learning and technology together, this startup not only provides e-learning, but also enterprise resource planning (ERP), and e-commerce solutions. Once implemented, students are then able to access the platform to find out their grades, take exams, complete assignments, as well as taking part in forums and discussions online. IT Smart goes beyond aiding students and teachers only, but offers applications to other departments like accounting and human resources where they can organize their payments, budgets, enter employee info, and employee attendance online. IT Smart, located at the Greek Campus, has already begun implementing their services to international schools as they have quicker funding and a faster adoption rate. They will soon look to slowly make their way into the governmental sector in order to enhance education in Egypt. Facebook: itsmarteg Website: http://www.itsmart.com.eg

Sensey

Engineer Amira Nasrallah and her team have created Sensey, a highly advanced sensor used for agricultural purposes. Recently, Egypt has seen a fall in the quality of farmed goods that reach its people, the increase in price, and the exceptionally large amount of wasted and damaged fruits and vegetables available in the market. Quality control has become more and more difficult during these past few years, however, Sensey brings the technological advances needed to begin reducing waste. This sensor is able to detect up to five days of real-time weather data, as well as identifying the condition of the soil in the fields. This data is then processed, eventually advising the farmers on how much water they should be using, and what fertilizer would work best given the circumstances. Sensey is also able to warn farmers of possible threats to the crops, helping them monitor their plants, maximizing production and quality. Through this, forecasting what should be planted when, using what fertilizer and what quantity of water, has become simpler and easier to achieve. This business is extremely fast growing, as it is the first in the MENA region to tackle this approach of limiting waste and increasing production.

Egypt Foods Hub: Da Bakers Da Bakers is a pre-baked pastry business under the mother-company Egypt Foods Hub, and was founded by Karim Soliman. Showcasing their products in the Food Africa exhibition, Da Bakers has been able to provide its customers with a very quick and healthy way to eat baked products. This idea has a huge place in the market as it can cater to people who do not have the time to cook and prepare meals, but still want to protect a balanced diet. Some of their products include fresh-tasting pizza that can be microwaved in its packet, as well as cheese stuffed pastries.

El Wekala

“Everything goes through us first to ensure quality control.”—Asmaa Qasem El Wekala, founded by Asmaa Qasem and AbdelRahman Atef in January 2015, is a self-funded online platform designed for customers to buy and sell unwanted items at fair prices. Their slogan “El Ghaly Yerkhaslak” reflects the essence of their work, as it implies that you can get a good quality item for a bargain price. El Wekala started off as a Facebook group where the content was mainly user-generated. Clients who wanted to sell any of their unwanted items were to contact the admin first, and after checking that the quality and price were appropriate, El Wekala would accept to post the entry. After buyers showed their interest, El Wekala would then take the item from the seller and deliver it to the buyer in a now door-to-door process. In order to maintain good quality exchange and satisfied customers, El Wekala only accepts items in great condition and at low prices, as well as offering the buyers the option to return within 24-hours if the item does not meet the standard they expected. As of now, El Wekala is receiving items from sellers only in Cairo and Giza, but deliver to the buyer anywhere in Egypt. Their next step is to expand receiving products from Alexandria, as there is high demand there. Facebook: ElWekalaEg Website: http://www.elwekalaeg.com/

Da Bakers’ are now looking to expand to selling their goods to hypermarkets like Carrefour, Metro, and Spinnys. Facebook: EgyptFoodsHub

Dairy House

Starting as a maker of dairy products and selling them from home, Shaimaa Yassin now has her own small dairy shop in central Cairo, aiming to expand to many chains around the country. Targeting to sell her products to schools and universities first, then hospitals in the future, Dairy House’s aim is to introduce and encourage a healthier lifestyle to the upcoming generations. After appearing in the Food Africa exhibition, she caught the eye of several supermarket chains, enabling her to widen her audience. Dairy House sells three types of products: dairy, fresh juices, and sweets. Unlike many other dairy stores, this startup wants to create health awareness on the harms of certain additives, and the benefits of using organic substances and products. Their dairy products include yoghurt, rice milk, and pudding, where fresh juices include hibiscus, Tamr Hendi, and Doom, and finally, cupcakes and cookies baked organically. p

nov 2016 | Ct

COMMUNITY Fieldwork Based on a recent survey conducted By Ipsos

Though Supressed by Society, Egyptian Females are Determined Being the most powerful consumers worldwide, women’s impact is highly notable on the global economy, and is growing every year. That’s what triggered Ipsos to deep dive into females’ lives and uncover hidden truths about their aspirations, frustrations and priorities to make it easier for decision makers to understand and relate to their needs. SHE SPEAKS is a Comprehensive Segment Understanding Study of Females in Egypt, conducted by Ipsos in 2016, among 1500 females between 15 to 55 years old residing in urban areas of Cairo, Alexandria, Al Mansoura, El Gharbeya, Minia and Assiout, and interviewed via qualitative and quantitative approaches.

UnDErSTanDing ThE EgypTian FEmalE: Females believe that the society does not have full confidence in their capabilities versus males. Their frustration is not only associated with the double standards, living in the shadows of their male counterparts and societal pressures, but also with the fact of having to face many challenges, such as lack of employment, lack of privacy, limits to their outings, public harassments and others. However, they are determined to achieve their goals towards a more independent life by earning a job, studying, expressing their opinions/thoughts, and making their own decisions not to be forcibly confined to homes. Females in Egypt undergo six different life stages which affect their behaviour; The Teen Females who are still school students, The Young Adult Females who have graduated school and are still not married, The Carefree Wives who have yet to have any

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children, The New Mom whose eldest kid has not yet started school, The School Mom whose kids are still in school, and The Golden Years Females whose kids have grown up and she is no longer tied by the responsibility of looking after them. hEr liFE STylE: Family and friends play a big part in Egyptian females’ lives, as almost all of them (99%) spend time with their families at least once a month and 90% with their friends at least once a month. They also dedicate time for personal activities known as “Me Time”; 48% practice hobbies like swimming, learning languages, etc. at least once a month, 70% go to beauty care centres at least once a month and 20% go to the Gym at least once a week. Although 60% of Egyptian females work or study, which takes a large proportion of their day, 50% still make the time to enjoy entertainment activities such as going to malls, clubs, dining out, picnics and parks etc. at least once a month.

Her expenditure & Finances: Salaried or not, females spend the allowance/income they receive on themselves. However, sometimes they tend to reprioritize their expenditure plans to lend a hand in household needs rather than indulging in expensive personal items. In Egypt, most of the females receive some sort of personal income; 75% receive allowance, with teens on the top of the list at 98% vs. the Golden Age at 55%. Whereas only 31% of females of working age generate income. When it comes to savings, it is indicated that 36% of females in Egypt save money on a monthly basis to cover unexpected or emergency expenses, and only 10% have bank accounts.

• Personal Shopping as clothing, shoes, accessories etc. • Personal care products as cleansing pads, perfumes, deodorant, toothpaste, wet wipes, etc. • Beauty care as going to the hair dresser, beauty salon, SPA, etc. • Make-up such as lipstick, powder, blusher, etc. • Household Expenditure as rent, utilities, etc.

Her personal & HouseHold sHopping BeHaviour: Their shopping choices boil down to value for money and feeling good about the product. The study shows that due to financial restrictions, 54% of females tend to consider price as the most important force, 50% want to ensure that the product will last longer, while only 38% look for brand names that echo the delivered benefits and make them feel stylish, youthful or comfortable.

Her relationsHip witH Brands: Egyptian women are looking for brands that really offer the promised benefits, and made it clear that higher end brands are out of their reach. According to 58% of Egyptian females, relationships with brands are primarily defined by reliability, integration and making their life easier and simpler. 57% see it as feeling good about themselves, understanding who they are and making their lives fun and light hearted. Whereas, 50% like popular leading brands that are widely known internationally.

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COMMUNITY Fieldwork Her Media and internet Usage & BeHavioUr: TV is still the main source of media entertainment and portal of unlimited information to Egyptian women. Practically speaking, 100% watch TV and 82% consider TV as their main source of entertainment, 55% are internet users and only 15% consider internet as their main source of entertainment. Internet is used mostly by the Young Adults and Teens at 81% and 80% consecutively and the least by the Golden Years at 28%.

Their social outspoken and powerful-selves shine most when they are online. Their internet presence revolves around social interactions with others. Of the 55% internet users; 79% access social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, etc, where 82% of them are Carefree Wives. Followed by online chatting and instant messaging at 45%, mostly used by Teens at 55%.

Of the 55% internet users; 64% use social media to stay in touch with friends while 42% use it to post pictures. Women of Golden Years come on top of the list of staying in touch with friends at 76% vs. School Moms who are the least at 55%. Whereas Carefree Wives are the highest in posting pictures at 56% vs. School Moms at 33%.

aBoUt ipsos Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets and ranked third in the global research industry. Ipsos is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999. With offices in 87 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research and survey management. In the MENA region, Ipsos covers all Middle East and North Africa countries, since 1988, and is the leading research company. Ipsos researchers and specialized analysts in the MENA region are focused on providing clients with innovative solutions with high valueadded analytics and market insights. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test the impact of advertising and study audience responses to various mediums, and they measure public opinion. Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; offerings and capabilities

Ct | NOV 2016

TRAVEL

Columbus,Ohio: Unexpected Fun at one of the most Diverse US Cities By: Ola El Soueni

Last June, I had a work trip to Columbus, Ohio, a state that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever on my bucket list.

Ohio is not the most popular touristic US state, and I have never heard of anyone who had travelled to Columbus specifically. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a shot and embark on a new adventure since traveling is my mantra in life.

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olumbus is Ohioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital city as well as the 15th largest in the US. After spending a couple of days in Columbus, I realized how vibrant the city was and how it was filled with a lot to do and explore. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an energy and excitement in Columbus that will hit you as soon as you arrive! The state is relatively reasonably priced compared to other upscale states like New York. You can enjoy yourself and do a lot of interesting things with a limited budget.

nov 2016 | Ct Nov

TRAVEL

kent

OhiO StatehOuSe

OhiO Stadium

AccommodAtion After a long flight from Cairo to New York, followed by a domestic flight to Ohio, I finally made it to Columbus. I had booked at the Comfort Inn Hotel, which was about 20 minutes away from the airport. This seemed like a great thing at first, but I later realized it wasn’t so pleasant, since it was basically tucked away from the city center and other fun attractions, besides being in need of renovations. The room was modest with a big bathroom, which I highly appreciated. Complimentary cookies, chocolates and mints were available at the room as a welcome gesture. Similar to many hotels in the US, free coffee, selections of tea and lemon water were available at the reception to freshen up guests upon their arrival. After some sleep, I decided to explore the neighborhood and check out my surroundings. Luckily, a large supermarket chain “Giant Eagle” was right across from the hotel in addition to a number of fast food restaurants for a quick or late bite. Chipotle, one of my favorite American fast food restaurants, was also within a walking distance, so I had my fair share of delicious burritos! In addition, Walgreens and CVS were also close by.

Sight Seeing Columbus is a city that buzzes with life. You can easily spend four days sightseeing and checking out what it has to offer. If you are an art lover, the Columbus Museum of Art located downtown is a must-see. The museum showcases an interesting

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COlumbuS muSeum Of art collection of different artwork for renowned artists and houses a remarkable collection of photography. Moreover, there is a section in the museum called “The Contemporaries” that is dedicated to modern art. Museum tours are available, in which I highly recommend. Check out their exact timing on their website before making the trip. I was told that the museum added a new wing: 33 acres of new riverfront parkland, which is amazing. There is also another museum called Columbus Museum, which unfortunately, due to my brief stay in the city, I didn’t get a chance to visit. If you want to have an afternoon stroll, downtown Ohio is the place to be. There, you will find lots of restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops and boutiques. Ohio Theatre is another must-see attraction. Check out their program to know what’s showing when you are in town and book accordingly. I also visited Ohio Stadium, another popular attraction, while the Ohio State House was another monument that I walked by and admired its architecture. A friend highly recommended a Segway tour of Ohio. At the beginning, riding the Segway was not easy and I felt uncomfortable. Fortunately, the guide that accompanied my group was kind and gave very simple and clear instructions on how to use it, teaching us how to ride it perfectly within 10 minutes. I also did the two-hour River and Bridges tour, which was enjoyable. It’s a chilled-out tour, where we stopped every few minutes to learn about the places giving us the chance to capture memorable photos and most importantly get some rest! The Segway tour costs around $60, which is quite pricey, but definitely worth it! I strongly recommend it.

Himalayan biStro Somali reStaurant

Eating Out I was highly impressed with the gastronomical scene in Ohio! All the restaurant venues I visited were top notch. Not only did they serve excellent food, but they had lovely food presentations, state of the art interiors and friendly and hospitable staff. Due to the fact that Columbus houses a huge number of refugees and immigrants, diversified local cuisines dominate the eating out scene. I dined at a Somali restaurant, a Himalayan bistro and I got addicted to Mexican food, which I originally liked, but was hooked on in Columbus. I must also say that the chefs in Columbus are creative, where one gets to experience innovative dishes that are guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds. The coffee shops there serve very good coffee. The minute you walk into a café, you get hypnotized with the aroma of brewed and freshly roasted coffee.

Himalayan biStro

ShOpping If you have limited time for shopping, Easton Town Center is the place to go. It’s a lovely outdoors mall, which literally has all the shops you could ever dream of, all at a walking distance from each other in a beautiful setup.

eaSton town center

I enjoyed walking around in Easton because of the scenery. There are fountains, art installations and green landscape, in addition to all sorts of shops that will take away all your cash! I did all the shopping I needed for my kids, family and friends there; upscale shopping at its best. It also has excellent restaurants, cafes and pubs many of which are located on rooftops, which makes for a great hangout at sunset. Large department stores such as Macys, Nordstrom, and others, are at Easton. Live music for entertaining Easton’s guests could be found at different times throughout the day. Wear comfy shoes because you will get to walk around A LOT, but you will enjoy it. p

eaSton Station nov 2016 | Ct

Out & AbOut Cuisine

Thanksgiving RecIpes

Thanksgiving Roasted Turkey Ingredients:

1 (5.5kg) fresh turkey Salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 large bunch of fresh thyme 1 lemon, halved 1 large onion, quartered 1 head garlic, halved 4 tablespoons unsalted melted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. 2. Wash the turkey inside and out and remove any excess fat. Pat the outside dry. 3. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey. 4. Stuff the turkey with the thyme, lemon, onion, quartered, and the garlic. 5. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 6. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey. 7. Roast the turkey for 21/2 hours, basting from time to time with pan juices, until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. 8. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with foil; let it rest for 20 minutes. Slice the turkey and serve hot.

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The Perfect Gravy Sauce Ingredients

1 stick of unsalted butter 2 chopped onions 1/(/4) cup flour 1 teaspoon salt (1/2)/ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 cups turkey drippings plus chicken stock, heated 1 tablespoon heavy cream, optional

Directions:

1. In a large sautĂŠ pan, cook the butter and onions over mediumlow heat for 12 to 15 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. 2. Sprinkle the flour into the pan, whisk in, and then add the salt and pepper. 3. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. 4. Add the hot chicken stock and cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes until thickened. 5. Add the cream, if desired. Season, to taste, and serve.

Beef Bacon and Cheese Crackers Ingredients

1 pack of flat crackers 3/(/4) cup grated Parmesan (1/)/2 kg thinly sliced beef bacon

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 120 degrees Celsius. 2. Lay the crackers face up on a large rack over a baking sheet (or broiler pan). 3. Scoop about 1 teaspoon of the grated Parmesan onto each cracker. 4. Cut individual beef bacon pieces and carefully, so the cheese doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall off, wrap each cheese covered cracker with one half piece of bacon, completely covering the cracker. It should fit snugly around the cracker, but not be pulled too taut. 5. Place the bacon-wrapped crackers onto the rack. Place the baking sheet in the oven for about 2 hours. Serve immediately or at room temperature!

nov 2016 | Ct

Out & AbOut Cuisine Mashed Sweet Potatoes Ingredients:

1(/1)/2 kg of sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes 1/(/2) stick of butter 1 banana, sliced 1 orange, zested and juiced 1 cup chicken stock (1/)/2 cup brown sugar 1/(/2) teaspoon grated nutmeg, optional Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Boil potatoes until tender, drain and reserve. 2. Return the pot to the stovetop over medium heat. Add butter and bananas to the pot. 3. Cook bananas for 5 minutes and add the juice of 1 orange to the pot, reserve the zest. 4. Allow the juice to cook out for 1 minute. 5. Add potatoes, chicken stock and sugar to the pot. 6. Mash the potatoes, banana, stock and sugar together until well combined. 7. Season with nutmeg, salt, pepper and orange zest, to your taste. Mash to combine spices and serve.

Baked Parmesan and Bread Crumbs Mashed Potatoes Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter 2 kg of potatoes, peeled, cut into cubes 1 cup whole milk 1 stick of butter, melted 1/1/2 cups grated mozzarella 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. 2. Coat a baking dish with 1 tablespoon of butter and set aside. 3. Cook the potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until they are very tender, about 15 minutes. 4. Drain, then return the potatoes to the same pot and mash well. 5. Mix in the milk and melted butter. 6. Mix in the mozzarella and 3/4 cup of the Parmesan. 7. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 8. Transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking dish. 9. Stir the breadcrumbs and remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan in a small bowl to blend. 10. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the mashed potatoes. 11. Bake uncovered until the topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes 12. serve.

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Pecan Pie Ingredients:

Pie Crust: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt (3/)/4 cup margarine (3/)/4 cup salted butter, cut into pieces 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon vinegar Filling: 1 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1/(/2) teaspoon salt 1 cup corn syrup (light or dark) 1/(/3) cup melted salted butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 whole eggs beaten 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Pie Crust: Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. 1. Add the margarine. 2. Work the butter into the flour using a dough cutter until the mixture resembles tiny pebbles. 3. Add the egg, 5 tablespoons cold water and the vinegar. Stir until just combined. 4. Divide the dough in half and chill until needed. (You will only need one half for this recipe, reserve the other half for another use). Filling 1. Mix the granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, corn syrup, butter, vanilla and eggs together in a bowl. 2. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. 3. Roll out one dough half on a lightly floured surface to fit your pie pan. 4. Pour the pecans in the bottom of the unbaked pie shell. Pour the syrup mixture over the top. 5. Cover the top and crust lightly with foil. 6. Bake the pie for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and then continue baking for 20 minutes, being careful not to burn the crust or pecans. The pie should not be overly jiggly when you remove it from the oven (though it will jiggle a bit). If it shakes a lot, cover with foil and bake for an additional 20 minute or until set. 7. Required baking time seems to vary widely with this recipe. It usually takes between 50 to 75 minutes. 8. Allow to cool for several hours or overnight. Serve in thin slivers.

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CALENDAR nov.

2016

ART

November 1st - 30th

sculpture Now exhibition “Sculpture Now” is a mixed-media sculpture exhibition that focuses on creativity, experimentation and modernization rather than focusing on specific sculpture mediums. The exhibition aims to shed light on ambitious experimental contemporary sculpture projects through featuring more than forty Egyptian artists. Darb 1718, Kasr el Sham3e, El Fakhareen, Old Cairo Tel: +2027412129

November 13th

music

hIP hoP ALL stArs voL 5 All Stars will be participating River Hall, El Sawi Cultural Wheel, End 26 July St, Zamalek Time: 5 pm

November 24th

ART

Fabrica Group

November 1st to 25th

Choices from Disney Songs

Picasso Art Gallery, 30 Hassan Assem St. Zamalek. (off Brazil St.). Open daily from 10:30 am to 9:00 pm except Sundays Tel: (02) 2736 7544

River Hall, El Sawi Cultural Wheel, End 26 July St, Zamalek Time: 7 pm

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Freedom by Amina salem

November 9th

music

Jazz music Concert (egypt/Germany) Alexandria Opera House, Alexandria Time: 8 pm

November 10th mazzika x el Sat7: Puzzle baNd

music

The band started in 2010 in Cairo playing in clubs and concerts and street festivals , touring all over Egypt. Darb 1718

November 14th – 23rd

Future Pioneers

ART

Artists : Wael Karim, Mostafa El-Fayoumi, Sameh Omar Bakr, Salah Shaaban. The exhibition will feature four rising stars in the sculpture world, trained by some of the most prolific Egyptian sculpture pioneers, like Mohamed El-Fayoumi and Ayman Saadawy. Al kahila Art Gallery 15 El Batal Ahmed Abdel Aziz street - Mohandessin Tel. (02) 33040791 – Mob. 01228647511

November 17th

the Jets band

November 10th

music

el-Port Saidan tanbura band music

Established by Samir Habib in 1975, The Jets band have introduced their own composition and writing, such as; “Linda Linda”, “Banat El-Eshrin”, “Sena’ah Masreyah”, and the song that made them rise to fame “Talab Elqahwa”. They’re playing for a blast from the past. Wisdom Hall, El Sawi Cultural Wheel, End 26 July St, Zamalek Time: 7.30 pm

In 1989, a small nucleus of veteran performers recruited by Zakaria Ibrahim came together to form the fledgling El Tanbura group, augmented by younger singers who had been similarly captivated by Zakaria’s plan. By the formulative years, El Rayis Imbabi, one of the group members was responsible for passing key repertoire from Port Said’s past to the younger members, fulfilling a centuries-old tradition of the transmission of melodies from one generation to the next, and thus ensuring their survival through the Chinese whispers of history. Open air theater, Cairo Opera Grounds Time: 8 pm

nov 2016 | Ct

CALENDAR nov.

2016

November 22Nd

AtlANtiC

Films

Narrated by Emmy-award winning actor Brendan Gleeson, Atlantic follows the fortunes of three small fishing communities - in Ireland, Norway and Newfoundland - bringing to the fore three very intimate stories from the global resource debate. As the oil majors drive deeper into their fragile seas, and the world’s largest fishing companies push fish stocks to the brink, coastal communities and the resources they rely on are fast approaching a point of no return. Filmed in some of the most remote and breathtaking locations in the North Atlantic, and at close quarters with some of the sea’s most captivating characters, Atlantic brings to the fore three very intimate stories from the global resource debate. It explores how modern day communities must learn from the past, in order to secure a brighter future.

art Lady in Black Gown, 1984, acrylic on canvas, 183 x 156 cm. Courtesy the artist and Gypsum Gallery

Zawya, Cinema Odeon (4, Abdel Hamid Said St., off Talaat Harb). Hours: 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, 7:30 pm, 10 pm

November 1st – 20th

A Pure Artist New York-based artist, art critic and poet Ahmed Morsi showcases six decades of creative output. With relentless vitality, Morsi has widely exhibited his paintings, drawings and lithographs, published numerous books of his poetry, designed stage sets and translated art historical works. Morsi’s work exudes an elegiac and mournful sensibility. Figures are androgynous, animals anthropomorphic and space is nondescript. The exhibition is accompanied by a video of Morsi reciting his own poems against the background of his studio in NYC where he has been working since the seventies. Ofok Gallery at the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum 1 Kafour St. Giza

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November 17th & 18th

Piano Concert Veteran Artist Omar Khairat Alexandria Opera House Time: 8 pm

music

November 29th & 30th

opera

Un ballo in maschera

Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball) is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi with text by Antonio Somma. However, Somma’s libretto was itself based on the five act libretto which playwright Eugène Scribe had written for Daniel Auber’s 1833 opera, Gustave III, or Le bal masque. performed by Cairo Opera Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra November 15th – 30th

art

“Freedom after Prison”

Main Hall, Cairo Opera House Time: 8 pm Mobile: +20111 0070707

The fourth consecutive annual exhibition for the pioneer ‘woman, artist, activist’ Inji Efflatoun. The guest of honor at the exhibition is her close friend the great artist Tahia Halim (19192003-). Safarkhan Gallery 6, Brazil St., Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt Mobile: +20111 0070707

November 18 & 19, 21 to 24 Nov.

stage

the Crucible

November 30th 20

music

mazzika x el Sat7: Y-Crew band Yassin and Omar formed a new rap band called Y-Crew, they are going to rap in Arabic which made them the first rap/hiphop group in Egypt but this does not prevent the interference of some foreign languages. Darb 1718, Kasr el Sham3e, El Fakhareen, Old Cairo

The Crucible is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 169293-. Miller wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government ostracized people for being communists. The play is produced by the AUC Malak Gabr Arts Threatre, AUC Center for Arts, New Cairo Campus. Time: 6 pm

nov 2016 | Ct

Society The Grand Opening of “Alexandrina” Convention Center Last September, the city of Alexandria witnessed the grand opening of Alexandrina Convention Center, part of the Radisson Blu Hotel. Alex West’s development plan ceremony was accompanied by the Lebanese singer Wael Jassar. The event was attended by statesmen, ambassadors, businessmen, media and art representatives. During the ceremony, the board of Barons Court, the owning company of Alex West, announced the construction of an extension to the Radisson Blu Hotel, Alexandria, which will include 150 rooms in the near future. p

Ct | NOV 2016

Red China opens at Le Meridien Cairo Airport Le Meridien Cairo Airport has recently inaugurated its new Chinese restaurant â&#x20AC;&#x153;China Redâ&#x20AC;? with a big party last month. Atef Wilson, the general manager invited distinguished guests, top platinum SPG members and media figures to a chinese party with live cooking and entertainment to celebrate the new Chinese venue in style. The restaurant is designed with a taste of red color all over the place. p

NOV 2016 | Ct

Society Crockfords Club Launches at The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo The leading, highly respected and multi-award winning Malaysian-based Genting, has teamed up with Misr Hotels, a subsidiary of the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels, to open the first Crockfords Club outside of the UK at The Nile Ritz-Carlton. The original Crockfords has its origins in the Private Members Gaming Club established in London in 1828 by William Crockford. Genting has over 50 years of international expertise in opening and operating similar ventures in different parts of the world. To mark the official opening, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place followed by an exclusive and lavish party attended by prominent members of the diplomatic, business and social communities. Genting President and CEO Paul Willcock spoke of the important role such investments play in revitalizing tourism in Egypt, and the hope that this investment will give impetus for other investors to explore similar opportunities. Seen in the photo Ihab El Kirdany, Chairman and Managing Director of Misr Hotels Company, Paul Willcock, President and CEO Genting UK, renowned Hotelier Aly Abdel Aziz, Dr Mostafa Saad, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Misr Hotels, Peter Brooks, Director and Tony Pearce, Executive Vice Present of International Marketing, Genting UK , David Davies, Director of Commercial Operations and Lamberto Gragalia, Grockfords Cairo Director. p

Peter Brooks, Ehab El Kerdany, Paul Wilcock

Ct | NOV 2016

Somabay announces 2016 winner of its annual Golf Tournament at a glittering ceremony October 8th was the most anticipated date for The Cascades Championship Golf Course, as it marked the occasion of announcing the winner of Sombay’s annual Golf Tournament for the year 2016. The Westin Hotel held a prestigious Gala Dinner under the auspices of the Egyptian Golf Federation where Mr. Mansour Kabbany was awarded Somabay’s Golf Trophy in a glittering event ceremony celebrated by some of the world’s top competing golfers, as well as Egypt’s social influencers. The prize giving ceremony featured an elegant reception dinner, as well as lively entertainment attracting unprecedented media coverage. Somabay’s Golf Trophy is one of the most prestigious tournaments that has been attracting world-class players for over twelve years. p

NOV 2016 | Ct

Real Estate

Abraj Misr Partners with Marriott International for Eco-Friendly Projects

midst festive atmosphere, Abraj Misr –the leading real estate developer with green architecture technology- signed a strategic partnership agreement with Marriott International –the owner of Marriot and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the largest international companies working in hotels and hospitality. The partnership agreement aims at building a diverse group of Element by Westin hotel apartments inside of The Gate project, the largest smart and echo-friendly residential and commercial project in Egypt and the Middle East. Aly Rabie, the chairman of Abraj Misr’s board of directors, stressed that these 344 hotel apartments will be the first choice for those who seek luxury, tranquility and a magnificent stay featuring vitality and welfare. Element is an extended stay hotel brand that will be a part of The Gate project and offer unprecedented options for short-term and long-term residence through spacious studios as well as single, double and triple rooms with modern and light furniture and fullyequipped kitchenettes along with the world renowned Heavenly bed. Commenting on the event, Engineer Waleed Abdel Fattah, Deputy Regional Chairman for Africa Zone at Hill International for Project Management, pointed out that The Gate project -managed by Hill International– is considered one of the most luxurious real estate projects, which represents a quantum leap in the Egyptian real estate market especially given the fact that the project was designed and implemented while applying the standard specifications in green building and renewable energy which is considered a major challenge for those who implemented it. p

Ct | nov 2016

Madaarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Azha Launches New Lagoon-Front Village, Anka

zha, Madaar Developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship project in Ain Sokhna, just launched a new village called Anka with new, modernistic lagoon-front chalets. Among the 40 units, there is a variety of chalets available, all of which feature spacious gardens and breathtaking views. Terraces are available to all front and second row chalets, while penthouses are the standout feature of the second row. Azha, named after one of the brightest stars in the sky, is a high-end waterfront resort with international standards, bringing together an active casual lifestyle with five-star comfort. This luxury resort hosts exceptionally comforting and upgraded amenities, spacious residential villas, apartment complexes and twin villas with a stylish, modern feel, in addition to signature restaurants, spa facilities and community centres. p

nov 2016 | Ct

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