Posh Nosh at Tivoli Plaza – Closed

Posh nosh is a quintessential Almaza neighbourhood hub where good friends, a warm welcome and enjoyable food make a perfect mix for one of what could be said is the best restaurant in Heliopolis.

Type of cuisine: International, with a strong sushi section as well.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Asiago and Gorgonzola Salad, Bisque, Posh Nosh Club Sandwich, Pasta with Creamy Herb Sauce, and the Chicken Kashmir are all signature items at Posh Nosh.

Let’s face it, with a menu as varied and comprehensive as this, we welcomed a little guidance, so with the help of the charming host we launched our early dinner with a beautifully presented platter of Philadelphia Roll sushi, quickly followed by a generous serving of Chicken Posh Balls. The sushi was spot on; we can understand why it is such a draw with local diners. The rice was cooked perfectly, the rolls neatly formed, and the accompanying wasabi, pickled ginger, soy and teriyaki sauces set them off nicely.

The Chicken Posh Balls, small deep fried bread crumbed croquettes of finely diced chicken, came with a Thousand Island dipping sauce, and went down in a flash. No sooner had we polished these off than a large, colorful salad arrived. The Beetroot Feta Salad came with segments of orange, which provided a nice counterbalance of flavors. The saltiness of the feta contrasted with the sweet earthiness of the beetroot, and the citrus tang of the orange provided a burst of freshness hidden in the baby greens.

The edge having been taken off our appetites somewhat, we were still eager to delve into our main dishes when they hit the table. The Grilled Salmon came with an almond crust, and was topped with a distinctly piquant lemon sauce. Portions at Posh Nosh are really generous, and the accompanying courgettes, herbed wedge potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and green beans proved to be almost a meal in themselves. The Kashmiri Chicken consisted of tender cubes of chicken bathed in a creamy yellow sauce. It was a gentle take on curry, the perfect dish for anyone wary of heavy spicing, the punch of heat came from small slivers of chili pepper in the sauce. Apart from that, the flavor was delicate and didn’t overpower the chicken at all. Served with plain white rice and vegetables, it was filling, and left us wondering if we could even manage dessert.

Leaving us no time for deliberation, a glass jar of Apple Pie with Butterscotch Sauce and Chocolate Mousse Cake miraculously appeared on the table.  The biscuit base of the pie had a definite kick of cinnamon, the cooked apple segments were sweet and juicy, and the butterscotch sauce and cream topped it all off perfectly.  The Chocolate Mousse Cake was decadent and so loaded with calories – we will have to watch our waistlines for at least a month. Well fed, we settled back into our comfortable seats to finish the last of our colorful mocktails, a Blue Coconut Margarita and Mango Rita.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

We would definitely hit the lengthy sushi menu to explore further.

Beverage options include juices, shakes, mocktails, smoothies, frappés and hot beverages.

Décor & Ambience

Dark marble, leather furniture, and wood in an amber and dark green color palette. An intriguing neo classical sculpture mural gives another dimension to the subtle interior. Seating is plentiful, both indoors and outdoors on the airy terrace.  The Portuguese tableware is stunning, by the way.

Clientele mix: Posh Nosh is an easy going meeting up point for families, couples and groups of friends. The service is polite and friendly, you immediately feel welcome and at home. The background music is discreet and allows for conversation.

Price range: Moderate

Contact Information

Opening hours: 10 am to 2 am.

Address: Tivoli Plaza, Omar Ibn El Khattab St., Almaza, Heliopolis.

Tel:  0102 181 8018

Facebook: Poshnoshegypt

Instagram: Posh_Nosheg

Yellow Moon in Almaza, Heliopolis – Closed Temporarily

A cozy enclave of imaginative cuisine is now open in the quiet neighborhood of Almaza aiming to be one of the best restaurants in Heliopolis, serving a number of delicious dishes from the mind of Head Chef Mahmoud el Antaki. Firmly rooted in the ethos of farm-to-table, the menu is tightly woven to include organic ingredients and flavors from a number of rated Egyptian vendors, always fresh and never frozen. We visited for a pleasant dinner and left craving more.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Signatures dishes include the Crispy Chicken Molokhia Bruschetta, Eggs Benedict, Brisket Sandwich.

Contrary to most restaurants in Cairo, the menu is not three pages long and we loved that. Scanning the concise menu was still a drool-inducing struggle, because every single dish seemed delicious and a must-try, however we settled on the Yellow Moon Salad, Crispy Chicken Molokhia Bruschetta and the Garlic Shrimp for starters.

Our salad was packed with flavor and crunch: crispy apple slivers and walnuts mixed with a citrusy pop of orange and the smooth finish of goat cheese, summer in a bowl and a perfect palate primer. The bruschetta was an innovative twist on the Italian classic, a heaping portion of tender chicken dressed in crunchy seasoned molokhia leaves, tomato and goat cheese, laid on a thick slice of white loaf. It was delightful to see a traditional Egyptian ingredient used in such an unexpected way, and the final result was superb. The pan-seared Garlic Shrimp was also perfectly cooked, dressed in a citrus jus and edible flowers, and brought to mind summer trips to Southern Spain. Dunking bread into the remaining oyster sauce is highly recommended!

We were excited to move onto our main courses, tucking into Chef Antaki’s recommendations of Honey Glazed Salmon, Brie Stuffed Chicken, and the Funghi Risotto. We love salmon, and Yellow Moon did not let us down. Tender, juicy, and served on a bed of delicious sweet potato purée and caramelized grilled veggies – we could eat this dish every day. The Funghi Risotto was packed with creamy flavor, three different types of mushroom and heaps of shaved Parmesan, served al dente the way we like it – this can be shared and is a perfect accompaniment to a main dish. The Brie Stuffed Chicken was spot on and we can see why it is a hit on the menu. Tender to the bite and stuffed with sun-dried tomato, Brie cheese and sautéed spinach, it is always appreciated to tuck into a juicy chicken breast in a city teeming with overcooked and dry offerings.

With little room to spare, we couldn’t pass up dessert so we braved head-on into a serving of the Dulce De Leche in a Jar topped with fresh mango cubes. This is a classic dessert served in a modern way, but still delicious all the same. Topped with meringue biscuit and an unmistakable Egyptian twist of mango, we loved every bite. Highly recommended.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

 

Everything! We’ll be back to try the Steak Tenderloin, Brisket Sandwich, General Tso’s Chicken and Loaded Yellow Burger for sure. The Breakfast/Brunch menu also looks sensational, with options like Benedict Sliders, Salmon Open Toast and Fruit Pancakes.

A wide selection of virgin cocktails, milkshakes, smoothies and fresh juices are available, along with hot drinks. Ask for the drink of the day, we were treated to a smashingly fresh Summer Moon Cocktail comprised of hibiscus, basil and orange juice.

Décor & Ambience

Minimalist, comfortable and chic with a classic touch. Black and white photos of yesteryear’s rock stars adorn the walls and the space is well-lit, inviting, with low-key and pleasant music that doesn’t distract. Modern tables, beautiful wooden chairs and bench seating is available with intimate corners for those who seek privacy. It is well-equipped for business meetings with sockets available everywhere. An eye-catching and unique wall installation reaffirms the unique brand of the restaurant, which we enjoyed staring at for some time.

Ambience is friendly! This is a cheery place that caters for everyone and the service staff is non-intrusive but still helpful.

Clientele mix: Young couples out on a date, groups of friends and a few business-y types. Anyone can enjoy this place.

Price range: A little above average, but totally worth it when you consider the ingredients and culinary artistry.

Contact Information 

Opening Hours: 10 am to midnight. Breakfast/brunch served until 4 pm every day.

Address: 118 Omar Ibn Al Khattab, Almaza, Heliopolis

Tel: 0106 003 4700

Facebook/Instagram: @YellowMoonEG

6 Engaging & Educational After School Activities For Kids

By: Mariam Elhamy

Summer is over and families across Cairo are preparing to head back to school. Do you need ideas to enrich your child’s growth and creativity after school? We tracked down the best places for extracurricular activities, making it easier for Mommy and Daddy to make the right choice! Check out our picks for places that offer a haven for your kids after school, and teach them new skills while keeping them engaged.

Arts & Crafts

Have a feeling your child might be the next Picasso? Unleash their creativity and artistic talent by enrolling them in an arts or crafts course! There are several venues around Cairo that offer painting, drawing, sculpture and crafts activities, even model-making and the fundamentals of architecture and engineering, so there is no shortage of opportunity to fill your kids’ world with color!

Venues to check: Rizkallah ART Foundation, Art Café, Drawing in Cairo, Galileo Art Center, Sane, Wanas Art & Design Hub, ASHO ART Academy, Place Des Arts, Garden of Art, Lifeup, Swiss Club Cairo, Bricks 4 Kidz, and Puzzle Art Educational Academy.

Music

If your kids have a good ear for music and musical instruments, consider enrolling them in a course to help them master their musical skills! Art Mania and Swiss Club Cairo offer highly-qualified music teachers who know how to deal with kids and how to teach the basics of music for beginners.

Storytelling & Foreign Languages

Enhance your kid’s social interaction, critical thinking and literature abilities with storytelling. At Diwan and Sane, kids can listen to all their favorite stories and learn valuable skills by engaging in fun discussion circles.

Always wanted your child to learn a different language? Don’t bore them with school lessons when they can learn languages through fun activities. Creative Academy and Institut Français d’Egypte offer just that.

Fitness

Most schools neglect exercise even though it is one of the most important things for children at this time of age. Children should be given the chance to stay fit through exercising regularly. Juventus, Sane and Lifeup offer many training courses that will get your kids using their energy and building up strength.

Etiquette, Dance & Acting

Bring out your kids’ talents when you send them to one of these academies for etiquette, ballet, acting, theater and much more… Check out Slimnastics, Cairo Contemporary Dance Center, Carnivalia, Helen O’Grady Drama Academy and Easy Talent Academy where your kids will learn how to use their talents and rock the stage!

Cooking Classes

Get your kids experimenting with different flavors and trying out mixtures of different ingredients. Eatery and Shatora offer kids cooking classes, perfect for young foodies, teaching them soft skills in cooking, baking, handling kitchenware, and meal preparing. Soon enough, they’ll be helping you out in the kitchen! Will you be able to handle the mess?

Contact information

Art Cafe

Maadi
10b Rd 11

Sheikh Zayed
Galleria 40, 1st floor
North Building

Tel: 0122 705 0753
Facebook: ArtCafeegypt
Web: www.artcafe-egypt.com

Art Mania

Fayrouz District – Sheikh Zayed
Tel: 0121 160 5758
Facebook: Art Mania Music Center
Web: www.artmaniacenter.com

ASHO ART Academy

Tel: 0100 114 2777
Facebook: ASHO ART Academy
Web: www.ashoartacademy.com

Bricks 4 Kidz

Tel: 0111 088 1188
Facebook: Bricks 4 Kidz Egypt
Web: www.bricks4kidz.com.eg

Cairo Contemporary Dance Center

1 Mousa Galal Square – Mohandeseen
Tel: 02 33459737 – 0121 003 7778
Facebook: Cairo Contemporary Dance Center
Web: www.ccdc.dance

Carnivalia

Hayy El Ashgar – inside El Ashgar Club
Wahat Road – 6th of October
Tel: 0100 531 1175
Facebook: Carnivalia Entertainment Theatre

Creative Academy

Tel: 0111 370 6860
Facebook: Creative Academy
Web: creative.edu.eg

Diwan

159 26th of July St. – Zamalek
Tel: 0122 600 0168
Facebook: diwanbookstore
Web: www.diwanegypt.com

Drawing in Cairo

Tel: 0122 235 3518
Facebook: DrawingInCairo
Web: drawingincairo.blogspot.com

Eatery

Cairo Festival City
Tel: 0122 552 2300
Facebook: EateryEgypt

Easy Talent Academy

51B Misr-Helwan Agriculture Road
Maadi
Tel: 02 27507299
Facebook: Easy Talent Academy
Web: www.easytalentacademy.com

Galileo Art Center

81 Osman Building
Mustafa Al Nahas St. – Nasr City
Tel: 0100 442 2641 – 0120 864 0047
Facebook: Galileo art center
Web: www.galileoart.com

Garden of Art

Rabwa Mall – Al Rabwa Compound
Gate 3 – Sheikh Zayed
Tel: 0122 312 5441
Facebook: Garden of Art

Helen O’Grady Drama Academy

Tel: 0106 347 9551
Facebook: Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Cairo
Web: www.helenogradycairo.blogspot.com

Institut Français d’Egypte

5 Shafik el Dib – Ard el Golf
Heliopolis
Tel: 02 24174824
Facebook: Institut Français d’Egypte – Héliopolis
Web: www.institutfrancais-egypte.com

Juventus Academy

Tel: 0122 745 5550
Facebook: juventusacademycairo

LifeUP Factory

Tel: 0128 440 4356
Facebook: Lifeup Egypt
Web: www.lifeupfactory.com

Place Des Arts

25 Orabi St – Maadi
Tel: 0101 111 1605
Facebook: Place Des Arts

 

Puzzle Art Educational Academy

186 Dr. Ahmed Okasha Street
New Cairo
Tel: 0100 104 8805
Facebook: Puzzle Art Educational Academy
Web: puzzleacademy.weeply.com

Rizkallah ART Foundation

23 El Montazah St.
3rd Floor – Flat 8
Heliopolis Square
Tel: 0121 111 2671
Facebook: Rizkallah ART Foundation
Web: www.adlirizkallah.net

Sane

4 Yameni Building
Zamalek
Tel: 0115 694 8295
Facebook: SaneEgypt
Web: www.saneegypt.com

Shatora

El Tayaran street, Nasr City
Facebook: Sally Soliman شطورة

Slimnastics Studio

Mall 122 Banks Center Street -Parallel to 90 Street
Fifth Settlement – New Cairo
Tel: 0110 062 6281
Facebook: Slimnastics Studio
Web: www.slimnasticsstudio.com

Swiss Club Cairo

17 El Gehad St – off Sudan St
Imbaba – El Kitkat
Tel: 0100 300 9695
Facebook: Official Swiss Club Cairo
Web: www.swissclubcairo.com

Wanas Art & Design Hub

11 El Gezira El Wosta St.
Zamalek
Tel: 0115 559 3998
Facebook: Wanas-Art-Design-Hub

The Tap: A Quick Chat with DJ Ouzo

Perhaps best known for lighting up the deck year after year at Pacha Sharm during Sharm El Sheikh’s heyday, DJ Ouzo has become a local legend, spinning his electrifying tracks around the world. One of Egypt’s top original DJs, Ouzo hangs out at The Tap over some drinks and a chat.

You’ve made quite a name for yourself locally and internationally; how did it all start for you?

It all started 21 years ago, when I was a student in Switzerland back in 1997. At that time, Techno music was on the rise and I used to go to the Street Parade in Zurich every year until I left Switzerland and came back home to Sharm El Sheikh in 2000 and my music career started here!

Who is your biggest inspiration in the music production/DJing industry?

Frankie Wilde!

What single night out has been the most memorable for you? As a DJ? As an attendee?

As a DJ, New Year’s Eve at Pacha Sharm back in the days. As an attendee, the Love Parade 2002.

What makes a night a “good night” for a DJ?

The good vibes on the dance floor.

If you were eternally stuck in one year’s music scene, which year would it be?

Honestly, I’ll be stuck in today’s music scene! Why? Because back in the day, in my personal opinion, the electronic music scene was still in its primitive stage and the sound was too electronic. But today, electronic music has evolved so much that it has brought multicultural sounds from all over the world and especially Middle Eastern sounds, which has made it more vibrant and more alive!

Digging a little deeper, what is your opinion regarding the difference between old-school DJing where everything was restricted to vinyl and modern DJing where most tracks are never put on any physical medium before or after release?

I used to travel to get my LPs back in the day, now you can get them with a touch of a button! Fascinating, isn’t it?!

What is one track that never gets old for you no matter how many times you hear it?

Delirium’s – Silence ft. Sarah McLachlan (Tiesto Mix)

What is one track that got popular that you can’t stand?

Gangnam Style, hahaha!

What festivals would you most like to play at?

The Gardens of Babylon, maybe.

What was your favorite night at The Tap so far?

I enjoy all nights at The Tap.

Which DJ from the scene do you admire most?

Sebzz of course! That’s why we’ve been sharing decks for quite some time now.

 

Powered by

Quick & Easy Club Sandwich On-The-Go

We all lead very busy and fast-paced lives. Whether you are a corporate employee, have your own business or still a student. Whatever it is we do, we are always on the go and don’t have time to enjoy a balanced, healthy meal. We tend to order out instead of investing some time to cook a healthy meal to pack it with us for the day.

We get how hard it is to wake up super early everyday just to have enough time to cook something to take with you on the road. But what if you don’t have to cook? What if you put together a healthy salad, sandwich or even fruit platter in only 10 to 15 minutes? Sure beats waiting for an hour for your meal to be delivered while tending to a growling tummy!

One of the best options to fix at home is a Club Sandwich. It’s tasty, nutritious and filling. On top of that, it only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Follow these simple steps to prepare an easy and filling sandwich

Smoked Salmon and Avocado Club

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 small ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
8 slices of toast
4 teaspoons grainy mustard
4 lettuce leaves
230 g thinly sliced smoked salmon
¼ red onion, sliced

Preparation:

Mash avocado with a fork. Mix with dill, lemon juice, salt and pepper; set aside.

Spread mustard evenly on 4 bread slices. Top with lettuce, salmon and red onion. Dollop the avocado mixture evenly over each sandwich. Top with remaining bread slices.

That’s how easy you can have a healthy sandwich on the go!

Asser Yassin Delves into a Dark Role in Torab El Mass

By Zainab AbdulAziz

With over 40 productions secured in his burgeoning career, there is no stopping Asser Yassin. The charismatic star has proven to be a leading man in every sense of the word and has a knack for choosing those perfect meaty characters. Good looking, sensitive, and sharp, Yassin is capable of portraying dark and tortured souls with a depth not many possess. We visited him in his private study for a lengthy chat about his latest project Diamond Dust.

CWM: What can you tell us about your role as Taha?

A.Y.: The movie introduces Taha as the primary caregiver for his handicapped father Hussien (played by Ahmed Kamal).  Taha falls in a coma from a head injury upon witnessing the murder of his father and wakes up a week later as a different person. He has a shake in his hand, suffers from terrible migraines, can’t play the drums anymore, and he experiences minor seizures. Upon discovering and reading his father’s memoirs, he uncovers a new side to Mahroos he never knew existed. This leads Taha to discover new parts of himself and a new identity emerges.

Essentially, you were playing two roles within this film.

Yes, and grappling with the conflict within the two. This is a man who thought he was a rat and discovered that he has the might of a falcon! He transitions from being prey to being the predator.

This role relies heavily on a father-son dynamic and carrying on a legacy, how did this translate onto the screen?

The relationship between Taha and his father is intense, and we had to convey that in a small number of scenes. We used small details to illustrate and detail the exhaustive care and routine Taha went through every day for his father, for example, picking him up out of bed and wheeling him across the apartment, giving him the injections for his diabetes, showering him. It was important to show how repetitive the actions were until it became second nature, thousands of times over.

Did you read the book when it came out?

I read the script first, and then I attempted to read the book but didn’t finish it. I saw the character differently from the script versus the novel. They are two different mediums, there are elements and characters in the book that didn’t make it into the movie and I didn’t want that to influence my portrayal of the Taha I had read from the script pages. I will probably read the novel now that I’m finished shooting!

What did you do to prepare for the role? Were there any particular challenges involved?

I’ve been preparing for this role over 2 years and it required learning how to play the drums, losing 9 kilos, and changing my posture, because I needed to look unhealthy and weak. I needed to reach a state physically and psychologically where the character would blend into the background and go unnoticed.

I would say learning to play the drums so seamlessly was certainly a challenge. He isn’t a professional drummer, but has been playing for many years, so I needed it to look that way and it really adds to my performance when I reach this level of atonement with the character.

It is a pretty dark and twisty part, how did that affect your personal life and mood?

The psychological impact of preparing for this role was intense. Transforming from Taha to Asser and back again, sometimes there were residuals. Those who are very close to you are the ones who suffer, like my wife and family. I would go through phases of insomnia, hyperactivity, and anxiousness. My father noticed I was acting differently towards my mother, which was probably transference due to the nature of Taha’s feelings towards his mother.

Any other books you would love to see turned into films?

Neset Kelmet El Ser is a great book written by Hassan Kamal about Amr Khairy, one of Egypt’s legendary Taekwondo players. I used to play on the national team and was a national champ, so I’d love to see his story on the big screen. Khairy used to coach the Olympic team and the National team and was a world champion – he also led a very peculiar life and suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, so it’s an inspiring story.

What direction would you like to see Egyptian cinema and TV heading in?

I would love to see more of the genres I enjoy, like horror – I love zombie films – or musicals. I think the production costs on these types of movies are high, and the market response may not be great. I love comedy, and I’d like to do more comedic roles, but I’d like to see the type of comedy that is situational, witty, and with a touch of black comedy like Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz. I loved Bashtery Ragel with Nelly Karim, for example.

Are there any roles you have turned down, and can you tell us why?

Yes, I’ve turned down roles many times. At the beginning of your career, you are plotting out a path and your criteria for selection is moving you towards a goal, which for me was to work with key people like Khairy Beshara or Dawood Abdel Sayed. Now the factors could range from positioning, age or maturity level, or the quality of script.

There are a lot more workshops being offered now in the field of film and theatre; do you consider this a worthwhile investment for any working or aspiring actor?

Definitely, it’s like going the gym for actors! You’re always discovering new things about yourself, and learning new techniques. Well-known actors work with acting coaches all the time.

What is the best way for young actors to forge their way in this very competitive industry?

It’s difficult to say, because the landscape changes so much over time. You can get yourself noticed through social media nowadays. I don’t really subscribe to the simplistic “follow your dreams” idea; you have to create a logical and practical plan. When I started, I gave myself a timeframe of one year to make it work and support myself from show business. You have to combine your artistic drive with the more practical side of things.

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS

Favorite international destination?

London.

Travelling companion?

That’s a very easy one – my wife!

 Comfort food?

Seafood.

Piece of advice?

Direction, production, and screenplay. If you are comfortable with two of the three elements, do the project

Daily habit that keeps you balanced?

A long shower.

Favorite childhood memory?

I have a terrible memory!

Feel good music?

Blues, Jazz, Swing.

Favorite TV show?

Stranger Things.

Best way to unwind?

Travel alone.

NextMove Egypt 2018

 

Surge in demand for Egypt’s new cities

Investors & homebuyers prove voracious appetite for property in the country with rising interest in the country’s new cities

31 October 2018, Cairo, Egypt: A healthy mix of investor interest, new developers and a surge in interest in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, were among the major themes following the conclusion of this year’s NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape.

The three-day show, which increased by 16% on net sqm from 2017, took place at the Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC) in Mehwar Almosheer Tantawy in New Cairo earlier this month, and saw developers from across the country tout Egypt’s real estate prowess with offerings in the residential, hospitality and commercial sector.

With Old Cairo’s population around 19 million, Egypt has taken substantial strides to create new metropolises and satellite cities. These new cities garnered significant interest from investors and homebuyers looking for new opportunities at the show this year, especially those looking at Egypt’s New Administrative Capital.

Once completed the New Capital is expected to accommodate more than 5 million people, house Africa’s tallest tower, and will be the financial as well as administrative capital of the country, intended to stimulate the economy by offering thousands of jobs.

According to experts, demand for housing is likely to be strong in new cities due to affordable prices, and the promise of a cleaner, greener and more sustainable way of life. Cairo’s population is expected to hit 40 million by 2050 and competition for housing is fierce in the current capital, says real estate consultant JLL, explaining the need for residents to look at new cities.

This year’s NextMove Egypt saw developers from the New Administrative Capital place a strong emphasis on lifestyle and community living, a popular trend in the Egyptian residential market. Exhibitors showcased neighbourhoods complete with community retail facilities, as well as education and healthcare facilities, a selling point for many first-time homeowners.

Exhibitor Safwa Urban Development (SUD) showcased project Capital Heights from the New Capital and projects in Obour City. While Master Group, NextMove Egypt’s Silver Sponsors, showcased The City project in the New Capital, which is in close proximity to the Opera House and the highly-anticipated Green River, a combination of open water and planted greenery twice the size of New York’s Central Park.

La Verde, Akam Developments, MBG Developments, and Living Yards were also among the developers to showcase projects from the New Capital.

“Cairo’s population alone is growing at an average rate of 2.4% per year, this means that the appetite for property will continue to rise driving our exhibitors to launch projects that speak directly to this demand by offering much-needed housing across all price points,” says Chris Speller, Cityscape Group Director.

NextMove Egypt returns to the Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC) next year from October 24 – 26 October.

 

Continued growth for housing market

Developer to showcase the world’s largest residential building at NextMove Egypt

9 October 2018, Cairo, Egypt: Prompted by the rise in demand for residential communities with integrated retail, leisure and entertainment facilities, real estate developers at this year’s NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape, are ramping up efforts to entice potential homebuyers with a range of apartments, villas and townhouses in new mixed-use developments.

Opening its doors on the 18th October and running until the 20th at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre (EIEC) in Mehwar Almosheer Tantawy in New Cairo, NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape, will reveal hundreds of real estate investment opportunities for prospective buyers and investors across all price points, offered with attractive payment plans and down payments.

Omar Al Morshedy, Marketing Director at Memaar al Morshedy, one of the exhibitors at this NextMove says that homebuyers are always on the lookout for location, prices, developer reputation, instalment plans, and options on a range of spaces and down payments.

The company will be capturing the attention of visitors to the show this year with its latest project Skyline, expected to be the world’s largest residential building once completed. The building is expected to occupy 200,000 sqm and will be built over a seven-year period, with the first phase expected to be ready in three and a half years. The town-like complex will be established in Maadi, Cairo, and will offer its residents entertainment and dining experiences from a hyper market to ice skating and cinemas, while also housing offices.

“The real estate market is looking brighter than ever, and the market is stable. For potential homebuyers, the main factor that affects them is the price and location,” said Morshedy, adding that they always aim to offer clients the best value and competitive prices.

The company also plans on showing projects in 6th of October City, Nasr City, Maadi, Ring Road and Kattameya.

According to Oxford Business Group, the first and second quarter of 2017 saw the pound stabilising, FDI rise and economic reform translating into greater certainty in the sector, with developers continuing with existing projects and launching new and innovative ones. In addition, new metropolises and expanding satellite cities in the country is expected to absorb population growth and reduce densities in Central Cairo. NextMove exhibitors will be showing just a few of these projects at the show this year.

“The government and the private sector have major plans for the real estate sector over the next few years, for both local and foreign investors. The appetite for property remains substantial, with experts revealing property represents around a third to half of Egyptian families’ wealth within middle and high-income levels,” says Chris Speller, Cityscape Group Director.

“The demand for middle-income housing in Egypt remains a central issue, and what NextMove Egypt aims to do is connect the country’s residential developers with potential homebuyers. In addition, the rise in consumer confidence and attractive payment plans at the show all point to NextMove Egypt being ideally positioned to facilitate real estate investment,” he added.

This year’s exhibitors also include Porto Vacation Club (Amer Group), Living Yards Developments, Safwa Urban Development (SUD), Zahraa El Maadi Investment & Development Co., La Mirada, and many more.

NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape, is supported by Platinum Sponsor Next Home, and Silver Sponsors; Master Group and Contact Mortgage Finance.

For more information visit: https://www.nextmoveegypt.com/en/home.html.

 

Developers reveal plans for Egypt’s real estate sector

Smart homes, villas in serene communities, and apartments in towering buildings to be revealed at this year’s NextMove Egypt

 

25 September 2018, Cairo, Egypt: Driven by a rebound in the economy, developers at this year’s NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape, will reveal plans for the Egyptian real estate sector over the next few years.

Egypt is witnessing a dramatic turnaround after shaking off economic hardships and a stagnant real estate market over the last two years. Today, the country is building new metropolises, expanding its popular coastal developments and was recently named the most attractive investment destination in Africa for 2019, according to Rand Merchant Bank’s Where to Invest in Africa.

Amid this positive climate, NextMove exhibitors are preparing to launch a range of diverse projects in popular coastal areas and in the country’s newest cities. Taking place from October 18th – 20th at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre (EIEC), in Mehwar Almosheer Tantawy in New Cairo, homebuyers and investors will have the unique opportunity to gain insight into exhibitors’ plans for the real estate sector and capitalise on competitive payment plans, which include special offers and discount prices on townhouses, villas, apartments, and coastal homes across the country.

Here are some of the projects that visitors can get a glimpse of this year:

Palm Zahraa – Exhibitor, Zahraa El Maadi Investment & Development will showcase its residential project Palm Zaharaa in Maadi, Zahraa Maadi. The residential project is near a full range of amenities including social clubs, sport and entertainment centres, and schools. The developer will be offering a 10% down payment and a payment plan which extends over 10-years.

Perla – Located in 6th October, this residential project from exhibitor Brickzey Property Management, features high-rise towers, a private park, social hub, children’s area, medical services and a shopping mall. The project will be completed in 2020.

Smart Life – These fully furnished apartments in New Cairo from developer IC Group features apartments and duplexes equipped with smart home systems and a variety of facilities.

Elite New Capital – Located in the New Capital from exhibitor Landmark for Real Estate Investments, Elite New Capital includes commercial real estate opportunities. The developer will include a 5% discount, 6-year payment instalments, and a 2% minimum payment.

Porto Vacation Club – With projects located in the North Coast, El Ein-Sokhna & Marsa Matrouh, Porto Vacation Club will showcase a range of their coastal properties.

“Housing has always been at the top of the policy agenda for citizens, and developers are speaking to this demand,” says Chris Speller, Cityscape Group Director. “We’re witnessing a rebound in the market and at this year’s show we’ll see this rebound on the show floor with new projects that are pushing the boundaries of the real estate sector.”

This year’s exhibitors include: Upturn Real Estate, Laverde Egypt, Memaar El Morshedy, Azure Architects, Living Yards Developments, Edge Holding and many more.

NextMove Egypt powered by Cityscape is supported by Silver Sponsors: Master Group and Contact Mortgage Finance. For more information visit: https://www.nextmoveegypt.com/en/home.html.

 

 

DEVELOPERS TO REVEAL FUTURE OF EGYPT REAL ESTATE

Developers to speak to the demand from millennials at NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape

9 September 2018, Cairo, Egypt: An array of affordable apartment complexes, coastal residences and ultra-modern villas will be showcased at this year’s NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape, as developers speak to the rising demand from millennials and reveal the future of Egypt’s residential sector.

As the residential sales sector improves, experts maintain that healthy sales in the market reflect the demand from millennials who are now entering the prime home buying age. According to the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, millennials – a generation that makes up almost 40% of Egypt’s population and more than 90% of the current workforce – are driving the demand for real estate in the country.

“Because of their sheer volume, millennials have a major impact on consumption and spending, making them an important engine of the economy. And the first wave of this generation, those in the 25-35 age group, are in their prime home-buying years,” notes the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt.

This year’s NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape will see real estate developers speak directly to the millennial demand as they showcase some of the country’s latest and most popular real estate developments. Taking place from October 18th – 20th at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre (EIEC), in Mehwar Almosheer Tantawy in New Cairo, the event will feature a diverse range of projects from across the country that appeals to first-time homebuyers, investors, and visitors looking for vacation homes in coastal prime areas. Visitors will be able to avail a multitude of affordable real estate opportunities on competitive payment plans, which include special offers and discount prices on townhouses, villas, apartments, and coastal homes across the country.

“Elevated investor interest and a new generation of eager homebuyers looking for a variety of real estate options is bound to make NextMove Egypt one of the most influential property shows in Cairo,” says Chris Speller, Cityscape Group Director.

According to exhibitor Safwa Urban Development (SUD), the majority of their projects to be showcased at the event are located in the New Capital – a city that has garnered significant interest among millennials – and Obour City. Once completed the New Capital is expected to accommodate 5 million people and will be the financial as well as administrative capital of the country and is intended to stimulate the economy by offering thousands of jobs.

Marketing Director at SUD, Ahmed Nabil Amer says the company will showcase residential project Capital Heights 2, and The Hub, a new mall, both located in the New Capital. In addition, SUD will launch its brand new commercial project at this year’s show in Obour City.

“For homebuyers and investors attending the show, we believe that it’s important for them to find investments that are in attractive destinations and can guarantee them a high ROI,” says Amer. “We will also be offering a 0% down payment and up to a 7-year-installment with 0% interest and a discount of up to 200,000 EGP for some units.”

Master Group, NextMove Egypt’s Silver Sponsors, will be showcasing The City Project in the New Capital, which is in close proximity to the Opera House and the highly-anticipated Green River, a combination of open water and planted greenery twice the size of New York’s Central Park.

According to the developer, the project features all buildings from apartments, duplex, penthouses, stand-alone villas, gardens and lakes. It also includes City Square, which consists of various F&B options, a shopping mall, medical centre, social club, and dancing fountain.

Exhibitors this year includes, La Mirada, PUKKA, Memaar El Morshedy, El Batal, Living Yards (The Loft) Akam Developments, Edge Holding, Next Home, Porto Vacation Club, Surouh and many more.

DEVELOPERS TO UNVEIL EGYPT’S TOP RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES

Developers to showcase a range of apartments, villas, townhouses and vacation homes at NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape Egypt

With consumer confidence returning to Egypt’s residential sector, Egyptians are on the lookout for their next real estate opportunity.
According to experts, it’s a positive investment climate with the residential sector witnessing an uplift and the country’s GDP growth expected to accelerate to 5.3%. As a result, developers are responding by continuing with existing projects and launching several new ones.
These developers will showcase their latest projects at this year’s NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape Egypt, from October 18th – 20th at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre (EIEC), in Mehwar Almosheer Tantawy in New Cairo. The event will feature a diverse range of projects from across the country that appeals to first-time homebuyers, investors, and visitors looking for vacation homes in coastal prime areas. Visitors will be able to avail a multitude of affordable real estate opportunities on competitive payment plans, which include special offers and discount prices on townhouses, villas, apartments, and coastal homes across Egypt.
“Buyers are traditionally looking for apartment units, townhouses or villas in areas that are close to places of work, schools, retail and hospitals; and this year our diverse range of developers will be offering these types of properties to visitors with flexible payment plans and affordable prices,” said Chris Speller, Cityscape Group Director. “Many homebuyers are now also looking at the capital’s most promising areas as Cairo expands its metropolis. The latest in the growing list of suburban cities is the New Capital City and New Cairo; some of the areas which will headline this year’s NextMove Egypt,” he added.
The elevated interest from major investors and developers suggests the residential sector is picking up and there are indications of an improvement. According to property consultant JLL, increased investor confidence is evident in the residential market and developers are reporting positive sales performances of the New Capital City, driven by a demand from millennials and the country’s rapidly growing population.
“The ongoing positive sentiment and strong performance across most sectors continue to provide attractive market conditions for further investment, in line with the governments ongoing focus on economic development,” says JLL.
This year’s exhibitors will include Porto Vacation Club (Amer Group), Housing Development Real Estate Investment Company, Uni Estate Egypt LLEE, Azure Architects, Le Mirada, and Zahraa El Maadi to name a few.

About NextMove Egypt:
NextMove Egypt, powered by Cityscape, takes place from the 18 – 20 October at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre (EIEC), in Mehwar Almosheer Tantawy in New Cairo. NextMove Egypt will showcase hundreds of real estate projects from across Egypt, offering homebuyers and investors the ideal platform to secure their next townhouse, villa or apartment. NextMove is powered by Cityscape, which launched in 2002 and has since grown to be the largest real estate event brand globally. Cityscape has welcomed over 500,000 real estate professionals and investors from over 160 countries.
For more information visit: https://www.nextmoveegypt.com/en/home.html.

Diamond Dust: Behind-the-Scenes with the Stars & Crew

تراب الماس

The seed of an idea, the hours of writing, the taking of a book and bringing it to the big screen. The synergy behind an unnerving thriller that has become one of the most talked about films to capture our attention this year. Cairo West Magazine met up with the talents behind the film that is packing cinemas citywide.

Read our in-depth interview with Asser Yassin here 

Menna Shalaby

What were your first thoughts when you heard you had been cast for the role of Sara in Turab El Mass?

My immediate reaction was to be proud and happy to be part of a Marwan Hamed movie. Sara’s role was new and different for me, but I really liked the script. I worked on preparing for the role by imagining what Sara’s strengths and weaknesses could be.

Did the role present any particular challenges?

One of the biggest challenges I met was preparing for the scene where Sara is violated. I was totally traumatized, it felt an emotional roller-coaster.

Shereen Reda

What was the key to getting inside your character of Bushra Sera in Turab El Mass?

Bushra Sera is a socialite, she does great charity work, but she has two sides to her. She is also a human trafficker. That’s the dark side of her nature. You do see her vulnerability though when she is put under pressure. I needed to capture how she acts, how she reacts. She is quite an interesting character. She is a worldly woman, she’s been around, she is very well respected, this is where she gets her strength from.

How did you prepare for the role?

It actually started three years ago when the movie was first visualized, so I had all that time to practise. I first read the script three years ago, but when production picked up again she was portrayed in a completely different way. I drew on both personas to create her. And of course, there are many strong women I know, not following her trade of course (laugh), who served as inspiration.

Eyad Nassar

Although your role of Sherif Mourad is not known under that name in the book Turab El Mass, it has a complex and intriguing place in the film. Why do you think this role was inserted, and how does it impact the storyline?

By creating this extra character when the script was written, there is the addition of a new twist with added suspense. Sherif Mourad does exist in the novel, albeit under another name, but with the same characteristics.

When changing a novel into a movie, you have to introduce it differently. The magic of drama lies in its unpredictability. By creating new characters and events you are able to construct the dramatic pull of the movie.

How difficult was it to get into the character?

I’m always a bit scared, it is always a challenge. In this job, you have to be decisive as to how best to perform the lines, in order to open up the character.

Marwan Hamed (Director)

What excited you most when you first read Turab El Mass?

It’s a brilliant thriller, and I love thrillers. Firstly, I thought it was a very entertaining novel. I was amazed by the characters and the historical link, which was really the plot. This is the third time I have turned one of Ahmed Mourad’s novels into a film. He writes in a very cinematic way. Rather than being simply literature, his work is very visual. Maybe this comes from him being a graduate of film school, he was originally a Director of Photography, which strongly affects the way he writes and probably contributes towards his popularity with the younger scene as well.

How did you select the cast for the particular roles?

Usually, I try to take risks with people. To me, it’s very important to cast an actor who has not done this type of role before. I like to work with talented actors, disciplined actors, who may not seem like the right fit at first. They must be able to make a huge effort, I believe that a good performance comes from hard work and preparation. When this is present, you can create a great film.

Ahmed Mourad (Author)

How did you develop the plot for Turab El Mass, was it a long process or did it fall into place quickly? 

AM: Turab El Mass is a novel that poses the question, ’What if there were no justice in the world? Could humans go out and take their own revenge and rights if all the world had descended into chaos?’ I started building the plot upon a main character who prosecutes and punishes as if he has the divine right; he decides who dies and who lives, and he believes this is justice.

My hardest challenge was in presenting the opposite to what readers or viewers would anticipate, while remaining exciting and thrilling. All the characters have paradoxical characteristics, and this is generally how everyone is in life. We are all in shades of grey, not black and white. This was hard to execute because it is easier to present a good, kind character with no evil temptations or a dark side.

How do you feel about having the role of Sherif Mourad added to the plot in the screen version? 

Sherif Mourad is actually the character of Ibrahim in the novel, a simple, sane man standing in Tahrir. I imagined what this character would have become eight years later. Where would he be? The character of Sherif evolved from the version in the novel, moving up to the movie timeline which is set in 2018.

There must be changes in a film adaptation. You cannot move the main pillars, but you can present the story line visually with different sources, feelings and music, so there is a change from the novel to the movie that still holds the same soul.

You appear to have a natural chemistry with Marwan Hamed, the director of Turab El Mass.

 

We spent two years in the cinema institute together, Marwan studied direction and I studied cinematography. Visuals brought us together, I love a visual style within written work. He was very keen on my script and had the ability to present it in a professional way. I believe he is the most talented director when it comes to transforming Egyptian novels into movies. There must be empathy between us to have presented an amazing bunch of movies together that will withstand the length of time. My aim is to create unforgettable movies.

Ahmed El Morsy (Cinematographer)

Was Turab El Mass challenging to film, and what special techniques did you use?

Yes, it had initial challenges, as it was coming from a novel, but with a different point of view. There were a lot of expectations from the audience. I thought a lot before I started setting my plan. This is a dramatic and ‘dark’ movie, so artistically I drew on ‘film noire’ a lot with the use of shadowy areas. You need to use light and shadow as statements to set the mood, to guide the audience. Even if you turn off the sound you should feel the drama of the scene.

Why Your Child Should Be Learning Meditation in School

By Steve Gooch

“It’s like an extra tool in your backpack. Mindfulness Rocks!” said one student who had been introduced to the practice of mindfulness meditation in his school. Another said, “It helps you concentrate. I use it every time I have a hard test. It brings my attention back to the test and the problem.”

All over the world, the growth of mindfulness meditation as a way of coping with everyday stress, reducing anxiety, increasing productivity and bringing a sense of peace and reflective calm into people’s lives has been astonishing. It is being championed by major corporations like General Mills, Goldman Sachs, Google, Apple, and Nike, and it is finding its way into the world’s schools. It has been suggested that in years to come, the practice of mindfulness meditation will be seen in the same way that we now see going to the gym or jogging. It’s a way of looking after the wellbeing of our own minds.

WHAT IS MINDFULNESS MEDITATION?

Self-awareness and concentration are skills that underpin all effective education, but they are also the key skills that are simply not taught in schools. Today’s students live in a fast-paced, media saturated world, where the pressures to get good exam grades, get a place at a good university and succeed in their chosen careers are mounting all the time. Compounding the stress and anxiety that this causes are the home environments and life circumstances of some students that can put an extra burden on them. Today’s kids are under growing psychological pressure, which is taking its toll on their mental health and wellbeing. The mental health of young people is under assault as never before.

It is “… the meditative state of being fully aware of the present moment and of being self-conscious of this awareness; a state of intense concentration on one’s own thought processes…” according to one definition.

Teachers deal with this every day. Routinely and many times a day, students are told to ‘pay attention’, but no one teaches them how. Mindfulness meditation can address this issue in a very powerful way. Recent research in the fields of psychology, education and neuroscience have shown the positive effects that a short daily meditation practice or ‘Quiet Time’ have on students’ wellbeing, social skills and academic attainment, which comes from developing the ability to simply pay attention to the present moment. Students find that they can process information more quickly, have a better working memory, are more creative and display greater cognitive flexibility.

HOW DO YOU “DO” MINDFULNESS MEDITATION?

 

  • Close your eyes and put your attention on your body. Be aware of your feet on the ground and the movement of your breath. Notice the inbreath at the nostrils, the expansion of your rib cage, then notice the warmth of the air as it leaves the body. Stay with this for just two minutes without your attention wavering.
  • It’s very simple and very difficult isn’t it? Notice how your mind wandered off on to something else quite quickly. We all have this assumption that we are in control of our own minds. Nothing can be further from the truth. Your mind, like a boisterous puppy, wants to run around and do its own thing. It doesn’t want to just ‘sit’. It takes time to train it to stay focused. To get it to really concentrate on what is happening right now and exclude everything else.
THE BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS
  • The benefits of this type of practice don’t just stop at improved concentration. Students who have been through a programme of mindfulness in school have reported higher levels of optimism about their futures, more positive emotional states, stronger self-identity and self-worth and they take better care of their health. A report published in ‘JAMA Internal Medicine’ suggested that mindfulness meditation can help ease psychological stressors such as anxiety, stress, depression and physical pain. This has shown to be the case in dozens upon dozens of other studies across the globe. Getting students to breathe deeply and focus on themselves, rather than what is happening externally to them is very effective in reducing the sort of life-stresses that we are all otherwise subject to. It filters out all of those anxieties about the future, and memories of the past and pins the mind to the present.
  • A daily meditation practice can also improve a student’s social life, as it leads to increased positive social behaviour (such as helping others) and decreased anti-social behaviour (such as anger and disobedience). As one 9-year-old put it, “When I get mad at something or somebody, I just take some deep breaths, keep doing my work and tune everyone out. It gives you good confidence when you need to do something important.”
  • In one school in Baltimore in the US, a Mindful Moment Room has been set up where disruptive students can be sent, instead of to the traditional detention room or for a telling off from the Principal. This is not seen as a punishment but an opportunity for those students to engage in a few minutes of meditation. Rates of misbehaviour in the school since the introduction of the Mindful Moment Room have plummeted and the Principal has reported that she almost never sees badly behaved students anymore.
THE BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS

Teachers are also reporting that in taking up a meditation practice themselves, they are much more able to cope with the daily stresses of their workload and the pressures of an overburdened curriculum. It is helping them focus and engage more meaningfully with their students. Rates of depression, stress and anxiety are all affected positively by encouraging staff to take up the practice, and days off due to sickness go down dramatically. Building a mindfulness meditation programme into a school’s day is a win-win situation for everyone.

INTERESTED? HOW TO GET STARTED!

Firstly, it is important to stress the secular nature of the practice and that it is a science-based stress reduction technique. An expert should talk to the staff and host a presentation for parents. It is critical that the students, teachers and parents should opt into the programme, rather than have it forced upon them.

As one Principal noted, “The way you get a whole school of students to do this program is when you’re not trying to get them to do it; it just happens when the school community has decided that they want it.”

Isn’t it time we did something for the mental health and academic achievements of our children by getting them to engage in a practice that will serve them well for the rest of their lives? Students win, parents win, teachers win, society wins.