Whats New DEC 2016

December 4, 2016

NOW OPEN @ Dandy Mega Mall

Beirut Express is now open at Dandy Mega Mall, where a menu of authentic Lebanese freshly baked Manakish is prepared for you by our Lebanese chef along with a variety of Lebanese and international sandwiches flamed-grilled with passion and filled with quality ingredients.

We deliver to Smart Village, Cairo Alex Desert Road and Sheikh Zayed.

Location: The food court

Tel: 02 3539 0431

Kix

It‘s all about the kickin’ flavor! By that we mean overnight margination, crispy caramelized sweet skin, and the tenderest roasted chicken. Succulent tender Roasted Chicken and much more.

Location: The food court

Tel: 012 0222 2069

B&D

B&D Famous Toy Stores Chain has finally opened a Gigantic Toy Store at Dandy Mega Mall where you can find all the toys you can’t find anywhere else.

Location: The food court

Tel: 010 0020 2910

Services

Rakna is an on demand parking service. Using our mobile application, you can request a Valet to come pick up your car and we will park it for you in one of our secure partner garages. Whenever you need your car back, just let us know through the app and we will drive it back to you at your desired location within 15 to 20 min.

Sun-Thu: 8:30 am-9:00 pm.

Qubix will Design, Develop, and Deploy. Meaning once they acquire your needs, a tailored design will be created just for you, which will then be manufactured in their factory and delivered to your premises as a ‘Turn Key’ solution.

Facebook: @qubixstudios

Instagram: @qubixstudios

Website: www.qubixstudios.com

NOW OPEN @ Palm Hills

La Coupe

The wait is finally over, La Coupe Salon has announced its opening at Palm Hills! Committed to providing its customers with the highest level of of service, top brands of beauty and hair care products.

Address: Street 88 Mall, Palm Hills Compound, 6th of October City

Tel: 012 8087 7757

NOW OPEN @ Arkan Plaza

Dutch Delights is an exclusive F&B franchise that offers fresh world-class Dutch sweet bites for the first time in Egypt. Served warm and right-off-the-pan, Dutch Delights brings you new and authentic delicacies from Amsterdam’s most popular dishes. With age-old European recipes tailored to match all appetites, Dutch Delights provides a collection of mouth-watering flavours that makes each served dish both unique and personal. Above all, Dutch Delights family guarantees you, young & old, a special taste of Europe mixed with a lot of boundless fun. Be there at the grand opening of Dutch Delights at Arkan Mall on the 15th of December 2016.

Opening hours:12 pm – 12 am

Tel:010 6563 6496

010 0360 2719

NOW OPEN @ Mohandessin

NASEEJ by Mardini

Located in the heart of Cairo’s Mohandessin district, Naseej is an all-Egyptian home fabrics brand catering to the modern Cairiene. Naseej’s flagship store displays four different fabric themes, each of which has been carefully designed and colored to set a different mood. Their first theme is Paradiso, consisting mostly of bright florals and patterns. Second is Ethnic, a theme for the modern-day nomad. Third is Monarch, a classic range of silk and velour fabrics with a modern-day twist. And finally, Basics by Naseej, a wide range of textured and plain fabrics perfect for the minimalists going for a Corbusier-inspired interior.

Address: 24 Al-Ryad St., off Shehab (first right after Koueider), Mohandessin.

Tel: 01061266665

Facebook: naseefabrics

Instagram: naseejfabrics

NOW OPEN @ Zamalek

European restaurant and cafe, Ovio, recently launched in Zamalek as ‘Little Ovio’. Located on Brazil Street, Little Ovio offers a variety of fresh bread, patisserie, cakes, coffee and juices, along with their own assortment of flavoured honey and olive oil. You can also create your own sandwich or Greek yogurt parfait using fresh and healthy ingredients.

Address: 6, Brazil Street Zamalek

Tel: 0106 444 1228

STACKED® has taken the famous club and reinvented it, with over 20 variations on the traditional club sandwich recipe: European, Asian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern.

STACKED – The Club Sandwich Deli® is the first and only club sandwich deli in Egypt.

Address: NO. 2 Taha Hussein St. Zamalek

Tel: 010 0019 0700

Downtown Mall

Aroma Loung

Address: Building S1 ground floor.

Kazouza

Address: Outdoor area beside entrance 2

Lilly Linen

Address: Building S3 ground floor.

Aloush Cafe

Address: Building S2 ground floor.

Aura Mart

Address: Building S2 ground floor.

Lightology

Address: Building S3 ground floor.

New Cairo – The Waterway

Address: Building B, BFO4, 1st Floor,

The Waterway

Tel : 0102 858 8004

New Cairo – Point 90 Mall

Tamara Elna

Address: Point 90 Mall, New Cairo

Maadi

Sami Amin

Address: 40 Hadayk Street, Thakanat El Maadi Behind McDonalds Road 9

Tel: 02 235 85822

Mobile: 012 0044 0426

Dahabiya

December 4, 2016

Sailing The Glorious Nile The Authentic Way

By Amina El Fayoumi

A Dahabiya, which literally translates to “the golden one” in Arabic, is a large comfortable shallow-bottomed sailing boat with two large sails, traditionally used by the Egyptian royal family, as well as aristocrats and celebrities in their luxurious travels up and down the waters of the legendary Nile. It’s the improved, more modern, version of the ancient feluccas with their typical skilled Rais (skipper) in long galabeyas. These are true sailboats; powered by the wind only. There is no engine which means travelers can enjoy an unparalleled sense of peace and tranquility, but risk being towed by a tug when there’s not enough wind to fill the sails.

Accommodating just around 12 passengers on average, dahabiyas, are exclusive means of travel with family and friends. The crew has completely separate quarters to ensure the guests’ privacy. The relatively small-sized, easy to maneuver dahabiyas are able to sail to lesser renowned sites only frequented by a select few. Dayabiya journeys can take distinguished travelers not only to the internationally celebrated highlights on the banks of the river Nile, but also to less famous monuments and islands in the river and villages along the banks, where the large cruise ships can never access or moor.

The trip itinerary, usually between the months of September to May, successfully blends the historical and magical elements of landscape with tours between Aswan and Luxor including visits to the High Dam, Philae Temple, the Botanical Garden Island in Aswan, Kom Ombo temple, Edfu temple, Esna and all the Luxor landmarks like the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut temple and the Colossi of Memnon, Luxor and Karnak temples.

A typical day on board the dahabiya is centered on its half-shaded sun deck, the heart of the dahabiya. With abundant chairs, sun beds and dining tables, this is the perfect place to enjoy daily life on the riverbanks and watch the gorgeous landscape gliding by. Meals are freshly prepared on board and served on the sundeck, in the dining room or on a special spot on the banks of the Nile. Accommodation on board usually consists of 6 to 8 luxuriously furnished fully equipped ensuite cabins, which can host up to two people. Prices include full board, excursions and transfers, and are based on two people sharing a cabin.
Cairo West Magazine has compiled for its readers a list of dahabiyas cruising up and down the Nile offering their travelers a once in a lifetime experience. The average cost for 10 Egyptians would be around 25,000 EGP per dahabiya for 5 days between Luxor and Aswan. Add another 500 EGP per person for sightseeing and excursions:

On Board El Bey

*El Bey (The Lord)

* El Hanem (The Lady)

*Zahra (Flower)

*Nesma (Breeze)

*Amber

*Musk

Dahabiya The Orient

*Dahabiya the Orient can accommodate up to 10 guests in four cabins and one suite.

*Dahabiya Zekrayaat can accommodate up to 12 guests in four cabins and two suites.

Price upon application

All Tours Egypt Dahabiya Cruises

*Sonesta Amirat Dahabiya Nile Cruise

Price upon application

8 Days

*Dahabeya Nebyt Tour

Price upon application

8 Days/ 7 Nights

*Agatha Christie Dahabiya Cruise Tours

Price upon application

8 Days / 7 Nights

Nour El Nil

*Nour El Nil offers 4 boats:

Assouan and Malouka (both accommodating 16)

El Nil and Meroe (both accommodating 20)

Esna-Aswan cruise (Mon-Sat)

Sept-May, departs Mondays

6 days, 5 nights

€1,100-1,700 (sharing Luxury Room) / €1,600-2,050 (sharing Panoramic Suite) / €1,800-2,900 (single), per person per cruise (all inclusive)

* Local prices quoted upon application

Larger Steam Boats:

*M/S Eugenie, the first ship to sail Lake Nasser, was named to commemorate the historic opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, which was attended by the crown heads of Europe including the Empress Eugenie of France. With just 50 cabins and two luxurious suites, Eugenie sails every Monday between Aswan and Abu Simbel for 4 nights/5 days.

*King Fouad’s Steamship: The S/S Sudan

Built for his Majesty King Fouad around 1900, The Sudan, offers 21 state rooms including 5 suites. Now, fortunate guests can live the luxury, grandeur and style of days gone by aboard the dahabiya Sudan when they select one of the following cruises:

The Dynasty Cruise: Luxor to Aswan, five days Nile cruise, from €1050 to €1500 per person, for a double standard cabin.

The Eternal Banks Cruise: Aswan to Luxor, four days/three nights, from €850 to €1250 per person, for a double standard cabin.

*Local prices quoted upon application
Contact links:

On Board El Bey

http://www.dahabiya.com/about/our-boats/el-bey.html

Nile Dahabiya Boats

http://www.nile-dahabiya.com/boats.html

All Tours Egypt Cruises

http://www.alltoursegypt.com/tours/

http://www.orientaltoursegypt.com/Dahabeya/m-s-eugenie

http://www.steam-ship-sudan.com/en/

http://www.nourelnil.com/

Nour El Nil

Digital Nomads in Dahab

December 4, 2016

Living and Working the Dream at CoworkInn

By Hilary Diack

Feeling boxed in by four walls and the smog of the city? The 9-5 routine destroying your soul? Now that we can stay connected and still be productive 24/7, from virtually anywhere, Cairo West Magazine can’t resist sharing our new discovery. Dahab resident and entrepreneur, Mira Arnold, gives us the lowdown on how to make work seem like play in idyllic surroundings. Get your bags packed!

CWM: What is the concept behind CoworkInn?

MA: CoworkInn is a place where people, mostly digital nomads, from everywhere in the world, can meet and work. The concept is to work in a different place, to find new inspirations, to meet new people and exchange your ideas with them, to form a community, to be motivated by others. Having workshops and camps to learn new things, and to jump in the pool or the sea for a little break.

How did the idea come about?

I started in a start-up enterprise, which was really nice, but I felt that I was missing something. So I wanted to start my own business and the best place for it was Dahab, where I worked seven years ago as a dive guide. I love Dahab so much, and I always wanted to live here, so I decided to create a co-working space there. The initial plan was to have a hostel, but then I met so many interesting business people, digital nomads as we describe them. I wanted to be surrounded by them, and that was how my idea of the co-working space came into being.

Is the facility used mainly by Egyptian residents, or are you finding interest coming from abroad?
There are many people who are interested and not just Egyptians. Germans come regularly, but we also have people from every other country and culture.
Are there many people who have chosen to continue working while using Dahab as their base?
Yes, many people come to Dahab to work from here and to enjoy the beauty of Dahab. This work-life-balance works out perfectly and all the guests we have had want to come back soon. But some people also ask about just coming on vacation. That’s why we have a new project called JustInn Dahab where people can also come just for holidays.

What are the main advantages of living in Dahab?
In Dahab you are surrounded by sea and mountains; it’s so beautiful here. It’s sunny and warm and the stars are amazing. But the best is the community: Dahab is like one big family and you feel so at home, welcome and loved here.

Do you have any logistical challenges or are you connected with all the tech required?
The main challenge is the Internet: it can be really slowly in Egypt, but we generally have a stable, good Internet connection, and always more than one backup.
Do you see this as a new trend where people can still be creative and work while enjoying a more natural lifestyle?

Yes, I think this is a new and positive trend. You are so much more productive and creative if you have a chance to calm down, take a walk along the beach, meet relaxed, agreeable people and just be surrounded by love.

Upcoming Events December 2016

December 4, 2016

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR VENUES

December 4, 2016

Cairo Marriott Hotel

24^th and 25^th of December:

On Christmas Eve guests can enjoy a fabulous dinner complete with Lobster, Duck Foie Gras and Salmon Soufflé with Champagne Sabayon at Saraya Gallery. On the 25^th of December, a delectable lunch of smoked duck, grilled sea scallops and roasted veal tenderloin will be served to perfection. If you’re in the mood for something a little different, then go for Roy’s dinner buffet.

31^st of December:

Celebrations await to bid 2016 goodbye and welcome the New Year in style! For a dinner party, head to Saraya Gallery or JW’s Steakhouse for a meticulously crafted buffet. Do it the Oriental way at Som3a Basha, while the Empress Show Lounge will have you entertained all night long with star performances, a DJ and a band.

Tel: 02 27283000

Dusit Thani LakeView

24^th and 25^th of December:

At the peak of the festive season Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo offers a variety of seasonal activities and packages allowing guests to enjoy the holiday and celebrate in style; from deliciously filling Thai Christmas meals to extensive buffets and mouth-watering delights prepared by the finest Thai chefs in Egypt. Spend a warm Christmas Eve with Santa Claus who will keep your little ones entertained.

Tel: 0112 281 9337

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza

Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza is definitely saying goodbye to 2016 and welcoming 2017 in with glamour.

24^th and 25^th of December:

From intricate age-old Egyptian recipes to popular always-on-demand recipes; Zitouni has a Christmas buffet that will guarantee a happy palate and a festive soul.

For an elaborate meal, enjoy a distinguished six course menu cooked at the hands of Bella restaurant’s expert chefs, or an eight-course menu at 8 restaurant, for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, where Chinese is a way of living, not just a cuisine.

For an evening just as elegant, but slightly more laid back; enjoy a Christmas dinner to the tunes of the live jazz band entertaining you for the night at Upper Deck – all the festivity and Christmas spirit, as well as the renowned Four Seasons luxury.

Embark on a new journey for 2017, by marking its beginning with style at Graffiti Bar and Lounge – where an especially designed entertainment program along with live entertainment will have you dancing your way into 2017.

Tel: 02 27917000

InterContinental Cairo Semiramis

24^th and 25^th of December:

Experience authentic Lebanese hospitality with Chef Bazarranges à la carte menus on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Sabaya.The Grill offers a fabulous Noël sur le Nile gala dinner on Christmas Eve with a five-course dinner. At Birdcage, Thai chefs bring out a special ambiance throughout the Holiday season. Chef Narong’s irresistible à la carte menus are spectacular on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Pane Vino celebrates Christmas Eve with an exclusive Dinner Dance with Cairo’s premier crooner Ahmed Harfoush.

31^st of December:

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Dance, an elegant yet fun dinner event with live entertainment and special menu delights. Birdcage offers New Year’s Eve set menus of Thai delicacies to tantalize your taste buds. To party like the Italians do, join us at the ultimate New Year’s Eve celebration at Pane Vino with delicious specialties, accompanied by Sara and Khalid’s music band, a DJ and a belly dancer.

Tel: 02798 8000

JW Marriott Cairo

24^th, 25^th and 31^st of December:

Mirage Café offers plenty of Christmas cheer with a special lunch menu on the 24^th and a festive buffet on the 25^th. There will be a special dinner on Christmas Eve at Plateau and a family style lunch on the 25^th of December.

Cucina, JW Steakhouse and Lemongrass will also feature special festive menus for Christmas Eve and New Year.

Mandara Spa Christmas and New Year offers.

Valid from December 23^rd until January 8^th – a one and a half hour massage of your choice, a tranquil bath, and use of swimming pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and relaxation area for EGP 1,800 (per couple).

Tel: 02 24115588

Kempinski Nile Hotel

31^st of December:

The Blue Restaurant & Grill will offer a belly dancer and live classical music as entertainment, along with a rich buffet, mineral water and soft drinks and 20% discount on Ruinart champagne.

Osmanly Turkish restaurant will offer a fine-dining six course experience, mineral water and soft drinks and 20% discount on Ruinart champagne.

Floor 10 & Jazz Bar will pull out all the stops with a belly dancer, live electric violin and DJ. The price includes a cold and hot selection of canapés, sushi, a glass of sparkling wine, 20% discount on Ruinart champagne and free corkage fee. The raffle draw winner will receive a complimentary stay at a sister property.

Tel: 02 27980000

Le Meridien Cairo Airport

24^th and 25^th of December :

Get together and feel the magic of the festive season with family and friends at EVOO, with a delightful dinner buffet on the 24^thof December or a special Christmas lunch buffet on the 25^th of December.

31^st of December:

Unlock 2017 with an exhilarating celebration at Live Sports Bar. Get ready to dance away the old year to the latest tunes of our DJ while enjoying our festive selection of sparkling cocktails. A fortune-teller and many more surprises await. Or toast to the New-Year at Mezzeh, with the unmistakable shakes of the phenomenal belly dancer, Magda, and a delectable Lebanese set menu.

Room Package: Celebrate the New Year’s Eve in unparalleled style with our exclusive Room offer for only (EGP 900 per person in a double room), which includes:

Entrance to Live’s Sports Bar New Year’s Eve party

Dinner at Mezzeh for two people

In Room Dining Continental Breakfast

Special Welcome Amenities

Tel: 02 22659680/600

Le Méridien Heliopolis

24^th and 25^th of December :

Special festive menus will be available at Marco Polo, St. Germain, and Rachawadee Thai restaurant.

31^st of December:

There will be a special open buffet dinner at St. Germain, live entertainment will keep everyone entertained at Jasmin lounge, and you can dance in the New Year at Barracuda Discotheque.

Tel: 02 290 50 55 / 1819

Nile Ritz-Carlton,Cairo

7^thDecember:

Christmas Movie Room

There will be a thrilling movie schedule for your kids, featuring Christmas films.

Daily 3:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m.

15^th of December:

White Wishing Tree

Witness the hotel transform into an enchanting Christmas wonderland, and make an orphan’s dream comes true. A White Wishing Tree embraces young children’s whispers as they scribble their wishes on paper tags and tie them to the tree’s branches. Donations start from the Christmas tree lighting ceremony to the first day of the New Year.

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Embrace the season with a tree lighting ceremony. Families will enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, gluhwein and cookies as they listen to holiday classics. Santa Claus will make a special guest appearance to help light the tree. The ceremony is complimentary and is open to the public, and all families can take a photo with Santa to take home. The ceremony will take place from 8 pm to 9 pm.

23^rd of December:

Christmas Carols will be held at The Lobby Lounge.

24^thand 25th of December:

Sip hot chocolate, delight in a heavenly chocolate fountain accompanied by jingle macaroons, gingersnap cookies, cinnamon biscuits, melt-in-mouth marshmallows, nut toppings and festive fruits. The young and young-at-heart can also have photos taken with Santa while enjoying the delicious and festive treats. Gather your family and friends and join us in Culina for an extended delicious Christmas brunch on the 24th as we welcome you with sparkling champagne. On the 24th Bab El Sharq and Culina offer a tantalizing Christmas dinner featuring traditional oriental favorites served at food stations in addition to à la carte menus. On Christmas Eve an intimate evening of fine dining at Vivo offers a five-course dinner with an Italian flair,

or celebrate Christmas Eve and party all night at NOX overlooking the best view in Cairo, with exciting DJ beats and special violin show by Samira Riachy.

31^st of December:

Indulge in a luxurious New Year’s Day Arabian dinner buffet with an extravagant belly dancers show and a surprise Arabic singer who will keep you amused all night long at Bab El Sharq and Culina. Or put on your dancing shoes and Join us for a luxury evening of pure indulgence at NOX!

Tel: 02 25778899

Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel

24^th, 25^th and 31^st of December:

Celebrate with a Chinese-style Christmas Eve set menu and Christmas lunch on the 25^th of December at our Chinese restaurant Chinoix.

Celebrate Christmas Eve with a live DJ and exotic belly dancer, and party in style this New Year’s Eve at Vintage Bar & Lounge.

Enjoy a Christmas Dinner buffet and special Santa Claus giveaways on Christmas Eve from 6.30 pm till 10.30 pm and a Christmas Lunch on the 25^th of December at Citron.

Make it a bright and fresh start to the New Year in the welcoming surroundings of Citron. Pass a memorable night with our generous dinner buffet with live cooking stations and live entertainment

Tel: 02 24063333

Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski

Celebrate this holiday’s joyful moments within the festive surroundings of Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski. Feel the magic as you step into our palace and embrace the jolliness of the season with all its blessings.

This year’s celebration is an exuberant one with Amr Diab joining us live in our ballroom for a special Christmas Event presented by Checkmate Events. Bring your friends and loved ones on Christmas day to make this evening a memorable one. Also, check our special resident package for the holidays and our restaurant offers. Book now at the palace and live luxury.

The Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski invites you to celebrate the holidays with style. For reservations, please Tel: 02 2389 9000.

Sheraton Soma Bay

Special Deals:

Book now and get a 20% discount for New Year and Christmas accommodation and gala dinners.

Upgrade to next room category

Last date for booking is December 10^th.

Tel: 065 356 2584-9

The Westin Soma Bay Golf Resort & Spa

Special deals:

Book now and get a 20% discount for New Year and Christmas accommodation and gala dinners.

Book now and get a 20% discount for New Year and Christmas

Free transportation from/to airport

Last date for booking is December 10th.

Tel: 065 3562600

Sheraton Montazah Hotel Alexandria

31^st of December:

A full program is being prepared for couples, groups and families at Tabia ballroom, Caesar Inn and Aquarius Discotheque. There will be different New Year’s parties with specialty cuisines including a gala party with a variety of entertainment

shows including the latest Arabic and foreign hits with DJ Mohamed Halawa, live songs by singer Hagar and fantastic belly dancing by Hoda and Donia.

Tel: 03 5480550

* All venues are listed in alphabetical order.

Christmas Bazaars West Side

December 4, 2016

Americana Plaza -Sheikh Zayed

Date: Friday, December 2^nd

Time: 10 am to 11 pm

BISC – The British International School – Beverly Hills

Date: Wednesday, December 14^th

Time: Starting 8 am

Join us for shopping, kids’ activities, and food and holiday fun at our annual Christmas bazaar!

BSE – The British School of Egypt – Beverly Hills

Date: Saturday, December 3^rd

Time: From 12 noon till late

Bring the whole family along and join us for some festive fun at the BSE winter festival for a day filled with activities, food, shopping, live carol singing and lots of Christmas magic.

Dandy Mega Mall

Date: December 23^rd

Time: 12 pm

Ethos International School

Date: December 20^th and 21^st

Stay tuned for Ethos International School’s Annual Winter Show: Winter Wonderland. Not only will pupils display some winter-themed art that they have been working on, Winter Wonderland will also give our talented pupils the chance to showcase their talents in a one-of-a-kind event!

Galleria 40

Date: Friday, December 2^nd

Time: 12 noon to 10 pm

It’s time for Bazarna’s annual Winter Shopping Event! Our shopping events are like no other; we bring you the latest fashion, exclusive designers and chic collection! This is the time you want to support local designers, exhibitors & brands! This is the time you want an ultimate shopping experience! Stay tuned for more updates to be announced soon…

Christmas Bazaars East Side

Americana Plaza Katameya

Date: December 8th and 9th

Santa is celebrating Christmas at Americana Plaza-New Cairo. Bring your family and your friends and enjoy the wide variety of restaurants with exciting shopping concepts and unique handmade products that you won’t find anywhere else. Find items by selective vendors and artists in a great Christmas atmosphere. Let it be a surprise and don’t tell your kids that Santa will be waiting for them with gifts and loads of fun. Also don’t miss out on the Christmas selfie corner.

Downtown Mall

Date: Friday, December 9th – Winter Wonderland event by Bazarna

Date: Friday December 23rd – Christmas Carnival event

The Platform

Date: Thursday, December 15th – Activation announcement and the launch of receiving pics with wishes from our fans.

Saturday, December 17^th – We will start putting all received wishes on the wishing wall at The Platform.

Saturday, December 24^th – Christmas party.

The Platform-Corniche El Maadi, will launch a digital activation 10 days before Christmas, asking our fans to send their pictures with their Christmas wishes and tag #ThePlatformWish. We will display all these wishes on a wishing wall at The Platform.

During Christmas, The Platform will be decorated with a Christmas tree and other Christmas decorations, Santa Claus will give small gifts to our guests and their kids, and we will surprise our guests with a flash mob and cover their reactions.

Fans who sent their wishes will be invited to come and celebrate Christmas, we will tie all these wishes to balloons and let them fly.

ART

December 4, 2016

Osana

Exhibition: Sea Song

Address: 4 El Nady St, Maadi

When: 23^rd November till the end of December 2016

Details: Hugh Sowden is a multidisciplinary artist living in Alexandria. For over 40 years Hugh and his art have traversed the globe, from Europe to the Middle East and Africa to the West Indies. Deeply connected to Egypt throughout his career, Hugh was the head of visual arts at the British International School Cairo for 17 years.

Gypsum Gallery

Exhibition: I’m Not Obliged to Do This &The Trap

Artist: Taha Belal & GÖzde İlkin

Address : 5 Ibrahim Naguib Street, Garden City

When: 30^th November 2016 – 6^th January 2017

Details: Gypsum is thrilled to present two parallel exhibitions opening this November: his second show at the gallery titled I’m Not Obliged to Do This by Cairo-based Taha Belal, and for the first time in Egypt, Istanbul-based artist Gözde İlkin shows her fabric works in a series called The Trap.

Mashrabia Gallery

Exhibition: Eternal Return

Artist: Carlos Torio

Address: 24, Gamal El-Din Abou El-Mahasen St., Garden City

When: 4th December 2016 – 5th January 2017

Details: On this occasion, the artist has chosen the idea of recycling as the return of the residue through the usage of espresso capsules and aluminium covers of wine bottles. With this action, the artist makes out of the repetition and the reiterated gesture, a mantra full of a spiritual and ritual meaning. Carlos Torio, who has already exhibited in Brazil, Spain and Portugal, uses all techniques and materials such as photography, sculpture, collage and installation to reflect on industrial processes, globalization, consumption, mass phenomena, marketing and advertising as dominant powers.

ArtTalks

Exhibition: El Seed

Address: 8 El Kamel Mohamed Street, Zamalek

When: 6th December 2016 – 10 th January 2017

Details: On March 15, 2016, a mind-blowing picture went viral on social media. It showed a view of dispersed rooftops in a seemingly underprivileged and crowded city. And right in the middle was some monumental graffiti with Arabic calligraphy, uniting dozens of building façades to create a surreal flying canvas. The artist behind the black, white, turquoise, and ochre stunning work was El Seed, a celebrated French Tunisian street artist.

Arts-Mart

Exhibition: The Cairo Art Fair II

Address: Km 28, Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, before Dandy Mall and behind Total petrol station

When: 9^th December 2016 – 15^thFebruary 2017

Details: The Cairo Art Fair II is not just about viewing art, but experiencing art. The exhibition provides a medium to physically walk through the contemporary Egyptian art scene today, giving the audience a chance to fully explore and experience the current Egyptian art scene.

The Importance of Art Education in Academic and Career Success

December 4, 2016

The Importance of Art Education in Academic and Career Success

By Steve Gooch

As the academic year kicks into high gear and exams creep ever close, parents all over the country are encouraging their children to get down to some serious study, work hard in school and do their homework. Many are investing in extra tuition to nail those important subjects, like maths, English and science. The pressure is on to grab those A’s and then later, get a place at a “good” university.

But what of the other subjects on the curriculum, like art and music, and in some places, drama and dance, which help to develop a student’s imagination and creative abilities? Too often, these subjects tend to be given little importance, and are marginalised at the expense of those that will lead directly into a “career”. After all, why would a prospective engineer or doctor, need to know how to draw a vase of flowers?

Albert Einstein, the world’s greatest theoretical physicist said, “The greatest scientists are artists as well.” He was stating a fact that all true educationalists understand as a given: that learning and practicing the principles of art is absolutely vital to the development of critical thinking. And critical thinking not only applies to scientists, it extends to all areas of academia, whether it be maths, information technology, history or geography. A’s will get a child into university, and maybe one day they’ll be at the top of their particular profession. But will they stand out and be the Einstein of their field? Probably not. Thinking “outside the box” is vital, and that is a skill that art, more than any other subject, provides.

Imagination: The Womb of Critical Thinking

Problem-solving skills, i.e. the ability to see the world in a different way, to think around a problem and view it from a different angle, takes imagination and is the cornerstone of success in all subjects. And the more advanced the level of study, the more important the skill becomes. It’s a skill that arts educationalists can rightly claim their own. Nowhere else in the curriculum, is it taught so comprehensively and with such a powerful focus on the real world. Imagination is from where all human success springs. Imagination is, let’s be blunt about this, the womb of critical thinking.

Art lessons play an important role in nurturing young minds and developing their creative and imaginative abilities, and this spills over into non-art related subjects. A comprehensive study by James Catterall, professor of education at the University of California in Los Angeles, reported that students who had more involvement in the arts scored better in standardized tests. Catterall said,

“While education in the arts is no magic bullet for what ails many schools, the arts warrant a place in the curriculum because of their intimate ties to most everything we want for our children and schools.”

Art Increases Chance of Academic Success

If parents are worried about the academic success of their children, then more art is needed, not less. It has been widely reported that involvement in the arts can lead to gains in maths, reading, verbal skills, critical thinking, cognitive ability, motivation, concentration, confidence and teamwork. According to Americans for the Arts, a non-profit organization, children are four times more likely to get noted for academic success, when they participate regularly in art activities.

In the area of language development, the practice of art for younger children provides opportunities for them to talk about their work, learning the words for different colours, shapes and the motor skills employed. They learn to use descriptive words to discuss their work and talk about their feelings in relation to their work and the work of others.

The development of motor skills is also enhanced through an engagement with art. Holding a paintbrush, using scissors and scribbling with crayon help with the growth of the finer motor skills that are needed at a later stage of development.

Art engagement helps develop the dexterity needed for writing.

In a world filled with smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions and other technological gadgets, visual literacy is more important than ever. Drawing, painting, making things from clay or sticking beads on to a collage contribute substantially to the development of visual literacy.

According to Dr Kerry Freedman, Head of Art and Design Education at Northern Illinois University, “Parents need to be aware that children learn a lot more from graphic sources now than in the past. Children need to know more about the world than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticize, and use visual information, and how to make choices based on it.”

The world that children are moving into is one filled with visual stimuli of all kinds: marketing logos, advertising hoardings and other graphic symbols, delivered through a variety of media, and at an ever-increasing pace. Having a developed sense of visual literacy helps children and young adults navigate this world, and become smart consumers and producers.

“The kind of people society needs to make it move forward are thinking, inventive people who seek new ways and improvements, not people who can only follow directions. Art is a way to encourage the process and the experience of thinking and making things better,” says MaryAnn Kohl, an arts educator and author of numerous books about art education.

By encouraging children to express themselves and to make things that previously hadn’t existed in the world, they start to develop a sense of innovation and inventiveness that will be necessary skills in their adult lives.

Cultural Awareness Through Art

Allied to the ability to understand the society that exists around us, is cultural awareness. We are constantly bombarded with images from around the world, and we read the world according to our understandings of it. That understanding is framed against our own culture, which we buy into based on social values and the influence of our parents, relatives, friends and colleagues, amongst other things. Through the study of art, we can start to contextualise other cultures and learn that what an artist or designer portrays is simply their interpretation of reality, which may be different, but equally valid, to our own. We develop an insight into other ways of being.

Art has a long and proud history in Egypt, perhaps more so than in any other country. The history of Egypt, and thus civilisation itself, going back several millennia, is told through the creative, visual expressions of generations of artists and craftsmen who highly prized their artistic abilities and creative skills. What would be left of ancient Egypt, were it not for the work of artists? Very little.

“When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come close to the conclusion that the gift of imagination has meant more to me than any talent for absorbing absolute knowledge… Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world,” Einstein said, and in this, he sums up the cultural urgency there is for an educational refocusing on not only visual art, but the other art forms like music, dance and drama as well.

Starting your Mother and Child Journey Right

December 4, 2016

It usually starts after you notice that your cycle is a bit late, which naturally leads to the purchase of a pregnancy test. After those two lines appear on the stick, a woman’s life changes forever. This article is dedicated to the journey that a mother and child go through; some may just be starting the journey, others may be well along their way. Wherever you happen to be, this article includes useful tips to help you along your journey.

The Prenatal Period

Once you find out you are pregnant, it is important to get early and regular prenatal care. It is important to discuss with your physician any medications you are using, since some may not be safe during pregnancy. You need to ensure your vaccinations are up to date, and that you take your flu shot. It is also very important to start a multivitamin containing 400-800 micrograms of folic acid. Your obstetrician will conduct routine ultrasounds during the pregnancy, and request certain blood tests. It is also important to remember to eat healthy, stop smoking, and get at least 2 hours of activity during the week. Do not eat any raw or undercooked foods, and wash vegetables and fruits well before eating them. Finally, if you are around cats regularly, mention this fact to your physician.

The Delivery

This can often be a very exciting and stressful time. Whichever birth plan you choose, it is important to remember that right after delivery, if everything went smoothly and mother and baby are both up to it, to try to have immediate skin-to-skin contact with your baby. This is when the baby is placed on the mother’s chest right after birth, since it helps keep the newborn warm and allows bonding between mother and child. Also, during this time the mother can feed her newborn for the first time.

Natural Birth

Some women prefer having the most natural birth possible. This usually entails an un-medicated approach during labor, and minimal routine interventions and monitoring. If this is a route you prefer to take, make your desires clear to your obstetrician. Coming up with a birth plan is very helpful, and having a supportive partner goes a long way. Other things to focus on include breathing and visualization exercises, and positioning and movement; topics often discussed in childbirth classes.

The Epidural

The epidural is usually administered when the woman is in active labor, which is usually when she is about 4-5cm dilated and is having regular contractions. In the doses given, the drug in the epidural is unlikely to affect the newborn and make him drowsy. The epidural is a very effective form of pain relief during labor, and it allows you to remain clear-headed throughout the process.

The Neonatal Period

Breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding have been proven time and time again, and include protection against certain infections, obesity, allergies, and even certain types of cancers. For this reason, the best nutrition a mother can provide to her newborn is breast milk. This process can sometimes be difficult to start at first. After about four days, the breast milk quantity will increase and also become whiter in color. A mother needs a healthy, well-balanced diet while breastfeeding and can have up to 200 mg of caffeine a day (two mugs of tea, two mugs of instant coffee, or one mug of filter coffee).

Sleep

Do not be surprised when your newborn sleeps for most of the day, a baby needs about 16 to 17 hours of sleep a day. During the first few weeks of life, your newborn will also not stay asleep for more than two to four hours at a time. However, gradually the sleep patterns of children will improve; and usually around 4-6 months (sometimes even earlier) most infants will sleep for longer stretches at night.

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