Cairo Saturday Walks

Capturing Cairo’s Beauty, Chaos, and People

Over two years old, #cairosaturdaywalks was born from an unbound love for Cairo and a strong desire to get to know the city better, discover hidden gems and more importantly practice photography.  What started off as a one-man show by Karim El Hayawan quickly grew to larger expeditions.

With over 3,700 images being taken from the weekly walks, it only seemed fair to give back to the various communities. The collective exhibition was curated by Karim El Hayawan and Nour Kamel, and brought together over 50 local, international, professional and amateur photographers with a common passion for Cairo. The exhibition featured a diverse body of work offering a glimpse into the weekly explorations from the past two years of weekly Cairo Saturday Walks. Concurrent exhibition venues, Photopia in Heliopolis and Markaz in Zamalek displayed work from participating photographers during the last days of January and the first week of February. All proceeds from photo sales went towards building a children’s playground or a small library in one of the frequently visited areas.

10 Minutes with Youssef Nabil

 

From Cairo to New York, meet the Egyptian artist bringing avant-garde

photography to life.

 

By Lydia Schoonderbeek

 

He is a man forever on a journey; he adventures through life, navigating its twists and turns with strength and grace. It is not every day that we get to chat with a world-renowned Egyptian photographer based between New York and Paris. Youssef Nabil talks to Cairo West Magazine about art, life and Egypt.

 

 

CWM: How did it all start?

YN: Since I was a child I always had a visual memory, I would sit at home with my family, and didn’t really say much. I was an introvert; I enjoyed watching people and their behavior. I was very observant of life, everything was visual for me. Especially watching old Egyptian movies, I was fascinated with the Egyptian cinema. From then on I could always tell a story from an image.

 

The idea of holding on to time and being able to keep capture moments of other peoples’ lives, inspired me to make this my profession, and made me want to take pictures. I used to photograph friends at school, and slowly things took off from there. In 1992, I started to become a professional, I only shot in black and white because of my relationship with classic Egyptian cinema. My only source of inspiration is Egyptian cinema, where I got to see different kinds of light, and different photography. Therefore, my work was very cinematic. I started to hand-color my black and white photography using paint, and until today I still hand paint my photography.

 

 

Tell us about your time abroad, and why you left Egypt?

The Culture Minister of France saw my work at an exhibition held at the French Institute in Alexandria, and later invited me to Paris, which I moved to some time later. I was flying back and forth between Paris and New York, where I eventually moved. Conservative ideas about the body make it still a taboo in our culture today, whereas a lot of my work deals with the human body. I was always careful, and I wanted to broaden my art, and so moving to the France, then the USA seemed to be the right thing.

 

From the photographs you have taken, do you have a favorite?

 

Not really, each one of them represents a part of me. Each portrait represents something of that moment in time, they represent a chapter of my life.

 

What is your favorite app?

Shazam – I love this app. There was once a time when I used to ask everyone, “Do know what this song is called?”, and I used to go buy that CD.

 

Things you can’t live without?

Freedom, my camera, and my laptop.

 

Favorite building?

The Pyramids.

March Review

New Releases

9781846144479

Mess: The Manual of Accidents and Mistakes – Keri Smith

Your whole life you’ve been taught to avoid making a mess, this book asks you to do the opposite of what you have been taught.

 

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Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits -to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life – Gretchen Rubin

Rubin’s new book serves as a kind of detailed instruction manual on how to achieve life’s essential goals.

 

UNFORGIVEN

Unforgiven – Lauren Kate

Cam made a bet with Lucifer: he has fifteen days to convince the only girl who really matters to him to love him again.

 

Bestsellers

 

sexandthecitadel

Sex and The Citadel – Shereen El Feki

Award-winning Cairo-based journalist Shereen El Feki explores a highly sensitive and still mainly hidden facet of the Arab world.

 

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How To Read a Person Like a Book – Gerard Nierenberg

How to Read a Person Like a Book teaches you how to “decode” and reply to nonverbal signals from strangers, friends, and business associates.

 

 

A Wrinkle

In Time-Madeleine L’Engle

The story revolves around a young girl whose father, a government scientist, has gone missing after working on a mysterious project called a tesseract.

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The Curiosity House – Lauren Oliver

The continuous action, compelling mystery, and dark, brooding illustrations make this book impossible to put down.

BIG-MAGIC-(1)

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert

Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us.

 

4 Make-Up Tips for Busy Moms

Applying make-up on the go has never been easier. We’ve rounded up the best and most convenient make-up products to suit your non-stop lifestyle.

 

  1. Swap foundation for tinted moisturizer

There’s no point in layering on thick foundation that doesn’t allow your skin to breathe when you get hot and bothered. Tinted moisturizer is lightweight and while it gives your face an even complexion, it also hydrates the skin where foundation doesn’t. Plus, it’s barely visible when you apply, which means it’ll take up minimum time in your morning routine. It also provides your face with SPF 15, giving you one less thing to worry about.

 

Try this: BB Cream by Garnier, available at your local pharmacy.

 

2: Give yourself some color

Giving just a hint of color to the cheekbones is a great way to keep your face looking healthy and flushed, without looking ‘over-done’. The tint blends into the skin with one easy sweep, which you can use your fingers to apply and stays put all day long. The key is to rub into the apple of your cheeks for a more natural look. Low maintenance yet effective.

 

Try this: Benetint cheek tint by Benefit cosmetics, available online at www.benefitcosmetics.com.

 

3: Reduce your busy shine

Whether you’re rushing around doing errands or running after your little one, you’re bound to break out in a sweat! Your make-up needn’t suffer though, because with a pea shaped blob of shine-free base, your make-up will stay looking matte and fresh all day long. Simply apply this evenly around the face before you put your finishing touches on.

 

Try this: Bioderma Sebium Pore refiner, available at your local pharmacy.

 

4: Focus on the eyes

 

If you spend just a little more time on your eyes, then you really look put-together and it creates a focal point on your face. In fact, if the rest of the makeup is so soft, you almost can’t tell a difference until you’ve finished the eyes. Since people look at your eyes a lot, it makes sense to spend a little more time there.

 

Try this: Luxurious mascara for false lash effect by Yves Saint Laurent, available at Mazaya. Liquidlast liner by Mac, available at www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Art Scene

120x150cm

Alkahila

Artist: Mohamed Damrawy

Address:15 El Batal Ahmed Abdel Aziz Street, Mohandessin

When:  6th March- 17th March

Details: Damrawy realized from the beginning that there is no value to art if it doesn’t come from a conscious mind. Only by this way, the viewer, dazzled by the reality in which we live, can feel the world around him.

 

 

Artsmart2

The Arts-Mart Gallery

Exhibition: Fragments of a Luminary

Artist: Omar El Nagdi

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

When:  5th February – 5th March

Details: Arts Mart is pleased to announce the opening of its latest exhibition, Omar El Nagdi “Fragments of a Luminary”, a retrospective show featuring eighty artworks of the iconic Egyptian artist.

 

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CARAVAN

Exhibition: THE KEY

Information: www.oncaravan.org/#!the-key/scoxc

When:  15th March – 15th April

Details: “The Key” is a strategic East-West peace building art exhibition that uses the globally

recognized ancient Egyptian symbol of the Ankh as the canvas for a contemporary message of hope for a harmonious, peaceful and tolerant world. Organized by Caravan,  “TheKey”showcases the work of 40 premier Egyptian, Middle Eastern and Western visual artists and is focused on a modern three-dimensional fiberglass portrayal.

 

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ArtTalks

Exhibition: Doves & Crows

Artist: Yasser Rostom

Address:8 El Kamel Mohamed Street, Zamalek

When:  9th February-15th March

Details: “If you look at drawing, which is that silent poetry, you will find the truth marked for you” Sheikh Mohamed Abdou (March 18, 1904)

As we reflect on the fifth anniversary of a defining moment in our history, Cairo-based surrealist painter Yasser Rostom sheds light on different aspects of the current geopolitical events. Featuring a new body of work in “Doves and Crows,” Rostom mixes literalism with symbolism to create layers of meanings and accentuate the ills afflicting the region as well as the hopes that could salvage the peoples.

 

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al Mashrabia

Exhibition: Humanity

Artist: Amy Abdel Baky

Address: 80 Mohi Eldin Abul Ezz Street, Dokki

When:  20th February – 5th March

Details: Amy’s choice of colour and texture reflect the movement and state of what humans have reached in its vast arrays. “Man does not live on bread alone.” There is love for the fearful, there is joy for the mourning, and there is hope for the hopless. Earth has no sorrow when skies can heal…..

 

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gypsum

Exhibition: Indelible

Artist: Randa Shaath

Address: 5 Ibrahim Naguib Street, Garden City

When:  21st  February – 5th April

Details: Randa Shaath is known for her lucid black and white photographs that document the daily life of Cairo residents, and the rapid transformations that the city has witnessed over the last decade or so. In her latest exhibition entitled “Indelible”, Shaath asks: when does one feel at home? Shaath explores this question through a suite of more than forty colour photographs that she has been working on for the last two years.

 

 

 

February Sports Highlights

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: Mohamed Elneny signs for Arsenal at Arsenal Training Ground at London Colney on January 14, 2016 in St Albans, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Egypt’s Nour El-Sherbini Becomes Youngest Ever New York Squash Tournament Champion

Egyptian squash player Nour El-Sherbini has won the top title in the 2016 Tournament of Champions, an annual international squash championship held in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal.

In front of a sold out crowd at Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall, El-Sherbini, 20, defeated New-York raised 22-year-old Amanda Sobhy, the highest-ranking American ever in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) world rankings.

“Nour came out firing from the very start,” said Sobhy referring to her 20-year-old Egyptian opponent.

El-Sherbini, who was born in Alexandria, is the second Egyptian woman to win the Tournament of Champions. Last year, Raneem El-Weleily cinched the title after defeating the UK’s Alison Waters.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s weird and amazing and incredible,” said El-Sherbini, who became the youngest ever Tournament of Champions winner.

Arsenal’s Elneny out to make Egypt proud

Mohamed Elneny hopes his arrival at Arsenal will help boost the reputation of Egyptian football in England.

Elneny became Arsenal’s first Egyptian player when he joined the club from Basel last week, and follows in the footsteps of countrymen like former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah and Hull’s Ahmed Elmohamady to play in the Premier League.

“I am very keen to work hard in the Premier League — that’s for my own reputation and Egypt’s reputation — and to show everyone that Egyptian players are capable of playing very well in the Premier League,” Elneny told the Arsenal website.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he bought Elneny because of his versatility, as the midfielder can play in both a purely defensive role and as a box-to-box player. He is known for his tireless running ability, a trait he puts down to the long hours he spent playing football in the streets back home in Egypt as a child.

“We would play in the hot weather for more than 10 hours sometimes. That is very normal in Egypt,” Elneny said. “I was the same as any Egyptian kid because we all have a very strong passion for football. We would head straight to the football grounds as soon as we left the classroom.”

Elneny’s father is a football coach in his hometown of Almahalah and taught his son to love football at an early age.

Netflix Finally Coming to Egypt!

It’s time to stock some food and water, and find a comfy spot with good Internet reception, because you aren’t going to be getting up for a while. Netflix is officially confirmed to expand to the Middle East in 2016 and it is about to change your life.

House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Scrotal Recall, Downtown Abbey, Game of Thrones are just a few of the offerings on the menu.

In the works are superhero series that Netflix and Marvel are jointly working on, like Captain America and Iron Man.

Also available on Netflix will be classic movies and TV shows.

As of October 2015, Netflix has almost 70 million subscribers worldwide, including more than 43 million in the USA. The video streaming service gained popularity with original content such as the TV drama House of Cards. Netflix also released and distributed the Egyptian-American documentary The Square, documenting the events of the Egyptian revolution from its early beginnings in January 2011, up until the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

There are 39 million Internet users in Egypt. The average download speed is 1.25 Mbps. So, yes the Egyptian market is a potential target for any popular streaming service like Netflix.

While this is huge news for the I’d-rather-stay-in-and-binge-watch-a-whole-season-of-whatever generation, it’s believed that not as much content will be available in the Middle East and Egypt, with royalties and even censorship being possible stumbling blocks. Whatever the case, it certainly means that you won’t be on the phone to your strangely IT-literate colleague or friend for hours as they attempt to explain how to setup a VPN, not anymore.

Tutti Matti at Galleria40

Tutti Matti serves up a Slice of Italy with the best Italian food in the Heart of Sheikh Zayed.

Mantra: High-end ingredients for an exclusive Italian experience.

Type of cuisine: Purely Italian cuisine with a wide variety of dishes, they also offer a distinctive breakfast.

Beverages available: The menu includes milkshakes, frappé and a variety of smoothies, as well as San Pellegrino and Amstel, fresh juices and a range of non-alcoholic cocktails. They also have cold apple cider and flavored tea. Hot beverages include all types of Nespresso, as well as decaffeinated coffee, tea and herbal drinks.

Signature dishes: Hearty mushroom soup, Insalata di Rucola, and an awesome smoked salmon pizza. Gorgonzola Rigatoni, which melts effortlessly in the mouth, and finally the Angus Beef Fillet that comes accompanied with the option of two sides and sauce of your preference.

Dishes sampled and ingredients: This was not an ordinary Italian kitchen; it offers variety to meet all tastes and the pizza is baked in front of you. Service was warm and efficient with prompt delivery of food items. We were particularly taken with the mushroom and minestrone vegetarian soups, which were both substantial and bursting with flavor. The rucola salad combined complex ingredients that complemented each other perfectly, such as the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese, the sweetness of fresh sun dried tomatoes, the nutty crispness of almonds, complemented by a, light balsamic dressing.

The main event, the beautifully pink Angus beef is a ‘must-have’. The beef fillet was served with a choice of two sides. We chose mashed potatoes and Caponata vegetables, a Sicilian eggplant dish made from chopped fried eggplant and celery seasoned with sweetened vinegar, with capers in a piquant sauce. It perfectly showcased the diversity of the menu. The gorgonzola Rigatoni consists of rigatoni with beef bacon and a creamy Gorgonzola sauce which melts smoothly in the mouth. We loved the Tutti Matti cocktail, which included apple, kiwi and banana.

Other menu options that appealed: Rigatoni al Forno, Gnocchi Quattro Formaggi (homemade potato gnocchi with creamy cheese sauce) Liguria Sandwich (bresoala, smoked chicken and smoked turkey mixed with emmenthal cheese, sundried tomatoes, watercress and mayonnaise on focaccia bread), Tagliata di Manzo (beef slices with rosemary sauce, rucola salad, baked potato and herb butter), and of course, the smoked salmon pizza (mozzarella, tomato sauce, smoked salmon, Philadelphia cheese, capers, fresh dill).

Décor: Leading Egyptian designer Hussein Nassar perfectly utilized the space in Tutti Matti, creating privacy between each table, yet intimacy as a whole. The space is elegant and boasts an Italian flair.

Ambiance: Casual elegance, with glass windows all around, resulting in a scenic view, and there is also an open-air area for sunny days.

Eat in / Take-away / Home delivery: Eat in, take-away, home delivery and catering. Other features include, Wi-Fi, no smoking area, TV, shisha, it’s also pet friendly!

Clientele mix: Mainly families, also young couples.  A good place for celebrity- spotting as well.

Price range: Moderate


Address:Galleria40 Mall, on the 26th July corridor in Sheikh Zayed.
Opening hours: 7 am -1 am  (All Branches)
Telephone: 0227507750
Mobile: 01122500000
Website: www.tuttimattieg.com
Facebook page: Tutti Matti

L’Asiatique Sushi Bar

A modern take on Japanese, Chinese, and Thai cuisines in Sheikh Zayed.

Mantra: #thefareastheadswest

Type of cuisine: Gourmet Asian

Signature dishes: Sushi, Shrimp in Green Curry sauce, and Beef Teriyaki.

Dishes sampled and ingredients: As a hard-core fan of the original L’Asiatique in Zamalek, expectations were definitely high. Dinner began with a prologue of Hot & Sour soup, a thick and hearty Thai seafood soup made with shrimp, calamari, egg, green onion, coriander, and garlic; perfect for the cold rainy weather of the night. Next came the Wang Salad, consisting of fresh greens, a thick peanut sauce, topped with sesame. The greens were the perfect vessel for this rich sauce, soaking it all up. Following our salad, we were immediately served our sushi selection for the evening. A visually delightful platter of seared tuna topped with thinly sliced fried garlic and fresh green onion, Mexican Roll (raw tuna, Sriracha sauce, and spicy mayo sauce), Konafa Roll (tempura shrimp and Philadelphia cream cheese in fried konafa topped with sweet chilli sauce). The sushi was definitely up to par, as one would expect of the L’Asiatique name. Served alongside the sushi were two platters of fried goodness. The first was by far the star of the evening: a new take on L’Asiatique’s traditional Pad Thai spring roll. A perfect roll stuffed with glass noodles and peanut sauce accompanied by tamarind sauce for dipping. The crunchy exterior followed by the thick and warm interior ending in a tangy tamarind note was a definite hit. The other fried platter was Shrimp Bonbon: little deep-fried satchels stuffed with shrimp with a sweet chilli dipping sauce, succulent tiny bites perfect for a deep-fried indulgence. After a much-needed breathing break, our main courses descended. The Stir-Fried Beef was made with the most tender beef cuts this reviewer has ever consumed, accompanied by glass noodles with vegetables. Our other main course was L’Asiatique’s signature Shrimp in Green Curry Sauce, served with vegetable-fried rice. The spicy, velvety green sauce was rich and aromatic and exceptionally made! For dessert, we were treated to the hot and cold Date Tart, a must try at any of Le Pacha’s venues. A tart of warm dates and cinnamon, topped with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice-cream and finished off with a warm caramel sauce. The other heavenly sweet treat was Nougatine Maison: a cream and vanilla ice-cream with dried fruit topped with a strawberry coulis.

Other menu options that appealed: On our next visit we would definitely like to give some of these a try: Grilled Salmon in Soy & Butter Sauce, Dragon Roll (grilled eel topped with avocado and teriyaki sauce), and the Mont Blanc aux Marrons.

Beverages available: Serves soft drinks, smoothies, mocktails, iced coffees, hot drinks and alcoholic beverages including cocktails and aperitifs.

Décor: A smaller version of the original in Zamalek with the same  signature deep pink and lavender seating. Chinese, Japanese and Thai inspired artwork in golden hues, bamboo shooting up in a corner, and Chinese sculptures hanging on the wall behind the bar.

Ambiance: Dim lighting; very chilled pop and dance tunes in the background make conversation easy. Great for a special dinner for two, or for an intimate outing with a small group of friends.

Eat in/ Take-away/ Home delivery: Aside from the eat-in and take-away options, L’Asiatique now delivers inside Sheikh Zayed,

Clientele mix: Dolled up couples and small groups of hip young execs.

Price range: On the pricy side, but worth the treat!

Address: Arkan Mall, El Sheikh Zayed
Opening hours: Everyday from 5pm to 12 am, Friday from 2pm to 12 am.
Telephone: +20 112 220 8881
Facebook page: LePacha1901West
Instagram: lepachawest

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