The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Apprehensive about this
misty fog that has dominated Cairo’s skylines for the past few days? Well,
head indoors for the weekend; because we have a whole lot of concerts, plays and bazaars
waiting for you!

On Thursday, if you’re in the 5fth Settlement, head out to the
AUC new campus at 7PM to catch ‘Three Sisters,’ a play by Anton Chekhov about
the decay of the privileged classes in Russia. Downtowners should head to El
Tanboura Hall on El Balaqsa Street, where Sudanese band Mystic Rhythms will
perform at 9:30PM; so expect catchy beats and Sudanese folkloric influences.  

Based in Zamalek? Trot down to the New
President Hotel for the 3rd Christmas Art Fair. Featuring work of
over fifteen local artists, the bazaar will sell paintings, sculptures,
woodwork and graphic design as well as funky Christmas cards and
jewellery. Later that evening, dust off
your top hat and dig out your grandmother’s satin gloves for the Riff Band Jazz
Cabaret at the Cairo Jazz Club. Featuring the band’s greatest hits in smooth
jazz standards, this show was such a success last November; they plan to
repeat it on the first Thursday of every month.

On Friday, have fun while doing good for a cause and head
down to the Gezira Youth Centre in Zamalek for World Aids Day. The day-long
event is full of fun activities and several concerts by
local bands in the evening. A few blocks
down, El Sawy Culturewheel will host the first volume of the Live! Music Festival
at 6:30PM, featuring Crash Boom Bang, RashRadio and several bands from Berklee
College of Music.  

Also in Zamalek, the
34th Cairo International Film Festival continues at the Cairo Opera
House, with several showings and symposiums. For further information, check out
their website. For some upbeat dancing, DJ Migo will spin the decks at the
Cairo Jazz Club, while Tamarai is celebrating the closing of its terrace with a
black-themed party.  

Tired of the usual
nightspots? Try the Shepheard Hotel for a change, where Nacelle will feature Austrian
DJ Parov Stellar and Max the Sax for some excellent electronic music fused with
jazz and swing.

Made it to Saturday in one piece? Congratulations! Luckily
for you, it’s a quiet day, with repeats of the ‘Three Sisters’ Play, the Cairo
Film Festival, Live! Music Festival and the Christmas Art Fair at President
Hotel.

And now for something completely
different, El Sawy Culturewheel will host the Cairo Festival for Human Rights
Films from 6PM. The festival will continue for four days, is free of charge and
should feature intriguing films and footage documenting the state of human rights
in the region and around the world.

So however you choose to spend your weekend; make sure you avoid the fog, drive safely and enjoy this vibrant city!