Have you ever wondered, “What the hell is that person thinking? Or agonized over whether someone is attracted to you? Or couldn’t tell if someone is lying or not? We all have: It is part of the human condition to temper, alter, and even conceal thoughts and emotions in order to fit in. Everybody, to …

In a very short time period, Arab bloggers have proven their ability to influence political life in Arab countries, especially those that have taken steps towards reform, development and freedom of the press. These political activists have established their blogs as a complement to conventional journalism, providing information and perspectives that are often absent in …

When she moved to Cairo with her family in 1989, the plan was to stay for three years. Eighteen years later Maja Soric is still here. While life does not always go according to plan, things can work out for the best and this artist’s journey proves just that. “In one moment I was doubtful …

Instantly evoking memories of Dickens’ Scrooge and a million quaint greetings cards, London is one of the Christmasiest cities in the world. The shops, streets and homes of Londoners are overcome with the holiday spirit. Lamp posts are strung with colored lights, shop windows are decorated with seasonal delights, and homes are festooned with festive …

Christmas is just around the corner. If you’re still wandering the shopping malls for original gifts to put under the Christmas tree, check out the “Spirit of Giving charity gift catalog. It’s the ideal gift for people who seem to have everything, and who would appreciate a gift for someone who has very little. The …

Last month we talked about the golf courses as part of the development strategies of housing developments. Today, we will answer the question I get asked most often: Who is going to play on all the new golf courses in Egypt? The easy answer is: golfers who live in Egypt and tourists. First, let’s look …

The idea of home delivery DVDs might seem fairly ludicrous considering Cairo’s congested traffic. A night in with friends, popcorn and a weepy movie might end up being spent watching Rotana Zaman while “Gone with the Wind sits in a traffic jam on the 26 July Bridge. Perhaps this pessimism is just a case of …

The Nile Hilton hotel’s Executive Chef Thierry Papillier created a new menu for the Rotisserie Belvedere, which serves fine French cuisine. “The new menu is a fusion of French and Asian, using the best ingredients available in Egypt, Chef Thierry said. “I am delighted to have found such superb ingredients here. The new menu reflects …

In one group, the Americans will take on the Turkish, while the British will face the Italians. This is not a rerun of the First World War, but the Mini Mundial football tournament in Cairo and the teams are from the respective countries’ embassies. And it’s not just embassies; the Sawy Culture Wheel has a …

With the cooperation of the Italian Embassy in Egypt, Mahmoud Mokhtar, Ramses Hilton General Manager hosted recently the famous Italian Designer “Renato Balestra to present his latest creation of fashion for Haute Couture. Balestra Fashion Show took place on two consecutive days at the Ramses Ballroom where more that 1000 State officials, Ministers, Ambassadors as …

Obelisque, a monthly English-language magazine presenting design, culture and travel in Egypt launches this month. Produced by interior designer Lamia Hassanein and three partners, the magazine uses high-quality photography to showcase Egyptian musicians, designers and destinations. Hassanein explained to Daily News Egypt her motivations for creating Obelisque: “After 25 years of experience I have a …

Jannelle Cortes and Keti Sharif are kindred spirits. The two have never met and are from opposite sides of the earth, The US and Western Australia respectively, yet they followed a similar path that led them to Egypt. Simply put, they are both Westerners who belly dance, but neither belly dancing nor life is always …

The last time Bond came to Cairo he was dodging bullets in Giza. Since then it seems that Bond, along with his impeccable fashion sense, has retreated back to the English countryside. Looking at Cairo’s fashion trends, it’s pretty clear that his smooth style and smart suits haven t really rubbed off on the male …

The award-winning “Ptolomeo and Family bookshelves are now available in Cairo, giving readers who own a lot of books and little storage space a stylish solution. For any literature fan books always seem to pile up, but with Bruno Rainaldi’s sleek playful designs, the piles quickly become skyscrapers. When the shelves are full the minimalist …

Walking down the plank to Le Pacha’s, it feels like a small world after all. Well, that is in a culinary sense. We walked past a Greek tavern, we took a right at the Lebanese restaurant, we passed by Italian Piccolo Mondo and Asiatique, and made our way to India. Maharani, Le Pacha’s latest culinary …

If the cuisine of South America is new to you, you re in for a treat. Steaks restaurant has just started a South American buffet promotion and will be offering guests their first experience to savor authentic Latin American food in Cairo. The history of this type of cuisine is quite interesting. It is influenced …

There are now five seasons in Dubai: spring, summer, autumn, winter and shopping festival season. Representatives from the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) were in Cairo this week to announce their calendar of events for the upcoming DSF 2008, Jan. 24 to Feb. 24. The “One World. One Family. One Festival. motto will still be a …

The advent of seasonal festivities makes me feel disarmingly in need of partaking in some form of effervescent indulgence. Last May I entered the bijou home of Cecile Lacorre, well off the beaten track in Maadi, to view her elegantly understated presentation of fashion and home accessories: Khamsa Design. Isabelle Moullier, a jewellery designer, also …

A jewellery dealer might not be the most obvious candidate for the ringleader of a biker gang, but when the weekend rolls around, Sharif Bergemi exchanges his diamond rings and pearl necklaces for leather overalls and a shiny Harley Davidson. From there it’s wherever the open road takes him. Usually he is accompanied by his …

News of the launch of the Apple iPhone spread fast and Egyptians couldn’t wait to get their hands on the latest gadget. For nearly a whole year, the iPhone never came, but that didn’t stand in anyone’s way. Apple was not ready to launch the iPhone in the Middle East just yet, but eager Egyptians …

You’re driving along a two-way highway at high speed, when the car in front of you suddenly stops. You swerve onto the opposing lane to avoid the collision, but there is a car driving towards you so you immediately swerve back. But at no point did you actually hit the brakes – that’s because you’re …

Going out to a club with the guys is difficult in Egypt, thanks to the notorious “couples only policy. This policy is particularly annoying when a group of guys just want to go somewhere to chill out and have a couple of drinks. The options are then limited to coffeehouses and a few bars that …

The Greek word Eklego – from which “eclectic is derived – means “to choose from, a fitting name for the trendy interior design firm that is just about to launch three new brands. Dina El Kachab, who holds a degree in architecture from Canada’s McGill University, and Hedayat Islam (better known as Heddy), who studied …

The hamburger is one of the most popular foods in the world. Since its inception in mid- to late-19th century Germany, the simple combination of a slab of ground beef enclosed within two bread buns has won the hearts and palates of peoples the world over. From paupers to presidents, and Michelin star chefs in …

Researching before the design company Nagada’s fashion show, I read about two amazing people, Sylva Nasrallah and Michel Pastore, the owners. Later I would be pleasantly surprised to find that not only are their intentions good and backstories charitable, their creations are beautiful and of high quality as well. Maybe karma really does exist. The …

It was by chance that founder of Design Emporium, Aziza Tanany, fell into the interior design business. Rewind to 1990: Tanany was living in London running her own translation firm. She was also operating an expediting office, acting as an agent for UK and Europe-based companies. Then in 1996, when a friend of hers wanted …

Twelve years ago, golf in Egypt was the preserve of a few families, mostly longtime members of the Gezirah and Alexandria sporting clubs. A few hundred expatriates also played the game, mostly at the Mena House where they could have a beer or two afterwards. Golf was virtually unknown.A few visionary developers – the Abou …

“My husband crawled into bed the other night around 4 am, lamented Marwa. “So it wasn’t surprising when he had black circles under his eyes and was in a foul mood when he woke up three hours later. Marwa’s husband is a fan of “World of Warcraft, the largest multiplayer online game with over 9 …

The cornerstone of healthy living is healthy eating. It’s common knowledge. But what’s not so apparent is how to eat healthily. Low carb? Low fat? Atkins? Food combining? There is so much conflicting advice, it can be confusing. Canadian nutritionist Lynda Aune provides a simpler approach in her “Healthy Eating cookbook. “No tricks, just straight …