No matter how many gyms open in Egypt, and no matter how many new instructors emerge on the scene, people still talk about Ingy El Solh. The aerobics instructor, dancer, professor, mother, grandmother never stops learning new techniques and always keeps her workouts interesting and highly effective. When she was only 16, El-Solh opened her …

Looking at the great body of work she has produced, including buildings on AUC’s new campus, award-winning designs, and a bid for the Grand Egyptian Museum, you would never guess that Shahira H. Fahmy, is a young 32-year-old still trying to define her signature style. “When you’re young you’re still trying to establish your own …

After ascending 40 floors of the towering Grand Hyatt hotel, it is almost symbolic that you must take a separate elevator to reach the 41st. The Revolving Restaurant is higher than everything else. Perched at the apex of Cairo s skyline, tall windows running right around the restaurant s circular body open up magnificent panoramic …

Many of us roll out of bed in anticipation of an enticing cup of coffee to stimulate our senses, while others steer clear from coffee completely, believing that it’s unhealthy. Whether coffee is harmful or beneficial remains debatable, but recent evidence seems to point more in coffee’s favor than against it. A large population study …

Two studies have thrown up conflicting evidence as to whether circumcision could harm a man s sex life, New Scientist reports in its next issue. The question is especially important, given the World Health Organization’s (WHO s) recent endorsement of circumcision in the panoply of weapons to tackle the spread of AIDS. In a study …

“Commander . they’ve not only cut off our reinforcements, they have started bringing in their own . we need you to infiltrate the base, take out the radar, and eliminate their forces . Certain pursuits in life, those associated with a battlefield, are regularly tagged as violent, aggressive, or require conduct unbecoming of a gentleman. …

Besides helping me escape my world, eavesdropping allows me to glimpse into other peoples lives for a few minutes. Today, I have discovered an additional benefit to this activity: it unleashes your creativity. In the very rare moments when there is a shortage of stories, I gaze into my coffee cup and finish off old …

A glimpse at World of Warcraft, a game that dominates online “I’m out of arrows, I yelled as I drew my thorium plated two-hander and thrust it deep into Onyxia’s tail. She already decimated our group of 40 brave souls, within minutes, by half but the battle is still raging. Onyxia, Queen of the Dragonkin …

Many have tried. All have failed. But with a new computer game, you can make peace in the Middle East. The software, called PeaceMaker and manufactured by Israeli and US programmers in the United States, allows you to play the part of the Israeli prime minister or the Palestinian president and make diplomatic, security and …

Reuters Clad in skinny jeans, wrap dresses and carefully sculpted headscarves, a generation of young Muslim women is making its mark on Europe s urban street culture, and influencing mainstream fashion. The daughters of migrants to Europe from Turkey or the Maghreb, these girls say they are as conscious of style as of Islamic dress …

Near the beginning of the 20th century, Egypt witnessed a wave of middle-class coffee shops opening primarily in big cities like Cairo and Alexandria. These cafes didn t just offer drinks, food and entertainment; they evolved into a gathering spot for intellectuals, artists and politicians of different generations, backgrounds and social strata. Café Riche, the …

Back to my regular coffee table. For the sake of change, I settle on a guiltless tuna sandwich and orange juice and get out my eavesdropping and writing gear. With a sleepless night behind me and a long day ahead, I look forward to anything to perk me up. “If you do not want me …

It’s the ball that strikes you. In any kind of sport played here, the ball is round, always round. But this one is oblong, and its bounce isn’t straight. It’s a ball you catch with your hands, not your feet. Yes, gridiron, or American football as it is more commonly known, is the sport of …

Casper & Gambini’s has launched its delivery service, with a unique and appetizing menu. C&G lovers will experience the same exceptional taste and service as its two outlets at City Stars Mall and Towers Mall at Nile City. Focusing on healthy and fresh ingredients C&G is also dedicated to offering the widest range of the …

A convincing twin of Darth Vader stalks the beige cubicles of a Silicon Valley office, complete with ominous black mask, cape and light saber. But this is no chintzy Halloween costume. It s a prototype, years in the making, of a toy that incorporates brainwave-reading technology. Behind the mask is a sensor that touches the …

An expert has lauded the benefits of drinking tea whilst warning about some of its adverse properties for people suffering from certain diseases. Tea remains one of the most popular drinks worldwide. Due to its widespread availability, it is easy to forget that it is an herb and, like all herbs, has pros and cons. …

Having problems preparing for your wedding? Don’t know where to start? Low on creative ideas for that special day? The Wedding Fair may not have all the answers, but it will certainly give you some fresh ideas and act as a live directory for places and services to meet all your wedding needs. A head …

The Daily Star Egypt continues its exploration of Internet dating in Egypt. Finding love has never been easy, but in a socially conservative, booming metropolis like Cairo it can be especially hard. Romantic ballads blast from every radio and marriage is supposed to be the ultimate goal, but that doesn’t mean that love is easy …

The battle of the bulge is a universal war every person faces. Chemical diets, Atkins or calorie counting are all familiar terms whether you’ve tried it yourself, or seen your coworker or spouse take on the challenge. But Canadian nutritionist Lynda Aune offers something simpler, “No tricks, just straight healthy eating, she says. Aune has …

Michael Jordan s split from wife, Juanita, tops Forbes Divorce has its price and no celeb, it appears, knows that better than Michael Jordan. The basketball superstar s split last December from his wife of 17 years, Juanita, is No. 1 on Forbes.com s list of The 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces. Juanita Jordan could …

Mohamed Abdel Moneim is an upscale Nasr City boy like any other. A twenty-something graduate of Cairo University, he is a successful, tech savvy, English-speaking IT specialist from a good family. Unlike many students, Mohamed did not date much in university. For him, college was a time to discover himself and figure out what he …

They say when the sun lies low and the winds start to blow, its time for love and love-making, but for me, it just keeps me indoors, under covers and out of touch. Nevertheless, I decided to set out for the sea to the city of love – Alexandria. I set up my gear in …

We all know that olive oil sprinkled on our salads is good for us, but the full extent of the benefits that this oil confers on our health is truly astounding. As well as being protective against developing heart disease, recent research suggests that regular olive oil consumption also protects against a multitude of diseases …

On a steamy, sand-stormed day in Cairo in early April, the seafood in Alexandria tasted especially fresh. The waterfront walk down the Corniche, charming in its own right with Technicolor fishing boats bobbing in a harbor framed by the modern build-up of Egypt’s long-ago trumped second city, was all the better knowing that in Cairo …

Every Friday, two thoughts inevitably cross my mind. First, how can I explain the concept of sleeping in on the weekends to my children? Second, what are we going to do with the kids today? If you’re a parent, you understand. Children need an outlet for their boundless energy. Though Cairo is generally a child-friendly …

She was born with her acting family s classic beauty, but Drew Barrymore credits her fun-loving approach to life for her No. 1 spot on People magazine s annual 100 Most Beautiful People list. I just think happiness is what makes you pretty. Period, she tells the magazine. Happy people are beautiful. They become like …

It is like watching scenes from a foreign movie in no particular order but still being able to make out some story. That is the wonderful entertainment value of going to a coffee shop to escape the world’s problems. Here I felt lost in translation. Lines of people, all sizes walking in and out, children, …

Dubbed the silent killer, high blood pressure, or hypertension, creeps up on patients until it is often too late, causing heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. Over 600 million people suffer from high blood pressure worldwide and in over 90% of these cases, the cause of hypertension is unknown. Previous mechanisms of hypertension have focused …

Outside the largest continent, Asian restaurants can often come across as crass imitations of the real thing. But upon entering Lai Thai, the restaurant s tasteful decor and authentic South East Asian ambience come as a pleasant surprise. The layout is spacious but allows for atmosphere, and the brown hardwood floors and dimmed lighting cast …

London and Cairo have always been closely related. Whether going to work, to study, or to visit family and friends, Cairenes are always in and out of the UK. “But it’s bloody expensive, is a familiar phrase coming from those returning to Cairo that happily buy a pack of cigarettes for LE 7.50 instead of …