The long-awaited opening of the new concept store has finally arrived. On a corner in Amman Square in Mohandsieen, this two-floor store shines like a diamond in the rough. Elements is obviously quite a few notches above your average store, any where in the world. The four elements in this case are not Aqua, Ignis, …

SAN FRANCISCO: Music lovers remember a familiar advertising image from the past: a man reclined in a chair, head back, blown away by music from his high-fidelity sound system. Like the Marlboro Man before him, Maxell s pitchman is now a relic. With their ability to store vast libraries of music in your pocket, sleek …

If you relish eating salmon sushi and filets, and think you are being healthy in doing so, you will disappointed to learn of some nasty truths about this luscious fish. In Egypt, the salmon we consume is mostly farmed salmon (reared in a salmon farm) while wild salmon (caught in the wild) is a rare …

Tips for sound sleeping Cairo might be boisterous by day but there’s no slouching at night either. Distractions are a plenty at all hours, and night owls can always find something to do. However the full effect of Cairo can often lead to stress; and this stress may be the reason Cairenes increasingly find it …

Associated Press MGM has become the latest major film studio to offer downloadable movies on Apple s iTunes Store. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. deal, announced Wednesday, builds the iTunes catalog to more than 500 movies. The studio is offering classic movies such as Dances With Wolves , Mad Max and Rocky and will add other …

Agence France Presse It has all the ingredients of a wedding. The proud tuxedo-clad father, the frosted white cake, the limousines and an exchange of vows. But there is no groom and the girl in the long gown is no bride. She s daddy s little girl, there to take a vow of chastity. In …

Master a few simple techniques for great grilling Spring is here. The flowers are blooming, the dust storms are brewing, and the men are firing up their grills. While the grilling is usually a man’s domain, the meal is definitely a team effort. The man might lights the fire, but it’s the woman who infuses …

Singer, dancer and one-time Playboy magazine model Willa Ford will star as the late Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith in a biographical film about the billionaire s widow that starts shooting next week. A publicist for Ford, best known for her hit single I Wanna Be Bad and a stint on the ABC television show …

Desperate measures sent me to the other side of the continent in coffee conversation refuge. Choosing to go to the same coffee shop out of habit, I took out my kit out and got ready to eavesdrop. Besides the bonus of free water and the accessible world of books to keep one company and many …

No time to cook? It’s a common complaint. For a student like me, grabbing a bowl of koshari or a quick sandwich from Baraka is easy enough. But what about those who have families to cook for? Luckily the ever-expanding world of Cairo take-out has something for everyone, and, surprisingly, take-out meals don’t have to …

Two university professors have combined their knowledge of science and videogames to create a game that helps students learn chemistry. Instead of using books, beakers and test tubes, students battle aliens and other mysterious forces that are trying to destroy the earth by increasing global warming. Using gaming technology to supplement science instruction involves a …

With the horrible weather we have had lately, the coffee shops are crammed with all sorts of people, which is good news for coffee shop owners. And for me. “Oh my child had that eye infection too, it’s normal; you’ll just have to take her to the doctor, “gasped Heba, using her legs to swing …

SAN FRANCISCO: At a recent event to show off upcoming Microsoft video games, a young man worked a computer mouse and keyboard to make his on-screen warrior jump and fire his gun. On a nearby couch, a woman did the same thing, only with an Xbox 360 controller. The interesting thing is that they were …

Associated Press Exercise isn t just about improving your heart and fighting flab that comes with aging. It may also be the answer to preventing stiff, achy joints that can lead to debilitating arthritis. An Australian study suggests the more time older women spend exercising, the better their chances are of staying pain-free from one …

Papa John’s dips into the crowded culinary scene Why waste time and resources reinventing the wheel? Or in the case of Papa John’s Pizza – a new venue that’s fighting for its share of attention on the already cuisine cluttered Gamat El Dowal Street in Mohandiseen – why reinvent the fast food pizza parlor? Even …

It’s spring time. Everywhere you go in Cairo these days colors are splashed across the otherwise banal city. This may not be the most ideal time for those who suffer from hay fever and allergies, but it is unavoidable to not be inspired by the life-reviving season of the plants and flowers. We can never …

Shisha, the social scourge In Egypt, the popularity of smoking shisha has become something of a phenomena; men, women and adolescents have taken up the habit oftentimes to “be part of the crowd and with the mistaken belief that it is healthier than cigarettes. The social pursuit of smoking shisha has undergone a huge resurgence …

The typical Chinese restaurant menu is a sea of nutritional no-nos, a consumer group has found. A plate of General Tso s chicken, for example, is loaded with about 40 percent more sodium and more than half the calories an average adult needs for an entire day. The battered, fried chicken dish with vegetables has …

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been compared to a ‘viral time bomb’ with an estimated 3 percent of the world’s population (180 million people) infected worldwide and 3-4 million people being newly infected per year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). HCV is particularly rampant in Egypt, which has the highest prevalence of the …

By The Daily Star Egypt staff Today, Egypt and the Muslim world celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed – Al Mulid Al Nabawi – according to the lunar calendar. And like most Islamic holidays, this mulid features its own wealth of traditions, cuisine and candies. Halawit al mulid (mulid candies) are exhibited under large …

Agence France-Presse It has all the ingredients of a wedding: The proud tuxedo-clad father, the frosted white cake, the limousines and an exchange of vows. But there is no groom and the girl in the long gown is no bride. She s daddy s little girl, there to take a vow of chastity. In what …

Beirut, Friday night, 9 pm. Hordes of the city’s young party elite wading through the mushroom of tents occupied by various anti-government groups and Hezbollah supporters in the city center. “I know it s crazy. Here we are going out clubbing in the midst of all this political unrest going on in our country. But …

Just listen to me and don’t talk. When I am done, you will tell me your opinion and we will do what I think in the end, I know what is right for you, whispered a man before sipping his coffee to the attentive veiled girl in front of him. I blinked several times as …

After much anticipation, the deep voice of the sexy star breaks through the air. The Spanish lyrics from her début 1995 hit “Estoy Aquí fill the audience s ears, and all you see is the swaying of a curvy silhouette. The opening minutes of pop sensation Shakira’s concerts washed over audience members like a cool …

In Greek mythology, Muse is one of the nine daughters of Zeus. As a goddess, Muse was famous for inspiring poets, artists, and intellectuals. Some regard the as the genius characteristic of an artist. After arguing over hundreds of names Dina Abaza and Amr Emam finally agreed on Muse, the name of the goddess of …

Tucked away on a quiet, tree-lined street in Zamalek sits Mori Sushi Bar and Grill, a new and much talked-about edition to central Cairo’s dining scene. While the name is misleading – nothing on the menu is grilled, and they do not have a sushi bar or serve alcohol – the atmosphere and food are …

A beginner’s guide to hitting the stock market Greed is good. The infamous words of Michael Douglas in “Wall Street sparked a monetary-cultural revolution. It was no longer vulgar to wallow in your money. In fact, you were an assertive go-getter now, respected and admired for your tenacity in chasing the buck. Egypt is now …

Agence France- Presse BEIRUT: Models in G-strings and lacy bras shivered from the cold as they strutted the catwalk at the foot of snow-covered slopes in Lebanon to promote the conservative Middle East s largest ski resort. The fashion extravaganza aimed to lure visitors to the country s six winter resorts whose fortunes have gone …

Hit TV series Desperate Housewives inspires collection of recipes Kitsch? Arguably. Fun? Most definitely. Faced with the drudgery of having to decide what to prepare for dinner day after day, even the most able housewives have been known to succumb to feelings of desperation. So who better to turn to for help than Bree Van …