Selected picks of the culinary delights of the popular coastal city ALEXANDRIA: The summer time means more sun and sand. For Egyptians, the summertime also means more food. Since Alexandria is the main attraction in the summer, its array of foods has people enjoying their meals from morning to night. Alexandria, being a coastal city, …

From Bogotá to Berlin, from Sunday to Wednesday, people had been lip reading, guessing, presuming and supposing, trying to figure out what on earth did Italian devil defender Marco Materazzi say that was so bad, so insulting, so upsetting that Zinedine Zidane lost his head just by using it. Now we know, without the exact …

Enjoy the service of Sharm El-Sheikh s Four Seasons Resort SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt: If you are in need of a relaxing, high quality vacation, look no further than the Four Seasons Resort in Sharm El-Sheikh, offering you pretty much anything you desire and more. The Moroccan architectural design of the clustered 200 rooms is …

The art of regulating feelings to be in control of your emotional responses CAIRO: Do you often lose your temper with your irresponsible colleague? Can t you fight the urge to help other people although you always feel frustrated when they don t return the favor? Are your spouse s irritating habits threatening your future …

Summer activities are pivotal to children s development, not mere time fillers CAIRO: Whether it is a low-key teenager or a hyperactive seven-year-old, summer time is always a problem. More than three months of children lying around the house, either wrecking havoc in all its rooms or glued to the TV screen and playing video …

It would seem rather odd to write about anything except the World Cup these days but stranger things have happened. Like what happened on Friday last week. It was the final of the Egyptian Cup. Ahli had been cruising to a 3-0 win over its forever rivals Zamalek when in the second half pandemonium occurred, …

Plan ahead and get experts’ advice before sending out the invitations CAIRO: The sun is shining and the beach is beckoning. Summer is here and there is no better way to celebrate the season than by throwing a party. For first-time party hosts, hosting can be a stressful and terrifying experience. Is anyone going to …

Buy more flats but don t toss your stilettos CAIRO: “I ve spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes! wines Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City. If shoes are that crucial, maybe we should scan the fashion world …

The Katameya Heights Clubhouse Salon joins the World Cup fever CAIRO: On June 9, the Katameya Heights Clubhouse Salon caught on to World Cup fever, changing seating arrangements and upgrading their audio-visual set-up for for football fans. Besides the already installed plasma screen, a projector was added for better viewing. As a match starts, rows …

Mild dehydration can go unnoticed so be alert to symptoms CAIRO: If the rolling heat waves and summer advertising jingles are anything to go by, the summer season is already in full swing. But before whipping out the beach balls and the bathing suits, it’s time to think about literally staying cool in the summer. …

Knowing when to resign from your job is all about weighing your options CAIRO: The weekend is drawing to a close, and your dreading going back to the office Sunday morning. With the inter-office politics, the constant pressure, the lack of appreciation, you feel like you just can’t take it anymore. Job satisfaction has been …

Like all World Cups, this one is being judged by comparing with its predecessor. So here comes the inevitable. Long-range shooting while the ball is in motion is back in vogue. Dynamite boots from Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy and Brazil unleashed thunderbolts from 25 to 30 yards out in abundance not seen in 2002. …

Forget the standard routine and explore new activities with your date CAIRO: The summer is finally here but it won t last for long, so forget the classic date routine of dinner-and-a-movie and get inspired. Whatever relationship stage you are at – whether you have just started dating or you are an established couple – …

Elegantly navigate your way through this summer s weddings CAIRO: June is statistically proven to be the peek of the wedding season. It seems everyone wants to get hitched at the start of summer. Weddings are always fun, but there is one thing everyone always dreads, the issue of what to wear. The invitation tells …

Costly audio and visual equipment are essential for following World Cup CAIRO: Yesterday’s kick-off of the World Cup found many avid fans of the sport and this particular event scrambling to the nearest café or home with the largest television screen to watch the first game. “The World Cup is not the same without a …

Cafes and restaurants make changes to suit World Cup fans CAIRO: On June 9, the world had its eyes set on Germany and the opening ceremony of the World Cup. Coinciding with the summer, the tournament poses a little dilemma. One cannot just stay at home to watch the matches and resist going out. Many …

A zillion stories have been written about the 2006 World Cup. What’s one more? The conditions are right for an exciting World Cup and what’s more exciting than Brazil, whose attacking resources stand comparison with anything it has produced in its glorious history? With the unparalleled individual ability of their stars, led by the magical, …

World Cup fans sign up for virtual football game linked to the tournament CAIRO: I was sitting with my husband watching a football game. A team scored and my husband had a big grin whispering “yes. A few minutes later the same team scored, his grin suddenly switched to a frown. I didn’t understand and …

Colorful trainers at the center of World Cup fashion CAIRO: Fashion and football often come together. Sometimes sports borrow something from fashion or vise versa. Some football players become even more inspiring than fashion icons, setting the trends for the upcoming seasons. With the World Cup 2006 kicking off, the world better be ready for …

CAIRO: Whenever you hear that friends or family are coming over to watch a football game or even a movie, food delivery is always the first choice. Pizza and chips and dips, of course, are all time favorite for large informal gatherings. But adding some homemade snacks to the table gives the guests more options …

The exciting, innovative jobs common in the local market CAIRO: Let’s face it; all jobs are not created equal. While every job comes with its perks and drawbacks, some are just more glamorous than others. A look at the local scene highlights a number of the most exciting, creative and, yes, the sexiest careers out …

It’s time to separate fact from fiction and understand the truth about gym myths CAIRO: Myths come from various “trustworthy sources. Fitness magazines, gym rats and supplement and equipment companies are all a part of putting personal opinion, and not scientific back up. Discard the common myths to understand what has become gym tradition and …

CAIRO: In the fashion world colors come and go, but although every season has its hits, some are recycled and some never leave. So which colors do we bring out from the back of the closet? Although runways have seen plenty of colors for the summer, soft faded half tones are the dominant chic for …

If the Juventus football match-fixing allegations have got you wondering whether indeed soccer games are rigged, the short answer is: of course they are, silly, at least some of them. Where there is money and influence, and football is loaded with both, and then hanky-panky is afoot, so to speak. The furor began when Italian …

CAIRO: Imagine yourself sitting in a garden with grass swaying to the rhythms of a cool summer breeze on a hot sunny day; sipping an icy chocolate drink under the cool shade of an umbrella and reading a book or just relaxing in the sun. La Pietra s new branch in El Gezira Club offers …

CAIRO: Whoever said there are no good places to shop in Egypt? Throughout the past year, several new stores have opened, providing us with a number of the most demanded international labels, from Mango and Sisley to upscale Yves Saint Laurent and Prada. Last week, a new star in the shopping scene was born. Right …

CAIRO: The change of seasons is always the perfect excuse to buy new handbags, and this season, men are expected to join this shopping craze. While men should be looking for the non-glittering, practical man-bag, a sparkle is recommended in women s purses. Following latest trends, the Swarovski clutch handbag by Miu Miu, a fancy …

Two recent decisions, by men, have come down hard on women who want to be involved in sports. In Iran, the supreme leader of the country has vetoed a ruling by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that would have allowed women to attend major sporting events. Things are not that much rosier in the more women-friendly United …

CAIRO: Many are still hesitant to eat chicken or any type of poultry, as bird flu news never leaves the papers; others are worried about mad cow disease. The result is a number of people who are now following an almost strict vegetarian diet. While the diet itself is healthy, many find it problematic to …

CAIRO: With spring in full swing, it is the ideal time to focus on the most popular trends on the fashion runways that can be incorporated into your wardrobe in Egypt. With few changes this season, or no changes in some cases, both men and women have a lot to choose from to quench their …