? AT THE MOVIES-

A different race to the moon: Fly Me to the Moon follows a new (and fictionalized) aspect of the Russian-American space race in the 1960s, which ended with the success of the US Apollo 11 mission and the first moon landing.

The plot: CIA officer Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson) enlists the help of public relations and marketing expert Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) to develop a new marketing strategy for the Apollo 11 mission that will preserve the support of Congress in light of the failure of the previous ten missions… And stage a fake “back-up” moon landing in case Apollo 11 meets their demise.

Kelly meets Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), astronaut and director of the Apollo 11 operation. A relationship develops between them, but is threatened by Kelly's involvement in the government scheme.

There have been mixed reactions: Some critics considered the film “ relentlessly mediocre,” while others said “ it was the kind of movie they missed in theaters,” especially with Johansson and Tatum’s chemistry on screen. The film, despite its perceived shortcomings, is still a good choice for a light cinema outing — Just keep your expectations in check.

WHERE TO WATCH: You can catch Fly Me to The Moon at VOX City Center Almaza Cinemaand Mall of Egypt, City Stars Cinema, Point 90 Cinema, Cairo Festival City Cinema, and Cima Arkan. It is also scheduled to be available on Apple TV, but the date has not yet been determined. (Watch the trailer, runtime: 2:31).

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Another edifying book by the Harvard Business Review Press: The Case for GoodJobs focuses on “how great companies bring dignity, pay, and meaning to everyone's work.” Now more than ever, companies are having trouble finding and retaining employees because work conditions are perceived by many as being sub-optimal: The pay is not satisfying, work environments are stressful while offering limited opportunities for growth.

Better work conditions means a stronger competitive edge. In her new book, MIT Sloan School of Management Professor and Good Jobs Institute Co-founder & President Zeynep Ton aims to help leaders understand the ways through which the Good Jobs strategy will give their companies a competitive advantage.

The “how” is simple enough… Exceptionally important investment in people combined with a number of operational choices ultimately leads corporations — in all kinds of industries — towards excellence.

…But implementation is trickier. Ton makes the case for the Good Jobs strategy as the most efficient means of achieving motivated, productive employees, and satisfied customers and shareholders. Then, the author goes on to highlight throughout the remaining chapters how awareness and courage will help achieve the desired results and the successful implementation of the strategy she described earlier.

WHERE TO FIND IT- The book is sold out at Diwan, but look out for the restock.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Sapporo, the Japanese restaurant that should be on your to-go list: Taking residency in Sheraton Hotel, this Japanese restaurant promises you both freshness and tradition in all of its dishes—and even a performance if you sit at their teppanyaki bar.

Our dining experience was a long haul — much like the flight to Tokyo — so strap in: Starting with the appetizers we ordered the Salmon Kushi Yaki, two skewered grilled salmon cubes with miso glaze. The salmon was a bit dry but nevertheless the umami flavor was present.

Alongside it we also got the Sea Bass Shabu Shabu, if its name does not catch your eye the taste will. The sea bass is thinly sliced in ponzu sauce and its delicate cut just melts in your mouth with a tangy and zesty flavor, definitely a must-order.

We picked a comforting and hearty option, the Sapporo Ramen Noodles: The miso chicken broth with roasted chicken and greens, did not particularly stand out but it does the job by warming you up — which is not ideal for the current weather — so it would be best ordering it in the winter.

What's Japanese cuisine without Teppanyaki? The Teppanyaki section had a variety of options for us to pick, but instead of going for the common chicken, beef, prawn we decided to order the Mediterranean Octopus—and it did not disappoint. The octopus was tender and may we say succulent, with a perfect char that added a smoky depth to the dish.

Rolling on to the sushi: In the nigiri, the salmon, salmon roe, and red tuna were fresh and almost buttery to the palate—not to mention the roe was, excuse the pun, bursting with flavor. The most important factor is that the rice to fish ratio was balanced.

Honorable roll mentions: The rolls section is overwhelming so we’re giving you the catch of the menu which are, the Rainbow Roll, the Very Belly Salmon Roll and finally the Broiled Salmon Belly.

There was not much space for dessert, but we know the most-ordered option: The Matcha Cake.

It’s a dining experience: It’s worth ordering and splurging a little extra to fully explore the menu.

? Per person: EGP 1k-2k

? Outdoor seating: No

? Alcohol: Yes

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

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