? ON THE TUBE TONIGHT-
(all times CLT)

Y2K panic is proof that mass panic isn’t always a product of social media. Most people over 30 will remember how ringing in the new millennium was expected to bring the world economy to a grinding halt because of a computer glitch. Time Bomb Y2K will make you relive the years and days leading up to the year 2000 through expertly edited archival footage that documented this maybe-almost-catastrophe.

People were preparing for the end of all civilization. It wasn’t that the computer glitch that would’ve stopped digital systems from registering the year 2000 wasn’t a real concern — it was the anticipation of the complete breakdown of society and the fearmongering that followed, some all too familiar. Gun sales skyrocketed, grocery store shelves were emptied, and militias were mobilized.

The bug wasn’t a bug — it was a coding error. Most people believed that the Y2K hysteria was unwarranted after the year 2000 rolled over and nothing happened, but the truth is nothing happened because engineers worked night and day to prevent the very thing people were concerned about.

Time Bomb Y2K is uncomfortably timely. Much of what the documentary discusses connects directly to the present, and we were left wondering what happened to many of the figures who appeared in the footage. That is perhaps the documentary’s only blind spot.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can relive the panic with Time Bomb Y2K on OSN+ or watch the trailer here (watch runtime: 1:43).

⚽ The international break has officially ended as of yesterday, but there are still a few days to go before local leagues are back on a regular schedule.

?EAT THIS TONIGHT-

Breadfast has come up with two new creations this year, and we don’t know how we’ve lived this long without them. First up is the basbousa baklawa with mastik cream. We won’t lie, we were skeptical at first, but we were quickly won over by this one. The mastik pastry cream and the crunchy unsweetened baklawa topping perfectly complement the sweet basbousa base. The baklawa doesn’t add much flavor, but we think that its crispiness was definitely much needed to balance out the rich creaminess of the basbousa-mestika combo.

One Ramadan party favorite that has already made a name for itself: Breadfast’s konafa millefeuille. Released last Ramadan, this dessert has been a hit at most dining tables it’s reached — and for good reason. A base layer of shredded konafa is topped with a generous layer of pastry cream, and a crispy millefeuille top dressed with powdered sugar.

What we like: None of the components are overly sweetened. In fact, it seems like the powdered sugar is the only thing lending obvious sweetness to the dish. This is great if you’re trying to avoid the infamous Ramadan sugar coma, but dangerous if you want to control your portions.

Disclaimer: Breadfast has released an updated version of this Ramadan hit in the form of a mango konafa millefeuille. Our verdict? Nothing tops the original.

Last but not least, the banana pudding basbousa: This newcomer has rivaled the popularity of the konafa millefeuille, even becoming some people’s favorite offering from Breadfast. This dish is a hodgepodge of basbousa chunks, banana slices, crushed biscuit, and pastry cream with a drizzle of caramel on top. Again, Breadfast masters the sugar level, making it so that this delicious combo doesn’t overwhelm your sweet tooth.

? OUT AND ABOUT-
(all times CLT)

TONIGHT-

Try out the iconic Taghmisa experience: If you missed it last year (or the last eight years), there’s no reason to worry. This unconventional Ramadan tent features experimental Middle Eastern cuisine (we’ve been craving their sobya latte since last year) and continuous live performances that will keep you entertained all night long. You can reserve a table here, picking between suhoor from 10:30pm-1am if you’re an early bird or 1-3am if you intend to head home at dawn.

Fancy yourself an art connoisseur?CLEG Art Gallery is holding its annual Ramadan charity exhibition, Changing Lives. This year, in collaboration with Nour ‘Ala Nour, 40 artists are displaying their artwork for purchase to support the education of underprivileged children in Egypt. Proceeds from their annual exhibitions contribute to the education of over 1k children, and help support a special needs center. The exhibition runs everyday until 9 April, operating from 11am-4pm during Ramadan.

THIS WEEKEND-

Enjoy suhoor with Hisham Abbas at Galleria40. The 3al Tawla suhoor tent is hosting the superstar this Friday, 29 March. You can find booking information on their Facebook page here.

Warm up for Cairo Runners’ Women Night Race. Cairo Runners is celebrating Women’s History Month at Promenade on Thursday, 28 March. You can join the 5 km Women Race for EGP 250 or the 1 km Family Run for EGP 150 per person. Registration for the event ends at noon on Wednesday, 27 March. Registration information is available on Cairo Runners’ Facebook page. If you’re a Cairo Runners veteran, you can sign up directly from your account.

Running not really your thing? Yalla 3agala is hosting a dish party for Iftar after a bike ride through Zamalek on Friday, March 29. Bikes are provided if you need to reserve one, otherwise you can bring your own. More details can be found here.

Mustafa Amar is making an appearance at HydeOut. Patrons of the Hekayatna Helwa Ramadan tent at HydeOut can enjoy Suhoor with live music from the famed singer on Friday, March 29 starting 10pm. Grab a seat or a table from TicketsMarche. Tuck the kids into bed before you go.

COMING UP-

Bibliothek is bringing back the cultural salon. On Friday, April 5, Bibliothek will be hosting El Warsha band as part of an evening that will contain songs, stories, and sketches. Experience Sufi ballads, Chekov’s parables, and music from the roaring 20’s. More details can be found here.

? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-

Mobility is a novel about the impact of climate change, examined through the journey of its protagonist, Bunny. Bunny’s story starts as an angsty American teenager living with her Foreign Service family in Azerbaijan, and takes us through to her adulthood, when she decides to pursue a career in the oil industry — drawn by the allure of wealth and power. As the story progresses, we can see her transformation as she becomes aware of the impact that the fossil fuel business has on the planet and the role she plays in it.

The book reflects on the consequences of willful ignorance and the tendency to prioritize personal narratives over confronting uncomfortable truths. Bunny’s journey symbolizes a broader societal reluctance to acknowledge and address pressing issues like climate change. It also implies that ignoring these challenges is unsustainable, leading to widespread destruction — and also offers a sobering glimpse into a future highlighting the urgency of confronting these realities rather than escaping into comforting narratives.

You can get your copy on Amazon.