? ON THE TUBE TONIGHT-
(all times CLT)

Adapted from the Isaac Asimov trilogy, Foundation follows the story of Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), a brilliant mathematician, who predicts the imminent collapse of the Galactic Empire, a vast interstellar civilization (trailer: runtime 2:49) .

Seldon develops a scientific theory called psychohistory, which allows him to foresee the future with remarkable accuracy. To mitigate the impending chaos and preserve knowledge for future generations, Seldon establishes the Foundation, a secret organization dedicated to safeguarding humanity’s collective wisdom.

As the Galactic Empire begins to crumble, the Foundation faces numerous challenges and threats from rival factions seeking to exploit its knowledge for their own gain. For centuries, the Foundation navigates political intrigue, war, and technological advancement as it strives to fulfill Seldon's vision of a new galactic civilization rising from the ashes of the old.

Season two made a strong impression, and season three is currently being filmed.The first season didn’t get the best reviews, but things picked up in the second season, earning the series a more positive review as “ a science fiction gem.”

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch Foundation on AppleTV+.

⚽ There are no matches today as the first international break begins and is set to run until Tuesday, 26 March, there will be friendlies to catch.

The Egypt Capital Cup will be kicking off this Friday with an opening match between Egypt and New Zealand to be followed by Tunisia’s clash against Croatia. Losers of Friday’s games will battle it out on Monday, while the final game will be played on Tuesday, 26 March. We are still waiting for the timing of the matches to share them with you.

☕EAT THIS TONIGHT-

Floating Cups is a great spot for your post-iftar caffeine fix. Tucked away in CSAMaadi, this quaint cafe will deliver your daily dosage of caffeine in the most aesthetically pleasing cups and decor. They have extended hours this Ramadan where they close 10pm instead of 7pm.

They offer medium roast, single origin fair trade sourced coffee beans — as well as the decaffeinated version. The coffee beans have been carefully selected among an array of small farmers with a flavor profile that does the trick after a long day of fasting.

A healthy basbousa, matcha cookies, and the chocolate pistachios fudge bar (which was our favorite) are some of the nibbles they have on offer. The bar, which has medjool dates, almond butter, and dark chocolate, was good enough that one was simply not enough — we wanted the whole batch. Their desserts and snacks are provided by The Rite Bite and Be Good Today, who are local providers of freshly baked goods, and focus on using healthier ingredients such as almond, coconut flour, and honey to make their goodies.

You can get a bit of a price reduction if you bring your own mug: Aside from focusing on encouraging small businesses and bringing the community together, Floating Cups is adamant about reducing their carbon footprint: They use LED lights, have closed-door fridges, and offer lower prices if you bring a reusable mug.

? OUT AND ABOUT-
(all times CLT)

ENTERTAINMENT-

Drop the sobia and face your phobias at Rawabet Arts Space’s Mesh Mawgood LivePodcast: Fobia Elsobia event. Tomorrow from 9pm the event will help you confront and understand your fears or phobias, such as potatoes, car headlights resembling human faces, associating even numbers with good and odd numbers with evil, having a fear of cheese, or feeling uneasy about the Ring Road. Get your tickets here.

There’s no shortage of comedy at ROOM.Six more comedians are laying it all on the table this Thursday, 21 March at the space’s Garden City branch for The Mad Day. Like the previous event, doors also open at 8:30pm, and the same ticket and minimum order regulations apply.

EVENTS-

Celebrate Mother’s Day this year with the Society of Play by bringing your mom to a special adult playdate. This Wednesday, 20 March mothers and their (adult) children will gather for a day of fun and games through interactive group activities for a chance to bond, laugh, and create lasting memories together. For reservations click on this link.

Nurture your connection with our cultural heritage with Megawra. Their three-day Spendthe Day in Khalifa event is on its eleventh edition, taking place this year on Friday and Saturday, 22-23 March, and Friday, 29 March. The event focuses on connecting space, place, and people at al-Khalifa Park and al-Khalifa Community Center.

RAMADANIYAT-

The iconic Taghmisa experience is back. 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.

Have iftar and suhoor beneath the night sky at the Citadel of Salah El Din.Sawa is curating a must-try experience at this historic site with culinary expertise from Carlo’s and Le Pacha. You can choose between having iftar from 5:30-8:30pm and suhoor from 10pm-2am. Tickets are selling out fast despite the steep price of EGP 2.4k per person (excluding taxes), so grab yours while you can.

Qahwet WOC is back this year for your Ramadan nights out.Walk of Cairo is teaming up with Topaz Restaurant to fill every night with live performances throughout the Holy Month, including a Mawlaweya show, a tanoura show, board games, and a traveling Mesaharaty. You can head down there any time during Ramadan from 8pm to 2am.

Layalina is also going to East Cairo. Layalina has extended their stay at El Baron Palace adding four additional dates to choose — up until this Wednesday, 20 March — bringing you a night of tradition and entertainment under the stars. The menu will be the same as our West-siders, but those attending at El Baron have a larger selection of seating. You can choose between lounges, tables, and high table seats here.

Can’t keep track of which suhoor tent is up when? Layaly HydeOut is making it easy for you — they’re open all month with HekaytnaHelwa at Hyde Park. In addition to a set Suhoor menu, weekdays feature oud and takht sharqi music, and weekends will host superstar performers who are yet to be identified. Tickets from 17-20 March are available now, retailing for EGP 800 per seat.

Footloose brings the magic of Ramadan at Wadi Campwhere the desert comes alive with traditional festivities and cherished traditions under the starry night sky. From mesmerizing Tanoura shows to sumptuous iftar feasts and late-night suhoor meals, immerse yourself in the spirit of the season. Enjoy movie nights under the open sky, engage in a variety of activities including volleyball and card games, and gather around the bonfire for shared stories and laughter. Reserve your spot through their number on their Facebook page.

Qahrawya is back again with their Ramadan ‘Iftours,’ where you get to stroll through the bustling streets and ancient wonders of Cairo iconic landmarks as well as indulge in its delicious dishes. The Salah al-Din Citadel and the labyrinthine alleys of Khan el-Khalili will be included in the tour. Their dates are Wednesday, 20 March in Downtown and Thursday, 28 March for the Mounira x Garden City tour. Saturday, 30 March will be in Zamalek, and Thursday, 4 April will be in City of the Dead. To book your spot, message them on their Facebook page.

MUSIC-

Witness some of the last remaining Zar practitioners in Egypt. The Mazaher ensemble shares their tradition with audiences with two concerts every Wednesday at Makan. Reach out by the email or Whatsapp number provided on the page to experience the spiritual poly-rhythmic drumming and vocals practiced in Upper Egypt. Note that taking photos and/or videos is prohibited during the performance.

? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-

Stubborn optimism in Happy by Celina Baljeet Basra sheds light on the realities of illegal migration. Basra brings us the story of Happy Singh Soni, the protagonist who is a vibrant and relentless spirit aspiring to be an actor. Happy departs from his homeland in pursuit of stardom. However, his journey takes a dark turn when he gets accidentally tangled up with organized criminals trafficking human labor.

The narrative is a kaleidoscope of optimism and grim realities. Despite his dreams, he finds himself trapped farming on a radish farm in Italy, after a difficult journey across continents. Yet, his irrepressible positivity and zest for life remain undiminished which makes the story equally lighthearted and endearing.

This isn't just a tale of one man’s struggle against exploitationbut also a poignant commentary on the human spirit’s unwavering determination. We’ve seen this before with the retelling of the Mardini sisters’ migration from Syria to Germany in The Swimmers.

The book is “an entertaining assortment and also a perplexing one,”and it’s made to show the resilience of those facing hardshipsand a reminder, with a touch of comedy, of the societal injustices of immigration.

You can find your copy on Amazon.