Weekend Update #2: Cheap arak + chopstick violence + beef sausage patties = Magically Delicious
So despite the fact that people seem determined to thwart my attempts to establish a bowling league, it was a pretty good weekend. Housewarming party at Ben and Shady's, two of CASA's most eligible young bachelors (Shady's even made his way onto the hitlists of several right-wing, Zionist websites, alongside people like Juan Cole and Noam Chomsky), in Wust el-Balad. I don't know how they managed to scoop this sweet pad, but there's going to be some serious cage-fighting going on in a few months over who will get to inherit the place. It's almost enough to make me want to stick around here a little longer...
Friday night I went to a free screening of "Hana-bi," part of the Japanese Film Festival that's going on at the Cairo Opera House this month. Mary turned me onto the genius of "Beat" Takeshi Kitano a few years back and I was not disappointed. Though I imagine he doesn't have exactly the broadest range of acting skills, he is a genius at playing quirky, crazy, slightly unhinged rebels with violent tendencies in a Harvey Keitel kind of way. The writing was sparse, atmospheric and solid. Not exactly what I'd call a Valentine's week kind of movie, but great if you're into violence, cancer and suicidal tendencies.
Went for brunch at Lucille's out in Ma'adi yesterday...the perfect hangover cure after a long weekend. It's the one place we know of where you can get a real American-style brunch, minus the bacon, sadly. But the beef sausage patties are pretty killer, the pancakes have the slightly gooey consistency you expect out of a New York diner, the coffee's strong and the biscuits and gravy are passable (though they're no Wishbone). It's the kind of place that really should have a "Nap Room" so that you can sleep off the food coma for fifteen minutes or so after you stuff your maw full of greasy goodness. I'd pay a couple extra guinea for that.
Friday night I went to a free screening of "Hana-bi," part of the Japanese Film Festival that's going on at the Cairo Opera House this month. Mary turned me onto the genius of "Beat" Takeshi Kitano a few years back and I was not disappointed. Though I imagine he doesn't have exactly the broadest range of acting skills, he is a genius at playing quirky, crazy, slightly unhinged rebels with violent tendencies in a Harvey Keitel kind of way. The writing was sparse, atmospheric and solid. Not exactly what I'd call a Valentine's week kind of movie, but great if you're into violence, cancer and suicidal tendencies.
Went for brunch at Lucille's out in Ma'adi yesterday...the perfect hangover cure after a long weekend. It's the one place we know of where you can get a real American-style brunch, minus the bacon, sadly. But the beef sausage patties are pretty killer, the pancakes have the slightly gooey consistency you expect out of a New York diner, the coffee's strong and the biscuits and gravy are passable (though they're no Wishbone). It's the kind of place that really should have a "Nap Room" so that you can sleep off the food coma for fifteen minutes or so after you stuff your maw full of greasy goodness. I'd pay a couple extra guinea for that.
