Top 5 Weekend Picks

1 - Whether you're an industry pro or just a music lover, MUZIX will bring everyone together this weekend to promote the industry, and empower new talent from the region. "Our goal is to make the music industry larger, more professional and more welcoming than what it is today," organizers say. Dubbed as the first event of its kind in the Middle East, the expo will include exhibits from top brands, competitions, workshops, discussions (on anything from shaabi music to creating a record label,) and, of course, live music from acts like Massar Egbari or Hany Must (listen to him on soundcloud here)

Friday, October 23 to October 24, from 11am to 9pm AUC Greek Campus, 28 Falaki St., Bab El Louq, downtown See the event's Facebook page here

[caption id="attachment_346393" align="alignnone" width="600"] Hany Must[/caption]

2 - Student Nouran Gamal, who's currently studying to be an art teacher, will be featured at Kafein in an exhibit that spans both floors of the Abdeen coffee house. Using watercolors and illustration pens, Gamal aims to show the beauty of black next to color while using fictional characters as an escape from daily life. We think Gamal has a good palette and understanding of colors, making her a promising new talent.

Ongoing until November 28 Kafein, 28 Sharif St., Abdeen, downtown See the event's Facebook page here

[caption id="attachment_346394" align="alignnone" width="620"] Artwork by Nouran Gamal.[/caption]

3 - Colorful and bittersweet, Hayam Abdelbaky says her oil paintings are inspired by the idea of discrimination in all its forms, especially society looking down on women. Abdelbaky spent a year living with Bedouins and observed the women always hidden behind veils to discover the bitterness they hold for not being able to achieve their hopes and dreams. Abdelbaky says she later decided to free these women in her paintings, bringing them to life in glorious colors and movement, while inspired by the reverence shown to women in Ancient Egyptian art. Catch her breathtaking exhibit now before it closes.

Ongoing until Thursday, October 22 Ubuntu Art Gallery, 20 Hassan Sabry St., Zamalek See the event's Facebook page here

[caption id="attachment_346396" align="alignnone" width="620"] Painting by Hayam Abdelbaky[/caption]

4 - This isn't one of those three-hour white tutu ballets that you've got to be a fan to love. Coppelia is light-hearted and fun, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffman, about an inventor who brings a life-size dancing doll to life. It's also about the young Franz, a villager who becomes so infatuated with this perfect, beautiful woman that he forgets all about his fiance, the very imperfect and very human Swanhilda. The antics are at moments laughably funny, and Leo Delibes' melodic score adds to the otherwordly beauty of this ballet.

Ongoing until October 23 Cairo Opera House, Main Hall See the event's Facebook page here

[caption id="attachment_346398" align="alignnone" width="620"] Dress rehearsal for Coppelia at the Cairo Opera House.[/caption]

5 - A night celebrating a decade of the Alexandrian band Masar Egbari's music will feature their distinctive mix of rock, jazzy blues and oriental.

Thursday, October 22 at 10:30pm Cairo Jazz Club, 197 26th of July St. See the event's Facebook page here or listen to them on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQRoe3wtgH4