“Those who remember central Cairo before the 1960s speak of its gracious belle époque buildings, smart department stores and lively cafés … [But] the buildings have been decaying for decades … [and] downtown Cairo has grown shabby over the years.” Now a group of Egyptian and Persian Gulf investors are buying up run-down properties in the Egyptian capital with plans to restore their Arab-Baroque and Art Deco beauty.
Tag: 09.17.09
In Europe – A Clash Of Cultures
“Most European elites… have not debated seriously the potential effects of introducing into this land of postmodern chatter millions of devout believers in another religion, one previously seen as antagonistic to European culture.”
Plans For Dallas’ Boldest Building Yet
Thom Mayne has designed the new Perot Museum. “The main gallery spaces will be in a big cube-shaped structure as tall as a 14-story building. It will have a stark, high-tech look, with a 150-foot escalator structure jutting out from the south side. A cutaway corner atrium will offer dramatic views of downtown and at night, dramatic views into the building. The cladding has not been determined.”
65,000 Performances Later, Phantom Still Goes Strong
The Phantom of the Opera, already the longest-running show in Broadway history, hits another milestone when it becomes the first Broadway show to reach the 9,000 performance mark.
Troubled Ballet BC Gets A New Director
Rankin has 30 years of experience in arts administration and built Toronto Dance Theatre’s capital reserve during his eight years at the company. “The Vancouver dance company has just undergone a painful restructuring and needs to raise money if it is to continue.”
Mendes: Financial Squeeze Has Killed Serious Movies
Director Sam Mendes tells the BBC that “the movies in the middle are almost getting squeezed out, which is the big dramas, the movies that do cost a bit of money… with well-known actors in them,”
France Debates Harsh Penalties For Illegal Downloading
“The Culture Ministry has estimated that 1,000 French Internet users a day could be taken offline under the bill. Pirates who ignore email warnings and a registered letter could see their Internet connections cut for up to a year, and they could also face up to $435,000 in fines or jail time.”
For All The Talk, Just What Is Innovation?
“Innovation is one of those things just about everybody is for. But despite all the talk, and for a society so caught up in its individual technologies, what do we really know about how technological innovation actually happens?”
A Theatre Rises In Minneapolis
“Construction on the Minnesota Shubert Center will begin this autumn, a decade after the historic theater was hoisted up on rollers and moved onto Hennepin Avenue and following a series of delays and revisions.”
Spain’s Oscar Committee Snubs Almodóvar Again
“Pedro Almodóvar’s critically acclaimed Broken Embraces, starring last year’s best supporting actress winner Penélope Cruz, has been controversially omitted from Spain’s shortlist for next year’s Academy Award for best foreign language film.”