CAIRO: With its traditional Arabesque architecture and growing market place, Korba has become a cultural icon in Heliopolis. Last Friday, Korba was turned into a pedestrian area for the annual spring festival celebrating the neighborhood. The annual festival started after Friday prayers, as drivers vied for parking spaces. Valets were clearly happy with the extra profit the day brought. Along Baghdad Street, booths lined the street with foreigners selling different products from their countries of origin. Though it was originally planned as a cultural event by the Suzanne Mubarak Peace Movement, the day had quite the business buzz to it. Some local workers were keen on sharing their experience. A Starbucks shift supervisor was excited with the extra business. "We have never seen this number of customers, said Mahmoud Reda. "It still would have been better for us if they had handled the parking situation better. During the festival, Mohammed Mustafa was selling cold drinks. He runs a small dairy products shop called Sonesta. "In 2005, the festival was well-organized, but now it's too crowded and the streets are packed, he said. Though local businessmen were jubilating, a lot of the festival's attendees had to bear the brunt of the usual logistical problems. An elderly man who brought his whole family told Daily News Egypt that he was also concerned about the crowds. "There should have been some limit on the number of people, said Abdu Hassan Abdu. "It was also difficult to park nearby and some people ended up doing a lot of walking. Police officers told Daily News Egypt that in spite of the crowd, there were no reports of sexual harassment. Throngs of young people filled the streets, taking part in the fun or waiting to see their favorite band perform. Nour El-Din was sitting with his friends in front of the stage eagerly waiting for a musical performance to begin. "It's a change of atmosphere, said El-Din. "It's a good chance for youth to get together and hang out. Sitting on top of a car, Mohammed Gomaa was already satisfied with the event even though he's been there for one hour. "I am all psyched up and ready for next year. The event was a spectacle of crowds of young people shopping, eating, and hanging out. Ending off the festival was a memorable performance by renowned pianist Omar Khairat.
