FUNDRAISER
Kan Yama Kan

Aug 1st at 6:30pm
Blinky’s, Williamsburg

Kan Yama Kan is a grassroots event series curated by Hala Alyan and Sara Akant , blending poetry, music, and community to raise funds for urgent causes in Gaza and Sudan. Intimate, powerful, and artistically rich, each gathering feels like a love letter to collective resilience. See my review of their last event below.

Donation based tickets

CONCERT
Kareem & Tiny Guns

Fri Aug 1st at 8pm
Berlin, LES

You probably know Kareem from Subway Takes, the viral sensation on social media. His brand, Tiny Guns, will be performing live alongside Emily Allan and Docents.

Tickets at $12

PARTY
Sade Skate Night ft Hasan Insane

Fri Aug 1st at 7pm
Xanadu, Bushwick

You can expect a smooth, soulful soundtrack inspired by Sade’s iconic vibe, think mellow R&B, quiet storm, neo-soul, and chill 80s/90s grooves. Hasan Insane will be one of the Djs performing, he is of Yemeni descent and usually blends Arabic rhythms, hip hop, and global club sounds to reflect his SWANA roots and diasporic identity.

Tickets from $33

PARTY
Disco Turco

Fri Aug 1st at 9:30pm
Union Hall, Park Slope

Turkish Disco & Psychedelic Rock, Dance-floor Classics & more from the 1970s till the present day.

Tickets at $10

CONVERSATION
A Voice For Justice in Palestine with Miko Peled

Sat Aug 2d at 6:30-8pm
The People’s Forum, Midtown

A conversation with Miko Peled, an Israeli-American activist born in Jerusalem into a prominent Israeli family. He’s an author and a speaker known for his outspoken criticism of Israeli policies and his advocacy for Palestinian rights. He is best known for his book “The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine,” in which he shares his personal transformation from a staunch Zionist to a critic of the Israeli occupation. All proceeds will directly fund an educational program for children in Gaza.

Tickets at $35

COMEDY SHOW
Salma Zaky

Sat Aug 2d, 7:30-9pm
Union Hall, Park Slope

Salma Zaky is a Brooklyn-based comedian and writer with sharp jokes and serious street cred. She’s dropped stand-up specials with OFTV and Don’t Tell Comedy, and was recently crowned a "Comic to Watch" at the 2024 New York Comedy Festival. I watched some of her skits on Youtube and she is great! She’s bringing some friends: Lee Robinson, Kate Strobel, Olivia Carter, and Murahd Shawki. Laughs guaranteed.

Tickets at $13

FUNDRAISER
Sound Against Silence: A Benefit For Palestine

Sat Aug 2d at 4-10pm
Umbra, Williamsburg

An evening of music, Dj Sets, food, exhibitions, performances and visual art by Entroplay. The event will be hosted by comedian and activist Sima Sepehri. Food will be available throughout the day, courtesy of Ayat.

Tickets from $28

PARTY
Tarab On The beach

Sat Aug 2d, 12-7pm
Jacob Riis beach

Tarab NYC is a non-profit that cultivates a safe, inclusive space for LGBTQ+ individuals of Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African heritage in the Greater New York area, and these guys are throwing a beach party.

Donation

CINEMA
Shahid

Wed Aug 6th at 8:30pm
BK Commons, BK Heights

In Shahid, director Narges Shahid Kalhor sets out to drop her inherited surname “Shahid” (meaning martyr) and casts an actress to play herself in the process. But when her martyred great-grandfather shows up from the past to stop her, things unravel fast. Blurring lines between fiction, reality, and absurdity, the film becomes a playful, chaotic exploration of identity, ideology, and the weight of legacy, all while refusing to take itself too seriously.

Free, RSVP

CINEMA
Sudan Remember Us

Aug 8th-14th
Firehouse, Soho

This documentary by Tunisian-Moroccan director Hind Meddeb follows four young activists during Sudan’s 2019 revolution, capturing their powerful use of art, poetry, and protest as tools for change. Amid ongoing war and global indifference, the film stands as a testament to the resilience and hope of the Sudanese people.

Tickets

FOOD
Knafeh Masterclass

Fri Aug 8th at 7pm
Williamsburg, BK

Learn to make the iconic Palestinian dessert from scratch with the guidance of Sitti’s House.

Tickets at $115

PARTY
Manifest by Amal Nemer

Sat Aug 9th at 4pm
LoHi Rooftop Bar, East Williamsburg

Amal Nemer is a Miami-based DJ and music producer of Lebanese-Venezuelan background. She blends Tech House, Afro House, and Melodic sounds. For Amal’s Manifest label debut event in Brooklyn, Amal has curated a line-up of talented New York Based DJ / producers.

Tickets at $23

FUNDRAISER
The Sea Is Mine

Sun Aug 10th, 12-6pm
Beach 65th, Arverne NY, Rockaway

A gathering at the Rockaway Beach to support Palestine, where guests are invited to surfe, paddle out, enjoy poems and sounds from various artists and donate what they can. All proceeds will be used to support Palestinian families.

Just show up

CINEMA
There Was, There Was Not

Fri Aug 13th at 8:30pm
Brooklyn Commons, Downtown BK

The film explores the dreams and desires of women enduring war, trauma, and inequality. Set in Nagorno-Karabakh, a long-disputed region between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it offers an intimate look into the inner worlds of four women navigating life in a conflict zone. The screening will also feature the short film The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing (17 min), followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.

Free, RSVP

PARTY
Haza Summer Jam

Sat Aug 16th at 4pm
Elswhere Rooftop, Bushwick

An open-air dance party that celebrates music from the Arab, Asian & African diasporas, hosted by Haza. This edition showcases sets by headliners Carmen Sandiego, Myyuh, Nanoos, and 444, all spinning fresh rhythmic tracks against a backdrop of panoramic city views on Elsewhere’s rooftop.

Tickets at $28

PARTY
Disco Tehran Summer Party

Sat Aug 16th at 4pm
The Sultan Room, Bushwick

Disco Tehran is a soulful, high-energy dance party and live music project that channels the spirit of 1970s Tehran discotheques, blending global grooves, retro flair, and modern-day joy.

Tickets from $25

Kan Yama Kan Brooklyn

Kan Yama Kan is one of those events that keep my engine going. A monthly gathering of poetry and music, with all proceeds supporting Gaza and Sudan. This is an open mic gathering with a diverse lineup of poets and musicians from across backgrounds and disciplines, all wrapped in a raw, DIY spirit. TBH, when I first arrived, I almost left, it felt a little too underground. But I’m so glad I stayed. The energy, the heart, the talent, the community… it was one of the most moving artistic nights I’ve experienced lately. I cried as much as I laughed. The diversity in both the crowd and performers was an incredible testament of our shared humanity. Feel free to email me if you wanna chat more about this.

Boozy Books Comedy

This comedy night is on its way to becoming a monthly staple. Curated by Palestinian comedian and writer Shatha Yas, it takes place at Huda, a stylish Lebanese gem in Brooklyn. The lineup was packed with surprises: fresh faces, big talent, and a mix of Middle Eastern and non-MENA comedians delivering sharp, original sets. Shatha puts real care into curating a dynamic, cohesive bill, at least half women, and never the same act twice. It’s the kind of event that’s deeply rooted in MENA culture yet totally welcoming, the perfect place to bring your non-MENA friends for an upscale modern Lebanese food followed by a night of laughs that’s inclusive, thoughtful, and fun. They have another upcoming event on Aug 20th, I will make sure to share.

Layale chaker, The violinist

I saw Chaker perform two days ago and was completely in awe. A Lebanese violinist and composer, her music feels like memory in motion, aching, intricate, and vividly alive. She weaves Arab traditions with classical and jazz in a way that stirs something deep. And yes, she sang too, and man she can sing. Beyond the awards and prestigious commissions, Chaker is a rare artist who bridges East and West with grace and soul. She’ll be performing at the Habibi Festival in October, I’ll be sure to remind you. Until then, her album Inner Rhyme is on Spotify and worth every listen.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Lour

We are reaching out today for your support: Lour is a Palestinian artist from Jerusalem who wears many hats, actor, singer, and songwriter. When we first met, she introduced herself with all three titles and I’ll admit, I was skeptical. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. At just 23, Lour created the first Arab Palestinian musical. Her work has already been showcased at Ars Nova, La MaMa, and Joe’s Pub. I’ve also seen her perform her own songs, raw, playful, and laced with the kind of dark wit that speaks straight to my soul. She’s currently entering her final year at the William Esper Studio in New York, the same acting conservatory that shaped talents like Ramy Youssef and May Calamawy. Lour was initially awarded a grant to pay for her studies but the organization lost its funding. We’re now turning to the community to help cover the cost of her final year. Any support would mean the world to her, and to all of us rooting for her journey.

Donate here 
Website