Ahla friends,
I've been staring at this intro for longer than I'd like to admit. The truth is, my brain is entirely somewhere else right now. Next week, specifically, where I'm supposed to reveal the first ever menna event. Since I'm already not respecting my own self-imposed timeline, I'm just going to scratch this itch and ask you what I'm dying to ask:
What type of menna events would you be most excited about?
- Social hour: meet and mingle with other menna subscribers
- An interesting guest speaker who knows a lot about a specific topic
- One notable person, telling their own story. How they got here and what nobody asks them about.
- Panels on the stuff we're all thinking about anyway
- Hands-on: workshops
- Dance parties: Self explanatory.
If you have an event you'd love to see or a guest you'd love us to host, reply to this email. I promise I will do my best to make it happen.
Let’s get to it my friends
Samar
THE SHORTLIST
The Ones Worth Your Time
WORKSHOP
Reviving the Press Workshop with Layal Srouji
Thursday, August 27 | 6:00–8:00 PM
All Street Gallery, Lower East Side
Artist Layal Srouji leads a workshop inspired by Al Hakeem Printing Press, one of Palestine's earliest Arabic presses, established after the Nakba. Participants build kinetic paper printing machines from collage, paper engineering, and found materials. For all ages, no prior experience needed. Half of ticket proceeds go to the Sameer Project.
LITERATURE
Reading & Discussion: Whisper Tapes (Kate Millett in Iran)
Thursday, August 27 6:30pm
Dada, Queens
In 1979, feminist activist Kate Millett traveled to Iran and documented the women's uprising unfolding around the revolution. That book has now been translated into Persian for the first time. The conversation features translator Arash Azizi, author Negar Mottahedeh, and Kateh Vafadari, the woman who organized the March 8th women's march in Tehran in 1979. A living witness to the history at the center of the book.
LITERATURE, LGBTQ+
From Lived Wisdom to Building a Liberated World
Friday, August 28 | 6:30–9:00 PM
Bureau of General Services, Queer Division, Greenwich Village
Queer Muslim authors Mx. Yaffa and Randa Jarrar in conversation about their recent work and what liberation actually looks like in practice. The evening also includes the unveiling of priority initiatives for trans and queer Muslims from MASGD and Killjoy Institute.
CINEMA
Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
August 29 & 31 | 6PM & 5PM
BAM Rose Cinemas, Fort Greene
Khaled Mansour's debut feature premiered at Venice. Set in Cairo, it follows Hassan and his dog Mr. Rambo, who has attacked the landlord in self-defense, and what happens next. Egyptian cinema at BAM, a film about loyalty, a city's chaos, and the cost of survival.
MUSIC & LITERATURE
Danny Bedrosian: Secret Army (members of P-funk)
Tuesday, September 1 | 8:00 PM
Dada, Queens
Keyboardist Danny Bedrosian performs with bassist Lige Curry and drummer Benzel Cowan, all members of Parliament-Funkadelic, fusing funk, Middle Eastern music, R&B, hip-hop, and rock into one set. Also a book launch.
THE FREE ONE
Free and Delightful
FOOD, MUSIC
Laziza x Soul Summit Backyard Party
Saturday, August 29 | 4:00–10:00 PM
Laziza, 306A Malcolm X Blvd, Bed-Stuy
Laziza partners with Soul Summit for a backyard afternoon into evening in Bed-Stuy. Good music, good drink.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
Cool Initiative To Experience
Palestinian Food. In A Cool Wine Bar. With Two Cool Guys
Aug 30th from 3pm at SAUCED East Village
Ghassan is a Palestinian chef, photographer, and climate entrepreneur who came to the US carrying recipes, fermentation techniques, and a deep respect for the food traditions he grew up around in Palestine. When he met Blaze Bateh, a Palestinian-American musician from Brooklyn and drummer of the NYC band Bambara, something clicked. Blaze grew up deeply connected to his grandmother Naima's cooking, the Palestinian comfort food of her kitchen. Together they decided to bring it back.
They named the project Naima, after her.
This Sunday, August 30th, they're hosting their very first pop-up at SAUCED wine bar in the East Village, starting at 3pm until they sell out. No reservations, no ceremony. The vibes will the best of NYC and Palestine combined.
Free to attend. Get there early.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
Brands to support
Heiam, a Jewelry Brand Honoring Palestinian Women
This newsletter is also a space for our readers, and this week we're highlighting a project from one of you.
Heiam is a fine jewelry collective blending modern design with Middle Eastern heritage. Their current collection, Hayya, meaning "she" in Arabic, is inspired by the olive tree and named after Palestinian women, each piece carrying a name, a story, and a quiet kind of resilience.
Limited quantities, thoughtfully made in Egypt.
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We're building it now, with your support. Cause if we don't do it for ourselves no one will do it for us.
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— Menna curates cultural content and events for informational purposes only. Event details are subject to change—
