CINEMA
The President’s Cake
Feb. 18th-26th
Angelika, Soho
The story of a young Iraqi girl navigating life under Saddam Hussein, where even baking a cake becomes a matter of survival. A deeply human film that captures innocence, tension, and the strange weight of growing up under authoritarian rule.
CONVERSATION
Hard Feelings
Thurs Feb. 19th from 6-7:30pm
Baxter ST at CCNY, LES
Join photographer Dean Majd and textile artist Sabri Sundos for a conversation about what it means to be a Palestinian artist in NYC. This event will be held at Majd’s debut solo exhibition “Hard Feelings”, a photo gallery capturing a nuanced portrayal of masculinity through his hometown graffiti crew in Queens. Dates and tea will be served at the start of the event for Iftar.
WORKSHOP
Belly Dance Workshop
Thurs Feb. 19th from 6-7:30pm
Barbes, Park Slope
Created by Dilara Akpinar, The Wild Woman Series presents “The Rhythm of the Hips” Bellydancing workshop. All are welcome to this evening of exploring the depths of divine feminine energy through this timeless art form. You’re encouraged to bring a shawl or scarf to adorn your hips!
ART
The Cellular Burden of Belonging
Thurs Feb 19th 5-8pm
Trotter and Sholer Gallery, LES
In her NYC solo show debut, Jude Abu Zaineh uses hand bent neon, archival screen printing, and images of living matter grown in Petri dishes to explore the intercellular experience of culture, belonging, and displacement. A Canadian-Palestinian, Zaineh expresses themes of physical space and homeland connections through an artful, scientific lens- a really fresh combination of mediums! This gallery will run through March 21st.
CINEMA
How We Grieve
Thurs Feb 19th and Sat 21st 10pm
Asylum NYC, Gramercy
The sibling filmmaker duo, Justin and Meghan Ross, is premiering the pilot episode from their docuseries “How We Grieve” at the New York Comedy Film Festival. This “traumedy” explores how grief is processed across cultures and the universal ways we find humor in the darkness.
Promocode: 50% OFF NYCFFASYLUM26
MUSIC
Ramadan Qawwali with The Saami Brothers
Fri Feb 20th at 10pm
Barzakh Cafe, Crown Heights
End your first week of Ramadan by stopping by the beloved Barzakh cafe for an evening of Qawwali: Sufi Islamic spiritual music. Brothers Rauf, Urooj, Azeem, and Ahmed are carriers of this traditional music which guides listeners into deep spiritual states. These songs span multiple languages including Urdu, Punjabi, and Persian reflecting the rich diversity of South Asia. An evening for collective prayer!
CONVERSATION
Thinking Through Social Club: Love
Sat Feb 21th from 4-6pm
A Space Gallery, Bushwick
Led by Columbia professor and Turkish-American cultural entrepreneur, Dr. Ece Tekbulut, this salon style philosophical discussion asks the big questions about love. Come open hearted and open minded with stories, theories, and insight to swap! Tickets include a complimentary drink while you stir on one of life’s biggest questions: what is the meaning of love?
MUSIC
Laila Amira
Sat Feb 21st & 22d
Honeys, Bushwick
Laila Amira is back this week with more parties! She is also the host of Made In The Club (M.I.T.C) on Newtown Radio, where she discusses parties, people, and records that influence the dance music landscape today
CINEMA
Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk
Wed Feb 25th from 8-10:30pm
Cobble Hill Cinemas, Cobble Hill
If you’re looking for a direct way to support Palestinian families, look no further than the curated screenings hosted by The Friendly Strangers. Funds gathered from this screening of “Put Your Hand On Your Soul and Walk” will go directly to Fatma Hossna’s family. the screening will start with a short called Burqa City.
WELLNESS
House of Leyli: Persian Tea Meditation
Wed Feb 25th at 8:30pm
Virtual
Back by popular demand, this grounding meditation series offers a moment of stillness and reflection. Led through Persian poetry and song, this circle is the perfect for intentional self care while holding space for community, and solidarity with the people of Iran. This is your sign to slow down and give your heart some attention!
FOOD
Huda Iftar
Feb 25th, March 4th & 11th
Huda, Williamsburg
Special Iftar at Huda!
You know the drill people
CREATIVE
The Mouth Of The Sun
Application by March 1st
Virtual
A creative incubator program focused on Muslim women and gender-expansive folk. This creative writing incubator is led by author and cultural organizer, Roohi Choudhry. Program for May1-3 and over the Summer.
EVENT HIGHLIGHT
A Creative Retreat In The Heart Of The Mediterranean
A six days retreat from April 13 to the 18th
Soraya Hosni at The New Medina, Sousse
I’ve been sitting on this one for a while because it’s not happening in NYC, but let’s be real even the most hardcore New Yorkers of us sometimes need some distance. This is a creative retreat happening April 13–18 in UNESCO listed Sousse, Tunisia. A layered one. A retreat designed to help you slow down, reconnect with yourself, and think more deeply about your story and where you’re going.
This journey is led by Dr. Maytha Alhassen, a writer, scholar, and storyteller whose work focuses on how stories shape identity, belonging, and even social change. But this isn’t an academic setting. Her approach is very human. The idea is simple: when we learn to understand and reshape our own narratives, we gain clarity, emotionally, creatively, and even politically. So the benefit here isn’t “learn how to write better.” It’s: understand yourself better. Find language for things you’ve been carrying.
There’s also a strong embodiment layer. Think storytelling circles, reflection sessions, trauma-informed yoga, and real conversations. Moments that don’t usually happen in everyday life.
The retreat is curated and co-hosted by Soraya Hosni, an anthropologist and cultural healing practitioner who is deeply rooted in Tunisia. That part matters. You’re being welcomed into a place through someone who actually holds the culture and the land with care. Through her lens, the experience becomes immersive: historic walks, olive oil tasting, shared meals, private chef, catamaran tour, hadhra gathering (spiritual collective rhythmic experience)…special moments curated by a local. The structure feels intentional but not rigid. There are guided storytelling sessions, conversations around memory and identity, guest speakers, but also space to rest, think, and just be.
I know that it’s just Feb but this year of the fire horse has been quite intense so far, so wouldn’t mind a few days to step away and reset. It’s intentionally small and intimate so if this is calling your name, secure your spot via this link
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— Menna curates cultural content and events for informational purposes only. Event details are subject to change—
