WELLNESS
An Offering for the Heart
Thur Feb. 5th 5-6pm
Location revealed after registration
Start off your February with a grounding Persian tea meditation. This intimate event will feature Persian classical music and poetry while finding personal and community connection through prayer and reflection. Proceeds go to The Center for Mind, Body, Medicine to support Iranian trauma relief programming.
CINEMA
Secret Valentine’s Screening
Thur Feb 5th at 6:30pm
Boyfriend Co-op, Bushwick
The Garod Collective is hosting a surprise movie night. Hint: romantic misadventures with an Armenian man… Intrigued? RSVP!
PARTY
Disco Tehran
Thur Feb 6th from 8pm-late
Baby’s All Right, Williamsburg
Dance in solidarity with the people of Iran with Mountain Lions, Rhythm &Space, Mirza, and Sticky Dojah! This party’s proceeds will go towards providing internet access to people in Iran.
WELLNESS
Habayeb Movement Ritual
Fri Feb 6th, 7:30-9:30pm
Reforesters Laboratory, Williamsburg
This guided movement ritual sets out to awaken a deeper presence and release trapped energy. Expert Sara Awada will guide you through somatic practices while Hatim Belyamani, aka HAT, will facilitate an immersive sound and DJ experience. Come early to enhance your experience with adaptogenic foods and teas at the cafe.
FILM
The President’s Cake
Begins Thur Feb 5th
Angelika Film Center, SOHO
This highly anticipated film is finally hitting the theatres! Selected as the Iraqi entry for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, this film takes place in 1990’s Iraq and follows a young girl who’s been picked to bake a mandatory birthday cake for the president.
MUSIC
Mdou Moctar
Fri Feb 6th at 7pm
Union Pool, Williamsburg
Enjoy the warmth of Saharan music by Mdou Moctar and special guest Ryan Sawyer. The perfect event for these cold Friday nights!
ART
Silent Currents
Fri Feb 6th 6-8pm
Tribeca
A showcase of Iranian interdisciplinary artist Anahita Bagheri and Stefano Caimi’s latest sculptures of female rage and expression. The gallery opens on Feb. 6th and runs through March.
DANCE
The Pulse of Passion
Sat Feb 7th at 3pm and 7pm
New York Live Arts Theatre, Flatiron
A professional student showcase is a celebration of this rich storytelling that transforms movement to meaning. Virtual tickets available as well.
WORKSHOP
Valentine Craft Party
Sat Feb. 7th at 5-7pm
Boyfriend Co-op, Bushwick
You’re invited to Fun House’s V-day Craft party! Come on your own, with a friend or a lover and make your own bag charms and bedazzle an item you bring.
MUSIC
Lour: Maladaptive Live!
Sun Feb. 8th at 8:30pm
Joe’s Pub, Soho
Fresh off her Off-Broadway debut, Lour returns to the stage for a first listen of her upcoming EP Maladaptive! expect wit, dark humour and a lot of good energy. Also, you may or may not find yourself featured in a major global cultural media platform.
FOOD
Bake Sale for Palestine
Sun Feb 8th 11am-3pm
Land to Sea, Williamsburg
Sweet treats for a cause. Look out for Arabic Coffee Tiramisu and Baklava Cookie Bars! All proceeds will to towards mutual aid efforts in Palestine.
SHOPPING
El Souq Eid Pop-up
Sun Feb 8th 11am-6pm
West Village
New York City's premier SWANA and South Asian pop-up shopping experience, this vibrant market takes place in the Village and features a diverse range of vendors, from clothing and jewelry to food and more. The atmosphere is always lively and welcoming, and I always leave with a lot of wonderful goodies.
MUSIC
Kedmah & Ahavat Hadassah
Sun Feb 8th 8pm
Barzakh Cafe, Crown Heights
A concert of sacred Jewish songs from all over the Arab world featuring Yoni Avi Battat, Yosef Ya’ish Goldman, and Anat Halevy Hochberg.
FOOD
People of Iran Benefit Dinner
Mon Feb 9th at 5pm
Rhodora Wine Bar, Clinton Hill
A delicious evening celebrating Iranian cuisine. Proceeds from this dinner go to Sobh-e Rouyesh NGO for underprivileged children in Iran. Stop by for some natural wine and a tasty Monday night dinner while supplies last!
CINEMA
After The Hour of Liberation
Tues Feb 10th, 6-9pm
Firehouse Cinema, Chinatown
This program will feature documentaries from the archives of ArteEast. Curated by Dina Ramadan, these films documents the afterlives of revolution; each revisits a resistance movement and centers the women, some infamous, others overlooked, who were at the forefront of these anticolonial struggles.Stay for a talkback with Dina and award winning scholar, Samah Selim.
CINEMA
After The Hour of Liberation
Tues Feb 10th, 6-9pm
Firehouse Cinema, Chinatown
This program will feature documentaries from the archives of DCTV-NY. Curated by Dina Ramadan, these films center the afterlives of revolution. Stay for a talkback with Dina and award winning scholar, Samah Selim.
ART
Pour Toi Paint & Sip
Wed Feb 11th 6:30-9pm
Apartment 5, LES
Celebrate the season of love with this mystery paint and sip class. Perfect for date night, girls night out, or to meet new people! Drinks and light bites begin at 6:30 and painting starts at 7.
EVENT HIGHLIGHT
A meditative experience centered around tea
I’ll be honest. I’m drawn to elevated products. House of Leyli fits the bill. The jar is solid and made of thick dark glass, simple design, nothing flashy yet considerate. When you open it, the smell is immediate. The cardamom, rose and tea are strong and fragrant. You can clearly see the ingredients. Pieces of cardamom, rose petals, loose tea. I really appreciate when ingredients are not just listed on a label but visible and tangible.
The quality comes through before you even taste it, and the taste follows. The tea is flavorful without being overwhelming. Everything feels balanced. You can taste each ingredient and smell it as you drink.
I drink tea every day. Most of the time it’s lemon verbena from my grandmother’s garden that my mom sends me. Tea is part of my routine. This one feels different. It might be the fact that it’s Ceylon tea, so a full body one. This is not a tea you drink quickly or take on the go. It’s the kind you sit with. It encourages you to slow down and actually enjoy the moment.
Knowing that Hediya, the woman behind House of Leyli also organizes ceremonies and meditative circle makes sense. The tea feels connected to that work. It feels intentional and grounded and part of a true ritual.
I love it when I come across a well made product that I can work as a gift as well to share the culture. It’s something you can share and feel good about, both in quality and in spirit.
Next Leyli event: An Offering Of The Heart: A Persian Tea Meditation
February 5th, 5-6pm (first event we featured in this newsletter)
Have an event, a brand or a project to share?
This newsletter was forwarded to you?
— Menna curates cultural content and events for informational purposes only. Event details are subject to change—
