COMEDY
Ramy Youssef
Jan 22d & 23d at 7:30pm
Bell House, Park Slope
Ramy is back! and I truly wished he could give us more notice :)
POETRY
30th Showcase Reading
Thur Jan 22d at 7:30pm
Poets House, Battery Park
An evening dedicated to poetry that addresses and responds to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Ahmad Almallah, Mandy Shunnarah, Fargo Nissim Tbakhi, and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha’s work bears witness, speaks truth, and offers space for grief, resistance, and solidarity.
MUSIC
Turkish American Orchestra: Displacement
Sat Jan 24th at 7:30pm
Symphony Space, UWS
Quickly establishing itself as a cultural ambassador of Türkiye in the United States, the orchestra continues its tradition of bringing western classical, Turkish classical, and beloved popular songs into one shared space. Expect Oud, Darbuka and 9anoun.
PARTY
Nefertitties: Ana Masreya
Sat Jan 24th at 10pm
The Sultan Room,
The queen Ana Masreya, the incredible Egyptian drag artist, is back with a long-awaited party. With eight different DJs and an unforgettable return, this is a night that promises not to disappoint.
CONVERSATION
Israeli Violence In The West Bank
Sat Jan 24th, 7-8:30pm
St Nichola’s Orthodox Cathedral
Jasper Nathaniel recently documented Israeli settler and state violence, including a report that went viral and was later covered by mainstream media and discussed on the Senate floor. The event will be moderated by NYC activist and former news producer Eman Rashid, and will include a short film on the murder of activist Awdeh Hathaleen.
FUNDRAISER
Imal Gnawa
Sat Jan 24th, at 4pm
The People’s Forum, Midtown
An immersive Sudanese cultural experience around food and sound.
MUSIC
Queer Backgammon
Sat Jan 24th, 1-4pm
Boyfriend Co-op, Bushwick
The Boyfriend Co-op are on fire with their event programming, and this time they’re hosting a regional backgammon afternoon dedicated to play and community.
CINEMA
Can Yasar
Sat Jan 24th at 7pm
Pangea, East Village
Turkish actor, writer, and musician known for his work in theater, cabaret, and original performance pieces. His work often reflects his experiences as an immigrant and queer artist in the U.S., and he has been recognized with awards and support in the NYC performance scene.
SHOPPING
El Souq: Ramadan & Eid
Sun Jan 25th, 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.
CINEMA
Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk
Sun Jan 25th at 8pm
Cobble Hill Cinemas, Cobble Hill
The film centers on Sepideh’s connection with Fatima Hassouna, a young journalist surviving under bombardment in Gaza, who becomes her eyes on the ground while documenting the war. Over more than 200 days, the two sustain a lifeline between Gaza and the outside world, exchanging fragments of images and sound that ultimately form the film itself. All proceeds will be donated to Fatima’s family.
WORKSHOP
Knafeh Masterclass
Sun Jan 25th at 2pm
Ayat, Astoria
This hand-on masterclass will be brought to you by Sitti house for a fun and educational afternoon of knafeh making.
WORKSHOP
Anyone Can Write By Maha Hashwi
Wed Jan 28th, 6:30-8:30pm
Boyfriend Co-op, Bushwick
Bring your honest self, your regrets, your resolutions, and a pen. This workshop will strive to hold a mirror up to who you’re becoming. All writing levels are welcome..
MUSIC
The Secret Trio
Wed Jan 28th at 7pm
DROM, East Village
This ensemble offers a distinctive musical experience that brings together Middle Eastern and Balkan traditions with elements of jazz improvisation. Featuring Ara Dinkjian on oud, Ismail Lumanovski on clarinet, and Tamer Pınarbaşı on kanun.
MUSIC
Souren Baronian Quartet
Wed Jan 28th at 9pm
DROM, East Village
Souren Baronian is an Armenian-American musician and composer, best known as a master of the oud and a specialist in Middle Eastern and Armenian classical and folk music. This is serious stuff!
EDITOR’S PICK
Ziba Brightening and Hydrating Mask
Clean ingredients we love, made to calm and brighten
I discovered Ziba by accident. I wasn’t looking for skincare, but I stopped when I read the ingredient list: rose water, olive leaf, saffron. Ingredients that feel familiar, almost domestic. The kind I associate with care that’s been passed down, not trends.
The packaging caught my eye too. It’s thoughtful and elevated, and the scent is genuinely beautiful, soft and rose-forward, but not overpowering. More comforting than perfumed. From the start, it felt good to see a product made by someone from the community (Persian and Woman owned brand) that felt well-made and considered.
Right now, my skin isn’t in a great place. It’s inflamed, reactive, and struggling with almost everything. I was advised to use the mask sparingly considering my skin highly sensitive nature, but it felt gentle from the first use, and I found myself reaching for it more often than I expected.
The first time I tried it, my skin calmed down. Not in a dramatic way, more quietly, like it had finally exhaled. After each use, my face felt soothed, fresh, and noticeably brighter. I do still need to moisturize afterward as the mask is not enough for me especially with this weather, but the mask creates a really good, calm base for the rest of my routine.
Another thing that made me stick with it: it only takes 10 minutes. That matters to me. I’m not someone who commits to overnight masks or elaborate rituals. I hope they eventually expand the line to include a moisturizer, it’s something I’d genuinely be excited to try, especially given how clean and thoughtful their ingredient list is.
With so many skincare and makeup brands we can no longer support, it feels especially meaningful to find high-quality products created by people from our own community. I hope we can continue discovering more of these brands together.
Website: https://ziba-skincare.com/
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— Menna curates cultural content and events for informational purposes only. Event details are subject to change—
