Ahla friends,
As always, we start with a curated list of events. And at the end, something a little different: a roundup of SWANA tattoo artists we recently shared on social that people found incredibly useful.
To my renegades who live off social, your resolve is admirable and I will always bring you what's worth crossing over for. You don't need to cave. I've already caved for you. It's the kind of resource I wish I had when I got my tattoo. Maybe a small nudge toward the next one.
Let me know if you know of more tattoo artists, or if you have one or thinking about getting one, I would love a tat-buddy.
Eid Mubarak for those of you celebrating
Samar
MUSIC
Faraj Abyad & The Athar Orchestra
Thursday, May 28th, 7 PM
NYU Skirball, Greenwich Village
Faraj Abyad leads Athar Orchestra New York that mixes traditional Arabic music with worldly sounds from Latin and beyond. 30 musicians through a maqam-rooted program. The night premieres his composition A Song of Peace, set to poetry by Emirati poet H.E. Dr. Mani Saeed Al Otaiba, alongside reimagined classics from Oum Kalthoum and Abdel Halim Hafez.
Promocode 30%: ATHARFRIENDS
CINEMA, FUNDRAISER
WARAK: Film, Food & Fundraiser
Thursday, May 28th, 7–10 PM
Sunview Luncheonette, Greenpoint
A short-film premiere at Sunview, three Arab diaspora kitchens, told through the slow ritual of rolling warak (stuffed grape leaves), with home-cooked dolma to share. Sliding scale, no one turned away. All proceeds go to small farms and agricultural collectives in Palestine during wheat harvest. RSVP by Venmo to @hana-elias, "warak"
LITERATURE. POLITICS
Land Keepers Release Event
Friday, May 29th, 6:30–8:30 PM
The People's Forum, Midtown West
A launch event for Land Keepers, a reader by EcoRove featuring voices from Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. The project explores ecological resistance in the Jabal al-Sheikh region, highlighting how communities are protecting land, culture, and environment amid ongoing destruction. The evening includes a conversation with contributors and organizers, alongside a broader body of work spanning film and art.
WELLNESS
Messy Heart Circles: Home & Belonging Between Worlds
Saturday, May 30th, 5 PM
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Sit with the question of where, with whom, and how we belong, a facilitated circle for people navigating life between cultures, expectations, and the different versions of themselves that come with that. Saturday afternoon, in the grass, with your inner and outside worlds.
ART. POLITICS
Dear Laila By Basel Zaraa
June 2–6th, 15-min slots throughout the day
Salam Arabic Church, Bay Ridge
Palestinian artist Basel Zaraa rebuilt his destroyed childhood home in miniature. You enter alone, fifteen minutes, Walkman narration in Arabic or English: family, displacement, the slow work of learning a parent's past. Five days only in Bay Ridge. Work from the Gaza Biennale shows alongside.
MUSIC
Souq El-Jazz
Wednesday, June 3rd
Nublu, East Village
Classical maqam threading through jazz improvisation, a collective of musicians from both traditions in conversation. The kind of night Nublu was made for.
— Want to explore more events? —
menna website
THE FREE ONE
Free and Cool Events
WELLNESS
Mind over Mat Pilates at Domino Park
Saturdays May 30 and June 6 at 10am
Domino Park, Williamsburg
Salma, an Egyptian instructor is leading more free pilates sessions in the park. Core strengthening, breathing, alignment, and an "obsessive focus on proud posture." Bring your mat, bring a friend and surround your self with Salma’s wonderful energy. Now that its’ getting sunny and warm, what better plans than a workout in the park.
RESOURCES
Useful Info For The Everyday
Where To Get an Arabic or Farsi Calligraphy Tattoo In New York City?
Noor Yagizi
Noor is a master of Arabic and Farsi calligraphy, her work says everything: refined, elegant, and effortlessly striking. I first noticed her art inked on a friend, then met her in person at a Kan Yama event, where she was volunteering to raise funds for Gaza. She is pretty established within our community and her work is stunning.
Haitham Haddad
Haitham is a visual artist from Palestine whose work centers on historical and contemporary manifestations of myth and folklore, as well as political tensions between the individual and the collective. His tattoo style spreads across experimental typography, ancient manuscript creatures and mystical sceneries. It’s a vibe!
Alia Fadaly
A real pioneer, she started in Egypt when tattooing wasn’t widely accepted and became the first female tattoo artist to be officially licensed in Egypt. Her work focuses on fine line, microrealism, and Arabic calligraphy…soooo gorge! She comes to NYC very often, so you can reach out to book an appt. Iconic!
Nassim Dayoub
Nassim is a Syrian-American tattooer, painter and writer with a more of a grungy aesthetics. Very underground!
Josh Berer
Not a tattoo artist per say but someone to work with to design your tattoo. Josh is a classically-trained calligrapher and craftsman based in DC. He received his ijazah [master calligrapher’s certification] in the Thuluth and Naskh scripts from Mohamed Zakariya, and is currently a student of Talik script. He speaks Arabic, Persian, and Turkish.
Karima Sharabi
Karima is a Palestinian-American Bahraini artist whose work blends Arabic calligraphy, spirituality, and symbolism. Known for her mystical calligrams and tattoo designs, Karima is great resource for when wanting to design your next tattoo, her portfolio is extensive and you will get inspired.
Self Funded. No Compromise
Allowing us to stay editorially independent and guided only by our values and the community we serve. If our work resonates with you and you’d like to support it, you can do so through the link below.
As always, thank you for being here.
Get Closer To Your Community
Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here you can get the next newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
Have an event to share? Submit here or reach out for a collab
— Menna curates cultural content and events for informational purposes only. Event details are subject to change—
