POETRY
Kan Yama Kan

Fri Sep 5th at 6:30pm
Blinky’s, East Williamsburg

At Blinky’s each month, Palestinian American Hala Alyan and Turkish Sarah Kant bring together established and emerging poets for an evening of readings. Every word shared supports aid relief in Gaza.

Donation based Tickets

VISUAL ART
An Archive Of Love: Book Launch

Fri Sep 5th, 7-10pm
82 Dobbin St, Williamsburg

Born from an Instagram archive in 2020, Middle East Archive has blossomed into an independent publisher celebrating lived culture across the Middle East and North Africa—offering visual stories rooted in warmth, nuance, and resilience, one photobook at a time.

LITERATURE
Rabih Alameddine on The True True Story of Raja The Gullible (and His Mother)

Wed Sep 10th, 7-8:15pm
In person and virtual

Wildly original and wickedly funny, Alameddine’s latest novel explores the profound bond between a mother and son. Set in Lebanon, the story is told in the unforgettable voice of Raja, a beloved philosophy teacher and “the neighborhood homosexual.” When Raja embarks on a writing residency in America, he gains long-sought distance from both personal and national turmoil. But his journey soon compels him to confront the past, weaving a powerful narrative of memory, identity, and resilience. After a discussion, the author will sign books.

Tickets from $5

CINEMA
We Never Left By Loulwa Khoury

Wed Sep 10th, 8-10pm
Cobble Hill Cinemas

A powerful documentary by Loulwa Khoury that unfolds against the backdrop of the Lebanese revolution. With poetic sensitivity, it traces the emotional and physical tensions between Beirut and New York, offering a moving portrait of diaspora and belonging.

Tickets at $23

LITERATURE
A Seat At The Table

Wed Sep 10th at 6pm
East Village & Online

The story of the founding of Busboys and Poets, a Washington, D.C.–based restaurant that has become a celebrated hub for political activism. Named in honor of Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy while writing poetry, the restaurant is the creation of Andy Shallal, an Iraqi American restaurateur, artist, and activist. A fast-paced, personal, and often humorous story, written by Shallal with the collaboration of Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour.

Free, RSVP
Live Stream Link

ART EXHIBIT
Gaza Biennial 2025 Annual

Sep 10-14, Sep 18-Dec 20
Recess, Clinton Hill

Launched in 2024 by artists in and beyond Palestine, the Gaza Biennale is a decentralized exhibition spanning cities worldwide. This year’s edition runs Sep 10–14, with an extended program from Sep 18–Dec 20. The New York Pavilion at Recess will showcase projects from 22 artists, offering a glimpse into works that speak across borders and conditions of constraint. Opening Reception is on Thursday, Sep 11, 6–9pm.

Free, more info

WORKSHOP
Funoun: Sapphic SWANA Arts & Craft

Thur Sep 11th, 6-8:30pm
Boyfriend Co-Op, Bushwick

A collab between Tarab NYC and Queering existentialism for this arts & crafts event, focused on cultivating connection & creativity in community. This event centers sapphic-identifying SWANA folks (humans attracted by women).

Free, more info

PARTY
Rockin Morrocin

Fri Sep 12th at 10pm
Unveiled, Williamsburg

DJ Rockin Morrocin turns tradition into a party, Moroccan grooves colliding with global beats, all built to move the crowd.

Tickets at $24

THEATER
Home?

Fri Sep 12-Oct 11
59E59, Midtown East

I had the privilege of seeing this play early in its development, and it was already exceptional. Hend is a force of nature. In this one-woman show, she alone carries the stage inhabiting multiple characters with remarkable ease, nuance, and power. Drawing from her own personal experience, the play is at once poignant, witty, and deeply reflective. It’s the kind of performance that stays with you long after the curtain falls.I can’t recommend it enough.

Tickets at $29 ($25 with promocode HOMEFRIEND)

LITERATURE
Words For My Comrades: a Political History of Tupac

Sat Sep 13th at 6pm
The People’s Forum, Midtown

A community adjacent event that I find relevant to this group experience. This is a conversation with author and music journalist Dean Van Nguyen on his new book, exploring the political and artistic legacy of Tupac Shakur on the 29th anniversary of his death. From his rise as the defining voice of 1990s hip-hop to his deep ties to Black Panther politics through his mother Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s story reveals how art and activism remain powerfully intertwined.

Buy the book from 1824 Books

THEATER
The Persian Thing

Sat Sep 13th at 7:30pm & 10pm
Queensborough Performing Arts Center, Queens

This play will take you on a journey through family dynamics, modern challenges, and timeless traditions. A rollercoaster of drama, and cultural flair.

Tickets from $53

CONCERT
Nadah El Shazly

Tue Sep 16th at 8pm
Roulette, Boerum Hill

Cairo-born Nadah El Shazly blends haunting Arabic vocals with electronic and experimental textures. A rising force in contemporary music, she’s celebrated for pushing boundaries while honoring her roots. Such a unique vision, I like her a lot.

Tickets

CONCERT
Rumi Suite Ft One Sound Ensemble 

Wed Sep 17th at 7pm
The Drom, East Village

Livaneli’s new album Rumi Suite is performed by the One Sound Ensemble, a multi-faith, multi-national collective embodying peace, unity, and shared humanity. The evening also highlights the powerful voices of Tamara Jokic and Mona Miari, the acclaimed Palestinian-American singer-songwriter. Through this night, borders blur, cultures converge, and Rumi’s timeless message of love and empathy comes alive.

Tickets at $49

COMEDY
Ahmet Bilge 

Wed Sep 17th, 8-10pm
Groove 34, Queens

Ahmet Bilge is a globe‑trotting Turkish stand‑up comedian—raised in the US, matured in Turkey, and now making audiences howl across Switzerland and beyond. He’s the brains behind "The American Standup Show" and Zurich’s first weekly English open mic and he’s pretty good.

Tickets at $25, group discounts offered

PERFORMANCE
Bergsonist: ASL أصل ft Moe Elgad 

Thur Sep 18th at 8pm
Roulette, Boerum Hill

A one-hour multimedia performance exploring ancestry and Amazigh heritage. Developed by Selwa Abd, a Moroccan-born interdisciplinary artist and composer working under the alias Bergsonist after visiting her great-grandfather’s shrine near Errachidia, Morocco, the work dives into Abd’s roots—reimagining the past while envisioning the future. Abd will be joined by Moe Elgad, a Gnawa musician, for a portion of the set.

Tickets at $25

CONCERT
Mehmet Ali Sanlikol Quintet ft. Ingrid Jensen

Thur Sep 18th at 7pm
The Drom, East Village

Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol Quintet performs a unique blend of innovative Turkish music influenced compositions in which Middle Eastern modes and rhythmic cycles are showcased. Mehmet will be performing alongside the acclaimed trumpeter Ingrid Jensen.

Tickets from $25

THEATER
Iranian Girlfriend

Sep 18-Oct 4th
MITU580, Carroll Gardens

A darkly comic performance installation about displacement, divorce, and dark times. It combines solo performance, video installation, and runway fashion to unpack the untold history and precious objects of a woman on the run, challenging America’s narrow sense of self while offering fresh perspectives on womanhood and belonging. Im quite excited about this one.

Tickets from $26

MUSIC & DANCE
DAR

Fri Sep 19th at 9pm
Littlefield, Brooklyn

The Brooklyn nomad invite you for Dar (Arabic for Home) as a vibrant fusion of live music, storytelling, dance, and animation. A theatrical experience that welcomes the audience into a shared space of emotional and musical exploration, touching on the universal themes: love, loss, laughter, and hope.

Tickets at $35