Voices from the Holy Land: Online Film Salon
2023-05-21 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Two documentary films, Voices across the Divide and Born in Deir Yassin, pull back the carefully constructed curtain of “a land without people for a people without a land.” Since 1948, a monumental effort has been made to promote a romantic mythology of Israel’s creation and to hide the brutal violence. But firsthand accounts by both the oppressor and the oppressed, the expeller and the exiled, reveal the ongoing wounds. Nothing is resolved by dialogue alone, yet nothing will be resolved without it. Any hope of coexistence begins when the historical truth is rediscovered and acknowledged. It begins here.
Watch the film for free at your convenience; then join the Q&A Discussion with:
Alice Rothchild: Author, filmmaker, and Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School (Retd.)
Emad Moussa: Palestinian-British journalist, researcher, and human rights activist
Huda Giddens: Palestinian American educator, Nakba survivor
Ahlam Muhtaseb (moderator): Author, filmmaker, and Professor of Media Studies at CSUSB
You must register to join the discussion & receive access to the film: Tinyurl.com/VFHL-May2023
Watch the Trailers: 1) vimeo.com/818747654 2) vimeo.com/818744242
How this will work:
1 – Register here for the Voices from the Holy Land Online Film Salon:
Tinyurl.com/VFHL-May2023
2 – Once you register, you will get a confirmation email from Zoom with a link to the meeting and a link with to watch the film. (Save this confirmation letter as the meeting link is unique to your email and you must have this to participate.)
3 – Watch the film at your convenience before the event. Then join us with your thoughts and questions for our speakers at the Q&A Discussion on Sunday May 21, 2023 at 3 pm ET/ 12 noon PT.

Anees: Lebanese-Palestinian Rapper
2023-05-21 20:00 - 22:00 | The Showbox, 1426 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
ANEES IS AN INDEPENDENT SINGER-RAPPER FROM THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA.
HIS MUSIC IS A GENRE-LESS TREAT OF EAR CANDY MELODIES, SUBLIME RHYME-SCHEMING AND VULNERABLE LYRICISM. HIS RARE FUSION OF POP AND HIP-HOP WITH AN R&B TONE OFTEN DRAWS COMPARISON TO ARTISTS SUCH AS MAC MILLER, RUSS, AND CHANCE THE RAPPER.
ANEES WRITES SONGS WITH FINE-GRAINED INTENTION. HIS LYRICS ARE CRARFTED TO INSPIRE INTROSPECTION AND GOOD VIBES. HE BELIEVES PASSIONATELY THAT MUSIC IS MEANT TO HELP OTHERS HEAL.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/who-is-anees-the-palestinian-lebanese-rapper-featured-on-justin-bieber-s-instagram-1.1201220

Book Talk with Dr. Jenny Lynn Kelly
2023-05-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
We are writing to invite you to a special virtual event and ask you to mark your calendar to join us on May 22, 2023, at 7:00PM EST for a book talk with Dr. Jenny Lynn Kelly. Dr. Kelly is a former Eyewitness Palestine delegate, faculty member at the University of California Santa Cruz, and author of the recently-released Invited to Witness: Solidarity Tourism Across Occupied Palestine. The event will be hosted via Zoom and donors of an eligible amount will receive a signed copy of Dr. Kelly’s book, so keep an eye out for the registration link coming soon!

Town Hall Seattle: Raja Shehadeh — 'We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I: A Palestinian Memoir'
2023-05-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
About the event. . .
In his life, Aziz Shehadeh was many things — among them a lawyer, a political detainee, and the father of activist and author, Raja Shehadeh.
Raja’s latest book, We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I, is a subtle psychological portrait of a complicated father-son relationship. Set against the backdrop of continuing political unrest, Raja describes his failure as a young man to recognize his father’s courage as an activist, and, in turn, his father’s inability to appreciate Raja’s own efforts in campaigning for Palestinian human rights. Then in 1985, Aziz Shehadeh is murdered, and Raja undergoes a profound and irrevocable change.
We Could Have Been Friends acts in part as the story of Palestine’s continual fight against multiple foreign powers, but at its core presents a poignant unraveling of a complex father-son relationship, unlike many we have seen before.

The Presence + Absence of the Palestinian Archive: Mizna Film Series
2023-05-25 - 2023-05-28 | Virtual
The 2023 Mizna Film Series highlights archival works and initiatives that document Palestine’s struggle for liberation.
In May we present The Void Project by Palestinian filmmaker Azza El Hassan. Founded in 2018, The Void Project explores the presence and absence of visual archives as a discourse in wartime narrative formation.
Jerusalem Flower of All Cities and Palestine in the Eye, two Palestinian films restored by The Void Project and The Making of a Revolutionary Film aka The Place 2 as well as Kings and Extras: Digging for a Palestinian Image, films by El Hassan herself, will screen both in-person and virtually this month. Learn more about the films.
Watch IN PERSON on May 24, 2023 at 7pm at Trylon Cinema.
Watch WORLDWIDE VIRTUALLY May 25–28, 2023.

Arabic Chat Hour
2023-05-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Whether you’re a native speaker or learner, this is a great chance to practice listening and speaking in Arabic!
Zoom room number provided upon registeration.

Other People’s Children (Moroccan-French actor)
2023-05-26 16:30 - 18:30, 2023-05-26 19:15 - 21:30, 2023-05-27 13:45 - 15:30, 2023-05-27 16:30 - 18:30, 2023-05-27 19:15 - 21:30, 2023-05-28 13:15 - 15:30, 2023-05-28 16:30 - 18:30, 2023-05-28 19:15 - 21:15 | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N,, Seattle, WA, 98109, United States
What does it mean to care for another person’s child? A single 40-year-old high school teacher must ask herself this question when she falls in love with Ali and especially his four-year-old daughter in the latest from Rebecca Zlotowski (An Easy Girl).

Book Reading Event with Wagih Abu-Rish
2023-05-27 16:00 - 19:00 | Cherry Street Village, 720 25th Avenue, Seattle, WA, United States
Book Reading Event with
Wagih Abu-Rish
The latest novel by Wagih Aburish is a story of love,
determination, and political intrigue: Nad of Nadide
reveals that love, whether between two of the same
ethnicity, or between lovers who never expected to
cross ethnic boundaries, is one worth fighting for, at
the cost of defying all norms and challenges.
Wagih’s debut novel is a sweeping story of love, loss,
and the power of loyalty in the face of conflicting
ideologies and religious beliefs.
“Deftly crafted with impressive attention to historical
detail and context, Replenishing the Sea of Galilee is
an inherently riveting read and one that will prove to be
an enduringly popular and appreciated addition to
community library General Fiction in general, and
Jewish/Palestinian Historical/Cultural Fiction
collections in particular.”
—Midwest Book Review
Cherry Street Village
720 25th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122
May 27, 2023 | 4-7pm
Appetizers, discussion, Q&A

Northwest Folklife Festival
2023-05-27 18:00 - 2023-05-30 21:00
The schedule isn’t out but I’m not going to hold my breath that they will have any Arab performers. If I am pleasantly surprised I’ll post it here . . .
UPDATE: No surprise: three belly dancing acts one of whom is possibly of Middle Eastern descent. WTF!
But it’s May 27 at 6:30 if you want to go.
https://nwfolklife.org/festival/schedule/in-person-schedule.html
If you are not a fan: here are some great articles for you to enjoy:
https://www.salon.com/2014/03/04/why_i_cant_stand_white_belly_dancers/
https://www.salon.com/2014/03/18/i_still_cant_stand_white_belly_dancers/
I ❤️ Randa Jarrar

Arab board games at Mox Boarding House Cafe
2023-05-28 16:00 - 18:00 | Mox Boarding House – on Leary, 5105 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98107, United States
Let’s bring this winter weekend to live in this get together to play boardgames at Mox boarding house cafe. This place is amazing and has street parking available. Best of all it’s free on Sunday.
The Cafe offers hot and cold beverages and light food. They have a 100s of board games to choose from.
Bring your best game and let’s go for it together.

Tinariwen at the Showbox
2023-05-31 20:30 - 22:00 | The Showbox, 1426 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
The new album by Tinariwen could well have been called Exile on Main Street. But other people have already thought of that. It also could have been called A la recherché du pays perdu (‘Remembrance of a lost country’). Except that would have been a tad Proustian for musicians who grew up pretty much between a rock and a sand dune, in the midst of their goat herds and camel caravans. But the idea is apt. As is the painful paradox, if you consider that while Tinariwen were busy criss-crossing the globe on their recent triumphant tours (160 concerts played in the past three years), expanding their audience on all five continents, becoming one of the latest musical phenomena of truly universal calibre, the frontiers that encircle their desert home were closing down and double-locking, forcing them into exile to record this their 8th album.

Reem x mamnoon Takeover
2023-06-01 17:00 - 18:00, 2023-06-01 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-06-01 20:30 - 21:30 | Mamnoon, 1508 Melrose Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Join us as Chef Reem Assil takes the helm for a special mamnoon “takeover” event. Indulge in a family-style tasting menu crafted by chefs Reem Assil and Nicco Muratore, showcasing their culinary expertise and passion. This meal will be accompanied by a selection of unique by-the-glass wine options and flights, including gorgeous Lebanese library wines and other unique selections from surrounding regions we’ve been holding onto in anticipation of this night! This event is priced at $125 per person.
All proceeds benefit The White Helmets and Karam Foundation.

book now

Thursday June 1: Reem x mamnoon Takeover

Seatings: 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8:30 pm

An Intimate Dinner and Cocktails in the Lounge with Reem Assil at Mamnoon
2023-06-02 18:00 - 20:30 | Mamnoon, 1508 Melrose Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Cocktails at 6:00 pm, Seating at 7:00 pm

Experience an intimate evening in mamnoon’s lounge, with a multi-course tasting menu by chefs Reem Assil and Nicco Muratore. This dinner is plated family-style and accompanied by an elevated wine pairing featuring some of the finest library wines Lebanon has to offer. Finish the night with a digestif cocktail or a bit of arak, and have a chance to engage in enlightening conversations with chefs Reem Assil and Nicco Muratore following dinner. The all-inclusive price for this exclusive charity event is $300 per person.
All proceeds benefit The White Helmets and Karam Foundation.

book now

Gordon Grdina’s The Marrow featuring Fathieh Honari
2023-06-02 19:30 - 21:00 | Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
In person and live streamed!
Led by oud player Gordon Grdina, The Marrow brings together Arabic Maqam and Persian Dastgah with western improvised music and jazz. The music is intricate and delicate, holding a deep connection to the past while looking forward. The group plays original and traditional works with Hank Roberts (cello), Mark Helias (bass), and Hamin Honari (tombak and daf).
In this special performance, they are joined by Fathieh Honari, one of Canada’s premier female Persian singers. Born in Iran, Fathieh began singing before audiences during her early childhood. After immigrating to Canada, she continued her studies of the Radif (the Persian classical music modal system). Today, she’s known for bringing a profound understanding of Persian classical poetry to her deeply expressive vocals.
Performers
Gordon Grdina – oud, guitar
Mark Helias – bass
Fathieh Honari – vocals
Hamin Honari – tombak, daf
Hank Roberts – cello

Mostafa: Nvmd Tour (Everett)
2023-06-02 20:00 - 23:30 | Tony V’s Garage, 1716 Hewitt Avenue, Everett, WA, 98201, United States
The Nvmnd Tour brings Egyptian-American emcee Mostafa back to the US for the first time since moving to Cairo, Egypt, in celebration of his monthly “Nvmnd” releases as well as the 5th anniversary vinyl release of his critically acclaimed.

Arab Senior Men's Coffee Club
2023-06-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Contact for Location, See above for contact
Are you bored at home?
Do you like to share your rich life experiences with others?
Are you interested in discussing politics and how to solve world problems?
Then join the Arab senior men’s club for coffee.

We will meet on the first Saturday of every month.
We had two wonderful meetings so far and our group is growing. We will be meeting at private residence.
If you are interested please email Nadera at:
nadera0425@yahoo.com

We look forward to seeing you there.

Author Signing with Local Author Wagih Abu-Rish
2023-06-03 13:00 - 16:00 | Barnes & Noble: Northgate, Northgate Mall 401 NE Northgate Way #1100, Seattle, WA, 98125, United States
ABOUT THIS EVENT
Meet local author Wagih Abu-Rish and explore this deeply emotional historical romance. From 1pm to 4pm, the author will be present to showcase his book! Don’t miss out on a chance to explore something new and exciting.

Rainbow Parenting w/ Lindz Amer at Powell's Books
2023-06-03 14:00 - 16:00 | Powell Books, 1005 W Burnside St., Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Lindz Amer
Saturday, June 3 @ 2pm (PT) / Powell’s City of Books
In the face of so many injustices across society for LGBTQ+ people, it can be easy for parents of young children to feel helpless and hopeless. While they may not be able to address every problem across the country, there’s a simple place to start: right at home. Rainbow Parenting (St. Martin’s Griffin) is an essential stepping stone for adults who want to raise and teach kids in a queer-affirming way, but might not know how. Lindz Amer, the founder of Queer Kid Stuff, an award-winning LGBTQ+ educational webseries for children and families, is an indispensable guide, leading readers through practical applications, important LGBTQ+ history, key lessons in intersectionality, pronouns, social justice, and more. Divided by sections that address kids’ individual ages — from infancy to kindergarten — this joyful and approachable book shares a bit of hope and starts with the understanding that anyone can spread queer joy. By giving parents and their kids a vocabulary to express themselves, Rainbow Parenting ultimately aims to create more empathetic adults — and spreads a message of radical acceptance in a world where it’s sometimes dangerous to just be yourself.
Preorder a Signed Edition

Book Reading Event with Amal Sedky
2023-06-03 16:00 - 19:00 | Cherry Street Village, 720 25th Avenue, Seattle, WA, United States
Book Reading Event
Escape to Aswan with Amal Sedky
Cherry Street Village
720 25th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122
May 27, 2023 | 4-7pm
Appetizers, discussion, Q&A

Mostafa: Nvmnd Tour
2023-06-03 21:00 - 2023-06-04 01:00 | Harissa, 2255 NE 65th St, Seattle, WA, 98115, United States
The Nvmnd Tour brings Egyptian-American emcee Mostafa back to the US for the first time since moving to Cairo, Egypt.
From national tours with Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) to sharing stages all over the country with critically acclaimed artists such as Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Raekwon, Heiroglyphics, Zion I, R.A. The Rugged Man , The Pharcyde, Oddisee, Murs, and many more…
Mostafa has consistently captivated unsuspecting audiences and built a genuine fan base nationwide.

Mostafa: Nvmnd Tour (Olympia)
2023-06-04 19:00 - 22:00 | Le Voyeur, 404 4th Avenue East, Olympia, WA, 98501, United States
