Levantine Cultural Center's best-loved creative writing teacher, Elana Golden, leads a special one-of-a-kind  creative writing workshop for Armenians and Turks, and their friends. In an atmosphere of respect for our common humanity, this workshop will offer a safe space and guidance for Armenians and Turks to write their stories and those of their families and ancestors, and listen to each other's work from the heart. Says Elana, "It is my greatest honor and life purpose to help people heal and grow from war and trauma, and to turn atrocities into works of art so we remember them and not repeat them."

Much of what Americans think of the Middle East and our foreign policy toward it over the past ten years has been a response to 9/11. This is understandable. President Bush's neoconservative approach to the "War on Terror" was advocated by those who believed spreading democracy was essentially spreading peace. In a 2003 speech, Bush assessed that "Stability at the expense of freedom, has brought us neither stability nor freedom."  In other words, supporting corrupt dictators in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) did not create friendlier or stronger economic partners (except when that partnership centered around oil.)

By any measure, Niyaz has come very far, very fast. In 2005, along with vocalist Azam Ali and programmer/producer Carmen Rizzo, Loga Ramin Torkian founded the best-selling world music group Niyaz. Drawing on medieval Persian poetry and 300-year old Persian folk songs, Niyaz created a 21st century global trance tradition and quickly became a standout ensemble in a very crowded world music field.

Armo-Greco Music & Comedy Festival

The first Armo-Greco Music and Comedy Festival promises to be a high energy, memorable evening of song, dance and humor. 

Heavyweight of hilarity Angelo Tsarouchas hosts the festival. Local favorite Element Band headlines a star-studded musical line-up that includes world-renowned guitarist Pavlo and Italian singing sensation Giovanna Gattuso.

Completing the line-up are comedy favorites Lory Tatoulian and Ara Basil.

Tickets available at Ticketweb.

Menu for August 20, 2001

Coffee:                                                                             Tea:
Cafe Americain                                                                  Moroccan Mint Tea
Cafe Cassé                                                                        Persian Tea
Café Fez (Turkish Coffee)                                                    Sage Tea                                          
Café Beiruti (w/ cardamom and orange blossom water)         Anise Tea
Espresso                                                                            Chai Tea

Cold Drinks:                                                                      Snacks:
Mint Lemonade                                                                  Labneh Plate
Qamar al-Deen (Apricot drink)                                            Zaatar and Zeit (olive oil) Plate
Ayran (Yogurt drink)                                                           Zaytoun (olives) and Feta Plate
Iced Tea                                                                            Hummus

Café Fez at the Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90035 (east of La Cienega, west of Fairfax). 310.657.5511.

Progressive Conversations on Israel/Palestine and US Foreign Policy in the Middle East, the monthly series organized by LA Jews for Peace and the Levantine Cultural Center, with support from the national organization Jewish Voice for Peace, presents Mary Hughes-Thompson and Yonatan Shapira on their experiences with the Gaza Flotilla in July. Despite failing to land any boats on the shores of Gaza, was the flotilla a success—as many international observers argued, because of all the media coverage?

Activists, artists, writers and members of the general public are invited to participate in a community roundtable discussion on the events of 9/11, including the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, the passing of the USA Patriot Act, the "war on terror," Islamophobia, the Green Movement in Iran in 2009, and this year's Arab Spring and just what we can look forward to in the months and years ahead.

Aslan Media (Staff Writer)

As summer quickly approaches, many of us will inevitably reminisce about years gone by. The end of school brought about warm evenings huddled with friends beneath a blanket of stars, singing folk tunes like "Cumbaya" or even Disney classics like "Hakuna Matata". At some point in between the campfire smores and gossip about the latest high school "crush," childhood delivered one of life's most poignant messages: the similarities we share are stronger than the differences that separate us.