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."

Save on book purchases, support literacy, meet authors, get your books signed. Visit the Levantine Cultural Center at the 10th annual West Hollywood Book Fair, which features 25,000 GUESTS * 300 AUTHORS & ARTISTS * 13 STAGES 125 EXHIBITORS * PANELS & PERFORMANCES FOR ALL AGES. This year, many of the Book Fair panels and events will take place in the brand new West Hollywood Library, solidifying its place as a community gathering space. Libraries are centers of the community and the West Hollywood Library is the center of the Book Fair.

1:00-1:45 pm, Remi Kanazi signs Poetic Injustice: Writings on Resistance and Palestine
1:45-2:30 pm, Maria Armoudian, Kill the Messenger: The Media's Role in the Fate of the World
2:30-3:00 pm, Reza Aslan, No god But God, Beyond Fundamentalism, Tablet & Pen
3:00-4:00 pm, Chris Cryer, Tolstoy in Riyadh-A Story of a Teacher and Her Muse

Political scientist, KPFK radio host, and journalist Maria Armoudian will present her book Kill the Messenger: The Media's Role in the Fate of the World in the Middle East/North Africa Exchange series, MENA-X, in which you the public participate in an open forum. Published by progressive and independent publisher Prometheus Books, Kill the Messenger's foreward was written by author and former senator Tom Hayden. Armoudian is also an educator and a consultant for Mayor Villaraigosa and other civic commissions. Writes Robert W. McChesney, coauthor of The Life and Death of American Journalism, "Maria Armoudian has written a gripping book that...passionately demonstrates the power and importance of media to the human condition. Rich in contemporary world history, Kill the Messenger is exactly the book the world needs to read in our perilous times."

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.

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.