SAWLF Women and Transition
Tuesday, May 18^th

 In April 2010, the South Asian Women’s Leadership Forum (SAWLF) launched a new event series designed to explore how professional women experience change and career transition. During each event, speakers share their experiences with the audience.
 
SAWLF will continue this series on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.  Speakers will include Tanuja Prasad and entrepreneur Sarita Ekya. Ekya is the owner of East Village favorite S’MAC (Sarita’s Mac and Cheese). A former engineer, Ekya will share her experience of transition to New York City restaurant owner. Prasad will discuss her transition from the field of technology on Wall Street to new non-profit opportunities in New York and India.
 
On-line registration for the event is now open. Register here.  

IAAC – Mughal Court
Saturday, May 15^th – 7pm to Midnight.

 The Indo-American Arts Council brings you Mughal Court, a launch party for Social Dramas & Shimmering Spectacles: Muslim Cultures of Bombay Cinema.  This evening’s event will take place at K Lounge, 30 West 52^nd Street.  Mughal Court attire is mandatory!

For more information or to buy your tickets, click here. 

IAAC – Social Dramas and Shimmering Spectacles: Muslim Cultures of Bombay Cinema
Wednesady May 19^th – Thursday, May 27^th

Don’t miss this opportunity to watch fourteen films that explore the rich influence of Muslim culture and social traditions on Bombay cinema at the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center.  All are fantastic examples of one of three genres of film – the Historical, the Muslim Social and the Courtesan Film. 

For a list of showings and to buy tickets, click here.

Nanubhai Second Annual Gala
Friday, May 21^st – 8pm – 11pm

Celebrate Nanubhai Education Foundation’s Sixth Anniversary at their Second Annual Gala on Friday, May 21^st at the Chelsea Art Museum.  The event will showcase recent accomplishments of Nanubhai Fellows and share more about their mission of educating rural youth in India.  All tickets include admission to the event, open bar and admission to the after-party at Marquee.

Enjoy an evening of music, entertainment and celebration and learn more about the challenges in rural India and how Nanubhai inspires students, empowers teachers and transforms rural classrooms.  The event will feature a performance by American Idol’s Anoop Desai, dances by infin8 Dance and AATMA Performing Arts, and DJ Rahul Bajaj.  Special guests include Miss India USA and Bicycle Bride actress Melanie Kannokada, Bollywood Hero actress Pooja Kumar, Bombay Dreams actor Manu Narayan, 30 Rock and Weeds actor Maulik Pancholy, actress and model Ami Sheth and host of Bravo’s Double Exposure and photographer Indrani.

For more information or to buy your tickets, click here.

You Shop.  We Give. – Misha Nicole
Saturday, May 15th 1pm – 6pm

Shop exclusive, international collections of jewelry, clothing and accessories and 10% of your shopping proceeds will go to benefit Developments in Literacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality education to disadvantaged children in rural areas.  This event will take place at 445 East 51st Street, Apartment 4F.

Click here to register for this event.

South Asian Women’s Leadership Forum (SAWLF) Presents Women Professionals in Publishing and Media: Breaking In 

When:
Thursday, February 23^rd 

6:30pm – 9:00pm

Where: 
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, LLP
One New York Plaza, New York, NY
(Broad Street between Water and South Streets)

What: SAWLF is bringing together leading women writers, journalists and industry professionals for a dynamic conversation on the Who, What, Where, Why, When and How of writing for print and publication.  Special guests include Sartia Varma (Director of Publicity of Farrar Straus and Giroux), Sarah Ellison (Journalist and author of Warn at the Wall Street Journal), Richa Gulati (freelance writer who regularly writes for Teen Vogue, among other publications), and Megan Deem (Fashion Features Editor for InStyle). 

Tickets are $20 and refreshments will be served.  Click here to register for this event.  Please remember, photo ID is required for event admittance. 

Engendered Presents – Indophile: South Asian Comedy on Broadway

When:
Tuesday, February 23^{rd @} 7:00pm
Wednesday, February 24^{th @}10:00pm 

Where:
Carolines on Broadway
1626 Broadway, New York, NY 

What: Hear the top, freshest and most diverse South Asian’s during this comedy extravaganza.  Comedians include Vidur Kapur (MTV, FOX, NBC), Shazi Mirza (Last Comic Standing, 60 Minutes), Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel), Anu Kalra (Z100, CollegeHumor.com) and Monrok (Winner of “California’s Funniest Female Comic”). Tickets are $25 per person, plus a two drink minimum, and are available at the box office (212-757-4100) or at Carolines.Com. 

Pratham Evening of Art, Dance & Charity 

When:
Thursday, February 25^th 7:00pm – 10:30pm 

Where:
Cardozo Law School
55 5^th Avenue, New York, NY 

What: The Pratham Tri-State Young Professionals Group presents an evening of art, dance and charity for expression and expanding education to children in India. Pratham is a grass-roots organization that started in 1994 in Mumbai. Currently, the group serves underprivileged children across 21 states in India. Their direct programs, including pre-schools and community libraries, reach out to more than 200,000 children per day throughout the country. 

All proceeds from this event will help support the organization’s cause.  Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by clicking here. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.

Sankara Eye Foundation February Networking Night

When:
Thursday, February 25^th
6:00pm – 9:00pm 

Where:
Nirvana
346 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 

What: Help Sankara, an organization working towards eradicating curable blindness in India, while mingling with professionals like yourself.  For more information on this organization, click here.  Tickets are $10 online and $15 at the door.  The ticket includes appetizers and one drink.  There will also be drink specials all night long.

A South Asian Evening to Support Reshma

When:
Thursday, February 25^th
6:30pm 

Where:
Vermillion

What: Reshma Saujani is running for office in the 14th District of Manhattan.  In addition to being the first Indian American woman to run for a Congressional position, Reshma brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her potential constituents, if elected into power.  Reshma was instrumental in forming the first nation-wide South Asian political group in America in 2004 – South Asians for John Kerry – and since then has been building an impressive list of accomplishments leading up to her decision to run for Congress.  For more information on her campaign, click here. 

Bollywood Axion Dance Recital

When:
Saturday, February 27^th
7:00pm – 10:00pm 

Where:
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007 

What: Bollywood Axion hosts an evening of high energy Bollywood & Bhangra dance performances showcasing its students and celebrating a rich culture. Bollywood Axion is the pioneer of professional level Bollywood & Bhangra dance in the U.S.A and has been responsible in teaching over 4000 students and several esteemed celebrities various forms of South Asian dance since its inception in 2003. Led by renowned choreographer Pooja Narang, Bollywood Axion is known on an international scale and has helped spread Indian culture across North America, garnering much media attention along the way.  For more information about the group or this event, click here.

Girls De-stress to Help Those in Distress: Healing Arts for Haiti

Grab a few girlfriends and indulge in special spa services including 10 minute massages for $10, mini-manicures & makeovers, express acupuncture services, sample sale steals on professional beauty products (up to 75% off retail), as well as yoga & fitness sessions. Live music, entertainment, and fabulous raffles will be featured.  Know that every dollar donated will go directly to UNICEF. While you pamper yourself, raise funds for a worthy cause.

Date:  Friday, February 12, 2010
Where: Grand Hyatt Hotel – The Grand Ballroom
                109 E. 42^nd St. @ Grand Central Station
When: 12pm-8pm
Info: http://www.healingartsforhaiti.org

Might be fun to hit up a few fun nightspots with your girls after getting relaxed and dolled up at the Hyatt, so get your girls together and see what the night holds.

Single No More: The Padlock Party

Padlock Parties, organized by the Indus Marketing Group, are quickly becoming THE hottest nights out for South Asian professionals.  Connect with over 300 singles–under one roof in one night.   A super-relaxed opportunity to unwind, make new friends, network, or if you are looking, possibly meet special someone. Ladies get padlocks and gentleman are provided keys upon entry. Once a key finds its way to the matching lock you are welcome to hang out and have a drink, stroll around the party, or just talk.  If you choose to keep the hunt going, simply return the lock and key to the front desk for new ones and stay on the prowl.

Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010
Where: Kiss & Fly. 409 W 13th Street. NY, NY
When: 7pm-11:30pmAge: 23+ only
How much: Ladies: $15 
                      Gents: $20 
                      Absolutely no tickets sold at the door.
Info/Tickets : www.INDUSD8.com

V- Day: Indian Singles Speed Dating

Didn’t make it to the padlock party or missed out on that special connection, fret not.

Cut to the chase with this efficient series of 5-minute dates with Indian singles at an elegant Midtown venue on Valentine’s Day.  Admission includes one free drink.

You’re single, you’re looking—put yourself out there!

Date: Sunday, February, 14, 2010
Where: Redemption NYC 1003 2^nd Avenue, NY, NY
Venue Info: www.redemptionnyc.com 
When: 5pm
Ages: Ladies: 21-35 years/Gents: 23-38 years
How much: $35
Info: http://www.nyminutedating.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?eventId=272

Engendered’s Valentine Salon Party

Looking to satisfy both your heart and your mind this Valentine’s day – help create change through love and awareness by attending Engendered’s Valentine Salon Party.  Confirmed performances include the Vagina Monologues, Reena Shah & Todd Michaelson from “My Pet Dragon,” and a jamming after party with renowned DJ, DJ Dave Sharma.   

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Where: Kush Lounge: 191 Chrystie Street, NY, NY
When: 7pm
Info: http://www.facebook.com/events.php?archive=1#/event.php?eid=256518522440&ref=ts 

So remember, the key to a fun Valentine’s Day is not to sit home and sulk; instead take charge of your social life.  Create a series of fun events for you and your girlfriends or put yourself out there to find that special someone.  Gone are the days that you needed a boyfriend to celebrate Valentine’s Day! 

Flirteve Presents: Holiday Happy Hour and Fundraiser at Cain Luxe

Join Flirteve at a special Holiday Happy Hour & Fundraiser sponsored by Stila Cosmetics.  All proceeds from the event will benefit the charity Water. Water is a non-profit organization bringing clean & safe drinking water to people in developing nations.  Almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water!  100% of public donations directly fund water projects.

Women will receive free gift bags containing Stila cosmetics (retail value $250). Music by DJ Suhel. Doors Open at 6:30pm. $10 cover at the door.

Where: Cain Luxe, 544 W. 27th St., New York, NY
When: Thursday, December 10, 6:30pm

President’s Forum with Mira Nair

Award-winning film director Mira Nair joins Asia Society President Vishakha N. Desai in a lively discussion, looking at Nair’s career in filmmaking and the challenges and rewards of working in the global film industry. Mira Nair’s feature films have been met with critical acclaim and box office success, that include: Salaam; Mississippi Masala; The Perez Family, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, My Own Country (HBO ), Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake. This fall Amelia was released, Nair’s big budget historical drama on the life of the pioneer female aviator Amelia Earhart, staring Hilary Swank.  Click here for more information or to buy tickets. 

Where: Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY
When: Thursday, December 10, 2009
 
La Nuit Mystique: A Night for Literacy

Enjoy the holiday season and celebrate the “Magic of Literacy” at New York’s Prince George Ballroom. Guests will enjoy an exquisite dinner, silent auction, magical performances, music by the acclaimed DJ Etienne, and a night of dancing.

Special guests include Seeme Hasan (Co-Founder of Muslims for America), Mohammed Naqvi (Director of “Shame” and Your DIL 2007 Honoree), Ali Eteraz (Author of “Children of Dust”) and Jin In (Founder of leadership for women in Pakistan).

The Gala ticket includes a fashion show, international cuisine, access to raffle tickets for international air travel, access to silent auction items donated by local and international artists, live entertainment and dancing, gift bags and a memorable night of mingling, fun, laughter, and magic! Click here for more info.

Where:  Prince George Ballroom.15 E 27th Street, New York, NY
When:  Saturday, December 12, 7:30pm
 
NetIP-NY 2009 Holiday Soiree and Canned Food Drive

Join Net IP as they bring 2009 to a close and help City Harvest collect food for those in need. NETIP is asking everyone to bring 3 cans of food to help support this great cause Cost: Members $5/ Non-members $10 or donate 3 cans.

Where:  Butterfield 8, 5 East 38th Street, New York, NY
When:  Saturday, December 12, 8:00pm
 
Engendered’s Fashion Conscience ‘09

Engendered heats up the winter season with its annual fashion, art, and activism extravaganza. The arts and human rights organization, which focuses on creating awareness around gender and sexuality issues at the intersection of ritual and religion in South Asia and its Diaspora, is hosting ‘Fashion Conscience 09’ on Saturday, December 19, 2009, at 6 p.m. at NYC’s prestigious Asia Society. 

“Fashion Conscience 09 will use fashion as an artistic medium to create social change, bringing awareness to issues affecting under-served communities,” says Executive Director Myna Mukherjee. “This year, three designers will create patterns and unearth fabrics focused on three distinct, yet inter-connected, issues – women who have survived violence, people affected with HIV/AIDS, and communities that celebrate diversity through non-conforming gender identity and desire. Each of these fashion lines will be introduced by a performance art piece and borrow from the Sufi, Christian, Tantric, and Buddhist spiritual traditions of South Asia, all in an effort to foster dialogue and promote education around gender, sexuality, and religion.” 

Designers at the event include Manish Arora, Zolaykha Sherzad, Asher Jay, Amrita Singh, Celina Jaitley and Sudarshan Belsare.  Tickets are from $25-$125.  Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Where:  Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY
When:  Saturday, December 19, 6:30pm

Karma
51 1st Avenue

Located on the border of the East Village and Alphabet City, this bar tugs at the heartstrings of city dwellers and tourists with its delicious Indian morsels and sinful, draped vibe.  A major draw is Karma’s cheap happy hour from 1-9pm on weekdays and till 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Check out their website for additional daily drink specials. Choose from an assortment of flavored tobacco to fill the elegant hookahs which grace every table, since smoking is permitted indoors here. The downstairs is great for birthday parties or a Friday night dance marathon with its rotating DJs. The DJ upstairs usually spins ambient music during the day and transitions into hip hop late into night. 

Sutra
16 1st Avenue @ 1st Street

This Indian-inspired lounge straddles the East Village and the Lower East Side bringing the convenience of hundreds of bars within high-heeled walking distance.  While they don’t have a designated Bhangra night, Sutra is the perfect place to take out-of-town guests eager to experience hip NYC nightlife. The lines get long and the bar gets crowded, so call ahead for bottle service or come early to grab a seat at the bar. Check out their myspace page for a full listing of upcoming events which include themed nights with DJs spinning hip/soul to bossa nova.

Kemia Bar
630 9th Avenue

A great Hell’s Kitchen hookah bar.  Every Thursday night join Kemia bar for Bollywood nights.  Bollywood music, and a very eclectic vibe, this place gets very crowded.  There is no cover charge for Thursday night. 

SOB’s
204 Varick Street

Legendary DJ Rekha spins brings Basement Bhangra to life and gets the crowd going.   Doors open at 7pm.  Since 1997 she’s been blasting Bhangra beats at SOB’s and paved the way for hundreds of South-Asian DJs to carve out an Indo-niche within the club and dance party scene in the US.
Pricing Deals:  $5 before 8pm = Free unlimited frozen mojitos 7-8pm + Bhangra Lesson at 9pm
After 8pm with a print out from Basement Bhangra the cover is $13 or $16 without printout.

*Basement Bhangra is on the first Thursday of each month.

Taj
48 West 21st Street

For upscale chic with an Indian backdrop, Taj Lounge is the place to go. The space is luxe with sumptuous accents and latticed booths that leave you feeling like a Mughal empress just a few blocks south of the Empire State Building.  This lounge draws a sophisticated suited crowd, so dress to impress and know before you go. They host their share of private parties, including corporate events, so if your company is seeking an exotic venue, Taj may just hit the spot.

Kayper discovered her talent while using equipment that her brother had bought for himself.  She recalls, “My older brother bought some turntables but hardly used them, so when he would go out, I would hook up the turntables and play random stuff I found around the house. One day my brother came home and found me practicing and asked, ‘Who taught you how to do that?’ I had taught myself.”  She first performed at the age of 15 and ever since has take the musical world by storm.

DJ Kayper recently released her new mixtape, Futurebox.  The 60-minute mixtape features a mix of electro, UK funky, dubstep and house music, and showcases the turntablist’s looping skills. “The music I’ve been working on and making is going in the direction of this music,” she says. “In a U.K. club you can go through four different genres in one night, which is not something you could do before.”  This mixtape can be downloaded at Kayper’s blog.

As a club DJ, Kayper has headlined at some of the worlds most renowned nightclubs including London’s Ministry of Sound and Bar Rumba, New York’s SOB’s and the Kitting Factory, Malaysia’s Zouk Club, Johannesburg’s Coca Cola Dome, Ibiza’s El Divino and Mumbai’s largest Prive.

You can hear DJ Kayper tonight, September, 17^th, as she spins with DJ Jazzy Jeff at M2 Ultra Lounge.  Can’t see her tonight?  She will also be playing in Houston and Boston over the next few weeks.  Also, stay tuned as CitySaheli will get the scoop from Kayper herself on being a hot South Asian female DJ.

Thursday, 9/17 – New York (M2 Ultra Lounge)
Friday, 9/18 – Houston (House of Blues)
Saturday, 9/19 – Houston (Private)
Thursday, 9/24 – Boston (Wonder Bar)
Friday, 9/25 – Boston (Sanctuary)
Saturday, 9/26 – Boston (Greatest Bar)

Listen live or back to The DJ Kayper show at www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/djkayper.

For more on DJ Kayper, visit www.djkayper.co.uk or www.myspace.com/djkayper.

P.S.  Don’t be shocked when they hand you a chilled glass of bubbly as you exit the restroom.  CitySaheli tips to that!

Karaoke spots in NYC are keeping up with this trend by expanding their world collections to include Hindi tunes.   So, if you love to sing for fun, or want to see if you are American Idol material, check out these places and don’t be afraid to let the Bollywood star come out in you! 

CitySaheli Picks

2^nd on Second and Karaoke One 7 have a large variety of Hindi songs in addition to American music.  Its hip! Its happening! – Don’t say we didn’t tell you.

Know of any other places that play Indian karaoke music? Post your ideas in our forums!

Pranna has become a popular nightspot for many New Yorkers…the line is often out the door.  The multi-space venue is striking and large enough to fit over a thousand people.  The DJ spins all night long and there is a great late night menu – just in case you have the munchies.  So next time you are in Flatiron, definitely check this place out.