Celebrate Brooklyn! Presents MI21: Mother India 21st Century Remix
Come to Prospect Park tonight to check out MI21.  MI21 is a dynamic audio/visual re-scoring and re-visualizing of the profoundly influential Mother India (1957), the first Bollywood film to be nominated for an Academy Award (Best Foreign Language Film) and a piece of cinema history that came to symbolize the post-colonial Indian psyche. MI21 re-imagines the three-hour epic into an impressionistic  60 minutes of arresting imagery with a live score by DJ Tigerstyle, who is accompanied by strings, keyboards, and percussion.

The evening will kick off with a performance by Falu, the “indie Hindi,” who trained under the legendary vocalist Ustad Sultan Khan in Bombay and brazenly mashes up rock, funk, Bollywood and purely Indian classical music.

When: Today, July 29th
8pm
Where:  Prospect Park, Brooklyn

$3 suggested donation. At the Bandshell.

STRINGS Live – At Le Poisson Rouge
Ariz presents STRINGS live in concert this weekend.  With over 5 albums to their credit, they have toured all over the world and collaborated with some of the best in Film music, they are critically acclaimed Pakistani Pop band, Strings. They have numerous awards to their credit including “Best Band Award” – MTV Music Awards 2009, “Best Live act in Music” – Lux Style Awards, 2008 amongst others.

The opening act will be performed by SA-RE-GA-MA finalist Jeffry Iqbal.

When: Saturday, July 31st
7pm

Where: Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street
New York, NY

The belief of the founders of Children’s Hope India, Inc. is that Every Child Counts. Their mission is to give impoverished children in India a chance for a brighter future. Clean water, regular medical care, a secure food supply, and access to education-gifts like these can revolutionize a child’s life.  All proceeds from this event will go directly toward giving impoverished children in India a chance at a brighter future.

When: Wednesday, July 28th
 6:00pm

Where: Vermilion Restaurant
480 Lexington Avenue (between 46th & 47th)

Tickets:  $35 at the door (cash or check)
$30 online at www.childrenshopeindia.org

Indian Folk Arts Market
The sights and sounds of an Indian market are unmistakable – merchants selling their wares, customers bargaining prices, and artists creating new products simultaneously. For the first-time in the heart of Manhattan, India Abroad, the Indo-American Arts Council, and Asia Society invite you to experience an authentic Indian Folk Arts Market.  Master artisans will be on hand to display, demonstrate, and sell their work, all while exposing the general public to an arts and crafts industry that dates back centuries.

When: July 15th – 17th
12:30 – 4:30 pm

Where:  Asia Society
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street)

Children’s Hope 2 & CitySaheli Present This Year’s Summer Soiree
Join Children’s Hope 2 as they host their annual fundraiser, this year with your very own CitySaheli!  Enjoy an evening of cocktails, an exciting raffle with a chance to win a US Open package, and more.  All proceeds will go directly toward giving impoverished children in India a chance at a brighter future.

When: Wednesday, July 28th
 6:00pm

Where: Vermillion Restaurant
480 Lexington Avenue (between 46th & 47th)

Tickets:  $35 at the door (cash or check)
$30 online at www.childrenshopeindia.org

Aicon Gallery Reception
The Aicon Gallery is hosting a reception to view the Sana Arjumand Exhibit.  The gallery viewing and reception will be followed by an interactive discussion on Modern and Contemporary South Asian art.

Where: Aicon Gallery
 35 Great Jones Street
 New York, NY

When:  Saturday, July 17th, 7:30-9:30pm

Tickets: $5 for members, $15 for non members

Dance Critics Association Conference
The Dance Critics Association will hold its annual conference in New York City.  Presentations include Classical Indian Dance: Vocabulary and Critical Questions, Dance Politics and Activism, Senior Critics Awards to Dr. Sunil Kothari and Jennifer Dunning, Cultural Exchange in 2010, Dance Technology and the Law, Dance on Camera, and Critics Response Panels commenting on the performances that are associated with the conference.  The Dance Critics Association conference is being held in conjunction with the World Dance Alliance.

When:  July 16th – 18th

Click here for more information about the conference and the entire schedule.

Click here to register for a day or the entire conference.

Click here to register for individual sessions.

Hennography
Hennography is the very first collaboration exhibit featuring Sandy Patangay and Matt Cohen.  Sandy, who has honed the skill of the 5000 year old henna art, will be displaying her artistry through a variety of mixed media.  Matt will be showcasing a progression of works leading up to his photography with henna.  Both artists will come together and deliver a beautiful and intriguing display of photography and ancient body art history.

When:  July 17th, 8pm

Where:  Sacred Gallery NYC
424 Broadway, 11 Floor
New York, NY 10013
 

America India Foundation New York Young Professionals Chapter
Summer Mixer “The Road Ahead”
Come together to mingle and celebrate a successful fiscal year for both AIF NYYP and SAATH. They would like to thank everyone for their generous support and will be reporting results for the current fiscal year ending June 30th, 2010.  The theme for their annual benefit in April was “Let’s Make a Change Together,” and that’s exactly what they accomplished. Not only did they raise funds for SAATH’s “Umeed” initiative, they also brought 220 young professionals together to raise awareness.

AIF NYYP will be accepting applications for several open positions on the board for the upcoming fiscal year. If you are interested in learning more about AIF NYYP chapter, the Trustees Counsel, and how to become more involved, join them at their Summer Mixer.
   
Happy hour food and drink specials including a specialty summer cocktail will be available throughout the evening.

To find out more or reserve tickets click here. 

Meet Jyothi Rao, General Manager for Gilt Groupe
In November 2009, SAWLF launched, Women in Fashion, a new event series for fashion professionals. Women in Fashion returns on Wednesday, June 23 for a special event with Jyothi Rao, the general manager, women’s for the Gilt Groupe.

Gilt Groupe provides access, by invitation only, to Men’s, Women’s and Children’s coveted fashion and luxury brands at prices up to 70% off retail.

Jyothi Rao brings to Gilt Groupe extensive experience in the retail sector with a focus on merchandising. Most recently, she served as a senior vice president and general manager at Calvin Klein, where she launched the Specialty Retail division. Prior to that, she spent 16 years at Gap Inc., where she held several leadership positions and was responsible for aggressively growing both the regular-price and outlet businesses for Gap and Banana Republic. Jyothi, who has
resided in Africa, India and Europe, also helped Gap International succeed in more than doubling its sales in Japan, France, the U.K. and Canada.

This special event is limited to just 25 participants and will take place at the offices of the Gilt Groupe in Manhattan.  Early registration is highly encouraged as this event will sell out in advance.

To register on-line, please click here.

Proceeds from this event will benefit Women in Fashion programming and mentoring initiative for high school age girls.  Pease contact SAWLF at info@southasianwomen.org for additional event information.

IndiaD8 Singles Nights
If you missed last month’s IndianD8 Speed Dating nights, don’t fret, you still have a chance to meet that special someone.  IndianD8 is bringing them back this June!

Hindu Speed Dating
Friday, June 25th
Buy tickets here

Sikh Speed Dating
Thursday, July 1st
Buy tickets here

Muslim Match Making
Wednesday, June 30th
Buy tickets here

UPDATE  – This Event Cancelled
“The Emergence of Consumerism and Branding in India”
The Citi Series on Asian Business Leaders Presents Dr. Vijay Mallya, CEO & Chairman, UB Group, on Tuesday, June 15th at the Asia Society, 770 Park Avenue at 70th Street.

In a country where alcohol advertising is banned and only two per cent of the population can afford to fly, UB’s success story has been an astonishing lesson in branding. United Spirits Limited is among the top three liquor companies in the world by volume, marching towards selling a whopping 100m cases by 2010. Kingfisher beer is the largest brewing company in India, with more than fifty percent market share. Within three years of launch, Kingfisher Airlines became the market leader in India’s aviation sector. In addition to being voted one of India’s “Buzziest” brands, it is one of only six airlines in the world to receive a 5-star rating from Skytrax.

Hear the perspectives of one of India’s leading industrialists on how that rapidly rising country has been transformed by branding and consumerism.

For tickets please click here.
$25 Members; $35 Non-Members; $30 Student’s with ID; $30 Seniors

Registration: 12:00 – 12:30 PM
Lunch and Program: 12:30 – 2:00 PM

•   Some tournament basics:  This year’s tournament will be held in South Africa, where the 64 matches will be played across 10 different venues in the country.  The 32 qualifying teams are divided into eight groups, and every team plays each of the other teams in its group once.  The top two teams in each group advance to the single-elimination knockout stage: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final.
•   The official song of the 2010 World Cup is called “Wake Waka (This Time for Africa)”, a collaboration between Shakira and the South African band Freshlyground. Shakira and Freshlyground will perform the song at the World Cup kickoff concert in Soweto, South Africa on June 10. 
• South Asian teams do not have the best history in the World Cup: The India National Football team qualified for the tournament in 1950, but when regulations required them to wear cleats, the Indian team, unaccustomed to wearing official footwear, withdrew from the tournament.  The India, Bangladesh and Pakistan teams have never played in a World Cup tournament.
•  Their national team may not be participating, but that hasn’t stopped Bangladeshis from getting caught up in the World Cup excitement.  The entire nation gets wrapped up in an intense rivalry over loyalties to Argentina or Brazil, the two favorites in the country, while local vendors sell thousands of national flags of teams participating in the tournament.
• Not above being a little shallow? A German magazine has picked the best-looking players of the tournament, while Gawker keeps it patriotic and chooses the best-looking players on the US team.
• This year, Algeria is the only Muslim team to play in the tournament.  This hasn’t always been the case: in 2006 there were three Muslim teams (Tunisia, Iran and Saudi Arabia), as there were in 2002 (Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Tunisia). In 1998 there were four (Morocco, Iran, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia).
• On Friday June 12, the USA team will face England for the first time in a World Cup match since 1950.  The 1-0 American victory over England in 1950 is often referred to as one of the greatest upsets in soccer history.  England is currently the heavy favorite for this match, but the Americans have Tim Howard, thought to be one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world – can they repeat history and pull out another upset? Another colonial revenge match to watch out for:  Portugal vs. Mexico on June 25.
• Not unlike the Super Bowl, World Cup commercials often draw just as much attention as the game itself.  Sponsors pull out all the stops to create heart-stopping ads, many of which are mini-movies that have become YouTube sensations in the weeks leading up to the beginning of the tournament.  Check out two of our favorites by ESPN and Nike.
• Favorites for this year’s tournament are Brazil, Spain, Argentina, and England.  But don’t let that stop you from rooting for another team – check out Time Magazine’s team-by-team guide and pick your own favorite. Want to pick a favorite player while you’re at it?  Check out NY Daily News’ list of players to watch on each team.Are you excited yet?  See the full matchup schedule here, and follow all of the latest World Cup coverage on the official World Cup blog.  The first match airs at 10am this Friday June 11 on ESPN, check your local listings for more details. 

Are you excited yet?  See the full matchup schedule here, and follow all of the latest World Cup coverage on the official World Cup blog.  The first match airs at 10am this Friday June 11 on ESPN, check your local listings for more details. 

Share & Care Foundation – A Masquerade Ball to Empower Rural India
Join the Share & Care Foundation as they work toward women’s empowerment and youth development in India.  The event includes a 4 hour open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dancing, date auction and silent auction.  All ticket and sponsorship proceeds will be donated to select educational and social humanitarian projects that better the lives of underprivileged children, women and handicapped in India. 

When
Friday, June 4, 2010
8:30pm-12:30am

Where
Midtown Loft
267 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY

Tickets
$100 in advance, $135 at the door
Purchase tickets here

Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance
Hailed in 2009 as “the best new arrival on this city’s dance scene in the last two years” by the New York Times, Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance , co-sponsored by the New York arts institution, the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), and the Asia Society, presents two mesmerizing evenings of traditional and experimental, classical and post-modern Indian dance.

Where
The Asia Society
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street) New York City

When
Friday, June 4 to Sunday, June 6, 2010

More Info
For more information, please log on to www.iaac.us or www.asiasociety.org/erasingborders

Tickets
For ticket prices and reservations, please go to www.tickets.asiasociety.org

Chaos Theory, by Anuvab Pal
The Pulse Ensemble Theater presents Chaos Theory, which opened May 25 and will be running until June 19, 2010 at the TBG Theatre.  This unique play begins at the University of New Delhi, India in 1965, and traces the lives of Sunita Sen and Mukesh Singh as they become students in the US, and then professors in American Universities.  The play explores the unusual love story of two young students as they embrace the challenges of their bi-cultural lives.  Its witty, literary and deals with migration and acceptance in a very real way!

When
All performances will be on Wednesday thru Saturday, at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. 

Where
312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor

Tickets
Buy tickets here 

Songs to Live For – Parijat Desai Dance Company
The Tribeca Performing Arts Center Presents, Songs to Live For, this weekend.  As part of their residency at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Parijat Desai Dance Company will perform in the venue’s Theater 2. 

Songs To Live For, a dance theater work based on Hindustani vocal music, explores the profound longing evoked by this thumri and khayal in particular. Responding to the quality of the music—its spacious vocals and rhythmic punctuations—dancers move alone, in pairs, and as an ensemble, in a blend of postmodern dance and classical gesture.

When
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 8pm
Sunday, June 6, 2010, 3pm & 7pm

Tickets
For more information or to buy tickets, click here
Tickets: $10

Sip and Shop with Payal Singhal
Join Payal Singhal for an exclusive trunk show and a chance to shop her Resort 2010 Collection, as shown at Lake Fashion week.  Her new bridal wear collection will also be available.

When
Friday, June 11th – Noon to 7:00pm
Saturday, June 12th – 10:30am to 5:00pm

Where
137 East 36th Street, 23C
New York, NY

RSVP Required
payal@payalsinghal.com or 917.325.7716

IndiaD8 Singles Nights
If you missed last month’s IndianD8 Speed Dating nights, don’t fret, you still have a chance to meet that special someone.  IndianD8 is bringing them back this June!

Hindu Speed Dating
Friday, June 25th
Buy tickets here

Sikh Speed Dating
Saturday, June 26th
Buy tickets here

Muslim Match Making
Wednesday, June 30th
Buy tickets here

Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

Epic in scope and beautifully narrated, Burnt Shadows tells the story of two families whose lives are intertwined by global conflict.  The death of the man she loves in the bombing of Nagasaki sets Hiroko Tanaka on a journey that will take her away from Japan through Delhi, Kashmir, Afghanistan, and New York City.  Using lush prose and vivid imagery, Shamsie masterfully creates a multi-generational tale, connecting the lives of people from far corners of the world in a story of love, loss, and humanity.

Like this? Also check out:
One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The Wasted Vigil by Nadeem Aslam

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama

Simple storytelling and lovable characters make this charming debut by Farahad Zama a breezy summer read.  Bored with retirement, Mr. Ali opens a marriage bureau, eventually hiring a young assistant named Aruna. And so the stage is set for a fun read that manages to delicately comment on the edicts of religion and caste that are still present in modern day India.  Weaving stories of the clients into the narrative, Zama utilizes a lively cast of characters to tell an uncomplicated and heartwarming story.

Like this? Also check out:
Imaginary Men by Anjai Manerjee
The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal

Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup

After the runaway success of his debut Q&A, the book that inspired Slumdog Millionaire, Vikas Swarup returns with another uniquely conceptual novel.  When the son of India’s home minister, a spoiled playboy named Vicky Rai, is murdered in his own home, the suspects include a politician who believes he is Mahatma Gandhi, a Bollywood superstar, and a well-meaning but dim-witted American.  Told from alternating perspectives of each of the suspects, Six Suspects is at times laugh-out-loud hilarious, acting as both a complete entertainer and a subtly crafted political and social critique of contemporary India.

Like this? Also check out:
Between the Assassinations by Aravind Adiga
A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammad Hanif

In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin

What happens when a Pakistani-born lawyer leaves an unsatisfying job at a corporate law firm to pursue a career in writing?  A critically acclaimed collection of short stories is born.  Hailed by The New York Times Book Review as “mesmerizing,” In Other Rooms is comprised of eight interwoven stories, all connected to a wealthy landowner named K.K. Harouni.  Surrounding K.K. is a complex network of family, friends, and servants whose lives and stories paint an unflinchingly honest portrait of every strata of Pakistani society. 

Like this? Also check out:
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
East, West by Salman Rushdie

Curfewed Night: One Kashmiri Journalist’s Frontline Account of Life, Love, and War in His Homeland by Basharat Peer

When journalist Basharat Peer left his job as a magazine reporter to live with his parents in Kashmir, he decided to use his own childhood as a starting point to tell the history of a region trapped in over two decades of war – the result was Curfewed Night, a passionately human account of a lesser-known component of modern Indian politics.  Simultaneously heartbreaking and eye-opening, Peer eloquently covers a war-torn history with the clarity of a political journalist, while his choice to focus on the stories of the people of Kashmir adds a sense of compassion that is often left out of Kashmiri politics. 

Like this? Also check out:
Working the Night Shift: Women in India’s Call Center Industry by Reena Patel
Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta

Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes by Tamim Ansary

Providing a fresh take on world history, Ansary combats the predominantly Euro-centric narrative of world history by adding an Eastern twist.  Beginning with the life of the Prophet Muhammad through the fall of the Ottoman empire to the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ansary tells the story of the world through an Islamic lens in this grand sweep of a book.  Combining thorough research with a chatty and engaging style of storytelling, Destiny Disrupted both educates and entertains. 

Like this? Also check out:
The Lion and the Tiger: The Rise and Fall of the British Raj, 1600-1947 by Denis Judd
The Mughal World: India’s Tainted Paradise

First Darling of the Morning: Selected Memories of an Indian Childhood by Thrity Umrigar

A poignant account of her middle-class Parsi upbringing in Bombay, Thrity Umrigar gives brief but tender glimpses into her childhood.  Opting away from a comprehensive memoir, Umrigar instead selects moments from her childhood and entwines them to tell an earnest coming-of-age story.  With a writing style that drips with emotional sincerity, she reflects on her childhood with wisdom and humor, drawing the reader into her moments of joy, grief, wonder, and indecision, making her reflection a personal and relatable read.

Like this? Also check out:
Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India by Madhur Jaffrey
The Other Side of the Sky by Farah Ahmedi

Shadow Princess by Indu Sundaresan

The opulence and grandeur of the Mughal era come to life in Shadow Princess, Sundaresan’s third novel set in 17^th century India.  While the first two novels trace the story of Jahangir’s “Twentieth Wife,” Noor Jahan/Mehrunissa, the third installment focuses on Jahanara.  Not much detail is available about Princess Jahanara, but Sundaresan makes full use of what is available, pairing it with vivid descriptions and an evident love for the time period to create an engrossing tale of intrigue and royalty.  Whether read on its own or in conjunction with the first two books, Shadow Princess is a breathtaking and elegant tribute to the past.

Like this? Also check out:
Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors
Taj: A Story of Mughal India by Timeri Murari

Think we missed a book?  Let us know! Email us at CitySaheli@gmail.com and tell us what you’re reading this summer.

Shah travels the world to hand-pick her featured collection.  Her items can be purchased only at her traveling pop-up-shop, which has been featured in Daily Candy, Time Out and the NY Daily News.

This weekend is your chance to check out what Nirali has to offer.  For three days only, she is popping up in Tribeca, giving you the chance to purchase items from around the world without ever leaving the island.  Mention CitySaheli and get 10% off your purchase!

When: Saturday, April 24th – Sunday, April 25th
12pm – 5pm
Where:  Truffles Building 
34 Desbrosses Street
* Ask for Nirali Shah @ Reception
RSVP: www.wearsnirali.com

Not in New York? Check out her site to find out when she will be in a city near you or email wearsnirali@gmail.com for more info.

Want to learn more?  CitySaheli interviewed Shah to find out more about the inspiration behind her the line, the must have accessories for this season and to ask her for advice and tips on starting your own business.  Here’s what she had to share:

Can you tell us about the “Nirali Capsule Collection?”

The Nirali Capsule Collection is my in-house collection of jewelry, exclusively available through me in the United States.   I work closely with designers in India and have developed a selection of pieces that are fusion forward, combining old world tradition with new world cosmopolitan.

We have heard about the “Nirali Experience,” what is it?

The Nirali experience refers to the underlying mission of every event: to show you something you’ve never seen before.  Not only do I travel from Brazil to Bombay to find unique pieces that aren’t available Stateside, but I make a concerted effort to display my pieces in unique ways.  For example, at a recent event, I employed bare-chested male models to strut around in my necklaces and approach groups of women to explain the designs.  The women tittered, touched, tried…they loved it!

In addition to unique pieces and unique merchandising, The Nirali Collection also collaborates with local artists to deliver an eclectic and unique experience for shoppers.  For example, a recent event featured a live demo by Lexi Bella, a renowned painter who dances while she paints (usually in the dark!)  and live music by Sachal Vasandani (the “Indian Michael Buble”).

What are some items that you believe are a must for this summer’s wardrobe?

Sarah Chofakian’s Audrey Hepburn shoes are the absolute must-have flirty work pump for this season.   I love the red color because it’s such a stand-out, although we also carry both black and navy.

Malini Ramini’s yellow strapless sundress is the perfect weekend go-to and can travel anywhere in the city or the Hamptons.

My flower bag collection is the perfect way to accent those femmie summer dresses and skirts – you can’t help but feel a little extra special with my brown flowered briefcase or hot pink flowered tote.

How do you choose the designers you showcase?

It’s mostly about gut instinct and timing.  Each designer that I’ve chosen a) is well-established in his or her country of origin and has the wherewithal and desire to launch internationally; b) shares the same aesthetic and appreciation for statement pieces that are bold, different and POP and c) understands and shares my desire to “dress up the city”.

You are known for your desk to dinner accessories. What advice do you have for working women looking for a new accessory for the summer?

Two golden rules:

1.    Blazers can hide all manner of sins.

Night dresses are easily disguised by blazers and the right accessories.  Take a hot, black dress like my Heike Jarick piece and pair it with a fitted blazer by day and one of my gorgeous necklaces by night for a completely different yet relatively effortless look.

2.    A bold necklace is easy to throw on and hard to ignore.

The Nirali Collection has a variety of necklaces that are specifically meant to be paired with a work dress or shirt for some added DRAMA.   My customers have reported back that they are man magnets!

What inspired you to start your fashion and accessories business?

I used to be a corporate lawyer at a big firm and like so many others, I felt stagnant and repressed.  Rather than deskdream my life away, I decided to do something about it.  I’ve always been said to “have a good eye” when it comes to fashion and I knew I was better with people than paper, so I took a chance… and here I am.

What do you like most about your business?

The infinite possibilities that exist outside the rigid structure of the corporate context.   Plus the crazy characters I meet everyday.

What is the hardest part about running your own business?

My time is my dime these days, so it is really hard to make myself stop working.  Even though I love what I do, the stress can take a toll if I’m not careful.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a Saheli looking to start her own business?

Do your homework, be practical in your preparation, but don’t be afraid to leap when the right time comes.

Before we get into this week’s list, don’t forget to RSVP for CitySaheli and ShaadiStudio’s:

A Night of Glitz and Glam with Shyamal & Bhumika
Top Indian designers Shyamal & Bhumika made an impression at Lakme Fashion Week and are now bringing their designs to the big apple. On Thursday, April 22nd, CitySaheli and ShaadiStudio will present A Night of Glitz and Glam with Shyamal & Bhumika. Be sure to stop by, this event will be a great opportunity to meet the designers, enjoy cocktails, receive a complimentary makeover and more!  To find out more about the designers and their lines, check out CitySaheli’s article Shyamal & Bhumika – Ahmedabad and Beyond.

ShaadiStudio
336 West 37th Street, Suite 600
New York, NY
6pm – 10pm
RSVP to events@citysaheli.com to get up to 15% your purchase.

 *******

Now that your Thursday is booked, here’s what’s going on the rest of the week!

Wednesday, April 21st

SABNY: 7th Annual Public Interest Fellowship Benefit
The South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABNY) established the Public Interest Fellowship to help support law students who spend their summers working in unpaid legal internships that provide services to underserved communities in the New York area.  Help support the fellowship by attending this year’s benefit.  Guest speaker for the evening is Sameer Ashar, the Associate Dean for Clinical Programs, Associate Professor of Law at CUNY School of Law and teacher for the Immigration and Refugee Rights and Community Economic Development Clinics. Wine, Beer & Food will be served!

Aicon Gallery
35 Great Jones Street
New York, NY
7:00pm – 10:30pm
Click here for more information.

Tuesday – Sunday, April 20th -25th

Engendered Dance Festival 2010
On a trailblazing mission to challenge the static tropes and clichés entrenched in classical, contemporary, modern, and popular dance forms, The Engendered Dance Festival, proudly hosts dozens of South Asian artists and choreographers from India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Canada, and America for a series of performances, workshops, panel discussions, master classes, and parties in the New York tri-state area from Tuesday, April 20 to Sunday, April 25. In signature style, Engendered, a trans-national arts and human rights organization focused on creating awareness around issues of gender and sexuality in South Asia and its Diaspora, will introduce New York dance enthusiasts to a range of performances from established and emerging dance companies and soloists, marginalized voices in dance from Pakistan and Afghanistan, and two world premieres (created that week) incorporating classical and contemporary dance with technology with visual art.

 Click here for more information and the schedule of events.

Saturday, April 24th

Shyamal & Bhumika Trunk Show
You met the designers on Thursday night and got to see their new collections.  Now is your chance to do a little shopping for yourself.

ShaadiStudio
336 West 37th Street, Suite 600
New York, NY
1pm – 5pm

The Blue Mug
Bollywood stars descend on stage to bring this hilarious Hindi and English play for the first time in the US.  The Blue Mug is a devised piece of theatre in which actors Rajat Kapoor, Sheeba Chadha, Munish Bhardwaj and Vinay Pathak go down the path of their personal memories – their childhood, adolescence and youth, and also immediate past in their middle age. The play depicts the larger canvas of Indian memory through monologues and improvised scenes between the actors.

Gerald Lynch Theater
John Jay College
899 10th Avenue
8:00pm
Buy tickets here.

Sikh Day Parade
Sikh Cultural Society of NY along brings the Annual Sikh Parade in NYC. With over 12 Floats, 6 Marching Bands and with the entire Sikh Sangat from the East Coast, this year is guaranteed to be a big turnout.  This year’s parade route starts at 11:30am on Madison Avenue and 36th Street. As always, delicious food will be served.

Update – Postponed

New York Dating and Matchmaking Events
GlobalD8, the UK’s most trusted professional South Asian dating company had scheduled three dating events for this week – April 21st, 23rd and 24th.  Due to travel conditions, however, these events have been postponed to the following dates and times.

May 3rd – May 9th

Muslim Matchmaking: Katra Lounge, 7pm
Sikh Speed Dating:  Taj Lounge, 7pm
Hindu Speed Dating: Katra Lounge, 7:30pm
  

Joya Dass and Aiden Murtagh teamed up to produce “First Sight” which was shot in Tamil Nadu, India in December of 2009.  Joya is a well-known television news reporter in New York City, and Aiden Murtagh is a New York- based businessman. “First Sight” follows the plight of three sight-challenged children and two doctors through the Sankara Eye Care Institute in Coimbatore. 

“While shooting ‘First Sight,’” says documentarian and director Joya Dass, “we traveled to remote and poverty-stricken villages of Tamil Nadu.  We saw children ranging from the ages of 3 months to 13 years, sitting in the middle of the road…with heaps of non-biodegradable garbage all around them. We realized that the waste would not magically disappear.  This inspired us to combine our cause of raising awareness for curing eye disease in India and hosting a green fashion show promoting ways of saving the environment.”

The Sense and Sustainability fashion show will feature Swati Argade and Helen Asir, designers committed to using Indian and fair-trade resources to further the green and sustainable fashion movement. It will also showcase the work of sustainable menswear designers Marcus Hicks, owner and founder of SarahDixonsNova or SDN, and Rachel Lyra Hospodar of Medium Reality, both of whom fashion clothes from recycled, organic and reclaimed materials.  

Event Details

When: 6 PM-9 PM
Where:  Aicon Gallery
35 Great Jones Street
New York, NY

Ticket Information: General Admission $50, VIP Admission $75
Buy tickets online here. 

The Designers

Swati Argade chooses fabrics and embroideries whose production helps sustain the maintenance and development of local economies and ancient traditions.  For her “Made in India” line, she has traveled all over the country developing materials in partnerships with artisan cooperatives based in Indian villages. Their sustenance relies on these age-old art forms.  Her latest endeavor “Bhoomi” is a 100% Made in the USA, eco-friendly raincoat line made of recycled plastic bottles and organic Texas-grown cotton.

Helen Asir’s journey into fashion began when she became frustrated trying to buy sustainable formal wear for her children, and could only find a small selection of very high-priced items often containing traces of polyester. So Helen journeyed to the only place she knew she could find luxurious organic silk, pure silk, and natural stones for ornaments: India. All fabrics in her collections can be sourced from materials native to our natural environment. 

Marcus Hicks will be one of the featured menswear designers of the event. His funky line of suits, Sarah Dixons Nova, are made from recycled vintage cloth and organic cotton. 

Rachel Lyra Hospodar is the only non-New Yorker featured in Sense and Sustainability.  Based in the SoMa district of San Francisco, her design studio is called “Medium Reality.”  She gives vintage shirts, vests, and blazers a second lease on life using laser etched applique, salvaged trim and patches, and reclaimed fabric.