Backgammon
Play in a backgammon tournament at Kucheh!
If you know the rules, sign up for the tournament. If not, come play for fun and learn the game! There will be a prize for first place, snacks, beverages, and art for players and spectators to enjoy throughout the event. You will also have a chance to press and take home a work of handmade art from the studio!
Book Klub: Ugliness
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Ugliness by Moshtari Hilal.
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Purchase your copy at a local book store, like Lost City Books.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Norooz Market
Our annual celebration of Springtime in Washington, DC is coming soon! Shopping from local artisans, outstanding food, and performances for the whole family.
Workshop: The Art of Linocut
Learn the basics of linocut carving and printing in one 3-hour session with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a series of prints and your carved printing block. All materials are included with your registration, including but not limited to linocut blocks, carving tools, handles, brayers, tracing paper, printmaking paper, palette knives, gloves, rags, sketching materials, and inspiration materials.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Author Talk: Meet Afarin Bellisario
Donate any amount to RSVP!
We are excited to host Afarin Ordubadi Bellisario to discuss her new novel, Silenced Whispers. Come with your questions about the book, and stay to chat over tea and get your copy signed. Books will also be available for purchase at the event.
“Silenced Whispers tells the story of an Iranian woman's battle for freedom — personal and national — amid profound societal changes, and her forbidden love for a Russian reformer. It explores such themes as gaining agency, search for identity amidst transformation, and the clash between individual desires and societal needs at a time of profound change. These themes remain relevant in today's rapidly changing society, shedding light on issues such as East-West relations and the over hundred years of Iranian women’s struggle for independence.”
About the author: Afarin Bellisario was born and raised in Tehran in a family with its feet in the past and its head in the future: whereas her grandmothers could barely read, her university-educated father and uncles were prominent members of Iran's new technocratic elite. Her great-grandfather had 25 wives and concubines; she holds a PhD from MIT. She perceives this as progress. She began writing professionally in major women and youth publications and the literary magazine Ferdowsi at the age of 14, in pre-revolutionary Tehran. She came to the US to study and stayed when the Islamic Revolution happened. Most of her professional career has been spent in the high-tech world in both technical and business capacities. But she has continued writing. In 2013, her essay "Movies with My Aunt" was published in the anthology Love & Pomegranates, edited by M. N. Sayers. The Wall Street Journal and The Boston Globe have published several of her op-eds, and she writes regularly about the clash between tradition and modernity on Medium (Counterview). Through her writing, she actively seeks to create a conversation around the themes covered in her book, Silenced Whispers.
Book Klub: Yellowface
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Yellowface by R. F. Kuang.
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While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Yalda Winter Market
Mark your calendars! The Yalda winter solstice market is on Saturday, December 21 from 3-7 pm! There will be amazing vendors to shop from, and no shortage of hot food, drink, and entertainment!
Special thanks to our sponsors and tireless organizers @brooklandartswalk, @kuchehdc, @kuzehpottery, and @omid.pilates @mooonbeam for sustaining Norooz Market’s seasonal events and community traditions! #wintersolstice #holidaymarket #yaldamarkethortage of hot food, drink, and entertainment! For more information visit @Noroozmarket
Kids + Krafts: Celebrate Yalda
Calling all kids and their families! Join us for a Yalda crafting event on Sunday, December 8!
Come as we make and learn about the traditions of the longest night of the year, also known as #Yalda, while we craft together! It is a time when loved ones gather to eat, drink, and read poetry (especially Hafez). We will be coloring, cutting, molding, gluing, and having plenty of fun!
There will be light kid-friendly snacks, as well as tea and sweets for parents to enjoy. We will also be learning how to seed pomegranates, an important part of the Yalda holiday.
Book Klub: Meet Author Yahya Gharagozlou
Join us for a special end-of-the-year Book Klub event! We will read and discuss Killing Gilda by Yahya Gharagozlou, with the author! Come with your questions, and stay to chat over tea and get your copy signed. Books will also be available for purchase at the event.
“Killing Gilda is infused with intrigue, but at its heart, it's a love story that follows the best traditions of classics like The Beauty and the Beast. We enter the rarified atmosphere of the court, the young woman's life, and the reasons for her death. We follow the characters through the Paris of Madame Claude, the Shah's ski resort at St. Moritz, and Doctor Pitanguy's plastic surgery clinic in Baden Baden.”
About the author: Born in Iran, Yahya Gharagozlou earned an MFA from the University of New Hampshire. Gharagozlou has published short stories in The Kenyon and Massachusetts Review.
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Purchase from your local bookstore, more copies will be available at the event.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Book Klub
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing A Woman is a School by Céline Semaan.
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This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Backgammon Night
Play backgammon at Kucheh! Don’t know how to play? You have the option of learning.
If you know the rules, sign up for the tournament. There will be a prize for first place, snacks, beverages, and art for players and spectators to enjoy throughout the evening. You will also have a chance to use a custom screenprinting press and take home your backgammon-inspired work of art!
Purchase your tickets and learn more about the event on Eventbrite using the button at the top of the page.
Build a Self-Watering Planter
In the spirit of Mehregan and fall harvest, we are hosting an event with our friend, avid forest gardener and plant lover, Arman Milanian.
Join us to create a one-of-a-kind self-watering planter with the guidance of a plant expert! In this interactive event, you'll learn about water-wicking concepts and get hands-on experience building your own planter. Paints will be available so you can add your personal touch and make your creation truly unique. Be prepared to get a little dirty! If you're eager to start planting right away, feel free to bring a plant to place directly into your 2-gallon planter — otherwise, an assortment of seeds will be available for sowing.
The event will be led by Arman Milanian, an avid forest gardener and plant lover with 8 years of experience in regenerative agriculture and a passion for designing edible landscapes using permaculture principles. Arman is an edible landscape designer at Dandelion Foodscapes and volunteer coordinator at Forested, a 10-acre food forest in Bowie, MD. He is deeply committed to the earth and, a strong advocate of the solar punk movement.
Your completed work of art will be ready to take home at the end of the event. All materials, including paints and tools, are part of the ticket price.
Book Klub
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing The Anthropologists by Ayşegül Savaş.
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You can order from a local bookstore like Lost City Books.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Book Klub
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Let Us Believe in the Beginning of the Cold Season, a book of selected poetry by Forough Farrokhzad, translated into English.
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You can order from a local bookstore like Lost City Books.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Book Klub
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj.
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You can order from a local bookstore like Lost City Bookstore.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Backgammon Night
Play backgammon at Kucheh! Don’t know how to play? You have the option of learning.
If you know the rules, sign up for the tournament. There will be a prize for first place and plenty of snacks, beverages, and art for players and spectators to enjoy throughout the evening. You will also have a chance to use a custom screenprinting press and take home your backgammon-inspired work of art!
Purchase your tickets and learn more about the event on Eventbrite using the button at the top of the page.
Book Klub
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi. Content Warning: This book contains potentially triggering subject matter. You can download a free pdf of the book here.
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You can order from a bookstore or use this link for a free pdf copy of the book.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Phonebank for Palestine
Phonebank for the lawmakers who are speaking up for Palestine.
AIPAC and the Democratic establishment are backing Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s multimillionaire opponent in the primaries. They are spending millions to influence the June 25 elections in New York, in opposition to progressive policies and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. We need to support Jamaal in his reelection so he can continue making a difference in Congress and for Palestinians!
Pizza will be provided — bring your phone, and help us encourage voters to turnout for the primary elections and keep Bowman in Congress!
Book Klub
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing The Color Black: Enslavement and Erasure in Iran by Beeta Baghoolizadeh.
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Available through Duke University Press, or can be ordered through your local book store.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Book Klub
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Customs by Solmaz Sharif.
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Order this book from a local bookstore. Lost City Books in DC has this available in shop.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Backgammon Night
Come play backgammon at Kucheh! Don’t know how to play? You have the option of learning. If you know the rules, sign up for the tournament. There will be a prize for first place and plenty of snacks, beverages, and art for players and spectators to enjoy throughout the evening. You will also have a chance to use a custom screenprinting press and take home your backgammon-inspired work of art!
Purchase your tickets and learn more about the event on Eventbrite using the button at the top of the page.
Paint Your Own Ceramic
Enjoy tea and sweets while painting handmade ceramic bowls with your designs! Each bowl is lovingly made by our friend Pegah Shahghasemi of Kuzeh Pottery — and once you complete your design, your ceramic will be professionally glazed and fired by Pegah!
Photo copyright of Kuzeh Pottery / Pegah Shahghasemi
Bring your ideas to life, and create a one-of-a-kind piece with the help of a ceramic artist! Your completed work of art will be ready to pick up 2 weeks after the event.
The event will be led by Kuzeh Pottery and held at Kucheh Art Studio + Shop (716 Monroe Street NE, Studio 9, Washington, DC 20017). All materials, including tea and sweets, are part of the ticket price.
More about Kuzeh Pottery
Kuzeh Pottery creates artistic and functional ceramics including tableware, kitchenware, and bakeware. Owners, Pegah Shahghasemi and Lisa Ramber create their work with influences from Persian culture, Mediterranean patterns, and nature. The line is modern, yet very colorful with a touch of whimsy. Kuzeh is Farsi (Persian) for clay pottery.
Book Klub
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.
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Order this book from a local bookstore. Lost City Books in DC has this available in shop.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Norooz Market
Celebrate the coming of Spring at the annual Norooz Market in Washington, DC! Plenty of food and drink vendors, live entertainment, and most importantly art and handmade items to shop from local makers! All free and fun for the whole family.
Enjoy the smells and tastes of Norooz at the Brookland Arts Walk (716 Monroe Street NE, Washington DC) on Saturday, March 16 following the morning farmer's market. There will be no shortage of delicious foods and pastries, hot and cold beverages celebrating the traditional flavors of this ancient holiday celebrating Spring.
Live performances will be performed throughout the event! Stay tuned for big announcements and the program. We can't wait to share who will perform this year.
Learn more and stay updated here, on Instagram, or on the Norooz Market website: noroozmarket.com
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Norooz Market is FREE and fun for the whole family, thanks to our generous sponsors. If you are interested in supporting Norooz Market, please reach out to us at noroozmarket@gmail.com!
Book Klub
We recommend purchasing this book from a local DMV area bookshop.
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing They Said They Wanted Revolution: A Memoir of My Parents by Neda Toloui-Semnani.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:
Mindfulness activities
Writing prompts
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book before the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
About the Facilitators:
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Paint Your Own Pomegranate
Enjoy tea and sweets while painting ceramic pomegranates with your designs! Each pomegranate is lovingly hand-made by our friend Pegah Shahghasemi of Kuzeh Pottery — and once you complete your design, your pomegranate will be professionally glazed and fired by Pegah!
Photo copyright of Kucheh / Hesam Mostafavi / Image of Kuzeh Pottery x Mina M. Jafari pomegranate women series (2021)
Bring your ideas to life, and create a one-of-a-kind piece with the help of a ceramic artist! Your completed work of art will be ready to pick up 2 weeks after the event.
The event will be led by Kuzeh Pottery and held at Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. All materials, including tea and sweets, are part of the ticket price.
More about Kuzeh Pottery
Kuzeh Pottery creates artistic and functional ceramics including tableware, kitchenware, and bakeware. Owners, Pegah Shahghasemi and Lisa Ramber create their work with influences by Persian culture, Mediterranean patterns and nature. The line is modern, yet very colorful with a touch of whimsy. Kuzeh is Farsi (Persian) for clay pottery.
Book Klub
Purchase this book at a local DMV area book shop. Also available for free as an ebook through Haymarket Books.
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s free and monthly Book Klub event! This month we will be reading and discussing Light in Gaza an anthology of works by Palestinian writers and artists, imagining a future after occupation.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:
Mindfulness activities
Writing prompts
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
About the Facilitators:
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Yalda Market
Mark your calendars! The Yalda winter solstice market is on Saturday, December 16 from 3-7 pm! There will be amazing vendors to shop from, and no shortage of hot food, drink, and entertainment!
Special thanks to our sponsors and tireless organizers @brooklandartswalk, @kuchehdc, @kuzehpottery, and @ofaclaw @mooonbeam for sustaining Norooz Market’s seasonal events and community traditions! #wintersolstice #holidaymarket #yaldamarkethortage of hot food, drink, and entertainment! For more information visit @Noroozmarket
Book Klub
We encourage you to purchase from local book shops in DC.
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:
Mindfulness activities
Writing prompts
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
About the Facilitators:
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Book Klub
We encourage you to purchase from local book shops in DC, such as Lost City Books.
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:
Mindfulness activities
Writing prompts
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
About the Facilitators:
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Book Klub
We encourage you to purchase from local book shops in DC, such as Lost City Books.
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H.
This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.
We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:
Mindfulness activities
Writing prompts
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
About the Facilitators:
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.