MoCA

Visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art has been one of my favorite experience of the past semester. Finals, the sole bane of my existence, are coming up within the next few weeks and all I want to do-- repeat: ALL I want to do--is run away and relive the Andy Warhol and Lynda Benglis retrospective exhibits. 

Mao, Andy Warhol. 1972

Regardless of the scholastic battle that will ensue before December 14, I'm thankful for the glorious weekend I just had with my family, best friends, high school mentors and the best food a foodie can ask for. Cheers to tackling as many art exhibits as possible next semester before the f-word roll around again.

JIMENA Piece

{Photo courtesy of Payvand Iran News: http://www.payvand.com/news/09/feb/1325.html}

Thursdays usually tend to be that day of the week. You know, that one which always starts out terribly. Somehow--at least, almost all of the time-- the day turns around. It becomes exciting, something great happens, I make a new discovery. This past Thursday was one of those Thursdays, the better Thursdays.

I received an email from my boss, Sarah, from JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa:

"YOUR PIECE IS IN THE JWEEKLY!!!!"

I'd been working on this piece all summer at JIMENA. I'd been through 3 months of self discovery, contemplating my identity as a Jewish Iranian-American from the Bay Area, where few others live and most remain ignorant of such a heritage. This piece helped me reacquaint myself with my heritage, and I'm honored that J Weekly remembered it enough to publish it.

The feedback I've been getting has felt just as amazing as being published. My friends and former  teachers have been tweeting about it and posting it on their Facebooks. I've been so touched that the people in my life have been so receptive to my article.

I'm so proud of JIMENA for how far we've come in the month since I've been involved with them. Thank you to all of you for the support.

Please feel free to read my story here.

The City That Never Sleeps/ The City Where I Never Sleep

{Birthday Time at Cafe Lalo on the Upper West Side with Shani, Zoe and Hila}

Sunday was my birthday, which I was lucky enough tospend with old and new friends in New York for a Chabad on Campus retreat. One of my favorite highlights included dancing in the red and yellow leaves in Brooklyn. I claim that autumn is my favorite season, but I realize I hadn't experienced an authentic one until I visited Brooklyn in November.

Saturday night I met up with three of my best friends from high school for a night out at Cafe Lalo, the cutest cafe you and your mother will ever visit. We ordered raspberry cheesecake, dutch dark chocolate cake, yogurt parfait, cinnamon apple pie and a spiked chocolate peppermint milkshake.

{Thrifted lace top from St. Vincent de Paul in San Mateo}

There wasn't any other way I'd have wanted to spend the first few hours of the new year than with some of my favorite people ever, in one of the best cities ever --and consuming thousands of calories of the most delicious desserts ever.

On a side note, I visited two other dessert shops besides this one while in Manhattan. #noregrets

{J. Crew Black Coat, Nine West Leather Boots, All Star Bag}

True Life: I'm a journalism student. I took a photo of NBC studio for my broadcast journalism instructor. I haven't sent it yet... I'm too nervous she'll call me out on my kiss-assery.

American Apparels Anonymous

Image courtesy of thecobrasnake.com: http://thecobrasnake.com/partyphotos/hothotsalesale/IMG_0800.html

Last weekend, my friends John and Lex and I went to the American Apparel factory sale in downtown Los Angeles. They didn't have a dressing room, so I found myself trying clothes over the ones I'd worn there within the deserted corners of the factory. This is what I bought!

American Apparel t-shirt

Fancy Shmancy AA High-Waist Dress Pants (they look good with heels)