Persianesque Magazine

Sephardic Life: “Heaven Hates Ham”

Orly Minazad — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:44:05 +0000

My younger brother is currently a bona fide atheist who observes Yom Kippur because my mother stopped ordering him to. Ten years ago, post bar mitzvah, he had a revelation and decided to observe the sabbath. “Why are you doing this to us? We didn’t raise you to this way!” was my parents’ outcry. They [...]

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Movie Trailer Number 2

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:51:46 +0000

It’s almost time for its May 2010 release! Check out the second trailer for the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time movie. From the looks of this latest sneak peak, Jake Gyllenhaal who is set to be at this year’s Oscars, really seems to be embracing the Persian charm that his character’s background calls for.

Perspectives Exhibition in London: Yassi Golshani

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:01:19 +0000

Yassi Golshani grew up in Iran and gained an MA in Painting from Al Zahra University in Tehran. In 1996 she moved to Paris, where she studied at the University of Saint Denis-Paris VII and the Sorbonne. Golshani’s artistic practice moved from painting to installation work, and most recently she has created installations of boxes [...]

Iranian Youth & Camp Future: Iranian Alliances Across Borders Announces Fifth Anniversary of Camp Ayandeh

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:35:14 +0000

Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB) is pleased to announce the fifth anniversary of Camp Ayandeh, IAAB’s Iranian-American leadership camp for high school students, to be held at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, July 6 -12, 2010. Through a positive and inclusive environment, Camp Ayandeh allows campers to develop leadership skills, foster strong friendships, [...]

Miami Winter Music Conference 2010: Namito at Yoshitoshi Anniversary Party

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:22:18 +0000

We’ve got some fantastic news for all you dance/trance/house/electro-music fans! One of the world’s number one DJ/Producers, the über-gifted Namito (pronounced na-mee-tow), also known as the mastermind behind the sexy Kling Klong-released track that has been keeping us energized and feeling homesick for some major Tehran-style partying, Train to Tehran, will be performing at this year’s Winter Music Conference in [...]

Norooz: Freer and Sackler Galleries Celebrate the Persian New Year

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:20:50 +0000

For the second year, the Freer and Sackler galleries will mark the Persian New Year, known as “Nowruz,” with traditional displays of the haft sin table, fire jumping, storytelling, live music, art making, delicious food and more. The Persian New Year formally begins March 20, the first day of spring, but the Freer and Sackler [...]

K-von’s Adventures: Dubai Mall

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:26:29 +0000

By now we think you’ve probably heard about the leak in the shark-holding aquarium of popular UAE attraction, Dubai Mall–which coincidentally happened one day after the very unfortunate incident at Orlando’s Sea World, where an orca trainer was drowned while performing a routine exercise with the large animal. Check out Persian comedian, K-von’s latest adventure in Dubai–and at the [...]

Carpet-Board: Persian Rugs on Wheels

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:11:15 +0000

You like? We do! In fact: we love! Throughout time, Persian patterns have remained of the most enlightened, delicate, and precisely-detailed in the world…And we simply adore seeing more and more parts of our often-unmentioned culture so smartly inserted into the mainstream market. (In this case; urban playgrounds, empty pools, and skateboard ramps.) Eric Esmailzadeh Parnes’s newest creation and usable product(s): “Boards of Iran,” easily double as [...]

Press Release: Iranian American 2010 Census Project Coalition Gains Momentum

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:50:41 +0000

February 4, 2010, Washington, DC – Now at 19 partners and counting, the coalition was formed to ensure maximum and consistent participation by Iranian Americans in the 2010 U.S. Census. The addition of new organizations strengthens and expands the coalition’s outreach and penetration, providing it with more resources and a larger platform for educating Iranian [...]

Press Release: Iranian Artist Nader Davoodi at Xerxes Art

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:30:44 +0000

Nader Davoodi is an award winning artist, photographer, photojournalist and publisher. His work has at many times captured the zeitgeist of contemporary Iran. Nader Davoodi’s latest works visualise the poetry of the Mo’jjam History by the 13th century A.D. Iranian poet Ghazvini. The compilations in the Mojj’am History chronicle Iran’s Shahs (kings) from the reign of [...]

Press Release: 2010 Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival Deadline Extended

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:49:29 +0000

We are pleased to announce that the festival committee has extended the deadline of the 2nd Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival to Monday, February 22, 2010. This year, filmmakers from all walks of life, Iranian and non-Iranian, are invited to create a music video (less than 9 minutes). A music video is a short movie or [...]

Project Runway Season 7: Interview with Fashion Designer Amy Sarabi

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:15:31 +0000

Seems like it was just last season (season six to be exact) that we got our fix of “Iranians on TV”–via the tiny Persian designer, Shirin Askari–on Lifetime’s Project Runway. Wait…it was. But now, there’s a new Persian girl–who’s also (originally) from Texas like her predecessor–to watch on the show of shows in Fashion, Iranian-American fashion designer: Amy [...]

Iranian and Gay: Interview with Comedian Mehran Khaghani

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:30:00 +0000

The sexiest and most controversial Iranian stand up comedian has arrived! Meet Mehran Khaghani, whose only time spent in the ”komode” (closet), is to choose an outfit for one of his many gigs! A former PM for the office of the President of Provost at Harvard, Khaghani is an Iranian-American comedian who happens to be gay, but more importantly: lives and [...]

MTV’s Jersey Shore: K-von, Snookie, and The Situation

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:34:42 +0000

At a recent industry party in Hollywood, CA, Italian-Americans and Iranian-Americans had a little more than just their homeland flag colors in common. Iranian-American comedian, K-von, was hanging with MTV’s Jersey Shore cast members and current media-obsessions, Mike “The situation” Sorrentino and Nicole “Snookie” Polizzi. Having been on “a handful of TV shows,” K-von is in [...]

Funny in Farsi on ABC: Maz Jobrani Takes Over Your Tube

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:52:16 +0000

Iranian-American actor and mega-comedian, Maz Jobrani, is set to star in ABC’s first Iranian-American comedy pilot based on Firoozeh Dumas’s book about growing up in the 1970s in Newport Beach, California: Funny in Farsi. For those that know, Persian humor is truly some of the most clever and unique form of comedy. And with Maz Jobrani’s timing and [...]

Iranian-American Woman of the Year: Shabnam Rezaei

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:07:56 +0000

Washington, DC–The 1979 revolution resulted in a clear and massive brain drain for Iran and created an estimated annual financial loss comparative to the yearly cost of the Iran-Iraq War: Causing Iran to miss out on the power of its people’s collective intelligence. However, the flip side is: Iranians live all over the world now and [...]

Iranian Film Festival 2010: Freer + Sackler Galleries’ Meyer Auditorium

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:07:59 +0000

Presented in conjunction with Falnama: The Book of Omens, the 2010 Iranian Film Festival begins on January 8th at Washington, DC’s Freer and Sackler Galleries. Amongst the five new films are: “A Man Who Ate His Cherries” by Payman Haghani, “Shirin” by Abbas Kiarostami, “Two-Legged Horse” by Samira Makhmalbaf, and “Heiran” by Shalizeh Arefpour; in addition to a [...]

Norooz 1389: Persian New Year at The British Museum

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:30:40 +0000

To celebrate the 2010 Persian New, The British Museum has joined forces with the charity Magic of Persia for a weekend of workshops and activities aimed at re-educating children about the rich and diverse cultural traditions and heritage of Iran. On the weekend of the 20th and 21st of March, events including games, arts and [...]

Iranian-American Man of the Year: Borzou Daragahi

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:28:02 +0000

Washington, DC–Marking the 30-year anniversary of the Islamic Republic’s existence and reign in Iran, the year 2009 went by…well, fast. The summer of 2009, not so much. The Iranian election–which took the world by shock with its results and brutal force used on Iranian citizens by government-led orders–began in June and lasted throughout the summer: Most of [...]

Ketab – A Short Film: Ana Lily Amirpour Headed to Tribeca

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:27:48 +0000

Ana Lily Amirpour is working on her next project, a short film called KETAB, about a lonely young guy in Tehran who goes to buy a book. On the surface it appears to be a very basic story, but as it unfolds, a more intricate world is revealed, one that touches on the current dichotomies [...]

Prince of Persia: Dastan Featurette

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:48:07 +0000

Watch the just-released featurette of Dastan, played by the newly-six-pack-sporting Jake Gyllenhaal, in Disney’s Jerry-Bruckheimer-directed (and much-anticipated) action/adventure movie: Prince of Persia; The Sands of Time, based on the video game series“Prince of Persia” created by; Jordan Mechner. We can’t really complain about Gyllenhaal much, because he could easily pass for a real Persian, but we really, [...]

Winter Solstice: Happy Yalda!

Zachary Hill — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:38:53 +0000

Light is good. Therefore, the god of light must be good, right? I think you have to love any god that gets you an all-night celebration; the longest night of the year, no less. That’s what Mithra’s birth did to give us Yalda. The God of light conquers darkness for us on December 21st. You can [...]

Fataneh Dadkhah: Balouchi Brides

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:06:49 +0000

Candlestar is delighted to present photographs by Iranian artist Fataneh Dadkhah. Fataneh Dadkhah is a pioneer of stage-photography as an artistic discipline in Iran. She has documented the rebirth of Iranian theatre since the 1979 revolution, and in 1983 she published Theatre Photography, in association with the Dramatic Arts Centre in Iran. Since 2001 Dadkhah has [...]

In Vogue: Shiva Rose on Divorce from Dean McDermott and Beyond

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:31:06 +0000

Daughter of perpetual-Iranian-TV-personality, Gharib Afshar, the Persian beauty who says she’s “not going to be the cougar in mini-skirts” and is yearning for “suits for the first time in [her] adult life”, Shiva Rose doesn’t just write human rights essays for the Huffington Post. “A certain dress only serves to remind me of eating petites fraises [...]

Max Amini on Showtime: Bridging the Gap – The Middle East Comedy Talks

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:20:46 +0000

East-Coast-bred Iranian comedian, Max Amini, is set to tape a comedy show for the Showtime network: “Bridging the Gap: The Middle East Comedy Talks“. “I will be doing a live taping for Showtime Saturday, Dec. 12th,” the comedian tells us. ”The show will be hosted by Ahmed-Ahmed and the line-up is great.” In addition to his Showtime gig, Max was also recently chosen to be [...]

Modern Design: Smart Baby Case by Pouyan Mokhtarani

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:21:33 +0000

Participating in a design contest for long-time luggage-makers Samsonite, Iranian Industrial Designer, Pouyan Mokhtarani, creates the Smart Baby Case. The inspiration behind his creation? The simple and “elliptical shape” of a common food source amongst Iranians: the egg. “The embryo of most creatures live in an elliptical space in their early sperm life.” Says Mokhtarani. ”My unique elliptical baby case, ‘Smart [...]

Kourosh Salehi: Turquoise Letters

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:05:30 +0000

Kourosh Salehi’s, Turquoise Letters, will be at the Idea Generation Gallery, London, from 10 to 16 December 2009. Showing a collection of his paintings and film installations at the Idea Generation Gallery, East London, 10 – 16 December 2009, UK-based Iranian artist, Kourosh Salehi, is part of a group of post-revolution Iranian artists who have merged East-Western traditions [...]

Maziar Bahari on 60 Minutes: “Witness”

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:13:48 +0000

Watch Iranian writer (and much more), Maziar Bahari, talk to 60 Minutes‘ Bob Simon about his imprisonment and recent release from Tehran’s uber-jail Evin, in an interview that aired on Sunday November 22nd. We’re just grateful that Bahari was able to make it out alive, despite the torture and interrogation (Basiji/Sepahi style) he says he experienced while in detainment at Evin prison [...]

Video: Eating Healthy with K-von

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:22:14 +0000

Watch a shirtless K-Von in a funny clip on “how to eat healthy”, while on the Maz Jobrani tour. “On the Maz Jobrani, Brown and Friendly Tour, thousands have asked me, ’How can you eat healthy while on tour?’ Well, it’s not easy.” K-von says. “Perhaps this video will give you a better understanding that it can be [...]

King Cambyses’s Persian Army: Lost and Found?

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:01:26 +0000

A recent discovery in the Sahara desert by Italian archaeologists (and twin brothers) Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni, might prove to be the remains of the indomitable Persian army, lead by the Persian King Cambyses II, the son of Cyrus the Great, while attempting to cross the desert some 2,500 years ago. The brothers having unearthed artifacts like Bronze weapons, a [...]

Green Design: Arash and Kelly’s Genius Pad

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:31:50 +0000

Multifaceted Iranian designer Arash and his partner Kelly, continue to release works that are smart and functional under their trendy brand: ArashandKelly. Their latest creation, the Genius Pad, is the result of their collaboration with a man whom they both consider ”inspirational”, Bremley Lyngdoh. Lyngdoh runs Worldview Impact, a company dedicated to protecting the environment and biodiversity through the mitigation of climate change, [...]

The Masked One: Interview with Iranian Artist ABCNT

Nima Nabavi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:11:02 +0000

After years of quietly and elusively adding his mark to LA’s concrete landscape, Iranian-born artist ABCNT started to gain rising recognition in the Iranian-American community with his iconic political posters of Neda, Taraneh and Mossadeq in the wake of this summer’s stolen elections in Iran. Shot and directed by Nima Nabavi, this short video reveals some [...]

Freedom to Create Prize: Maziar Bahari & Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:29:32 +0000

The Freedom to Create Prize is pleased to announce that renowned human rights advocate Bianca Jagger will present the main award at its prize ceremony on Wednesday 25 November 2009 at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Two Iranian creative and intellectual minds are amongst 1,015 artists from 110 countries who entered the lineup to receive the reward [...]

Kordanification: Spell Check Much?

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:29:45 +0000

Some say that “titles are handed out like candy” in Iran, especially (and unfortunately) in certain bureaucratic circles. But to forge an academic document (we mean degree) from Oxford University claiming that you got an honorary doctorate, might be pushing it. In particular… when you don’t even bother to use spell check. Ahmadinejad’s chosen one for the Minister of Interior post, Dr. Mr. [...]

Iranians Rank High Amongst Planet’s Most Hospitable

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:11:48 +0000

Beat out by the Irish, Australians, and Canadians–respectively–Iranians made Opentravel’s “5 friendliest nations on the planet” list, ranking an appreciable and healthy placement as shomaareh (number) 4. We can’t really complain. We have to agree with Opentravel’s decision to include the Irish and their naturally happy faces (albeit due to overintoxification), on the list. But to give them the number one [...]

In Solidarity with Iranians: U2 and Jay-Z at 2009 MTV Europe Awards in Berlin

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:51:09 +0000

U2’s efforts to be heard in Iran and by Iranians as a supportive outside voice during their concerts this year, we feel, secures their place as the official front runner, as far as musicians who have supported Iranians and their plight, in the aftermath of the Iranian election. Jay-Z’s decision to join the cause, and support the Iranian people’s [...]

Prince of Persia The Sands of Time Trailer Released

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:19:22 +0000

Disney has just released the very first trailer for what’s sure to be one of next year’s blockbuster-movies, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Watch Jake Gyllenhaal as he takes hold of his Persian role for the videogame-inspired flick.

My Relationship Status with Iranian Music: It’s Complicated

Nima Nabavi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:56:12 +0000

I hate Iranian music. Or so I thought. Last night, somewhere between the mandatory, polite applause that pre-empted the screening of “No One Knows About Persian Cats” and the enthusiastic, deserved standing ovation that followed it, all of that changed. It wasn’t so much the first half of the sentence that became obsolete but the second, as [...]

Iranian-American Fashion Designer: Shirin Askari After Project Runway

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:25:26 +0000

We know that you’re just as disappointed as we are about Iranian designer, Shirin Askari’s early departure from Project Runway’s sixth season, on episode 9 (Sequins, Feathers and Fur, Oh My!) of the show on LifetimeTV. It was a shock for Iranian viewers to see the talented young designer get eliminated far before it was her due time to [...]

Ramin Karimloo: The Phantom of the Opera

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:33:45 +0000

Congratulations to Iranian-Canadian, Ramin Karimloo who is currently appearing as The Phantom in the London production of The Phantom Of The Opera, for being cast as The Phantom again, in the London premiere of Love Never Dies–aka Phantom of the Opera 2–in which the main characters flash forward ten years and move to another continent. The 31 year-old Iranian actor began his [...]

Classical Music and Calligraphy with Virtuoso Bahman Panahi

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:16:36 +0000

The Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, DC celebrates the opening of “Falnama: The Book of Omens” with a recital by Bahman Panahi, a Paris-based virtuoso of Persian classical music. A trained calligrapher as well as musician, Panahi has appeared in concerts and workshops throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. His first American tour earlier this [...]

Green Solidarity: U2 Reaches Out to Iranians at Rosebowl Performance

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:05:09 +0000

In front of a massive crowd with a green glow, Persian poetry, Iranian artist Shirin Neshat’s artwork, and images of the brutal attacks many Iranians suffered for protesting the 2009 Iranian election’s results carouseled the overhead jumbo-screen on Sunday October 25th, 2009, while mega-band U2, in their true philanthro-artistic virtue reached out to Iranians and all people who [...]

Arash and Kelly: Ten year Anniversary of the Big Clip

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:50:50 +0000

Time flies! It’s been 10 years since the launch of ArashandKelly’s Big Clip, the giant paperclip magazine holder. To mark the occasion they have created a special edition to celebrate. The exclusive 10 year Anniversary matt black big clips are currently on sale, and as an anniversary present, ArashandKelly have decided to treat you to a free Genius Pad and a free [...]

DJ Sharam Tayebi: 2009 Beatport Chart

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:47:33 +0000

It’s about time for a new soundtrack for you to conquer your Fall 2009 with, isn’t it? We’ve got the perfect one. Click here to enjoy and download the delicious sounds of Sharam’s 2009 Beatport Chart! Also, check out: She Came Along (Ecstasy of Ibiza Remix) by Sharam. It’s from his “Ecstasy of Ibiza Remix” of “She Came Along” featuringt Kid Cudi. (Available [...]

Street Painting at Freer & Sackler Galleries: Falnama – The Book of Omens

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:00:27 +0000

Street painting in celebration of “Falnama: The Book of Omens,”opening this month at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery by Mural artist Michael Kirby, who will recreate an image from the exhibition “Falnama: The Book of Omens,” on view in the Sackler Gallery Oct. 24 – Jan. 24, 2010, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Kirby will use a [...]

DC Art Exhibit: I RAN Home (In America)

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:43:39 +0000

Washington, DC – The Fridge DC is pleased to present its November 2009 exhibition I RAN Home (In America), running November 5 through November 29, 2009. (Opening Reception: Thursday, November 5, 2009, 7:00-10:00 pm.) Iranian artists have become players in the national and international contemporary art scene, but too often, this genre is tied to politics. [...]

Maz Jobrani: Jimmy Vestvood – Amerikan Hero

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:44:18 +0000

Good News! Your favorite Iranian comedian, Maz Jobrani, has released a promotional clip for his much-anticipated Persian-based character: Jimmy Vestvood – An Amerikan Hero. Jimmyy Vestvood–whose “pashions” are: “backgammon, playing the eScrabble vith my mother, vatermelon, running vith the bulls, and pomegranate”–drives a Vespa moped that takes him swiftly from “0 to 40 in 1 minute flat”. We can’t wait to [...]

Iran Unbowed: Iranian Artists Celebrated in UK

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:00:33 +0000

Coinciding with Frieze Art Fair, and in response to the current popularity of Iranian art on the international stage, Candlestar, in collaboration with the luxury five-star hotel, Hyatt regency London, is staging an exhibition of artwork by Iranian artists from 10–24 October 2009 in the hotel lobby. In line with Frieze Art Fair’s focus on today’s [...]

Fearlessly Deep: Interview with Johnny B. of Electric Black

Julie Jigsawnovich — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:25:40 +0000

In addition to singing with Freedom Glory Project–a band he co-founded with members of the Iranian band, Hypernova–Johnny B. sings and writes for his own band, Electric Black. I caught Electric Black live at the launch party for their new CD, on the Lower East Side at Rockwood Music Hall in Manhattan. Seeing Johnny B. perform [...]

Stephen Harper: Canada Boycotting Ahmadinejad Speech at UN

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:28:26 +0000

Watch this video of Stephen Harper, Canada’s 22nd and current Prime Minister, as he explains why Canada is boycotting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech at the UN and references Iran’s “detainment of Canadian citizens” and ”flagrant abuse of human rights.” “There’s no way I’m going to permit any official of the government of Canada to be present,” says the Prime [...]