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Let’s Go! – It’s Gonna Be May!

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As many of you are aware, I’ve continued to use my social media platforms to bring awareness to the Palestinian cause and the atrocities happening in Gaza. I’ve also been focusing on the “Let’s Go!” curation of activity and events, my way of bringing people together to enjoy fun events in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Now more than ever, I’m focused on organizing events that bring people together to learn and converse in a safe space. In doing so, I want to ensure that I’m utilizing my humble blog’s platform to bring it all together. Therefore my SF Sundays series will now be the Let’s Go! monthly series. This will highlight both the events I’m curating as well as other events happening around the Bay Area.

Join us for all the fun by adding the Let’s Go! calendar and joining the Let’s Go! WhatsApp community today!

IT’S GONNA BE MAY!

May is off to a great start! We are checking out the theatrical premiere of Returning to Haifa tomorrow evening, May 4th. Part of Golden Thread’s Season for Palestine comes the West Coast premiere of Returning to Haifa by the late Palestinian novelist Ghassan Kanafani.

This theatrical adaptation tells the story of a Palestinian couple during the 1967 war returning to the home they were forced to abandon during the Nakba of 1948. Kanafani’s tale was adapted for the stage by Naomi Wallace and Ismail Khalidi, and directed by Samer Al-Saber.

Yayoi Kusama‘s first solo exhibition in Northern California, Infinite Love, is coming to an end. Join us on May 18th as we explore her multiple imaginative showcases at SFMOMA. Tickets have been selling out faster than most concerts, but I may still have a few available. Head to the Let’s Go! calendar for details.

Sammy Obeid is a talented comedian from the Bay Area, who has been touring the country talking about the latest events and mathematics. Yes, math! We’ll be at the May 21st show at the San Francisco Punchline. Sold out? Check out the Let’s Go! WhatsApp community for updates on extra ticket availability.

TOWN HAPPENINGS

Here are other happenings in the Bay Area for you to check out this month:

And don’t forget Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12th!

LET’S EAT

If you haven’t, you must check out Saltbreaker in Alameda! Both visits, for dinner and happy hour, were so delicious that I’m already plotting my return!

First visit was for dinner with friends. We enjoyed the house made focaccia and burrata cheese, so good! Then for the main course, I had to try the crispy eggplant on challah bread with halloumi cheese and sundried tomato pesto aioli. Now this is how you get me to eat my veggies! I wish I had added the side of shoestring potatoes, they were what fries were meant to be. And for sweets, we couldn’t decide on just one to share so we went for the cheesecake and the chocolate lava, both spoon licking good!

Went back later that week after our group attended the Opera Out the Box performance for a quick bite. Everyone loved their orders off the happy hour menu. Many of us went for the crostinis, soups, and greens.

Service was absolutely considerate of our group just as they were when days earlier with my friends. They even broke down the bill to each individual person so we didn’t have to. If that’s not magical, I don’t know what is. Highly recommend making reservations ahead of time, especially for brunch or dinner, as this place fills up quick. Rightfully so!

Disclaimer: This rant was not sponsored or paid for by any of the above-mentioned entities unless otherwise noted. Any and all sponsored posts are always based on actual experiences and/or interests. If you’d like me to post a local event, check out a local event, and/or experience an eatery to write about, please email me (hala@mshala.co).

How to Support the People of Syria and Turkey

Categories Middle East, News and Events, Social Media, World

In the early hours of the 6th of February, Turkey and Syria were struck by a strong 7.8 earthquake. Due to this and hundreds of after shocks, buildings have collapsed and villages have crumbled. Since then, crews on the grounds have been attempting to pull survivors from the rubble in below zero temperatures.

Sadly, over 20,000 people have lost their lives in both Syria and Turkey. Young children have been orphaned and parents have lost their precious children. Over 300,000 people have been deemed homeless, many sleeping in their cars or nearby makeshift shelters hoping to hear word on a missing loved one.

In Eastern Syria where humanitarian aid was already needed before the earthquake, it’s even more dire now than ever due to the on going civil war.

There is a dire need for financial donations, winter clothing, bedding, shelters, food assistance, and volunteers to help with an already strained situation in both countries.

There are many groups on the grounds now helping find survivors and providing urgent care. Our help towards those causes, as listed below, goes a long long way!

The White Helmets dubbed “Syria’s Heros” are the main rescue workers on the ground since the civil war. They’ve been pulling survivors, including their own members, from the rubble since Monday. Our help to them goes a long way! Donations made in USD via credit card vs other methods can be tax deductible.

The Red Crescent of Turkey, an affiliate of the American Red Cross, has been known to provide relief efforts around the world. It’s now our turn to help them at home, which they’ve tweeted here.

Islamic Relief are currently on the grounds helping provide aid and relief support to those in both Syria and Turkey. Their hardworking teams’ amazing efforts do not go unnoticed as reported by BuzzFeed.

There is a Launch Good campaign by Professor Khaled Beydoun to support Droplets of Mercy‘s efforts in Syria and Turkey. They are delivering emergency kits to those in need, including food packs, blankets, coats, and hygiene kits.

International Medical Corps has to date delivered 15 metric tons of medications and medical supplies to Syria’s ministry of health warehouses in Aleppo, Hama, and Lattakia. Their emergency response teams in Turkey are partnering with local teams to assess the needed supplies and support. Donate to support their efforts to provide life saving care to the region.

As always, our friends at World Central Kitchen has already made it to Turkey, providing meals to survivors and first responders. Also standing ready to support the affected areas is World Food Program of the UN. They are reaching tens of thousands of people and with our help, can reach many more with urgently needed food assistance.

For those of you in Qatar, you can donate directly to Qatar Charity and Qatar Red Crescent‘s relief efforts in Syria and Turkey. Per ILoveQatar.net, it’s been reported that Qatar Airways has flown necessary materials as well as the Qatari National Search and Rescue Team, aka Lakhweya, to the region.

For those of us in the Bay Area, the Turkish Student Association of UC Berkeley has been working with Turkish Airlines to deliver much needed materials such as blankets and winter clothing to those in need. Follow them on Instagram for donation updates or Venmo funds towards these materials.

Adding to the page that the American Humane just authorized an emergency grant yesterday to International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to save and support the animals in need. As an animal lover and cat mom, this made my heart smile. Kudos!

Adding to the page that Humanity First is also on the grounds proving medical and food assistance. You can follow Qasim Rashid on Twitter who will be on the grounds in Turkey volunteering with the organization.

I will be updating this page with more verified resources as they become available. So if you know of any other organizations providing relief support and assistance that can use our donations, please share them in the comments or tag me (@mshalaco) on any social media platforms.

May God have mercy on the beautiful people of Syria and Turkey, amen.

Happy Holidays!!

Categories Picture, Rants of Life, Social Media1 Comment on Happy Holidays!!
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Happy Holidays!!

Have you strolled through the historic Maiden Lane of San Francisco?

Categories San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco Sundays, Social Media1 Comment on Have you strolled through the historic Maiden Lane of San Francisco?
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Have you strolled through the historic Maiden Lane of San Francisco?

Beef Stew with Mushroom Shrunken Heads!

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Beef Stew with Mushroom Shrunken Heads!