Events

« Friday May 16, 2008 »
Fri
Palestinian Diva Reem Kelani at the Seattle Center Start: 00:00 End: 00:00 The Seattle International Children's Festival presents: World renowned Palestinian diva Reem Kelani The U.S. Premiere – May 12-17 at Seattle Center Born in England and raised in Kuwait, Reem Kelani is one of the foremost scholars and performers of Palestinian music. With her engaging stage presence, angelic voice, sparkling wit, and a band that features some of the finest traditional and jazz players in London, Reem charts the cultural terrain of Arabic music. Her powerful concerts feature traditional songs learned on visits to Palestinian refugee camps, and her own compositions, that have brought audiences around the world to their feet. "(The performance) had everything: drama, emotion, education, humour, power, musicianship, surprises, and above all a level of musical and personal integrity that shone through the whole set.” – Folkdevils.com Rabih Alameddine at Elliott Bay Book Company Start: 19:30 End: 21:30 ACW is co-sponsoring this event with the Elliott Bay Book Company Lebanese author Rabih Alameddine will be reading from his new book The Hakawati (The Storyteller) from Alfred A Knopf Publisher Where: Elliott Bay Book Company 101 South Main Street Seattle, Washington 98104 206-624-6600 When: Friday, May 16 at 7:30 pm About the book: The Hakawati - the word means "story teller" weaves together the story of a modern Lebanese family in war-torn Beirut. The city is bombed out and bleak, not how he remembers it. His father lies in a hospital bed while his entire al-Kharrat family camps out in the waiting room. The al-Kharrats, a rowdy and wry bunch, are both exasperated by and take solace in one another. And they tell each other stories. We listen in on hilarious, fantastical stories of Osama's childhood and that of his grandfather, who was a hakawati.