Historic Cities Restoration Program

Islamic Art and Culture Forum – Dr. Hussein Rashid – SMU. Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University welcomes Dr. Hussein Rashid, visiting Professor at Virginia Theological Seminary, for an Islamic Art and Culture Forum on Thursday, April 21, at 1:30 p.m. “Everyday Art: Islamic Contribution to American Arts” is a richly illustrated talk by Dr. Rashid, exploring the Islamic impact on American popular culture using examples from multiple communities and time periods throughout American history. The event will be held in the Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Great Hall of Perkins School of Theology on the SMU campus. Media interviews…

A Turkish Fashion Magazine, Ala, Is Unshy About Showing Some Piety – NYTimes.com. Except for the religious headgear, the shoot could have been for any glossy fashion magazine. But Ala — called the “Vogue of the veiled” in the Turkish news media — is no conventional publication. In an unlikely fusion of conservative Muslim values and high fashion, it unabashedly appeals to the pious head-scarf-wearing working woman, who may covet a Louis Vuitton purse but has no use for the revealing clothing that pervades traditional fashion magazines.

Bryonn Bain is a friend from college, and I'm working on a review of his book, The Prophet Returns. New Brooklyn Writers Join Old Hands at Fort Greene Park Lit Fest – WNYC Culture. Bryonn Bain, who is from Flatbush and spent five years teaching cultural literacy to teen inmates at Rikers Island, will also be reading from his book, The Prophet Returns, which will be released this weekend by Blackout brooklyn Press.  "You can't underestimate the power of the word, the power of stories," Bain said, who will also be performing with the hip-hop theater group Lyrics from Lockdown…