Let’s Go! – It’s Gonna Be May!

Categories Food, I'm Always Hungry, Let's Go, Review, San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco Sundays, Social MediaLeave a Comment on Let’s Go! – It’s Gonna Be May!

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).

A Difficult Ramadan Ahead

Categories Islam, Middle East, News and Events, WorldLeave a Comment on A Difficult Ramadan Ahead

I know I have not been as active on the blog as I’d like. The last few months, watching the horrible siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza has turned my focus into sharing what’s been happening on the ground via social media. It has forced me to learn and share on the ongoing attacks against the people of Congo, Sudan, Yemen, and Lebanon as well.

Where is the humanity?

I’ve attempted to continue organizing activities in the hopes of supporting Palestinian artists and bringing people together. I even joined a few activities organized by others where the conversation focused on our collective humanity.

My faith in humanity, perhaps slightly, restored.

As Ramadan starts, I know this year it’ll be a difficult one. It will not be celebratory or joyous. It’ll be with continued activism, sadness, guilt, and rightful anger.

We will break fast while thinking of those being forced to starve. We will make our zakat to aid that’s being actively blocked from going to this in need. We will keep hearing politics talk rather than take action, again. We will continue to watch a genocide take place on our screens.

What can we do? I feel hopeless.

Keep speaking up, the pressure is really working. Social media platforms may have attempted to shadow ban or even remove those speaking out, but they can’t do that to all of us. Some of the sources shared were used in the International Criminal Justice against the aggressors.

Support your local artists. Many are using their platforms, creativity, and voice to continue to raise the voices of our brethren.

Vote! We have seen what happened in Michigan and Minnesota. Our protest vote of “uncommitted” was loud enough that Biden can no longer ignore us. Local primaries and elections are just as important as the national ones. We need to ensure those in position of power are those who will be for the people.

Donate to or volunteer with organizations supporting the cause. I’m in awe of the work these organizations do since the soft launch of Hatshepsut Boutique, I’m donating ALL proceeds to them. Other local and small businesses such as Wear The Peace are running similar initiatives.

There is hope, have faith…

This Ramadan will be difficult, but we can continue to do good by it. Here’s to justice and freedom prevailing this Ramadan, amen 🙌🏻

Ramadan Mubarak 🌙

Shop for Good at Hatshepsut Boutique!

Categories Hatshepsut Boutique, Middle East, News and Events, WorldLeave a Comment on Shop for Good at Hatshepsut Boutique!

I am excited to announce the soft launch of the revamped Hatshepsut Boutique!

With all that has been happening in the world, I was going to delay the launch until January 2024. After much conversation with family and friends, it was decided that we’d launch the boutique as a shop for good this season.

Meaning when you shop at Hatshepsut Boutique, ALL proceeds will be donated to five chosen organizations that are on the ground helping the people in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Syria, and Yemen. The organizations chosen have been deemed some of the best in the world and they need our help today more than ever!*

  • Palestinian Children Relief Fund (PCRF) has for decades provided medical care to children in need, be it in Palestine or across the Middle East. They are currently partnering with Anera and World Central Kitchen to provide essentials to the people of Gaza.
  • Baitulmaal provides life saving and sustaining aide to those in need across the Middle East and North Africa region, including Yemen, Palestine, Morocco, Syria, and Sudan.
  • Doctors Without Borders (also known as MSF) has been working to provide medical expertise and healthcare in over 70 countries – including Sudan, Congo, and Palestine – in their time of need.
  • Islamic Relief USA has three emergency appeals going on now for Afghanistan, Nepal, and Palestine as they recover from natural disasters and ongoing wars.
  • International Rescue Committee has been supporting Congo, Sudan, and Palestine for years during the ongoing wars and genocides.

As part of today’s soft launch, we are excited to introduce some of our Jewelry and Egyptian Collections. Later this week, we’ll launch the Bags and Bookworm Collections**. No matter how big or small your purchase is, know that together, we are doing our small part to help our worldly siblings in need.

Let’s truly make this the season of giving by starting to shop for good today! Happy Shopping!

*Proceeds will be donated to the organizations listed on a regular basis, starting November 26th through January 7th indefinitely.

**For transparency purposes, all items have been sourced from local manufacturers or businesses in Egypt as well as through authorized liquidation sales in the US. Hatshepsut Boutique is a registered trademark under Hatshepsut Enterprise, LLC in California, as is MsHala.co.

Golden Girls Kitchen, An Honest Review

Categories Food, Review, San Francisco Bay Area

Picture it, San Francisco, 2013!

If anyone knows me, they know I’m a huge fan of The Golden Girls.

I’ve probably seen every episode a hundred times and laughed out loud every single time. I’ve even told family and friends that should I be blessed to live a long life, I’d live a Golden Girls life!

So of course, when the Golden Girls Kitchen experience finally arrived in San Francisco, my friends and I jumped at the chance. As we were a group of six initially, our dates were difficult to align without the day being sold out. The reviews kept coming in that the space, experience, and the meals that came with the almost $100+ per person ticket were “amazing!”. When five out of six of us were able to get together on a Sunday, all the brunch hours were sold out but dinner at 7pm, which we decided to go for.

The space was much smaller than anticipated, no wonder it was always sold out! You walked in to see the merchandise booth and the Rusty Anchor bar to your left and Sophia’s kitchen to your right. A few tables were lined up leading to Blanche’s bedroom with one side leading to the back end kitchen and another leading to the makeshift lanai. From the lanai, there was a second door to the hall with restrooms before heading to the makeshift living room where there was a larger bar and about ten tables for two lined against the wall. From there, you were led back towards the kitchen and the Rusty Anchor.

The staff seemed annoyed by our presence and ready to call it a day. We were not aware we would be the last guests of the day when the other two tables of guests on the lanai left. There was no one in the indoor tables or bars which we thought was odd considering how we struggled to get tickets on any given day.

The background music was not related to the show whatsoever. Every so often the theme song played but the playlist itself was not relevant to the show or even the 80s. Nonetheless, us gals were occupied in conversation and selfies to mind.

We had pre-ordered, as part of our ticket purchase, five vegetarian lasagna (as the majority of the group is Muslim who don’t eat pork), three slices of chocolate cheesecake, and two slices of strawberry cheesecakes. Drinks, sides, and additional cheesecake flavors were to be ordered day of and charged separately. At the table, we ordered three sodas and mocktails, truffle parmesan fries, regular fries, and fried cheese balls.

The lasagna was not good at all. I think I was the only one hungry enough to begrudgingly finish my serving while everyone else barely ate half of theirs. The fries and cheese balls were very good, the highlight of our meal to be honest. The drinks were small for the price but my mocktail was pretty good.

The cheesecakes were a whole other song and dance. Before we were served our mains, our server came back to let us know they were all out of strawberry cheesecake and they would get us blueberry cheesecake instead at no extra charge. That comment rubbed us the wrong way as it was not our fault the venue ran out of what we had pre-ordered so many weeks prior. She came back again to state that they no longer had blueberry cheesecake and only had chocolate, Oreo, and vegan left. We agreed to one Oreo and one vegan in lieu of the strawberry initially ordered.

We did ask for some of our sides to be discounted since they didn’t have the cheesecake we pre-ordered and they just kept stating that we were already getting it for free. We didn’t push for it further as we had read the reviews that the cheesecakes were so good. Disappointment doesn’t even begin to describe our feelings as we all dug into the cheesecakes. The vegan slice, as one of my friends described it, tasted like candle wax. The rest were completely and utterly warm, almost inedible. After a couple of bites, we either left our slice or packed it to go (my hope to salvage mine after it was refrigerated worked but wasn’t worth it).

The additional costs for the sides and drinks totaled $100 before the enforced gratuity ($50, about 20% of our total costs) that was not included in our ticket purchase.

We did ask the staff to help us take group pictures, which they seem to be annoyed to do. I asked one staff member to take a picture of me by the poster only to have him zoom in on me. Defeats the entire purpose of pictures with the poster but I digress. The group pictures by the poster came out much better. We then as gals took turns taking pictures of each other rather than ask the annoyed staff. Isn’t the picture taking a huge part of the experience? I did get a $30 puzzle before having the doors slammed locked behind us when we walked out.

As I told the social media team who has yet to respond to me that our experience was lackluster. For the price we paid we expected an experience, good food, and a staff friendly enough to not see us as a chore. The Golden Girls Kitchen is indeed overhyped and underdelivered. Maybe something happened in the hours prior to our visit, I don’t know. I just can’t find any justification for our mediocre experience.

Luckily, my gals and I always make the best of our time together and for that I am grateful. Thank you for being a friend!

Let’s Go – Day Trip to San Francisco’s Chinatown

Categories day trip, Food, Let's Go, San Francisco Bay Area3 Comments on Let’s Go – Day Trip to San Francisco’s Chinatown

Who’s ready for a day trip? I know I am as it’s been a while since I was able to put a Bay Area day trip together. Let’s Go explore San Francisco’s Chinatown!

North America’s first and largest Chinatown is right here in San Francisco, full of rich culture and history.  Join us on Saturday, July 1st at 10am where we will start at the Chinese Cultural Center (CCCSF) before walking up and down the heart of the hilly town to the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum (CHSAM), lunch at the famous R&G Lounge (yes, the same spot Anthony Bourdain featured on “No Reservations”!), and check out a few cool monuments. Throughout, we’ll of course stop to learn, shop, snack, and capture our day’s adventure. We may even hop on a cable car!

Tentative Itinerary for July 1st:
10am – Meet at Portsmouth Square, 745 Kearny St.
10:15am – Cross the street to CCCSF, 750 Kearny St.
11am – Walk towards CHSAM, 965 Clay St.
12:30pm – Start walking towards R&G Lounge, 631 Kearny St.
2pm – Start walking towards the “Comfort Women” Column of Strength, 651 California St.
2:30pm – Start walking towards the “Dragon Gate”, 401-413 Grant Ave.
3pm – End the day with a group photo.
*Note that itinerary may be updated as we get closer to the day.

Costs:
– While the CCCSF admission is free to visit, the CHSAM is not. Timed admissions tickets are only $12, which must be purchased through their website.
– If you choose to ride the cable car between CHSAM and R&G Lounge, the single fare charge is $8, which you can purchase in advance as instructed by the SFMTA.
– I will confirm by June 17th if a deposit will be required to hold our reservations, based on the number of confirmed attendees.
– You are responsible for the cost of your lunch, snacks, shopping, etc.

All Else:
– Chinatown is quite hilly, PLEASE wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
– All COVID guidelines and recommendations are to be respected and followed.
– Day trip organizers are unpaid volunteers. By agreeing to attend, you assume responsibility for your own safety, conduct, and well-being. Being kind is not that difficult.

Please confirm your attendance by making a comment below or via InterNations. Come with an appetite for food, culture, and engagement. I can’t wait to see you all then!

Links:
SF Chinatown: https://www.sftravel.com/neighborhoods/chinatown
CCCSF: https://www.cccsf.us
CHSAM Tickets: https://buy.acmeticketing.com/orders/512/tickets?eventId=621fd4e4027c761f00ba51ea&cdEventIds=621fd4e4027c761f00ba51ea&date=2023-07-01T00:00:00-0700R&G Lounge: https://www.rnglounge.com
SFMTA: https://www.sfmta.com/fares/cable-car-single-ride
Let’s Go: https://mshala.co/lets-go