old rolls: we're all going to be fine

So long old rolls of the 2009. We're on to a whole new decade, with our arms wiiiiiide open.

- sunny

girl 8*

Meet Saltanat Naseri.

After work, one night a week, around 6:30pm/7, I visit my grandmother, Saltanat (her name means monarchy). She is a proud woman, with such a descriptive vernacular, it's hard not to fall in love with her. She prepares me a plate of food consisting of the most perfect balance - homemade sour yogurt, tadiq (crispy basmati rice that forms at the bottom of the pot), khoresht (stew) & herbs. Then we drink tea and cover many topics of interest.

Sometimes she talks about how she spoke with so-and-so on the phone and offered that I marry so-and-so's son, and how they gladly accepted but if I didn't prefer their son, I should introduce other boys to my father that I may like because she's already talked to him about it and all she wants is to attend my wedding before she lays her eyes to rest for good. I just smile, nod my head and tell her she knows best and, "sure, sure, that sounds good." The subject changes, we gossip about the family, I make her laugh and we sip some more tea.

The entire time, Jeopardy is on t.v. directly in front of us and she tells me I should try out for it, even if I don't think I could win (she speaks and understands zero english, mind you).

It is my favorite and most anticipated night of the week.

*originally posted july 2007. not much has changed

-ms. sunny shokrae

Adventure: BK Bowl

- sunny

Upper West Side, NY

We took a little inspiration from the Brothers Bloom and had ourselves a full day on the upper west side. A quick peak-

photography: sunny shokrae

photo assistant: jeremiah mandel

make up: erin green

hair: amanda jenkins

stylist: josh madden

prop stylist: kalen kaminski

-sunny

jan-e-aziz

Going to California for the holidays is in no way a relaxing experience. While this great state should be looked forward to as the most epic vacation/living spot, with mountains, deserts, beaches and perfect weather, it has become one of my biggest fears.

Persian families, if you've ever know any, are level 10 in terms of family intensity. That means if you live 2000 miles away and you are in the same state as them and they know this information, they take you hostage. The idea of visiting beloved friends in Los Angeles, taking a trip down Sunset by where you used to live, or getting beef pickle tacos at that one spot you liked a lot, any and all of those ideas, out the window. It's terribly heartbreaking. And on top of it (god bless them because they are my favorite people in the whole world and they deserve everything they have because they worked hard for it), you have to ride in an orange hummer while they blast urban persian music. Pause.

But there is always the good side too. The consistency of certain things that makes me feel like I'm still 10yrs old sitting in my grandma's house in Westwood looking at the several items that are always on her table including a bowl of mandarin oranges & cucumbers, nuts and toot (a strange Iranian candy thats usually eaten while drinking tea), knowing that my mom's superior cooking skills will teach me something new (this time is was de-seeding a pomegranate by dunking it underwater), taking a 5 minute drive to the beach to pick up seashells and have a mini hike, or watching my parents while thinking to myself that this might be the first time I've ever seen them in love. I really do owe them everything, they are hands down the greatest people on the planet.

But for the next trip, I'll be keeping it my little secret (between me and the bros) so that I can get time in with my Los Angeles family- there's nothing about them that ever causes me anxiety. It's a serious felony in the world of persian etiquette, but I denounce it as no fault of mine because I was born equally between two cultures. Just, shhhhh, don't tell the Shokrae's.

- sunny

situation of the century

GOOD OL' Huntington Beach, California.
Shot by Jason Stewart, accompanying vocals by yours truly.


-Sadaf

To be a fly on a wall

My father and uncle.

Time: Late 60s

Location: Tehran, Iran

Transportation: Harley Davidson

Beverage: Vodka

Objective: Crush chicks

-Sadaf

Song of the Month

-sunny

dude 7

Meet Jeremiah Mandel. Being in love is a strange and wonderful thing. Jeremiah has an endless and unconditional capacity to love, like, full heartedly and selflessly. It's one of his admirable qualities. This last year we taught each other a number of things, mostly as a result of our dueling perspectives. It's nice to step out of your bubble once in a while.

It's also nice to remember that it's only as complicated as you want it to be, most of the time it's just about acceptance and understanding. In friendship, love remains.

-sunny

Found Part XXV

perfect silver

-sunny

More than this

-Sadaf

12.19.09 - get into the spirit

© jonas bendiksen

Time for more dinner parties, hot toddy dates and movie nights. Secret season crush on winter, you know what I mean?

-sunbuns

Big City of Dreams

Having fun can be a good thing; having too much fun and then returning to reality can break your heart into a million microscopic pieces that can never be melded again.

Till Spring,

Sadaf