All American Muslim: The Aoude Family

Nadar and Nawal are newly weds, expecting their first baby and trying to balance their traditional Muslim roots with the American culture. For the most part they are a traditionally minded couple.  It will be interesting to hear about how they plan to raise their son, when he is born.  I imagine it will a little difficult as the two cultures are so very different in many ways.  The American culture is very liberal and the Muslim traditions so conservative.  Striking a balance between the two cultures, on top of parenting, may prove to be challenging.

Russian Dolls: Michael Musto Raves About Rasputin

Michael Musto, writer of the Village Voice blog, had nothing but good things to say about the Rasputin Restaurant and Cabaret in Brighton Beach.  He was recently invited there by owners Michael and Marina Levitis to enjoy a feast of a meal and a night of entertainment for the restaurant's 20th anniversary, and enjoy it he did.  He even brought a few friends along with him to feast on all the ethnic dishes that Rasputin specializes in.  

The best part of the review was when Mr. Musto writes, and I quote, "At one point, Michael Levitis explained to me, "This song is 'Russian Women Have The Best Asses.' And they do!"  

The eating went on for three hours!  Then Mr. Musto says, out came the lamb kabobs!  Lamb kabobs sound good to me.  There is a lot of talk of another Rasputin opening up in Manhattan in the near future.  A few good reviews here and there will certainly ensure the success of the new Rasputin's Grand Opening!

Good luck to Michael and Marina's new Rasputin!

Check out the review: Village Voice Review


P.S. I hear there will be a Halloween Party being held at Rasputin on Monday, October 31st, with prizes for best costume.  You may want to look into that on Michael's facebook @ Halloween at Rasputin

Picture credit: Patrick McMullan

Russian Dolls: Marina's Animal Print Dress

First of all a big thank you to Michael Levitis, the adoring husband of Marina.  He saw the blog where I was asking about her animal print dresses and he directed me to his facebook page where he has proudly posted his lovely wife, wearing one of her new acquisitions.  This appears to be a vertical, zebra stripe print.  I am no fasionista by any means, however I have always heard that curvy women should not wear stripes as it makes them appears larger in areas they do not need accentuated.  Marina has been tweeting that she has been going to the gym and attending zumba classes to lose weight for her brother's wedding.  I think she still has a ways to go and if I were her I would go with horizontal stripes next time.

I took a moment to see if my memory on stripes was accurate and here is the result:

As you can see, the same woman, wearing two different dresses, appears more svelt in the horizontally striped dress on the top of the screen and fuller figured on the bottom on the screen wearing vertical stripes.  However, the important thing is not what I think of Marina's new dress, but what Michael thinks.  Michael seems very happy with Marina's choice, so who am I to make suggestions?

Picture credit: Michael Levitis Facebook and dailymail.co.uk and Patrick McMullen

All American Muslim: The Amen Family

Mohsen and Lila Amen have four children – Suehaila, Shadia, Bilal and Samira.  Each member varies in the way they practice the doctrines of their failth, from conservative to liberal.  Suehaila is 32, single and very conservative. Her sister Shadia is the rebel of the family and has tattoos, piercings and doesn't wear the hijab. Samira is the youngest and is married to Ali, but having fertility problems.  She leans towards the conservative, traditional practices and has taken to wearing the hijab to improve her relationship with God. Bilal is the unmarried son who leans towards traditional values.


For many more details on this family click on the link below.  As you pas your mouse over their picture more information will pop up for you to read.


Link for info:TLC All American Muslim: Amen Family Interactive Picture

All American Muslim: Mike & Angela Jaafar

Access Hollywood interviews Mike and Angela Jaafar, cast members of the new show All-American Muslim.   The couple has four children and live in Dearborn, Michigan.  Mike is a police officer.  They say they agreed to become involved in the series to show that Muslims are not how they are stereotypically viewed by Americans.  They feel Muslims are misunderstood because there is fear of the unknown.  They live in a diverse neighborhood and have friends of all nationalities and religions.  They talk about how they explained to their children why they decided to be on the show.  

I have to say this is a refreshing change from the drama on Russian Dolls.  This couple seems very down to earth and open about their life in Michigan.  It will be interesting to compare the two ethnic series and see how they are similar and different.  If you watch the video below, let me know what you think.

Video and Picture Credit: Access Hollywood

All American Muslim: Meet The Cast

Shadia with her family 

Suehaila and Shadia: Suehaila wears a traditional headscarf and follows daily prayer rituals - while Shadia, her outspoken sister, is decorated with piercings and tattoos and recently married Jeff, an Irish Catholic who is converting to Islam.

Suehaila

Nader and Nawal: Newlyweds expecting their first baby, Nader and Nawal are working to strike the right balance between their traditional Muslim roots and American culture.

Fouad: As head coach Fouad: As head coach of the Fordson High School football team, Fouad has pioneered a shift in his team's summer practice schedule by flipping to night workouts from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. since a majority of his team are Muslim and are fasting for Ramadan.

 Samira and Ali: Samira and her husband of seven years, Ali, struggle with fertility issues and are pursuing numerous options including conventional fertility techniques, dietary alternatives and Muslim supplication prayers. After years of unsuccessful attempts, Samira considers putting on the Hijab in order to be closer to God and hopefully be blessed with a child.

Mike and Angela: Mike, a deputy chief sheriff, and his wife Angela, a consultant to a major auto manufacturer, are juggling their busy careers with raising their four children in a modern Muslim family.

Nina: A strong, independent Muslim businesswoman, Nina's family runs the premier wedding and banquet hall in Dearborn — but against their advice, she is trying to venture off on her own to open a nightclub.

Pictures and description credit: TLC

All American Muslim: A New TLC Show

The Jaafar Family

Well they say when one door closes another door opens and so it is with blogs.  As we say goodbye to Russian Dolls, whose time has come and gone, we can now welcome All American Muslim to the television screen.  Another group of Americans wants to educate us about their culture and traditions and have a story to tell.  It could prove to be interesting!  And already there is one big PLUS, there will be no Marina!

So I watched the video and I am intrigued.  Already I see a difference in the two shows, the Muslims do not seem to be "acting" but more genuine.  Of course it is hard to say much with only a minute and a half to go on.

The show is an eight part series and will premiere on November 13th.  It will follow 5 different Muslim families from Dearborn, Michigan.  Dearborn is a suburb of Detroit and has a large Arab-American population.  The show will deal with the issues they had to face after 911, ten years ago.  They will have some diverse cast members, such as two sisters who are opposites: one wears a headscarf and prays every day and the other has tattoos which are illegal in Islam.  

Unlike Russian Dolls, whose community was outraged at the way they were being portrayed, Muslims of Dearborn feel that the show is going to do a lot to help all Americans understand more about their beliefs, concerns and challenges.  Check out the video and see what you think?

Picture and video credit: TLC