Lost Art original piece in Washington, DC--Photo: RJS

Recently we had the pleasure of meeting prominent (and tireless) Iranian-American artist, Farzad Kohan…And uncontrollably, he’s managed to turn us into a collector, curator, fan, and friend.

“Art is the purest vehicle of the human expression: When all else fails we communicate our emotions, our ideals, our hopes and dreams through our art.” Quips Kohan, whose ability to connect on an-almost spiritual level with his audience, still fascinates us. Continue Reading

It’s no secret that Iranian women are a force to be reckoned with…

So get ready to meet your latest rising star, the super-talented female entrepreneur and jewelry designer: Lisa Nik.

Previously, Executive Vice President of RC for luxury jewelry line Roberto Coin, where she worked for over a decade, the multilingual Lisa–she is fluent in Spanish, Italian, Persian, and English–is a graduate of NYU and GIA certified.

As she expands her business and brand (simply named: Lisa Nik), we got a chance to sit down with the part-time snowboarder for a quick chat. Continue Reading

Check out Persiansque Magazine’s exclusive interview with Jimmy Vestvood: He dishes on his life as a Private Investigator, son, and now…Sexiest Persian Alive.

PERSIANESQUE MAGAZINE: With great thanks for joining us for this interview, how does it feel to be voted “The Sexiest Persian Alive”?

JIMMY VESTVOOD: Oh my gosh, supertacular! I esteel can’t believe it. Vow! Who came in 2nd?

PEM: No one. You got 100% of the votes.

JV: Axellent!

PEM: On behalf of all the ladies out there, I need to ask you: Are you single?

JV: Uh…Yes.

PEM: You hesitated.

JV: Vell, okay, I admit, I have been saving myself for Charleez Teron but she is playing a little hard to get, so I tink it is time for me to move on and date odder vomen.

PEM: Charlize Theron, wow, you have great taste in women. Do you have a type?

JV: I am an equal opportoonity sexist. Persian, Amerikan, Escandanavian. Blonde, Broonet, Redhair. Estraight, lesbian, bisexual. I don’t diskriminate.  I love vomen. Espeshelly if they have a hot body and know how to cook like my mother.

PEM: Your mother must be a good cook. What’s your favorite dish?

JV: Potatoe tahdeeg and koo-koo sandvich.

PEM: Ummmm! …Are you close to your mother? Do you see her everyday?

JV: I live vith her!

PEM: You mean you don’t have your own bachelor pad?

JV: No, I live vith Maman in an apartment in Vestvood.

PEM: Of course you do, Mr. Jimmy Vestvood! By the way, what’s your real name?

JV: Jamshid Vahedi, but I changed it to Jimmy Vestvood vhen I became a private investeegator.

Continue Reading

L: Mahee Doudy va Khaviar (Smoked Whitefish & Caviar on Sangak Toasts) Geoff Mottram, R: Chef Maziar Farivar

Have you ever wondered why there is such a lack of Persian Chefs in the culinary world?

We have.

So we searched and researched–sniffing around the global kitchen–and found our first five-star/diamond (in our opinion at least) Persian Chef in the US: Maziar Farivar, of Georgetown’s Prospect St.-treasure, Peacock Cafe.

Dubbed, “Peacock” for short by regulars, the atmosphere inside his restaurant feels warm and hospitable–like most Persian homes–but not intrusively so.

“When people walk through our doors, they become our guests.” Says the James Beard Foundation-acknowledged Farivar.

Being recognized by the prestigious James Beard Foundation, a non-profit and center of America’s culinary community–whose mission is to “celebrate, nurture, and preserve America’s diverse culinary heritage and future,”–is the ultimate honor to receive for American Chefs, yet Farivar, the man behind the DC-hot-spot has already been there twice; once as a member of the DC All-Stars Chefs team, and more recently as the featured Chef for the organization’s “Norouz: Persian New Year” event, where Farivar served a Norouz dinner to 75 guests/culinary industry elite. Continue Reading

Described as: “Recalling the sensuous colors and textures of a distant marketplace,” the Tabriz collection, created by luxury-items designer Elad Yifrach of L’Objet, is trimmed in 14kt gold.

The circuitous and appealing patterns of perfectly-placed rectilinear and curvilinear lines seen in Elad’s work draws from a coveted type of Persian rug–especially the silk variety–known as the: Tabriz.

These regal pieces can be used as accents and decoration or as a collective statement. The Tabriz collection is suggested for small plates, tastings, salad, and/or dessert use. (The platter is food-safe but is also applicable on a foyer table, bathroom or living room setting.) Continue Reading

"Bad Girls" by Bahar Sabzevari--From Robert Adanto's Documentary; "Pearls on the Ocean Floor"--Photo courtesy of Robert Adanto

Director Robert Adanto’s new documentary film “Pearls on the Ocean Floor,”–shot in London, Berlin, NYC, San Francisco, and Leipzig–while a “friend provided some footage from Tehran”– interviews some of the most influential Iranian female artists living and working in and outside of Iran, including: Shadi Ghadirian, Shirin Neshat, Parastou Forouhar, Haleh Anvari, Leila Pazooki, Afshan Ketabchi, Malekeh Nayiny, Bahar Sabzevari, Afsoon, Gohar Dashti, Negar Ahkami, Taravat Talepasand, Shadi Yousefian, and Mona Hakimi-Schuler. Continue Reading

Calling all dance music lovers: Are you ready for a new summer jam?

Then you must check out the latest hit track from Iranian-American artist, Farzad Aghili, ”Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Streets.” Continue Reading

DJ/Producer Masoud Fuladi (also known as: DJ MaSound) lives by the Caspian Sea in Northern Iran–Bandar-e Anzali in the province of Gilan to be exact–yet he works with some of the dance music industry’s biggest and coolest…albeit virtually. Continue Reading