June E-News from the House of Lebanon

The Green Butterfly is being shown at this years Cannes Film Festival in France! When it hits the theaters, Mary hopes you will go and see it, as it will be the first film in 3-D without the glasses.

Film Link

www.HouseofLebanon.com

Lebanese American Foundation, Inc.
12198 Ventura Boulevard
Suite 207
Studio City, CA 91604

818 980-0003
eFAX 818 301-1940

Save the Date!

for the

Annual

Golf Classic

Monday, January 9, 2012

Wilshire Country Club

Details in Upcoming Issues

Community

Calendar of

Events

June

June 7th @ 9:30 am

LA |Beirut Sister Cities Committee Bench Dedication

Location: Los Angeles City Council, South Lawn at the intersection of 1st and Main Street

For more information:

info@labeirut.org

June 9th

LA | Beirut Sister Cities Committee Fundraiser

Activities:

A Celebration of L.A. in the '60s, featuring a Salute to the Beach Boys

Location:

Gilmore Adobe at Farmer's Market
Addess: 3rd St. at Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA
Time: 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Tickets: $60 per person, $500 for 10. Purchase here

Saturday, June 18th

Los Angeles Cedars Rotary

Handover Party

For more information on these and future events, please contact the organization directly.

American Lebanese Medical

Association - ALMA

California Ladies Organization

for WLCU

Lebanese Collegiate Network

Los Angeles | Beirut

Sister Cities Committee

rotary logo

Los Angeles Cedars Rotary Club

World Lebanese Cultural

Union - WLCU

Dear Friends of the House of Lebanon,

Our annual picnic was a new success for the House of Lebanon, Joining with other Lebanese-American organizations made this year, truly a "feel good" event.

Wafa Hoballah, President of LA | Beirut Sister Cities Committee wrote in her recent newsletter, "this event reaffirmed our beliefs in the open channel of communications to the opportunities that are available to all Lebanese-American organization of the greater Los Angeles area through cooperation and working together toward the bigger goal of awareness. By opening dialogue domestically and internationally and opening more doors between Los Angeles and Lebanon, the combined efforts of the Lebanese-Americans will prove successful in bringing people and communities together."

To all our partners and friends, thank you!

Best Wishes from Our House to Yours,

Karen Srour

Executive Director

A Message from
Honorable James Kaddo
Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

We were pleased and honored that Councilman Dennis Zine and Councilman Tom LaBonge attended our picnic. An unexpected surprise was the participation of City Attorney Carmen Trutanich. Carmen was particularly enthusiastic being of Croatian descent he felt at home and identified with us. Thanks for all those who have attended as well as to those who put this function together and made it so enjoyable. We plan to hold it every year as a gathering of our community.

Judge Kaddo

A Message from
Mohamed "Mike" Ahmar
President

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Najwa Shammas as the Chairperson of the 9th annual Pride of Heritage Banquet which will be held this fall at the Beverly Hills Hotel. We look forward to formally introducing you to my friend, this year's honoree, Mr. Ghassan Saab, CEO of Sorensen Gross Construction Services in our July newsletter.

Mike

House of Lebanon

Annual Picnic & Cultural Celebration

On Sunday, May 22nd, hundreds of people gathered in Griffith Park for the annual picnic and cultural celebration. Guests enjoyed delicious food from Cuisine on the Green and Daily Produce. Entertainment was non-stop with DJ Nidal and performances by Maurice Raad, Fidel Fayad, Shadi Sayegh and Fadi Sultan. Yalla Dabke also performed with their magnificant costumes and lively dancing.

We were honored to have Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and Councilmembers Dennis P. Zine and Tom LaBonge be a part of our event. The true success of the event is attributed to the coming together of all the Lebanese cultural organizations in the city. We again thank the American Lebanese Medical Association, the Lebanese Collegiate Network, LA |Beirut Sister Cities Committee, California Ladies Organization, Los Angeles Cedars Rotary, World Lebanese Cultural Union and the House of Lebanon Artists' Group. This coordinated effort was spearheaded by LAF Board members and Picnic Chairman Hadi Khalil and Activities Chairman, Amira Matar.

Please take a moment to scroll through our photos of the day. If you wish to see all the picnic photos, please click on the photo link below.

View all Photos!

Sponsored by

and

Board of Directors and Honored Guests

Lebanese Super Star Singers

LA City Councilmembers Dennis Zine and Tom LaBonge with Judge James Kaddo and LA City Attorney Carmen Trutanich

Hadi Khalil, LAF Board Member and Picnic Chairman receiving congratulations from Councilmember Dennis Zine, under the watchful eye of Ferris Wehbe

Amira Matar, Lola Semaan, Judge James Kaddo, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Wafa Hoballah, LAF Board Member and President of LA | Beirut Sister Cities Committee and Hadi Khalil.

YUMMY! Chocolate Covered Strawberries from Daily Produce

A friendly game of backgammon!

Hungry crowds line up for delicious food from Cuisine on the Green.

Thank You to Our Picnic Partners....

American Lebanese Medical Association - ALMA

Lebanese Collegiate Network - LCN

Los Angeles Cedars Rotary Club

California Ladies Organization and

World Lebanese Cultural Union

House of Lebanon Artists' Group

LA | Beirut Sister Cities Committee

HOL Artists' Spotlight

Nouha Sinno

Nouha Sinno is taken by the notion of the Arabic language as art and of her work as are reflection on the visual beauty of the Arabic culture. "I am grateful," she says, "for this rich legacy of beauty and elegance that is the Arabic alphabet." This specific collection focuses on abstracts renditions of Arabic words and their meanings and speak of her memories as a Muslim woman.

Sinno was born in Beirut, Lebanon and graduated from The Lebanese University of Fine Arts as an Interior Designer. She has been living in Southern California since 1984.

www.nuhabalaa.com

Peace In Paradise

Praising the Culture

HOL Artist News | NOW

It is always a pleasure to have the support of the HOL Artists' Group at our annual picnic. Again, they were the highlight of the children's activities with opportunities to make a mosaic Lebanese flag, create an art masterpiece with watercolors or have their face painted by one of the talented HOL Artists!

We hope all the artists - young and young at heart enjoyed the day!

Carole Choucair Oueijan and Judge Kaddo with the children enjoying the art projects at the picnic.

HOL Artist Zareh face painting at the picnic.

HOL Artist Doris Bittar writes...............

Art of the Middle East, a new blog just published an interview with me, and include many new art works that are not on my web site:
http://artofthemideast.com/

I hope that you enjoy it.

Warmest regards,
Doris
--

Recent Installations Featuring the Dulcimoon - 87-stringed instrument:
"Tec Tang Tarab," Opening Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCq-jnanHx4&feature=related
Menasa Studio Dispatches in Sharjah, UAE for Arts Dubai: sound pieces with Jonathan Glasier: http://theislandarts.org/exhibitions/menasa-studio-dispatches/doris-bittar-and-jonathan-glasier/
www.DorisBittar.com

HOL Artists Wafa Daya Terab & Reem Hammad will be exhibiting at the ................

Los Angeles Arboretum Trip Highlights

HOL Artists' Group Chairman, Carole Choucair Oueijan writes...............

I would like to share with you some photos of our trip to the LA Arboretum with inspiring artist, Leigh Adams. The weather was perfect and we had a great time! You can read below a short report from Leigh Adams that describes the places we visited. Also find links that help you know more about Leigh and her work:
Artists at Arboretum

From Leigh:

"Our tour began in the Celebration Garden where I created five mosaics representing water, the jacaranda tree and the peacocks. Then we journeyed to Jeff Moore's "Tidepool" where I contributed to the hardscape and color palette. From there we wandered out to the former Begonia Greenhouse, now filled with tropical greens and the carnivorous Nepenthes or pitcher plant. We scooted through the shade garden toward the Orchid House and viewed hundreds of beautiful orchids indoors and out (including the beautiful vanilla orchid).

Leaving the green house we entered the world's largest Australian Garden (outside Australia!) where I did the rock coloration and petroglyphs, the sidewalks and their texture and coloration, visited "my office" (a large Australian cherry bush) and walked part of the Rainbow DreamSnake. Wanting to see the Permasphere while we had cool refreshing weather, we backtracked to the Permasphere (the Permaculture Demonstration Garden of which I am co designer) and saw some water harvesting strategies, a cob bench and the "ladybug oven", some succulent walls and a food producing garden.

Leaving the Permasphere, we meandered down the Rainbow Dream Snake (or Serpent Trail) and walked through the north end of the Arboretum and into a little known "nook" under the African White Karee tree, also known as "the Storyteller's Tree". From there it was a stone's throw to the Peacock Cafe where we ate grilled cheese sandwiches and shared wonderful time together."

http://chanceofrain.com/2011/03/from-water-dreams-art/ is the article on the Dream Snake

http://chanceofrain.com/2011/03/the-dry-garden-smart-and-streetwise/ is the article on Leigh Adams' backyard

Congratulations to

LA | Beirut Sister Cities Committee

The unveiling and the installation of the benches ceremony at the steps of the Los Angeles City Hall will take place on Tuesday, June 7, 2011.

The ceremony will honor and thank Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmembers Dennis Zine and Tom LaBonge for their immeasurable contributions and leadership to the LA Beirut Sister Cities Committee and the entire Sister Cities organization.

Date: June 7, 2011

Time: 9:30 am

Place: Los Angeles City Hall South Lawn, Intersection of 1st and Main Street

The festivities continues with a festive lunch at the Tom Bradley Tower room from 11:30-1:00 pm.

House of Lebanon Sponsors

Carole Kawkabani, Kathy Kellogg, CEO of Partners Bank of California, Dr. Hanna Shammas, Mike Chambers

Building Solutions Together

At Partners Bank we are focused on delivering the highest quality products and services to the professional business community. Accordingly, our team of professional banking officers provide what all businesses and individuals need and value most - more convenience, productivity and security. Experience the benefits of banking with a banker, not just a bank.

Partners Bank of California

27201 Puerta Real, Suite 160

Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Phone 949 732-4000

Entertainment Sponsor

A modern restaurant/nightclub with a heated patio for hookah and LA's best singers every Fri & Sat nights. Great food, belly dancing shows, fully stocked bar and valet parking! Whether with friends or special occasions, Babylon is the place!

Babylon Restaurant & Hookah Lounge

205 E. 2nd Street

Pomona, CA 91766

(909) 622-4444

J. Kavari Fashion Jewelry & Accessories

Jewelry