Preston Merchant

Fishermen, Trinidad

Fishermen Playing Wapee, Maracas Bay, Trinidad

Asian American Writers Workshop Honors Sonny Mehta

As part of its PageTurner Literary Festival, the Asian American Writers Workshop  honored Sonny Mehta, Knopf Publisher & Editor-in-Chief with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The special guest was Michael Ondaatje, author of "The English Patient."  The event was held at the restaurant called At Vermilion in Manhattan. (Hover over the images for captions; click to go the image archive.)

IndiaWorld in The Hindu

The Hindu newspaper in India published an interview with me about IndiaWorld.  Read it here.

Ishaara Rocks the NRI Global Summit

"America's Got Talent" stars, Ishaara, the Berkeley-based Bollywood dance troupe, performed at the NRI Global Summit 2009 in Milpitas, California.

Rez Abbasi CD Launch at Smalls

Acclaimed jazz guitarist Rez Abbasi debuted his new CD "Things to Come" at Smalls in the West Village last weekend, performing with the musicians from the disk, all of whom are virtuosos.  The house was packed. 

Dan Weiss (drums), Johannes Weidenmueller (bass), Rudresh Mahanthappa (alto sax), Rez Abbasi (guitar)

Vijay Iyer (piano)

Rez Abbasi and Kiran Ahluwalia (vocals)

Dan Weiss

Rudresh Mahanthappa, Johannes Weidenmueller, and Rez Abbasi

Rudresh Mahanthappa and Rez Abbasi

Acoustic Falu at Joe's Pub

Falu took the stage at Joe's Pub on October 1st for an acoustic show of traditional Hindustani songs -- quieter but no less energetic than Falu's usual repertoire.

Glitz and Glamor at the Sakhi Gala

Sakhi for South Asian Women, the community-based organization working to eradicate domestic violence, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a gala at the Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan with two prominent guest speakers -- filmmaker Mira Nair and actor Reshma Shetty.

 Filmmaker Mira Nair, of the much-loved movies "Monsoon Wedding" and "The Namesake"

 Actor Reshma Shetty of USA Network's "Royal Pains"

The evening's MC was Bhavna Toor -- Miss India New York 2001 and a host at Namaste America, the South Asian TV network.

Read E. Nina Rothe's coverage of the event at the AVS TV blog.  See more pictures.

Jigar & Annika Get Engaged

Jigar Mehta and Annika Dubrall threw themselves an engagement party at the Leela Lounge in New York -- just before Annika flew to England to get an MBA at Oxford.  Jigar shoots and edits video for the New York Times, Twitters, and serves on the board of the South Asian Journalists Association. 

Here are pictures of Jigar and Annika celebrating their engagement with their friends:

Jigar & Annika at the Leela Lounge - Images by Preston Merchant

Haldi Ceremony, Uniondale, New York