Date: July 31, 2024

Event Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Location: Sufi Mediterranean Restaurant - 5915 Balboa Ave, SD, CA 92111

Short presentation:  Music by Milad & Maryam Hosseini and Mike Jones.

Topic: An evening of the classical and folk music of Iran, Presented by UCSD music students 

Main Presenter: Ellen Estilai

Topic: "Readings from Exit Prohibited: a Memoir"

Main Presentation:  After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Ellen Estilai and her family attempt to leave Tehran, their home of nine years.  At the airport, her Iranian husband is inexplicably prevented from leaving. As he confronts hostile colleagues and the Islamic Republic’s opaque bureaucracy, Estilai examines their lives, trying to understand what might have brought them to this point. Exit Prohibited is a story of a complex Iran, at once welcoming and hostile, progressive and traditional, enamored of and distrustful of the West—an Iran as complex as Estilai’s relationship to it.

About Ellen Estilai: She' the author of Exit Prohibited, a memoir of Iran, and The Museum of Missing Things, a chapbook of poetry and prose. She earned a BA in Art from the University of California, Davis, and an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Tehran. She has spent much of her career collaborating with artists, writers, and agencies to strengthen communities through the arts. She has taught language, literature and writing in universities in Iran and California. Her essays, short stories and poetry have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies.  Because Ellen and her husband have been immigrants in each other’s countries, her writing frequently explores the joys and tribulations of the immigrant experience.

She lives in Riverside, California. 

Language: English

AIAP’s Annual Picnic

Fun Activities

Games, Dance, Music, Food and More.

We are happy to announce that AIAP’s 2024 Annual picnic will be held at the beautiful San Dieguito County Park. All AIAP members are cordially invited to join us for this fun event. This is a token of our appreciation to AIAP members. 

We will provide Persian food and different games for children and adults.
The food will be provided based on the number of RSVPs. So if you like to join us for lunch please RSVP at your earliest convenience. Our food supplier cannot support non-RSVP orders.

Important notes: 

1.    RSVP is required for all attendees ordering lunch (all attendees need RSVP). This process will require a credit card payment for everyone; however, the $10 member payment will be reimbursed to the AIAP members within 2-3 days after the picnic subject to show up.

2.    Non-members should directly purchase their tickets through the above link.

3.    Park requires a $3 entrance fee per car

4.    Lunch will be served at 2:00 PM

Who can attend? The event is open to everyone. 

For lunch tickets, please RSVP online by Friday, August 16, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. PST.

Lunch and Food: Persian kebab lunch catered by Balboa International Market, also, watermelon, tea, and cookies will be served.

Games and Competitions: 

Activities will include:

• Volleyball Game
• Backgammon tournaments
• Games
• Dance and music
• Trail hiking

Please bring your own backgammon to the picnic so that we can have multiple games playing at the same time. For your own comfort, you might bring chairs, blankets, tables, and any other personal picnic items.

Lunch Tickets:

·      AIAP members (not including family) -- Free after $10 reimbursement.

·      Non-members (12+ year old)  -- $30

·      Kids (4–12-year-old) -- $15

·      Kids below 4-year-old -- Free

Location: San Dieguito County Park, AREA #7

located at 15938 El Camino Real, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92091( Google Map)

Driving Direction to the Park:

Take Interstate 5,

Take Exit 37 (Lomas Santa Fe Drive)

Go East on Lomas Santa Fe Drive

Turn left onto Highland Drive

Turn Right onto El Camino Real

Drive approximately 0.1 miles to the Park Entrance

(When inside the park, go to the picnic Area N0. 7)