Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: December 17, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
We live in unpredictable times. Unpredictable and at the same time, volatile, because everything seems to carry with it, big, looming question marks. Economically, socially, politically, and emotionally, we are bullet-ridden with doubt, suspicion, angst, hunger and hatred.
Strangely, even with a preponderance of TV channels, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and e-zines at our [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: November 14, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
Quite frankly, I’m utterly jealous of America right about now. Just a few days ago it was announced on every news channel – local and foreign – that Barack Hussein Obama has officially been declared as America’s 44th President.
Addressing the hordes of Americans in Grant Park, Chicago, soon after the results were announced, [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: October 24, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
In the summer of 2007 one of my biggest dreams had come through: I received admission at Columbia’s School of Journalism!
I felt myself reeling in shock – and utter delight – as I quickly scanned over the email which stated my acceptance to the school. Sadly, things plunged headfirst – like a copter [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: October 17, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
From ‘Coffee, Tea & Company’, ‘Gloria Jeans’, ‘Masooms’, ‘Jammin’ Java’, ‘Dunkin’ Donuts’, ‘Espresso’ – and a host of other coffee houses (be they international or local), Lahore seems to be standing knee-deep in an assortment of coffee beans – flown in from around the world.
And given the current escalation of coffee houses in [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 10, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
Launched barely two months ago in Lahore, ‘DISH’ comes as a much-welcomed addition to Lahore’s ever-widening platter of eateries in the city!
Conceived and developed by a well-known event-management company (J&S), the DISH experience is one to be reckoned with.
Located in Gulberg, the ambience – quite like the food – is classy and incredibly [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 10, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
It’s funny, but the past few days in Lahore are beginning to feel a lot like Karachi.
With the humidity level cranked up countless notches and WAPDA’s bipolar behaviour (vis-à-vis impromptu load-shedding), one is reminded of glorious Karachi’s sticky-sweetness. The only difference? They have the sea. Drat.
But coming back to WAPDA, almost everyone I [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: June 20, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
Known for their history of socialist-driven theatre productions, Ajoka stands as a theatre company that fuses art with pertinent social messages quite remarkably.
Run by a husband and wife duo (Shahid Nadeem and Madeeha Gauhar), Ajoka, in addition, is also well-known in Lahore for its exciting collaborations with theatre companies and thespian troupes across [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: April 11, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
“I remember the day McDonald’s was launched in Lahore,” Adnan Ahmed a student at National College of Arts says. “It was utter chaos…people had driven in from Rawalpindi and Islamabad and were ordering burgers by the dozen to take back. It was insane”.
That was 1998, when the famous, mammoth-sized, bright yellow, McDonald’s ‘M’ [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: March 23, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
Strapping on bullet-proof vests, amidst a platoon of armed men – directors Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi are ready to embark on a risky expedition right in the heart of war-torn and ravaged Baghdad to meet a band.
But not just any old band, rather, Iraq’s sole Heavy Metal band – ‘Acrassicauda’, Latin for [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: February 13, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
The youth in Pakistan has been consistently lambasted for being far too apathetic regarding local politics, general elections and voting.
But towards the mid (and the end of) 2007, I sensed an awakening. And the month of November marked just that.
It was fascinating to witness young students (especially) speak of and discuss the current [...]
