Nadir's Monthly Picks: Sept 2023

Literally doing the hard work of life for you!

So it begins..

I put off starting a lot of things in my life. I think a part of me is scared at not being the best, the rest of me of failing. If I never tried.. I never failed. Right?

Growth for me over the last few years has been about relinquishing such hang ups. Learning to step into my light. This Substack is part of that process.

“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.”
- Moby Dick by Herman Melville

SO, welcome to first ever newsletter! It will evolve, grow and improve with time! But I jump into it with a smile! And so grateful for you being here!

To celebrate this start, I am hosting a Supperclub with some friends exclusively for my Substack subscribers. See below for details!

EXCLUSIVE: LIBYAN SUPPERCLUB INVITE

I have warm beautiful memories visiting Libya as a child. My father would take me with him during his work trips. I have patchy memories of shorba, aunties squeezing my cheeks and Leptis Magna. I remember going to the Souq and buying my first Libyan jalabiyya, tiptoeing to see myself in a broken rusty mirror. I straightened my jacket and felt proud and royal, and I’m not even Libyan.

The devastating floods have crippled Libya. Thousands of lives changed forever. Tragedy on a cataclysmic scale. I have friends who’ve lost family, and I stumble to find comforting words in an entirely unrelatable experience.

This supperclub is a product of friendship. A Libyan friend of mine Chef Fatima runs Cucina Edit, a food platform and blog sharing Libyan culinary heritage. For months she’s told me she’s wanted to do something in London. Another friend of mine Tamara who owns a cafe in Marylebone called T by Tamara has always wanted to use her space to bring people together. Fatima is cooking, Tamara is facilitating and I’ll be simply hosting.

Together on the 1st October we’re so excited to invite you to our supperclub showcasing the delicious flavours of Libya. ALL proceeds will go to a selected charity. To celebrate my first ever Substack newsletter, the invite is for subscribers only.

Nadir’s Picks September 2023

A monthly breakdown of some of the exciting things I’ve come across this month. Paid subscribers will get a more in depth and extensive list, but the below is available to all!

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• MUNCH

This month’s food highlight was Rambutan (@rambutan_ldn). Insanely delicious. Not because its run by friend and beautiful human Cynthia, but because it introduced unapologetically mouth watering Sri Lankan flavours to the city. There’s a few great Sri Lankan spots in London now, but Rambutan is my favourite. The cooking is phenomenal, its technical without losing its soul. Its genuinely one of my fav new restaurant openings this year.

Rambutan

• DRIPPY DRIP

Ok so a new fashion feature for me this month are neck ties and bandanas. I’ve always liked high collared shirts as I think they’re classy and smart. Neck ties provide that too. I saw a friend in Cannes rock it and thought dang I need to try that ish. I had a bandana gifted to me a while ago from artist Samira Idroos (@samiraidroos). She designed it with a passage from the Quran: “For those who believe in the unseen”. A beautiful passage, and love having it wrapped around me as a reminder too.

I’m also loving the brand about:blank (@about___black). The clothes are minimal, sleek but casual and constructed really well.

I wore a libyan jacket to a wedding the other day too, and am intent on making clothes like this more wearable on a day to day and not just cultural events. How do we take our heritage clothing and imbue it with a sense of friday night chic.

• COOL BUYS

Some of my dear friends Zaid and Samira are this ridiculously beautiful couple. I lowkey hate them because they’re so beautiful together. When I’m over hating them I’m in awe of this beautiful brand they’ve created ByLimala (@bylimala). They import handmade Moroccan rugs and textiles from their village - both vintage and custom ones they personally design. When I popped into Berlin I got to visit their store and picked me this incredible funky take on a traditional poof. I love it!

ByLimala

• TRAVEL DREAMS

I’ll never forget an issue of national geographic. There was a photo of a remote tribe in Mongolia. The Tsaatan Tribe. They rely entirely on deer for their livelihood. So ancient is their bond with these beautiful animals they’ve tamed them. In fact they ride them like horses. That’s right.. They ride these huge and regal stags. I’m sorry but.. that is the most Lord of the Rings sh*t I have ever heard and its totally real!!! This is right up top of my wishlist to see in the world. To observe these isolated people in the remoteness of their environment and remind myself just how beautiful this world is.

• BOOK CLUB

You need to read The Creative Act by Rick Rubin. The legendary music producer/mogul has turned into a sage like oracle. Jedi Master of the Creative Arts. Beard and all. And this beautiful book articulates the spiritual imperative behind every creative. And there is a creative in all of us. It reads like a sacred text slash self help book. Providing a sense of purpose in what you do but also methodology to funnel that energy. The way Rubin writes about creativity reminded me of the sacred texts I grew up studying in a Sufi household. And the idea that the process of creativity gives you a proximity to the divine. God as the ultimate Creator. And in your act of creating art (in whatever form) you channel that transcendental energy.

SUBSCRIPTION INFO:

FREE SUBSCRIBER

Surrender your email to me and you’ll have access to my monthly breakdown newsletter. The basic round ups of the food, places and people of my month. It won’t go too deep or into much detail, but it’ll provide bitesized usefulness to you for free!

PAID SUBSCRIBER

For those willing/able to buy me a £5 coffee a month. You will get:

• Nadir Journal Entry once a month - unfiltered thoughts and reflections

• Exclusive audio content (Perhaps a podcast with my Mother)

• Monthly restaurant reviews / recommendations

• Travel itineraries and guides 

• EARLY and EXCLUSIVE access to any events/screenings (including Nadir Meets: x)

• Photography / Videographer tutorials, tips and BTS process 

• Access to my photography and videography TUTORIALS, ASSETS and PRESETS 

• Book recommendations / reviews 

• And more!

And personally most important to me, you’ll be financially supporting my work. It’ll be like you’re buying me a coffee every month!

The last four years I’ve been making what I believe to be unique content online. For free! And I’ll continue doing it because I am passionate about creating innovative and meaningful content that is accessible to everyone. This gives me the freedom to create work that isn’t necessarily endorsed or sponsored.

In truth I’m trying to be more financially independent so I can continue making genre busting unfiltered work, that I think the world needs right now.

(If you have been following me a while but can’t afford the subscription email me at nadir@beni.space. It means a lot to me to have your support and would be happy to give you access)