#162: Kareem Rahma
Kareem Rahma on Diners, American Movie (1999), Russian Turkish Bathhouse, and more.
Cool people like cool things, which is why we asked Kareem Rahma to share some recommendations on Perfectly Imperfect.
Kareem Rahma is a New York City based comedian and entrepreneur. He’s best known for his stand-up, Tiktok videos, and the podcast company he co-founded with Andrew Kou, SomeFriends, that produces fiction and non-fiction podcasts. Today he released a new song (and video) called “Michael Barbaro” that you can check out on his Instagram. And this summer he’s dropping his very own podcast, which he assures me won’t just be “two dudes riffing”. Lucky for us, Kareem is here to tell us what he’s been into.
Without further ado
Kareem Rahma (instagram, twitter, tiktok)
🍽️ Diners
I love diners. I love eating in them, drinking in them, hanging out in them, writing them and even hosting comedy shows in them. Being in a diner really makes you feel like you’re on the set of a movie. I am sad that so many of them continue to close, or are at risk of closing, so I do my best to visit as much as I can. I like 7th Avenue Diner in Park Slope, Triple Decker Restaurant in Greenpoint and Kellogg’s in Williamsburg where me and my friend Johnny host a monthly comedy show.
My friend Lucas started this as an instagram account like 7 years ago and it's now grown into a kind of cultural phenomena for people who love soccer. I am not really a big soccer follower but Tens Club also releases monthly drops of vintage and reworked soccer-adjacent clothes like hoodies, shorts and windbreakers. The hoodie I’m wearing in my pic is a Tens Club hoodie!
🚬🚭☠ Nicorette
I’ve succumb to my addiction but rather than smoke, vape, or chew tobacco; I’ve simply resigned to always having a Nicorette lozenge lodged in my lip. It’s healthier than the other options and I still get my fix.
Bathhouse's are a great way to wind down from a busy week so I make it a habit to go every Sunday night. It’s a great way to catch up one on one with a friend, without distractions. And you get the best sleep over your life afterwards. I also feel like this is a “New York Thing” to take advantage of because there are so many great options. Personally, I love Spa88 in the financial district but oftentimes visit the one in the east village as well.
This is hands down the best documentary ever made and if you haven’t seen it please watch it immediately. It’s surreal, empathetic, funny, sad and triumphant all at the same time. I don’t want to spoil anything for you but please watch it.
🏞️ Swimming Holes
Don’t get me wrong, I love going to the beach in the summer but something about swimming holes hits different. There’s a sense of real nostalgia and joy that captures the true essence of summer. I grew up in Minnesota also known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, so maybe this is a way to connect with my roots. There are lots of swimming holes to choose from even as close as New Jersey. One of my favorites is more-so a lake but it’s surrounded by mountains and has a hot dog stand. It’s called Bellayre Beach and it will make you feel like a kid again.
Follow Kareem on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok.
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