Jeremy LIn's Got a New Gig with ESPN

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Jeremy Lin shines in Luka Dončić breakdown on ESPN's 'NBA Today'

Yes, you love and remember him from the era affectionately known as Linsanity. But after retiring from pro basketball last year, Jeremy Lin has a new gig -- with ESPN. The former New York Knick debuted as a special guest commentator on the network this week. On Friday, in a segment on NBA Today, Lin walked studio hosts Malika Andrews and Tim MacMahon through what makes Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić so dynamic. And did a pretty awesome job. This is a good look. It's great to see him on this next chapter of his career and I'm hoping we'll see more of him on this side of the coverage.

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How casinos in New England are exploiting Asian communities for profit

It's no secret that casinos deploy sophisticated strategies designed to entice people to wager beyond their means. And their favored target: people of Asian descent. A three-part Boston Globe series found that New England's largest casinos are relentlessly targeting people of Asian descent across the region, often with devastating results, driving people toward addiction and sapping wealth from Asian communities.

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Another Alysa Liu mural in Oakland — this one with Kristi Yamaguchi

Another mural for a champion. Two champions, actually. Artist Julie Engelmann has created a mural celebrating hometown hero Alysa Liu -- at the Oakland Ice Center, where Liu first learned to skate -- alongside 1992 Olympic figure skating gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, who also hails from the area.

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THE AUNTIE SEWING SQUAD RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK: A New Documentary Film

The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook is a feature-length documentary that follows the Auntie Sewing Squad founded by Kristina Wong, a collective of mostly BIPOC women volunteers who came together on social media with a mission: to protect vulnerable communities from COVID-19. This national network of hundreds of Aunties, Uncles, and non-binary volunteers turned their living rooms into "sweatshops," where they sewed and donated cloth facemasks to counter the US government's failure to provide protective gear for its people. They are currently in the homestretch to complete the film, and are asking for crowdfunding assistance. Your contribution would support editing, sound design, color correction, and other aspects of postproduction before they get the documentary out into the world. For more information, go here.

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No Other Choice Limited Edition Poster

"They didn't really send you the eel, did they?" I must have this incredible No Other Choice poster by acclaimed artist James Jean, celebrating legendary director Park Chan-wook's cinematic masterpiece. Limited edition print of 1000. Available from NEON.

They Call Us Bruce 145: They Call Us Mayor Michelle Wu

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston. She talks about breaking barriers as the first woman and first person of color elected to lead her city, hitting the ground running, "getting city hall out of city hall," and embracing both legacy and innovation. She also gives us The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being the mayor of Boston.

Oops! You're Not On Mute! And We All Just Heard Your Racism.

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Boston School Committee Chair Resigns After Mocking Asian Names
Boston Schools Committee chairman Michael Loconto has stepped down after reportedly mocking Asian Americans during a Wednesday night school committee meeting, which prompted calls for his immediate resignation. During the virtual meeting, the moderator can be heard on an audio recording saying the names of upcoming participants from the community. Loconto can then be heard saying a series of names under his breath in a manner most certainly mocking the Asian anmes of thos participants. Yup, he said them racistly. And that shit was broadcast on a Zoom call for all to hear. And then the mayor accepted Loconto's resignation Thursday morning.

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Apple's 'Pachinko' Sets Cast, Directors for International Production
Apple has set the cast and directors for its multilingual international drama Pachinko, based on the novel by Min Jin Lee. The cast includes Lee Min-ho, Jin Ha, Anna Sawai, Minha Kim, Soji Arai and Kaho Minami. Kogonada will direct four episodes, including the pilot, and serve as an executive producer of the series. Justin Chon will also direct four episodes. The big-budget series is set to begin production next week and will film across multiple continents. The eight episodes, told in Korean, Japanese and English, chronicle the hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family.

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Coming Home Again
Acclaimed director Wayne Wang's moving new film, the emotional family drama Coming Home Again, is based on a personal essay by award-winning Korean American writer Chang-rae Lee published in The New Yorker. Justin Chon stars as the main character, also named Chang-rae, who returns to his family home in San Francisco to care for his ailing mother. Wanting nothing more than to fulfill his role as the supportive son, he must come to terms with his own conflicted emotions. The film opens in virtual cinemas on October 23. A free live-stream Q & A will take place on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm EST, with director Wayne Wayne, writer Chang-rae Lee and 3 Star Chef Corey Lee, moderated by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and film programmer Robert Rosenberg. Registration for the Zoom event here.

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The Donut King
Have you ever wondered why so many donut shops in California are owned and operated by Cambodian immigrants? It's all because of one guy. The Donut King, directed by Alice Gu, is a feature documentary that tells the incredible rags-to-riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who came to America in 1975 and founded an unlikely multi-million dollar empire of donut shops across the West coast. He was living the American Dream. But, in life, great rise can come with great falls. The Donut King opens in theaters and vitual cinemas on October 30.

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BYOB: Bring Your Own Ballot
Join Sherry Cola, Ronny Chieng, Jeremy Lin and Kelly Marie Tran for a conversation about making the APIA vote count. Saturday, September 24. Register at VoteWith.Us.

Three arrested in racist assault on sushi restaurant owners

"Go back to your own country!"



Three drunken racists walk into a bar... Last week in Boston, two men and a woman were arrested on assault charges after beating up the Asian owners of a sushi restaurant while shouting racial slurs at them.

Cops: Quincy trio assaulted Asian restaurant owners while shouting racial slurs

40-year-old James Mulhern, 54-year-old Colleen McDonough and 50--year-old Timothy O'Sullivan were arrested after police responded to calls about a large fight outside Royal Hotspot Sushi & Bar in Quincy.

According to police, the three walked into the restaurant drunk and repeatedly asked what the special was. When they were told there was no special, they became irate, yelled racial slurs -- because they apparently needed an excuse to yell racial slurs -- and stormed out, slamming the door and damaging the restaurant wall.

One of the owners followed them out and told them she was calling the police, when McDonough punched her and swung a pocketbook, striking the owner in the face and yelling, "Go back to your own country!"

Michelle Wu elected Boston City Council President

Wu is the first Asian American and third woman in history to hold the seat.



In Boston, the City Council voted unanimously Monday afternoon to elect at-large councilor Michelle Wu its next president, making her the first Asian American and third woman in history to hold the seat.

Michelle Wu elected president of Boston City Council in landmark vote

Wu, 30, was first elected to Boston City Council At-Large in 2013, becoming the first Chinese American and first Asian American woman to serve on the council, as well as the youngest current member. She was re-elected to an at-large seat in November.

On Monday, Wu was voted Boston City Council President by the 13-member council. She replaces South Boston Councilor Bill Linehan, who was term limited from seeking the body's presidency again.

EMW Block Party All-Day Showcase & Fundraiser

Saturday, September 26 at Aeronoaut Brewing Company



Hey, Boston! It's time to party. EMW Bookstore invites you to a Block Party, their first-ever all-day multi-stage showcase and fundraiser, featuring artists, musicians, technologists and activists from all across the world, including the likes of Beau Sia, Magnetic North & Taiyo Na, DANakaDAN, Madame Gandhi, Elaquent, Go Yama and more. It's happening Saturday, September 26 at Aeronaut Brewing Company in Somerville.

Here are some more details:

Boston Chinatown church vandalized with racist graffiti

The Boston Chinese Evangelical Church was spray-painted with racist caricatures.



Last month in Boston, a Chinese American church was vandalized with several instances of hate graffiti. Church members found racist Asian caricatures spray-painted on their office building in Chinatown.

Chinatown church building defaced by racist graffiti

The Boston Chinese Evangelical Church's office building was vandalized with racist graffiti on July 31. According to Sampan, the graffiti depicted a face with slanted eyes, buckteeth and a cone-shaped hat. The image was drawn twice, along with the words "creep" and "have a nice day."

I'm sure someone thought they were being clever.

72-year-old woman dies after being shoved to the ground

24-year-old Tajanetta Downing is accused of fatally assaulting Yuzhen Lei in Chinatown.



In Boston, a 72-year-old grandmother has died after being shoved to the ground and critically injured by another woman. In a weird detail, the assault occurred near the set of the Ghostbusters movie remake in Chinatown, and crew members were able to aid police in identifying and apprehending the suspect.

Woman, 72, dies after allegedly being pushed in Chinatown

24-year-old Tajanetta Downing is accused of shoving Yuzhen Lei, leaving her with a fatal head injury.

Downing was crossing the street when Lei bumped into her. She pushed Lei, who fell to the ground and hit her head on the pavement. She was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for a skull fracture, brain swelling and bleeding, and placed on life support. She was pronounced dead on Thursday night.

Museum ends kimono-wearing promotion amid protests

Critics accused the MFA's interactive exhibit of cultural appropriation.



So... the Museum of Fine Arts Boston recently announced "Kimono Wednesdays," an interactive art event inviting museum-goers to pose in front of Claude Monet's La Japonaise while wearing a replica of the kimono worn by Monet's wife, Camille, in the painting. I don't know about you, but dressing up like a white lady dressing up like a Japanese lady sounds like a fun way to spend a Wednesday night.

As you might have guessed, some folks were not cool with this cultural cosplay, and organized a peaceful protest to call attention to issues of orientalism and cultural appropriation in the promotion. Still, the museum pressed on with the stunt despite the outcry, handing out a one-page flyer to address the criticism, and flatly stating the MFA's position on the matter: "We don't think this is racist." (Well, I guess that settles it.)

But now, as a result of the negative response, the MFA has announced that it's changing its interactive kimono experience. Instead of trying on the kimono, museum visitors will be allowed to "touch and engage" with it.

Here's the release the MFA sent out on Tuesday:

Get Your Geisha On at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Museum-goers invited to do their best impression of Monet's "La Japonaise."



People of Boston, what better way to spend a Wednesday night than with some orientalist cultural appropriation! Plus, ya know, photos. So get this. The Museum of Fine Arts recently invited museum-goers to get their geisha on, à la Claude Monet. Every Wednesday night through the end of July, you're welcome to try on a replica of the kimono worn by Monet's wife, Camille, in his painting "La Japonaise."

Somebody call Katy Perry.

East Meets Words 10th Anniversary Open Mic

Featuring Magnetic North & Taiyo Na, Friday, March 13 at East Meets Words Bookstore



Heads up, Boston. East Meets Words is the longest-running Asian American/Pacific Islander open mic series in the East Coast. This week, they're celebrating a decade of creative expression and community with an evening featuring Magnetic North and Taiyo Na. It's happening Friday, March 13 at East Meets West Bookstore.

Here are some more details about the event:

This Harvard Business School professor messed with the wrong restaurant. The internet does not approve.

Ben Edelman apologizes. Also, this apparently isn't the first time he's pulled this shit.



On Tuesday, Boston.com published a ridiculous exchange of emails instigated by Harvard Business School professor Ben Edelman, in which he took a local Chinese restaurant to task because of an apparent overcharge of $4 for a recent takeout order. Each email seems to turn up the asshole factor, piling on the legalese and general jerkosity. The internet reacted, and did not approve. It really did not approve.

On Wednesday, Professor Edelman posted an apology on his website:

This Harvard Business School professor was overcharged $4 for Chinese takeout. Now he's going to make them paaaaaay!

Ben Edelman ordered from an outdated online menu. Now he wants justice.



You've got to be kidding me. A Harvard Business School professor, presumably with nothing better to do, recently got into a ridiculous email exchange with a local family-run restaurant over a $53.35 order of Chinese takeout. His issue? He had apparently been overcharged four bucks. Oh helll no! Fight the power, bro.

Harvard Business School Professor Goes to War Over $4 Worth of Chinese Food

Ben Edelman, an associate professor who teaches bizness n' shit at Harvard Business School, was appalled that he had been charged an extra dollar for each of the dishes he ordered last week from Sichuan Garden's Woburn location. (He had apparently ordered from an outdated online menu.) So he emailed the restaurant for clarification, setting off a chain of increasingly patronizing legalese messages.

Boston.com posted the trail of emails between Professor Edelman and Ran Duan, who manages The Baldwin Bar located inside Sichuan Garden. Behold, as Mr. Edelman demands to be refunded triple damages for the egregious overcharge against him. That's twelve whole bucks, baby.

10th Annual Asian American Women in Leadership Conference

Presented by ASPIRE, November 1 at Simmons College



ASPIRE (Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching Excellence) is holding its 10th annual Asian American Women in Leadership Conference on November 1 in Boston. This year's theme is "Making It Count," a reflection on the ability to create change in workplace, school, and community. This year's keynote speaker will be Kelly Zen Yie-Tsai, who will be delivering her speech in spoken word form. Here's more information:

2014 Boston Asian American Film Festival

Presented by the Asian American Resource Workshop, October 23-26



Boston film fans, this one's for you. The 2014 Boston Asian American Film Festival, presented by the Asian American Resource Workshop, is happening this week, October 23-26, at Emerson College's Paramount Center and other venues around the city. The BAAFF empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serves as a resource for filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community.

BAAFF opens this Thursday, October 23 with Andrew Lau and Andrew Loo's gritty crime drama Revenge of the Green Dragons, kicking off a stacked lineup of 26 films. Here are some other festival highlights:

Community rallies for victims of deadly apartment fire

Seven people -- including three young children -- killed in fatal blaze in Lowell, MA



This is a terrible story out of the Boston area... Last week in Lowell, seven people -- including three young children -- were killed in a deadly apartment fire that has devastated the local Cambodian community.

Lowell fire hits heart of Cambodian community

33-year-old Ellen Vuong and her boyfriend Torn Sak, and three of the couple's children, Anthony, 12, Ryan, 9, and Sayuri, 7, perished in the fire early morning Thursday when they became trapped in their third floor apartment. Two of their young children were able to make it out alive. Two unrelated adults, 38-year-old Tina Christakos and an unidentified 70-year-old man, died in an apartment on the other side of the building.

According to the Lowell Fire Department, the three-alarm blaze was an accidental electrical fire.

Over the weekend, hundreds of community members gathered for a memorial service and collected donations for the families of the victims:

Boston Korean Adoptees Anniversary Conference

BKA14: August 14-17 in Boston



Attention, Korean adoptees around the country. What's (y)our story? Boston Korean Adoptees invites you to its 10th Anniversary Conference, a gathering of adoptees from around the world. There will be speakers, film screenings, panel discussions and an opportunity to participate in the BKA14 Digital Story Collection project. It's happening August 14-17 at the Omni Parker Hotel in Boston.

Here are some more details about the conference:

Jeremy Lin talks to the guy who wrote "The Linsanity Sham"

Also... Jeremy keeps it real with the kids!



Jeremy Lin recently visited HuffPost Live to talk about Linsanity, leaving the New York Knicks, and his charity work. The Houston Rocket guard admitted that he wasn't altogether comfortable with all the attention he received during the period that became known as "Linsanity," and acknowledged that he was hurt by the way the Knicks let him go at the end of the 2011-12 season.

Here's the full interview:

Boston University student found dead in dorm room

No indications of foul play

Damn. More tragic news out of Boston about the apparent suicide of an Asian American student... On Monday morning, a Boston University student was found dead in his dorm room. News stories aren't quite calling it a suicide yet, but reporting seems to indicate that the victim took his own life.

ENG Student Found Dead in Dorm Room

19-year-old Kevin Lee, a sophomore in the College of Engineering, was found dead in his room by a university employee during well-being check. Lee's family expressed concern when they couldn't reach him and asked Residence Life to check up on him.

According to Boston Police, there are no indications of foul play.

These five best friends all got accepted to MIT

Awesome Southern California seniors are headed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology



Some cool news out of Southern California... where a crew of five high school best friends have all been accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. You can call them the MIT 5.

Five Best Friends From Polytechnic High School Accepted to MIT

Raymundo Cano, Andrew Koh, Kevin Escobar Rodriguez, GiMin Choi and William Lopez-Cordero -- all seniors at Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley -- are all Boston-bound, headed to one of the nation's most prestigious and competitive institutions for science and technology.