The Princess of Asian Fusion

This is a really interesting Los Angeles Times profile on high-end Asian fusion restauranteur Elizabeth An, who says her experience living in a refugee camp as a child was a lesson in resourcefulness: How I Made It: Elizabeth An.

asian american literary review, issue one

I recently heard from Lawrence Minh-Davis, the editor of the newly launched Asian American Literary Review. As a showcase of the best of today's Asian American literature, they are pleased to announce the release of their very first issue.

audition for mo'olelo's production of yellow face

Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company in San Diego is holding auditions for its upcoming production of David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face. They're interested in seeing both union and non-union male and female actors who are local to San Diego. Here are the details:

books for asia delivers the tale of peter rabbit

A few weeks ago, I mentioned The Asia Foundation's Books for Asia campaign, which raised money to send books to students in need. With funds provided by anonymous generous donor, participants cast votes to choose which book the Asia Foundation would send over.

After all was said and done, every student in the fourth grade class of Khishig-Undur School in Mongolia received a copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. If you voted, here's the 'thank you' note you should've received:

oca-verizon college scholarship

College students! OCA wants to give you some money. The OCA-Verizon College Scholarship is $2,000 award that will provide opportunities to APA college students who wish to continue their higher education while facing financial difficulties. Ten scholarships will be awarded.

eliot chang's comedy central half-hour special

If you're looking for laughs and good times and all that, make sure you tune in (or set your DVRs) to comedian Eliot Chang's Comedy Central half-hour special, airing Friday, April 23 at 8:00pm PST. Watch the funny promo vid, featuring blatant boobies and cute furry animals:

couple found guilty in racially motivated attack

This news is from a month ago, but I wanted to follow up on this hate crime that happened a couple of years ago. In El Dorado County, California, a white couple has been convicted in federal court in racially motivated attack on an Indian immigrant: Older Couple Guilty In Beating Of Indian Man.

new poetry: underground national by sueyeun juliette lee

I recently heard from Korean American Philadelphia-based poet Suyeun Juliette Lee, who tells me about her new book of poems, Underground National, published last month from Factory School Press.

chinese food and donuts: a classic combination

For anyone who's ever wondered... Here's an interesting article in The Atlantic from a few weeks back on the curious culinary phenomenon of eateries boasting both Chinese food... and donuts: Chinese and Doughnuts: A California Mystery.

You've seen them, you know they're out there -- maybe you've even gotten some orange chicken and a chocolate sprinkle in the same visit. How did these two foods started getting dished up under the same roof? Hey, sometimes it's just not enough to be in just the donut or Chinese food game. You gotta diversify.

4th annual "a little peace: a dessert tasting"

This one's for my friends in Boston... How about supporting a great cause, while enjoying an evening yummy desserts? Yes, you want some. A whole bunch of awesome local community orgs invite you to A Little Peace: a Dessert Tasting, to help fundraise for social justice organizations. It's happening Saturday, April 24 at the Vietnamese American Community Center. Some details:

steven seagal sued for allegedly keeping "sex slaves"

Has-been action star/wannabe Asian guy Steven Seagal is accused of hiring young women as personal attendants "to serve his strange and sometimes violent sexual desires," according to a civil lawsuit filed this week by 23-year-old former model Kayden Nguyen: Steven Seagal sued for allegedly keeping sex slaves.

Nguyen said she met Seagal through an ad on Craigslist seeking an "executive assistant," and after three interviews, was told to pack for a trip to New Orleans, where the A&E show Steven Seagal Lawman (wtf?) was taping:

wong fu's spring tour 2010

I know there are a lot of Wong Fu fans out there. They have an immense, dedicated following. So you should be aware that the Wong Fu video guys -- Wes, Ted and Phil -- are currently in the middle of a spring tour of colleges around the country.

If you're fan, you probably already know this. They're meeting with students and showing off some new, unreleased videos. Maybe they're coming to your school! View the tour schedule here.

9500 liberty screening at nsc in philadelphia

For those of you in Philadelphia, here's a chance for you to catch a screening of Eric Byler and Annabel Park's amazing documentary 9500 Liberty, presented by the Nationalities Service Center. It's this Friday, April 16 at NSC. If you're not familiar with the film, it's a stunning look at the battle over immigration and how it takes hold of a small community in Virginia. Here's the synopsis:

goh nakamura covers "just like heaven"

I've been hanging out with Goh Nakamura today, and he got this song in my brain. Here's a video of him from a while back covering The Cure's "Just Like Heaven." Of course, it's an awesome song, but I love how Goh brings his Goh Flava to it. To learn more about Goh Nakamura and his music, visit his website here.

vijay c. gandhi sworn in as federal magistrate judge

Received this press release from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, applauding the appointment of Vijay C. Gandhi as a Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California:

blacklava daily deal: secret identities

Another Blacklava Daily Deal... I know I've posted about Secret Identities many times before, but this promo video, starring Parry Shen, is just too damn hilarious not to share. Parry as The Greatest American Hero? Best freaking video ever.



If you don't know about Secret Identities, here's some info:

hat if we told you a tale about a quiet, unassuming guy with black hair and thick glasses? He's an immigrant, who's done his best to fit in to a world that isn't his—one very different from the land of his birth. He's got a hidden side to himself that he can't quite bring himself to show, not even to the popular girl he's got a huge crush on. If only she knew who he really was—what he could really do—she'd be amazed, he thinks. If only she knew. If only everyone knew...

For many Asian Americans, this chronicle is a familiar one, because many of us lived it. But this also happens to be the story of a mild-mannered reporter named Clark Kent, better known to the world by his alter ego: Superman. And it's just one example of the parallels between the cultural narrative of Asian America and the mythic foundation of the comic book superhero.

These parallels, along with the burgeoning array of Asian American creative talent in the mainstream and alternative comics industries, are what have led New York Times best-selling author Jeff Yang; independent comics creator Jerry Ma; comics education specialist Keith Chow, and actor Parry Shen to team up to edit Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology, the first-ever graphic novel collection of original stories exploring the universe of masked marvels and caped crusaders from the perspective of the nation's fastest-growing and most dynamic emerging community.

Order today and you get the book -- creator-sketched and autographed -- and a signed bookplate and lithograph of Cliff Chiang and Kelly Hu's creation, "Jia." A one-of-a-kind collector's item! Get it today at Blacklava here.

ed nakawatase and a "transcendent moment of history"

Make sure you read this fascinating blog entry at Young Philly Politics on Ed Nakawatase and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding: "A high moral enterprise": Philadelphian Ed Nakawatase reflects on SNCC and 50 years of progress.

the phrase that needs to die

Hey, look at us assholes. We made a clever sign. Sorry, but Matsui deserves better fans: Matsui steals show as Yanks get rings.

earthquake kills hundreds in western china

What the hell is up with all these earthquakes? A series of strong earthquakes struck a mountainous Tibetan area of western China on Wednesday, killing at least 400 people and injuring more than 10,000. Many more people are still trapped, and the toll is expected to rise: Quake in western China kills 400, buries more.

apa public service/community career panel

Short notice, but I wanted to help get the word out about this APA career panel and networking reception happening Wednesday evening in New York, sponsored by the Coalition for Asian American Children & Families (CACF) Action Council and NYU Wagner Asian Pacific American Student Alliance. Here's some more information: