Things to Do

Momo Chang
February 6, 2006

So this week marks the beginning of the 4th annual Korean American Film Fest in SF. I personally enjoy film fests, period. But my favorite ones to watch are the shorts. Why? Partly because I have a short attention span. The other partly is because, where else are you gonna see some of these shorts? Okay, so there is youtube these days, but you know, back in the day you'd only catch the shorts at the festivals or if you got bootlegged copies. And the third partly is because shorts are usually a mixed bag. And I like surprises.

There's also the SF Asian Am film fest coming up in March - brought to you by the new Center for Asian American Media (hot!) - which I have been looking forward to for months already.

And this Thursday Locus Arts presents Sexy Beast: An Intrepid Journey Into API XY Sexuality. If the title alone doesn't pique your interest, then I don't know what will. All I know is that I will be there - as will some other Hyphen folks. Checking out the XY's and more. Guaranteed to be a hot event.

Reading our girl Kai's piece in this week's East Bay Express, I felt enlightened about the API dating world. You know, the Asian Connections-type-of-thing. I have always wondered what it's like, and now I know. Still, wouldn't mind another API speed-dating event (I missed the last Hyphen one!).

So this all makes me think, no reason for us to sit around on our bums watching TV or interfacing with our beloved computer screens, when we could be out there exploring. And you know, this is just a taste of what's out there, and in one geographic region. I'm sure at any other given moment, there are other things going on, things that you might know about that we don't, events that you might attend that I won't be able to, and just more and more things to do during our time to unwind, relax and enjoy ourselves. How we choose to spend our time and who we choose to spend it with is exactly that - our choice. So it's reassuring to know that it's all going on - even if sometimes it feels like it's all happening at once.

Contributor: 

Momo Chang

Senior Contributing Editor

Momo Chang is the Content Manager at the Center for Asian American Media, and freelances for magazines, online publications, and weeklies. Her writings focus on Asian American communities, communities of color, and youth culture. She is a former staff writer at the Oakland Tribune. Her stories range from uncovering working conditions in nail salons, to stories about “invisible minorities” like Tongan youth and Iu Mien farmers. She has freelances The New York Times, WIRED, and East Bay Express, among other publications.

Comments

Comments

momo wrote on Tue, 02/07/2006 - 3:51pm
speaking of events/speed dating, here's another one: this month's Third Thursdays presents Speed Dating in the Asian American Community.and if you are heading to Locus/Space180 this Thursday for Sexy Beast, might as well stop by (H)API Hour. it's a fundraiser for Viet Bay Area Katrina (VietBAK)!
momo wrote on Tue, 02/07/2006 - 7:15pm
and one more:"THE SARIMANOK TRAVELS"by Francis Tanglao-Aguas,presented by the Asian American Theater Company, opens this Friday:"Take a trip to the Philippines in this beautifully staged one-man showby performer-playwright Francis Tanglao-Aguas. The "Sarimanok Travels"is "Fires in the Mirror" meets the "Vagina Monologues" but based on atraditional Pilipino folk tale about a mystical bird that bringsharmony to a kingdom.Francis weaves this tale full of stories and odd characters with dancemovement and poetry. This story is ultimately about one's connectionto a 'homeland'. Ayeta, the beautiful queen of Mahallikha spurns royalsuitors from more powerful lands, earning their wrath which they passon to their descendants. But the Mahallikhenos are resilient, with themagical sarimanok bird on their side, thriving in the paradise that istheir land.But what happens when the sarimanok bird is stolen by foreign powers?Francis Tanglao-Aguas explores his version of the mythical roots ofthe Philippines, hoping to answer why Pilipinos find themselvesleaving their beloved motherland."LIMITED TOURING ENGAGEMENTONLY SIX PERFORMANCESFebruary 10-25, 2006Fri/Sat at 8PMNoh Space2840 Mariposa StreetSan Francisco, CA
qThang Do wrote on Wed, 02/08/2006 - 10:40am
New York! New York! We love New York. UVA (United Vietnamese Americans) is pleased to announce another event to remember - The Third UVA Winter Ball. It's a formal Black Tie affair with Monte Carlo casino for charity, Broadway Show, Ballet perform, Live Band and a Fashion Show. The UVA Winter Ball will be held on February 11th, 2006 at Villa Ragusa -located at 35 South Second Street, Campbell, CA (http://www.villaragusa.com).This event is also for us to celebrate the Lunar NewYear, Valentine's Day and raise money for UVA scholarship 2006 - all in one package!UVA would like to create an atmosphere fun and romantic night in New York City for you at this fundraising event. Imagine you are walking through the subways, going to the theater for a broadway show, checking out the latest fashion trend, finding many interesting art works and festive with all your friends and love ones. All this excitement will be held at UVA Third Winter Ball. Don't miss it! You will have fun and at the same time you can to contribute to a noble cause.Please RSVP on evite or contact Debbie Nghiem at 408-888-7483 or Dnghiem6 [at] yahoo.com to RSVP. Seating is limited! Tickets won't be sold at the door.Program:6:00 - 7:30 pm - Cash Bar, Casino Night, Silent Auction7:30 - 9:00 pm - Buffet Dinner, Entertainment Program, Fashion Show9:00 -10:00 - Casino Night, Silent Auction, Prizes Awarded10:00 - Midnight - Formal DancePrice: $75 Regular/$100 VIPAll of the proceeds will go towards UVA Education Assistance Program to help provide scholarships to outstanding students with financial need.We are also very pleased to announce that in the past year UVA has been able to support a number of community events through collaboration with other service organizations. We joined the community to raise over $150K for Tsunami and Katrina victims while carrying on UVA's service projects at the same time. Within the last 2 years, UVA gave out over $35,000 and several school book bags to students in CA and VN. Cheers to our hard work and thank you very much for all your support. Without your help, UVA wouldn't have achieve these goals. We hope to receive the continuous support from friends and families. Together, we make the different for our community.UVA is 501c(3) a non-profit charitable organization founded September 2003 to help better our community through service projects and to provide a forum for our community to come together.Please join us by attending or sponsoring the Third Annual UVA Winter Ball, February 11th, 2006. Thank you for your support. Together, we are making a difference.With warmest regards,UVA Teamwww.uvaus.comSponsors Committed:Saks Fifth Avenue- fashion show.Network PCB- $2500Bruce Nguyen- $1000Trung Lam & Hanh Vuu $500 (ST REAL ESTATES & FINANCIAL SERIVCES INC)Dr. Luan -web office $250John Le Hung (Three Seasons Restaurant)- Hors d'oeuvre