Friday February 4th to Thursday February 24th -- San Francisco

A Sensory Feast

SOMArts Cultural Center and Kearny Street Workshop present an interactive food-themed exhibition inspired by Asian and Bay Area culinary traditions. The exhibit features 10 emerging artists (full disclosure, including Hyphen's own Sita Bhaumik) whose work tackles multifarious ideas and experiences of food.  The opening reception this friday will feature the Senor Sisig food truck and a photo booth with wearable food sculptures. More info here.

2/4 at 6 to 9 pm

SOMArts Cultural Center

934 Brannan St, San Francisco

Friday February 4th -- Washington DC

Pageturners: Asian American Literature in the 21st Century

Join an eclectic group of writers at the Association of Writers Conference -- including Ken Chen, V.V. Ganeshananthan, Manijeh Nasrabadi, and Xu Xi -- as they discuss the future of the Asian American arts movement in a post-multicultural world. More info here.

10:30 am

Empire Ballroom

Omni Shorehan Hotel

2500 Calvert St NW, Washington DC

Saturday February 5th -- Los Angeles

Soba Making Workshop

Make your own soba with instructor Sonoko Sakai -- using fresh, stone-milled artisanal soba flour from Japan and soba tools. The soba will be served in the classic way: cold with fresh soy-based dipping sauce, toppings, and spices. Bring an apron and a tupperware to take home your soba. More info here.

11 am

Japanese American National Museum

369 East 1st St, Los Angeles

$85 non-members / $75 members; call (213) 625-0414 to regoster

Saturday February 5th -- NYC

Lunar New Year Celebration

AsianInNY and the Greater Chinatown Community Association are hosting the 2011 Lunar New Year Celebration, with a night of amazing performers including comedian Air Tabigue, Teresa Lee from the band PaperDoll, MC Young Kin, David Shen Dance Group, martial artists, fashion designers, and more. More info here.

7 to 11 pm

Chinese Community Center

62 Mott St, New York

$10-15; tickets here

Sunday February 6th -- Los Angeles

Hibakusha: Our Life to Live Screening

Come to a special screening of Hibakusha: Our Life to Live, a film by David Rothauser about the survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the screening, there will be a panel discussion and a light reception. More info here.

2 pm

Japanese American National Museum

369 East 1st St, Los Angeles

Tuesday February 8th -- NYC

AALDEF Lunar New Year Gala

The Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund (AALDEF) is holding its annual gala to support its community programs. With special guest actor BD Wong. Includes dinner and a silent auction. For more info and ticketing, email events(at)aaldef(dot)org.

6 pm

Pier 60, Chelsea Piers, NYC

                                                         Opportunities

Nikkei Youth Leadership Opportunity: Project Commnity! -- Seattle

The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center will be kicking off the second annual Project: Community! Youth Leadership Program this March. Project: Community! focuses on empowering the next generation of Japanese American and API youth through a variety of hands-on learning sessions and projects that are designed to enrich students through knowledge of self identity, volunteerism and a sense of place and community. Project: Community! students will have the opportunity to visit historic International District and Nihonmachi landmarks, learn more about Nikkei history and heritage, and meet and speak with political, business and community leaders.  Project: Community! meets twice a month on one Saturday and one Sunday afternoon and will start on March 19th through July 17th. Program fee is $25. More info and registration here. Deadline: March 15, 2011.