Wednesday May 18th through Saturday May 21st  -- NYC

NEWWORKS 2011

Pan Asian Repertory presents a series of new works by emerging artists, including solo shorts and full-length comedies. More info here.

Chen Dance Center Theater

70 Mulberry St, New York

$20; tickets here

Thursday May 19th -- Oakland

API Youth Arts Festival

API Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership (AYPAL) presents its 13th Annual May Arts Festival. This year's theme is: "Know History, Know Self". With performances by AYPAL youth, showcasing cultural dances, spoken word, Guerilla Theater, visual arts, and a silent auction. Co-sponsored by the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) and The Chinatown Youth Center Initiative (The Spot). More info here.

6 pm

OACC

388 9th St, Oakland

$5-20 adults / $3-5 youth (sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds)

Through May 19th -- NYC

Taiwan Stories: Classic and Contemporary Film

The Film Society of Lincoln Center presents the"Taiwan Stories" cinema series, which focuses on Taiwanese classics as well as the work of emerging artists making Taiwanese cinema one of the most exciting in the world. More info and showtimes here.

Walter Reade Theater of Lincoln Center

165 W 65th St, New York

$5-12; tickets here

Thursday May 19th through Sunday May 21st -- Seattle

Refugee Nation Performance

Lao Heritage Foundation Pacific Northwest Chapter, Legacies of War, & Pat Graney Dance Company present: Refugee Nation. Written and performed by Leilani Chan and Ova Saopeng, the performance is based on the stories of Laotian refugees and their descendents. More than just a telling of Laotian American history, the performance touches upon issues relating to the refugee experience, assimilation, generation gap, and mental health using drama, film, music, and audience interaction. More info here and here.

5/19: 7:30 pm

5/21: 2:00 pm

5/22: 7:30 pm

Ethnic Cultural Theater

University of Washington

3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle

$12-15; tickets here

Opens Thursday May 19th -- San Francisco

Art at Night

The Chinese Culture Center will present its first installment of "Art at Night", a series dedicated to providing the community with space to enjoy great art and great food, and contribute to a great cause. This inaugural event will pair the opening of the Center’s 2011 XianRui (Fresharp) artist’s series: Zheng Chongbin’s White Ink, with an exclusive concert -- Sumie Sounds -- by jazz ensemble the Francis Wong Unit. All proceeds will benefit the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund created by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC). Inspired by the fluidity, innovation, and pulse of ink painting, this event pays homage to shared Japanese and Chinese artistic traditions and to Asian American community solidarity. Includes light hors d’ oeuvres, a glass of wine and entry for a raffle. White Ink runs through July 30, 2011. More info here.

Reception and Panel Discussion 5/19 at 5:30 pm

5 to 7 pm: White Ink reception

7 to 9 pm: Sumie Sounds

Chinese Culture Center

750 Kearny St, 3rd floor

$25; tickets here

Bloom: Show Face Benefit

The API Wellness Center presents "Bloom: Show Face", an event commemorating the 7th Anniversary of National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and benefitting A/PIs in need of HIV and primary care services. With cuisine from local restaurants such as Jarin Thai and Tangerine, performances by the Rice Rockettes and Michael Nguyen, an appearance by model and actor Peter Le, and a silent auction. Hosted by Tita Aida. More info here.

6 to 9 pm

Galleria at San Francisco Design Center

101 Henry Adams St, San Francisco

$100; tickets here

Friday May 20th -- Seattle

APA Heritage Bash

Verizon Wireless is hosting the 2011 Asian Pacific American Heritage Bash in honor of Asian American leaders in the Puget Sound area. The event is a grand finale to APA Heritage Month and will feature Kollaboration Seattle musical artists: kings, New Heights, and Sam Shin. More info here.

8 to 11 pm

Hard Rock Cafe

116 Pike St, Seattle

$12 pre-sale / $20 door; tickets here

21+

Saturday May 21st -- Washington DC

APA Workers' Rights Hearing

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) DC Chapter presents a hearing on Asian Pacific American Workers’ Rights. As a follow-up to the National Workers' Rights hearing in November 2009, this hearing will feature local worker testimonials on the right to organize, wage theft, immigrant worker exploitation, and civil rights. Given the current attack on working people throughout the country, the hearing provides a local perspective of personal courage and strategies in the fight for worker solidarity and economic justice. Light lunch provided. More info here.

10:30 am to 12:30 pm

National Education Association Building

1201 16th St, NW, Washington DC

FREE, space is limited; RSVP here

Saturday May 21st -- Seattle

International District Jamfest

Jamfest is a monthly neighborhood summer music festival featuring a variety of live music performances and art experiences at multiple venues. Ticket includes an art walk, access to Wing Luke Asian Museum exhibits, and discounts at local restaurants and businesses. Musical lineup includes Little Big Band, ChoroLoco, Rachel Wong, and more. More info here and walking map here.

All Day

Chinatown/International District, Seattle

$8 general / $6 students and seniors

Saturday May 21st -- San Francisco

7th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration

Come check out the nation's largest pan-Asian street fair, featuring a new Asian Arts and Crafts Alley, a mah jong section, and jazz and wine area, along with Asian American artists, DJs, martial arts experts, J-cars, free film screenings, scrumptious food, a children's area with hands-on activities, games and rides, a healthy living pavilion and more. A celebration of all Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, the goal of the Asian Heritage Street Celebration is to promote and foster Asian Pacific American identity by bringing together communities and encouraging the appreciation of diversity. More info here.

11am to 6 pm

Larkin Street from Grove to Ellis, San Francisco

FREE

Tuesday May 24th -- Everywhere

visualizAsian Interview with Cheryl Tan

visualizAsian is hosting a conversation with journalist and author Cheryl Tan, who has written for the New York Times and earlier this year published A Tiger in the Kitchen. visualizAsian will chat about Cheryl’s career, food of all kinds, and her search for her family identity though the cuisine of Singapore.

7 pm PST / 10 pm EST

Register here

Through Tuesday May 24th -- NYC

City of Life and Death

December 9, 1937: the Imperial Japanese Army lays siege to Nanking, the Chinese capital, beginning a reign of terror that kills as many as 300,000 civilians. For the first time, a Chinese filmmaker (Lu Chuan) tells the story of the Rape of Nanking -- an infamous tragedy, the details of which Japan disputes to this day. Shot inblack-and-white, City of Life and Death (2009) follows those caught in the crossfire: a young Chinese general who leads a platoon in street fighting, the German businessman John Rabe, who establishes a safety zone to protect the lives of countless Chinese, and a Japanese officer conflicted by the brutality of his commander. More info, showtimes, and tickets here.

Film Forum

209 W Houston St, New York