Thursday August 4th to Sunday August 7th -- Twin Cities

National APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit

The Summit is a space intended specifically for artists and activists who self-identify as Asian American, Asian, and/or Pacific Islander, and includes workshops, performances, and participation from Brenda Wong Aoki, Beau Sia, Regie Cabico, Kelly Tsai, YaliniDream, Yellow Rage, Bao Phi, Giles Li, and many more. More info and venues here.

Thursday August 4th -- NYC

Vincent Who? Screening

Join Asian Pacific Americans for Progress (APAP) NY Chapter for their summer mixer and a special screening of the documentary "Vincent Who?" co-hosted by the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY). Writer, producer, and director Curtis Chin will be at the screening for a Q&A session directly following the documentary. Cocktails provided.

6 to 9 pm

KAAGNY

149 W 24th Street 6th Floor, New York

FREE with RSVP to lisa(at)apaforprogress(dot)org

Thursday August 4th to Sunday August 7th -- New York

Organization Chinese Americans (OCA) National Convention

The theme of this year's OCA convention is "Advocacy Through Compassion – A New York State of Mind." The theme will focus on philanthropy and activism within the APA community, with a special focus on New York City, where APAs make up 12% of the population and represent over 40 cultures and ethnic groups. More info here. Register here.

Friday August 5th -- Seattle

Yellow Face Premiere

The Pork Filled Players and Repertory Actors Theatre (ReAct) present Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang, a comic "mockumentary" where Hwang casts himself as the protagonist who battles Miss Saigon's casting of Jonathan Pryce as the Asian engineer -- only to end up accidentally casting a white man as his Asian hero. David Henry Hwang will attend the 8pm, August 13 performance of Yellow Face, and participate in a talkback session after the play. Play runs through September 3, 2011. More info here. 

Richard Hugo House

1634 11th Ave, Seattle

$6-12; tickets here

Saturday August 6th -- Los Angeles

3rd Annual Korean BBQ Cook-Off

The Korean BBQ Cook-Off brings the top Korean BBQ restaurants in Los Angeles to showcase their best BBQ dishes, and is an annual event organized by the Korean American Coalition (KAC) to promote Korean cuisine and culture to all communities in the greater Los Angeles area.  Event includes an Orion Choco Pie eating contest, craft beers from Beer Belly and Korean Wines, a special performance by Dumbfoundead, and the highly anticipated KBBQ Top Grill Master competition MC’d by Paul PK Kim and featuring celebrity judges. More info here.

Noon to 6 pm

South Hobart St. between 7th and Wilshire Blvd

FREE entry; $5-15 per plate

J-Town Summer Sessions

J-Town Summer Sessions will celebrate Tuesday Night Project’s thirteenth year of its 1st & 3rd Tuesday Night Cafe free public arts series, with a concert featuring a number of musical artists. Music producer and recording engineer Glenn Suravech will be doing a live recording of the J-Town Summer Sessions concert and producing tracks of select pieces from each artist. Featuring Jane Lui, Dawen, Mista Cookie Jar and more. More info here.

1 to 7 pm

Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple

505 E 3rd St (at 3rd & Central), Los Angeles

$20 General Admission Presale ($25 at the door) / $15 Student/Senior Presale ($20 at the door); Tickets here

Pow! Whiz! Bam! Animation Mini-Festival

Visual Communications presents its first Animation Mini-Film Fest -- POW! WHIZ! BAM!, bubbling with the colorful characters and fantastical universes only the world of animation could create. Sreenings include a sci-fi post-apocalyptic lesbian Romeo and Juliet, ICE; the classic Japanese shoot-em-up caper, Trigun: Badlands Rumble, and many more. More info here.

2 to 10 pm

Tateuchi Democracy Forum

National Center for the Preservation of Democracy

111 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles

$10 - General Admission

$8 - Students (with ID), Seniors VC members & JANM museum ticket holders

$25 all three programs; $20 students, seniors, VC & JANM members

Plate by Plate 9th Annual Tasting Benefit

Project By Project's 9th annual tasting benefit, Plate by Plate, features live entertainment, photo booths, a silent auction, celebrity sous chefs, and delicious food from over 30+ restaurants and wineries. All net ticket sale proceeds will go to this year's partner organization, the Asian Youth Center, which serves the social service needs of Asian youth and families. More info here.

7 to 10 pm

Vibiana

214 South Main St, Los Angeles

$150+; tickets here

Saturday August 6th -- Seattle

From Hiroshima to Hope

August 6, 2011 is the 66th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. A coalition of local groups has created From Hiroshima to Hope  -- the largest annual commemoration of the opening of the era of nuclear war outside of Japan -- by floating a thousand lanterns on Green Lake. This year's event will include drumming by Seattle Kokon Taiko, Shakuhachi flute and Koto playing, and Native youth from Red Eagle Soaring Theater performing “The Right to Justice”. More info here.

Gathering & Lantern preparation: 6 pm

Program: 7 pm

Lantern floating: 9 pm

NW shore of Green Lake (just south of the Bathhouse theater), Seattle

FREE

Saturday August 6th -- NYC

Notorious MSG Show

The "Original Chinatown Bad Boys" Notorious MSG play a show on the heels of their Heavy Ghetto album release. More info here.

8:30 pm

Mercury Lounge

217 East Houston St, New York

$10; tickets here

21+

                                                                Opportunities

Face of the Future Playwriting Competition

East West Players (EWP) has announced its latest Playwrighting Competition: "Face of the Future". Plays are sought that explore the reality of multicultural America from an Asian American perspective. Subject matter might include (but need not be limited to) biracial or multiracial identity, clashes or collaborations between cultures, or international/transnational storylines. Prizes are $5000 First Place; $2500 Second Place; $1000 Third Place. The First, Second, and Third Place winners will receive readings by EWP. All winners will be considered for workshop and/or production. More info and sumbission form here. Submission period: May 2, 2011 to August 31, 2011
Notification: February 2012.