Friday February 27th -- San Francisco

Bicoastal Bitchin Fundraiser for Domestic Crusaders

Bicoastalbitchin.com, a API, race, and pop culture blog (which I also contribute to) will be hosting a Bay Area reader meet-up (so all seven of us) and fundraiser for the new play Domestic Crusaders. The politically relevant and entertaining show by Wajahat Ali of Goatmilk centers on a Muslim Pakistani American family in a post-9/11 world. Domestic Crusaders will have a one-month run at New York's Nuyorican Poets Cafe beginning in Fall 2009. DJ Malcom Marshal and Spookie Electric will be bumpin' Prince B-sides and other classy jams all night long. 

9pm
Otis Bar
25 Maiden Lane (Kearny Street), San Francisco
$10 Suggested donation

Saturday February 28th -- Los Angeles

A Song for Ourselves Premiere and After-Party

After three years in the making, Tadashi Nakamura's short film A Song For Ourselves will make its world premiere, documenting the life of legendary social activist, musician, and pioneer Chris Iijima. The premiere will include performances by Seattle-based hip-hop duo Blue Scholars as well as Kiwi, Bambu, and special guest artists Nobuko Miyamoto and Charlie Chin. An after-party hosted by the Tuesday Night Project/TM KAT family at Oiwake Restaurant starts at 10pm. Download a free Mixtape produced by DJ Phatrick here.Check out the film trailer:

7:30 pm
Aratani/Japan America Theatre
244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles
$10 General Admission/ $50 VIP tickets here or call (213) 680-3700

Saturday February 28th -- NYC

FiRE presents The Vagina Monologues

Filipina Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) presents an all-Pinay production of The Vagina Monologues, donating funds to help end violence against women in NYC and worldwide. The ensemble features 25 diverse Filipinas ranging in age and background, and is part of the international V-Day Campaign.

2 pm matinee and discussion with cast
7:30 pm evening show
Robert Moss Theater
440 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor, New York
$15 and up sliding scale, tickets here

Asian American Writers' Workshop and Meena Alexander

Photo by Marion Ettlinger

The Asian American Writers' Workshop presents Master's Tea, an opportunity to hear Guggenheim Fellow and PEN Open Book Award winner Meena Alexander reflect on her extensive poetry and prose and the subject of migration. As a participant, you'll be able to talk with Meena about her work and ask questions about your own writing.

2 to 4 pm
The Workshop
16 West 32nd Street, 10th floor,  New York
$10 / $5 members

Third Annual Korean American Film Festival New York

This year's KAFFNY will present two programs including short films and teasers of feature films by emerging Korean filmmakers from America and abroad. Founded in 2007, KAFFNY has featured work such as Benson Lee's Planet B-Boy and Gene Rhee's The Trouble With Romance. Director Q&A will follow screenings.

First Program: 5 to 7 pm
Second: 8 to 10 pm
The Times Center
242 West 41st Street, New York
$15 for each program or $25 for each (discounts for students). Tickets here

Saturday February 28th -- Seattle area

API Leadership Conference

API Community Leadership Foundation, Executive Development Institute, and Leadership for Asian Pacifics
are hosting the 7th Annual Puget Sound API Community Leadership
Conference. Designed by and for APIs, the one-day conference offers
six workshops on topics including social media, networking, and
grassroots nonprofit fundraising.

9 am to 4 pm
Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Avenue North
Shoreline, WA
Registration here: $10 students/ $25 general; includes meals and materials.