Some feel good indie films — and a do-good shopping fest — happening this week.
When Harry Tries to Marry, May 6: A modern Indian American bachelor (Rahul Rai) living in New York City surprises his parents and opts for an arranged marriage. Nayan Padrai directs this award winner.
The First Grader, May 13: Based on a true story, The First Grader chronicles octogenarian Maruge who decides to take advantage of the Kenyan government’s new free public schools and enroll in first grade.
True Legend, May 13: The latest action epic by Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill Volumes I and II, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) features an all-star cast, including Vincent Zhao, Jay Chou, Michelle Yeoh and David Carradine.
Thread, May 15: Indie designers are out in full force at this shopping event, held at the Lab in Orange County, Calif.
When Korean American Grace Lee‘s firstborn, Olivia, turned 1, she left her career in finance to be a stay-at-home mom. But it wasn’t long before the 33-year-old got antsy. One day, Lee, her husband and Olivia went for a drive in the family minivan. Lee turned to her husband and said, “Honey, what do you think about me designing jewelry?” He answered, “Go for it!”
And Oli + Me was born.
We got the scoop about this new fine jewelry line from Lee herself.
Tom Kobayashi, Landscape, Manzanar Relocation Center, California. From the collection of Ansel Adams’s photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzanar .
While for us here at Audrey, every day is an Asian American/Pacific Islander heritage celebration, for the rest of the U.S., it’s May and that means it’s officially Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Congratulations on being us!
Join Prom‘s Yin Chang, The Event‘s Ian Anthony Dale, actress Nikki Soohoo and many more as they join APA@NBCUniversal to kick off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a fundraiser for Japan Relief through the American Red Cross. Feast at Beverly Hills Japanese restaurant Gonpachi on Wednesday, May 4, to raise money for Japan.
More info after the jump.
In the U.S., we have Avatar and Titanic. China has Aftershock, a re-recreation of the deadly Tangshan earthquake. In India, it’s 3 Idiots that is the highest grossing film of all time.
Now, that’s no small feat for a country that churns out more than 1,000 films a year to a population of 1.2 billion. The multiple award-winning Bollywood film (it swept the International Indian Film Academy Awards) not only packs some serious star power (including Aamir Khan), it addresses some serious societal issues, all wrapped up in a heartfelt comedy starring three charming and lovable heroes.
Happy Earth Day! One of my Earth Day resolutions is to break my addiction to chemicals — the kind of chemicals with names like butylene glycol, polyphenol something or other, and paraben. So to help all of us take that first step, we’re offering a giveaway that will not only help maintain Earth’s natural beauty, it’ll do a little revitalizing for your own beauty routine as well. That’s because skincare line Pomega’s Pomega5 Healing Cream was just nominated a top 10 finalist for the Eco Beauty Award presented by the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) .
For all you cinephiles, it’s film festival season! From Indian films and retrospectives, to Visual Communications’ annual Asian film mega-fest, here are some happening this month you’re not going to want to miss (hint: Justin Lin, Dwayne Johnson and Sung Kang are back!).
Destination Tennis host and Audrey contributor Mayleen Ramey has teamed up with our own Paul Nakayama (Awful Truth) and Soles4Souls to organize a shoe drive to help the victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami. GIVE SHOES: A Tennis Shoe Drive for Japan will be collecting your old tennis shoes and sneakers tomorrow at a Happy Hour Shoe Drive at Gyenari Korean BBQ & Lounge in Culver City, Calif., from 5-8:30 pm. Drop by and say hi to Mayleen and Paul — give shoes and stay for the booze!
More details after the jump.
Love The Suzan, as featured here in Nylon? Come watch them live at Japan Society's Concert for Japan, April 9.
It’s been almost a month, but don’t forget — Japan still needs our help. And Japan Society, the 104-year-old nonprofit bringing together Japan and U.S. culture, art and issues together into one multidisciplinary hub, is putting on Concert for Japan, a day-long marathon concert on Saturday, April 9 to benefit disaster victims in Japan (including performances by super-hip Japanese girl band The Suzan). Every last dime from the proceeds go to the Society’s Japan Earthquake relief fund, which has collected more than $1.5 million as of March 21.
Tucked away behind an art gallery in the heart of Beverly Hills, a block away from famed Rodeo Drive, Nelson J Salon is a hive of activity. Bleached blondes going blonder, stylists and clients gossiping away (about anyone we know?), and owner and master colorist Nelson Chan is hustling from one chair to another, his blonde mop and black glasses making him instantly recognizable.
He takes one look at my hair and instructs an employee, “Shampoo. The rosemary mint.” I’ve been neglecting my hair of late, immobilized with indecision. Shorter? Straighter? Colored? Cropped? Needless to say, I need the calming yet invigorating deep cleansing shampoo by Aveda (most likely to get out the argan oil I’ve been using lately in a vain attempt to inject some life into my lackluster locks).
