
Several Vietnamese organizations were part of the Faces of Asia procession at the Eighth Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration in San Francisco.
With food trucks, cooking demos, a festive parade, two stages of live entertainment, a landmark health awareness presentation, lots of booths to buy both authentic and offbeat Asian-themed merchandise, and much more (Did we mention lots of food?), there was no better place to be for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month than at the Eighth Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration. Held on May 19th in San Francisco’s Civic Center and Little Saigon districts and produced by AsianWeek Foundation, the city’s largest APAHM celebration was a festive and extremely well-rounded event to bring together Asian Pacific American communities and spotlight Asian cultures. Aside from the festival’s yearly offerings of music, dance, culinary delights, arts and crafts, the Faces of Asia cultural procession, and community networking, the 2012 festival broke new ground in bringing cooking demos by celebrity chefs to foodies and in launching the first-ever National Hepatitis Testing Day.
Summer issue will be available first week of June – and here’s a sneak peek at our cover! The upcoming issue will be packed with plenty of features and goodies – so grab it while it’s hot!
Yes – we’re giving away a number of tickets to our lucky readers to Jay Park’s concert on Sunday, May 27th at Club Nokia in Los Angeles!
Here are some ways to enter:
1. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! Share this contest on your FB wall and Twitter (and tag us!).
2. Leave a comment on this post with your Twitter handle (we’ll contact you there if you win!). This will count as your entry!
For more info about the concert, please visit the Verizon APAHM Tour 2012 site here.

The cast of a special Asian Pacific American production of 'The Vagina Monologues'---performed on May 17th in San Francisco---acknowledged a few individuals at curtain call, including family members, NAPAWF Bay Area, and others who made the production possible. (photo credits: Karen Datangel)
On the topic of sexuality, voices are silenced. Speaking out about sexual desires is considered improper for women and much more alarmingly, speaking out against violence towards women—as survivors of it or as supporters of survivors—is difficult, for the pain and suffering is all too much to relive the ordeals. However, through theater, these stories of women exploring their sexuality and surviving sexual assault, war, and domestic violence can be told boldly and with absolutely nothing held back. Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues goes deep into the varied experiences of the female organ, and performers and activists from the Asian Pacific American community went all out in their recent opportunity to honor the strength and courage of women everywhere, even in the face of adversity.
In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) and V-Day San Francisco co-presented a landmark production of The Vagina Monologues on May 17th at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theater. Under the direction of Gabrielle Patacsil, the all-Asian Pacific American cast of women from different walks of life came together to perform in this very special presentation, the first by the only national, multi-issue Asian and Pacific Islander women’s organization in the country. Proceeds benefited the Bay Area chapter of NAPAWF and V-Day.
For many of the APA women performers, including Connie Chung, who works at the Asian Women’s Shelter in San Francisco, participating in the production was a valuable chance to address taboo issues amongst the community.
“In media and arts and entertainment, Asian-Americans have such a small presence because of the different barriers that don’t allow them to take front stage,” said Chung. “To have a discussion about sexuality and empowerment is so important, so to bring those two together is such a rare opportunity.”
As I was walking up the stairs to the Dumpling Wars event, the scent of fresh dumplings and savory Asian cuisine had surrounded me and my mouth started watering. With a huge appetite and grumbling tummies, my photographer Erilou and I were ready to chow down on all the fresh dumplings. Held at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Kearny Street Workshop presented one their first-ever dumpling contest, Dumpling Wars. Six teams of amateur chefs came together to compete at creating the best dumpling. With well renowned chefs as judges, there was no doubt that these contestants had to bring it on. For this event, there were two winners. Not only do the judges place their vote, but the dumpling enthusiasts AKA the entire audience got to place their vote on their favorite dumpling. Read more on Audrey’s coverage at Dumpling Wars.
This week’s Happenings 5.19-20
The weather is getting warm and we’re starting to get ready for those restless summer evenings. Luckily for Audrey readers, there are blooming possibilities for the movie-goers, dance buffs, and hungry tasters in all of us. Check out what is happening now and around the web this week.
Our latest Audrey Style Gal comes by way of San Francisco: Suzie Hung of Style Que by Suzie Q!
Daughter solicits mother for advice. Hilarity ensues. Courtesy of Lela Lee.
To help celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month — and an upcoming holiday dedicated to Mothers all around, Audrey Magazine brings you our special Mother’s Day feature: Funniest Advice My Mother Has Ever Given Me. Contributor Ada Tseng talks to different folks in the Asian American community about the words of wisdom bestowed to them from their Asian American mothers. Join us as we count down to Mother’s Day – we’ll be revealing new stories every day!
Mothers — with all their earnest, loving intentions — can often be entertaining, and their advice can be an interesting mix of serious, silly, insightful and mind-boggling (sometimes all rolled up into one zinger you can’t wait to share with your friends). In honor of Mother’s Day, we’ve asked fellow Asian American writers and artists to share the funniest advice they’ve ever gotten from their mothers.

Dennis Lee at Namu Gaji. Photo courtesy of Eater SF.
Mothers — with all their earnest, loving intentions — can often be entertaining, and their advice can be an interesting mix of serious, silly, insightful and mind-boggling (sometimes all rolled up into one zinger you can’t wait to share with your friends). In honor of Mother’s Day, we’ve asked fellow Asian American writers and artists to share the funniest advice they’ve ever gotten from their mothers.