Celebs came out to celebrate Audrey’s Fashion Night Out this year and we made sure to ask them the tough questions.

Thinkers like “would you rather be good looking or a good dresser” and “what’s your biggest vice?”

Some gave heartwarming answers (PK Kim said, “a good personality” Aww…) and others were random fun (Jack Yang wants to go naked!)

Find out the rest below.

Audrey Asks: Would you rather be good looking or a good dresser?

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“Audrey’s Night Out is filled with free booze, fashion plus lots of hot girls and guys. If you could only pick one, what would you choose?” While other people may be there for the alcohol and the hotties, I was there for the fashion. Here’s my fashion picks for the night:

1. Classic Cocktail Dresses
Simplicity speaks louder than you think. I am loving Nikki Soohoo’s cocktail dress here with the heart neckline and black and nude contrast. It hugs her in all the right places and she looks absolutely stunning.

Nikki Soohoo.

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Yay for community event successes! The Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) held their second charity mixer and fashion show to fundraise for the 17th Annual APEX Youth Olympics – a sporting event that brings together at-risk youth from inner cities to promote leadership through team-building exercises.

Over 500 professionals in the greater Los Angeles area came together to witness the work of trail blazing Asian American designers and entrepreneurs, Stella & Jamie, Line and Dot, Ai for Ai and Carol Chen Couture.

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Fashion, Food, and Networking! The Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) is hosting a Networking Mixer & Fashion Show TONIGHT, Wednesday, April 27, at J Lounge in downtown Los Angeles, CA. Continue Reading »

Contributor Anastasia Kim reviews East West Player’s reading of Udaya Kanthi Salgadu’s Letters From My Mother.

As the first month of the new year comes to a close, I applaud the efforts of those who were, and still are, involved in the campaign to raise or heighten awareness of human trafficking and modern day slavery.

Last Thursday, January 20, 2011, my friends over at East West Players (EWP) invited me to a staged reading called Letters From My Mother written by Udaya Kanthi Salgadu and directed by Shaheen Vaaz. In collaboration with the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) and the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), the East West Players managed to throw a wonderful exhibition spotlighting a heart wrenching yet inspiring story of courage, tenacity and hope brought forth by a mother’s love.

Letters From My Mother is story about a young, Sri Lankan high school graduate named Sripa who had to endure 26 months of forced labor in the United States. With the promise of a consistent salary that she’d be able to send back to her family underscoring her decision to leave everything behind, Sripa soon realizes that her life in the United States isn’t exactly what she’d envisioned. Without a way to contact her family, and not a single cent to her name, Sripa finds herself enslaved to the iniquity that is human trafficking. However, despite the bleakness of her situation, Sripa endures with great fortitude owing to her mother’s letters to her, and the care of an inquisitive neighbor, who later helps rescue her. As a storm gathers in her confidence, Sripa relinquishes fear, and in its stead, she embraces her mettle. Sripa takes her life back.

Thanks to the wonderful cast of talented actors such as Anjali Bhimani, Tamlyn Tomita, James Kyson Lee, Camille Mana, and many more, I saw quite a few teary-eyed members of the audience that night. The cast painted a realistic portrayal of what it must have been like to be in our playwright’s shoes, and we were definitely drawn into the story.

After the reading, a post show discussion panel followed suit where we were made intimately familiar with our real-life Sripa. The playwright, Udaya Kanthi Salgadu, who wrote Letters From My Mother based on her own experiences, was perhaps introduced much later to put the focus on the consequences of human trafficking rather than singling out the victims of it. She was remarkably cheery that night given the topic of her play, and stuck around to meet and greet the viewers. It was wonderful to see that she’d melded her experiences, courage, and resolve to showcase a powerful message not only relatable to victims of human trafficking but people across the board. It was amazing to see her speak from a position of resilience and accomplishment rather than from a position of victimization and weakness. This was her first play, and I hope that while she is on the path to becoming a valued nurse in our community, she will continue to share her words of wisdom with all of us.

There is an estimated 12.3 million people who are enslaved around the world today, according to CASTLA.org. It is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the 21st century. Although organizations and volunteers alike are putting forth great effort to impede its growth, human trafficking will not go away without a fight. Please help join this cause in stamping out human trafficking. Go to CASTLA.org and find out how you can help. Freedom and equality isn’t just black or white anymore. Let us fight to give everyone an equal hand at what they rightfully deserve.

– Anastasia Kim

Deciding what to wear to an event can be a grueling task. Do you overdress? Underdress? Do you wear your favorite classics or try something trendier?

And in the case of a fashion show, the age old question can be, do you go with black or color?

Through my red carpet corresponding, I’ve found most celebs sticking to the classic black for the evening. Nevertheless, some found great ways to spruce up a basic. But is it better than donning a bright hue? Let’s take a look at the competition.

The Blacks:

Serena Yang sassed up her LBD with geometric gems on the shoulder blades and killer shoes.

On any other man, this outfit would look a bit frumpy and hobo-ish but Jack Yang is not any other man. Blackjack!

Pro ping pong player (dude, I know,right?) Soo Yeon Lee kind of has this Halloween witchy costume thing going on but she’s dang gorgeous so she pulls it off.

Love Karin Anna Cheung’s blingin’ chains and hot skirt.

Same for Kavi Ladnier

Lina So looks classy and elegant…and kind of out of place at this event!

Nikki Soohoo’s white stripes brings a stark contrast to her black strapless.

The Colors

Ashley Jones supports designer Jenny Han with a jewel-toned purple cocktail that looks comfy and stylish.

James Kyson Lee had a flight to NY that evening which may explain why he was so warmly dressed for the warm evening. Nonetheless, shnazzy scarf!

Lynn Chen sports a casual maroon top. We were more in love with her fabulous professional do. The first time she ever got her hair done for an event!

Mayleen Ramey looks super Californian cool in this breezy sundress and flat sandals. ROck ‘em girlfriend!

Michelle Phan’s blue gem-toned cocktail was a nice contrast to the red carpet.

Paperdoll’s unique style is shown through each members’ different fashion choices.

Sheetal Sheth rocked her gunmetal gray jumpsuit.

So what do you think? Is it cooler to stay in edgy black for the evening or don a bright hue? If you want my opinion…

I wore this for the evening (pictured here interviewing Justin Chon).  So I say: viva la color!

Last Sunday, the Academy Awards honored the late, the great John Hughes. If you’re of a certain age, I’m sure you agree that no other filmmaker so acutely charted our adolescent lives than Hughes. With one glaring exception — Long Duk Dong.

[insert menacing music here]

Yes, who can forget (and not cringe) every time someone mentions Asian American actor Gedde Watanabe’s infamous role as the happily clueless and fobby foreign exchange student in Hughes’ Sixteen Candles. I have such a love-hate relationship with this movie. Love love love Molly Ringwald’s unrequited crush-love on the quintessential high school heart-throb Jake Ryan. Hate hate hate the bad stereotypes that come packaged with “The Donger.” (Sorry Gedde!).

Well “Donger,” meet “Jimmy.” Filmmaker Dave Boyle’s unlikely hero from his endearing comedy White on Rice, which just opened at New York City’s Big Cinemas Manhattan (formerly The ImaginAsian).

Hiroshi Watanabe (Jimmy) on the left and Justin Kwong (Bob) from Dave Boyle's "White on Rice."

Jimmy makes for a nice bookend to Hughes’ Long Duk Dong — fobby, but in the best possible way. Jimmy, played with particular exuberance and heart by Japanese actor Hiroshi Watanabe (Letters from Iwo Ima), is 40 and finds himself having to share a bunk bed with his 10-year-old nephew Bob at his cousin Aiko’s house. Fresh off of a divorce, Jimmy earnestly sets out to find a new wife when he runs into his brother-in-law’s gorgeous niece Ramona (Lynn Chen of Saving Face). Sadly, Ramona has eyes for Jimmy’s way cooler coworker Tim (James Kyson Lee of “Heroes”). Jimmy wages a love war on Tim (who doesn’t seem to realize that) in an effort to win Ramona’s heart.

Dave Boyle's hilarious comedy "White on Rice" at NYC's Big Cinemas Manhattan (formerly The ImaginAsian) this weekend.

The film has won over critics both stateside and abroad in Japan. The SF Guardian says Watanabe does a “perfect job,” while Jeff Yang in a review for the San Francisco Chronicle calls the move “a cinematic milestone.”

The film is in a very limited theatrical release and only few DVD copies are available on the website. Visit White on Rice online for details. In the meantime, here’s taste:

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/5719208[/vimeo]