From films to warm the heart to steaming hot noodles to warm the stomach, check out what’s happening this week.

Pin@yPalooza

When: Feb. 5

Where: Portage Theatre, Chicago

How: Pre-sale tickets are available online at www.ubetunes.com/pinoypalooza. For more info, visit their Facebook page, or www.manilastarevents.com

The non-profit organization ManilaStar Events is putting on its second annual benefit showcase, Pin@yPalooza. And this year performers include Filipino superstars Kat Badar, Kierra Folsom, Lydia Paek, and Victor Kim as headliners. Chicago talents include The RisQ, Robert Tolledo, Excel Cruz, Charlene “Apple” Alcantara, Brent Abas, and Design Dance Crew. With such a great group of performers, we know the show is going to rock.

Ramen Rules New York

When: Tuesday, February 8, 6:30 pm

Where: Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street between First and Second avenues (accessible by the 4/5/6 at 42nd Street-Grand Central Station or the E and V at Lexington Avenue and 53rd St.), New York City

How: Tickets are $20, $16 for Japan Society members, seniors & students. For reservations visit www.japansociety.org or call the box office at 212-715-1258.

From street food to foodie delight, ramen is the most sought after Japanese comfort food throughout America. Now, in Ramen Rules New York, Shinyokohama Ramen Museum’s Masahiro Nakano and Serious Eats’ J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, explore how this Japanese staple has gained traction outside Japan and discuss the future for New York’s noodle lovers. Moderated by Time Out New York’s Food & Drink editor Jordana Rothman, the discussion is followed by a tasting, supported by the Japanese Culinary Center, in which participants can taste the difference between soy and miso based soups and discover how noodle thickness — from vermicelli-like to broad fettuccini styles — influences flavor.

7th NYC Downtown Short Film Festival

When: February 10-12, 2011, 8 pm

Where: 62 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003 (Btn 2nd Ave and Bowery)

How: http://www.duotheater.org/

For Jie trailer from Hollahara on Vimeo.

For Jie, directed by Hiroshi Hara, will be shown on the last night of this film festival. This short film provides a glimpse into the daily life of a family in China, following a loving husband who has just become a father in the city of Guangzhou. All he has ever known is living and struggling in poverty. But now that he is a father, he wants what is best for his son, Jie. For Jie had a very successful screening at the DC Asian Pacific American film festival in late 2010, and is likely to appear at many more festivals in 2011.

Valentine’s Card Making Workshop

When: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 2-4 pm

Where: Leanna Lin’s Wonderland, 5024 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

How: Suggested donation $5; RSVP here or email: hello@LeannaLinsWonderland.com. Space is limited!

Jewelry designer Leanna Lin has the cutest little shop this side of the Mississippi. She’s always hosting mini art exhibits, like the “Love & Other Fairy Tales” exhibit by Mekanikku (art opening is on February 12). Now you can join her and artist Liane Shih for a special Valentine’s card making workshop! Create your own unique Valentine’s for that special someone (or yourself) using the art of Mekanikku while noshing on Valentine treats by Maile’s Fine Pastries.

For a while, it seemed everything was gonna go cyber — newspapers, magazines, even your favorite stores. No more browsing cute little streets for knick-knacks and precious finds. All browsing was being done in front of monitor, alone and in bad fluorescent lighting.

But recession be damned. A whole slew of cute little boutiques are popping up all over, many by names familiar to Audrey. It gives this editor hope that we won’t all meld into a faceless world of tweeters and status updaters. Check out the newest additions to the brick and mortar crowd.

Leanna Lin’s Wonderland

Billed as a “playful jewelry studio/shop/art gallery,” hand-beaded jewelry designer Leanna Lin‘s new boutique in Los Angeles is just that — a Wonderland.

With cheerful pops of color and a candy shoppe feel of beads and baubles galore, Leanna Lin’s Wonderland is a place where you can peruse, drool or just get plain crafty.

For a little jewelry making inspiration, the boutique also features art exhibits, like “The Lucky Show” presented by Spicy Brown, featuring the works of Kazuko Shinoka and Sachiho Hino. Check it out this weekend, Saturday, September 11, from 6 to 10 pm. The event is in conjunction with NELAart walk, and Spicy Brown will be handing out “Lucky” goody bags! (Not that you need another incentive, but food trucks will be converging on the spot as well — Don Chow Tacos (where “Chino meets Latino”) and Lake Street Creamery.

If you can’t make it this weekend, go the next for their official grand opening. Goody bags, drinks, treats and White Rabbit Filipino fusion truck will be there from 12 to 3 pm on Saturday, September 18.

Leanna Lin’s Wonderland, 5024 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

TeeTee Bar and Fighting Eel

If you’re going to be designing clothes in “the land of perpetual sunshine” (Hawaii), it’s likely your pieces are going to be infused with a lot of that laid back aloha spirit. In fact, Asian American designers Rona Bennett and Lan Chung specifically created their line Fighting Eel to express their love of not just fashion but vacation.

Rona Barrett and Lan Chung of Fighting Eel.

“On vacation” is exactly how one feels in one of Fighting Eel’s jersey dresses — a feeling of carefree ease and seductive languor profuse in any sun-soaked holiday. Specializing in a substantial, extra drapey jersey, Fighting Eel’s dresses are simple and easy to wear, yet constructed just enough for some serious sex appeal.

Now Barrett and Chung have opened a store in “paradise” called TeeTee Bar, which prominently features Fighting Eel designs as well. With an array of kids, women and men’s tees (really, if you live in Hawaii, do you want to wear anything more than tees and slinky jersey dresses?), the boutique brings a little bit of chic to an island locale where uncomplicated and unfussy style rules.

TeeTee Bar, 1131 Bethel Street, Honolulu, HI

Carol Young

Now, Carol Young’s Los Feliz boutique is not new, but it’s still going strong after four years.

Young has stayed true to her aesthetic of wearability, durability, and environmental and global consciousness. She may not be roaming the world anymore (her travels to India and Japan inspired her line of “undesigned” clothing for the urban nomad), but with two toddlers now in tow, she is likely in even more need of her functional yet beautiful pieces.

Ever the champion of cutting edge accessory lines that wonderfully complement her aesthetic, like Cydwoq shoes and (Audrey favorite) Prismera Designs jewelry, Young is also partaking in Fashion’s Night Out on September 10 with a special trunk show of Nikki Montoya Jewelry.

Carol Young, 1953 1/2 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA