Results tagged “asianamerican”

Yeah, it's a slow news day. Well, it's sort of slow. (SFO is busy! Lafayette is gassy and damp! Canopy Financial is a total sham!) But we would be remiss if we didn't tell you about this youthful bit of human interest news: at the ripe age of 26, Campbell's vice mayor Evan Low is "expected to be selected by the city council to serve as mayor."

The pros and cons of law school

Before we launch into today's Ed Jew news, we just want to say -- have you guys seen this awesome debate on the political chatboard the Wall about whether our use of the term "Tapioca Ed" is racist towards Asian-Americans? Here's the line we love! "Instead of leveraging a bull*** website on what's offensive, why don't you ask someone Asian American?" Let's!

Long-time readers of SFist will know that we love (love!) all things Air Guitar, both for its obvious silliness and its devotion to the rawk. So when we heard that Air Guitar Nation was playing at the San Francisco Independent Asian Film Festival, we knew we were destined to see it. How was it? Well, we’ll describe it using the one word we heard other people describe it-- awesome.

The world premiere of played on Saturday night at the Castro Theatre and the house was packed.

Preview for the movie , which premiered last night at the SF Int'l Asian-Am Film Fest. (Movie's not rated but this clip probably should be rated R for violence.) The clip is a pretty good example of what the movie's like (though the movie is better lit).

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 72.

Tonight, our friends at Hyphen Magazine are having a party at 111 Minna (111 Minna at 2nd), celebrating their newest issue (#10--The Music Issue) with some of their favorite local Asian American musicians: native guns, marque, mud and lovelikefire, and DJs, kero one, politik and modest mark. (9p - 2a)

Saturday, Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean and about 400 Democratic Asian American party activists and officials filled the halls of the San Jose Marriott to attend the Asian American and Pacific Islander Democratic Leadership Summit (.pdf). Howard Dean was the keynote speaker and spoke on Saturday morning at around 9:30. He gave the DemocraticMessage, or what we perceived as the "Together, we can do better" speech. [Ed. note: is that the same or different from the "yeeeeaaaaargh!" speech?] For those who weren't there, and are interested, it is similar to the speech he gave to the Jewish Council of Public Affairs. The conference was energizing and uplifting with speeches from the first Asian American Boston City Council member Sam Yoon and from the first Asian American San Jose City Council member Madison Nguyen. The Saturday lunch speaker was Mike Honda, who spoke on leveraging an Asian American background to run for political office. Of course, no conference is without handouts. Consequently, there was an organizing tip handout given out in the late Saturday afternoon titled, "Democratic State Party Structures - How to Navigate and Move Ahead, Four Important Things to Know." This handout did not talk about how Democrats can win elections, but instead focused on the finer points of the Party such as becoming familiar with Robert’s rules of order. Who said that politics was all fun and games? Do not despair though, as another rule from the handout was to "ESTABLISH Political Convictions and Strength." (capitalization in original). Well, Asian-American Democrats, go change the world! Just make sure to do it according to Robert’s Rules of Order and only after establishing your political convictions.

was released. That movie ruined the lives of many Asian-American men, we hear. If you don't believe us, just say "whassa happenin hoss stuff" to any Asian man who endured Long Duk Dong imitations during high school and see what kind of reaction you get. Be prepared to be karate chopped between the eyeballs.

We're at SXSW, so this week's column is a day late and a dollar short.

Every Asian-American music listener has that list of Asian-American stars they whip out at a moment's notice: Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park, the half-Japanese violinist (of course he's a violinist) from Yellowcard, Karen O, Jay-Z, and Amerie .... but how nice to have the option to find others. The Asian American Film Festival's Directions In Sound show tomorrow night features four local Asian-American indie rock bands to get to know: From Monuments to Masses (post-punk), Whysall Lane (intricately crafted), Love Like Fire (dreamy Britpop), and solo singer Mike Park (no description, but probably singer-songwritery, you know?). The show starts at 9 (doors at 8) at Cafe Du Nord tomorrow night. Tickets $10 -- but act fast, the show's selling out.

and reception at the Asian Art Museum (we had a blast at last year's), the festival runs in San Francisco from March 16 - 23, Berkeley from March 17 - 25, and San Jose from March 24 - 26.

The picture to your left is a still from the documentary Presumed Guilty, and profiles SF public defender Jeff Adachi when he was still an assistant public defender. Well, Adachi must have been inspired by the experience or something, because on top of his duties in criminal court, because the Chron is reporting that Adachi will be making his directorial debut at this year's Asian American Film Festival, with "The Slanted Screen," a documentary about the portrayals of Asian-American males in American movie history. Wha? Well, we suppose if the DA's really not charging anyone with crimes these days, Adachi's gotta do something to fill his time, right? (Are you sure this isn't just someone else named Jeff Adachi, guys?) At the preliminary hearing on the Pamela Vitale murder, a roommate of suspect Scott Dyleski testified that he saw a to-do list hidden in Dyleski's dresser drawer that said "knock out/kidnap, question, keep captive to confirm PIN, dirty work, dispose of evidence (cut up and bury)." Terrible. But also, can we just ask? Why do you need to write that down? Can't you just remember that on your own? And in the South Bay police blotter -- police confirm that a briefcase left outside the Fresh Choice in San Jose was not a bomb, someone in Palo Alto's guitar tuner was stolen, and someone else heard mysterious noises inside her house, ran downstairs, and found ..... (dramatic music) .... someone else's key chain on her kitchen counter! You know the would-be thief's all like, running home, pant pant pant, and then reaches into their pocket to open the door, and is like .....doh!

The family and friends of missing local man Jerry Tang have been doing a good job of keeping themselves in the public eye, with a recent appearance on KTVU and pursuit of a new lead.

As earlier reported, Haight-area resident Jerry Tang has been missing since November 29. His friends and family are doing an amazing job of getting the word out on his disappearance, as we've seen information on his case almost everywhere we turn. Unfortunately, he still has not been found.

To live in the Bay Area is (frequently) to be able to count more than one aspiring filmmaker in one's circle of acquaintance. The next time you're at some dinner party/Zeitgeist get-together/orgy at the Power Exchange and someone starts blabbing on about their unfulfilled creative vision, remind them of the opportunities available to them to get said vision out there to the masses.

Billed as "The Largest All Asian Event in San Francisco", the first ever Asian Heritage Street Celebration is taking place this Sunday from 11-6. Part of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, "every Asian American public official in San Francisco, the AsianWeek Foundation and more than 51 other community groups representing over 225,000 members and associates in the San Francisco area" all have a hand in producing this, the first of what is expected to become an anual shindig.

We always try to have something for everyone at SFist, and last week we feel we really hit it out of the park. Some examples:

SFist was thrilled to receive an invitation to opening night of the 23rd Annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. After the screening of the fantastic , the action turned to the gala reception, held at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.

NAATA must be so proud of the great opening night screening of at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. There was a big crowd outside the Castro Theater as we arrived, and as we entered the theater we were disconcerted by all the folks who seemed to be reserving seats for others. Then, we realized that we were being total rubes, and that the "purses" in the theater chairs were actually gift bags! SFist has hit the big time, folks, and y'all are here to witness it.

Our live music picks for the week of 3/10-3/16.