Asian Avenue magazine - January 2015

magazine

asian avenue Connecting Cultures Linking Lives

January 2015 Volume 10 Issue 1

New Year’s Resolutions Set yourself up for success in 2015

Chinese

calligraphy

evokes energy and emotion Wishing you good luck in the Year of the Sheep

Travel by train Visit countries in Europe on the Eurail

Qigong and the law of attraction

Attract new energies in the new year

Restaurant Peek

Go Fish

sushi is art 1 Broadway, B108 Denver, CO 80203 303.733.8881 OPEN: Mon - Thurs: 11am to 10pm Fri: 11am to 2am | Sat: 12pm to 2am Sun: 12pm to 9:30pm Happy Hour: Mon - Sat: 2pm to 6pm Fri - Sat: 10pm to 2am

New Location!

2055 W. 136th Ave. Suite B106 Broomfield, CO 80023 303.593.1888 OPEN: Sun - Thurs: 11am to 9:30pm Fri - Sat: 11am to 10:30pm Happy Hour: Mon - Sat: 2pm to 6pm

Celebrate your next party at Go Fish!

www.GoFishDenver.com

www.facebook.com/GoFishDenver

Bringing the ramen culture to Denver!

RAMEN YAKITORI SUSHI 2907 Huron St. Unit 103 | Denver, CO 80202 Tel: 720.639.2911 | www.mytokio.com

OPEN Mon-Thu & Sat: 5pm - 1am Fri: 5pm - 2am | Sun: 4pm - 10pm Double Happy Hours! (Dine in only) Daily 5pm to 6pm and 10pm to close Sushi $2 Hakushika Hot Sake (sm) $2 Japanese Beer (sm) $3 Selected Hand Roll $3 and more!

Fast Delicious Aordable

FILIPINO-ASIAN

Open Daily 10am--8pm Catering Available

830 S. Buckley Rd. Aurora, CO 80017 Tel: 720-410-2135 www.facebook.com/CSgrill

Gran Open d ning

Dear Asian Avenue readers, 2015 marks the beginning of our tenth volume. I hope your year is off to a great start! Read Tom Shieh’s recommendations on how to stick to your resolutions.

In this issue, we feature the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy and painting.

The cover story sheds light on how the art form began and its evolution of styles over time. Read our other editorials featuring Chinese culture, which includes our editorial piece on members of the Jewish community celebrating Christmas by eating Chinese food and also the health practices of qigong and tai chi.

We would like to congratulate our friends at Go Fish for the grand opening of their second location in Broomfield. If you live in the north Denver area, you now have a sushi and Japanese restaurant closer to home. Visit Go Fish to experience their unique take on raw fish as an art or enjoy their specials during happy hour.

We invite you to celebrate Lunar New Year with us on Friday, February 6 at Kings Land Seafood Restaurant in Denver. The 2015 year marks the year of the sheep or ram, which begins on February 19. In 2015, the corresponding element to sheep is wood. Wood by its very nature, is the element associated with all living things, the “spring” or life renewal process. Wood relates to trees and the color green. Therefore, the Year of the Wood Sheep is therefore also known as the Year of the Green Sheep. What does Wood and Sheep mixed together bring? The Sheep is kind, tender and sympathetic.

Sheeps are creative and elegant. Because of their softer side, they are symbolic of peace and harmony.

The Year of the Sheep follows a tumultous Year of the Horse, and heralds a more calm atmosphere.

Combined with the evergreen and renewal characteristics of Wood, the Sheep’s creativity will be unleashed.

asian avenue magazine

staff & support

Publisher & Founder: Christina Yutai Guo President: Annie Guo Senior Designer: C.G. Yao Designer: Jonathan Nguyen Marketing Coordinator: Chun Guo Staff Writer: Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer: Mary Jeneverre Schultz Staff Writer: Brenda Velasquez Photographer: Trang Luong Intern: Monica Lin Intern: Akemi Tsutsui

advisors group

General Counsel: Michael C. Song Patty Coutts, Donna LaVigne, Nestor J. Mercado, Sum C. Nguyen, Alok Sarwal, Tom Shieh, John Yee, Nai-Li Yee, George N. Yoshida

contributing writers

David J. Coon, Don Guckenberger, Benjamin Hollenbeck, Son Huynh, Mai Choua Lee, Sarah Shirazi

contributing photographers

Please join us to celebrate the lunar new year with a ten-course Chinese feast, lion dancing performance, entertainment and raffles. Our lunar new year banquet is the our largest annual fundraising event. We hope you can support the magazine and have fun ringing the new year (again)!

Asian Pacific Development Center, Mai Choua Lee

Wishing you good luck and happiness in 2015!

Chinese calligraphy emphasizes the expression of emotion and energy. Learn about the history of this ancient art form.

Annie Guo, President Asian Avenue magazine

on the cover

subscriptions

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advertising

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Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses the most cost-effective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For more information, call during business hours or e-mail us at marketing@asianavenuemagazine.com for our media kit and ad rates.

editorial

To submit story ideas, letters to the editor or event calendar listings, e-mail editor@asianavenuemagazine.com.

Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission.

The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine.

Authors may have consulting or other business relationships with the companies they discuss.

Published by Asian Avenue Magazine, Inc. P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 | Fax: 303.750.8488 www.asianavenuemagazine.com Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.

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January 2015 | President’s Note

Golden Shanghai Asian Restaurant

● The Best Chinese Restaurant by 710 AM Restaurant Show ● The Best Chinese Restaurant by the 1430 KEZW Restaurant Show ● Voted 2007 Top 100 Chinese Restaurant in the US

1412 S. Parker Rd. A-134 Denver, CO 80231 (303) 743-7666 (303)743-9079 (303)743-8210

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Find Inside >> Table of Contents

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Event Calendar Cover Story: Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Energy, Emotion, and Tradition in Motion

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Restaurant Peek: Go Fish

Go Fish Sushi opens second location in Broomfield

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Feature: We Eat Chinese on Christmas

Why people of the Jewish faith eat

Chinese food for Christmas

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420

Art: Cartier in 20th Century Brilliant: Cartier exhibition at Denver Art Museum

January 2015 | Table of Contents

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On Scene Colorado Heights University graduates students for Fall 2014

Asian Pacific Development Center delivers annual gift baskets during winter

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Colorado’s Hmong community celebrates annual Hmong New Year with dancing and food

Colorado Asian Basketball finishes another slam dunk season

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National News

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Life Column: A New Approach to New Year’s Resolutions Set yourself up for success, and turn your wishes into reality

Health

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Qigong and the law of attraction

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Tai Chi: Peace of mind through action

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Travel Five tips for traveling by train: Experience the Eurail to visit European countries

Small Classes in an enhanced learning environment Global faculty with real-world experience Degree partnerships around the globe

Helping you reach new heights!

admissions@chu.edu • www.CHU.edu • 303.937.4225

events upcoming Mochitsuki Rice Pounding

Saturday, Jan. 17, 10am to 12:30pm Colorado College’s Worner Student Center (NW Corner, Cascade & Cache La Poudre) Cost: Free For more info, visit www.japanamerica.org.

Everyone is welcome to attend this free new year’s event of the Japan-America Society of Southern Colorado. Pound Japanese mochi and taste them for longevity and prosperity in the New Year! Children are welcome. This is a fun, free and tasty event open to the public.

The Occidental Moon & One Night of Thunder Jan. 30 - Feb. 22; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm

Spark Theater 985 Sante Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204 Tickets: $26 at door, $23 advance paid reservations, $20 students/seniors 65+ and groups of 6+ with advance paid reservations For tickets, contact: Maria Cheng, mariachengtea@gmail.com, 720-282-3447, or visit www.theatre-esprit-asia.org.

Prasad and Sushma, with direction & lighting

by Roger Winn, sets and sound by Christopher Waller and puppetry & costumes by Sushma.

Prasad’s witty solo performance work, The Occidental Moon, features Peter Trinh, whose riveting performance TEA audiences will remember from last year’s Dust Storm. Trinh tackles a rumination on the moon, exploring the impulses of space travel and exploration, weaving between genres of pop music, mythology, sci-fi and memory.

Combining critical theory and art practice, Moon delves into how South Asian cultural and national identities are imagined through extraterrestrial adventure. Equal parts colonial fantasy and post-colonial redemption, this zany and brainy romp orbits around and through the hubris of human endeavors, on this planet and beyond.

Sushma’s cheeky one-act, One Night of Thunder, takes place in Assam, India, an area known for its tea plantations and multiethnic population.

Set in the estate’s mansion, three generations of women [Grandma, Mom and Daughter] orbit

Theatre Esprit Asia - TEA presents two one-acts, written by two Indian female playwrights Pavithra

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January 2015 | Event Calendar

around the Departed Man, their life paths blocked by the gravitational force he continues to exude, until one thunderous night, another Man enters.

Past, present and future dreams collide in one violent moment, altering their lives forever.

Asian Avenue magazine Lunar New Year Banquet Friday, Feb. 6, 6pm to 8:30pm

Kings Land Chinese Seafood 2200 W Alameda Avenue #44, Denver, CO 80223 Cost: $35 General | $25 Student/Senior For tickets, call 303.937.6888 or visit asianavenuemagazine.com/SHEEP You are invited to celebrate lunar new year with a 10-course Chinese dinner, dragon and lion dance, musical performanders, a silent auction and raffle! This is an annual fundraising event for Asian Avenue magazine, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network and Rocky Mountain Chinese Weekly.

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Save The Date!

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very year the Asian Pacific Development Center holds an Annual New Year’s Banquet to help raise funds and awareness for our communities. This great night is a special event meant to introduce some incredible people, to come together to share stories and to network with others involved in benefitting the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community.

This year, the APDC will be holding the event Saturday, February 7th, 2015 at Kings Land Chinese Seafood located 2200 W. Alameda Avenue #44, Denver, CO 80223. A silent auction will kick off the event, which starts at 5:30 PM. A multi-course Asian menu will be served featuring a performance by Denver Taiko Drums while KDVR’s talented Chris Jose as the Master of Ceremonies will emcee this year’s entertainment! Finally the evening will conclude with the live auction and silent auction closeout.

Please join us as we celebrate another fantastic New Year both helping and enriching the lives of our community!

1537 Alton Street Aurora, CO 80010 303.923.2920

www.apdc.org

The Asian Pacific Development Center of Colorado (APDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting the Asian American Pacific Islander community. For over 30 years we have been committed to providing culturally appropriate health, mental health, and related services to our communities. We employ a holistic approach to address the total well-being of individuals and families. APDC also understands that there continues to be barriers of language, culture, and generational issues underlying social determinants that impact well-being. When we begin to address poverty, education, employment, and access to a plethora of different support systems, we contribute to the empowerment and overall health of everyone. Our vision is for our communities to be healthy and empowered.

Upcoming Event | asian avenue magazine

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Book Review

Kinder Than Solitude By: Yiyun Li

Reviewed by: Mary Jeneverre Schultz

Tragic events intertwined three lives

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n her magnificent recent novel, internationally acclaimed author Yiyun Li masterfully moves a story of three childhood friends back and forth in time between America and China. Both a gripping novel of suspense and a penetrating study of personal corruption and moral ambivalence, Kinder Than Solitude is the unforgettable story of three friends whose lives are changed by a murder one of them may have committed early in their lives.

Summary

Li weaves a story of sorrow. All three lives consider and reconsider what their lives could have been had they not known each other. This one tragic event ties all of them together but each one refuses to reconnect for forgiveness.

When Boyang, Ruyu and Moran were young, they would share two bicycles among the three of them and whistle the tune of John Denver’s Country Roads as they explored Beijing. Their relationships with each other deepen until they are involved in a mysterious accident in which a friend and neighbor is poisoned and their friendship splinter.

Now grown and estranged, all three live anonymous lives as they ruminate on the “accident,” trying to come to terms with their actions and self doubt. Moran and Ruyu live in the United while Boyan works as a successful business in China.

Yet all three are haunted by what really happened when they were young.

Each of three reminisces on how their lives were affected and why they made decisions of their career and current relationships.

In California, Ruyu works part time in a chocolate shop and as a housekeeper, avoiding emotional entanglements as she has done all of her life. In Massachusetts, Moran works in a lab maintaining the persona of the anonymous immigrant, but a visit to her ex-husband may jolt her out of her self-exile.

In Beijing, Boyang struggles to deal with an inability to love as well as the outcome of what happened among the three friends, 21 years earlier.

Striking a balance between strength and tenderness, Yiyun Li poignantly tackles the immigrant experience in America and paints a heartbreaking picture of innocence lost---where freidnship blurs with love, and unfinished conversations and misunderstandings result in tragedy.

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January 2015 | Book Review

Title: Kinder Than Solitude | Author: Yiyun Li Publication date: February 2014 Price: $26 Hardcover ISBN: 9781400068142 Page count: 288 pages

About Yiyun Li

Yiyun Li is the author of A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, The Vagrants, and Gold Boy, Emerald Girl.A native of Beijing and a graduate of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, she is the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation fellowship, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the Hemingway Foundation/ PEN Award, the Whitting Writer’s Award, and the Guardian First Book Award. Granta named her one of the best American novelists under 35 and The New Yorkernamed her one of 20 U.S. writers under 40 to watch.

Her work has been translated into more than 20 languages and has appeared in The New Yorker, A Public Space, The American Short Stories, The O. Henry Prize Stories. She teaches writing at the University of California, Davis, and lives in Oakland, California, with her husband and their two sons.

For more information, visit her website at www.YiyunLi.com.

This event WILL sell out reserve your seats IN ADVANCE

RESERVATIONS: ahec.edu/kingcenter/tickets or call 303.556.2179

Online/phone tickets available JAN. 6 Walk-in purchase opens JAN. 22

TICKETS: Adult: $5 Student with ID & children: FREE

Energy, Emotion, and Tradition in Motion

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Connections between the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy emerging alongside traditional painting

alligraphy, or the art of writing, was the visual art form prized above all others in traditional China. Painting and calligraphy emerged simultaneously, sharing identical tools—namely, brush and ink. Still, calligraphy was revered as a fine art long before painting. Indeed, it was not until the Song dynasty when painting became closely allied with calligraphy in aim, form, and tech-nique and shed its status as mere craft and joined the higher ranks of the fine arts.

In many ways similar to painting, Chinese calligraphy emphasizes expressing one’s emotions. To the artist, calligraphy is an exercise that coordinates both the mind and the body to choose the best styling in presenting the content of a passage. It is a most relaxing yet highly disci-plined exercise, indeed, for one’s physical and spiritual well being.

Chinese calligraphy, ink and wash painting are closely related, as they are accomplished using similar tools and techniques and general standards. Chinese painting and calligraphy, however, distinguish themselves from other cultural arts because they emphasize motion charged with dynamic life and energy.

Denver-based calligraphy artist and founder

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January 2015 | Cover Story

of the Confucius Classroom, Harrison Tu states that “the most important aspects of calligraphy comes with feeling and spirit. Every stroke comes with an energy, a certain power that an artist injects into each piece of art”.

Even though you may not know what the characters mean, one can still feel the beauty of cal-ligraphy. It is an extra benefit to learn about the Chinese culture, the characters and their meanings to better understand and appreciate the art.

Tu explains that “form and content come together. These are two different levels. You can ap-preciate the art, but after that there’s meaning and poetry. Together, its a deeper apprecia-tion”.

Traditional painting involves essentially the same techniques as calligraphy, using a brush dipped in black or colored ink, however, oils are not used in traditional paintings. As with callig-raphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made are paper and silk.

Paintings are often mounted on scrolls, such as hanging scrolls or handscrolls, but can also be done on album sheets, walls, lacquerware, folding screens, and other media.

Landscape painting is and still happens to be

regarded as the highest form of Chinese painting styles.

During the Five Dynasties period to the Northern Song period (907–1127) is known as the “Great age of Chinese landscape” where in the north, artists painted pictures of towering mountains, using strong black lines, ink wash, and sharp, dotted brushstrokes to suggest rough stone. In the south, other artists painted the rolling hills and rivers of their native countryside in peaceful scenes done with softer, rubbed brushwork. These two kinds of scenes and techniques became the classical styles of Chinese landscape painting.

Chinese painting and calligraphy are exquisitely unique because they are not only forms of style and expression but also a form of spiritual practice. The practice is traditionally first taught by the master continuously demonstrating how to capture the right lines, and strokes.

The appren-tice must copy these items strictly and continuously until the movements become instinctive. In contemporary times, debate emerged on the limits of this copyist tradition within modern art scenes where innovation is the rule. Changing lifestyles, tools, and colors are also influencing new waves of masters.

wen fang si bao “wen fang” means the study room for Chinese scholars. “si bao” refer to the four treasures (tools) Chinese scholars use to write and paint in their traditional culture. The four treasures are: Writing Brush Among the various tools of calligraphy, the writing brush is special to China.

While brushes are varied, the white goat hair, black rabbit hair and yellow weasel hair brushes are the three major types. On the basis of function, they are classified into three groups: “hard,” “soft” and “both.” The brush handle can be made of either bamboo, wood, lacquer or porcelain; precious materials, such as a motherof-pearl inlay, ivory and jade, can also be used.

The writing brush has a long history: prehistoric painted pottery, inscriptions on oracle bones, bamboo slips and silks all served as its writing materials. Some ancient writing brushes were excavated in graves of the Spring & Autumn and the Warring States periods (770-221BC) and the Qin and Han dynasties (221BCAD220). In the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279), Xuanzhou became the national writing-brush production center where Xuan-bi and Zhuge-bi were of the best quality. After the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) the brush-producing industry of Huzhou boomed and Hu-bi replaced Xuan-bi. The Hu-bi was sharp, neat, round and tough.

Paper Paper is one of the most famous Chinese inventions. It is widely believed that paper was invented by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). However, archaeologists have discovered paper samples in the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-AD8), such as Fang-ma-tan, Ba-quao, Xuan-quan, Ma-quan-wan, Ju-yan and Han-tan-po paper.

In the Tang and Song dynasties, the paper-producing industry was thriving and top-quality products appeared in succession. During the Qing Dyansty (16441911) Xuan-zhi, which was produced in Jing Prefecture of Xuanzhou (Anhui Province), became the special paper for painting and calligraphy; it was regarded “the king of paper.”

Ink stick The ink stick is the unique pigment used for Chinese traditional painting and calligraphy. Initially, stage natural ink or half-natural ink was generally used. It was during the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) that artificial ink appeared. At that time the most famous ink stick was Yumi-mo, which was produced at Qianyang in Shaanxi. The raw materials of the ink stick were pine, oil and lacquer.

Before the Five Dynasties (907-960) the ink-producing center was located in the North; then, it reached the South. The most celebrated southern ink stick was Hui-mo, which was produced in Huizhou of today’s Anhui Province.

Inkstone Inkstone is the most important of the “four treasures of study.” Because of its solid texture inkstone can be handed down from generation to generation.

In the ruins of primitive society, archaeologists discovered simple stone ink slabs that required a pestle to grind pigments. After artificial ink sticks appeared in the Han Dynasty, pestle gradually disappeared. In the Han there were pottery, lacquer and copper ink slabs, as well as stone ink slab. Among the stone ink slabs, the round tripod pieces were most common. During the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern dynasties (220-581), round tripod porcelain ink slabs were in vogue. It was in the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907) that Piyong inkstone with circular legs appeared.

Adopted from www.blog.chinesehour.com Chinese Calligraphy | asian avenue magazine

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Artist: Qi-Wu Huang Qi-Wu Huang was born in 1939 in the Guangxi providence of China and graduated from college and emigrated to the U.S. in 2004. His love for calligraphy started at a young age where he grew to value the movement of brush stokes. He has participated in national and international calligraphy exhibitions and won numerous awards for his paintings. Huang is a member of the Department of Nanning City Calligraphers Association and Guangxi Elderly Painting Research Association.

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January 2015 | Cover Story

Artist: Li- Kun Hu Li- Kun Hu was born in 1933 and graduated from the Chinese Department of Nanjing Normal University.

Mainly engaged in educational work, painting and calligraphy began as a hobby for Kun. Eventually, however, he went to study calligraphy and painting under the tutelage of a national Hugong Shi, Liu Zhuming. As a Jiangsu Province elderly Painting Research Association member and Yancheng Calligraphy Association consultant, Hu has participated in many exhibitions and has had artwork published in numerous publications. Hu immigrated to the United States in 2007 and is now settled in Denver.

Chinese Calligraphy | asian avenue magazine

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2015 The Year of the Sheep

LUNAR NEW YEAR DINNER Friday, February 6, 2015 Cash Bar/Networking | 6:00pm Dinner | 6:30pm King’s Land Chinese Seafood Restaurant 2200 West Alameda Ave. #44 | Denver, CO 80223

You are invited to celebrate the lunar new year!

A 10-course Chinese Dinner Dragon and Lion Dance Dance and Musical Performances Silent Auction Raffle and more!

$35 General |$25 Student/Senior For tickets, visit asianavenuemagazine.com/SHEEP Call 303.937.6888 or send a check payable to Asian Avenue: Asian Avenue | PO Box 221748 | Denver, CO 80222

1 Broadway B108 Denver, CO 80203 Tel: 303.733.8881 Mon - Thurs: 11am to 10pm Fri: 11am to 2am Sat: 12pm to 2am Sun: 12pm to 9:30pm

2055 W 136th Ave, Ste B106 Broomfield, CO 80023 Tel: 303. 593.1888 Sun - Thurs: 11am to 9:30pm Fri - Sat: 11am to 10:30pm

By Sarah Shirazi

Futo Maki Roll, $6

Egg, avocado, cucumber, and pickled vegetable

Broadway Roll, $13.50

Shrimp tempura and cream cheese inside, spicy tuna on top

Rainbow Naruto Roll, $13.50

Tuna, salmon, white tuna, and avocado, wrapped with cucumber

Spiderman Roll, $13.50

Soft shell crab tempura, spicy tuna crunch, masago mango avocado, cucumber wrapped with soy bean paper

Diver Scallops, $18

Seared scallops with chopped bell pepper, onion, served with steamed broccoli and asparagus

Chilean Sea Bass, $20

In a miso marinade sauce, served with steamed vegetables

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ushi has exploded on the Denver culinary scene and the cuisine has afforded many owners the success and popularity to open additional locations. Go Fish first unleashed its fresh fish fare to patrons in the heart of South Broadway over seven years ago. True to form, Go Fish recently opened a second location up North, in Broomfield.

On a particularly snowy afternoon I sipped green tea and glanced at the menu as I occasionally gazed outside one of the large windows in the main dining room. My friend and I couldn’t help but chuckle when we witnessed quite a few pedestrians sliding and some, even falling on the very slippery coroner of 1st and Broadway. I know that sounds sort of cruel, but that’s the thing I love about South Broadway, you never know what you will see.

Quick notes about the decor upon entering: modern, elaborate light fixtures and simple black tables and chairs. Dark accents like the black rock wall, and bare walls painted bluish grey with a hint of sparkle contrasted with lighter accents like the white bar and light fixtures. The atmosphere provides the perfect back drop to a busy and energetic restaurant packed with groups of friends catching up over drinks and sushi platters in the lounge. While the main dining area offers a more quite, and intimate setting, but by no means boring. It’s a pleasant setting for Go Fish’s vast menu, which did not disappoint.

We started with the gyoza and fried calamari, which were about what you would find at most Japanese restaurants. As we dove further into our sushi feast, the fresh simplicity of the ingredients

seemed to be where most of the dishes shined.

Rather than a hodge-podge of ingredients, Go Fish’s dishes retain a certain depth of freshness.

The live sea scallops, for example, were served on a bed of ice and lemons, with a side of ponzu dipping sauce for extra notes of citrus. Fresh, simple—delicious.

Texture and presentation were also strengths.

The perfectly crunchy rice patty with spicy tuna and avocado was another nice starter before we savored a variety of sushi rolls which delivered excitement, both in flavor and presentation. One of Go Fish’s most popular rolls also happened to be my favorite: the hot orgasm roll. Its a crab roll with a green chili tempura center, topped with spicy tuna and sriracha mayo. The crunchy soy paper exterior added another texture that pops in your mouth.

If you’re looking to save room for desserts like the ever so creamy tempura cheese cake, or simply diet conscious, I would suggest ordering the rainbow nartuo roll, pieces of fresh tuna and salmon sashimi and avocado rolled up in crispy cucumber.

I opted to dip the roll in the ponzu sauce instead of my soy sauce and wasabi mixture. The sashimi and avocado melted in my mouth while the refreshing cucumber crispness reset my palate. From there, we couldn’t stop humming ummmm after each bite until every piece of sushi had been devoured.

All in all, this is the perfect spot for a Friday night out on the town, happy hour, date night, or any night you just feel like simple and fresh sushi— just think: Go Fish.

Restaurant Peek | asian avenue magazine

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We eat Chinese on Christmas

D

uring Elena Kagan’s United States Supreme Court confirmation hearings of 2010, at a particularly contentious moment, South Carolina Senaor Lindsey Graham directed the discussion to the 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt on a Detroit-bound airliner.

Graham then asked the candidate where she was on Christmas Day. Justice Kagan famously answered, “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.” Her comment provoked laughter and reduced the level of tension in the room. Recognizing that some in the room might be unfamiliar with the custom, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York then explained how Jews had a special affinity with eating out at Chinese restaurants on Christmas because they were the only restaurants open in New York City.

The origin of this venerated Jewish tradition of eating out at Chinese restaurants dates to the end of the 19th century on the Lower East Side. Jews found such restaurants readily available in urban and suburban areas in

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January 2015 | Feature

By Sarah Shirazi

America where both Jews and Chinese lived in close proximity. The first mention of this phenomenon was in 1899 when the American Hebrew weekly journal criticized Jews for eating at non-kosher restaurants, singling out in particular Jews who flock to Chinese restaurants. In 1903, the Yiddish-language newspaper the Forward coined the Yiddish word oysessen — eating out — to describe the growing custom of Jews eating outside the home in New York City.

By 1910, approximately one million Jews had settled here, constituting more than one quarter of the city’s population. Soon, immigrants were exposed to non-Jewish ethnic foods and tastes. In the neighborhoods in which Jews first settled, Chinese restaurants were plentiful. A 1936 Lower East Side publication, East Side Chamber News, reported that at least 18 Chinese “tea gardens” and chop suey eateries had recently opened in the heavily populated Jewish area. All were within a short walking distance of Ratner’s, the famous Jewish dairy restaurant in Manhattan.

Some of these Jews, tailoring their kosher dietary practices, remained strict in home observance but became flexible with the foods they ate outside the home. Many children of immigrants rejected dietary restrictions, which they believed to be impractical and anachronistic.

By the end of the 20th century, after only 100 years, immigrant Jews were more familiar with sushi than with gefilte fish, a transition from the more traditional diet of their forebears that Chinese restaurants facilitated.

Moreover, the Chinese accepted Jews and other immigrant and ethnic groups as customers without precondition. There was no inherent anti-Semitism to overcome when entering the restaurant because Chinese owners and waiters had no history of prejudice toward Jews. Not having yet mastered the English language, immigrant Chinese restaurateurs, as Philip Roth comments in “Portnoy’s Complaint,” thought that the Jew’s Yiddish-inflected English was the King’s English. Furthermore, Jews chose Chinese restaurants over other ethnic cuisines, such as Italian, because

Christian symbols were absent in these venues. The Chinese restaurant was, as sociologists Gaye Tuchman and Harry Gene Levine point out in an essay “New York Jews and Chinese Food: The Social Construction of an Ethnic Pattern,” a “safe treyf” environment in which to enjoy a satisfying and inexpensive meal made with ingredients that were desirable and familiar to Eastern Europeans, including onions, garlic and vegetables.

Comfort and anonymity can also be found in the foods served, which, while not being kosher per se, are disguised through a process of cutting, chopping and mincing.

Pork, shrimp, lobster and other so-called dietary abominations are no longer viewed in their more natural states. Pork, for example, wrapped and hidden inside a wonton looks remarkably like Jewish kreplach (dumpling).

Also, the absence of milk in Chinese cuisine shields Jewish patrons from observing meat served with milk, a violation of kosher laws.

In general, Chinese food eased the transition from kosher to acceptable non-kosher eating.

The younger generation enjoyed asserting its independence from family tradition.

For children of immigrants, eating Chinese foods not only broke with kosher dietary restrictions but also added a level of refinement and worldliness. It was important for them to demonstrate a cosmopolitan spirit as a sign of successful adaptation to American culture.

The war between chop suey and gefilte fish did not go unnoticed in the Jewish press. The daily Yiddish newspaper Der Tog ran an article in 1928 in which the reporter commented on this culinary tug-of-war between the eating habits of the old world and the new world.

“Down with Chop Suey! Long Live Gefilte Fish!” was the battle cry sounded and backlash waged by those defending traditional cultural habits.

“Eating Chinese” became so popular that Jews regularly patronized Chinese restaurants. The weekends were popular occasions.

Neil Postman, who grew up in Brooklyn in a heavily populated Jewish area during the 1930s and 1940s, remembers that his family routinely ate at the local Chinese eatery on Friday nights. For 30 cents, with a dime tip, they’d get: “egg drop soup, an egg roll and chow mein. And then a little bowl of ice cream with a fortune cookie.” By the beginning of the 21st century, the custom of eating Chinese food had spread across the country and was considered to be a venerated Jewish tradition, especially dim sum dining for Sunday brunch.

And what about eating Chinese food on Christmas? It dates at least as early as 1935 when The New York Times reported a certain restaurant owner named Eng Shee Chuck who brought chow mein on Christmas Day to the Jewish Children’s Home in Newark. Over the years, Jewish families and friends gather on

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Chinese restaurants across the United States to socialize and to banter, to reinforce social and familiar bonds, and to engage in a favorite activity for Jews during the Christmas holiday.

The Chinese restaurant has become a place where Jewish identity is made, remade and announced.

Adapted from “A Kosher Christmas: ’Tis the Season to Be Jewish”

by Joshua Eli Plaut, foreword by Jonathan D. Sarna, published in 2012 by Rutgers University Press and the Jewish Week. www.akosherchristmas.org and www.thejewishweek.com.

Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut is executive director of American Friends of Rabin Medical. He is an historian, photo-ethnographer and cultural anthropologist, and is also the author of “Greek Jewry in the Twentieth Century, 1913-1983: Patterns of Jewish Communal Survival in the Greek Provinces before and after the Holocaust.”

For more information call 720-873-6243 or visit our website today at: www.ColoEggDonor.com William Schoolcraft, MD • Eric Surrey, MD • Debra Minjarez, MD Robert Gustofson, MD • Jennifer Brown, MD

Chinese Christmas Dinner | asian avenue magazine

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Necklace worn by Countess of Granard

Necklace worn by HSH Princess Grace of Monaco.

Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century Exhibition

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he Denver Art Museum (DAM) will be the sole venue worldwide for Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century, on view Nov. 16, 2014–March 15, 2015. Organized by the DAM and curated by Margaret Young-Sánchez, Frederick and Jan Mayer Curator at the museum, the exhibition will feature an assortment of jewelry, timepieces and precious objects produced between 1900 and 1975. The exhibition highlights Cartier’s rise to preeminence in the midst of historical events as it transformed itself into one of the world’s most prestigious names in jewelry, timepieces and objects. A special section focused on masculine items will offer a rare look at the pieces Cartier crafted especially for men, including the modern wristwatch.

Cartier’s glittering international clientele included royalty and aristocrats, business leaders and stars of the stage, cinema and music – a literal who’s who of the 20th century’s financial, industrial and cultural sectors.

Cartier’s rise took place in the context of an increasingly cosmopolitan cultural scene and aligned with international social, political and economic trends. Brilliant will present a selection of themes that span time periods and

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January 2015 | Art

styles to display the immense influence and innovation of the Maison.

The museum will host a variety of activities and programs ranging from tours to lectures and adult classes. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.denverartmuseum.org.

WHEN: Now through March 15, 2015 EXHIBITION LOCATION: Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century will be on view on level two of the Frederic C. Hamilton Building in the Anschutz and Martin and McCormick galleries.

EXHIBITION TICKETS: Brilliant requires a special exhibition ticket that includes an audio guide and general museum admission. A specific entry time is required to purchase a ticket. Tickets go on sale Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. Patrons can purchase tickets online at www.denverartmuseum.org or by calling 720-913-0130. Adult priced tickets start at $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers.

Youth (ages 6-18) priced tickets are just $5 and children 5 and under are always free. Discounts are available for orders of 10 or more tickets purchased at one time. Tickets can be

purchased online at www.denverartmuseum. org, by calling 720-913-0130 or onsite at a museum welcome center.

MUSEUM HOURS AND LOCATION: The Denver Art Museum is open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Friday. The museum is closed to the public every Monday, July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Patrons should visit the ticketing page on www.denverartmuseum.org for full ticket availability or call 720-865-5000.

The Denver Art Museum is located on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock streets, just south of Civic Center Park. Parking is available in the Cultural Complex Garage; enter from 12th Avenue west of Broadway.

EXHIBITION ORGANIZERS AND SPONSORS: Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century is organized by the Denver Art Museum. Exhibition support is also provided by Jet Linx Denver, Sill-TerHar Motors, John Brooks Incorporated, the generous donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine, CBS4 and The Denver Post.

Cartier Collection Background Information

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he Cartier Collection includes more than 1,500 pieces, cataloged according to Cartier’s own archives, illustrating the progression of design styles and techniques in Cartier’s creations.

In 1847, Cartier opened its first jewelry store in a small workshop in Paris. A few relocations later, in 1899, Cartier moved to Rue de la Paix, a few steps from Place Vendôme, in the most elegant part of Paris. Cartier established a branch in London in 1902 and a New York branch in 1909.

Influenced by the Belle Époque at the turn of the 20th century, the Cartier name established its fame with airy and dazzling creations, which were the most sought-after jewels of the European aristocracy and the American bourgeoisie. Customers traveled to the three locations to buy jewels, watches and precious objects around which a legend was born. After the Second World War, in a changed political, social and economic climate, Cartier felt the need to emerge from its sanctuaries and travel about the world to offer its creations. It is not by chance that within those years the Cartier boutiques started to spread around several continents and the first idea of what is now called the Cartier Collection was born—a collection that has never been exhibited in a permanent place, a collection that has never wanted to be a museum but rather a travelling art exhibition.

The emphasis is once again travelling—travelling about the continents to show its treasures to the world but also to travel through time, back to the roots of the Maison that coincide mainly with the history of the European decorative arts of the 20th century, in order to give impetus to the future. In order to enlarge its own customer base from a restricted privileged class to a potentially broader public of women and men of taste, Cartier became its own customer. From auctions and private collections, it bought back the chefs-d’oeuvre of its historical production, thus creating a trove of pieces rich and varied enough to be a witness of each phase of its creative evolution over its 160 years of existence. Éric Nussbaum, the initiator of the Collection, described the genesis of it, its objectives and the reasons of its importance: “The first idea of a Cartier Collection came in 1973, as the President of Cartier Paris at that time, Robert Hocq, bought at an auction in Geneva the first of six “Portico” mysterious pendulum-clocks, manufactured back in 1923. This precious watch had been originally acquired by H.F. McCormick, husband of the famous Polish singer Ganna Walska. It was part of a series of “miracles of watch making,” as the Gazette du Bon Ton called them in 1925: ‘hardly real but precious, almost coming out of a dream and surrounded by moonbeams, these pendulum-clocks reveal minute after minute the mystery of time’…”

Buying back this piece, fifty years after its creation, meant the start of a collection that had gone through an important evolution. Thanks to Cartier’s accurate filing, the Collection has been enriched year after year and now represents an exceptional artistic and cultural heritage.

Over the course of more than twenty years, the Collection acquired an extremely large and varied range of pieces, representing all the aspects of Cartier Jewelry. The Cartier Collection has allowed an international public to discover not only the balance between tradition and innovation that has long distinguished the production of the Maison, but also the constant, incessant evolution of Cartier’s creativity, in the fields of jewelry and watchmaking, but also in the imaginative fields of accessories and other precious objects.

Necklace created for Sir Bhupindra Singh, Maharaja of Patiala

Flamingo brooch worn

by Duchess of Windsor

Denver Art Museum | asian avenue magazine

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Colorado Heights University celebrates commencement Colorado Heights University celebrated its Fall 2014 Commencement on December 17, 2014. The 90 minute ceremony featured three student speakers along with a keynote address by local business leader, Mike Fitzgerald. Over 300 friends and family members attended the event, hosted at the CHU Theater on campus.

The graduates, who all completed their required coursework during the past six months, were presented certificates in English, Bachelor’s Degrees and MBA awards.

Colorado Heights University, located on the historic Loretto Heights campus, is a proud multicultural institution and the graduating

class featured 97 students representing 22 different countries, including Mongolia, Vietnam, Morocco, Ghana, Ukraine and China, along with the United States.

“I’m proud of what these students have all achieved. They all came to Colorado Heights University with a dream, whether building their English language skills or advancing their collegiate careers,” said Interim President and emcee Bob Rizzuto, “We’re honored that so many of our students have come from around the globe to build our campus community.”

Mike Fitzgerald, President and CEO of the Denver South Economic Development Partnership, delivered a moving keynote address, focusing on the American heritage of welcoming immigrants from around the world and incor-

Liu Yue gradutes from Master of Business Administration program.

Sisi Tan, Shufei Qui and LiuYue graduate from Colorado Heights University.

Don Guckenberger Colorado Heights University

porating those cultural values into the American tradition of opportunity and advancement.

Student speakers included Akvile Zarembaite (MBA, Lithuania), Martha González-Beltrán (BA, Mexico) and Andrea Silva Agudelo (Intensive English, Colombia).

To see photos and videos from the event, visit the CHU Facebook page at www.facebook. com/ColoradoHeightsUniversity. For high resolution event images or translated versions, please contact us at dguckenberger@chu.edu.

About Colorado Heights University: Located on the historic Loretto Heights campus, Colorado Heights University was officially founded in 2009, after spending the previous 20 years named Teikyo-Loretto Heights University. The school embraces diversity and international cultures, reflected in a student population that stems from over 60 countries, and offers Intensive English programs to help domestic immigrants and international student s expand their language skills.

CHU also offers a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and an MBA (International Business) program featuring 4 different specializations. The school’s mission is “To educate determined individuals from around the globe, enrich their professional and personal lives, and impact society.”

For more information, please visit us online at www.CHU.edu.

Asian Pacific Development Center gives holiday baskets Benjamin Hollenbeck Asian Pacific Development Center

Once a year, with the generous support from members of the Asian Pacific Bar Association (APABA), the Asian Pacific Development Center distributes gift baskets to individuals and families in their community. It’s a great way to support clients and every year the need for food far outweighs their supplies.

This year, the baskets included items like Sriracha sauce for spice lovers and choco-pies for kids as well as necessities like salt and rice for cooking meals.

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January 2015 | On Scene

On December 13, 2014, with APABA, the APDC gathered at their office to assemble and distribute over 500 baskets on the same day.

This all day event has always been a huge accomplishment and a big part of their success is because of their hard working volunteers.

To learn more about the APDC or to help with next year’s gift basket event, visit their website at www.apdc.org. You can always help APDC spread the holiday cheer next year!

Colorado Hmong New Year Celebration: Sending off the old year and welcoming the new

Mai Choua Lee Miss Hmong Colorado Pageant

Nyob zoo xyoo tshiab! From November 28 to November 30, 2014, the Colorado Hmong community celebrated their annual Hmong New Year at Adams County Fairgrounds. It was a time for families and the community to come together to bid the year farewell and welcome the New Year. The New Year celebration event is held every year by the Hmong American Association of Colorado (HMAAC) along with a New Year Committee, consisting of representatives from the various Hmong clans.

The goal of the Colorado Hmong New Year is to preserve the Hmong culture through celebration by providing an opportunity for all to gather, show case, fundraise, and network with community individuals and leaders.

Traditionally, the New Year celebration falls

during the harvesting season and is to celebrate the year’s hard work and accomplishments.

Along with celebration, the New Year is also a great time for courtship through a game of ball tossing. This year, the New Year event added a ball tossing competition to encourage the youth to continue the tradition.

The celebration included activities such as a singing competition, stage performances ranging from traditional Hmong dancing to a Karate showcase, and a skit performed by the Hmong Student Association of Colorado (HSAC). There were also several vendors selling numerous items ranging from Hmong arts and crafts to traditional Hmong clothes, and of course, Hmong food.

Travis Xiong, President of HMAAC, shared that “Culturally, the Hmong New Year brings people together to socialize, to allow people to meet one another, to stay spiritually connected, and to allow for arts, crafts, and food

selling opportunities.” Toua Vang, President of HSAC, believes that celebrating the New Year is extremely important as it is a way to keep the Hmong culture alive. “Celebrating the New Year helps us express who and what Hmong is so we are separated from other Asian ethnicities and it’s just a way for us to keep our identity.”

The Colorado Hmong New Year is a public event and welcomes everyone. It is a colorful and beautiful event that people of all ages can attend to experience a different culture, traditional performances, arts, crafts, and to taste new food together. The event is held every Thanksgiving weekend and we invite everyone to join us next year.

May the new year bring everyone joy, peace and happiness.

Season ends with a swoosh Son Huynh Colorado Asian Basketball

Another season is in the books and for the first time in four seasons, we have a new champion.

The 2014 Colorado Asian Basketball Fall Season was by far the most competitive season to date.

The final four teams starred A-Unit, Team Tibet, Swat Jam and MoneyMakers.

A-Unit and Moneymakers open the final four in a gritty and grinding battle. As the game went back and fourth till the last minute as MoneyMakers took a one point lead late and dethrone the defending champs A-Unit.

In the second semi-final game, SWAT Jam and Team Tibet put on an instant classic. Neither team was able to seize control until late

as Team Tibet lead 64-60 with 15 seconds left.

SWAT Jam in desperation was able to knock down a three pointer, but was still down 64-63.

In a shocking turn of events, SWAT Jam steals the inbound pass and scores a layup and take the lead with 65-64 and advance to the finals.

The championship game saw Swat Jam jump out to an early 10-point lead. However, the MoneyMakers would not go down with out a fight as they fought valiantly with five players. Unfortunately, MoneyMakers ran out of steam as Swat Jam’s depth put the game away late for 65-55 victory to earn their first CAB championship.

The spring season begins late February. For more information or to join the league, e-mail coloradoasianbasketball@gmail.com.

SwatJam - Champion Team

MoneyMakers - Runner Up Team On Scene | asian avenue magazine

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Asian American photographer passed out iconic photo during Ferguson protest

Senate Confirms Vivek Murthy As Surgeon General

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n December 15, Asaexpected, the U.S. senate confirmed Vivek Murthy as the next U.S. Surgeon General.

The vote comes after a year long delay following pressure from the National Rifle Association who object to Murthy’s stance on gun control.

Murthy will become the first Indian American and youngest surgeon general ever.

The 37-year old Murthy was originally nominated by President Obama in November of last year. Despite backing from 100 medical organizations, the NRA succeeded in stalling the vote with an intense lobbying effort.

Ironically the midterm election which overturned the Democratic majority in the Senate made the confirmation vote possible. Many senators who will be leaving office were free to vote their conscious.

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t’s the picture that’s been seen around the world. A young African American boy, Devonte Hart, is in tears over the Ferguson decision. Hart gets a hug from a police officer in Portland, Oregon.

The freelance photographer who took the photo for the Oregonian is Johnny Nguyen.

The photograph has been shared 500,000 times on Facebook reaching one million views and made Nguyen become almost an instant celebrity. For Nguyen, its not about him but the emotions his photos convey.

Wife of Murdered NYPD Officer Wenjian Liu Speaks Out

ei Xia Chen, the widow of murdered New York Police Officer Wenjian Liu expressed her sorrow publicly.

“The Liu family would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the police department, our neighbors, the entire New York City community, friends, and co-workers, for the help and support they provide.

We would also like to express our condolences to the officer Rafa-

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January 2015 | National News

el Ramos’ family, this is a difficult time for both of our families.

“But we will stand together and get through this together.”

Liu came to the United States on December 24, 1994, when he was 12. As an only child, he was a dedicated public servant committed his life to helping others.

Pei Xia Chen and Liu were married just two months before the tragedy happened.

“People have told me how beautifully positive it’s been to see a photo like this in the midst of all the negative photos that depict violence, anger,” said Ngueyn. “People have told me it’s a light in the darkness.”

At just 20-years old, Nguyen has already seen how difficult it can be to be a minority.

“It’s without a doubt racial discrimination exists in the USA. As an Asian American, I’ve seen how it’s not so easy to become a part of mainstream media… But, I don’t know… I can’t say anything else.”

An Asian American Perspective on ‘The Interview’

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he Interview is now playing at independent theaters and streaming on You Tube, Hulu and other digital platforms.

A review on the Asian American site You Offend Me, You Offend My Family calls it a “lame attempt at political satire.”

Maxine Builder, a young Korean American writer in her review for The Medium said,” Many of the jokes in The Interview are at

the expense of well-worn Asian stereotypes, and the movie’s humor relies heavily on one-dimensional depictions of Asians that abound in American media that add little to the satire itself.

As a Korean American woman, I found the movie’s orientalism more offensive than any satirical depiction of Kim JongUn and the North Korean government.”

o A New Approach t s n o i t lu o s e R s r a e New Y Set yourself up for success, and turn your wishes into reality

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By: Tom Shieh

f you’re setting the same New Year’s Resolutions for the 3rd year in a row, please stop. Stop right now! Let’s face the truth: If you haven’t followed through with these annual goals that you continue to set in January and forget by February, it’s obvious you either don’t care enough to do anything about it, or those resolutions lack power because you are helpless in stacking the odds in your favor to truly achieve the desired outcome.Instead of hoping that this year will be somehow different, let’s change the approach and get the results. Here are some tips on how to turn your “wishes” in January into a reality: 1. Clarity in Definition – Clarity is power.

One of the most common resolutions is to “lose weight”. However, without clarity in defining what this actually means, you will never know whether you have accomplished the goal. Your resolution should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely). In other words, put some numbers and a time-frame around your goals. Instead of saying, I want to “lose weight” in general wishy-washy terminology, a better resolution would be: “For 2015, I will work out three times a week on the treadmill/elliptical for a minimum of 30 minutes, cut down my body fat by 3% in the first 3 months, lose 10 pounds by April 30th, and lose an additional 5 pounds by August 30th.”

2. Understand Your Why – Your “why” is greater than your “how”. Quite simply, when you are aligned to your purpose and the reason behind why you want to achieve your outcome, you are exponentially more likely to be propelled towards it and find a way. Take some time to identify your “why”.

Merely saying that you want to “make more money” doesn’t invoke your full emotions and passion. Instead, try to understand the trigger behind this desire. Associate a greater purpose to this resolution. For example, if your “make more money” was associated to buying your mother a safer vehicle to drive on the road, paying off the debt of a struggling family member who helped raise you, or financially support an orphanage for needy infants that are starving and malnourished, you’ll get so juiced about the mission and purpose that it’ll naturally pull you toward the goal.

3. Accountability and Leverage – Pain can be a great motivator. If you’re serious about your goal, I challenge you to announce it in public to those that you fear losing the respect of the most. You can do this on Facebook, or in your work place, church, family, or group of friends.

Most importantly, put a qualifier for what it will cost and the pain that you’ll experience for not accomplishing it. One friend that I know has publicly declared that if he doesn’t make

$100k/month in the next year, he will pay his accountability partner $1k/week.

Now that’s great leverage to get moving and incentivize your accountability partner! (Rest assured, I’ve already asked if he needs more accountability partners.)

4. Massive Action – Nature rewards massive action. Instead of taking the path of least resistance and applying the minimum effort to a sunny-day scenario, hoping to arrive at success, I am challenging you to put in 10x the effort that you believe it’ll require in accomplishing the task. Set a higher standard for yourself.

Be more, do more, and accomplish more.

With these four simple principles, you’ll shift the odds massively in your favor to grow in the desired areas in 2015. I wish everyone an outstanding upcoming year filled with prosperity, joy, laughter, and love!

With love and respect, Tom Shieh

Life Column | asian avenue magazine

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Qigong and the Law of Attraction Attract new energies and experiences into your life, in the new year

By David J. Coon

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ou may have seen stories on television or read about a “secret” often referred to as the “law of attraction,” although what you may not know is that this so called “secret” is hardly new to the ancient masters of Qigong which have been practicing the law of attrac-

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January 2015 | Health

tion for over four thousand years.

Medical Qigong works with the law of attraction, which simply speaking holds that all beings are literally magnets, attracting to ourselves experiences that match what we are feeling. Ancient masters trust that in order to taste a new tea you must first empty your cup. The cup in this metaphor is your mind, body, and spirit.

People constantly try to manifest things in their lives through forceful thinking and action, though we should seek ways to do this more gracefully. Try the exercise below and see if it helps clear your inner being of stress and anxiety. Remember that stress and anxiety will always attract things to you that you do not want, so the goal is to reduce them as much as possible.

To begin, stand straight with your knees slightly bent and your hands at your side. Be sure to close your eyes. Once you find the correct position do not move for the rest of the exercise. Begin to breathe in and out through your nose— let the breath be natural and just observe it.

This is a challenging exercise especially to do at length. However, if you desire to increase the intensity of this exercise, thereby increasing your manifestation power, raise your hands to the ceiling. Keep the arms as relaxed as

possible and do not move them until you are finished. Start out with five or ten minutes and try and do it everyday. Gradually increase the length of the exercise to fully reap the benefits of the practice.

A simple addition to the first exercise (whether hands are down or raised) attracts to you greater love, peace, forgiveness, health or prosperity depending on what you focus on.

Focus on any one of these at a time while doing the above exercise.

The law of attraction can also be done for another person. Have the person lay down in front of you while you perform the exercise.

This can also be done for them even if they live three thousand miles away! At a distance this exercise can become a form of long distance healing.

Instead of letting the mind think about unnecessary thoughts, focus on a positive affirmation such as “I have always been happy and healthy” or insert a friend’s name. Repeat this affirmation over and over as much as you like.

This practice will help you attract new energies and experiences into your life.

David J. Coon is a Medical Qigong and Martial Arts practitioner of over twenty years.

Peace of Mind through Action Tai Chi, one of the oldest forms of martial arts, has become popular with mainstream America.

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t daybreak, when morning dew still drips from blades of grass, and the sun is just rising, people gather in parks to perform martial arts not to exchange blows, but to cultivate the energy of chi. They practice set forms, using existing techniques that have been developed to be “passive.”

A hundred years ago, processionals of tai chi might have been only been found in Asia, but today Americans all over the country are performing this ancient tradition as a way to decrease stress and improve the immune system.

The origins of tai chi are often debated but most sources point to the mythical status of Chang San-Feng, who developed this passive martial arts style sometime between 960 AD1460AD. Chang San- Feng allegedly lived in the Wu Tang monastery, and the roots of tai chi phi-

losophy lie in the yin-and-yang of opposing and equal forces—but most importantly, balance.

Though “soft,” tai chi was still a deadly form of martial arts in its origins, absorbing an opponent’s aggressiveness and using it against him.

These days, tai chi is mostly a form of exercise used to increase health. Studies have shown that practicing tai chi can help reduce blood pressure and anxiety while increasing flexibility, muscle strength, energy and stamina.

The MayoClinic reports that a regular tai chi practice helps decrease bone loss, relieve chronic pain, and improve sleep quality for older adults.

Due to the passivity of this form of exercise, there are virtually no side effects that aren’t positive and beginners often find themselves entering a meditative state of well-being.

Tai Chi in the Park!

Tai Chi FLOW in the Park Year-round (weather permitting) Thursday Mornings at 7:00 AM City Park, Denver Call for details 303.744.7676 www.taichidenver.com/events.html

Forms of Tai Chi

There are five major styles of Tai Chi, each named after the Chinese family from which it originated.

Chen style: Possibly the most well known form of tai chi in the context of fighting, the Chen style was one of the first to be refereed to as “tai chi chaun.”

Yang style: The gentler version of tai chi, was founded by Yang Lu- Chan. This variation is the most popular and widely practiced style in the world today and the second in terms of seniority among the primary five family styles.

Wu style: Utilizes a narrower stance with more deliberate movements, which lends itself to a more controlled stance. Emphasizes on hand and foot work, pushing hands and horse stance training.

Wu (Hao) Style: A distinctive style of tai chi with small, subtle movements; highly focused on balance, sensitivity and internal chi development. It is a rare style today, especially compared with the other major styles.

Sun style: Developed by San Lu Tang, one of the first masters of Martial arts to promote the combative form for its health benefits.

Health | asian avenue magazine

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A MEANS TO TRAVEL Try Eurail

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz | Asian Avenue magazine

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raveling by Eurail train becomes a trip of a lifetime through the continents of Asia and Europe, visiting major city destinations.

To visit numerous metropolitan cities in both Europe and Asia all in one visit can satisfy your wanderlust, as a chance to reduce your bucket list of travels!

“It was a great way to learn the cities,” said Filipino-American Evan Tabellija, who visited Europe during his honeymoon with his wife, Michelle. “It was very easy to use and practical.”

Advantages of Traveling by Eurail Visitors get to see the country at a closer look. Asia and Europe is filled with mind-blowing natural beauty, and one of the best ways to see it is through the window of your train as you get whisked to your next destination.

Forget reading while on a train – it’s much better to stare out the window, peering down into a canyon, peeking into a river or creek, observing unspoiled landscapes, carpets of golden sunflowers and velvety green grass, as you speed through the mountains and countryside at an incredible speed. The changing landscapes

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January 2015 | Travel

of rail travel could include the alpine mountain scenery and picturesque villages of Switzerland, the turquoise river in Lourdes, and the empty golden beaches of Italy’s Adriatic coast.

Recommended scenic routes include: • London to Paris • Paris to Lourdes • Lourdes to Torino • Torino to Rome Inside the trains, it is comfortable sitting on leather and fabric seats. You have an open view of the window. Viewing the moving landscaping, snoozing a little and maybe some reading is allowed in the comfort of the trains. Compared to planes or buses you’ll have a larger, more comfortable seat, more leg room, and you can get up and move around whenever you want. Motion sickness is a rare occurrence riding on these smooth tracks.

Rail travel is significantly cheaper than purchasing airfare. For example, an average one way flight from London to Paris costs about $150, while Eurail’s prices average about $35.

Plus it’s a chance to travel like the locals do – via rail.

Conscious of earth’s precious resources, next to walking, rail travel is calculated as the most environmentally friendly way to go as they release far less CO2 into the atmosphere than planes, buses and cars. “It’s better than driving in a foreign country,” said Filipino-American Estrellita Herreria.

Luggage is not inspected as closely as traveling via air. Free of weight restrictions, travelers can pack as much as they want into their luggage. Also, you don’t need to worry about losing a bag if it’s within your train compartment or above your seats.

Once you set the schedule, you are committed to the route.

Unlike airports which are miles out of town, most train trips start and end right in the center of cities.

Location, location, location is key in traveling throughout a foreign continent. Unlike airports which are miles out of town, most train trips start and end right in the center of cities.

This rang true in Torino, Italy as train stations are usually well connected to the city transport network so you can reach them by metro, bus, or in many small cities on foot. Budget accommodation tends to cluster around train stations allowing numerous hotel selection nearby so travelers could roll out of bed and onto a train in no time.

Designed for the sophisticated and business travelers, most trains are equipped with WiFi, electrical connection for charging and tables to lay out one’s laptop.

Demands of train travel It takes longer than air travel, cutting into limited vacation time.

Unless you purchase first class, your privacy is compromised when traveling by train. You could be seated with an over-sized family of ten or sit across a solo business traveler intent on getting work done on the train.

As a general rule, keep your luggage close

by your seat or exit doors. If luggage is too heavy, you can’t count on people to to help you.

Elevators are not always an option in Asia or Europe as in the United States.

With tickets, it will be difficult to change schedules especially with limited English access. If you do not encounter any delays, stick with the set schedule. While the English language might be global language, it’s not always common to find English-speaking locals.

No need to drive on the other side of the road or navigate the streets of Europe. Discard your maps or GPS gadgets to make more room for desired souvenirs from your destinations.

Some train stations are not easy to navigate. Denver resident Evan Tabellija visited Rome and Paris in recent months. He shared that Rome was similar to the chaos in Tokyo in my many ways. He explains, “the trains in Rome were very crowded (think Tokyo), and were not very well thought out organizationally, compared to Paris.”

How to get discounts Be an active Facebook or Twitter user, then sign up for Eurail. The railroad company shares

discounts throughout the year, announcing first to social online users before the public knows about it. For example, back in November, Eurail announced on Facebook a 20 percent special on all Eurail Global Passes as well as Select Passes.

YouTube videos will highlight the pleasures of rail travel. The rail company has posted key videos on Facebook to capture more attention to train travel.

Contests and promotions are also promoted on the online media venues. Last October, the train company requested rail travel stories from its online community for a chance to be entered in a drawing for a pair of Eurail global passes.

In September, Eurail offered extra free days on specific passes.

Surveys are also offered to current subscribers so the rail company could better understand its customers. In exchange, completed surveys are entered in contests for a pair of rail tickets!

Future Plans Announced last year, Eurail will add Poland as part of the Eurail Global Pass.

Follow Mary’s travels on Twitter @Jeneverre

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Travel by Train | asian avenue magazine

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