Asian Avenue Magazine - August 2019

asian avenue magazine August 2019 Volume 14 Issue 8

Connecting Cultures Linking Lives

Sakura Foundation Celebrates th Anniversary

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BUBBLE TEA TAKEOVER The Taiwanese trend popping up all over Denver

Aurora Global Fest celebrates city’s diversity

Restaurant Peek Shi Miaodao Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodles

S

AuroraGlobalFest.org

Saturday, Aug. 17 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

A Showcase of Cultures and Traditions.

Global Flavors, Music and Dance.

International Fashion Show.

sábado 17 de agosto Un despliegue de culturas y tradiciones.

Sabores, música y bailes de todo el mundo.

Desfile internacional de trajes típicos.

17

17

Này 17 thàng Tàm

Sự kiện Văn hóa và Truyền thống.

Phong cách, Âm nhạc và Điệu nhảy Toàn cầu.

Trình diễn Thời trang Quốc tế.

17 août

Une vitrine de cultures et de traditions.

Les saveurs, la musique et la danse du monde entier.

Présentation de mode internationale.

Sponsored by:

Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn 15151 E. Alameda Parkway

Are you looking for a career with a local small business with the backing and support of a brand people recognize and trust?

Working at a local Allstate agency may be your As an Insurance Sales Producer, answer! an you will help grow the agency by engaging new prospects and building strong relations with the community. You’ll work as a member of a sales team focused on providing insurance and financial products that help customers protect their homes, cars and retirement incomes, and live a good life.

Candidates should be a team player and help grow the agency, strive to achieve sales goals through leads and referrals, excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.

Sales experience is required and bilingual candidates who are conversant in Mandarin and Cantonese are welcome. Candidates without a Colorado insurance license must be willing to sit for the state tests. Training will be provided by the Allstate University.

Remunerations include a salary, commission and bonus.

Please call 877-513-2572 between 9 am and 5 pm to schedule an appointment.

AKI Asian Hotpot ALL YOU CAN EAT

醉香鍋

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Sun - Thur: 11:30am – 9:30pm Fri - Sat: 11am – 10pm

12303 E Mississippi Ave Unit 127, Aurora, CO 80012 | Tel: 720.638.3193

What is Chinese Hotpot?

WINE & LIQUOR AVAILABLE!

Chinese hotpot is a communal eating experience, in which you order different ingredients to boil inside a simmering pot of broth. Think of it as Asian fondue where everyone at the table cooks their own food!

How to eat Hotpot?

At Aki, first choose your soup base (do you dig hot and spicy? Or are you more into herbal broths?). From there, choose your meats and seafoods ranging from beef slices, pork belly and meatballs to squid, fish fillets, shrimps and clams. Throw in your veggies: mushrooms, cabbage, spinach, sprouts, or boy choy, and the list goes on with over 20 options. Lastly, add your noodles and tofus, and don’t forget the dipping sauces! And the best part is that it is ALL YOU CAN EAT!

Kids age 3 and under: FREE Ages 4-6: $6.99 Ages 7-9: $10.99 Ages 10-12: $12.99 Seniors: $17.99

Adults: $19.99

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Contact us at marketing@asianavemag.com or 303.937.6888 for our media kit with more information about our distribution, readership and rates.

AUGUST 2019

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in this issue EVENTS

8 9

10

Event calendar Aurora Global Fest celebrates one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. with performances and food!

“Mountains Made for Us” playing at Vintage Theatre features the story of a dancer from India

SPOTLIGHT

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Meet Shauna Medeiros-Tuilaepa, co-chair of Denver’s Asian commission and owner of No Ke Aloha food truck

COVER STORY

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Did you know there are more than

30 bubble tea shops in the metro

Denver area? Check them out for a

refreshing tea drink while it’s still summer!

The bubble tea takeover in Denver is real! Most bubble tea shops in the area opened within the last five years.

FEATURES

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20

22

Shofu-en Japanese Garden marks 40th year since installation at Denver Botanic Gardens Let’s talk space science with scientist Ka Chun Yu and while visiting the Kennedy Space Center Sakura Foundation celebrates fifth anniversary and many achievements growing the Japanese American and Asian American communities

RESTAURANT PEEK

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Shi Miaodao, meaning ‘ready in ten seconds’ is the first Yunnan rice noodles restaurant in the area

TV SERIES TO WATCH

26

Did someone say, “new Korean drama

on Netflix?” Watch Historian Goo Hae Ryung if you are a fan of k-dramas.

11 6

August 2019 | Table of Contents

BOOK REVIEW

27

Severance by Ling Ma presents a zombie apocalyptic world

24 ON SCENE

28

Slow Food Nations showcases a variety of cuisine

29

30

Colorado festivals experience huge turnout despite weekend storms Random Acts of Kindness performed

by Bhutanese leader Som Baral

Asian Avenue Magazine P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com

Find us @AsianAveMag #AsianAveMag

Dear Asian Avenue readers, This is an exciting time for us at Asian Avenue magazine as we head into our 14th year! Thank you to many of you for participating in our reader survey to help us improve and work on a rebrand look for the magazine. We will be rolling out a new logo and new designs in the coming months. We also appreciate all of the kind and appreciative feedback—these comments inspire us to keep going!

Congratulations to our friends at the Sakura Foundation for celebrating five years of positively impacting Colorado’s Japanese American and Asian American communities. We are so proud of all of the partnerships you have built and the exemplary work you have been doing as leaders in our community. We look forward to seeing what the next five years have in store.

We know it is unlikely that many of you have had the opportunity to experience the famous Yunnan rice noodles, but now’s your chance! The newly opened Shi Miao Dao - Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodles restaurant in Aurora is the first of its kind in Colorado! Each order comes with soup and noodles on the side (which can be cooked in ten seconds!). We hope you will give them a try and don’t forget to order your milk tea to help slurp down those noods!

Lastly, are we in SoCal? I can’t believe there are 30+ bubble tea shops in Denver! Check out our directory on page 17!

Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com Published by Asian Avenue Magazine, Inc. P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 | info@asianavemag.com

www.asianavemag.com

magazine

asian avenue Publisher & Founder Christina Yutai Guo

Editorial Director Mary Jeneverre Schultz

President Annie Guo VanDan

Marketing Manager Joie Ha

Senior Designer C.G. Yao

Staff Writer Patricia Kaowthumrong

Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO

Staff Writer Amy Ng

Web Designer JASON ZHANG

Intern CHANG LIU

on the cover

advertising

Bubble or boba tea began as a trend in Taiwan that has taken over the mile-high city with tea shops popping up in every shopping center. What’s your favorite drink?

Looking to promote your business?

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 303.937.6888 or e-mail us at marketing@asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates.

contributing writers Gil Asakawa, Stacey Shigaya May Tran

contributing photographers Jeannette Herreria, Anjali Pinto Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 19321449) 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.

Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.

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President’s Note | asian avenue magazine

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Event Calendar 3rd Annual J.P. Morgan Center for Commodities’ International Commodities Symposium August 12-13 CU Denver Business School Conference Registration: $300 business.ucdenver.edu/commodities/ international-commodities-symposium The symposium’s objective is to bring together leaders in commodities from both academia and industry to discuss their critical thinking and research related to commodities. Conference attendants are from 10 countries, including the IMF commodity chief, the Chief Economist of CME Group and the Head of Global Oil Market at J.P. Morgan.

2019 Aurora GlobalFest Saturday, Aug. 17 | 11 am to 6 pm Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012 Free and open to the public AuroraGlobalFest.org

Stockyards Station Post Office Building Dedication Honoring George Sakato Friday, Aug. 23 | Begins at 11am National Western Complex, 2nd floor 4655 Humboldt St. Free and open to the public

The city of Aurora invites you to experience fantastic flavors, cultural experiences and artistic expressions from around the world at Global Fest.

Celebrate what makes Aurora one of the most diverse cities in the U.S.: the people! Global Fest showcases and celebrates our diversity and what unites Aurora as a city.

The Postal Service will play a small part in solidifying Sakato’s place in history by dedicating the Stockyards Station Post Office building in his name. A plaque will be affixed to the interior of the building bearing Sakato’s name. In 2000, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during World War II with the 442nd Regiment Combat Team. Sakato worked for the postal service and retired from the Stockyards Station in Denver after 27 years of service.

He passed away December 2, 2015, but his legacy lives on.

Meet the Author Events Author Reception and Presentation Monday, Aug. 19 | 5:30pm to 7:30pm The Ranch Country Club 11887 Tejon St. Westminster, CO 80234 RSVP: kunming@denversistercities.org denversistercities.org

On Stage Reading and Conversation with novelists Michelle Tea and Esme Weijun Wang Friday, Aug. 9 | 7pm to 8:30pm Denver Museum of Nature and Science 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205 Tickets: $20 nonmembers $10 members (Lighthouse Writers) lighthousewriters.org/writers-studio Join for an evening with acclaimed memoirists and novelists Michelle Tea and Esmé Weijun Wang as they read from their award-winning works, discuss their artistic processes, and answer audience questions live on-stage. Book signing to follow.

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August 2019 | Event Calendar

In 2002, Denver native and CU graduate Colin Flahive moved to Yunnan Province in China to study kung fu. His book Great Leaps: Finding Home in a Changing China traces his evolution towards finding his calling as a social activist in a remote area of Western China. Along with other partners, Colin started up Salvador’s coffee shop in Dali and later Salvador’s restaurants in Kunming. He currently lives with his wife Aling in Kunming. The evening hosted by Denver-Kunming Committee will begin with a reception from 5:30-6:30pm, followed by Colin’s talk and book signing.

Meet Author Iris Yang of Wings of a Flying Tiger & Will of a Tiger Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 7pm to 9pm American Red Cross Building 444 Sherman St. Denver, CO 80203 RSVP: kunming@denversistercities.org denversistercities.org In an evening organized by the Denver-Kunming Committee, Iris Yang will speak about the Nanking Massacre, her experiences growing up during the Cultural Revolution, Wings of a Flying Tiger and her recently published historical novel Will of a Tiger, and the Flying Tigers who are still remembers and revered today in both China and the USA. She is a scientist born and raised in China, and enjoys sharing her love of history to keep it alive.

Send community events to info@asianavemag.com.

Aurora invites you to

Global Fest 2019

Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019 • 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012 Free admission & free parking available on-site

The city of Aurora invites you to experience fantastic flavors, cultural experiences and artistic expressions from around the world at Global Fest.

Celebrate what makes Aurora one of the most diverse cities in the U.S.: the people! One in five Aurora residents was born outside the United States, and Global Fest is an opportunity to showcase our differences while celebrating our diversity and what unites us as a city.

Now in its sixth year, Global Fest includes two stages of performances throughout the day, kids activities, an International Marketplace, Parade of Nations, International Fashion Show, Beer Market, and much more.

Global Fest takes place at the Aurora Municipal Center. Don’t want to drive or mess with event parking? Take RTD’s R Line to the Aurora Metro Center Station, a short walk from the event.

Bags are subject to inspection at Global Fest. No pets, open carry of firearms, outside alcohol, glass bottles or illegal substances are allowed.

Stay up to date on Global Fest by signing up for text alerts. Subscribe by texting GLOBALFEST19 to 888777.

Experience the joy of cultures and people from around the world, all in our own backyard.

Go to AuroraGlobalFest.org for details on performance schedules.

Food Vendor Lineup • Happy Cones • Whitewater Kettle Corn • Dos Mares • Msosi Kenyan Cuisine

• The Pikine Grill Food Truck • Kona Ice • Repicci’s Italian Ice • Tacos Y Tortas Selene • Middle Eastern

Shack • High Grade Catering & Food Trucks • Arepas House • Eritrean Cultural & Civic Center Upcoming Event | asian avenue magazine

9

Local Theatre Roshni with Vintage Theatre and Control Group Productions present the world premiere of “Mountains Made for Us” by Deepali Lindblom and Luke Sorge

“

In India, I didn’t dance.

In Sweden, I realized that I would like to dance. In Canada, I reached the heights of a professional dancer and choreographer.

But it was only in the US, I realized

the power of dance.

- Deepali Lindblom

An aspiring dancer from India finds herself in Colorado to begin anew. The last thing she imagined was falling in love with a local, who couldn’t be more different. Just when she is looking to the future, a blast from the past makes for a troublesome present.

With dazzle of Bollywood dances and a dash of Hindi, this romantic-comedy is a story about finding (and standing solid on) higher grounds but mostly finding love thereabouts.

The cast includes Deepali Lindblom (Saudamini), Jeremy Barnes (Calvin), Jaime Lewis (Samuel), Mireille Bakhos (Kundan), Sandeep Balasubramanyam (Sunil) and Sanket Wagh (Pradeep).

Deepali Lindblom is a Denver based professional dancer, choreographer, actor, storyteller, and artistic director. Trained in Indian dances and theatre, she performs,

teaches and produces art works with a social message.

Roshni, meaning “light” in several languages, aspires to work with those at the margins to tell them stories, but more importantly tell their stories. Roshni’s projects take place in the vibrant and diverse neighborhoods of historic north Aurora.

Here, 130 languages are spoken among residents from 110 countries.

“Mountains Made for Us” From the Himalayas to the Rockies;

Colorado’s first Bollywood-style romantic comedy

August 9 - 18 at Vintage Theatre 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, CO 80010 Preview Thursday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, Sat. Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Sat, Aug 10, Sun., Aug. 11 & 18 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10 - $15 $40 VIP tickets for Aug. 9 show at 7:30 p.m.

(Includes reserved seating, meet & greet the cast, dessert, and a drink)

www.vintagetheatre.org | 303-856-7830

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 10

August 2019 | Local Theatre

Shauna Medeiros-Tuilaepa Co-chair of Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission

QA &

By Gil Asakawa

Shauna Medeiros-Tuilaepa was born and raised in California and has spent more than half her life in the beautiful state of Colorado. She considers herself a multi-racial individual being “blended” with Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Irish.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a minor in marketing from the University of Denver. She began her performing arts career in 2001 with one of the first Polynesian dance revues in Colorado. Here, she learned more about the languages, cultures, and dances from many different islands in the South Pacific.

In 2008, Medeiros-Tuilaepa co-founded one of the most reputable Polynesian dance companies in Colorado where she gained further cultural knowledge, as well as, experience in choreography, theater production, and communications.

She is a proud mom of a beautiful blended family of six children. Her husband, Cornelius, is from the island of Samoa, and together they work very hard and strive to advance their entrepreneurship in hopes of successfully representing Polynesian communities, and thus, encouraging a better quality of life overall, for both, humanity, and the environment.

Medeiros-Tuilaepa is the co-chair of the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission (DAAPIC), and when she’s not advocating for AAPIs, she and her husband operate a Hawaiian food truck, No Ke Aloha. Let’s meet her!

What would you like to accomplish as DAAPIC’s chair?

I joined DAAPIC in April 2017. My goal is to do my very best to serve our community and their needs and continue to help in facilitating the success of our amazing team and commission in representing and advocating for our people here in Denver and beyond.

sian fusion items. The whole idea of starting a food truck came about through family visits and events which ultimately evolved into us providing food for all the island reggae bands that come to Colorado.

Tell us about your culture and its history.

Our Hawaiian history is very deep rooted in a connection between the ‘āina (land) and the kanaka maoli (native people). Native Hawaiians had complex and very advanced systems for fishing, farming, religion, family dynamic, royalty, laws and government, etc.

Our culture is very spiritual with many depths reflecting the beautiful oneness between mother nature and humanity and is centralized mainly around the concept and practice of Aloha. Aloha is more than a simple “hello” or “goodbye”; it is a special moment and relationship shared between souls. It is unconditional love and respect for each other. It is everlasting care and generosity for one another. It is our way of life.

Tell us about your “day job” and how you came to start a food truck.

We run a food truck that serves mainly traditional Hawaiian BBQ, as well as other authentic Polynesian cuisine and Polyne-

What do you cook at home?

Rice! Rice! And more rice! We also make a lot of soups (oxtail soup, Portuguese bean soup, beef stew, curry stews, pork squash, turkey tail, etc.) and miscellaneous stir fry with leftover vegetable and meats.

What stereotype infuriates you?

Adding pineapple does not make it Hawaiian!! Most Hawaiians do not eat pineapple on their pizza. In fact, pineapple is not indigenous to Hawaii; it was brought over and farmed extensively throughout the islands. The pineapple is important to us, however, even using it as the logo for our own business.

Here is the reason why: The pineapple is the international symbol of hospitality and represents the true nature of Aloha and other island people and their cultures. Though not indigenous to Hawaii, when planted in the soil, the ‘āina (land) embraced the fruit allowing it to flourish symbolically reflecting exactly the Aloha spirit of the Hawaiian people who have open arms to so many other cultures over the course of our history.

What’s your favorite childhood memory?

Growing up in the Bay Area, I would say it would be cruising to San Francisco over the Bay Bridge and experiencing all the unique qualities of the city.

Learn more about No Ke Aloha at: nokealoha.com See DAAPIC’s website: bit.ly/2JNH85v Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission | asian avenue magazine

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Cover Story

Bubble tea is exploding across Colorado Asian tea cafes and dessert shops are offering bubble teas as part of their menus.

This explosion of bubble teas is visible in Denver, Aurora and its surrounding suburbs.

The global bubble tea market is projected to reach $3.2 million by 2023, according to experts from the beverage segment.

The Taiwanese Origin Legend has it that a teahouse manager in Taiwan, bored during a long meeting, dumped tapioca pudding into an iced tea. She decided it actually tasted pretty good and added her concoction to the menu. The new tapioca tea became their biggest seller, and a trend was born, spreading throughout Taiwan and beyond. Now bubble tea shops are cropping up all over the world, offering flavors ranging from lychee, kumquat, red bean, matcha and coconut to the most common—the milk tea.

What is bubble tea?

Bubble tea—also known as boba tea or milk tea—is typically made by adding a scoop of black tapioca “pearls” to the bottom of a cup, pouring in cold green or black tea, and mixing in fruit juice, fruit puree, chocolate, milk, and other flavorings. It’s vigorously shaken by hand or through a blender. The “bubbles” in bubble tea actually refer to the bubbles that form when it’s mixed. The drinks are then served with a wide straw that allows room for the pearls to be sucked up along with the tea.

Customers drink the tea, then chew the soft, edible pearls.

Because it’s a tea-based drink, bubble tea has earned something of a health halo. After all, tea—especially green tea—is known for containing disease-fighting compounds. Tea is rich in natural plant chemicals called polyphenols, which may help reduce inflamma-

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August 2019 | Cover Story

tion and act as antioxidants in the body.

It’s addicting Not to burst anyone’s bubble, but just like calorie-packed menu items at coffee shops, bubble tea can be more like a dessert than a drink. Though the tea itself is naturally low-calorie, some of the concoctions pack a hefty amount of added sugar thanks to ingredients like fruit juices and flavored syrups. The chewy balls are made from the starchy cassava root, adding more than 200 calories per half-cup.

Who are the major chains?

While Denver’s bubble tea market is comprised of mostly mom-and-pop businesses, there are major players in this market. In fact, two Lollicup locations (on Colorado Blvd. and Federal Blvd.) are among the first bubble tea shops to open in Denver. The big chains include: • Lollicup USA Inc. • CuppoTea Company • Bubble Tea House Company • Ten Ren’s Tea Time • Boba Box Limited • Sumos Sdn Bhd. • Gon Cha USA • Boba Tea Company • Fokus Inc. Why is bubble tea so popular?

The addictive drink has skyrocketed in popularity in the last decade and bubble shops have even been dubbed “Asian Starbucks”.

The popularity is partly due to the variety of flavors and customization available to order your perfect drink. Aside from pearls, bubble tea shops offer a wide toppings like jelly (of many flavors), chia seeds, creama/crema, aloe vera, and popping boba, in addition to the many flavors of tea.

TEA CLOUD 1690 Champa St. | Denver, CO 80202 Tel: 303-627-5468 www.teaclouddenver.com

@poketeaboba @teaclouddenver

Poke. Tea. Boba. Repeat. Tea Cloud is a small business devoted to serving their customers quality, time after time.

Tea Cloud started in the Southlands Mall and eventually moved to its current downtown location in 2013. After five years of providing the downtown area with quality boba and loose-leaf teas,

North Denver

MASTER TEA 6600 W 120th Ave Unit I Broomfield, CO 80020 Tel: 720-583-1538 @mastertea.usa

Downtown Denver

James and Kady Fong passed the torch to a new owner: James Lee. Lee renovated the quaint tea shop into something more sleek and modern, and with the addition of poke bowls, transformed the shop into a destination for both food and drinks for the businessman and the family alike.

If you’re looking for a refreshing beverage in north Denver, enjoy the very best from a certified tea master.

David Chi, owner of Master Tea, was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to the U.S. in 2009. He was certified as a tea master and barista in Taiwan, and had opened six tea shops and one restaurant in Taipei, before moving to the U.S. He opened Master Tea in Broomfield in August of 2016.

Making sure to only use tea leaves imported directly from Taiwan, Chi ensures that his shop uses high-quality ingredients and that his team creates fresh drinks daily.

“As a certified barista, I am very familiar with tea brewing and I know the characteristics of every tea leaf. Not all tea leaves are equal. The temperature of the water and the amount of time for brewing varies widely depending on the tea,” he says.

Bubble Tea | asian avenue magazine

13

Central Denver

@teastreetdenver

Tea Street 4090 E. Mississippi Ave Denver, CO 80246 Tel: 720-863-8636 teastreetdenver.com

Asian Avenue readers voted as favorite tea shop Passion Fruit Green Tea

Lemon Sweat

Kumquat Winter Melon

Summer Drinks

Tea Street opened in the heart of Denver in December 2018. Being locally owned allows them to be innovative with their Taiwanese-inspirted drinks. The owners brew and cook everything on site, allowing complete oversight in quality and taste.

What also sets them apart is their dedication to authenticity: premium teas, real ingredients, and no powders.

Bright colors, open brick and clay tea sets set the mood for a fun and easygoing

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August 2019 | Cover Story

atmosphere. And smiling faces invite you to stay a while on orchid-covered tables.

Tea Street is well known for their good customer service; they especially welcome inquisitive newcomers to bubble tea. The dialogue around popular flavors like Taro, Mung Bean and Red Bean are intriguing to those who have never had them in drinks. And to those who have, the quality speaks for itself. The staff keep a close eye on sweetness so the flavors can really shine.

A message from Tea Street: We LOVE seasonal fruits and vegetables, so we often have a secret menu (shhhh!) that features limited items.

One of the newest drinks on our menu is Lemon Sweat. You guessed it, again featuring another fruit, lemons! It’s an inhouse pickled lemonade, salty and sweet, perfect for replenishing the much-needed hydration from the summer heat.

To see all their new items, follow Tea Street on Instagram @teastreetdenver.

Like Tea Park Meadows 8433 Park Meadows Center Drive, Suite #D144A Lonetree, CO 80124 Tel: 720.289.1434 | liketeausa.wixsite.com/liketea

Peach Sweet Cheese Slush

South Denver Zang Zang Milk Fruit Teas

Opened on March 31,2019

Like Tea is the new hidden gem of Park Meadows. The bubble tea shop infuses ideas from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. The founder has traveled overseas to bring these drinks and desserts back to share in the U.S. Like Tea aims to bring Asian-inspired, new and trendy ideas to Colorado.

Like Tea’s menu includes traditional boba milk teas, tea drinks, and slushes, but what really separates them from other boba shops are the cap series and the fruit teas!

What are cap series? Cap series is layer of topping on the teas (that is a creamy texture), which blends perfectly with the drink. Their four caps are Cheese Cap (sea-salt flavor), Tiramisu Cap (coffee flavor), Very Berry Yogurt Cap (strawberry yogurt flavor) and Brulee Cap (custard flavor).

The traditional milk teas steer away from using artificial non-dairy powder and instead incorporate evaporated milk. The fruit teas and slushes are made with fresh cut fruit every morning and fruit juice instead of artificial flavored powder. In addition, the staff will adjust your drink’s sweetness level to meet your needs.

Like Tea’s snack and desserts include egg waffles with or without ice cream, coconut pudding, mango mousse and tiramisu mousse. The most popular dessert is the egg waffle. From the food carts of Hong Kong, this is where it all started. A simple snack became a favorite in addition to a quick grab and go breakfast.

Many shoppers are ecstatic that there is now a bubble tea shop in the Park Meadows area to quench their tea thirst! At Like Tea, they will always provide the best quality and service to everyone.

@Liketeaparkmeadows Bubble Tea | asian avenue magazine

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SHARETEA in BELMAR

424 S. Teller St Lakewood, CO 80226 Tel: 720-708-4354

Sharetea is open everyday from 11am to 10pm 16

August 2019 | Cover Story

Sharetea was established in 1992 with only black milk tea and boba, creating Sharetea’s signature drink, the Classic Pearl Milk Tea. Starting in Taipei, Taiwan, Sharetea has quickly grown into one of the most recognized names in the world for Boba or Bubble Tea. Through it’s continuous growth, the owner of the Belmar location was quick in realizing that Colorado had a long way to go in establishing a boba culture, like California is known for.

Sharetea is a staple in California and through Sharetea, the owner is able to share the love of boba to a much needed state.

The Lakewood location opened its doors in the Belmar shopping district on December 1 last year and has just passed the eight-month mark!

This is a family run business and you are able to feel the sincerity of all the staff, who call each other family, instead of just co-workers!

West Denver Sharetea’s drinks are made with products that only the company has.

With fruit teas, brewed teas, milk teas, fresh milk teas, creama teas, and even ice blended drinks—there is something for everyone!

Especially when Sharetea has the option to adjust the sugar or ice levels in most of the drinks, everyone is able to customize their drinks to their own tastes!

Drinks and toppings are made fresh and have the best quality in mind to make Sharetea an excellent experience on every visit!

“We test the tea leaves each growing season and all ingredients from time to time to ensure our drinks are consistent and high quality. The best tea needs the best ingredients and we insist on the best for you!”

@shareteabelmar @shareteabm

Bubble Tea Shops & Cafes Phone

Social Media (Facebook & Instagram)

(303) 993-7444

FB & IG: @bambudenver

Beau’TEA’ Bubbles

723 Quebec St Denver, CO 80220

(303) 856-7289

FB & IG: @beauteabubbles

Black Pearls

2630 S Parker Rd, Unit D Aurora, CO 80014

(303) 745-3387

FB & IG: @blackpearlsteabar

Boba & Crepes

4085 E Mississippi Ave, Ste D2 Denver, CO 80246

(720) 324-0169

FB: fb.com/Boba-Crepes-143581502352955

Colorado Boba Zone

5005 S Kipling Pkwy Littleton, CO 80127

(303) 990-9926

FB: @Cobobazone | IG: @coloradobobazone

DCha Cafe

7150 W Alaska Dr. Lakewood, CO 80226

(720) 379-5205

FB: @dchacafe | IG: @dmcafe.outside

Dingtea

1699 S Colorado Blvd Unit E Denver, CO 80222

(720) 324-8663

IG: @dingtea_denver2019

Dream Bubble Tea

1 W Flatiron Crossing Dr Broomfield, CO 80021

(617) 953-0488

FB: fb.com/Dream-Bubble-Tea-158180804862536 IG: @dreambubbletea

Happy Tea

2790 S Havana St. Ste U Aurora, CO 80014

(720) 592-0977

IG: @happyteaaurora

Kung Fu Tea (Boulder)

1121 Broadway, Ste 102 Boulder, CO 80302

(720) 638-3470

FB: @KungFuTeaBoulderCO IG: @kungfuteaboulder

Kung Fu Tea (Denver)

6365 E Hampden Ave. Ste 102 Denver, CO 80222

(720) 370-8888

FB: @KungFuTeaDenverCO | IG: @kftdenver

Like Tea

8433 Park Meadows Center Dr. Ste D144A Lone Tree, CO 80124

(720) 289-1434

FB & IG: @LikeTeaParkMeadows

Lollicup

1589 S. Colorado Blvd.

Denver, CO 80222

(303) 504-6022

FB: fb.com/Lollicup-Denver-155562704460046 IG: @lollicupdenver

Master Tea

6600 W 120th Ave. Unit I Broomfield, CO 80020

(720) 583-1538

FB & IG: @mastertea.usa

Meet Fresh

1350 S Colorado Blvd. Ste 121 Denver, CO 80222

(720) 389-7858

FB: @MeetFreshDenver | IG: @meetfreshusa

Milkit!

9625 E Arapahoe Rd. Unit G Greenwood Village, CO 80112

(720) 484-5297

FB: @milkitco | IG: @milkit_co

Mini Moo’s Tea Shop

7555 E Arapahoe Rd. Ste 1 Centennial, CO 80112

(303) 955-0544

FB & IG: @minimoosteashop

Pekoe Sip House

1225 Alpine Ave. Boulder, CO 80304

(303) 444-5953

FB & IG: @pekoesiphouse

Plentea

1391 E 120th Ave Thornton, CO 80241

(303) 450-0556

FB: fb.com/Plentea-433145214186133 IG: @plentea_colorado

Sharetea

424 S Teller St. Lakewood, CO 80226

(720) 708-4354

FB: @shareteabelmar | IG: @shareteabm

SNOWL

1930 S Havana St #5-6, Aurora, CO 80014

(720) 542-9902

FB: @snowlcafe | IG: @snowl.cafe

SNOWLAB

4360 E Evans Ave. Denver, CO 80222

(720) 772-8475

FB & IG: @snowlabco

Spill The Tea

1040 W 104th Ave Northglenn, CO 80234

(303) 537-5165

FB: fb.com/Spill-The-Tea-30685230318078 IG: @spill.the.tea.boba

Tbaar (Aurora)

12201 E Mississippi Ave, #123A Aurora, CO 80012

(303) 366-0268

FB & IG: @tbaarcolorado

Tbaar (Denver)

3970 Buchtel Blvd. Ste 105 Denver, CO 80210

(303) 756-6176

FB & IG: @tbaardenver

Tea 4U

3602 River Point Pkwy, Unit C Sheridan, CO 80110

(303) 761-4017

FB: @Tea.4URiverpoint | IG: @tea.4you

Tea Cloud

1690 Champa St. Denver, CO 80202

(303) 627-5468

FB: @poketeaboba | IG: @teaclouddenver

Tea Street

4090 E Mississippi Ave. Denver, CO 80246

(720) 863-8636

FB & IG: @teastreetdenver

Volcano Tea House

2781 S Parker Rd Aurora, CO 80014

(720) 536-5656

FB & IG: @volcanoteahouseaurora

Wonder Tea

12303 E Mississippi Ave. Aurora, CO 80012

(303) 362-0512

FB & IG: @wonderteaaurora

World Juice Bar

5036 W 92nd Ave. Westminster, CO 80031

(303) 955-2182

FB & IG: @worldjuicebar

Milk Tea or Fruit Tea?

Address 1147 S Federal Blvd Denver, CO 80219

get it while it's cold!

Tea Shop BAMBU

Bubble Tea | asian avenue magazine

17

Feature Story

SHOFU - EN JAPANESE GARDEN CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY

The Shofu-en Japanese Garden was dedicated on June 23, 1979 with a formal ceremony, complete with a blessing from a Shinto priest. The garden was designed by renowned landscape architect Koichi Kawana, who created Japanese Gardens across the United States, including Balboa Park in San Diego, Chicago Botanic Garden and Missouri Botanical Garden.

Shofu-en means “garden of pine and wind� and is a traditional Japanese garden that also reflects its Colorado setting with native Ponderosa pine trees. Japanese trees cannot survive in Colorado, so the native trees are regularly pruned and shaped to keep the petite, sculptural aesthetic. Many of the Ponderosa pines are more than 100 years old. The trees were collected by the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society with permission from Rocky Mountain National Park.

A traditional tea house and bridge were built in Japan, taken apart, shipped to Denver and reassembled by Japanese artisans in 1979. The north gate and concrete lanterns were also made in Japan. The tea house garden and Bonsai Pavilion were added in 2012.

1979 Dedication

18

August 2019 | Feature Story

Buddhist blessings in 1979

Tea house installation

CELEBRATION EVENTS AND PROGRAMS Haiku Tree

On view through late October Included with Gardens admission Visitors are invited to write a haiku and attach it to the haiku tree in the Japanese Garden, across the path from the pond deck. In Japanese, a haiku poem is usually divided into three groups/lines of syllables, the first and last with five syllables, the second with seven. The “tree” is made to look like a udon noodle drying.

Then and Now Photos

On view through December 31, 2019 Visitors can look for enlarged historical photographs in the Japanese Garden that show how each location looked in 1979 through the early 1980s.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Aug. 10, 11, 24, 25; Sept. 7, 8, 21, 22 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. $35 general, $30 member For centuries, the tea ceremony has been considered the epitome of Japanese life, based on harmony, respect, purity, tranquility and elegant simplicity. Experience a traditional ceremony inside the Gardens’ tea house.

Japanese Chabako in the Gardens

Aug. 11 and Sept. 8 9 to 9:40 a.m., 10 to 10:40 a.m., 11 to 11:40 a.m. $14 general, $12 member The tea ceremony has been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries, prized for its inclusion of many of Japan’s traditional arts. This tea ceremony takes place not in the traditional teahouse but out in the Gardens. This immersive demonstration of the Chabako practice (boxed tea), is specifically designed to be enjoyed outdoors, where tea and a sweet will be served along with a discussion on tea and the seasonal motifs within the Gardens.

Denver Taiko Drum Performance & Mini-Lecture

Sept. 17 | 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Included with Gardens admission Visitors can enjoy two 15-minute performances by Denver Taiko and a brief lecture about the history of Taiko drumming.

Denver Taiko was founded in 1976, a nonprofit community organization that honors their cultural heritage through the exhilarating performance art of Japanese drumming.This event is made possible by Sakura Foundation.

Forest Bathing Guided Walk

Aug. 5; Sept. 9 | 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. $30 general, $25 member Experience the relaxing Japanese practice of forest bathing: shinrin-yoku. Studies suggest that a regular practice of forest bathing may be associated with a reduction in blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones. During this walk, the guide invites ways to engage the senses for closer connection with the surrounding nature.

Pikachu and Hello Kitty Meet and Greet

Aug. 9, 23; Sept. 13, 27; Oct. 4, 18 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Included with Gardens admission Japanese pop culture characters Pikachu and Hello Kitty hang out in the Japanese Garden for photos with visitors. During inclement weather, the characters will be in the Boettcher Memorial Center lobby.

Gather: An Intimate Pop-Up Sushi Dinner

September TBD Gather is a pop-up dining experience featuring four to five innovative courses prepared by local chefs. The 2019 series’ culinary theme is Asia and is presented in partnership with the Asian Chamber of Commerce and Dragon 5280.

The September event features Japanese cuisine in the Orangery. The event is BYOB and the chef recommends pairings in advance.

botanicgardens.org/40th-anniversaryshofu-en-japanese-garden Shofu-en Japanese Garden | asian avenue magazine

19

Feature Story

Science curator teaches science to the public through various collaborations

Film expert and professor of film & media studies at MSU Denver Vincent Piturro and space scientists Ka Chun Yu provide insights and feedback about the movie, Donnie Darko as part of the Sci-Fi Film Series at Sie Film Center.

Photo credit: Jeannette Herreria

Ka Chun Yu, curator of space science at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, spends 50 percent of his time reaching out to the public about the complexity of astronomy.

Since 2001, Yu landed in this job a year after completing his Ph.D. in Astrophysical, Planetary & Atmospheric Science at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

“I was hired to help with renovations,” said Yu, adding that the permanent museum exhibit needed to move into the 21st century.

20

August 2019 | Feature Story

Working at the museum Yu, 45, never imagined working in a museum setting. He admitted his typical career track would lead to research and higher education.

“It is immensely fun,” said Yu. “I do a lot of communicating science to the public.”

Public outreach could include school visits, museum talks, local clubs, libraries and associations. Yu even extends his presentations to unique collaborations such as with the Denver Film Society and the Denver Pop Culture Con. Other talks have included the archaeology of beer with Avery Brewery, Digital Beer, and Digital Earth: Cuba, a planetarium show. Yu has served as the point person and space expert for local television, newspaper and magazines to comment on space activities such as blue moon, solar eclipse, and even unusual theories of flat Earth.

Last May, Yu participated in a panel discussion at the Denver Pop Culture Con about the physical and social sciences behind Black Panther and its imaginary word of Wakanda.

On July 17, before and after the movie of Donnie Darko at the Sie Film Center

Articles by Mary Jeneverre Schultz

in Denver, Yu shared his insights on time travel and the science behind it.

Albert Einstein claimed there are four dimensions of space and time, said Yu, adding that in a full day of flying, one can lose 43 nanoseconds. Yu suggested to audience members to read Stephen Hawking’s book and his outlook on parallel universes, wormholes and negative matter.

In classroom settings, students learn information in one hour time frames, while museums must capture the attention of visitors in 10 seconds or less. “It’s difficult to capture the attention of the (museum) visitor,” Yu indicated during an interview with Asian Avenue.

But with recent popular television comedies such as Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, the interest of science and technical fields have surged in an uptick as seen by high college enrollments in STEM careers. Yu cautioned that mass media is doing a great job in creating excitement in technical fields “but the science is usually not correct,” he said.

Next Presentation To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, Yu and space scientist

Dr. Steve Lee will present on the Digital Moon on August 13 at 7 p.m. in the Gates Planetarium. Using the full dome of Gates Planetarium, visitors will check out the sites where lunar landers have touched down, then revisit the history of lunar missions and take a look at future moon missions.

Childhood and Personal Life Born in Hong Kong and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Yu focused on his career. Raised by his grandmother, he observed his parents run a restaurant business. Married for

seven years, his wife, Kimberly Colegrove works as a high school arts teacher. They live three miles from the museum in the North Park Hill neighborhood.

When Yu is not conducting research or working at the museum, he enjoys watching movies. He reminisced about the movie that got him hooked as a film geek, Freaky Friday. He also mentioned Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, referring to the 1960s version.

His love of films lends to his work of creating and producing 3-D Digital Earth

with a team of fellow scientists and colleagues from respected institutions.

Future Endeavors Through Teen Science Scholars, Yu teaches students about 3-D models to be inserted in planetarium software (dmns. org/curated-plans/teens). He also hopes to redo the film Space Odyssey and showcase it in 2020.

“Everyone should pursue their own interests,” Yu said. “Do something with what you love.”

Speaking of space science... the Kennedy Space Center welcomes all visitors

During the bus tour, displays of astronaut suits are set up for visitors to check out.

The welcome signage leads visitors to the entrance of the Kennedy Space and Visitor Center.

Ellison Shoji Onizuka was the first Asian American and person of Japanese descent to reach space.

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of Neil A. Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon. The moon landing stands as the culmination of America’s Cold War human spaceflight program and positioned itself as a global leader in science and technology.

It’s no wonder that the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is busy this year, especially during the summer when cruise guests, space fanatics and tourists descend on Florida. Built in 1967, Kennedy Space Center is only one hour away from Walt Disney Resort.

Tour is the only way you can gain access to NASA’s restricted areas, with sites both rooted in history and instrumental in the future of space exploration.

Vehicle Assembly Building, Launch Complex 39 and all of the facilities in between.

Of course, because Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station are both working launch facilities, the tour routes may be altered at any time with or without notice. Check the daily schedule once on site for any changes.

At the conclusion of the bus tour, visitors are dropped off at the Apollo Saturn V Center where NASA’s Project Apollo comes to life.

Guests should tour at a good pace, exploring the many exhibits. Tour buses are waiting outside the complex to take visitors back to the main visitor complex. The attraction takes about two hours, including the Apollo Saturn V Center. Learn more at: www.kennedyspacecenter.com.

---------------------------------------------------Follow Mary Jeneverre Schultz on Instagram @Jeneverre.

Navigating through the visitor center The number one question at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex asked is “where is the bus tour?” The visitor complex, as it stands today, started with the growing public interest in bus tours during the dawn of America’s space program.

Today, the Kennedy Space Center Bus

How do you take a bus tour?

As a guest with daily admission, you may take the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Bus Tour for no additional cost. Catch a bus from inside the visitor complex entrance; they run continuously throughout the day.

Tour guides will mention space superstars such as Elon Musk. For those from the 1980s, one can hear references to the television show, Knight Rider.

Once on the bus, prepare for a 40-minute tour through NASA’s property. Launching into the next era of space exploration, the KSC Bus Tour has been updated to take you behind NASA’s gates like never before. Guests will pass monumental sites within NASA’s gates, usually including the

Space Science | asian avenue magazine

21

Feature Story

Sakura Foundation Celebrates Its

5th

Anniversary

By Stacey Shigaya

GO

. Two letters of the alphabet.

In English it means to move or proceed. In Japanese GO is the number five. Both meanings of GO are being embraced by Sakura Foundation as it marks its fifth anniversary as a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and celebrating Japanese and Japanese American (JA) heritage, culture and community as well as sustaining the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.

Sakura Foundation is composed of a small-but-mighty staff of Executive Director Gary Yamashita and Program Director Stacey Shigaya, with assistance from Sakura Square LLC Director of Business Operations Tim Higashide and Operations Coordinator Karen Murakami.

The 15-member board includes the following dedicated members of the JA community: Joe Ozaki (Board President), Richard Yoshida (Vice-President), Kelly Yamasaki (Secretary), Rob Tanaka (Treasurer), Ron Abo, Drew Domoto, Harry Harada, DJ Ida, Kenzo Kawanabe, Tom Migaki, John Nitta, Ed Nozawa, Derek Okubo, Charles Ozaki and Joni Sakaguchi.

The areas of focus for the Foundation

22

August 2019 | Feature Story

are community grants, scholarships and cultural events including the annual Cherry Blossom Festival co-presented with Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.

The Foundation’s signature program is the Mirai Generations Leadership Program which encourages young professionals to connect to the JA community, be inspired by community leaders, organizations and activities and take action to find their place in the JA community. There are currently 21 energized MGLP alumni who are making their mark in the local community.

In March 2016, Sakura Foundation presented its first event: “Tohoku Today – A Celebration of Japan’s Food, Culture and Recovery After 3.11.2011.” This fundraiser and community event commemorated the fifth anniversary of the devasting tsunami and earthquake in the Tohoku region of Japan. It brought together 15 Japanese and JA organizations and companies as sponsors to host nearly 200 guests and raise $7,500 in support of the recovery efforts in Japan. The partnerships that grew from “Tohoku Today” continue to enhance the local JA community.

To date, Sakura Foundation has dis-

Sakura Foundation Executive Director Gary Yamashita opens the 2016 Cherry Blossom Festival

Grants received from Sakura Foundation have helped our Japan in the Schools interactive program to remain free for all classrooms, supported the Japan Cup language competition for over 125 students and helped expand our annual Japanese Kite Festival.

-- Claudine Locascio Executive Director of Japan America Society of Colorado

Consul-General of Japan Makoto Ito and presenter Mio Yamamoto at Tohoku Today, March 2016

tributed more than $7,000 in community grants and $37,500 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors who have supported the JA community. Sponsorship and donations to a variety of organizations that share Sakura Foundation’s mission have been awarded. The Foundation is grateful for the support, encouragement and collaboration it has experienced over the past five years.

To observe its anniversary and thank the community, Sakura Foundation will host a Fifth Anniversary Celebration on September 12 at Space ANNEX at 95 S. Cherokee. The evening will consist of a scrumptious dinner masterfully created by Tokio chef/owner Miki Hashimoto.

Special entertainment will be provided by One World Taiko in a collaborative performance of Japanese taiko drumming with modern-day hip-hop and break dancing with Denver’s finest bboys. To RSVP to this ticketed event, visit EventBrite.com and search “Sakura Foundation.”

To support Sakura Foundation and learn more about its programs, visit:

www.SakuraFoundation.org Mirai Generations Leadership Program Class of 2017 and 2018 Sakura Foundation Board of Directors, staff and MGLP alumni

Having the financial support to attend a smaller college has allowed me to become involved in campus life and develop lifelong leadership skills, all while receiving an excellent education.

As I enter my senior year, I look back in gratitude at the amazing support Sakura Foundation has provided me through its scholarship program.

Through my involvement with the MGLP, I am looking forward to being part of conversations around imagining the future and the paths we will take in order to continue to carry on the long legacy of a strong Japanese/JA community here in Colorado.

We remember and honor the hard work and dedication of those who built our community Our Japanese American culture permeates our intentions, events and programming Our commitment to enhancing and embracing our community is steadfast

-- Allyson Masunaga Goto MGLP Class of 2019

-- Bryan Tanigawa University of Denver Class of 2020

Sakura Foundation| asian avenue magazine

23

Restaurant Peek

Shi Miaodao - Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodles “Within ten seconds, you’ll get a good taste of Yunnan”

T

he first Yunnan rice noodle restaurant has recently opened in Denver just a month ago! As one of the most famous rice noodle chain restaurants in China, Shi Miaodao translates to “ready in ten seconds” in English.

Ten Seconds maintains the traditional craft of making rice noodles to let eaters experience the most authentic taste of Yunnan as well as the essence of Yunnan’s culture.

Yunnan rice noodles are also called “crossing the bridge noodles,” which comes from an ancient romantic story.

Once upon a time, there was a scholar who was studying very hard for his imperial exam on a small island in the Yunnan Province of China. The island was located in the center of a lake, and the only way to get there was to cross a bridge before embarking on a long walk. The scholar’s wife delivered noodle soup to the island every day, however, by the time the scholar received his soup, the broth was cold and the noodles were soggy.

The wife began to worry about the scholar, as his body appeared weak and his health seemed to be deteriorating.

Her concerns led to a great idea! Going forward, she would prepare her noodle soup with chicken oil on the surface, and various meats and vegetables in a heated earthen pot to stay warm. Soon enough, the scholar’s health began to improve and his body and mind grew stronger. In the end, the scholar completed the imperial examination successfully.

24

August 2019 | Restaurant Peek

By Lijin Zhao From then on, this story has been passed down for generations, and Yunnan rice noodles soup became known as “crossing the bridge noodles,” because the scholar’s wife crossed that bridge every day, without fail, for her husband.

This story shares the traditional way of eating Yunnan rice noodles:

1

Once you order your meal, you will receive the soup, the rice noodles and the side dishes separately. Some side dishes include white and black fungus, Chinese chives, spam, corn, egg, etc.

2

Place the rice noodles and the side dishes into the soup, in order for them to cook. Wait a couple seconds to let the flavor of the soup absorb into the food.

3

Then enjoy!

Unlike other noodles, rice noodles can be more tender, chewy and savory. The original refining process is performed by hand in an ancient town called Guzhen which makes rice noodles that exude an aromatic rich rice scent with each bite. Other than that, after boiling for hours, the soup can be rich in flavor and nutritious since several ingredients used in the soup are really good for one’s health. A variety of side dishes also help to create the richness of the food and give a lot of choices on how to create your ideal rice noodle bowl.

The perfect balance between nutritious and delicious Yunnan rice noodles brings both your body and your mind to Yunnan and helps you experience the interesting food culture of South China.

Ten Seconds is a branch of the Shi Miaodao chain of noodle shops that only have a handful in North America (including in New York and Toronto), but with more than 750 locations in China.

Sample Menu Original Rice Noodle Pickled Pepper Rice Noodle Kimchi Beef Rice Noodle Pork Chop Rice Noodle Tomato Rice Noodle Tomato Pork Chop Rice Noodle Sirloin Tomato Rice Noodle Spicy Rice Noodle Spicy Sirloin Rice Noodle Lamb Hot Pot Rice Noodle Beef Tripe Hot Pot Rice Noodle Pickled Fish Rice Noodle Chicken Rice Noodle

$10 $12 $14 $12 $10 $12 $14 $12 $14 $14 $14 $14 $10

Shi Miaodao also offers different kinds of hand-made boba milk teas. Don’t forget to try them!

Location

2000 S Havana St. Aurora, CO 80014

Phone

720.583.2839

Open Hours

Monday - Sunday: 12:00pm to 8:30pm Closed on Wednesday

Website

shimiaodaodenver.com

Shi Miaodao - Yunnan Rice Noodles | asian avenue magazine

25

TV Series

New romantic K-drama on Netflix

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung will melt your heart Netflix Inc., the world’s leading Internet entertainment service, announced that Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung, a Korean historical romance series, was launched globally in July.

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung is about a love story between aspiring historian Goo Hae-ryung, who dreams of a future where all people are equal, and prince Yi Rim, a lonely man who leads a double life as a romance novelist.

26

August 2019 | TV Series

The series is set in the 19th century Joseon Dynasty when everyone is old-fashioned and holding onto things of the past. But in order to leave records about the queen’s quarters, which are off limits to male historians, an unprecedented government exam is held to select female historians, and Goo Hae-ryung officially becomes a ‘rookie historian’ working at the palace.

Goo Hae-ryung, played by Shin Se-

kyung, is brazen and honest, and she believes that the brush can be mightier than the sword. Cha Eun-woo, who is well known for his acting role in My ID is Gangnam Beauty, and is also a member of the popular K-pop boy band Astro, plays Yi Rim, a prince who is second in succession to the throne.

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung started releasing two episodes weekly on Netflix last month.

Above: Stills from TV series provided by Netflix.

Book Review

Title: Severance Author: Ling Ma ISBN: 9781250214994 Pages: 304 | Price: $17 Publisher: Picador Paperback Website: lingma.tumblr.com/severance Reviewed by Mary Jeneverre Schultz

E

nd of the world, zombie take-over and survival in a commune setting are found in this pink-covered novel through the eyes of a first-generation Chinese American young adult.

Maybe it’s the end of the world, but not for Candace Chen, a millennial, first-generation American and office drone meandering her way into adulthood in Ling Ma’s offbeat, wryly funny, apocalyptic satire, Severance.

Candace Chen, a millennial drone self-sequestered in a Manhattan office tower, is devoted to routine. With the recent passing of her Chinese immigrant parents, she’s had her fill of uncertainty. She’s content just to carry on: she goes to work, troubleshoots the teen-targeted Gemstone Bible, and watches movies in a Greenpoint basement with her boyfriend.

With so much waiting, Candace spends some time reminiscing about her parents, who passed away during her college years. She shares the hardship of her parents, who left China and their isolation from their families and friends.

Familiar themes include the father portrayed as a workaholic and mother, who gravitates towards brand names and huge shopping sprees.

So Candace barely notices when a plague of biblical proportions sweeps New York. Then, Shen Fever spreads like wildfire throughout the city and nation. Families flee to spend their precious days together. Companies cease operations. The subways screech to a halt. Her bosses enlist her as part of a dwindling skeleton crew with a big enddate payoff. Soon entirely alone, still unfevered, she photographs the eerie, abandoned city as the anonymous blogger NY Ghost.

Candace won’t be able to make it on her own forever though. She considers joining a group of survivors led by power-hungry IT tech Bob. They’re traveling to a place called the Facility, where Bob promises they will have ev-

erything they need to start society anew. But Candace is carrying a secret she knows Bob will exploit. Should she escape from her rescuers?

A send-up and takedown of the rituals, and missed opportunities of contemporary life, Ling Ma’s Severance is a moving family story, a quirky coming-of-adulthood tale, and a hilarious, deadpan satire. Most important, it’s a heartfelt tribute to the connections that drive us to do more than survive.

This book makes readers reflect about how time is precious and tomorrows aren’t guaranteed. It will give you pause after reading the book with some sense of sadness and desolation. How does one make memories instead of turning to materialistic items as a way to feel fulfilled?

About the Author

Photo Credit: Anjali Pinto Ling Ma was born in Sanming, China, and grew up in Utah, Nebraska, and Kansas. She attended the University of Chicago and received an MFS from Cornell University. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a journalist and an editor. Her writing has appeared in Granta,VICE, Playboy, Chicago Reader, Ninth Letter, and other publications. A chapter of Severance received the 2015 Graywolf SLS Prize. She lives in Chicago.

Book Review | asian avenue magazine

27

On Scene

Mike Choyama showcases herbal coffee at the festival.

Slow Food Nations showcases a variety of cuisine The 3rd annual Slow Food Nations event in Denver stands as Slow Food’s biggest U.S. event. From July 19-21, downtown Denver’s Larimer Square transformed into a three-day free international food festival with cooking demonstrations, food tastings, family activities, block parties and speaker discussions centered around food.

The theme was “Where Tradition Meets Innovation” and included more than 100 free and ticketed interactive events, from the Kitchen Counter to the Tasting Room, Block Parties to a Zero Waste Family Meal. Woven between it

Jackie Wang and Julie McMahon traveled from Brooklyn, New York to educate consumers about their produce company called Gotham Greens.

Photos by: Jeannette Herreria Soy sauce is a part of the slow food movement.

all was the Taste Marketplace with 100 good food merchants.

“I am inspired by the brilliant and talented minds that joined us for Slow Food Nations 2019,” said Slow Food Nations executive director Krista Roberts. “From the legendary Alice Waters, who was a pioneer for Slow Food, to Pierre Thiam, who is preserving the rich culture of West African cuisine, the weekend was thought-provoking, delicious and a truly unique food experience.”

The Slow Food Nations 2019 weekend assembled culinary luminaries and envi-

ronmental thought-leaders on important topics impacting the food system including: Farming and the Future, Food and Technology, African American Foodways, Indigenous Food and Culture, Food Waste, Food Justice, and School Gardening.

The festival is hosted by Slow Food USA, a nonprofit that inspires individuals and communities to change the world through food that is good, clean and fair for all.

Interested in volunteering or attending the 2020 event? Sign up for their newsletter at slowfoodnations.org.

Cultural Arts Festival teaches “Five Excellences” Following the 4th of July, about 250 people attended the Zhang San Feng Asian Cultural Arts Festival in Englewood.

The weekend festival featured martial arts exchange, masters and cultural performances, and workshops for further learning.

This year’s festival went beyond martial arts, highlighting the “Five Excellences,” (skills believed to make a person a true “scholar

28

August 2019 | On Scene

warrior” and balanced human being): martial arts, internal healing arts, music, poetry, and calligraphy.

“Our goal was fulfilled, which was to share the cultural treasures of China’s heritage (beyond just marital arts) with the local and regional community—families, adults, kids, everyone!,” said Jennifer Chase, event spokesperson. “The masters and cultural demonstrations captured the attention of everyone, especially Denver’s Asian arts community, with a

show that was both exciting and educational.

The organization is directly connected with DaoUSA and the WuDang San Feng Friendship Association of China, who served as this year’s main sponsors.

The event has been around for 22 years, but this was the second year it was open to the community which included attendees from New Mexico, California, Texas and others. The 2020 event will be held in Estes Park.

zsffestival.com | Facebook @zhangsanfengfestival

The scents of lavender lure Colorado residents to the day-long festival

About 8,000 people showed up at Chatfield Park by the Denver Botanic Gardens last July 20.

In its fourth year, more than 2,000 lavender plants set the scene for this family-friendly celebration of Chatfield Farms’ Lavender Garden. In a picnic setting, families were able to enjoy the area underneath large trees on the manicured lawns.

“Lavender farms are prevalent on the west side of the state so our Chatfield Farms horticulture team wanted to highlight how well the plant can do on the Front Range and have our own festival,” said Erin Bird of Denver Botanic Gardens. “The event features something for all ages and interests – gardening, history, art, music, food and beverage, kids’ activities, classes and more.”

There were 12 food and drink vendors; 43 craft vendors and eight artists, showcasing lavender products made by local growers and artisans. Free demonstrations, educational programs and artists were highlighting all things lavender.

Lavender oil is believed to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to heal minor burns and bug bites.

Research suggests that it may be useful for treating anxiety, insomnia, depression, and restlessness.

Some studies suggest that consuming lavender as a tea can help digestive issues such as vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, upset stomach, and abdominal swelling. Consult with your medical professional before using lavender-type products.

While one day is set aside to celebrate the lavender fields at Chatfield Park, anyone can visit the location at 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road in Littleton to smell the aromatic scents of lavender and experience walking through the farm. It’s the perfect setting for those who love the color purple. To stay on top of next year’s event, sign up at botanicgardens.org.

Despite inclement weather, Water Lantern Festival showed a huge turnout More than 5,000 people purchased tickets for this annual event at Carpenter Park in Thornton. Despite the flash flood warning, blustering winds and enormous thunderstorms, the event started up around 7:30 p.m. Event organizers received permission from the city of Thornton to extend the event one hour later until 10 p.m.

“The whole purpose of this event is to bring people from all different types of backgrounds together. Though we may all look, and think differently we need to unite together and love one another and help spread peace, joy and happiness,” said Sage Parker, spokeswoman for the event. “The main message we are trying to state is that we all have suffered through trials and difficulties in this life, and we need to try to come together to strengthen and love one another.”

Founded in 2017, Water Lantern Festival is an incredible experience where family and friends can create a magical memory of life.

It can be a very emotional experience, writing down some of your hopes and dreams, or a letter to a loved one, and then sending it out into the water.

On Scene Articles and Photos by

Mary Jeneverre Schultz Follow her @jeneverre

This is the second year for the event in the Denver/Thornton area. After torrential rains, the summer evening was perfect, not too cold or hot. Families, couples and friends sat on the grass, stood on the bridges or relaxed near the amphitheater listening to a local band play soothing music. After building the lanterns and writing intentions, lanterns were launcheds onto the manmade lake. Learn more at: waterlanternfestival.com.

Mile High Happenings | asian avenue magazine

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On Scene

Random Acts of Kindness performed by Bhutanese community leader, Som Baral

By May Tran On Saturday, June 29, Sisters Enterprise sponsored its 15th annual Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) program in which 14 Coloradans, including Mr. Som Baral, were recognized for their kind, unselfish, exceptional demonstrations of RAOK. By recognizing kindness since 2005, Sisters Enterprise encourages individuals to boldly step out and make humanitarian strides by helping others in need. This year, Baral was nominated by May Tran (who was recognized in 2015) for his numerous acts of kindness throughout Colorado.

Som Baral, a refugee from Bhutan, is the current president of the Global Bhutanese Community in Colorado and works at Lutheran Family Services. He spends most of his spare time helping refugees, senior citizens and the disabled navigate the state’s complex social benefit systems.

Since 2008, Baral has continuously volunteered in his community as a caring advocate and leader. He enjoys providing his community the support they need, especially in the areas of affordable housing, home ownership and health insurance. His peers also respect him and others based on his extensive expertise regarding the citizenship process, organization of community events and facilitation of training for members.

Baral also actively helps seniors by sharing information regarding needed resources such as long-term care, adult day services, medical waiver programs, citizenship programs, and more.

Based on his metro-Denver connections with a plethora of refugee service providers, his role as Health Services Supervisor has played an essential part of the immigrant services provided by Lutheran Family Services.

He also serves as a consultant trainer for Everest Home Care LLC, which is a newly formed Home Care Agency operated by his wife Renuka Dahal, that provides in-home support services, homemaking and personal, non-medical services to senior and disabled people in metro Denver.

May Tran serves as one of the Board of Directors for Sisters Enterprise, and is active in Denver’s refugee community. At the 2019 Sisters Enterprise event, May joined Miss Colorado USA 2019 (Madison Dorenkamp) and Mrs. USOA Colorado (Sylvia Waller) as a featured fashion model. Tran is a classical pianist and artist, and has studied at the Conservatory Institute in Saigon, Vietnam. She speaks four languages: Chinese, Vietnamese, French and English.

Tran is grateful to use her skills to perform piano recitals and to serve the seniors in their facilities. This brings joy and happiness to seniors through her singing and piano music. Tran continues to carry on the legacy that her parents left for her. Based on her

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August 2019 | On Scene

May Tran (center) with honoree Som Baral (right) and his wife Renuka Dahal (left) and son. passionate personality to always help others whenever she is able, she has friends from all walks of life who love and admire her caring and sharing spirit.

Sisters Enterprise, founded by two sisters, Betty Funderburke and Elinora Reynolds, is a 501c3 nonprofit that was established in 2005 to help promote random acts of kindness. Today, the Sisters Enterprise community-strengthening programs are popular teaching tools for children, adults and the community-at-large.

Tran created the beautiful cover art for Sisters Enterprise’s recent book, “These Are They,” a collection of biographies and short inspirational stories that reflect the lives of our community’s finest citizens. The stories of these individuals called “RAK-tivists,” are of hope, resilience and encouragement are bound to inspire many to reach out and touch someone in a special way.

By sharing their random acts of kindness stories and experiences, readers will learn new and improved ways to positively impact the lives of others by extending genuine, kind and caring random acts of kindness towards friends, family and even strangers.

After reading “These Are They,” we hope that you will agree that life is not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. Rather, it is about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better and what you’ve given back.

To purchase a “These Are They Random Acts of Kindness” book, visit the Sisters Enterprise online store at http://squareup.com/store/ sisters-enterprises. For more information about Sisters Enterprise, visit www.Sisters Enterprise.weebly.com.

Tran was a fashion model at the Sister Enterprise event

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