December 2021
Denver celebrates Japan Culture Day
Volume 16 Issue 12
Asian heritage center in Colorado Springs
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PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine Connect with us! hello@asianavemag.com @asianavemag We are excited to announce the development of an Asian community center and cafe in Southwest Denver! Stay tuned!
Happy holidays to all our Asian Avenue readers! This year, like 2020, was difficult in many ways. Many of us experienced loss and grief in 2021. We have lost loved ones, we have felt isolated. The Asian community has continued to be targeted with hate and violence throughout the pandemic. But with the lowest of lows came some of the highest of highs. We have uplifting news! With the support of The Colorado Health Foundation, we are excited to announce a new project in development for 2022! Asian Avenue and Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network will be establishing a community space that will feature a cafe serving bubble tea and coffee, a hangout spot to study or work, and a space to introduce our local Asian food trucks. I would like to personally thank so many of you who have helped in this journey and have listened to me talk about this idea for more than a year. From our focus groups, we found that our Asian community is in need of a space where we can gather, feel a sense of visibility and belonging, and lift each other up. Forever grateful to The Colorado Health Foundation for helping to fund this endeavor which is needed now more than ever! Congratulations to this year’s Best of 2021 restaurants and local businesses. Thank you to all our business owners and staff for continuing to provide incredible service during these unpredictable times. We are all in this together and Asian Avenue is here to support any way we can! Wishing everyone a safe and joyous holiday! We will see you in 2022 as we welcome the Year of the Tiger!
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December 2021 | President’s Note
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EVENTS: December event calendar
COMMUNITY NEWS: City of Aurora recognized as top city that supports immigrants
Colorado Springs gears up for its Asian heritage center
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INSIDE STORY: Denver Language School welcomes new learners to its language immersion programs COVER STORY: Asian Avenue readers vote for their mile-high favorites of 2021
FEATURE: A look back at this year’s historic moments in pop culture BOOK: Celebrating Chinese New Year set to release this month, just in time for the Year of the Tiger ON SCENE: Daniel Oh receives Service Award
Colorado Asian Pacific United continues its work to revive Denver’s Chinatown Community organizations gather for a holiday mixer
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December 2021 | Table of Contents
Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web Designer JASON ZHANG Marketing Manager JOIE HA Editor DAMIAN SIU Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
on the cover Congratulations to the businesses that were recognized as the Best of 2021 by Asian Avenue readers. Happy new year to all!
Looking to promote your business? Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses a costeffective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For more information, call 303.937.6888 or e-mail us at hello@asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates. Send story ideas to hello@ asianavemag.com. Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
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upcoming events Kaiseki - Virtual Cooking Workshop
Send community events to hello@asianavemag.com.
Shinnenkai - Japanese New Year Party
Saturday, December 11, 12pm to 2pm
Friday, December 31, 2pm to 2am
Cost: $20 per person (online) More information at: bit.ly/kaisekiwinter2021
Embassy Suites Denver Central Park Hotel 4444 S Havana Street, Denver Online Tickets: $25 | At Door: $30 More information and tickets at: www.simpletix.com/e/shinnen kai-with-thirsty-samurai-tickets-80921
Colorado Korean Chorus Festival of Carols
Sunday, December 19, Begins at 4pm This class will feature an Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year) themed kaiseki menu! This New Year’s workshop will include kaibashira no kobujime (kelp marinated raw scallops), ozoni (New Year’s soup with turkey dumpling, fish cake and mochi rice cake), tatakigobo (burdock root with sesame dressing), sekihan (red beans and rice [aka “happy rice”]), and senmaizuke (thousand layer pickled radish). The workshop will be primarily taught through demonstration of these fine Kaiseki dishes. Easy to follow recipes will be provided.
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church 10150 E Belleview Ave, Greenwood Village Free and open to the public More information at: ckchorus.org Colorado Korean Chorus presents their annual holiday concert which will feature a harp soloist from California and a men’s vocal quartet called The Ballamore. The free concert is a charity event in support of the Children’s Hospital Colorado. Audiences will be encouraged to participate in singing carols together.
On New Year’s Eve, join a Shinnenkai party to celebrate the new year. Ring in 2022 by cosplaying your favorite character, playing free arcade games, singing karaoke, enjoying Japanese snacks and drinks, and dancing the night away. Hotel discounted rates are available that include hot breakfasts.
Event Calendar | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Aurora ranks No. 1 in Colorado for immigrant support in 2021 Cities Index The city of Aurora has been ranked No. 1 overall in Colorado on the New American Economy Cities Index for its commitment to support its immigrant population. Aurora’s ranking on the index has risen steadily in recent years as the city has prioritized immigrant integration and inclusion in the community. In the individual categories that the index ranks, Aurora had the highest scores among ranked cities in Colorado in economic empowerment, inclusivity, government leadership, community, emergency management and job opportunities. “One of Aurora’s greatest assets is the diversity of our people, coming from around the world in search of a better life,” said Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman. “This ranking shows the important work that’s already been done in supporting our immigrant communities and serves as a foundation for our continued efforts to be a welcoming city to all who want to make Aurora their home.” The Cities Index examines and ranks how cities assist and support the immigrant population living within their borders. Most of the index’s categories align with the focus of Aurora’s 10-year immigrant integration plan, titled “Aurora Is Open to the World.” These include supporting vocational training, licensing and entrepreneurship; ensuring access to translated materials published by the city and building language support through vendors and city staff; having an office dedicated to immigrant services and supporting the immigrant population through resolutions and programs; advising City Council on issues related to immigrants and diversity; and providing programs that support and
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December 2021 | Community News
guide immigrants through the naturalization process. Aurora’s overall score of 3.25 on the Cities Index places the city tops in Colorado and third in the Mountain Region. “From innovative leadership programs like Natural Helpers, to a wide network of community partners serving our immigrant and refugee community, Aurora has been at the forefront of how to create an integrated city,” said Ricardo Gambetta, manager of the city’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs. “I’m excited to see this work recognized by New American Economy and look forward to continue improving our services and engagement with our immigrant community.” As the third-largest city in Colorado and one of the most diverse cities in the US, Aurora is committed to bettering the lives of its immigrant population. It is one of a handful of cities in the nation, and remains the only city in Colorado, to create a strategic plan for immigrant integration. The first plan was unveiled in 2015, and it was followed up last year by a new 10-year immigrant integration plan spanning 2020-30, focusing on 12 goals, including cultural inclusion, entrepreneurism, immigrant leadership and more. The Cities Index ranking reflects the work Aurora has done in implementing its immigrant integration plans. New American Economy is a bipartisan research group that advocates for smart immigration policies at all levels of government. Knowing that immigration is vital to the longterm prosperity of the U.S. economy, as well as the success of individual cities, the organization evaluates policies relating to the immigrant population to gauge how well immigrants are faring in their adopted cities. The Cities Index measures and compares immigrant integration across the 100 largest cities in the US. The NAE Cities Index helps inform the city’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs of areas where continued improvement is needed. Learn more at www.auroragov.org.
Colorado Springs to purchase park on southwest side as home for new Asian heritage center The P.E.O. Chapter House main building is where the former Stratton Park bandstand was located. The city is buying the house and 8.48 acres of the surrounding property for $2.3 million. Joanna Zaremba, Cheyenne Edition
The Colorado Springs City Council voted on November 23 to buy a new park on the southwest side that is envisioned as the home for a new Asian heritage center. The board voted 7 to 2 to spend $2.3 million to purchase 8.48 acres, known as Stratton Park, along west Cheyenne Road. The purchase represents a return to the property’s past because around the turn of the century, the area was a park and featured a bandstand and pavilion. The Philanthropic Educational Organization, a nonprofit that supports education opportunities for women, took ownership of the property in the 1960s and is now selling it. The Colorado PEO selected the Golden Lotus Foundation, the group proposing the heritage center, to purchase the property initially after the nonprofit outbid the city by $100,000, city officials said during a meeting Monday. The PEO received other higher bids but selected the Golden Lotus Foundation because it intends to use the property for educational and philanthropic purposes, said Britt Haley, the city parks design and development manager. Haley said the city and the foundation have come to an agreement that would allow the city to purchase the property and control it, while the nonprofit would raise funds to remodel an existing building into a heritage center that would include a museum and build a Chinese-style tea house. The center is envisioned as both an educational and a social gathering space for “people to eat, drink and be merry and shop,” said Florian De Castro, who presented high level plans on behalf of the foundation. Most council members were enthusiastically supportive of
the project and its potential. “I really believe this is a class A project,” Councilman Bill Murray said. De Castro said the foundation intends to build a place where Asian individuals can find community and educate others about their culture. In addition to indoor areas, the group envisions a walking trail that would highlight Asian art and botanical gardens from different cultures, such as a Japanese rock garden and an Indian-style garden that could be built around the existing pond. “Our vision is to provide additional education regarding what is Asian as best we can,” he said. The largest Asian groups in Colorado include the Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian and Filipino communities, De Castro said. Councilman Dave Donelson raised some concerns about the project Monday because the city is purchasing the property with the predetermined expectation it will be an Asian cultural center. He voted against the project along with Councilman Mike O’Malley on Tuesday. Haley framed the agreement as an opportunity for the city to host a cultural experience that it couldn’t fund on its own. “We often struggle at the parks department when we have an operational need... We do often look for partners to run those special events areas,” she said. Once the area is developed, the city would likely be responsible for maintaining outdoor areas and the nonprofit would be responsible for maintaining and operating the indoor spaces. Even though the nonprofit is investing in the buildings, they will remain under city ownership, Haley said.
Written by Mary Shinn, The Gazette, see original article at gazette.com. Community News | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Denver Language School welcomes new learners Did you know that Denver has an award winning public charter school where your student can be fully immersed in Mandarin Chinese? Denver Language School (DLS) is Colorado’s only public K-8 early total immersion school offering Spanish and Chinese. Our educational model is research-based and data-driven; we are focused on academic excellence and cultural competence through language immersion. DLS has been open since 2010 and we serve 890 students from all over the Denver metro area. We are a diverse school with a strong community. As a Denver Public School, DLS offers the same supports as many other public schools, including special education services, school counselors, student supports, and a gifted and talented program. DLS is a high-performing school in the DPS portfolio and we have been recognized with the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award for exceptional student growth, and the
John Irwin Award for exceptional academic achievement over time. Our middle school is a top ten middle school within the DPS portfolio. In middle school, students have a wide variety of choices for electives. They can also participate in clubs and our international travel program, and have the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement exam in 8th grade. In addition, all 5-8th grade students participate in the Student Action Projects, which are focused on enriching student’s engagement, advocacy, and ownership over their learning. Together with our Parent-Teacher Organization, DLS hosts many cultural events throughout the year, including a Night Market, an annual Chinese New Year Celebration, and a Dragon Boat team! Learn more about DLS at denverlanguageschool. org. If you’re interested in DLS, take a virtual parent tour, which is under the “Future Students” tab on the DLS website.
The DLS model is: Grades K-2 - 100% of the day in the target language; Grades 3-5 - 80% of the day in the target language; Grades 6-8 - 50/50 .
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December 2021 | Inside Story
Undergraduate students of AANHPI heritage are encouraged to apply for 8 to 10 weeks interning at a federal agency in Washington D.C. during the summer and/or placements in the U.S. Congress, nonprofits and think tanks. Applications must be submitted by Friday, January 14, 2022 at 5pm ET.
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2021
Voted by Asian Avenue readers, congrats to this year’s Best of 2021.
Best Dumplings
Yuan Wonton Food Truck Denver | @yuanwonton
Specializing in wontons and dumplings, Chef Penelope Wong has spent the last two years creating these delicious bites as she continuously spends time in R&D (research and development) to master the texture of the dough and combination of flavors. Follow Yuan Wonton on Facebook and Instagram @yuanwonton to see the mouth-watering photos and get the weekly schedule for the Denver food truck.
Yuan Wonton Food Truck
Honorable Mentions Mason’s Dumpling Shop Seoul Mandoo
Best Hot Pot Aki Asian Hot Pot
Honorable Mentions Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot K+ Hotpot
Aki Asian Hot Pot
12303 E Mississippi Ave #125, Aurora, CO 80012 @akiasianhotpot This year’s fan favorite, Aki Asian Hot Pot, is adored for its all you can eat hot pot at an affordable price. Building your own mix of broth, meats, and veggies brings eaters to the Aurora restaurant from all parts of Denver. Open daily, Aki Asian Hot Pot hits the spot, the hot pot spot.
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December 2021 | Cover Story
Best Pho Pho Duy (Denver)
Honorable Mentions Pho 95 Pho Lee
Pho Duy
925 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 With hundreds of restaurants competing in this category each year, Pho Duy manages to stay on top for Best Pho. Again, Asian Avenue readers have voted Pho Duy in Denver as their favorite go-to for a bowl of pho, not just on cold days, but every day year round.
Sushi Den
Best Sushi
1487 S. Pearl St., Denver, CO 80210 sushiden.net | @sushidendenver While there are certainly new players in Denver’s sushi scene each year, Sushi Den continues to be our readers’ top choice for raw fish. Opened on Christmas Eve 1984, and celebrating 37 years, Sushi Den continues to set the standard for high-quality seafood and is on the cutting-edge of Japanese cuisine.
Best Dim Sum Star Kitchen
Honorable Mentions Super Star Empress Seafood
Sushi Den
Honorable Mentions Sushi Katsu Sonoda’s Sushi
Star Kitchen
2917 W Mississippi Ave Ste 5, Denver, CO 80219 starkitchenseafooddimsum.com No surprise here, Star Kitchen takes home the gold for best dim sum in Denver. With two-hour wait times on the weekends, eaters know it is worth the wait to get your favorite shrimp balls, pork shu mai, and turnip cakes. Dine-in and take out are currently available at Star Kitchen, so stop by and pick up your go-to dim sum items, which are just as delicious when heated up at home!
Ramen Star
Best Ramen Ramen Star
Honorable Mentions Katsu Ramen Tokio
4044 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211 ramenstar.com | @ramenstardenver Chef Takashi Tamai continues to elevate the standard of ramen in Denver with his goal to offer world-class ramen and a new ramen culture to our city! With homemade noodles and broth, Ramen Star is recognized for serving the best ramen in 2021. Ramen Star’s noodles are made in-house, with an imported Japanese noodle press and their signature tonkotsu style broth is cooked for over three days and made with premium ingredients. Meanwhile, Chef Tamai continues to bring new items to the Ramen Star menu. Best of 2021 | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Best Asian Dessert
Best Seafood/ Crawfish Boil
SNOWL
The Asian Cajun
SNOWL
Honorable Mentions Mango Mango Milk Rolled Creamery
1930 S Havana St #5-6, Aurora, CO 80014 snowlcafe.com | @snowl.cafe Decorated in a boho style, the interior of SNOWL lures customers to stay and enjoy their dessert. The favorite at SNOWL is taiyaki, a fish-shaped waffle cone filled with ice cream. The menu board shows a wide range of options. Ask for suggestions because it’s hard to decide which dessert to order!
Pearl of Siam
18660 E Hampden Ave, Aurora, CO 80013 pearlofsiam.net @pearlofsiamrestaurant
Honorable Mentions The Yabby Hut | The Juicy Seafood
The Asian Cajun
2400 W Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80223 theasiancajun.com | @asiancajun4718 The Asian Cajun provides fresh seafood and the best flavors of Cajun cuisine. Its seafood boils are noted as the best in Denver.The restaurant prides itself in its authentic tastes of seafood mixed with a fusion way of cooking to deliver the best of both worlds via its two-sided menu!
While pad thai is considered the most popular dish in Thai cuisine (that you can get at any Thai restaurant), the best in the city goes to Pearl of Siam. Pearl of Siam is known for its authentic Thai recipes that use a variety of natural spices. The family-run restaurant has near perfect ratings on all platforms and is well-loved by all.
Best Asian-Style Chicken Angry Chicken
Best Pad Thai Pearl of Siam
Honorable Mentions Tofu House Dae Gee
Best Tofu Soup Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
Angry Chicken
1930 S Havana St #13, Aurora, CO 80014 angrychickenco.com | angrychickenauroraco Whether you enjoy the original, honey garlic or soy sauce chicken, Angry Chicken will have you leaving happy inside. The South Korean eatery specializes in Korean fried chicken of all flavors.
Honorable Mentions
Bonchon Chicken | Funny Plus
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December 2021 | Cover Story
Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot 2080 S. Havana Street, Aurora, CO 80014 seoulkoreanbbq.com | @seoul.koreanbbq
Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot offers over 13 different soup and stew dishes including some of the most traditional ones such as Doenjang-Jjige, Kimchi-Jjige, Mandu-guk, and Soon-tofu. Definitely try out their Korean soup the next time you are enjoying your BBQ or hot pot there! The restaurant offers it all!
No Ke Aloha
nokealoha.com | @nokealoha
Best Asian Food Truck No Ke Aloha
Honorable Mentions
No Ke Aloha Food Truck has big plans! The Asian Avenue favorite food truck is working on its first brick and mortar location in Aurora. Serving Polynesian eats, such as kalua pork and ahi tuna poke, No Ke Aloha owners Shauna and Cornelius love bringing the aloha spirit and cuisine to the mile-high city.
Yuan Wonton | Miss B’s Vietnamese
Tokyo Premium Bakery
1540 S Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80210 tokyopremiumbakery.com @tokyopremiumbakery
Best Asian Bakery Tokyo Premium Bakery
Honorable Mentions Banh Mi Station Baker’s Palace
Tokyo Premium Bakery provides all kinds of Japanese-style breads and pastries, as well as beverages. Their products are made from scratch and baked fresh. The matcha latte and hojicha latte, for example, pair nicely with their fresh bread and fruit tarts. On the weekend, Tokyo Premium Bakery shows lines of customers waiting to order their favorite morning delights. Customers can also order their Shoku-Pan (loaf of bread) online.
Vinh Xuong Bakery
2370 W Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80223 vinhxuong.square.site | @vinhxuongbakery The popular Vietnamese bakery and cafe offers pastries, coffee, and of course, banh mi sandwiches! Grilled pork, ham, chicken, spicy avocado, and tofu banh mi can be ordered online for fast pickup! Don’t forget to also order a Thai iced tea or Vietnamese coffee!
Tous Les Jours New Saigon Bakery
Best Asian Market H-Mart (Aurora)
Best Banh Mi Vinh Xuong Bakery
Honorable Mentions
HMart
2752 S Parker Road, Aurora, CO 80014 myhmart.com | @hmartcolorado H-Mart is unbeatable! This Korean-owned supermarket has been voted the #1 Asian supermarket since we first began our Best of series in 2011. H-Mart opened its first Colorado location in January 2004. The grocery store offers a mini fish market, where shoppers can ask for cleaning and frying of fish onsite. The produce area has a lot variety of fruit and vegetables, even durian, mangos and papayas; and the bakery offers fresh breads and pastries.
Honorable Mentions Pacific Mercantile | Pacific Ocean Supermarket Best of 2021 | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Yak & Yeti Restaurant
7803 Ralston Rd, Arvada, CO 80002 theyakandyeti.com | @yakandyeti Yak & Yeti is known for its delicious Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan Food and award winning craft beers! While there are many types of Indian foods and regional cuisines, Yak & Yeti was recognized as the overall best for Indian dining by Asian Avenue voters this year for its variety of meat and vegetarian options at all spice levels. Now with four locations across the metro area, its Arvada restaurant is located in historic Olde Town Arvada in the iconic ‘Eli Allen House’ originally built in 1864. Now a local destination, this location is also where their award winning beers are brewed.
Tea Street
4090 E Mississippi Ave, Denver, CO 80246
teastreetdenver.com | @teastreetdenver With a focus on tea culture, the founders of Tea Street, Patrick and Victoria Lam, value the significance of passing on their Chinese culture to the community. When the brother and sister duo were children, they frequently visited Hong Kong with their family and enjoyed Hong Kong-style milk teas. They were later also inspired by trips to Taiwan and being introduced to bubble tea. Premium loose-leaf tea, directly sourced from Taiwan, is at the core of Tea Street’s menu. Tea Street puts a modern twist on classically inspired drinks, building upon the foundation of invigorating bold brews of tea. Fresh fruits and scratch made syrups are used to provide depth and texture to their drinks.
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Best Indian Food Yak & Yeti Restaurant
Honorable Mentions Happy Lemon (Centennial) Sharetea (Lakewood)
Best Bubble Tea Tea Street
Best Asian-Owned Business
Best Asian-Owned Business
Best Asian-Owned Business
Truong An Gifts
Pacific Mercantile
Not Yo Mama’s Cupcakes
December 2021 | Cover Story
Nominated by Asian Avenue Readers Asian Avenue readers shared that these businesses are fulfilling a unique need and niche in our Asian community. These business owners are an integral part of Denver and give back to our local community. Denver would not be the same without them.
DOJO HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET Please join us for this one-day market featuring unique crafts hand-made by our talented dojo members! This Market is will also help to support our Youth Athletes. All vendors will be donating 10% of sales to the CB Youth Athlete Fund.
S U N . D E C . 1 2 T H 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Colorado Budokan
Southmoor Park
Karate School
Shopping Center
www.coloradobudokan.com 720-253-7473
3547 S. Monaco Pkwy. Denver, CO 80237
Best of 2021 | Asian Avenue Magazine
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By Mary Jeneverre Schultz | @jeneverre
A Look Back at Asian Americans are becoming prominent in the pop culture scene. While anti-Asian sentiments due to COVID misinformation, are still occuring in metropolitan cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, Asians are becoming more visible in positive ways. It’s easy to turn on any media streaming channel, insert Asian in the search line and see a list of movies starring Asian, South Asian and Pacific Islander actors and actresses. Blockbuster hits are making Hollywood hunt for Asian-inspired stories, scripts, and books. It’s more than just immigration stories. Coming of age, teenage angst, and the hardship of living between two worlds are major themes in recently released memoirs, television scripts, and storylines. Let’s celebrate the successes of Asians in pop culture in 2021. Suni Lee in Olympics | 18-year-old Suni Lee stands as the first Hmong American to win three gold medals in
gymnastics last summer at the Tokyo Olympics. Her gold medal wins garner her appearances in prominent shows such as Dancing with the Stars. As a resident of St. Paul, Minn., Lee became the fifth American woman to win Olympic gymnastics gold in the individual allaround. In addition, she won a silver in the team competition.
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December 2021 | Feature
Marvel’s Shang Chi | For the first time ever, Marvel Studios produced a movie with its first Asian superhero... finally. Released during Labor Day weekend, the film has been in development since 2001. Directed by an Asian director and filled with an all-Asian cast, the film grossed $431 million globally.
Sesame Street’s Ji-Young | During the Thanksgiving holidays, Sesame Street featured its first Asian American muppet, Ji-Young. The producers of Sesame Street wanted to showcase Asian American culture because of the rise of anti-Asian sentiment throughout the U.S. Critics argue race should not be part of a puppet’s identity. Despite the controversy, there has been an enormous support for the Korean American muppet. It’s been a long time coming.
Packed with action, fight scenes and hair-raising chases, the movie is fun to watch with a twist of Asian legends, secret villages, and ginormous monsters. Squid Games | Breaking records and doing the unthinkable, streaming giant Netflix does it again! Squid Games, a Korean dystopian-style series, reached more than 111 million viewers in less than four weeks from its debut. Because of the series unprecedented success, the streaming service is planning to invest $500 million in Korean movies and television series. Greed, vengeance, and the evil side of humans are all played out in this series. Each episode features a children’s game such as tug-of-war or red light, green light with each episode more outrageous than the last.
Daniel Dae Kim | After 30 years as an actor in Hollywood movies and television series, Daniel Dae Kim takes a leading role in NatGeo’s The Hot Zone: Anthrax. The scientific thriller is featured in six episodes.
Moving forward: What will 2022 bring? • More LGBTQ stories will feature Asian Americans. • Blended families will become more prominent in television series. • Hollywood Asian Americans will take more lead roles than ever before.
Celebrating Chinese New Year: History, Traditions, and Activities – A Holiday Book for Kids Coming Soon! Book Release: December 28, 2021 Available on Amazon
Celebrate Chinese New Year with this festive introduction for kids ages 6 to 9 Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is one of the most celebrated holidays around the world. This engaging book for kids explains the history, folklore, traditions, and customs of Chinese New Year and includes interactive activities that encourage kids to celebrate at home or in their communities. This Chinese New Year kids’ book includes: • Diverse traditions—From festivals and parades to relaxation and cooking, kids will learn how Chinese New Year is celebrated in different ways. • Fun, hands-on activities—Kids can explore a variety of ways to get festive, like making Chinese dumplings, paper lanterns, and their very own Chinese Zodiac calendar. • Fascinating facts and pictures—Colorful illustrations and fascinating factoids help bring Chinese New Year to life for your child.
About the Author: Eugenia Chu Eugenia Chu is an attorney, turned stay-at-home mom, turned award-winning and best-selling author. She is a first generation Chinese-American citizen and lives on a magical beach in Miami with her husband and son, Brandon, who is the inspiration for her stories. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, yoga and drinking too much coffee. She has been a presenter at numerous schools, libraries and book festivals. When Brandon was very little, the author couldn’t find children’s storybooks to read to him which touched upon Chinese culture and which included some Chinese (Mandarin) words to teach and/or reinforce his Chinese vocabulary, so she started writing her own. Website: eugeniachu.com Amazon: amazon.com/author/eugeniachu Facebook: fb.com/eugeniachuauthor Instagram: instagram.com/eugeniachu8245 Twitter: twitter.com/chuauthor
Get little ones excited to learn about this beloved holiday with this standout among Chinese New Year books for kids. Book Preview | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Daniel Oh receives Service Award from World Federation of Power Leaders Colorado business leader Daniel Oh was honored with the Service Award from the World Federation of Power Leaders. The service award recognizes a person that has contributed to the harmony and development of the community. Honorees demonstrate their value to future generations through practice sharing.
Oh is the only overseas recipient to receive the award (other recipients are based in Korea). He is the President/CEO of Goldstone Commercial & Investments and has been a leader in Colorado’s Asian community for more than four decades. On November 4, Oh celebrated with friends and local leaders at Ocean Prime.
Daniel Oh celebrates with friends and colleagues, including Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, his honor of receiving the Service Award from the World Federation of Power Leaders.
The work goes on to revive Colorado’s historic Chinatown In collaboration with Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU), the 2021 Downtown Denver Leadership Program celebrated its class project focused on re-envisioning Denver’s Historic Chinatown. Attendees at the event were treated to engaging exhibits and immersive experiences, including a virtual reality presentation of a futuristic vision of the Wazee alleyways from 14th to
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December 2021 | On Scene
17th streets. Local Chinese calligrapher Harber Chang provided live calligraphy. Members of CAPU shared the Asian American Pacific Islander community’s stories and Denver’s history, making the event a roaring success. Follow CAPU for updates and future events at fb.com/ColoradoAPUnited.
Realtors and lawyers mingle at holiday mixer On December 1, Asian Real Estate Association Denver (AREAA), Asian Pacific Bar Association Colorado (APABA), and Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network kicked off the holiday season with a festive mixer at Four Seasons Hotel The Edge Bar in downtown Denver. Members and supporters of the three organizations enjoyed appetizers and drinks, while making new connections
President of Asian Pacific American Bar Association Colorado Clark Yeh reflects on 2021 in his welcome
and networking. The event also kicked off the second year of the holiday winter drive for Colorado’s senior citizens (information below). The three organizations, in partnership with the Colorado Dragon Boat, will be collecting 200 gift bags to be given to seniors in the local area, including Asian senior daycare centers and senior living apartments.
Attorney General Phil Weiser shares how the Department of Law is protecting land, air, and water
HOLIDAY WINTER DRIVE FOR COLORADO'S SENIOR CITIZENS Help 200+ Asian seniors in Colorado this winter. Drop off a gift bag with at least 5 items (suggested minimum value of gift bags $25) or donate items directly from Nov. 29th–Dec. 13th.
REGISTER TO FILL A GIFT BAG OR DONATE: Registration, drop off locations, and details for suggested gift bag items here: https://tinyurl.com/Holiday-Winter-Drive
Guest speaker Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser spoke about Stop Asian Hate. He inspired the audience by referencing the motto “E pluribus unum” meaning “out of many, one” in that we are all together in this fight for justice. “We’ve had hate crimes for a long time, but now we have the opportunity to create more dialogue,” Weiser said. “Together we can work towards this ideal.”
Members of AREAA, APABA Colorado, and CACEN brought gift bags to donate to local seniors
This holiday season, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, and Asian Real Estate Assocation of Greater Denver are teaming up to bring joy to senior citizens in our community by hosting again a Holiday Gift Bag Donation Drive. At least 200 gift bags will be provided to seniors across the Denver metro area, including seniors at the Volunteers of America Sunset Tower apartments, Happy Living Adult Daycare Center in Aurora, and Korean Adult Daycare in Aurora. Sign up at tinyurl.com/Holiday-Winter-Drive to indicate how many gift bags you plan to donate (“quantity”). Now through December 13, drop your gift bags off at one of these locations during business hours: • Happy Living Adult Daycare Center, 12201 E. Mississippi Ave #101, Aurora, CO 80012 • Primera Law Group, 1240 S. Parker Rd, Suite 103, Denver, CO 80231 • Kokoro Restaurants in Denver and Arvada E-mail apabacares@gmail.com with any questions on how to get involved. On Scene | Asian Avenue Magazine
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By Gil Asakawa
Takayama Sister City Committee hosts Japan Culture Day “Bunka No Hi” in Japanese means “Culture Day.” Culture is exactly what people got from the Denver Takayama sister City Committee’s 2021 Bunka No Hi on November 11. In Japan, Bunka No Hi is a national holiday celebrated on November 3. Can you imagine the U.S. marking a national day that just celebrates culture? The Denver Takayama Sister City Committee (DTSCC) has hosted Culture Day events twice before the pandemic, and last year switched the event to an online showcase for the committee’s friends in Takayama, who gave a virtual tour of Takayama’s beautiful old-town district and then gave a live cooking demonstration of famous local foods. This year, the DTSCC offered a hybrid event with limited in-person capacity at the Jewish Community Center in Denver, and the entire four-hour event was livestreamed on Facebook.
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December 2021 | On Scene
The program included, as promised, a great introduction to a wide range of Japanese culture, both traditional and modern pop arts. The day featured speakers and demonstrations on topics ranging from Jpop music capped off with an energetically choreographed dance to a Jpop song by expert Yoko Watanabe and a troupe of young Japanese language students, to a precision demonstration of the martial art of Aikido by Sensei Ron Abo and his family. Culture Day also featured talks about the history and significance of Godzilla and Ultraman as well as Yokai, or Japanese ghosts and demons. The event provided an introduction to the Japanese tea ceremony; and Japanese washi paper; bouncy and haunting Okinawan music played by Sanshin Maameez group; and an entertaining lecture on how to read Japanese by Tom Reid, for-
mer Washington Post Tokyo Bureau Chief. Interim Consul General of Japan at Denver Kiyoshi Mihara greeted the audience and performers, and video greeting from the organization’s friends in Takayama was shown that took viewers on a brief tour of the city’s famous Miyagawa Morning Market. People who attended the event in person were treated as part of their admission to Ehomaki, or special Japanese sushi rolls that give diners good luck, and both the in-person and online audience members were able to participate in a silent auction that raised nearly $600 for the DTSCC. The good luck sushi must have worked! See more photos and videos on the DTSCC Facebook page at fb.com/Denver Takayama. Or visit the DTSCC blog on the group’s website: denvertakayama.org/ bunka-no- hi-reflections-2021.
