asian avenue magazine June 2019 Volume 14 Issue 6
Connecting Cultures Linking Lives
MEET THE
INTERNATIONAL GROUP AT RE/MAX Denver’s Cherry Blossom Festival
Dessert Peek
SNOWLAB
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The Confucius Institute at
Community College of Denver The Confucius Institute at Community College of Denver is a Chinese language and cultural learning center, established in 2007 with the support of the Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), to promote Chinese language training and intercultural understanding. Our programs and services include: n Noncredit Chinese language and cultural workshops n Private Chinese language tutoring n Chinese language proficiency testing n Scholarships to study in China n China summer camps n Seasonal Chinese cultural events n Seasonal professional development training for Colorado K-12 Mandarin teachers n An educational resource center For more information about the Confucius Institute, contact: Jane Lim Jane.Lim@ccd.edu n 303-352-6510 CCD.edu/ci
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JUNE 2019 in this issue EVENTS
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Event calendar The Little Saigon Night Market on Friday, June 21 will show designs that may be installed to improve the sidewalks along Federal Blvd.
COVER STORY
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The International Group at RE/MAX offers realty services with a global edge, including multiple bilingual brokers on the team
FEATURE
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The 47th annual Cherry Blossom Festival showcases the beautiful Japanese American culture with live performances, delicious foods, and eclectic vendors and artists
MOVIES
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The Sun is Also a Star stars Korean-American Charles Melton
The International Group at RE/MAX is the one-stop shop for global reach.
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Romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe starring Ali Wong and Randall Park is now on Netflix
BOOKS
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Q&A with author Eugenia Kim about her family’s story that inspired her novel The Kinship of Secrets
DESSERT PEEK
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As one of the only dessert cafes in Denver specializing in Taiwaneseinspired shaved snow, SNOWLAB continues to reinvent itself with new flavors and menu items
TRAVEL
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June 2019 | Table of Contents
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Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a live action film of the popular Pokémon animation
In our summer destinations series, learn more about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando
ON SCENE
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Asian Education Advisory Council awards Denver Public Schools’
students and faculty
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Nourished Festival is the largest specialty diet expo in the U.S. 2019 Asian American Heroes of Colorado are honored during Asian Heritage Month
ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com
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Dear Asian Avenue readers, Summer is here! And we invite you to enjoy the warm weather at one of the Asian-American events coming up: the 47th annual Cherry Blossom Festival in downtown’s Sakura Square, Little Saigon Night Market along Federal Boulevard, or the largest pan-Asian event in the state - the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake! As home ownership continues to be a hot topic (and a goal) in Denver, this month we feature a powerhouse team known as The International Group at RE/MAX. Lisa Nguyen shares how the team of bilingual brokers came together and the services they provide across the Denver area. Oreos. Avocados. Strawberries. Oh my! We encourage you to enjoy the delicious flavors of SNOWLAB’s Taiwanese-inspired shaved ice, using vegan and dairy-free ingredients. The dessert cafe has been opened since 2015 and is constantly adding to its menu and creating new flavors. Lastly, we are excited to see Asian-American representation growing exponentially on the big screen! Currently in theaters, The Sun is Also a Star and Pokémon Detective Pikachu both star Asian-American actors. And now available on Netflix is Always By My Maybe starring Ali Wong and Randall Park in the lead roles of the romantic comedy. 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
magazine
asian avenue Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO
Marketing Manager JOIE HA
President ANNIE GUO VANDAN
Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
Senior Designer C.G. YAO
Staff Writer AMY NG
Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ
Intern MANTING YUAN
on the cover
advertising
The International Group at RE/MAX offers realty services in Asian languages, including Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese and Korean. Photo Credit: Lin Johnson Photography
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contributing writers Jessalyn Herreria Langevin, Joseph Owen Schultz, Stacey Shigaya, Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake
contributing photographers Stacey Shigaya, Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake, Warner Bros. Pictures, Pamela Yang 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.
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President’s Note | asian avenue magazine
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upcoming events Little Saigon Night Market Friday, June 21 | 5pm to 10pm Mississippi and Federal Blvd. Shopping Center Free and open to the public walkdenver.org/littlesaigon The Little Saigon Night Market organized by Walk Denver is an initiative focused on community beautification and improvement of the pedestrian environment along Federal Blvd. You’re invited to this fun community event to enjoy food from local restaurants, live music, family activities, and test out designs that may be installed in the future.
Nathan Yip Foundation Sushi Party Saturday, June 22 | Begins at 6pm Jimmy and Linda Yip’s Home Tickets: $125 Guests will be notified of the address and event details nathanyipfoundation.org
Each year, the Nathan Yip Foundation celebrates the legacy of Nathan Yip during his birthday month of June. The sushi is lovingly prepared on-site by chef Miki Hashimoto, owner of Tokio in Downtown Denver. Seattle Fish Company, purveyor of the best seafood and gourmet foods in the region will sponsor the event.
Send community events to info@asianavemag.com.
47th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Saturday, June 22 | 11am to 6pm Sunday, June 23 | 11am to 4pm Sakura Square at 19th and Lawrence Street in downtown Denver Free and open to the public cherryblossomdenver.org Enjoy live performances including taiko drumming and aikido demonstrations at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival! An annual celebration of Denver’s Japanese community and culture, the event features Japanese food, art and music, craft beer and sake, a kids area and marketplace! This year will include a cosplay parade and the first ever Cherry Blossom Cosplay Contest!
Mark your calendars for the hottest festival of the summer on July 27-28! A celebration of our Asian American Pacific-Islander Communities at our FREE two-day festival! • • • •
Highlighted Country: Vietnam Year of the Pig! Themes: Food & Art $5 Parking at Auraria Campus with a FREE shuttle to and from the festival • Dragon boat races start at 8am each day
More info at: www.cdbf.org 8
June 2019 | Upcoming Events
MEET DENVER’S NEWEST SUPER DENTIST Local dentist Dr. Linda M. Nguyen has been practicing dentistry at Barotz Dental since 2017. Her impressive background and experience has afforded her an incredibly advanced dental skillset, enabling her to deliver life-changing dentistry for her patients. Dr. Nguyen says if she had to pinpoint a particular experience that motivated her to become a dentist, it would be her mission trip to Honduras. “At CU Boulder, I joined the Global Dental Brigades. We raised funds and supplies to set up mobile dental clinics in Honduras,” says Dr. Nguyen. She assisted in dental procedures as well as demonstrated flossing and brushing techniques for hundreds of people lined up waiting to receive care. “Seeing hundreds of villagers entering with a mouthful of pain and transforming those moments to pain relief and gratitude was something I couldn’t shake.” “Once I felt that calling, I couldn’t look back. The more I delved in, the more I loved it, and it’s a feeling that continues to resonate today.” Dr. Nguyen graduated magna cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Chemistry before earning her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Following dental school, Dr. Nguyen was selected to one of the nation’s
Dr. Linda Nguyen
most prestigious and intensive residency programs with the South Texas Veteran’s Healthcare System Advanced Education in General Dentistry. There, she provided superior care by marrying cutting-edge techniques with traditional evidence-based research. Born and raised in Denver, Dr. Nguyen’s wide array of skills includes dental implantology, advanced periodontics, endodontics and orthodontics. She is a constant learner and continually adds to her repertoire to better serve her patients. She acknowledges that dentistry is ever-changing, and as such it is impossible to solely use the same techniques over and over again. “It’s about narrowing down what works, what’s predictable, doing what’s right—while also being keen to what new developments are out there. In order to help my patients to the greatest extent possible, I am diligent about expanding my skillset and learning the right techniques.” As the Associate Doctor at Barotz Dental, Dr. Nguyen is excited for the opportunity to provide world-class dentistry in a unique, personal setting. She says, “At Barotz Dental, we offer Total Dental Solutions, which gives me the ability to take care of my patients from A- to-Z. You won’t be referred from one doctor to another because we can handle all aspects of your care in one convenient location.”
“We are also unique in that we take the time to know our patients on a personal and professional level, ensuring we help them achieve their dental goals by working together to achieve a lifetime of dental health.” She advises patients not to wait until they have a problem before seeing a dentist. “Don’t wait until you have pain and a problem occurs before making an appointment. Tooth problems are largely preventable, so take the time to find a trustworthy, clinically excellent dentist who gets to know you and is an advocate for your overall health.” Dr. Nguyen is passionate about giving back. She has provided dentistry abroad for the less fortunate and helped rebuild shelters for battered victims. In her free time, she enjoys trying new food, hiking, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
303 16th St Mall, Suite 250 Denver, CO 80202 720-903-4370
www.DenverDentist.com
Little Saigon Night Market pop-up coming to South Federal Boulevard! The “Friends of Little Saigon” initiative, led by WalkDenver and the West Denver Renaissance Collaborative, will be hosting Denver’s first pop-up Asian night market on Friday, June 21 on South Federal Boulevard between Tennessee Avenue and Mississippi Avenue. The initiative is focused on community beautification and stewardship of the pedestrian environment along Federal Boulevard between Alameda and Mississippi in Southwest Denver. According to WalkDenver: “As part of this initiative, we are working with community members to identify community-desired placemaking enhancements in the Little Saigon District that support the dignity and enjoyment of people walking and accessing transit along Federal Boulevard.” WalkDenver received an overwhelming response from nearly 500 people who completed a survey with street trees, pedestrian lighting, flowers and planters, enhanced bus shelters, and art among the top improvements people would like to see on the corridor.
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June 2019 | Upcoming Events
Community members also share what they believe makes this part of Denver so special. Many echoed the sentiments of Ryan, who visits shops and restaurants in the Little Saigon District as least once a week: “I love that South Federal is such a mixture of cultures and languages. There’s everything from Vietnamese to Chinese
to Mexican businesses and eateries. In that sense, it feels very distinct compared to many other places in Denver.” “I would love for the environment of South Federal (everything from the art work to the architecture to the streetscape) to feel as unique and distinctive as the cultures that call it home. I’d also love to see wider sidewalks and more
A rendering from the city’s Federal Boulevard Corridor Plan, which illustrates placemaking elements, such as the sidewalk, trees, and plants, that will be demonstrated during the night market. Credit: Denver Public Works
trees. There’s very little (if any) separation between the speeding traffic on Federal and pedestrians on the crosswalk. I usually drive to one or two businesses and then head home, but would be more inclined to wander and explore the district if it felt more pedestrian-friendly.” Drawing upon this community input, WalkDenver is working with the businesses on the corridor and the Vietnamese
community of Colorado to organize a pop-up night market. This short-term demonstration project will use low-cost materials to test out pedestrian-friendly designs that could be installed more permanently in the future. You’re invited to this fun and free community event to enjoy food from local restaurants, live music, family activities, and more!
Artist for the Little Saigon Placemaking project Local artist Ratha Sok was chosen to assist with the Little Saigon Night Market demonstration project. Sok will be designing and implementing a sidewalk mural at the Federal & Mississippi bus stop, as well as complementary artistic elements that could be incorporated into banners, planters, or other aspects of the demonstration. Sok was born and raised in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver. He is excited to create art installations that will showcase Little Saigon as a diverse part of southwest Denver.
Did you know?
RATHA SOK
• Everyday, 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles travel through Denver on Federal Boulevard. • Federal Boulevard is the 2nd busiest RTD corridor in the city. • Federal Boulevard contains several intersections that have some of the highest accident rates in the city.
Visit www.walkdenver.org/littlesaigon or contact Cindy Ambs at cindy.ambs@walkdenver.org for more information. Little Saigon in Denver | asian avenue magazine
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the international group at re/max is the one-stop shop for global reach.
W
Left to right: Dominic Jones, Josh Rachelson, Joseph Libkey, Andy Leung, and Adam Nick
Left to right: Lisa Nguyen, Tinisha Gomez, Liz Lee and Andrea Tracy
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June 2019 | Cover Story
hen it comes to real estate, the International Group at RE/MAX Professionals is your local team with global reach. Representing languages from around the world, they service clients in almost any of the major languages. According to the International Group, “Working with local and international investors, there is no deal too big or too small. If you’re looking for world class service, look no further.” The creation of this internationally-focused team began with Lisa Nguyen, a broker with RE/MAX Professionals, and Joseph Libkey, a developer with Blueprint Investment Group. “The State of Asia Report was published by RE/MAX and AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America) containing statistics of how Asians were the fastest growing demographic in the United States. Knowing that the demographics are changing in the next decade, we had an idea to form a team that could help assist with language barriers,” said Nguyen. As such. Nguyen and Libkey decided to partner and form a vertical integration one stop model for real estate. Some agents were already with RE/MAX and others left their re-
spective companies to join the team under RE/MAX Professionals. The group currently provides services in four of the major Asian languages in the Denver metro area: Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Cantonese with plans to add more languages once the right agents are recruited for the team. International investors can either invest into the PPM or utilize the team to buy and sell different types of real estate including: residential, land, multifamily and commercial. The International Group also specializes in FIRPTA & 1031 Exchanges, which are services needed by foreign investors. Since the team’s developer is self-performing, they are able to look at different types of models for investors. Nguyen, who has been involved in real estate since 2005, said: “So much has changed in real estate in the last decade. AREAA started in 2003 and at the time, I didn’t have a real estate family to support the community the way I do now. The demographics were not yet changing at the time.” As a Vietnamese American, supporting the Asian community is very important to her because she believes the community has come such a long way. She refers to the Chinatown in Denver being burnt
Photo of the International Group at RE/MAX by Lin Johnson Photography down in the 1800’s and Asians being discriminated against in housing. While a lot has changed since the 70’s, the work to bring equal and fair opportunities to diverse communities is far from being done. That’s why she is an advocate for the statement “Home Ownership for All,” which is her belief that no matter where you are in life—whether living in public housing, an apartment, or someone’s basement—home ownership is achievable with the right team by your side. She believes that the American dream of ownership should apply to all people. Nguyen, who is active in serving the community and taking on leadership roles, is the current vice president of
AREAA Greater Denver and will be the incoming president in 2020. When the Greater Denver Chapter was formed in 2016, she served as its treasurer. Her advice to others is to get involved because “our actions now will affect our children’s lives in the decades to come. When one voice becomes thousands of voices. We are more powerful in numbers.” Having been in and out of the real estate industry, specifically to raise her children, Nguyen has learned that being a broker is a hard job. “Not everyone can thick the skin to do it day in and day out. I have learned you have to be passionate about it or this will only be a job versus a career,” she said.
As she looks ahead in to 2019 and beyond, she advises Coloradans to: 1. Stay in tune with the market changes. 2. Know what is going on around Colorado such as the companies investing in the state, along with the major infrastructure changes. 3. Know the different programs available and partner with the right lender and agent. 4. Don’t wait too long to buy as home prices have continued to rise year after year. To reach Lisa Nguyen or an agent with the International Group at RE/MAX, e-mail intlgroup@rmprohomes.com.
The International Group | asian avenue magazine
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43 units for sale with lake and park views available!
The International Group at RE/MAX is ready to serve you!
The International Group | asian avenue magazine
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June 22 and 23, 2019 Saturday, 11am to 6pm Sunday, 11am to 4pm Sakura Square at 19th and Lawrence Street in downtown Denver
FREE admission and open to the public
Denver Taiko is a crowd favorite each year at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
The Sun Shines on the
47th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival! Article and Photos by Stacey Shigaya
Watch Japanese woodworking up close at the Arts and Eats Underground area.
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June 2019 | Feature
As sure as the summer sun shines and the flowers bloom after a good rain, June brings the celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Sakura Square in downtown Denver transforms into a collection of marketplace vendors, scrumptious Japanese food and a live stage filled with vibrant entertainment. Co-presenters Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple and Sakura Foundation prepare for months to bring the area’s largest outdoor Japanese and Japanese American cultural festival to returning and firsttime attendees. The free festival which is open to the public truly has something for everyone: young families can teach children about a new culture….older kids can watch the judo, karate, aikido and dance performances... young adults can buy anime and t-shirts and chow down on sushi... adults can peruse the marketplace arts
and crafts and delight in the delicious Japanese food... and seniors can be entertained by the dancing and singing of the cute children of the Temple! The Japanese and Japanese American community in Denver is comprised of a variety of organizations, many of whom will have information booths at the festival. Among them is Denver Takayama Sister Cities Committee, which has participated in the festival since 2016. Chairperson Steve Comstock feels the Cherry Blossom Festival is a wonderful connection to the community. Having a presence at the festival “has been a perfect way to connect with people who are interested in Japan. Each of the past three years we have gained 70+ real connections to people who are interested in learning about our work, several of whom have become very active members of our committee. The Cherry Blossom Festival is the premier event for us to become known in the community.”
The Arts and Eats Underground area features the work of local artists.
Fun Facts about the Festival The Arts and Eats Underground area is a great place to cool off from the summer heat! There are two ways to access this not-so-hidden gem: 1) from Lawrence Street, enter the Temple gate, turn to the right and go down the steps and 2) enter the festival from the alley at 20th Street between Lawrence and Larimer Streets. There you will find yummy Japanese food and local artists chatting about their Japanese-inspired artwork on display. Meet Takayuki Kida, a woodworking craftsman born and trained in Japan who now lives in Boulder. Ask Kida-san about the traditional Japanese lacquering technique called urushi. The delectable food that is available in the Temple gym, outside in the Temple marketplace booth and in the Arts and Eats Underground area is made with skill and care by volunteers from the Temple community. Treat yourself to teriyaki chicken, sushi, manju (a sweet dessert), spam musubi, teriyaki burgers with
A future taiko drummer watches in awe of the magnificent Japanese drums and the taiko performers.
Karami sauce (Japanese salsa) and many more items which are sure to hit the spot. Back by popular demand is the indoor kids’ area! Located in the building at 19th and Larimer Streets, the kids’ area provides an opportunity for kids and parents to relax and create a craft. Saturday morning attendees can enjoy a visit with representatives from the Denver Public Library who will have a variety of curated books, just for the festival! Representatives from the Colorado Anime Fest will be in attendance. Come see your favorite anime characters, participate in a cosplay parade and see who will win our first-ever Cherry Blossom Cosplay Contest! To learn all the details about the many marketplace vendors, live stage performances and the full menu of food for the 47th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, go to www.cherryblossomdenver.org.
Sensei Ronald Abo, founder of Denver Buddhist Temple Aikido, gives an aikido demonstration. Aikido is a Japanese martial art involving striking, throwing and pinning techniques. 2019 Cherry Blossom Festival | asian avenue magazine
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THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR In theaters now | Rated PG-13
Reviewed by: Mary Jeneverre Schultz Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @Jeneverre
“What if I told you I could get you to fall in love with me…?”
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College-bound romantic Daniel Bae and Jamaica-born pragmatist Natasha Kingsley meet—and fall for each other—over one magical day amidst the fervor and flurry of New York City. Sparks immediately fly between these two strangers, who might never have met had fate not given them a little push. But will fate be enough to take these teens from star-crossed to lucky in love? With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family’s deportation as fiercely as she’s fighting her budding feelings for Daniel, who is working just as hard to convince her they are destined to be together. Outside of the storyline, it’s a nice, feel-good movie, showing the cityscapes of New York, even showing the traffic, accidents and crowds walking the sidewalks of the metropolis. Scenes from Union Station, the Bronx, the Financial District, Chinatown, and Flushing bring the story alive as the couple sort out their emotions throughout the plot of the movie. A modern-day story about finding love against all odds, The Sun Is Also a Star explores whether our lives are determined by fate or the random events of the universe. Is it happenstance, coincidence or meant to be? It’s a constant question in viewers’ minds as they watch the movie.
The film stars Yara Shahidi (“Grown-ish”) as Natasha and Charles Melton (“Riverdale”) as Daniel, along with John Leguizamo (“John Wick: Chapter 2”). Scoot over Henry Golding, Charles Melton knows how to make his smiles enigmatic on the silver screen. Of course, it’s nice to see more Asian representation on the big screen. Directed by Ry Russo-Young (“Before I Fall”), the film is based on the acclaimed bestseller by Everything, Everything author Nicola Yoon. The Sun Is Also a Star was #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list and has received multiple accolades, including: 2016 National Book Award Finalist; Amazon’s Best Book of 2016 in YA; Amazon’s Top 20 Children’s Books of 2016 in YA; the New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2016; and Entertainment Weekly’s 10 Best Books of 2016. Obviously, the book is a great read because it shows in the movie, the seamless scenes in one day’s timeframe. Russo-Young directed the film from a screenplay by Tracy Oliver (“Girls Trip”). The film’s producers are Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton, who served as producers on “Everything, Everything.” Pamela Hirsch served as executive producer. The Sun Is Also a Star is a Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures present An Alloy Entertainment production.
Charles Melton (right), who is of half-Korean descent, plays Daniel Bae in The Sun is Also a Star. He is best known for his role as Reggie Mantle in the TV series Riverdale.
Yara Shahidi (right) from “Grown-ish” plays Natasha in the movie as she questions if she’s found her true love. Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
June 2019 | Movie Reviews
POKÉMON Detective Pikachu In theaters now | Rated PG
Reviewed by Joseph Owen Schultz
MOVIE REVIEWS
A 21-year-old insurance employee (Justice Smith) hunts for his estranged father, a detective who may or may not have died in a car crash. He receives help by his dad’s pocket-monster partner (voice of Ryan Reynolds), a wisecracking creature he initially dislikes but eventually befriends, and by an aspiring reporter (Kathryn Newton) with whom he has a big crush. The first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” is based on the beloved Pokémon brand—one of the world’s most popular, multi-generation entertainment properties and most successful media franchises of all time. Three things I liked about this movie: 1. The movie shows stuff Pokemon fans can appreciate. 2. At the same time, the movie also introduces the concept to newcomers. 3. The animation is great and doesn’t distract from the storyline. Three things I disliked about the movie:
1. The story goes too fast for an older audience to catch the extra dialogue, filling in the plot holes. 2. It has a predictable ending. 3. It has a predictable villain and follows the same cliché stories found in most of today’s movies. Launched in 1996, the Pokémon brand is a global sensation with a robust video gaming fandom with over 324 million units sold worldwide; trading card games in 11 languages with more than 25.7 billion cards purchased; and an anime television series in its 21st season that is available in more than 160 countries. There are over 20 Pokémon animated films; as well as books, manga comics, music, toys, merchandise, and apps, including the wildly popular Pokémon GO, that has been downloaded over 850 million times and is enjoyed across the globe. “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” opened in theaters on May 10. Joseph Owen Schultz attends Cherokee Trail High School as a freshman.
Ken Watanabe as Lieutenant Hide Yoshida and Snubbull in Warner Bros. Pictures’ “POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU.” Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Justice Smith (left), Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Detective Pikachu and Ken Watanabe (right).
Always Be My Maybe
Rated PG-13 | Romantic Comedy Starring: Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito Opened in select theaters on May 29 and available on Netflix starting May 31
Starring Ali Wong from “Baby Cobra” and Randall Park from “Fresh Off the Boat,” who co-wrote the rom-com with Michael Golamco.
Always Be My Maybe centers on two childhood sweethearts who cross paths again later in life, when Sasha (Wong) has become a celebrity chef and Marcus (Randall Park) is still living with his father while performing in a local band. Daniel Dae Kim and Keanu Reeves star as other love interests in the San Francisco-set film. The pre-dominantly female crew behind the camera includes director Nahnatchka Khan, dialogue editor Laura Harris Atkinson and producer Erin Westerman.
Ali Wong and Randall Park play in the movie Always Be My Maybe as friends who reunite 15 years later. Movie Reviews | asian avenue magazine
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Q&A with Eugenia
Kim
Q: Your novel is set against the backdrop of the Korean War. Can it help explain the larger divisions of North and South Korea that exist today? A: The Korean War is at the root of what separates North and South Korea today, a war that has never officially ended. This novel is drawn from my family’s stories—parents who were both born and raised in what is now North Korea and a daughter who survived the Korean War but was separated from her family because of it. That separation is at the heart of The Kinship of Secrets.
Title: The Kinship of Secrets Author: Eugenia Kim ISBN: 978-1-328-98782-2 Pages: 292 | Price: $26 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Website: eugenia-kim.com
Connect with Eugenia twitter.com/eugenia_kim facebook.com/EugeniaKimAuthor
Q: How does your own family’s story fit into your fictional family’s? A: My father came to America in 1948 to show his wife this new country he fell in love with, and to raise money for a church back home. Planning to return in a few years, they left behind their middle child, a daughter, with relatives—a decision that must have taken a great deal of faith. Everything changed when North Korea invaded the South on June 26, 1950. War, then U.S. immigration laws kept my parents separated from their daughter for ten years. During the first winter of the Korean War, my sister remembers fleeing Seoul in a cart pulled by my uncle, eventually walking about 100 miles south, then by
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June 2019 | Q&A with Author
truck 100 miles more to Busan. Another relative of ours lost hold of her fiveyear-old daughter’s hand during the mass exodus and never again found her. These are the kinds of family stories that I had to bring into my novel. Q: Was there a particular story that inspired you to write The Kinship of Secrets? A: Ever since I was young and born in America, I always knew I had a sister, Sun, in South Korea, but was too innocent to ask about the circumstances of why she was separated from the family. And after she arrived at age 11, when I was five, I never questioned what it meant for her to come to America. I assumed that all immigrants, like my parents, were grateful to be in this country. Sun was simply my bilingual “Korean sister,” wheras my four other siblings, all older, were totally Americanized, like me. Even when I felt I knew Sun so well, I knew so little about her history. In 2005, my sister, who had by then returned to her homeland multiple times, accompanied me on my first trip to South Korea to research my first novel, The Calligrapher’s Daughter, and during a train ride I asked her at last what it was like to come to the U.S. Her answer—that it was heartbreaking— surprised me, and took me on a jour-
ney into the story of her life. That was the beginning of what would become this novel. Q: You’ve said that the decision to leave her must have taken great faith. What was behind that decision? A: As mentioned, my parents came to America in June 1948 during a brief period of peace between the end of the Pacific War and the beginning of the Korean War. They only planned to stay two or three years, then return. In Korean style and in postwar hardship, my parents and their family of three children lived in Seoul with my mother’s parents and my mother’s brother and his wife. Grandmother was distraught that, having tasted the waters of America’s golden rivers, they would never return. So as a guarantee of their return, and because traveling by ship with three little ones was complicated, my parents decided to leave one child in Korea. The eldest, at three, was old enough to know that she’d been left behind. The youngest, a son, was not yet weaned. And so my sister Sun, age one, was left in Seoul with her relatives. In the novel, the choice is made between two children. The decision over which child to leave was I think in some ways a practical one, but also one that exemplified my mother’s tremendous faith and love for her own mother. Q: Why couldn’t your fictional parents return to Korea and reunite with their daughter after the Korean War?
A: Like my own parents’ experience, during the war my novel’s parents are only concerned about their daughter’s survival. By the war’s end, my own parents were rooted in America, and the novel mirrors this experience. While the novel tells an intimate story of two sisters separated by the Korean war, it is also the story about parents whose anguish over their missing daughter dominates every aspect of their lives, as it did my parents. But it took a decade and an act of congress to bring her to America. Sun was raised by our aging grandparents, a loving uncle, and a stern aunt. My uncle took responsibility for his niece seriously. The Kinship of Secrets imagine what her life was like during and after the war, growing up in close quarters with relatives. Q: What was your research process like? A: I did return to Korea in 2010 to visit Busan and the neighborhood where Inja lives during the war. I read many histories and American and South Korean narratives about the Korean War and postwar eras, and created an extensive timeline of which I may have actually used very little. But the underpinnings were critical in order to know what life might have looked like as a result of historical and cultural milestones. The Internet grew more robust in the seven years it took to write The Kinship of Secrets, and using Pinterest, I compiled hundreds of images from university libraries, periodicals, historical sites, and Korean War veterans’ photographs. Most helpful ere candid photographs of citizens
during the war, period street scenes, and refugees on the move. Q: Seeing as how the novel is linked to your family’s story, what part means the most to you? A: That’s hard to say. The kinship of the sisters were fun to imagine, and of course the secrets in the story are important as they come to shape each sister’s life. One of the book’s motifs that held my attention was the aching connection between mother and daughter. Najin sends packages of dry goods to Korea monthly, then during wartime, two or three packages weekly. In actuality, my mother kept meticulous lists in old diaries of all her relief packages, even the cost of postage. I was happy to have such details to use in the novel. Scattered among her diary entries were bursts of narrative of my mother blaming herself for the decision to leave Sun behind, and her growing despair at the prolonged separation. Even before I was aware of my sister, I was aware of the important link of packages to Korea. So when I was given my mother’s diaries at the beginning of this project and Sun helped me to translate them. I had a new connection both with my sister and my mother, who had passed in 2003. From these diaries, I learned firsthand a little about my mother’s heartache, as well as what from second-hand America was useful overseas. I think this is integral to the life of an immigrant family ---- gratitude for support in times of need given in a spirit of generosity and community. Eugenia Kim | asian avenue magazine
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Mount Coffee
Avocado Alps
Oreo Peak
An exclusive Asian Avenue interview with the owners of SNOWLAB How has SNOWLAB evolved since opening in 2015? Our customers are important to us and without them, SNOWLAB wouldn’t be here today. We pay close attention to our reviews, both online and in person, and constantly adapt to the feedback we are given. Our main priority is customer service so we always aim to accommodate our customers’ needs. If there is something that was not up to par in our reviews, we strive to do better and improve. In addition, we are constantly adding to our menu to give our customers something new and exciting whenever they come in.
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June 2019 | Dessert Peek
Green Tea Mountain
Are more people aware of shaved ice? With the rise in Asian culture and cuisine around the Denver metro area, people are fortunately becoming more aware of Asian specialties and familiar with our desserts. Since our snow is a spin-off of Taiwanese shaved ice, people have a general idea of what it is after traveling or exploring, and get excited to try our product after loving it once before. Lately, there have been more people who come in and say, “Oh, this is like what we had in Hawaii” or “this is what we had last time.” However, there are still numerous people who come in every day, unaware of what we do or what shaved snow is. Shaved snow can either be new and exciting to some or familiar to home and filled with good memories for others; we welcome both types of customers with open arms.
Vegan and dairy free shaved snow! Can you share more about the vegan aspect of SNOWLAB? We are all lactose-intolerant and die a little bit every time we eat ice cream. When making our product, we wanted something that everyone can enjoy without suffering afterwards. After making our flavors non-dairy, we also realize that we could change certain ingredients and make our recipe vegan as well. By doing so, we are able to cater to the growing vegan community in Colorado and hit two birds with one stone. All of our flavors are vegan and dairy free. Our toppings and four drizzles are also vegan and dairy free. Our flavors are made with real ingredients and have a base of either soymilk, water or coco-
Banana Split Summit
nut depending on the flavor. Our main goal is to serve a product that anyone can enjoy.
tagram @snowlabco! And check our social media pages for secret flavors!
What are SNOWLAB’s newest flavors, drinks, specials? We are always coming out with new flavors and ideas. With the summer season coming up, fruity and refreshing flavors such as lime, watermelon, and more are starting to make an appearance. Within the past year, we also released fun new items such as our limeades, milk teas, and seasonal foods such as our bubble waffle. The best way to keep up with our specials is through our Ins-
What are you looking forward to as summer begins? We look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces! We are also excited to release new, refreshing flavors and overall, just getting back into our usual grind. Also, we’re hiring! And excited to grow our team. See the job application at www.snowlabco.com.
Follow @snowlabco
Limeade
4360 E. Evans Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Tel: 720.772.8475 snowlabco.com SNOWLAB | asian avenue magazine
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Summertime Destination:
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Universal Studios Orlando - Florida Imagine walking past red telephone booths, double deckers buses, and British pubs through a brick wall, towards a bank with a giant, fire-breathing dragon on top. Welcome to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter. In 1997, J.K. Rowling introduced the world to The Boy Who Lived and Harry Potter became a household name. Over twenty years later, J.K. Rowling’s magical world has yielded a 7 book series, movie counterparts, another movie series spin off, and so much more. With all the enchanting details of such a magically universe, it’s no small wonder that Universal Studios recreated Harry Potter’s world in three different theme parks, Orlando, Hollywood, and Japan. While each park has similarities and difference, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Orlando is the oldest of the three. Universal Studios Orlando has the Wizarding World of Harry Potter separated into two different parks: London and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure. For the full experience, visitors should get a Park-to-Park pass which allows guests to go between the two parks using conventional methods of walking or via the Hogwarts Express. In utilizing the Hogwarts Express, guests can live the experience of a magical train ride to Hogwarts, rather than just seeing it in the movie. Thrillseekers should look to ride the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Hogsmeade and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Diagon Alley. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey features a thrilling broomstick ride through the grounds and castle of Hogwarts. Riders zoom past a dragon and through a high stakes Quidditch game among oth-
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June 2019 | Travel
er events. At Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, riders dive deep into the heavily guarded vaults of Gringotts and aid Harry Potter and friends with their escape from the supposedly impenetrable bank. Both rides have height requirements and discourage riders from carrying any loose items. Universal Studios encourages guests to safely stash their belongs by providing free lockers just outside the ride exit. This feature is completely free as long riders keep their park pass and only use the lockers for the designated time limit. For those looking for a interactive experience throughout the entirety of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, guests should visit Ollivander’s Wand Shop and take part in a Wand Choosing Ceremony in which one lucky guest has their wand choose them. Once the show is over, guests are guided into the wand gift shop where they may purchase a wand. For an extra fee, guests can purchase an interactive wand which allows them to cast spells throughout Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. The interactive experience makes the magic of Harry Potter come alive. Guests are welcome to search for the symbols indicating where spells can be cast or utilize the map provided by Ollivanders that lists the location of all the spells they can cast. For those struggling with wand magic, wizards and witches are nearby to provide assistance. Avid fans of Harry Potter will find that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is absolutely fascinating and will enjoy discovering the various aspects of the books and movies that have come to life. From sampling Butterbeer and Chocolate Frogs to flying broomsticks there is something for every aspiring witch or wizard to enjoy.
By Jessalyn Herreria Langevin
Photo Credit: Lake Buena Vista Resort & Spa.
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1412 S. Parker Rd. A-134 Denver, CO 80231 (303) 743-7666 (303)743-9079 (303)743-8210
Denver Public Schools Asian Education Advisory Council presents awards to students, teachers and administrators
The Denver Public Schools Asian Education Advisory Council (AEAC) celebrated its 34th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday, May 5 at the Doubletree Hotel in Denver. Students as well as teachers, administrators, parents and community members were presented awards at the event by AEAC chair Priscilla Rahn. Consul General of Japan Midori Takeuchi was the keynote speaker, and DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova greeted families and congratulated all of the nominees. The 2019 Community Award was presented to Jeff Osaka, owner of Osaka Ramen, Sushi Rama and 12 @ Madison. Leadership winners were: Tuong Cindy Ho, Joey Kim, Jolina Nguyen and Jensen Tsao.Academic winners were: Tatiana Martinez-Tran, Dawn Cubangbang, Karena Li and Lay Mu. Loan Maas Special Talent winners were: Maralgoo Amarsanaa and Nyla Nakashima. Adult winners included: David Elbot (teacher at Place Bridge Academy), Jessica Leonard (administrator at Denver Language School), Lyndsay Tayler (administrator assistant from Denver Language School), Jennifer I (parent volunteer at Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences) and Anne Aragon (special service provider at JFK High School). The two high school students who received the Allstate Award and a $500 check from Shelley Migaki’s office in Lakewood are: Allstate Academic Award Winner Steven Nguyen is an 11th grade student at Abraham Lincoln High School. He performs incredibly well academically, ranking #1 in his class and holding a
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June 2019 | On Scene
4.6 GPA. He aspires to become an astrophysicist and is preparing himself by taking an AP Physics course. He is enrolled in all honors and AP courses.
Allstate Academic Award Winner: Steven Nguyen Steven’s experience of being bullied as a child and made fun of for his looks and accent has led him to gain the confidence he has today. His parents taught him not to care about what others thought of him and to stand up for himself. He strived hard at school and kept busy with after school activities. He is a member of ROTC and Balarat and has volunteered as a library tutor, as well as for Back to School Night and at the Food Bank at Cross Road of Soccer. He has even helped build ramps for handicapped kids. Allstate Leadership Award Winner Tam Nguyen is a junior at the John F. Kennedy High School in Denver. She is academically driven and community service oriented and maintains a GPA of 4.862 with a term GPA of 5.2. Tam is a member of the JROTC Honor Platoon and has provided service to the community at the Hot Chocolate Run for the Ronald McDonald House, Makea-Wish, The Janet Danos March for the
Cure, World Vision, Special Olympics and the American Legion. At school, she has volunteered at the pep rallies, trick-or-treat street, canned food drive, penny wars and class meetings. She has attended The Bridge Project, a nonprofit organization serving youth in Denver’s public housing neighborhoods, for eight years and has gained educational and emotional support from the program. She aspires to be a role model for underprivileged kids by volunteering to work at The Bridge Project to teach STEM and coding classes. Tam and her parents are immigrants from Vietnam and her parents have instilled in her the importance of hard work and education.
Allstate Leadership Award Winner: Tam Nguyen AEAC is a nonprofit organization established in 1985 by the Denver Public Schools Board of Education and seeks to improve educational quality and opportunities for all students with emphasis on students of Asian or Pacific Island heritage. Learn more at aeac.dpsk12.org.
Nourished Festival educates visitors at the largest specialty diet expo in the U.S.
By Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake
Soozy’s grain free sweet potato muffins, founded by Susan Chen.
Manna Baked Goodies, a keto and paleo friendly bakery from Littleton.
Karen Frame and Lisa Na, co-founders of Makeena
Traveling to ten cities, 2019 has been Nourished Festivals’ biggest year yet! Formerly known as the Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo, Nourished Festival is the largest specialty diet expo in the United States. At the National Western Complex in Denver, the festival hosted exhibitors offering paleo, keto, plant-based, nut free and gluten free goodies over the weekend of May 18-19. Tech companies, health educators and food distributors congregated around the mission of leading a healthful lifestyle through diet. Of the 101 booths, 35 hailed from cities all over Colorado. While the bulk of exhibitors featured food products, there were a couple of tech startups that showcased apps they had developed to provide solutions to those following specialty diets. One of the apps, Find Me Gluten Free, is a gluten free restaurant finder. Another app, Makeena, is a Boulder-based startup that helps earn shoppers cashback for purchasing healthy and eco-friendly products at any retailer. Aside from the tasty treats at the food booths, Nourished Festival is a resource for those with celiac or autoimmune diseases,
food intolerances or nut allergies. The Denver Celiac Support Group and Children’s Hospital Colorado were among the health education booths. Digestive wellness classes were held throughout the weekend, taught by leaders in the specialty diet field. Samples ran a plenty across the expo hall! Coconut, monk fruit, sesame, sweet potato, rice flour, tapioca, cassava, lentils and ghee made frequent appearances on ingredient labels at a majority of the booths. Based on the prevalence of common Asian ingredients, it seems that many companies in the specialty diet field are finding alternatives to non-compliant ingredients in Asian pantries. Also, many Nourished Festival exhibitors offered products related to Eastern medicine with booths sampling antioxidant-rich turmeric and matcha beverages, Ayurvedic snack mixes and even a booth that promoted tai chi to assist in internal health. In true Colorado fashion, gluten-free breweries and booths with CBD products peppered the exhibit hall. If you’ve missed this year’s event, Nourished Festival will be returning to Denver in October of 2020.
nourishedfestival.com
Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake at the festival’s photo booth.
Deliciousness.com’s Hope & Sesame sesame milk. Mile High Happenings | asian avenue magazine
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11TH ANNUAL ASIAN AMERICAN HEROES OF COLORADO By Annie Guo VanDan | Photos by Pamela Yang
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On Saturday, May 18, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network honored the 2019 Asian American Heroes of Colorado. The 11th annual awards ceremony recognized outstanding leaders in the Asian American community with congratulatory messages from the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver Jerry S. Chang and Ken Arellano representing the City and County of Denver. Each awardee was welcomed to the
stage by a friend or colleague, who shared personal stories about them. The resounding message from the award recipients was one of humility and gratitude as heard through the acceptance speeches. This year’s Young Hero Award was given to Tarika Cefkin, Executive Director of the Nathan Yip Foundation. The other recipients included: Gil Asakawa, President of Mile High Japanese American Citizens League; Dr. Faye Caro-
nan, Chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies at University of Colorado Denver; Dr. Rachele Espiritu, Chair of the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission; Roger Liu, Former President of the National Association of Asian American Professionals Colorado; and Dr. Robin Yasui, Co-founder of the Coalition for an Inclusive Colorado and Director of Geriatrics at Denver Health. The awards ceremony was held at Empress Seafood in Denver.
Tarika Cefkin, Executive Director of Nathan Yip Foundation, receives the 2019 Young Hero Award
Dr. Rachele Espiritu (center) is introduced for the award by her nominator Dr. DJ Ida (left)
Dr. Faye Caronan gives a thank you speech after accepting her award
Dr. Robin Yasui (center) is introduced for the award by her colleague Stacey Shigaya (right)
Awardee Gil Asakawa, President of Mile High Japanese American Citizens League
Roger Liu receives his award with his daughter Melody Liu and nominator Soyon Bueno (right)
June 2019 | On Scene
Dr. Faye Caronan (center) is introduced for the award by her nominator Sothary Chea (right)
Dr. Robin Yasui quotes a poem “and then they came for me� to encourage attendees to speak up about injustices
Journalist and Japanese American community leader Gil Asakawa (middle) was nominated by Fran Campbell (right)
2019 Asian American Heroes of Colorado Award recipients are honored on Saturday, May 18. Awardees were selected by the Asian Chamber of Commerce, Asian Education Advisory Council, Asian Pacific Development Center, Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership, Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, Dragon 5280, Mile High Asian Media, Rock the Boat, and The Cosmos. Organized by: Colorado Asian Culture & Education Network Mile High Happenings | asian avenue magazine
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LISA NGUYEN 143 Union Blvd. Suite #120 Lakewood, CO 80228 Direct: 303-985-4555 Cell: 303-669-5255
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Don’t expect any profit from this world. Don’t be jealous. Don’t fear adversity when you seek the truth. Don’t cover up mistakes.
HUMBLE TABLE, WISE FARE By Venerable Master Hsing Yun