Arts & Entertainment Calendar
A regional roundup of events of special interest to Asian Americans

Regions: Northern Calif., Southern Calif., Rest of the West, Midwest, East Coast

Flow The College of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University will hold its 11th annual exhibit of student work on May 16, 4-8 p.m.; May 17, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; and May 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Guest Conference Room, 798 Font Blvd., San Francisco State University. 415-338-2211.)

Fragments of Memory San Francisco downtown gallery HANG will exhibit the works of artist Elizabeth Tana from May 1-23, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. (566 Sutter St., San Francisco)

From Sojourners to Skateboarders-Chinatown in Transition Over 35 Bay Area photographers have submitted their visions of Chinatown as inspired by writer Genny Lim’s poems for this exhibition that runs from April 8-May 6, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. (Chinatown Community Arts Gallery, Holiday Inn, 750 Kearny St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco.)

International Art The Pacific Bridge Contemporary Southeast Asian Art will present Hands On: Cuba, Vietnam and California by artists Idilio Arnaud Lopez, Do Quoc Vi and Joel Bennett. The exhibition will be on display through May 27. (95 Linden St., #6. Oakland. 510-451-8840.)

MIX exhibition The San Francisco Art Institute with Francisco Middle School and Gateway High School will present works from a project that brought students from various backgrounds together to create collaborative works. The show will continue until July 21, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Mills Building, 220 Bush St., San Francisco. 415-551-7990.)

Printed Convictions The Mexican Museum will present a retrospective of the work of Juan Sanchez from May 13- Sept. 17. The solo exhibition will highlight 48 peices that address the challenge Puerto Ricans face in examining their identities in the United States. (The Mexican Museum, Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, San Francisco. 415-202-9700.)

Sasha Yungju Lee An exhibition of Lee’s work, which focuses on how women’s roles are portrayed by the mass media, will be on display from May 5 through June 7. (Triton Museum of Art, 1505 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara. 408-247-3754.)

Structure and Surface Contemporary Japanese textiles will be exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art through June 20. It features 75 works of astonishing complexity by the most influential textile artists, designers and manufacturers in Japan today. (SFMOMA, 151 3rd St., San Francisco. 415-357-4000.)

The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation The California Suiseki Society of Northern California will present their 6th annual Suiseki exhibit on April 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. (Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue, Oakland. For more information, call 925-827-9575.)

Dance
Diablo Ballet The Diablo Ballet will present its season finale performances on May 19-20 at 7:30 p.m., with performances of George Balanchines’s Apollo, Sally Streets’ Encores, and world premieres by Sean Kelly of the Houston Ballet and Diablo Ballet’s associate artistic director Nickolai Kabaniaev. Tickets are $27. (The Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. 925-943-7469.)

San Francisco Ballet School Student Showcase Three performances to benefit the School Scholarship Fund will be performed on May 15 at the Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University; May 17 and 18 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. Tickets are $20. For more information, call 415-865-2000.

Smuin Ballet/SF This contemporary ballet company presents its spring repertory season throughout May. Included in the program are company premieres Medea and Shinju, as well as a world premiere performance of The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Tickets are $30-35. (Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St., San Francisco. 415-978-2787.)

Tchaikovsky-the mystery of life and death The Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, critically acclaimed as Russia’s most innovative contemporary ballet company, will make its Bay Area debut with Eifman’s stunning full-length ballet on May 2-4 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35-55. (Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St., San Francisco. For tickets, call 415-392-4400.)

Tradewinds 2000 Asian American Dance Performances and the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center will present two programs of works. On May 18-19 works by Koichi Tamano, master artist of Butoh, hula artist Patrick Mukuakane, Claudine Naganuma and Eri Maima will be showcased. On May 20-21, works by Unbound Spirit choreographers Nancy Ng, Aileen, Kim and ChingChi Yu will be showcased. Tickets are $14. (SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Bannan St., San Francisco. 415-441-8831.)

Events
Asian/Pacific American Heritage City College of San Francisco’s celebration will feature Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company and Barangay Dance Company on May 10 from noon to 8 p.m. (Southeast Campus, Alex Pitcher Community Room, 1800 Oakdale Ave., San Francisco. For more information, call 415-550-4347.)

Children’s Day Festival This celebration of the Kodomo No Hi Japanese Children’s Festival will start with a 0.5K children’s run and then will include Taiko, storytelling, dance, and arts and crafts. For information call 415-357-1848. At the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission St., San Francisco.)

Cinco De Mayo San Francisco The Mission Economic Cultural Association will present their annual celebration featuring music by Mariachi Los Cachorros, Banda Joven, Grupo Destino and Grupo Arias. There will also be a children’s area, international food and a parade. on May 7 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $5. (Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco. For more information, call 415-826-1401.)

Dinosaurs 2000 Lawrence Hall of Science presents this exhibition featuring 16 lifelike robotic dinosaurs through June 4 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $2-6, free for children under 3. (Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley. 510-642-5132.)

Discovering Our Roots The National Japanese American Historical Society will celebrate Pacific American Heritage on May 13 from 1-4 p.m. with crafts, storytelling, and historical walking tours. Performers include Pearl Ubungen Dancers & Musicians, S.F. Washu Troupe adn Y.C. Wong Kung Fu. Ronald Takaki will be the keynote speaker. (Crissy Field West, Bldg. 640, San Francisco. 415-921-5007.)

Himalayan Fair Authentic Himalayan arts, antiques and modern crafts, live music and dance highlight this annual celebration of the great mountain cultures of Tibet, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Ladakh, Mustang and Bhutan on May 20, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and May 21, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. 510-869-3995.)

made in the usa, angel island shhh The Kearny Street Workshop and California State Parks, in association with the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and Angel Island Association present this exhibit exploring the identity secrets of Chinese immigrants detained and interrogated in the United States from June 17-Sept. 23. (Angel Island Immigration Station, Angel Island. 415-543-0520.)

May Bouquets Decorate an uchiwa (Japanese fan) or make a dandelion corsage for a great mom. Explore the year of the dragon through Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean crafts. 12-4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California. Included with museum admission, $6 for adults, $4 seniors and students. For more information, call 1-800-OAK-MUSE or e-mail shirleen@museumca.org. (Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Streets, Oakland.)

Virtual Tibet The Commonwealth Club of California presents Orville Schell, dean of the graduate school of journalism, U.C. Berkeley, who will speak about the history of the West’s obsession with Tibet, on May 8. Reception begins at 4:45 p.m. Program begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. (Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market St., San Francisco. 415-597-6705.)

Film
Gabbeh The Asian Art Museum will present this critically acclaimed Iranian film that tells the story of a woman and her tribe within the vast natural expanses of nomadic settings, on April 30 at 2 p.m. (Trustees’ Auditorium, Asian Art Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. 415-379-8800.)

Honor Thy Children The story of the San Jose family of Alexander and Jane Nakatani lost two of their sons to AIDS. Their third son was killed in an act of violence. In 1997, they released Honor Thy Children, a book that chronicled their experiences. Their story has been made into a nearly completed film. A special screening of it on May 19 at 5:45 p.m. will help raise money to complete the project. Special guests will include the Nakatanis as well as filmmaker Francisco Leon and his production crew. (The Children’s Discovery Museum, San Jose. For more information, call Pam Dunnett at 408-867-2546, Reiko Iwanaga at 408-867-4525, or Molly Fumia at 408-354-2320.)

San Francisco International Film Festival, Pacific Film Archive Screenings The Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley will be screening 38 features and 20 short films from 26 nations as part of the 43rd annual festival. Screenings begin April 21 and continue through May 4. General admission is $9 per program. For scheduling and more information, call 415-931-FILM or visit www.sfiff.org online. For PFA screenings, call the PFA box office at 510-642-5249. For tickets for all festival venues, call TicketWeb at 510-601-8932 or visit the SFIFF Box Office in the lobby of AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres in San Francisco. (New PFA Theater, 2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley.)

Terminal USA Director Jon Moritsugu tells a story of an unusual Asian American family of a drug-dealing son, a whore of a daughter, a skinhead-obsessed son and psychotic parents. Screens from May 16 to May 22 at 7:30 p.m. For more information call 510-848-1143. (Fine Arts Cinema, 2451 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.)

Music
Annual World Music & Dance Festival This two-day, free event on May 20-21 features well-known and emerging artists performing traditional and new music and dance from across the globe. (The Cannery, 2801 Leavenworth St., San Francisco. 415-771-3112.)

Bee Project #5 Headlands Center for the Arts will present an evening program performed by musician/composer Miya Masaoka on May 18 at 8 p.m. Masaoka uses the sounds of insects as a basis for her musical compositions, videos and time-based live art pieces. (944 Fort Barry, Marin Headlands. 415-331-2787.)

California Youth Symphony Two spring concerts featuring clarinetist Michael Chang and cellist Peggy Liu will be presented on May 14 at 2:30 p.m. Flint Center, De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino; and on May 14 at 2:30 p.m. San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 650 N. Delaware, San Mateo. For more information and tickets, call 650-325-6666.

Center of Sound Festival #1 The Fred Anderson Trio, featuring renowned saxophonist Fred Anderson, bassist Tatsu Aoki, and drummer Hamid Drake, will be performing at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center May 12 (with the John-Carlos Perea Quartet with Hafez Modirzadeh) and May 13 (with Jeff Chan’s big fUn philharmonic). Shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets $15, $12 in advance, 2-for-1 for students with valid I.D. For tickets and info, call 1-877-243-3774 or e-mail info@asianimprov.com. Presented by the Alliance of Emerging Creative Artists, Asian Improv Arts, and the OACC. (Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St.)

Chee-Yun The California Symphony will present violinist Chee-Yun on May 7, 7:30 p.m.; and May 9, 8 p.m. Tickets are $35-45. Call 925-943-7469. (Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.)

Gamelan Sekar Jaya Dunsmuir Historic Estate will kick off its Family Sunday Season with Balinese theater and ritual music performed by Gamelan Sekar Jaya. May 7 from noon to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 adults, $4 for seniors, $1 for children age 6-13. Guided tours of the 1899 Dunsmuir Mansion and grounds are included in the price of admission. For more information call 510-615-5555 or visit www.dunsmuir.org online. (2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland.)

Himalayan Concert The Himalayan Fair Committee presents a benefit concert for grassroots projects in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet on May 7, featuring performers Ali Khan, Ancient Future, Stephen Kent, Vivian Guzman, and Techung. For more information call 510-848-6767 ext. 609 or visit www.himalayanfair.net online. (King Middle School, 1781 Rose St., Berkeley.)

Hundred Birds Facing Phoenix The San Francisco Arts Commission, Melody of China, and the Chinese Culture Center present a concert of Chinese traditional, folk and improvisational music on May 7 at 2 p.m. This year’s concert features musicians from China as well as Wu Wei, a mouth organ soloist from Germany. Tickets are $10. (Chinese Cultural Center Auditorium, 750 Kearny St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco. 415-957-1146.)

Huun Huur Tu The harmonies of these four throat singers from Tuvan, Siberia will come to the Bay Area April 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Theater in Berkeley and then April 28 through 30 (4/28 & 29 at 7:30 p.m., 4/30 at 2 p.m.) at the Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael.

Mitsuko Uchida San Francisco Performances’ 20th season piano series concludes with a Herbst Theater recital by pianist Mitsuko Uchida on May 14 at 7 p.m. She will perform the works of Chopin, Weber, Mozart and Schubert. Tickets are $36 and $24. (Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness, San Francisco. 415-392-4400.)

Music in a Movement The Oakland Cultural Center opens its new exhibit and performance series Music in a Movement, which documents and celebrates Asian Pacific Islander music from the 1970s and its influence on the political scene of that era, on May 6 at 12 noon. (OACC, 388 9th St., Suite 290, Oakland. 510-208-6080.)

San Francisco World Music Festival Building bridges through exposure to the diversity of musical culture, this first annual event will feature over 20 different performance groups over the course of the 3-day Memorial Day weekend, and will also include classes, workshops, discussions, and ongoing performances through May 28. For tickets and information call the Clarion Music Center at 415-391-1317 or the Cowell Theater Box Office at 415-441-3687.

Readings/Lectures
Bharati Mukherkee & Zainab Ali Intersection for the Arts presents as part of its Tuesday Night Reading Series two writers: accomplished novelist and short story writer Bharati Mukherjee and emerging fiction writer Zainab Ali on May 16 at 8 p.m. Suggested donation of $5. For information call 415-626-2787. (Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia, San Francisco.)

Growing Up Asian in Chinatown The Oakland Museum of California presents reminiscences by the Wong family: reporter Bill Wong, poet Nellie Wong, artist Flo Wong, Lai King Wong and Lai Webster. 2 p.m. Included with museum admission, $6 for adults, $4 seniors and students. For more information, call 1-800-OAK-MUSE or e-mail shirleen@museumca.org. (Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Streets, Oakland.)

Theater
Beach Blanket Babylon An outrageous send-up of Hillary Clinton has joined the zany cast of characters in Beach Blanket Babylon. Shows are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Club Faguazi. Tickets are $25-60. (678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd, San Francisco. 415-421-4222.)

Close Encounters of the Third World Four culturally diverse performance groups-Asian American Theater Company, Latina Theater lab, Culture Clash and 18 Might Mountain Warriors-come together to create a lighthearted look at life in America. The show runs from April 27-May 14, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22. (Somar Theater, 934 Bannan St., San Francisco. 415-440-5545.)

company The Young People’s Teen Musical Theatre Company, sponsored by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will present the musical Company about a 35-year-old who contemplates his bachelor-hood, on May 19, 20, 27, 28, at 8 p.m. and May 21, 28 at 3 p.m. (Randall Museum Theatre, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco. 415-554-9523.)

Fairytale on the Flip Side Challenging notions of identity, beauty and power, a typical happily-ever-after fairytale is transformed by a group of multicultural teens in the latest production of dance, theater, martial arts and music from the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company. Two shows: May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and May 7 at 3 p.m. Tickets $12, $6 for ages 17 and under. For information and tickets call 510-597-1619. (McClymonds High School, 2604 Myrtle St., Oakland).

Game of Life Performer and writer Suz Takeda performs her play about the search for a Japanese American identity in Oakland. It is part of the Best of Writers Who Act series. Game of Life will debut May 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

Itgirl Emerald Rain Productions, the Bay Area’s rock musical theater company will present the premiere of this comedy-romance about teen idols and corporate conspiracies. It runs through May 6, Fridays and Saturdays at the Renaissance Ballroom, 285 Ellis St., San Francisco. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $12. For reservations or information, call 510-982-0433.

New American Playwrights Festival The San Jose Repertory Theatre presents staged readings of new plays directed and performed by the Bay Area’s brightest theatre artists. Included in the line-up are Cherylene Lee’s Lost Vegas Acts on May 20 at 3 p.m., and John Henry Redwood’s The Darkest Hour is Just Before Day on May 21 at 11 a.m. Tickets are $5. (Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd., Saratoga. 408-367-7255.)

Not for the Faint of Heart Provocative New York artist Patty Chang returns to her native San Francisco to perform sexually charged, visually arresting pieces May 10. Appearing with her are Tony Labat and Cliff Hengst. For more information call 415-626-5416. (New Langdon Arts, 1246 Folsom St., San Francisco.)

Arts
Gods and Goblins Paintings of foolish monkeys, wrestling gods, and playful goblins make up this first major West Coast exhibit of folk art from Otsu, Japan. Ongoing. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-449-2742.)

Migration of Faith Tibetan Buddhist art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s permanent collection, featuring 23 rare manuscripts and paintings, will be on display through Sept. 4. Admission is $7. (Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-857-6000.)

Mingei of Japan An exhibition of objects of daily use from Japan made from a variety of material is on display including indigo-dyed textiles, brushes and cabinets. Also on display are works from Keisuke Serizawa, among other artists. Through June 2. For more information call 619-239-0003. (Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, Plaza de Panama, La Jolla.)

Shifting Perceptions The Pacific Asia Museum will present a major exhibit by 17 Asian American visual artists that probes the question, “What is Asian American art?” The show will run through Oct. 29. (46 North Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-449-2742.)

The Four Seasons: Visual Haiku The symbolic collages of mixed media artist Julie Smith are inspired by the shapes, colors of Japanese kimonos as well as the simplicity of haiku poetry, on display through June 11. For more information call 626-449-2742. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Robles Ave, Pasadena.)

Finding common ground in L.A. The Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles and the Mexican Cultural Institute bring together the works of Kyu Sam Lim and Sergio Ladron de Guevara from May 12-June 1. (Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles, 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-936-7141.)

Events
A night of cultural celebration Pacific Bell, along with the Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance and the Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Council will celebrate API American Heritage month on May 11 from 6-10 p.m. Admission is free. (Garden Grove Community Center, 113000 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove. 714-281-7909.)

Kodomo no Hi Come celebrate Children’s Day with the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center for a family festival on May 20-21, featuring crafts, dance performances, a demonstration by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and a basketball tournament. (JACCC, 244 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles. 213-628-2725.)

Sushi for Dummies A hands-on, all ingredients-included lesson and dinner (eat what you make!) instructed by a master chef for anyone who wants to acquire sushi making skills. May 18, 6-8:45 p.m. Reserve your space by May 16 by calling 213-627-6217, ext. 202. Admission is $35. (Holiday Inn Torrance, 19800 S. Vermont Avenue, Torrance. Call the hotel at 310-781-9100 for directions.)

Film
Princess Cheung Ping A John Woo romance about an emperor’s daughter who must overcome her fathers’ oppositions to her desires set in the Ming Dynasty. Screens May 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $4 to $6. It screens as part of the UCLA Film and TV Archive annual presentation of rare, international musicals. For more information call 310-206-FILM. (James Bridge Theater, UCLA at Sunset Blvd. and Hilgard Ave. Los Angeles.)

PYASSA This 1957 Indian musical tells the story of an artist’s struggle in Calcutta’s mean streets, made by Guru Dutt. Screens May 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $4 to $6. It screens as part of the UCLA Film and TV Archive annual presentation of rare, international musicals. For more information call 310-206-FILM. (James Bridge Theater, UCLA at Sunset Blvd. and Hilgard Ave. Los Angeles.)

Visual Communications Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Fest 2000 This is the 15th celebration of eight days of film and video presentation from Asian Pacific and Asian international filmmakers, from May 18-25. More information on the festival, call Visual Communications at 213-680-4462 ext. 69 or visit www.vconline.org on the Web.

Music
Masami Nakagawa Flute Concert This internationally recognized musician will perform a repertoire covering a wide spectrum in both classical and jazz on April 30 at 2 p.m. Admission is $15, free for students and children. Reserve seats by April 28 by calling 213-627-6217. (Huntington Beach Central Library & Cultural Center, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach.)

Theater
Follies East West Players will present the Broadway musical Follies for its final production of its 34th anniversary season May 17-June 11. Tickets are $35; they can be purchased by calling Telecharge at 800-625-7000. For more information call, 213-625-7000. (David Henry Hwang Theatre, 120 North Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles.)

Uncle Gunjiro’s Girlfriend Brenda Wong Aoki will perform this duet about the true story of the first Asian-Caucasian marriage in California, on April 30 at 7 p.m. at the Japan American Theater, 244 South San Pedro, Los Angeles; and on May 25 at 7 p.m. at the McCullum Theater, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert.

Arts
Asian Art Now The Las Vegas Art Museum will present a new exhibition of contemporary Asian art from May 3-July 9. The show will include works from Japan, Korea and Taiwan. (9600 West Sahara Ave., Las Vegas. 702-360-8000.)

Mountain Patterns: Survival of Nuosu Culture in China Patterned clothing, silver jewelry and lacquered wood utensils will be on display at this exhibit featuring the handiwork of the mountain-dwelling Nuosu people of Southwestern China. The exhibit runs March 2-Sept. 4; admission is $2.50-5.50. (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, NE 45th St. and 17th Ave., University of Washington, Seattle. 206-543-7907.)

Paul Horiuchi Honored An exhibition celebrating the art of the late Paul Horiuchi will be on view from March 9 through June 11. (Seattle Art Museum. 1400 E. Prospect St., Volunteer Park, Seattle. Visit their Web site at www.SeattleArtMuseum.org.)

Year of Korea The Seattle Asian Art Museum presents a series of exhibitions and programs throughout the year to celebrate Korean art and culture. (For more information, call 206-654-3100 or visit www.SeattleArtMuseum.org on the Web.)

Events
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District will celebrate APA Heritage month in May. Included in this year’s program will be an origami demonstration, a performance of traditional Hawaiian dance, as well as a lecture by author Helen Zia on May 17. For more information, call 702-642-9500.)

Film
AxA: Multi-Directions in Asian American Film The last of a three part series presenting a repertoire of films illustrating the diversity and complexity of our Asian Pacific American community, showing May 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Free and open the public. Seating is limited. (Ethnic Cultural Center at the University of Washington, 3931 Brooklyn Avenue Northeast. For more information call 206-623-5124.)

Readings & Lectures
Jessica Hagedorn This New York performance artist and author/editor (Burning Heart, Charlie Chan Is Dead) will visit the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle for a reading and reception May 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. (407 7th Avenue South, Seattle, Washington. 206-623-5124.)

Theater
Finding Home Local Cambodian youth in the Seattle area present a compilation of oral histories, monologues, poetry, and dance to convey their shared and individual experiences of war, relocation and family issues. Two shows: May 5 at 6 p.m., Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Avenue South; May 27 at 2 p.m., Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Avenue. Call 206-623-5124 for more info.

Dance
Bian Dan The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago has commissioned this world premiere work by H.T. Chen & Dancers, which will be performed May 11-13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. (The Dance Center, 4730 Sheridan Rd., Chicago. 773-989-3310.)

Events
Asian American Festival 2000 The Asian American Renaissance is presenting this 4th annual event in St. Paul, Minnesota, to be a one-day festival on May 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is in celebration and recognition of May as Asian Pacific Heritage month. For information call 651-641-4040.

Beauty in Snuff Bottles The Taipei Gallery and Chang Foundation present a special selection of snuff bottles, a distinguished and highly skilled art form, which emerged during China’s Qing dynasty. On display April 14 through June 2. Opening reception is April 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. For information, call 212-373-1854 or visit www.taipei.org online. (Taipei Gallery, McGraw-Hill Building, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York.)

Heaven/Hell Artist Jerry Hsieh will showcase his paintings at Gallery 456 through May 5. There will be an opening reception on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information call 212-431-9740. (Gallery 456, 456 Broadway, Third Floor, New York.)

Jaku Dai Ichi Arts Ltd. will present this exhibit and sale of meditative and tea ceremony art from March 22 through April 29. (Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd., 24 W. 57th St., 6th Floor, New York City. 212-262-0239.)

Events
21st Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival The Coalition of Asian Pacific American presents this celebration on May 7 from noon through 6 p.m., featuring musical performances, arts and crafts exhibits, martial arts demonstrations and food vendors. Admission is free. (Union Square Park, 14th-17th Streets between Broadway and Park Avenue South, New York City. 212-989-3610.)

Music
Akiko Yano One of Japan’s most enduring musical artists, Yano will appear on May 26-27 at 8:30 p.m. She gained international attention for her work with Ryuchi Sakamoto. Tickets are $20; they can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200. (Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., New York City. For more information, call 212-625-3750.)

Readings & Lectures
Book Party The Museum of Chinese in the Americas will celebrated the publication of Chinese Americans: The Immigrant Experience, by Dusanka Miscevic and Peter Kwong on May 9 from 5:30-7 p.m. The authors, as well as photographers Lia Chang and Corky Lee will be on hand to sign the books. Admission is $3. (Museum of the Chinese Americas, 70 Mulberry St., 2nd floor, New York City. 212-619-4785.)

Vietnamese American Writing To commemorate the 25 years of the Vietnamese experience in the Untied States, the Asian American Writers’ Workshop will host three Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize-honored writers: Lan Cao, Andrew X. Pham and Truong Tran, on May 4 at 7 p.m. The event is free. (King Juan Carlos I Center, NYU, 53 Washington Square South, New York City. For more information, call 415-422-5984.)

Theater
Li’l Brown Brothers/Nikimalika Ma-Yi Theater Company and Asia Society present this play, written and directed by Chris B. Millado, about the importation of indigenous Filipino peoples to the St. Louis World Exposition of 1904 as part of a “Philippine Exhibit.” Performances begin April 28 at 8 p.m., with the opening May 7 at 7 p.m. Performances are Wed-Sat 8 p.m., Sun 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. For information and reservations, call 212-581-8896 or 212-517-ASIA. (Grove Street Playhouse, 39 Grove Street, New York.)