The Best of the Asian Pacific American Bay Area (Feature) Over 100 APAs Elected to Office in Last Week’s Election (in National News) Filipino American Veterans March for Equity (in Bay Area News) Ultimate Diversions: Inside the Twilight Zone (in Business) Mark Chung: American Soccer’s Coolest Man (in Sports) Local APA Filmmakers Shine at Film Arts Foundation Festival (in A&E) Emil Amok: It Happened in Alaska (in Opinion)

Why We Did It

We began tossing around the idea of doing our own Best of the Bay issue sometime last year at a staff meeting, all of us excitedly calling out different sections we would like to have that would be specific to the Asian Pacific American community. But, we wondered, was it necessary? This city already has a number of well-done “Best ofs” that seem to leave no rock unturned. Then, reading the listing for “Best Tapioca Ball Drinks” in this year’s Bay Guardian cinched it. They listed Venture Frogs, that weird, dotcom relic, wannabe fusion restaurant in San Francisco’s AMC Van Ness movie theater. Has anyone even eaten there??? We knew then that we had a big job to do.

Reader responses were great, with several of you assuring us that we had to try this sweet shop or that herb store, and assuring us that the Bay Area is a treasure trove of APA finds. But most of all, what is special about this new tradition — and we certainly plan to make this an annual issue — is that it gives APAs a voice to say what’s good, what’s hip and what we like in our own home. So thank you to everyone who participated by filling out and sending in a survey, even the person who took all that time and postal money to send the form that listed “my mom’s house” for all 77 choices.

Speaking of personal choice, the good news is that voter turnout in San Francisco was at 41 percent on Nov. 5. The bad news? Journalist Bill Moyers put it best when he wrote, “And for the first time in the memory of anyone alive, the entire federal government — the Congress, the Executive, the Judiciary — is united behind a right-wing agenda for which George W. Bush believes he now has a mandate.” But we must not hide our heads under the pillow in abject depression, especially here in San Francisco. There are just under four weeks before the December run-off and our only chance to get APA representation on the board with Fiona Ma. If you live in District 4, you can get your vote in early by contacting the department of elections about mail voting. Otherwise, take some time in the next two weeks to canvass for Fiona Ma or just talk to everyone you know in the Sunset about the importance of APA representation. Together we can win this one.