Well-respected San Jose State University judo coach Yoshihiro Uchida is being honored by the Japantown Community Congress of San Jose on Sept. 16 at History San Jose Park. The celebration will herald Uchida’s inclusion in the exhibit “Speed City — From Civil Rights to Black Power” and honor his impact on equal rights, as well as his academic, athletic and community achievements. Uchida has been coaching the university’s judo team since 1946, and in 2007, his team won its 42nd National Collegiate Judo Championship title, holding the record for the greatest number of national championships in American collegiate sports. Uchida was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the emperor of Japan in 1986. For info: mail@jamsj.org.
Chairwoman of San Francisco Symphony’s 96th Season Opening Gala Margaret Liu Collins says the Sept. 19 event “will be a ‘triple wow’ event. ‘Wow one’ is guest artist Renee Fleming; ‘wow two’ is the gourmet fare prepared by McCall Associates; and the third ‘wow’ will be Robert Fountain’s spectacular design for the Tent Pavilion.” Liu herself is a ‘wow’ volunteer who has been active in the community since moving to San Francisco in 1982. Educated at U.C. Berkeley, Margaret has served on its foundation board as advisory trustee and on the investment committee. Because of her appreciation for the services given her son, a survivor of a traumatic brain injury in 1979, she has long supported Children’s Hospital. A believer that music is a necessity, not a luxury, she has chaired the Symphony’s Chinese New Year concert for three years. For info: sfsymphony.org.
Thanks to Jay Kuo’s clever music and lyrics in the show Insignificant Others, the musical was a sell-out at the Zeum Theatre in Yerba Buena Gardens throughout August.
His romantic comedy follows five friends who move to San Francisco from the Midwest and find the meaning of friendship amidst San Francisco’s wild scene. His lyrics to nice hum-able songs make for an enjoyable two hours of escape. The show is so “San Francisco”; I hope it stays around for a long time.
When popular San Francisco hometown boy Louis Kwok made good in the form of a hole-in-one at Sharp Park, he bought a round of drinks for his golf buddies and said: “Now I can die happy!” Spoken like a true and honest golfer, Louis reminded everyone to support his Chinatown YMCA renovation project by participating in the annual golf tourney on Oct. 5. Not to be outdone, Saratoga’s Howard Lum made a splashy hole-in-one at Tilden Park in his Foon Hay Seniors Club Championship Round and had to treat the whole tournament of players from Silicon Valley to drinks.
Asian Americans for Community Involvement executive director Michele Lew, on leave with new baby Joey, says the group will host its 17th Annual Senior Appreciation Luncheon on Sept. 20. Proceeds will benefit the Senior Wellness Program, which works to improve the overall wellness of local Asian Pacific American seniors. With instructions from the title to “Put On Your Dancing Shoes,” I’d say a very active event will emerge with those active seniors doing a mean West Coast swing!
For more info: 408 975 2730 ext. 306.
Lots of tears of happiness flowed when Michelle Lam and Les Pasamonte exchanged vows at the Saratoga Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception hosted by happy parents the Paul Lams and the Estelito Pasamontes. Knowing the pair’s love for volleyball, the speakers passed the ball to each other as they came up to tell all about the young couple.
Congratulations to Asian Resource Center’s “Outstanding Asian Women 2007,” who were honored at their annual benefit dinner last month. Patti Chang and Cindy Zheng were named “Outstanding Asian Women,” and Arleen Chow won the 2007 Carol Lee Award.
Gun Moon Residence was founded in 1868 in San Francisco to rescue Chinese girls who had been sold into slavery. For info: gummoon@yahoo.com.
Steve Yee of the Yee Fow Museum project informs us that the Chinatown Mall Revitalization Committee and the City of Sacramento are presenting the Chinatown Mall Street Fair on Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic Chinatown Mall between Third and Fifth streets and I and J streets. The fair’s theme is “Bridging the Past to the Future,” and it will celebrate Chinese culture, arts and heritage, with live entertainment, Asian food and special performances. For info: moyw@sbcglobal.net.
San Francisco’s Post Theatre is rocking with a hot and steamy blues musical, Blues in the Night, with the music of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and other 1930s jazz legends for nostalgia buffs to enjoy through Sept. 30 (for info: poststreettheatre.com). On the other hand, Sesame Street-like puppets took over the Orpheum Theatre with Avenue Q, drawing much audience laughter with its comedic lines and such clever puppetry you forget the puppeteers are standing on stage in plain sight.
“Chinatown Rising 2007,” the annual Chinese Historical Society of America’s gala dinner fund-raiser to be held on Sept. 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco, will celebrate San Francisco Chinatown’s pivotal role as a touchstone for Chinese America. The gala will feature original performances, dynamic presentations and colorful displays, including the fabulous Miss Chinatown USA exhibit, according to director Sue Lee. For info: www.chsa.org.