Los Altos chef Lawrence Chu was bursting with pride at youngest son Jon’s sudden fame as director of the Touchstone Pictures film Step Up 2 the Streets. So, when the movie opened on Valentine’s Day, he ran down to the local theater, bought handfuls of tickets and passed them out to his favorite customers at his restaurant, Chef Chu’s. Congrats to USC film school grad Jon — the $2 million film has already brought in more than $40 million.
NAMES IN THE NEWS
Self Help for the Elderly’s newest facility, the Amber Glow Senior Center, held a grand opening of the 40-room assisted living home in San Jose’s Willow Glen District. Capital Campaign Chairs Norman and Antonia Tu, who worked tirelessly for four years to raise the funding, thanked the donors at an appreciation dinner to show off the new building. Since opening, more than 50 seniors have flocked to the senior lunch programs, according to Director Anni Chung and Beverly Karnatz.
Sherwin and Margaret Louie celebrated 50 years together with a festive dinner dance at San Francisco’s Yank Sing Restaurant with friends, including the Dennis Lowes, Wyman Wongs, Mel Lees and Clifford Changs. On the dance floor were the Howard Setos, Ed Wongs, Gerry Hings and Don Cheus. Longtime friends there included the Ralph Fongs, Paul Ongs, Bert Lees and Mary Jane Tom.
Tom and Jennie Hong of Saratoga threw their first granddaughter Maia Sophie Polanowski a big red egg celebration at the Hong Fu Restaurant in Cupertino. Parents Linda and Piotr showed her off to admiring guests Valerie Wong, the Tom Jows, Ken Lais, Arthur Tom, Mabel Seid and Howard Woos.
Artist Florence Oy Wong will show her work at Santa Cruz’s Museum of Art and History through June 23 in the ongoing exhibit Women Only! In Their Studios. On July 30, she will open a solo exhibition titled 70/30: Seventy Years of Life, Thirty Years of Art at SomArts in San Francisco.
If baby Gabrielle Lee’s red egg lunch/dance party at the elegant Imperial floor of the Westin St. Francis is any indication of her future social life … Miss Chinatown 2028, watch out. Grandparents Nolan and May Lee and Wayman and Bettie Lum celebrated, as did proud parents Christina and Nelson and 200 friends.
The International School of the Peninsula (istp.org) will put a Filipino-themed spin on their 20th annual gala, An ISTP Filipino Fiesta, on March 29 at the Fairmont San Jose. The Palo Alto school’s event will feature Filipino foods catered by Patio Filipino, cultural dancing and a lively auction, which will benefit the Philippine International Aid Children’s Fund.
Ballet San Jose’s director Dennis Nahat announced that his company will perform in Shanghai, Beijing and other major Chinese cities, marking the first time an American ballet company has performed throughout China. Flying with the corps of dancers will be Sylvia, Ronald and Sandy Young on board President John Fry’s private plane to China on May 18.
FOODIES TAKE NOTE
For those who bargain hunt in Gilroy, Ginger Cafe’s Asian/Chinese cuisine is well-known, but foodies in Sunnyvale are just discovering Tuyen Chung’s recently opened Ginger Cafe at the corner of El Camino and Mathilda avenues. Chung commented, “I want to showcase what I call the ‘silent cuisine’ of Asia, which comes from the millions of ethnic Chinese who, over centuries, have migrated through Asia, bringing their recipes with them and adapting them to their new homelands.” Enjoying Ginger Cafe were patrons Anson Wong and Darlene Mar, Rose Tokagawa, and George and Doris Grover.
Silicon Valley diners Lovelle Shak, Madelene Schwabacher, Gloria Hom, Pat Lum and Muriel Kao celebrated Chinese New Year in San Francisco at Shanghai 1930, which shines for its food presentation, ambiance and mystic decor reminiscent of a world long lost.