Macy’s Passport to Glamour
October 5, 2007
This year’s Macy’s Passport Fashion Show on Sept. 20 at the Herbst Pavilion encompassed glamour, celebrities, acrobats, athletes, ethnic dancers, children and burlesque queen Dita Von Teese, who moved gracefully and seductively.
Honor the Past, Create the Future
May 11, 2007
Celebrating 35 years of innovative, quality services to the community and still held in the highest esteem with love and support by all, was the On Lok Senior Health Services, May 3. A huge ballroom at the S.F. Marriott Hotel was filled with supporters from dedicated staff members to volunteers and family members, all joined together to acknowledge On Lok’s immense success and mission in providing high quality medical care and dignity to the most frail senior citizens of the community. Read more
Fun, Food and Fuel
April 4, 2007
Wild, witty and wonderful is the collection of British designer Vivienne Westwood currently showing in a retrospective on her career at the De Young Museum, the first exhibit there by a contemporary fashion designer.
The 150 outfits range from early punk styles to quality museum ball gowns. Considered a global fashion icon, Westwood electrified the world when she launched her outrageously sexy outfits in the 1970s; her corsetry and ball gowns in the 1980s and 1990s; and her combination of fearless, nonconformist looks with a sense of tradition in the later years. Read more
City of Brotherly Love
March 2, 2007
Olé! Music from a lively mariachi band set the beat for a Latin fiesta for Chester and Rafaela Lee, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and Chester’s 85th birthday with a grand party held at the Four Seas Restaurant in San Francisco Chinatown, Feb. 18. Read more
Return to Isleton’s Chinatown
December 1, 2006
On a cool autumn day in late September, about 200 Chinese Americans gathered together in the historic Sacramento River town of Isleton for a reunion of the descendants, that is, the second, third and fourth generations, of the early Chinese immigrants who settled in the Delta Region.
It was their forefathers who immigrated here to provide the workforce in building the Delta levees in order to transform the marshlands into rich farmlands.
Many stayed to farm the reclaimed agricultural land. By the late 19th century, Isletown Chinatown was thriving with commercial and residential establishments.
For the attendees it was a fun-filled reunion of long-ago school friends, refreshing many fading memories.
Events of the day included a memorable tour of the old Chinatown. The center of the town was the historic Bing Kung Tong Building, with the exciting news that this landmark will be restored by the Isleton Brannan-Andrus Historical Society as a lasting memorial to the contributions of the Chinese in the development of the Delta Region.
A group lunch was served at the Isleton Community Hall where family members made presentations of their family linkages, sharing pleasant memories of childhood events in growing up in this community.
After the family memories, a visit was made to the Isleton Museum where artifacts of the early days of Isleton were displayed, including pictures and other memorabilia.
Concluding the day was a yummy homemade cookies contest and raffle drawing with all proceeds going to the restoration of the Bing Kung Tong Building.
Dr. Edwin Lee told us there were so many happy memories from childhood days rekindled at this reunion that he wished to give credit to the leadership and hardworking coordinators: Sharon Wong-Fong, Lucille Chan-Searles and Vicky Low.
Holiday Ball 2006
On Dec. 8, the Chinatown Opti-Ms. Club will sponsor the “Holiday Ball 2006” at the Empress of China restaurant in San Francisco. Music will be provided by the Kathy Holly’s Top Hat Band with lots of raffles and silent auction items. Tickets are $65 for individuals, or tables of 10 from $650 to $750. Send checks to Mary Jane Tom/Annettte Leung, 169 Commonwealth Ave., San Francisco, CA 94118.
White Christmas Ball
On December 16, St. Mary’s School and Center presents a ?White Christmas Ball and Dinner? at the Old St. Mary’s Cathedral Auditorium, 660 Grant Ave., San Francisco. For reservations or information, call (415) 929-4696. Tickets are $80 each. Send checks to 910 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133.
Splashy, Sensational and Sexy Fashions
October 20, 2006
Splashy, sensational and sexy were the many fashions paraded by Macy’s Passport 2006 Gala Fashion Show, on Sept. 21.
Scoring its 24th annual event, “Say It With Hope, With Fashion, and With Compassion,” it was attended by over 2,000 guests who added to the more than $20 million already raised to benefit the HIV/AIDS cause.
Celebrity opener Priscilla Presley welcomed the guests warmly and auctioneer John Hurley added humor while auctioning off an autographed Carlos Santana guitar with a party for seven at $4,500, a vacation in Honolulu for two at $5,500, and a Movado Ono diamond jewelry set for $5,100.
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Some of the most memorable fashions seen on the runway were Sean Jean’s white, woven long-sleeve shirt with navy pinstripe suit jacket and pants, also his brown long-sleeve turtle neck, orange long coat and brown slacks, Ralph Lauren’s plaid cape with leather trim; Dana Buchanan’s cream lace top; Theory’s black stretch trousers; Hugo Boss’ sexy cocktail clothes; Green Dog’s sensational kids clothing and many more spectacular outfits by American Rag, Calvin Klein, Heatherette, Patty Chen, Masa Michi, Avani, Bali, plus very elegant evening wear by 10 additional designers.
Generations of Fashions
Following on the heels of elegance will be the upcoming On Lok’s 17th Annual Fashion Show benefit titled “Generations” on Nov. 11.
Talented Chairperson Gayle Chan will lead the parade of fashions from Ralph Lauren and showcase other designers and boutiques.
Talented Gayle, you’ll recall, is one of the few people who could model, sing, dance across the stage at the same time while emceeing a program. Now how many people can do that?
Fabulous Birthdays
Bay Areans celebrating their Natal days with fabulous birthday parties recently include 90-years-young Arthur Yim, who has a long record of activities, friendliness, charitable giving and involvement, together with wife Blossom, welcomed nearly 300 guests at a sumptuous banquet held at the Empress of China.
Svelte fashion show model and dancer Evangeline Lum celebrated her Natal Day at the famous Garden Court of the Sheraton Palace hotel with 100 lady friends.
Evangeline said that it was the first time that the Chinese calendar’s “Double Month” coincided with her birthday; it was a very special and blessed day, indeed.
Happy Birthday, Art and Evangeline!
More Wonderful Happenings Coming Up …
The Wa Sung Service Club will be sponsoring their 9th Annual “Chef’s Delight” with the finest of foods and drinks provided by 40 restaurants, caterers, bakeries, wineries and microbreweries at the Hilton Hotel Oakland Airport, Sun., Oct. 15, 2-5 p.m. Tickets are $45. For more info, call (510) 869-2589 or visit www.wasungserviceclub.org
Proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society and the Wa Sung Charity Fund.
For those who cherish quiet moments reading at home, there are some wonderful stories being presented by San Leandro’s Wellington Chan and Alameda’s Pamela Chun Joyce, both East Bay contemporaries.
In his first publication An Octogenarian Remembers, Wellington conveys a remarkable life filled with fine details of early childhood memories, cultural and historical of events, much of which I believe our AsianWeek readers will cherish and relate to. Published by OutskirtPress.com, this delightful treasure of one man’s life told in a very engaging and upbeat manner sells for $9.95.
Pam Chun’s second novel, When Strange Gods Call, is mesmerizing, too. Tales of a Hawaiian transplanted to the mainland and back to her original home keeps one guessing throughout the novel.
Enjoy!
From China, With Love
September 1, 2006
There is an old saying, “In Heaven, there is Paradise … and on Earth, there is Hangzhou.”
It goes without saying that on this trip, my 21st time going overseas, that I saw and fell in love once again with the astounding beauty that surrounds the great Westlake, its pavilions, graceful trees, parks, bridges and houses, all the decorative walkways that encircle God’s creation in Hangzhou. Read more
Korean Culture at 16th Annual ‘Chuseok’
November 25, 2005
The beauty of Korean dance and music enveloped the well-dressed patrons who enjoyed the 16th Annual “Chuseok” Gala, a celebration of Korean arts and culture as in its traditional holiday of Thanksgiving held at the Asian Art Museum, Chong Moon Lee Read more
Chinese History in Fang Art
October 21, 2005
The children of noted contemporary H.K. artist Fang Zhaoling have presented a collection of 42 paintings that illustrate a very turbulent time of Chinese history and Fang’s own extraordinary international life to San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum. Read more
‘Preservation Park’ Heroes in Oakland
September 9, 2005
While real heroes are coming from all over to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, Oakland is fortunate to have its own real heroes who work tirelessly in their own ways to find or create shelter and resources for those less fortunate. Read more
Sizzling Summer
July 29, 2005
Summer happenings are running “fast with class” as some like to call it, as extraordinary exhibits and programs are presented with style for all to enjoy. The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is currently presenting the Read more
75 Years of I-House
May 20, 2005
Why are we killing each other?” asked award-winning actress Rita Moreno. “We should be living together peacefully just as the students do living in the International House.” Read more