Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

Thursday February 2nd -- Santa Ana, CA

Common Ground Open Mic

Common Ground is celebrating the first Thursday in February with the theme "Multitudes of Expression", in reference to the many ways and means to love one another. Featuring comedian Jenny Yang, musician Quincy Surasmith, DJ Mushu, and more. More info here.

7 to 9 pm

Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association Cultural Center

1600 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA

Thursday February 2nd -- Seattle

Book Launch: Remembering Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes

Ron Chew's Remembering Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes: The Legacy of Filipino American Labor Activism recalls their lives and work with friends and allies in a larger movement for social justice and workers' rights. The book also includes a history of Asian labor in the Alaska salmon canneries, written by Gene Viernes. More info here.

6 pm

Community Hall

The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience

719 South King St, Seattle

FREE

Thursday February 2nd -- NYC

"Off the Beaten Path" Fiction Authors

                             Neela Vaswani

Come hear three acclaimed writers read works set in places usually at the periphery of the map: Somerset Maugham Award winner Alice Albinia, PEN Faulkner winner Sabina Murray, and American Book Award winner Neela Vaswani. More info here.

7 pm

Asian American Writers' Workshop

110-112 W 27th St, 6th floor, New York

$5 suggested donation

Thursday February 2nd -- Oakland

The Spot Open House

Come check out the new space of The Spot, a Chinatown-based APIA youth center. Meet The Spot community members, enter to win raffle prizes (Warriors tickets, Kindle Fire, etc.), and enjoy refreshments.

5:30 to 7 pm

The Spot

299 13th St, Oakland

FREE

More info and RSVP here

Thursday February 2nd to Saturday February 11th -- Various

David Choi Forever and Ever West Coast Tour

Singer/songwriter David Choi might be swinging through your town to play a live performance. More info and tickets here.

February 2: Phoenix -- Crescent Ballroom

February 3: Costa Mesa -- Constellation Room

February 4: San Diego -- Lestats

February 7: San Francisco -- Swedish American Hall

February 9: Vancouver -- Rio Theatre

February 10: Seattle -- Vera Project

February 11: Portland -- Backspace Cafe

Friday February 3rd -- NYC

Mouth to Mouth Open Mic: Lunar New Year Edition

                             Angel Yau

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with hosts Ed Lin and Jen Kwok at Mouth to Mouth's first open mic of 2012. Featuring sketch comedian Angel Yau, who has performed at the NYC Underground Comedy Festival and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and playwright, poet, and 2g's artistic director Carla Ching, who will be performing new work in honor of the new year. More info here.

8 pm (sign ups for 5-minute performance slots begin at 7:30 pm)

Asian American Writers' Workshop

110-112 W 27th St, 6th floor, New York

$5 suggested donation

Saturday February 4th -- San Francisco

Hyphen Survival Issue Release Party

Join Hyphen as we celebrate the release of our "Survival" issue. Participate in our silent auction and win a chance to spend the day with a prominent Asian American community member. Asian American Donor Program (AADP) bone marrow registration drive (if interested, please read requirements) will also be there. Performances by Taiyo Na, Dirty Boots, DLRN, and beats by DJ Boogie Brown. More info here.

9 pm to 2 am (AADP Drive 9 to 10:30 pm in Zappa Room)

111 Minna Gallery

111 Minna Street, San Francisco

$10 ($20 with 1-year subscription); pre-sale tickets here

21+

Saturday February 4th -- Oakland

Oakland Asian Cultural Center Lunar New Year Festival

Oakland Asian Cultural Center's (OACC) Annual Lunar New Year Celebration will include arts, crafts, and cultural performances for the whole family. With performances by American Center of Philippine Arts, Chhandam School of Kathak, China's Spirit Music Ensemble, and much more.

11 am to 4:30 pm

OACC

388 9th St Suite 290, Oakland

FREE

Saturday February 4th -- NYC

Little Dragon Tales: Chinese Children's Songs

Dave Liang of the Shanghai Restoration Project presents an afternoon of Chinese children's songs with a modern twist. In celebration of the Year of the Dragon and the release of his new CD, Little Dragon Tales: Chinese Children's Songs, featuring Yip's Canada Children's Choir. More info here.

1:30 to 2:30 pm

Museum of Chinese in America

215 Centre St, New York

$7 adult / $4 children ages 3+ / Free for MOCA Members

RSVP to programs(at)mocanyc(dot)org

My Brother, My Hero Staged Reading

Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America, in collaboration with the Asian American Film Lab, presents the staged reading of My Brother, My Hero. An ambitious young legislator advances his own career at the expense of his tribe, until his brother galvanizes the tribe to a doomed rebellion against the empire. Written by Jisen John Ho and directed by Wayne Chang. More info here.

5 pm

Richmond Shepard Theatre

309 East 26th Street, New York

$5 suggested donation

Saturday February 4th -- Denver

Finding Voice: Interactive Art Show

Join Stephanie Tanny for "Finding Voice", a night of spoken word, Indigenous hip hop, live interactive art, and a visual art showcase. With Quese IMC & DJ Shock B of Culture Shock Camp, Invinity, and more. More info here.

7:30 to 10:30 pm

Leela European Cafe

820 15th St, Denver

$5 suggested cover

Through Saturday February 4th -- Sacramento

Dragon Boy Exhibit

Dragatomi presents Dragon Boy by Martin Hsu, a series of new paintings depicting the adventures of a boy in dragon suit on his way to find his roots in a foreign land. With his kirin dog Blackie by his side, they travel between reality and fantasy. More info here. Exhibit ends February 4, 2012.

Dragatomi Gallery

2317 J St, Sacramento

FREE

Tuesday February 7th -- Los Angeles

Garrett Hongo Readings

Garrett Hongo will discuss his latest book of poetry, Coral Road, through which he meditates on the dramatic landscapes and tales of the Hawai'ian islands and the possibility of revisiting the cultural narrative through poetry. More info here.

4 to 6 pm

Charles E. Young Research Library Presentation Room

UCLA, Los Angeles

FREE; RSVP to rsvp(at)library(dot)ucla(dot)edu

                                        Opportunities

Intro to Screenwriting with Koji Steven Sakai -- Los Angeles

Visual Communications (VC) is please to once again partner with Koji Steven Sakai to offer a 10-session course on the craft of screenwriting. Students will learn proper formatting and structure as well as how to create effective plots, characters, and dialogue -- all the necessary techniques to draft a first screenplay. The final class will be dedicated to the business of screenwriting and making it in the industry. Classes are on Saturdays from February 4th through April 7th. $400 VC members / $495 non-members. More info and registration here.

"Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee": A Poetry Workshop with Monica Youn  -- NYC

                                          Monica Youn

Add power to your poetic punches and fleetness to your formal footwork. These classes will focus on adding techniques, tension, and twists to your expressive toolbox. There will be a weekly writing assignment and workshop as well as assigned readings from contemporary poets and other artists offering varied approaches to the week's topic. Please bring a packet of 3 to 5 short poems (no more than 5 pages) to the first class. Mondays from February 6th to March 5th, takes place at Asian American Writers' Workshop. $180 AAWW members/$200 non-members. More info here.

Asian American Writers' Workshop (AAWW) Seeking Program Director -- NYC

AAWW is looking to hire a part-time Program Director to curate, publicize, and manage literary events that are quirky, progressive, and awesome. Applicants should be ambitious, logistical, organized lovers of books who would like to build curatorial experience in a creative, progressive arts center. Volunteer management, operational, and administrative experience desired, as well as ability to help expand programs to both generate earned income and transition programming online via video and podcasts. This is a part-time three-day-a-week entry level position with benefits. Salary dependent on experience. Full-time is a possibility. More info and application here.