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T&T Supermarket is opening in San Francisco 04/02/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

As Whole Foods and Safeway supermarkets
scale back operations in San Francisco, T&T Supermarket and other Asian specialty supermarkets are rushing in to fill the void. As the tech industry flees the Bay Area, the Bay Area is being reinvented if not reincarnated as the new Asiagopolis food destination.

[sf.eater.com]
The Bay Area is amid an influx of Asian grocers opening in the next few years. Besides these two announced locations of T&T Supermarket, the Korean supermarket-slash-mega-food complex Jagalchi debuted in Daly City on Friday, March 28; New York-based Japanese supermarket Hashi Market is set to open its first West Coast location in Cupertino at an undisclosed date; and Tokyo Central debuts in Emeryville sometime this year. Meanwhile, Dublin will get a location each of the Korean grocery stores H Mart and Mega Mart, according to SFGATE.

This means more job opportunities for those who are bilingual or to those who aren't but instead can showcase their talents in the Asian Culinary Arts.
[www.tntsupermarket.us]

CAAM FEST: Films from Asian America 04/02/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

[caamfest.com]

Volunteer
Every May, there are many volunteer opportunities at CAAMFest, the nation’s largest showcase for films from Asian America and beyond. Volunteers from around the Bay Area play an important role in making our festival a success! You can serve in a variety of ways, from the ticket line at theaters, to registration and food service at galas and parties. And you’ll receive benefits including vouchers for festival screenings, an official festival t-shirt, an invitation to the Volunteer Appreciation Party, as well as the opportunity to connect with industry professionals and fellow film enthusiasts.

Re: The rise and fall of Chinatown: The hidden history of displacement you were never told 04/02/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

[www.fresnobee.com]

Unoccupied for three decades and deemed structurally unsound, the building was condemned after being completely destroyed in a March 4, 2022, fire that investigators believe was set by a homeless person.

As the city’s original “wrong side of the tracks” neighborhood, Chinatown is disconnected from downtown Fresno by design. That isolation has grown since late 2017 when three streets linking Chinatown to downtown (Tulare, Inyo and Mono) were closed by the California High Speed Rail Authority.

Quote
♭♫
If the 35 apartments are going to be populated by just anybody, then it isn't revitalizing Chinatown. A better ideal solution to RESTORE Chinatown instead of "revitalizing" Chinatown would be to offer these 35 low-income apartments to low-income ethnic-Chinese Americans who have a mom & pop business plan to invest in the local Chinatown restaurant economy which will kick-start Chinatown's revitalization. We should not let politicians and developers mislead us to believe that "revitalization" means "restoration" since it was their failed public policies which drove the ethnic-Chinese to leave their Chinatown home in the first place which left them victimized by a Chinatown neighborhood that they once called home into an unwelcoming neighborhood that has been hollowed out by a lawless invitation of crime, homelessness, drugs, and prostitution...all the simmering ingredients of failed public policies that you don't want your children growing up around.

Also, the ground level of this new low-income housing complex should include a new restaurant space that can generate income for the low-income residents living above this space to create an income-rent ecosystem. This was a successful historical Chinatown business model where business owners with their families traditionally lived above their stores and restaurants thus allowing them to work 10+ hours a day because they are not wasting 2+ hours a day being held hostages in traffic jams commuting back and forth from home.

[abc30.com]

A fire destroyed the building in March of 2022.

Dyer said state funding allowed the city to purchase it in January. Once rebuilt, it will house about 35 apartments.

It is part of an ongoing effort to revitalize Chinatown.

The Peacock building across the street will be the next acquisition by the city to be converted to affordable housing.

Re: Picture with a hundred birds 04/02/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

[www.youtube.com]
In this captivating author series, I had the privilege of sitting down with a rock star author, Amy Tan to delve into her latest literary masterpiece, "The Backyard Bird Chronicles." Amy Tan, celebrated for her evocative storytelling and cultural insight, takes us on a profound journey through the enchanting world of nature where she shares her discoveries about the beauty and wonder of the natural world, offering a fresh perspective on the environment that surrounds us.

[www.youtube.com]
She’s a novelist turned naturalist. New York Times best-selling author Amy Tan has turned her intense gaze to the world of birds and shared her private drawings and musings in a new book. Jeffrey Brown joined Tan at her Northern California home to discuss "The Backyard Bird Chronicles" for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Lisa See Discusses Her Novel Lady Tan's Circle of Women 04/01/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

[www.youtube.com]

Dive into the remarkable journey of one of China's first female physicians in Lisa See's latest masterpiece, "Lady Tan's Circle of Women." Set against the backdrop of 15th-century China, this historical fiction novel brings to life the story of an educated woman who defies the conventions of her time to pursue her passion for healing.

Lisa See, a New York Times bestselling author renowned for her deep exploration of women's lives and relationships, draws inspiration from the true story of a pioneering woman physician. "Lady Tan's Circle of Women" not only showcases the challenges and triumphs of Lady Tan but also delves into the intricacies of female friendships, the complexities of court life, and the groundbreaking medical practices of the Ming Dynasty.

Through meticulous research, See uncovers the fascinating world of traditional Chinese medicine, the role of concubines and eunuchs in the imperial court, and the controversial practice of footbinding. The novel also touches on the early forms of vaccination against smallpox, highlighting the parallels between past and present discussions on public health and women's rights.

At the heart of the story is the bond between Lady Tan and her childhood friend Ming, a relationship that exemplifies the strength, resilience, and compassion of women navigating a male-dominated society. Their friendship, tested by time and societal expectations, serves as a testament to the enduring power of connection and support among women.

Re: The rise and fall of Chinatown: The hidden history of displacement you were never told 04/01/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

If the 35 apartments are going to be populated by just anybody, then it isn't revitalizing Chinatown. A better ideal solution to RESTORE Chinatown instead of "revitalizing" Chinatown would be to offer these 35 low-income apartments to low-income ethnic-Chinese Americans who have a mom & pop business plan to invest in the local Chinatown restaurant economy which will kick-start Chinatown's revitalization. We should not let politicians and developers mislead us to believe that "revitalization" means "restoration" since it was their failed public policies which drove the ethnic-Chinese to leave their Chinatown home in the first place which left them victimized by a Chinatown neighborhood that they once called home into an unwelcoming neighborhood that has been hollowed out by a lawless invitation of crime, homelessness, drugs, and prostitution...all the simmering ingredients of failed public policies that you don't want your children growing up around.

Also, the ground level of this new low-income housing complex should include a new restaurant space that can generate income for the low-income residents living above this space to create an income-rent ecosystem. This was a successful historical Chinatown business model where business owners with their families traditionally lived above their stores and restaurants thus allowing them to work 10+ hours a day because they are not wasting 2+ hours a day being held hostages in traffic jams commuting back and forth from home.

[abc30.com]

A fire destroyed the building in March of 2022.

Dyer said state funding allowed the city to purchase it in January. Once rebuilt, it will house about 35 apartments.

It is part of an ongoing effort to revitalize Chinatown.

The Peacock building across the street will be the next acquisition by the city to be converted to affordable housing.

A Tale of Tragedy - Cold Food Festival 03/31/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

It all began with the death of a loyal friend, as in a friend to the very end...

[youtu.be]

This celebration originates with sacrifice and tragedy. What is this holiday where we are prohibited to cook and why? Let's learn about the Cold Food Festival and all the controversies behind the festivities!

Re: The rise and fall of Chinatown: The hidden history of displacement you were never told 03/31/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

[www.ladowntownnews.com]

The situation is particularly frightful for the elderly population, many of whom have lived in Chinatown for decades. For these residents, gentrification poses a severe threat. “For a long time, rents were super cheap, and that’s why artists and galleries were able to move in. But now, it’s huge developments that don’t meet the needs of the elderly who may have lived here for 30, 40, or 50 years,” said Lisa See, a Chinatown native, during an interview with Brijit Reed for Curiosity Magazine. See’s words emphasize the growing fear that older residents will be displaced without affordable housing alternatives.

For Chinatown to thrive, residents, developers, and local government must work together to find a solution that balances growth with preservation. Policymakers must adopt stronger rent control measures and prioritize affordable housing in development projects. Community-led initiatives must remain central to the planning process to ensure that Chinatown’s unique cultural identity is not lost in the rush to develop.

With the right policies in place, Chinatown can continue to be a hub of culture and history for future generations. But without action, the community risks losing what makes it special — its residents, its culture, and its place in the city’s history. The time for us to advocate and demand change is now. If these issues are not addressed, Chinatown will continue to be a neighborhood where the past is erased for the sake of profit, and the people who have made it home for generations will be left behind.

Re: How Cantonese Cuisine defined Yokohama Chinatown 03/31/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

[japan.stripes.com]

The district dates back to 1859 when Yokohama Port opened to trade with foreign countries. Back then, Chinese traders established a community that has now involved into the current day Chukagai.

Yokohama Chukagai (Chinatown) features about 600 restaurants and shops packed into a 50-acre neighborhood bursting with energy and a menagerie of delicious scents wafting off the street food stalls. This busy area is well-known and a popular place for locals and tourists garnering about 20 million visitors per year, according to the City of Yokohama. Be prepared for crowds, but, the shopping and amazing treats that await are worth it.

Re: CHINESE IDENTITY 03/31/2025 by ♭♫ [+-]

[www.nytimes.com]

For this crowd, those changes are something to celebrate — a reflection of the improved status of Chinese immigrants. But they also mean that what made their childhood special — the intimacy of a tiny Chinatown, frozen by exclusion, where everyone knew your name — is largely gone.

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