There’s been a lot of coverage lately on the growing controversy of whitewashed roles in film and television. The recent casting of Scarlett Johansson in the Japanese manga adaptation of “Ghost in the Shell” has launched some particularly thoughtful think pieces on the issue.
It might smell like strawberry, but it’s still tobacco — Can hookah be healthy?
When you walk through the touristy Pike-Pine corridor in downtown Seattle, it’s hard to miss the smoke shops that pervade the area. On the ground level window display of Smoke Plus, on the busy intersection of Pike and First Ave., there are boxes of cigars, glass pipes of various colors and sizes, and a lineup of grandiose hookah pipes with long coils shoved against each other. A sweet scent permeates the shop’s perimeter that leads down to the basement.
A-POP! So over you, Academy Awards. (And Asian American newcomers on the big and small screens!)
With February coming to a close, we’ve finally reached the holiest of award shows: the Oscars. Read on to see what the Academy Awards meant to Asians and other news in Hollywood this past month.
Young girl’s old suitcase teaches world children about Holocaust
Fumiko Ishioka watched and chatted as George Brady played travel Scrabble with his adult daughter, Lara Brady, in between press interviews at the Hyatt House Hotel on Jan. 22. Ishioka is a Japanese national and George Brady has lived in Toronto, Canada, since 1951.
Wrong path — Missed deadlines by developer creates difficulties for Othello project
By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly Former monk, turned developer Lobsang Dargey is under investigation for possible fraud charges and as a result, the purchase of a commercial development in South Seattle that would revitalize the area near the Othello light rail station may not go forward. This has drawn the ire of the Seattle […]
A-pop! — See the resemblance? — A case of mistaken identity, Ken Jeong returns, and early Halloween tricks and treats
By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly With the leaves changing colors and the temperature outside becoming noticeably cooler, there’s no denying that fall is here. And so are new television shows! And movies! Read on to find out what’s been happening in Hollywood. New faces on TV: Priyanka Chopra! Plus, Ken Jeong returns! Indian actress […]
BLOG: Chinese President Xi left… — But the real gains still resonate for Seattle
By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly When Chinese President Xi Jinping picked Seattle as his first stop to land in America recently, several U.S. cities reacted with disbelief and jealousy, and numerous governors felt slighted. Why Seattle again? Didn’t Xi’s three predecessors visit Seattle before? Shouldn’t Xi experience other U.S. cities? Suddenly, Seattle—one of the […]
VISIONARY: Patsy O’Connell knows a bit about diversity
By Zachariah Bryan Northwest Asian Weekly As board president and founder of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) in Tacoma, Patsy O’Connell sees diversity every day. The APCC, founded in November of 1996, is the only Asian and Pacific Islander cultural center located in Pierce County, representing an impressive 47 countries. Moreover, it’s brimming with […]
Hookah bars get a reprieve — Community reaction toward Murray’s reversed decision
By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly Within less than a month, Mayor Ed Murray reversed his decision to close down all of the city’s hookah lounges after lounge owners and supporters’ two protests at City Hall. Murray’s initial reaction to shut down the lounges was in response to Donnie Chin’s slaying on July 23 near […]
BLOG: Think twice before smoking that pipe — The hookah bar controversy continues
By Assunta Ng The first time I heard about hookah bars two years ago, I was completely repelled. “Hooker” was what I heard. You can imagine why I didn’t want to continue the conversation with anyone mentioning the word. Go ahead, you can laugh at me. My editor certainly did. I didn’t know anything about […]