An Open Letter To Chicago + Be Water

Dear Chicago,

My Midwest brothers and sisters--thank you for fighting this administration and all the wrongs that it stands for, because it takes courage to get out there and do what you're doing. 

This article in the NY Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/us/chicago-ice-trump.html--those pics of you standing hand in hand, that video at the beginning of you all knocking that tear gas back to those ICE agents who threw them in the first place?

Damn. I loved seeing that.

And I know no one likes to be out their doing that--but when you have to be out there, you have to be out there. 

It's like it's not even a question. Because you have to stand up for yourself when no one else will (and in this case it's the current administration and ALL the people around them trying to get rich at our expense). 

I just wanted to show you love from the Twin Cities, extend that Midwest yêu.

Keep fighting the good fight,
Brother in arms (the human locked kind)

P.S.

Use that Hong Kong protester knowledge--the Asian motherlands have that down!
https://www.reuters.com/graphics/HONGKONG-EXTRADITIONS-TACTICS/0100B0790FL/

Here's a quick video too (I know you all have smart people up there bur just in case these could help and you're not familiar with them--and it's a great reminder for all of us--always forget about those lasers). 

Be water.

Stir-Friday Night! Asian American Comedy + This Asian American Life

I just might need to travel on down to Chicago to check this out - because that picture just draws me in (and so does that title).

Check it out if you're in town.

Stir-Friday Night! is a 17-year old ensemble with alumni such as Danny Pudi (NBC's Community), Steven Yeun (AMC's The Walking Dead), The Second City's Mary Sohn (Who Do We Think We Are?), and Broadway's Christine Lin (Chinglish)

SFN presents "This Asian American Life" a sketch comedy revue.

Written and Performed by Dacey Arashiba, Kannan Arumugam, Gilbert Galon, Samantha Garcia, James Kannookadan, Sonia Khaleel, Avery Lee, and Irene Tu.

Director - Anthony LeBlanc
Musical Director - Marques Stewart
Stage Manager - Dujuan Pritchett

The Second City Donny's Skybox Theatre
Fridays @ 10:30pm July 27 - August 24

Tickets
$13 General Admission | $10 Students | $8 Training Center Students

Purchase Tickets
http://www.secondcity.com/training/chicago/performances/detail/1300/

stirfridaynight.org
facebook.com/stirfridaynightcomedy
twitter.com/stirfridaynight

Chicago's Chinatown

Just wanted to post up a little bit of an article on Chicago's Chinatown:

"The young professionals wanting to move back to Chinatown want to reconnect with traditional families and their heritage," said Chi Can To, co-executive director of the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. That desire for connection does not surprise Kam Liu, principal at Kam L. Liu Realty. Liu, a Realtor since the mid-1970s, was one of the first full-time Realtors in Chinatown.

Chinatown's real estate ranges from older, traditional single-family homes to luxurious town homes and condominiums. Its boundaries are as informal as they are dynamic, changing as business areas expand and housing becomes available, and are identified by the language spoken on the street. Today, the borders are the south branch of the Chicago River on the north, Clark Street to the east, 26th Street on the south and Halsted to the west. The tight housing market has caused Chinese-Americans to move into the adjacent communities of Bridgeport and McKinley Park.

"As a whole, Chinatown is mostly businesses surrounded by housing on the side streets and south of Cermak Road," Liu said. Properties for sale in Chinatown are few, he said adding that families that own their home stay in it for generations or sell it among themselves. "The preference may be to buy a single-family home, but the cost factor in Chinatown is too great," he said. "So first-time home buyers choose condos."

Amy Mui and her husband, Perry Zhao, are among those first-time condo buyers.

Mui grew up in Chinatown and is accustomed to the accessibility it affords to the rest of the city and the benefits of the community. All played a part in their decision to stay in the area. When friends visit, they shop, go to a restaurant and take photos by Chinatown Gate. "And there's always karaoke," she said. "We didn't want to leave the neighborhood," Mui added. "The people are very warm here, very nice and caring. I am used to that and want that for my family."

Read it in full at the Tribune.

14th Annual 2009 Chicago Asian American Showcase (April 3-16th)

While the full schedule isn't up yet some of the cool films that'll be playing down at the 2009 Chicago Asian American Showcase are Dirty Hands: The Art And Crimes Of David Choe, Treeless Mountain, Karma Calling, Dim Sum Funeral, Fruit Fly, Half-Life, and The First Breath Of Tengren Rei.

Film.Pizza.Wind.

Damn straight I'm getting a slice.

Slant TV

Just felt like throwing this on up - another clip from the Chicago based Slant TV:

KBC - TV's "The Slant"

This if for my folks out in Chicago. I got word from Jonald Reyes who did the documentary That Asian Thing about a show called "The Slant" which is looking like it's going to be pretty cool (and where he's the producer and overall watcher of "The Slant" stuff).

Here's the description from the site down at theslant.tv:

"The Slant" is AAN's answer to what's going on with Asian-America in Chicago. Catch every episode on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. CST, and a re-broadcast at midnight on KBC-TV Channel 41, WOCH-CA.

"The Slant" is a magazine-style, entertainment & pop cultural show that features various in-depth profiles on the Asian-American experience within the Magnificent Mile city of Chicago, IL. Segment reports show cutting-edge hot spots for restaurants, bars, & clubs; organizations for young professionals; prominent Asian/Asian-American role models; and cool high-tech/video gaming info. "The Slant" also features awesome musical performances by talented Asian-American artists who are scratching their niche into people's ear buds.

If you have any news, restaurants, people, or issues you'd like "The Slant" to hit up, you can email us at:

info [at] theslant.tv

Check it out.

Vote Chicago Vote...and P.S. To WBBM

Glad to see the Asian American Institute in Chicago taking charge - and it's not like everyone else isn't doing the same thing (getting our asses out to register, checking out the issues, and trying to get us to vote - because technically it is your right not to vote):

Months after learning that less than two-thirds of qualified Asian-Americans in Illinois were registered to vote, officials say they're pleased with efforts to do so.

April Lewton of the Asian-American Institute of Chicago says there has been a concentrated effort in the Asian-American community to not only register qualified voters, but also to find out which issues matter most to them.

A platform has been compiled from the results. Lewton says information about the top 12 concerns are being distributed in the Asian-American community, and are being used as a voter guide, mostly in the local elections.

Among the issues are immigration reform, violence against women, racial profiling, hate crimes and the limited number of Asian-Americans in police uniforms.

Go to the Asian American Institute to learn more - and WBBM - because I know you're reading this - notice that the Asian American Institute doesn't actually spell its name with hyphens.

Just thought you might want this pointed out to you.