Local Events

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

In case anyone is interested, here is the blurb from the LA Times:
Lisa See the author of Phoney in Love, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Flower Net will read and discuss her work. Pacific Palisades Women's Club, 901 Haverford Ave. 1:30 pm $10 (310) 454-4063

I would highly recomend her work, but I can not make it myself--being forced to work until all the children leave and all.[Edit by="llowe on May 12, 11:21:37 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Here is another one: This month is Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. The theme for this year's celebrations is "Honoring Our Pioneers and Uniting Generations." Apparently the city has verious festivities planned throughout the month. Anyone interested should check out the website Asian and Pacific Islander Month

Here they have a detailed calendar containing events, contests, classes and museum exhibits.

[Anonymous]

Courtesy of this month's issue of American Teacher, there is an article about Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. They provide a website with information on the history behind the celebration as well as a few informative websites.

Here's the site they provide:
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

[Anonymous]

Another local event curtesy of WestWays Magazine (all hail the auto club!):

"People, Posters and Politics: China, 1920-1980"
Through Oct 19 San Diego Museum of Man, Balboa PArk, San Diego
(619) 239-2001

Balboa Park is a great day trip at any rate, but this sounds like a great exhibit!
-Laura

[Anonymous]

And here's one more:

"Monkey King: A Journey to China"
June 15-Aug31, Bowers Kidseum, Santa Ana (714) 480-1520

The Bowers proper also has a permanent exhibit on the "Ancient Arts of China"--in addition to the Terra Cotta soldiers!

A hidden wealth of info. in the middle of Santa Ana!
-Laura

[Anonymous]

Here's another one:
Sushi and Sake Festival June 14th. Queen Mary Seawalk Village, Long Beach (310) 320-7827

[Anonymous]

I hope everyone had a chance to use the free movie passes to see, "Mongol", that I posted. I went last night and I must say it was worth the 2-hour wait in line. It was an epic film, but not in the traditional sense. The battle scenes were not unbearable nor too graphic (except for the scene where a guard's face is smashed in), but it definitely deserves the R-rating.

This fictional story of the humble beginnings of Ghengis Khan shed a lot of light (for me) on the language, culture & people of early Mongol as well as their reservations about the Chinese people. It is presented in its original languages of Mandarin and Mongolian dialects, which I highly appreciated. My mandarin is very limited now due to lack of use, but I could definitely distinguish the dialect of the Mongolian people from that of Mandarin in the second half of the film. The subtitles were a bit limited, though. There would be a full minute of spoken language followed by one or two brief sentences in the subtitles; One of my pet peeves.

I believe this movie could be used in the classroom, not only because of the historical significance, but because it does not delve too much into tangent subjects. Many of the spiritual beliefs are touched upon as well as cultural rites, but without any apologies or explanations for non-believers or doubters. Many a time, there were scenes where Ghenghis Khan would be caught in a predicament that seemed insurmountable, only to be freed in the next scene without any directorial explanation. It is your own belief in the possibility that carries the plot.

Its plot mainly focuses on that for which it seemingly was intended: to introduce the audience to the background and life purpose of the great Mongol, Ghenghis Khan.

I plan to purchase the Special Edition DVD version of it the moment it comes out.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the review of "Mongol"! Friday's (6/6/08) L.A. Times, Calendar section, also had an interesting review by Kenneth Turan [[email protected]] accompanied by a nice publicity photo. I just hope it will be released to more theaters than just two listed.

You might be interested in the book "Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute: The Story of Lady Wen-Chi" (1974) introduced, and trnslated by Robert Rorex and Wen Fong. It is a sad story about Chinese (Han) woman abducted during the Han dynasty by the Hsiung-nu, married to a chief, has a family, and then when her ransom is paid leaves her Hsiung-nu children and returns home.[Edit by="mwhittemore on Jun 8, 9:51:02 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

FRONTLINE: Tuesday 9:00. PBS Channel 28. There will be a program on Chinese youth titled "Young and Restless in China". The promos for the program look interesting! It will be a good topic for discussion!

[Anonymous]

mwhittemore:
Thanks for reading my review and for the information about the book,Eighteen Songs.... I have been searching on the internet for a copy of it, but unsuccessful. I'll try Barnes & Noble
next. The story sounds enveloping. I'm hoping it'll transcend me to a place of comprehension and peace (and still more spiritual cleansing). 谢谢您.

[Anonymous]

llowe:

Thanks for the info about the Sushi & Sake festival. Not much sake, but a lot of sushi though. And such long lines!!

When I arrived there, this wonderful, wonderful mysterious lady (a) came up to me and said, "Would you like my tickets?..No charge". Then she refused to take any money for them. =:O . I love it! We saved 42 bucks. And boy, was I glad!! I thought it was going to be like the Renaissance Faire (which I absolutely LOVE), but with sushi & sake & various traditional japanese attire, instead of turkey legs & beer & euro-Renaissance costumes. Suffice it to say that the festival took a different turn than expected.

I will say this, though: I wish the festival had been on bigger grounds. After about 2 hours of watching the live performances, we ended up boarding the Queen Mary (which was included with the price of admission) and spent the rest of the day inside there. Not a bad day, in summation. I was stuffed, but I still don't know how to roll seaweed. 😀
[Edit by="pswearingen on Jun 18, 5:36:17 PM"][/Edit]
[Edit by="pswearingen on Jun 18, 5:37:15 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I'm glad you had a great time! I'm sorry I couldn't make it myself--though I am surprised at how expensive it was! Still, how great that there were so many live preformances, and so much great food 😀
-Laura

[Anonymous]

I was in Long Beach but was unable to make it the festival. A lot of my friends went and I heard some mixed reviews.

[Anonymous]

The Pacific Asia Museum has a lot going on. I don't know if anyone has been to any of their events or toured the museum. However, on Thursday July 10, they are having Films in the Courtyard. It's part of their summer series of events. These seem to be short films put on by artists. One is called Invisible Potraits by Hung Viet Tran and the other is called Chinese Ghost Story by Dan Voord and Luis Valdovino. The event is free to all who attend.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been to the Bowers Museum to check out the China exhibit?

[Author]

Posts