Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Celebrations & Proclamations
Restaurant Peeks
Jennie Pho
Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
Mama Shiou of Twin Dragon Retires
Our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities have so much to be proud of, especially after a month of wins, achievements, and activities in May. Most notably, Governor Polis will be signing a bill that will make Lunar New Year an observed holiday in Colorado. Thank you to the Lunar New Year Allies Advisory Group and bill sponsors Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Rep. Matt Soper, and Senator Julie Gonzales for making this happen! More information on page 13.
Join us in welcoming our summer intern, Albert Chang-Yoo! We are looking forward to having him support our editorial team, and assist with social media, graphic design, and our website.
During AANHPI Heritage Month, the community honored the 14th annual Asian American Hero of Colorado awardees, organized a self-defense and de-escalation skills workshop, and hosted numerous events including night markets, panel discussions and a weekend at the zoo. As we head into summer, around the corner is the 28th annual Philippine Festival on June 10-11 at the Filipino-America Community of Colorado center, followed by the 49th annual Cherry Blossom Festival on June 17-18 at Sakura Square in downtown Denver. In July, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival will take place on July 22-23 at Sloan’s Lake Park in west Denver. These festivals highlight the very best of Colorado’s diverse and talented AANHPI communities. You don’t want to miss out!
Lastly, congratulations to Mama Shiou, owner of Twin Dragon Restaurant, for her recent retirement! After four decades of operating the restaurant, we thank her for building so many bridges in our community.
President
ANNIE GUO VANDAN
Editorial Director
MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ
Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO
Web Designer JASON ZHANG
Staff Writer
JESSALYN LANGEVIN
Staff Writer
PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
on the cover Mayor Mike Coffman and the Aurora City Council present the Proclamation for AAPI Heritage Month to the Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership on May 22,2023.
Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine
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Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
7 EVENT CALENDAR
8 COMMUNITY PRODUCTION: The Oldest Boy at Miners Alley
9 COMMUNITY EXHIBIT: Lives of Japanese Americans at El Pueblo History Museum
10
FEATURE: Mama Shiou, Owner of Twin Dragon Restaurant, retires
12 COVER STORY: Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month and wins for the community
18 RESTAURANT PEEK: Seoul Korean BBQ and Hot Pot
19 RESTAURANT PEEK: Jennie Pho
20 FEATURE: Cherry Creek High School students organize TEDx event
21 SPOTLIGHT: Cynthia Chan shares about the benefits of classical feng shui
22 ON SCENE: Aurora Sister Cities International hosts annual gala
22 ON SCENE: Clayton Members Club presents a discussion by AAPI chefs
10
ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222 Tel: 303.937.6888
E-mail: hello@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com
14
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June 10-11 | 10am to 5pm
Filipino-American Community of Colorado
1900 N Harlan St, Edgewater Free and Open to the Public colorado-filipinos.org
Saturday, June 17 | 11am to 6pm
Sunday, June 18 | 11am to 4pm
Sakura Square | 1255 19th Street, Denver Free and open to the public cherryblossomdenver.org
Send
Saturday, June 24 | 5pm to 8pm
The Dome at AMG, 6295 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village
The Festival, which commemorates Philippine Independence from Spain in 1898, is open to the public and features the best Filipino heritage can offer—delicious food, exciting music and dance; and the famous Filipino hospitality! The event also showcases performances from guest artists, as well as vendors and fun youth activities.
The theme of the Philippine Festival is “Pasigarbo Sa FACC” means Pride in Cebuano. Last year, the festival attracted 1,000 guests on each day!
The festival celebrates Japanese heritage and culture through live entertainment, food and drink, a marketplace and informative exhibits and demonstrations. The fine selections in the Japanese-themed marketplace will have you browsing through jewelry, anime, pottery, fine art, apparel and more. Fans of taiko drumming, teriyaki chicken, sake and Japanese artwork and wares won’t want to miss the Cherry Blossom Festival!
Cost: $160 for adults/ $95 for kids under 12 nathanyipfoundation.org/events/sushi-party
Session 1: WHAT IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT?
Join the Nathan Yip Foundation at their sushi party, one of the foundation’s most popular annual traditions. June was Nathan’s birthday month and his legacy is celebrated by hosting a sushi party. This event sells out each year. This event is hosted at a larger venue – the Dome at AMG in Greenwood Village. Guests are invited to enjoy an all-you-can-eat feast of sushi, sake, and other Japanese treats catered by Chef Miki Hashimoto of TOKIO Restaurant.
Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network will host a four-session civics training from June to September 2023.
The goal is to educate members of Colorado’s Asian community about the political process and encourage more civic participation, including increased voter turnout.
Session 2: HOW DOES LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORK?
Participants will receive $500 for completion of the training and become a community ambassador.
Visit cacendenver.org for more information and the schedule.
Session 3: WHY SHOULD I GET INVOLVED?
Session 4: GET OUT THE VOTE
By Sarah Ruhl | Directed by Len Matheo
MAY 19 – JUNE 11, 2023
Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 PM | Sunday Matinee at at 2:00 PM
Miners Alley Playhouse presents the production of The Oldest Boy: A Play in Three Ceremonies, a rich, emotional journey filled with music, dance, puppetry, ritual and laughter. Written by Sarah Ruhl, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur Fellow, and produced in collaboration with Golden’s Sherpa House Restaurant and Cultural Center, the play is running for four weeks from May 19 through June 11, 2023.
“The Oldest Boy is a touching and thought-provoking play that explores the complexities of love, sacrifice and the human experience,” said Len Matheo, The Oldest Boy Director and Miners Alley Producing Artistic Director. “Miners Alley
Playhouse is excited to continue to provide a wide range of productions that gives audiences a taste of different cultures and experiences – and in this case, young children, who can be our oldest and wisest teachers.”
In this moving exploration of parenthood, directed by Miners Alley’s own, Len Matheo, an American mother and a Tibetan father have a three-year-old son believed to be the reincarnation of a Buddhist lama (i.e., spiritual leader). When a Tibetan lama and a monk come to their home unexpectedly, asking to take their child away for a life of spiritual training in India, the parents must make a life-altering choice that will test their
strength, their marriage, and their hearts.
“With the month of May being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month [in May], The Oldest Boy is a perfect way to celebrate and honor these communities,” said Matheo.
“The themes of family, love, and rich cultural heritage, combined with an outstanding cast that brings this story to life, is a can’t miss,” said Matheo.
The show runs now thru June 11, 2023 at Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Avenue in Golden, Colo. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Prices range from $44 to $56. Tickets are available at MinersAlley.com or by calling 303-935-3044.
History Colorado’s El Pueblo History Museum announces its newest exhibition which illustrates the diverse cultures and history of Southern Colorado from the perspective of a Japanese American photographer. Through the Lens: The Photography of Frank Muramoto explores the world of a Japanese-born professional photographer who operated his own studio in Pueblo, Colorado, and captured everyday life from a broad range of communities, industries and landscapes for more than four decades from 1915 to 1958.
Featuring a curated collection of approximately three dozen of Muramoto’s photographs – including photos of himself, his family, and the community he lived in – Through the Lens: The Photography of Frank Muramoto is a rare opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of southern Colorado through the eyes of a Japanese American photographer who operated a business during a time when
people of Japanese ancestry, and others, were oppressed.
As he was an early adopter of color film, Through the Lens: The Photography of Frank Muramoto also includes a viewing station where visitors can see videos taken by Muramoto and hear excerpts from an oral history of Dave Muramoto, the photographer’s grandson.
Produced in partnership with the Pueblo City-County Library District, the Through the Lens exhibition is part of a larger collection maintained by the Pueblo County Historical Society that provides an intimate glimpse into the East Asian community of Southern Col-
History Colorado’s El Pueblo History Museum is located at 301 N. Union Avenue in the heart of the city of Pueblo, part of the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk District and the Pueblo Creative Corridor. The museum stands on the site of the original El Pueblo trading post, constructed in 1842. The museum site features beautiful galleries, a gift shop, bookstore, gardens, an active archaeological dig, and a recreation of the 1842 adobe trading post. Current exhibits include Borderlands of Southern Colorado, Steel City: 1980-2004, and You Should’ve Seen It: Pueblo’s Mineral Palace.
El Pueblo History Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit ElPuebloHistoryMuseum.org or call 719-583-0453
orado through candid moments from everyday life.
The Japanese community of Colorado, which numbered some 100 households in Pueblo alone in Muramoto’s time, and the photographer’s personal life is also explored in a series of labels within the exhibition.
“This exhibition is a chance to explore an undertold story of immigration to Colorado,” said Devin Flores, History Colorado’s digital content specialist. “Through Muramoto’s lens, the audience gets a unique perspective on the diverse people, communities, cultures, and landscapes of southern Colorado, as seen by a first-generation immigrant.”
Through the Lens: The Photography of Frank Muramoto is on view now at El Pueblo History Museum in the free Community Gallery. El Pueblo History Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit. It is a 143-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites. History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado.
Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information.
After more than four decades, family-owned Twin Dragon Restaurant on 3021 S. Broadway in Englewood has closed. Owner Shiou Y. Jefferson, 75, announced the closure early April and hosted a farewell party in celebration of her retirement on April 30, alongside her son Joe Jefferson.
“There’s been a lot of blood, sweat, and tears,” said Joe.
Twin Dragon has evolved into a community hub for business meetings, presentations and/or regular meetups for those with common interests.
Birthday celebrations, family gatherings and even engagements have occurred throughout the 47-year history of the restaurant. For some families, the restaurant has served four generations of customers.
“Mom makes the best dumplings,” said Joe. The dumplings, shrimp fried rice, and sesame chicken were staples and commonly ordered for takeout, feeding the neighborhood.
Some of Shiou’s fondest memories come from serving favorite celebrity sports stars such as players from the Denver Broncos and the Denver Nuggets, and even their cheerleaders.
Joe recalls former Denver Broncos player Tom Jackson, who retired after 29 years from ESPN, helping him with homework after school. Those connections have forged a deep value of service to the community.
For most Asian immigrants, the restaurant industry has become the gateway to the American dream.
“The restaurant business is the pathway to integration,” he
said. “It has represented a beacon of opportunity.”
Before college, Joe resented the long hours of the restaurant business. He started to appreciate the sacrifice his mother made for him during his college years and started understanding the restaurant became a conduit of service.
“By being of service, my mom gained some influence into the community,” he said. “The doors of opportunities are wider.”
Known and adored as “Mama Shiou” to her community, she plans to stay active during her retirement years by volunteering for the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) as the chair of the Colorado chapter.
“AAPI Americans have a unique history of both persecution and prosperity here in Colorado and the US. We have overcome many unique hurdles to realize our ‘American Dreams’ through supporting each other in our local community,” she said.
“I have been inspired by ILF to create the Colorado chapter and to support the next generation of AAPI leaders in Colorado by creating better access to world-class education and leadership development in civics, law and business. Our youth have so much to offer to America’s next generation.”
After the stresses of the pandemic and the struggle with staffing shortages, she is emotional but ready to move on. Already, Mama Shiou is planning to write an autobiography of her journey from North Korea to the United States.
Shiou’s family moved from China to Korea, where she was
born before the split between the north and the south. After war broke out, the family fled the farm and relocated to South Korea. Eventually, she was able to attend college in Taiwan, earning a bachelor’s degree in history and education; she later got a master’s degree in Japan.
The condensed version of her immigrant journey is already shared through a 12-minute video posted on YouTube in her native language of Mandarin Chinese. Completed with vintage photos, a slideshow was presented on April 30 of her years as the owner of Twin Dragon Restaurant.
It was the first time for both mom and son to view the slideshow along with loyal restaurant diners and customers.
The family is grateful for all the support from the local community and all the memories they have made at the restaurant.
Currently, Joe Jefferson serves as Englewood’s PresidingMunicipal Judge, and previously served as Mayor of Englewood and was the first known Chinese American mayor in Colorado history.
The Jeffersons sold the building to another restaurateur but are unsure of their plans. Mama Shiou plans to travel to old stomping grounds such as revisiting her grandfather’s village in China, checking out her graduate school in Japan, or returning to South Korea.
Across the nation, cities celebrated May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month including Colorado cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs.
A proclamation from The White House reads: “ During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, our Nation celebrates the diversity of cultures, breadth of achievement, and remarkable contributions of these communities; of brave immigrants who, motivated by the promise of possibilities, picked up their lives and found new homes here; of na-
tive peoples who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial; and of community leaders shaping a brighter future for us all.”
In Colorado Springs, Sandy Ho worked with Councilwoman Yolanda Avila to put forth a resolution to formally recognize May as AANHPI Heritage Month in Colorado Springs. On April 25, the motion was unanimously approved by the Colorado Spings City Council.
On May 22, Mayor Mike Coffman and Aurora City Council also issued a proclamation for AAPI Heritage Month during the Aurora Council formal meeting. Steering Commit-
tee members of the Aurora Asian/ Pacific Community Partnership received the proclamation and were recognized for their contributions.
Founded 30 years ago, the Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership is a nonprofit organization working with the community toward creating and maintaining a high quality of life for all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander residents and businesses of Aurora.
In recent years, the recognition of “Native Hawaiians” has been added to the Asian American and Pacific Islander distinction.
The Colorado legislature passed HB 23-1271 which will recognized Lunar New Year as an Observed Holiday in the state. On June 2, Governor Polis will sign the bill.
“The bill signing will officially commemorate this significant holiday for our AAPI community and the State of Colorado,” said Nga Vương-Sandoval, chair of the Lunar New Year Allies (LUNA) advisory group.
In addition to Vương-Sandoval, LUNA includes community leaders: Harry Budisidharta, Fran Campbell, Gary Yamashita, Fr. Joseph Dang, and Derek Okubo.
Vương-Sandoval said: “I’m grateful to have worked alongside these community leaders on our Lunar New Year bill since last year. We’ve spent countless hours drafting the language, ensuring that the bill reflects our diverse Asian communities who celebrate this holiday, and have shared much laughter in the process.”
In 2022, California designated Lunar New Year a paid state holiday. Unlike an official state holiday that would give state employees a paid day off and close government offices, in Colorado, Lunar New Year will be an observed holiday on the first Friday of February every year.
César Chávez Day is also an observed holiday in Colorado.
According to the bill, “The general assembly finds and declares that designating Lunar New Year Day as an observed state holiday permits Coloradans the time to celebrate Asian American culture and recognize an important part of the fabric of United States diversity.”
“Over two billion people celebrate Lunar New Year worldwide. Participants in Lunar New Year uphold the tradition of spending time and sharing blessings with family and loved ones. It is traditionally a period to wish upon others good fortune, health, prosperity, and happiness.”
The bill also acknowledges the chal-
lenges and discrimination experienced by Asian Americans since the start of the pandemic.
It reads: “For the past three years, Asian Americans have been experiencing a surge in anti-Asian hate crime. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, police departments have reported an increase in hate crimes targeted at Asian Americans. A growing population coupled with increased activism has boosted Asian American visibility and political power just as a rising tide of anti-Asian sentiment has led to discrimination, isolation, and violence against people of Asian descent. Increasing the visibility of cultural traditions that are widely celebrated among the Asian diaspora would serve as a counterbalance to the marginalization that many in the Asian American community have encountered over the years.”
Primary bill sponsors were Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Rep. Matt Soper, and Senator Julie Gonzales.
On January 23, the Colorado Legislature welcomed members from the Asian community to the State Capitol for a commendation read by Senator Julie Gonzales and Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez in celebration of Lunar New Year.
On Sunday, May 21, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network honored the 2023 Asian American Heroes of Colorado at Happy Living Center in Aurora.
In celebration of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the 14th annual awards ceremony recognized outstanding leaders in the Asian American community, who each received an engraved award and congratulatory letter from Governor Polis.
Each awardee was welcomed to the stage by a friend or colleague. Award recipients then each shared words of gratitude to those who have supported them and advice for the younger generations.
This year’s Young Hero Award was given to Brent Sabati, Board Member of Sakura Foundation and Asian Chamber of Commerce, who thanked his parents for their sacrifices that have led to his success.
The other recipients included: Indira Duggirala, Co-Chair of South Asian Democrats of Colorado and First Vice Chair of Colorado Democratic Party; Sara Moore, Executive Director of Colorado Dragon Boat and Board Member of Denver Film; Tran Nguyen-Wills, community leader and founder of Base Coat Nail Salon; Elaine Yang, Committee Co-Chair of Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival and Board Member of Asian Girls Ignite; and Philip
Yun, President of Korean Association of Scholarship Foundation and Chairman of Board of Directors for Colorado Association of Korean Schools.
Yang’s daughter, Elise, accepted the award on her mother’s behalf.
“I want to thank Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network for organizing this wonderful program each year to highlight the leadership of the Asian American Pacific Islander community in Colorado,” said Governor Polis in a video shared at the event.
The event was emceed by FOX31’s Cheryl Hwang and catered by Taku Sushi, Happy Living, Mochinut and Coffee Sarap.
Awardees were selected by: Asian Chamber of Commerce, Asian Girls Ignite, Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Asian Pacific Development Center, Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, CORE DEI, Sakura Foundation, National Association of Asian American Professionals Colorado. Presented by: Colorado Asian Culture & Education Network.
Since 1990, the US government has designated the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of AAPIs in the US. More recently, the distinction added “Native Hawaiian” to be: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Denver Public Schools
May 7
Asian Education Advisory Council Awards
Recognizing students, teachers, and faculty in DPS
May 6
AAPI+ Heritage Month Celebration at Denver Zoo
Organization booths and performances
AANHPI Denver
Mayoral Forum
Featuring a discussion with mayoral finalists Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston
May 20
May 24
Asian Chamber of Commerce: Mongolian Cultural Experience with performances by Mongolian School of Colorado
Teaching self-defense skills such as boundary setting and de-escalation to the Asian community
May 27
Happy AANHPI Heritage Month... until next year!
Located within the Havana Business Improvement District - On Havana Street in Aurora, Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, was voted Asian Avenue’s Best Korean Soup last year. Favorite soups include kimchi jjigae and galbi tang. In 2020, Asian Avenue readers voted the restaurant for not only Best Korean Soup, but also Best Hot Pot. As a local favorite, the restaurant provides authentic Korean cuisine served fresh and even cooked right at your table.
“Seoul BBQ has been around for 16 years as a family-oriented restaurant,” said Rose Lee, manager of Seoul BBQ. “We always try to offer the best and something new, so we never stop challenging ourselves to satisfy our loyal customers.”
Offering both BBQ and hot pot, diners face the hard choice during each visit—should I eat hot pot or partake in BBQ? With lots of interaction no matter what you choose, cooking your meal at the table is a fun and interactive dining experience.
Located in a strip mall with the international grocery market, MMart, as its anchor, the restaurant offers plenty of parking. However, during dinner times from Thursday to Sunday, the restaurant is usually packed and so is the parking lot. The restaurant is divided into two sides: one for hot pot and the other is set up for Korean-style BBQ with table grills.
Seoul BBQ is the perfect restaurant for large family gatherings or special celebrations with private rooms available for parties spending a minimum of $180. With a bustling atmosphere, restaurant staff are constantly bringing out dishes and drinks, as they attend to customers.
On the KBBQ side, the pork with white fish, chicken bulgogi, and beef bulgogi are diners’ favorites. If you want a quick bite, dok bok-gi (rice cakes) and mandu (dumplings) are on the appetizer menu. The kimchi pancakes tickle all the taste buds of sweet, sour, spicy, and savory.
Lee, who started at the restaurant 14 years ago as a hostess, shared that the KBBQ combos are popular, which include: bulgogi beef and galbi short ribs along with more specialized cuts like pork jowl, beef tongue, and pork collar with octopus, all arriving with a plethora of banchan sides.
On the hot pot side, the all-you-caneat meal allows customers to choose their broth, make their own sauce, select ingredients, order meats, and then cook everything to their liking.
With up to 75 employees, the staffers know the menu and can easily give recommendations, instruct how to cook the various meats, and help increase or decrease the temperature of the grill or hot pot.
Customers can push a button at their tables that notify the staff when you need to order or if you need any assistance.
Open daily from 11AM to 10PM, lunch and dinner service are available. Reservations can be made on their website seoulkoreanbbq. com or by calling (303) 632-7576. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook at @seoulkoreanbbq.
By Mary Jeneverre SchultzFor more than three years, Jennie Pho: House of Noodle, Grill, & Bubble Tea has offered a menu of Vietnamese cuisine in Broomfield and the surrounding areas. For the last two years, the restaurant was named the best Asian restaurant and the best vegetarian restaurant in Westminster.
Owner, John Nguyen Trinh, created a family-owned restaurant for his wife as the main chef and creator of the southeast flavors.
“My wife’s passion is cooking healthy delicious Vietnamese foods,” said Trinh, who wanted to build a family business, adding that his favorite dish is pho with bone marrow, also known as Phozilla
The restaurant offers take-out, online ordering, catering, delivery, and dine-in options, and packed with large families and big groups on Fridays and Saturdays. Sitting in a strip mall allows the restaurant to offer ample parking spaces. Trinh confessed the family purchased the site after the grocery store anchor departed from the strip mall and five months before the pandemic. He disclosed the city has purchased the abandoned building and plans to create an incubator space for upcoming enterprises.
The restaurant is closed on Sundays for Trinh’s family of five to spend time together and attend Sunday services.
Born in Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh), Trinh left Vietnam when he was only 12 years old. His father served as a soldier for the US in the south. He met his wife in Philadelphia but settled in Colorado because his parents had resided in Colorado for 30 years.
The restaurant business was not his first choice. He attended CU Boulder to finish an electrical engineering major. But he decided to leave the industry when his job took him away on travels from his family of three girls. Currently, he is a financial consultant for his start-up and manages the administration of the restaurant.
Phozilla | Chef Jennie created a dish to celebrate the national dish of Vietnam --- Phozilla. In a ginormous bowl, this pho dish filled with white, rice noodles, flavorful broth, Wagyu steak, brisket, flank, tendon, tripe, and marrow bone. Plus, the pho is gluten free. It’s guaranteed the diners will bring leftovers for about two days’ worth of eating.
Vietnamese Sandwich | Served with cucumber, carrot, jalapenos, and cilantro, the sandwich comes with choices between grilled beef, grilled pork, grilled chicken, fried tofu, or just vegan meatball. For adventurous diners, ask for Jennie’s Sandwich --- it is served with a sunny side up egg and special sandwich sauce.
Grilled Green Mussels | If you are craving for some seafood, this chef’s special platter offers a generous quantity of the shellfish topped with onions, peanuts, and lime juices.
Spring Rolls | Served with fresh and healthy ingredients, this appetizer bite is the perfect way to start lunch or dinner. The sauce is made in-house.
Fried Crab Cheese Wontons | This appetizer filled with crab cheese is another diners’ favorite. This dish goes fast when placed between a large group of people who want to snack on quick bites.
Vietnamese Coffee | Produced with dark roast ground coffee, it is served with condensed milk or vegan milk, available upon request. This beverage will keep you awake.
Don’t forget to check out the selection of boba teas and smoothies. The website offers specials, too. For example, kids under five tears old eat free with a paid adult meal.
Giving back is important to Trinh and his family. They partner with a local organization called Bridging Hope. The nonprofit aids disadvantaged and disabled women and children in Vietnam. Last April, the restaurant sold upscale wine and whiskeys through an online auction to raise funds for the Colorado organization (bridging-hope.org).
Every household knows about electronic games, whether it is Nintendo favorites such as Mario Bros. or Zelda from the 80s or today’s popular Minecraft and Fortnite. Video games like Dungeons & Dragons have even evolved into movies.
An estimated six million kids are addicted to games, according to a local high schooler, who is fighting game addiction through awareness.
Speaking in a TEDx speech, Michael Zhang, a student at Cherry Creek high school, shared about his gaming addiction, corporate greed, and how the industry should be regulated.
Now he is partnering with his friend Chelsea Chi to host their own TEDx event called TEDxCherryCreekHS.
On Saturday, August 12, join The Schoolhouse on for the first TEDx event in the South Denver Metro area themed “Beyond The Horizon.”
With the support of the powerful TED platform, the event offers a TED-like experience, bringing people together and sparking deep discussion and connection.
“The TED platform is powerful, offering excellent support and publicity for TEDx events. All TEDx speeches
will be uploaded onto ted.com, which attracts millions of views. TED also provides comprehensive guidance, making hosting a TEDx event an easier process,” Zhang said.
“We hope that the big ideas our speakers bring to the event will spark deep and meaningful conversations from the community and, moreover, some tangible actions to bring about tangible changes.”
Zhang is curious about science and computer science, and he hopes to pursue a career in these fields. Plans are to continue hosting TEDx events annually.
In the modern and beautiful Schoolhouse at Parker Arts, the event will feature 12 powerful talks and two performances. Speaker and performer applications are available at tedxcherrycreekhs.com. Comprehensive training will be provided to selected speakers.
The team of Zhang, Chi and their parents are hoping for 100 sold seats. The event is open to the public, especially children and
adults in South Denver Metro communities.
TEDx Cherry Creek High School is a youth-run nonprofit organization dedicated to ideas worth spreading. For more information, visit tedxcherrycreekhs.com or contact tedx.cherrycreekhs@gmail.com.
Classical Feng Shui is unlike schools of Feng Shui that involve interior design. It is a science using compass readings, mathematical formulas, time cycles, physics, and the 5 elemental theory to assess the chi (energy) in your environment and how it affects your life. With 22 years of working with chi, Cynthia Lee Chan provides awareness and strategies to help with specific issues people are struggling with.
The Classical Feng Shui process offers a professional analysis for your home and/or business to optimally align your environment to benefit from improvements such as:
• Overcome obstacles in business or career
• Harmonize relationships
• Attract or improve romance
• Experience relief from depression
• Improve health issues
• Promote real estate sales
• Raise the quality of life and more...
Over the years, Cynthia worked with thousands of people, keeping a PowerPoint file on each person or family. During her early years when people told her they got in a car accident, sold a house, had a legal issue, changed jobs, got married, had a divorce, suffered from depression or pain, etc, she’d go to their file
to calculate the Classical Feng Shui formulas to see what was going on in their chi. She was fascinated at how the mathematical and elemental formulas told the story they experienced! After a couple years of observation, she experimented with implementing elemental strategies into specific areas of their homes and businesses and the results were profound.
After implementing her recommended strategies like placing the bed, desk, or elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) in specific locations, people reported results like less anger and arguing, reduced pain, increased sales, fewer troubles with kids or employees, legal issues subsiding, social interaction increased, romance sparked, money flowed in, and much more.
Another advantage of Classical Feng Shui is its ability to help us through our life struggles by giving a head’s up when challenging cycles are approaching, with awareness of the yin and yang properties of the chi. This enables us to be proactive in taking measures to reduce or even eliminate unfavorable outcomes. In addition, placing strategies within our environment will shift the chi that triggers havoc in our lives, making it easier to make shifts that bring beneficial outcomes to our lives.
Experience the power of Classical Feng Shui to better understand your life and help create your desired reality. Learn more about benefits of Classical Feng Shui at: CynthiaLeeChan.com
On May 3, Aurora Sister Cities International (ASCI) invited community members of Aurora to attend the their annual gala Spring Intercontinental event at the People’s Building. Mayor Mike Coffman welcomed guests to the event, while samplings from five countries, including Korea, Mexico, Ethiopia, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, were offered.
In addition to food samplings, cultural dances from Mexico, performances from local theaters and dance troupes from Ethiopia were part of the celebration. More than 250 people attended the international event. It was a chance to network
with other globally minded individuals.
Funds raised from the silent auction, sponsorships, and ticket sales go towards ASCI’s unique and meaningful education and exchange programs, including programs that uplift local, at-risk youth, programs that support local business owners, and support that grows Aurora’s diversity and global presence.
Aurora’s sister cities include Adama, Ethiopia; Antiguo Custcatlán, El Salvador; Jaco, Costa Rica; Seongnam City, South Korea; Zielona Góra, Poland.
Learn more about ASCI and their programs at AuroraSisterCities.org.
For their inaugural Asian American panel titled “Food for Thought,” the Clayton Hotel & Members Club invited restaurant owners and chefs to share their experience in Colorado. Claire Lardizabal, Membership Events & Marketing Coordinator of Clayton Members Club, hoped to share her culture with the organization, a membership-only club in Cherry Creek at 233 Clayton Street in Denver.
On May 16, Chef Jeff Osaka of Sushi Rama Restaurants, Chef Mark Dinh of Fish on Rice, and Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton and semi-finalist of the James Beard Award shared their food journeys and how they established their careers in the restaurant industry.
In addition to the chefs, Patty Kaowthumrong, food editor of 5280 Magazine, and Chea Franz, founder of Indie Creative Co., a communications and marketing firm specializing in food, lifestyle, and cause-driven
brands, provided insights about current food trends.
Moderated by Mary Jeneverre Schultz, Editorial Director of Asian Avenue Magazine, the panel speakers shared personal stories of how cooking became a passion and their way of loving their Asian American identities. Uncomfortable topics of racism surfaced in the conversations and alarming questions of being asked “where are you from?”
Other subjects included their comfort food, the food scene in Colorado, and how the pandemic has affected staffing shortages and the new ways of operating in today’s times.
Treats were provided by the bakery of Dana Shin and beverage samples were from Tea Street, a local Taiwanese bubble tea shop on Colorado Blvd.
Learn more about the Clayton Members Club at claytondenver.com.
