From a comfortable armchair on a small stage at the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Gish Jen asked: “Do you ever feel like you’re living in one reality and there’s a string pulling you to a different world?” Her audience laughed in recognition, and Jen smiled. “I do, too. So does Hattie Kong.” Jen, whose name appears often on lists of eminent contemporary Asian-American writers, was about to begin a reading to promote her new book, World & Town. Hattie Kong […]

The Wang YMCA celebrated its 96 year history and its 10th year at the Oak Street location on November 7, 2010 with their second annual Legacy Dinner.  Guests enjoyed a 10-course Chinese banquet, lion dance and tai chi performances, and raffle and silent auction items.  The event also honored three special community leaders who have helped the Wang YMCA deliver its mission of “improving the health, mind, body, and spirit of individuals and families in our communities.”Kevin Washington, President & […]

The one day that every American shopper looks forward to is the Friday after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. Black Friday is famous for being the one day that stores have door-busting sales and extended store hours. Most people take advantage of these amazing offers to get ahead in their Christmas shopping or to get good deals on home appliances and electronics. “Black Friday” deals typically begin starting from Halloween weekend at stores such as Toys R Us and […]

Poultry shops are not exactly popular spots for Chinatown locals to catch up on the latest gossip. Well, there is a reason for it.  Upon entering Ming Kee Ming Kee Poultry Market on Kneeland Street, one’s olfactory and auditory senses are severely tested in the presence of the dozens of cooped-up birds.  On the afternoon November 11, a young man decided to rise to the challenge by working in the company of quacking feathered friends.  Electrician John D’Agostina spent the […]

On November 6, over 300 adults and 60 children packed into the great hall of Empire Garden Restaurant in Chinatown for the 2010 Fall Frolic, a family social and fundraising event hosted by Buds and Blossoms (B&B) Early Education and Care Center, a Mandarin-immersion childcare program under the Asian American Civic Association (AACA). The event celebrated children and the excitement of learning. Little ones huddled around various arts and crafts tables to learn about Chinese recreational activities – everything from […]

Tears escape my eyesas I recite the lyrics to your heartthe song I could hearthe note I cant reach because you’re far awayaway from my embraceaway from the love that sang togetherthe hearts that fit together like puzzlesall went crashing downthe pieces that cut when touchedthe pieces that cant even be fixedawaken trying to find a way back to youstruggling to sleep on this dreammonths since you’ve been stuck on my minddesire to be in your arms even morefloors creaks […]

According to Lily Huang, who is affiliated with the Student Immigration Movement, “you can’t talk about immigration without talking about Asian Americans.”  On October 28, 2010, the Asian American Resource Workshop hosted the Immigration Rights Panel 101 at the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center.  Joining Lily Huang were three other panelist: Dimple Rana (Deport Diaspora), Amy Leung (Chinese Progressive Association), and June Beack (Neighborhood Legal Services.  The topics of focus were deportation, detention, and the Dream Act. Many families come to […]

Lawyers, businesses, chefs, celebrities, and many others joined together at the 17th Silk Road Gala to support the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence on October 23, 2010.  Tickets to the Silk Road Gala were sold out and had 500 guests in attendance.  The successful event was able to raise over $400,000.  The night entailed entertainment, scrumptious cuisines, live and silent auctions, and inspirational speeches. Among the celebrity chefs was Ming Tsai, host of Simply Ming.  Ming is currently in […]

By Jackson HauSampan Correspondent  Arthur Wong is considered a hero by many in the Boston Chinatown community.  He has a place in Boston Chinatown’s “hall-of-fame” as one of the forefathers and pioneers who helped establish the social and cultural foundations on which the Boston Chinatown community still continues to build. Wong may undeniably be a hero among the many generations and community members of Boston’s Chinatown, but he is also a hero and patriot among the Chinese Americans who served […]