Latest news with #AsianAmerican
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Can't find a place to watch WNBA? Strapping Sacramento looks to change that
The WNBA regular season is underway, with several games already in the books. Strapping Sacramento, a local gift shop with locations in midtown and Oak Park, will host a free watch party Sunday for the Golden State Valkyries as they take on the Minnesota Lynx. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at Strapping's Ice Blocks site at 1715 R St., Suite 150, behind Philz Coffee. Snacks will be available for purchase, and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs due to limited seating. Strapping, owned by Sacramento resident Susan Stewart, has operated for eight years, according Darcy Weinberg, Stewart's partner and Strapping's public relations manager. The couple first tested the idea of a watch party during the Valkyries' inaugural game, an 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16. 'We're definitely fans of women's professional sports, and the Valkyries are a big deal for us in Northern California,' Weinberg said. 'A lot of our customers have asked, 'Can you guys do some watch parties?' Because it's hard to find places in Sacramento that will put women's pro sports on TV. Unfortunately, that's still the case.' Both Stewart and Weinberg are lifelong athletes — Stewart a former professional golfer, and Weinberg a rower. 'That's where the love for sports came from, and for women's sports,' Weinberg said. The Golden State Valkyries are among the WNBA's newest expansion teams, founded in 2023, and play at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Additional WNBA expansion teams in Portland, Oregon, and Toronto are slated to debut in 2026. The Valkyries are owned by Joe Lacob, Peter Guber, and the NBA's Golden State Warriors, who reportedly paid a $50 million expansion fee, according to Yahoo Sports.. As the name suggests, Valkyries are female warriors. Natalie Nakase, the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history, leads the team. The Valkyries also drafted the league's first Asian American player, Kaitlyn Chen of UConn, who was later cut before the regular season began. Key players include Kayla Thornton, Janelle Salaun, Tiffany Hayes, Veronica Burton, Julie Vanloo, and Monique Billings—who scored the franchise's first points. The team currently holds a 2-2 record. They earned their first win May 21, narrowly defeating the Washington Mystics 76-74 in front of a sold-out crowd. Burton led with 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists; Thornton added 18 points. Thornton leads the team in scoring and rebounds, averaging 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Burton averages 4.3 assists and leads the league in steals with three per game; Thornton follows with 2.8. Sacramento was once home to the Monarchs, one of the WNBA's founding teams in 1997. The team included league legends Ruthie Bolton, Yolanda Griffith, and Ticha Penicheiro. The Monarchs won the 2005 WNBA championship and reached the finals again in 2006 before losing to the Detroit Shock. The team folded in 2009 after the Maloof family ceased operations. Relocation attempts to Oakland failed. Weinberg said community members look to Stewart to create inclusive, welcoming events. 'We are a queer-owned business, so we're very tight with the LGBTQ community,' Weinberg said. 'Susan has been a leader in the community for years. People look to her for stuff like this. So we bought the WNBA League Pass.' The events are open to anyone interested in women's sports or in exploring the space. Strapping's events are family-friendly, Weinberg said. 'Many of our families have kids and want a place where they can bring them and not be at a crazy bar,' she said. 'They want to watch the games without exposing their kids to that kind of environment.' 'We don't want to turn anyone away,' she added. Weinberg said they 'most likely' will host watch parties for every game, although for now, they are planning month by month. The next event is scheduled for June 9. Strapping began as a clothing line designed for women seeking masculine styles, Weinberg said. When that concept didn't gain traction, Stewart shifted to retail, opening a gift store featuring playful items and upscale gifts, such as kitchenware. Strapping has since expanded to include multiple locations — on Broadway in Oak Park, at L and 18th streets in midtown, and at the Ice Blocks location for events. 'We have to charge for certain events,' Weinberg said. 'We're having a comedy night that will be super fun, headlined by Melissa McGillicuddy.' Upcoming events include an ice cream social June 4 at Licked, also owned by Stewart, located at 3400 Broadway; the 'Date My Friend' singles mixer on June 7; and another Valkyries watch party June 9. For more information, visit or follow their social media pages for updates on free and ticketed events.
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
A Memoir of Divorce and Xenophobia, Narrated by a Clam
CLAM DOWN: A Metamorphosis, by Anelise Chen The narrator of Anelise Chen's off-kilter new memoir isn't Anelise Chen. At least, not exactly. Instead, the events of the book — Chen's divorce, a soul-searching trip to New Mexico, a reckoning with her family history — are told in the third person, a deliberate artistic choice that grants Chen 'a top-down view,' she writes, 'like seeing yourself from the perspective of a map.' Oh, and the protagonist of her story happens to be a clam. Yes, we are talking about the humble shelled sea creature, tight-lipped and tasty in chowders. On the page, it's not as strange as it sounds. 'The clam and her husband were sitting on a bench overlooking the East River,' reads a typical sentence. Chen adopts her clam persona after she notices that her mother keeps texting her to 'clam down' rather than 'calm down,' an opportune typo she seizes on and runs with for roughly 350 pages. Like clams, she too 'swallowed whatever was bothering her and worried it under her tongue until it gleamed.' As her marriage falls apart, Chen transforms — emotionally, at least, even if she isn't literally confined to the ocean floor. 'Clam Down,' then, is an exploration of the clam state of mind, and the benefits and great costs of shutting oneself off from others. It's a personal story, but its ambitions radiate out to familial and eventually even societal questions. What does it mean to be part of a certain family, or Asian American, or a clam? For Chen, these identities are all linked. Her father, Henry, also exhibits unmistakable clam-like tendencies: 'withdrawing, closing, retreating, hiding.' During her childhood, he spent a decade living alone in Taiwan, apart from his wife and daughters, attempting to create an ultrasecure accounting software named — incredibly — Shell Computing. 'Certainly, if she's a clam, it's because he's a clam,' she realizes on a visit home. 'They were all shut tight against one another. It was the classic Chen family coping mechanism.' To tell her story, she must tell her dad's; and she does this masterfully, with a novelist's ability to enter another person's head (Chen's previous book, 'So Many Olympic Exertions,' is a novel that deftly blends fiction and nonfiction). 'Clam Down' includes entire sections written from Henry's point of view, convincingly plunging the reader into the mind of a put-upon husband and father. 'For almost her whole life,' Henry grumbles about his daughter, 'whenever she need something big, she always wait until last minute in order to force me to give it for her. Almost like, you know, hostage situation.' Chen's rendering of a certain kind of Taiwanese American dad is almost painfully accurate: the blend of petty criticism and implicit affection, aggravated and funny at the same time. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii talks history-making election, pride and more
Newly elected Mayor of Berkeley, Adena Ishii— the youngest woman to ever be elected to the role—spoke KTVU's André Senior to discuss her first few months in office. Mayor Ishii is only 34 years old, and she's the first Asian American to serve as mayor in the East Bay city. Calling the role "the best job I've ever had", Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii says she sees the job of being the first Asian American in the role as a big responsibility. "I've heard from some young folks that it's been very inspiring to see someone that looks like them serve in this office, and it's been very exciting to pave the way," Ishii said. "And also a responsibility…and make sure that I'm not the last one, making sure that I'm the first of many." Ishii discussed the history of the Asian Americans who lived in South Berkeley in formerly red-lined neighborhoods. She hopes that her being in office gives more people a chance to hear the rich history of Asian Americans, especially in the Bay Area. "I'm someone who cares a lot, making sure that we have enough housing in our city, that we have safe streets for everyone. And I think that these are issues that really resonated with folks, not just my identity, I think that's potentially a part of it, but the issues that I care about," Ishii said. Ishii discussed issues of homelessness, housing affordability as well as public safety. She says she hopes the community can tackle those issues with compassion. "I'm very proud to be able to represent younger generations and also my community." -Mayor Adena Ishii The Mayor invited the community to join the City of Berkeley in celebrating LGBTQ Pride for the first time this coming August. "I think it's so important that we celebrate, especially now, having a federal administration that has been very critical and threatening of the LGBTQ community. I'm excited that we can share that pride and that joy. That in itself is a kind of rebellion. I'm thrilled that our city is going to be able to provide that safe space to have that celebration," Ishii said.
NBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Jackie Chan, 71, does all his own stunts in the new ‘Karate Kid,' naturally
There won't be any simulated roundhouse kicks from Jackie Chan in the new "Karate Kid" movie. The legendary actor returns to the big screen as he reprises his role as the wise instructor, Mr. Han, in 'Karate Kid: Legends,' in theaters Friday. And it draws on Chan's legacy. This meant choreographed fight scenes and, most importantly, a lack of CGI. Chan, 71, emphasized the importance of authentic action sequences in martial arts movies. 'People definitely don't like to see Jackie Chan with CGI, of course,' Chan told NBC News. The movie features kung fu prodigy Li Fong entering the ultimate karate competition, guided by Mr. Han and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso. Mr. Han is a counterpart to the beloved Mr. Miyagi from the original 1984 movie. 'Karate Kid: Legends' director Jonathan Entwistle said he had a clear vision for the project and wanted it to feel like an early Jackie Chan movie. Chan first played Mr. Han, a maintenance worker and kung fu master, in the 2010 remake of the original film. The veteran actor said he's happy to be in on the action regarding his stunts and admitted that it has been 'easy' for him to adapt as he gets older because it's all 'muscle memory' for him. Chan also said 'Karate Kid: Legends' is somewhat of a full circle moment for Asian culture Mr. Han will be mentoring the first Asian American karate kid, portrayed by 'American Born Chinese' star Ben Wang. Chan expressed how proud and impressed he was by the young actor as he added a new dimension to the franchise. 'Before I met him, I was wondering, 'What did he do right to get this part?' There were so many audition tapes!' Chan said. 'But when I actually saw him, I knew. His dedication and humbleness and just how much he put into work on this movie, I was definitely impressed.' Pat Morita, who played the iconic Mr. Miyagi in the original 'Karate Kid' movie in 1984, was the only Asian American cast member at the time. The lack of representation and some of the plot points have drawn criticism from fans and community over the years. Despite an imperfect record on representation, Chan said he thinks the movies have helped make strides for cultural awareness. The original 'Karate Kid' movie became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s, known for its underdog story and eventually helping popularize martial arts across the United States. 'It gave people a [new] way of looking at Asian culture, not just kung fu or karate, which are typical practices in Asian countries but that's just [scratching the] surface,' Chan said. 'What's more important is for the audience to know more about Asian culture, or at least part of it.' Chan's career spans six decades, including memorable roles in 'Rush Hour,' 'Shanghai Noon' and 'Police Story.' The actor became a household name in the United States in the 1990s and 2000s after he brought kung fu and death-defying stunts to the masses. However, his journey to stardom wasn't always smooth, as his 1980 Hollywood debut, 'The Big Brawl,' didn't quite hit. 'To be honest, I was frustrated when I was making 'The Big Brawl,' since it wasn't very much of a success. That's why I went back to Hong Kong then and continued making my own movies,' Chan said. 'But it's the first time for me to get to know Hollywood filmmaking. I learned a lot and tried to take the stuff I learned back to my crew so we can work better.' He added: 'I didn't know anything back then, I was just a kid. It was all fresh to me. Although it wasn't very much of a success, it taught me some lessons which I later on put into my own filmmaking.' Chan believes that the upcoming movie captures the true essence of what made the original so popular. '[This movie has] a lot of good and real action in it and you get to feel it only on the big screen. This is also a movie about love, affection, friends and family,' Chan said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why the fight over foreign students at Harvard has some US students leaving, too
The Trump administration's push to end Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students is predictably forcing those students to look into other options. But it's also pushing away some students from the United States. In one case, an incoming U.S. student at Harvard Business School asked the institution if they could defer admission because the 'educational experience would be different without any international students,' Maureen Martin, Harvard's director of immigration services, said in a Wednesday court filing. Dozens of incoming international Harvard students have also opted to defer admission or enroll elsewhere, Martin said in the filing. A Harvard spokesperson declined to a request for additional comment. The stories of students deferring admission comes from a court filing where Martin detailed the ways U.S. and international students are 'reconsidering their futures at Harvard,' harming Harvard's ability to attract and enroll students, she said. These admission challenges are a direct reaction to the federal government attempting to revoke a key certification that allows Harvard to enroll international students. Harvard subsequently sued and asked for a temporary restraining order, which a federal judge allowed. The judge has since allowed a preliminary injunction on Thursday, further delaying the Trump administration from being able to revoke Harvard's certification. Read more: Judge halts Trump plan to stop Harvard enrolling foreign students — again On top of the revocation, President Donald Trump has also suggested a 15% cap on international students at Harvard University. Growing up in Mississippi where she was often the only Asian American person in a room, Rachele Chung, a first-year U.S. student at Harvard, said a key reason she chose Harvard was because of its diversity. International students make up more than a quarter of the total student population. Chung said she might have gone somewhere else if Harvard didn't have international students. Read more: Harvard commencement speaker says it's fitting to 'hear from an immigrant like me' 'What really drew me to Harvard was the diversity and also the potential to meet people from all over the U.S. but also all over the world and hear from different perspectives from that,' she said. 'I think if a different institution offered that, then, I might have leaned toward them,' she said. Chung said she is unlikely to transfer now because she believes more institutions will also lose their certification after the Trump administration takes away Harvard's. However, that doesn't mean she is any less concerned about the future of Harvard if international students and scholars aren't allowed to come to the institution and domestic students opt out of attending. She said that would affect Harvard and the state of research and science more than it would the federal government. Nuriel Vera-DeGraff, a junior at Harvard University, said he isn't surprised that incoming students would change their minds on enrolling at the institution. 'Interntionals contribute so much to campus culture,' he said. At this point, he said he is close to finishing his degree at Harvard and has created a community and wouldn't want to leave the institution. Vera-DeGraff said he hasn't heard about current U.S. students considering transferring to other institutions and thinks it is 'unlikely' to happen. However, if he was an incoming student and had a choice between Harvard and another institution based in the U.S., he said he would consider doing the same thing. 'I'd definitely be very tempted to choose the other school because it's definitely not the same experience — I really can't imagine being here without the international students. It would just feel very different,' he said. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program, also known as SEVP, allows higher education institutions to issue visa application forms to prospective international students after admitting them. The forms are used to apply for a visa to enter the United States. The certification requirements include that the school is operational and instructing students, has the necessary facilities and adequate finances to operate, provides instruction to a degree or objective and meets state requirements to operate, according to the Department of Homeland Security website. Read more: Here's everything Trump has stripped from Harvard so far — and what is threatened Institutions are recertified every two years, but can be evaluated at other points in time if federal regulators have information suggesting the school isn't complying with regulations. If the certification is taken away, an institution isn't allowed to enroll international students. Current students would have to choose between transferring to another institution, leaving the U.S., or changing their immigration status, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website. An example of the certification being stripped occurred at Herguan University in California in 2016 after its CEO pleaded guilty to providing fraudulent documents to the Department of Homeland Security, according to East Bay Times. Harvard has been in a battle with the federal government since April. There has been a wave of federal research grant terminations at Harvard University, in addition to $60 million in multi-year grants, a $450 million cut and a $2.2 billion freeze. In addition to barring Harvard University from acquiring new federal grants, the Trump administration directed federal agencies to cut off existing contracts with Harvard or transfer them to other vendors on Tuesday. Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon that they share the same 'common ground,' but the university 'will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear.' Read more: Shadow of Trump administration hangs over Harvard University commencement Garber pushed back on the administration through a lawsuit in April. The institution argues that its constitutional rights had been violated by the government's threats to pull billions of dollars in funding if the school didn't comply with demands for an overhaul. Following the $450 million announced cuts, the university amended its lawsuit. 'No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,' the suit reads. Due to the federal cuts, Harvard announced that it was committing $250 million of 'central funding' to support research impacted by suspended and canceled federal grants. Harvard affinity group graduations held off campus amid 'capitulation' to Trump Harvard commencement speaker says it's fitting to 'hear from an immigrant like me' Many foreign students already fleeing Harvard University due to Trump order Protesters pack outside Harvard commencement as families focus on their graduates Trump admin starts 30-day countdown on Harvard foreign students Read the original article on MassLive.
