IE EDITORIAL was good. Really good. The first time I out this year’s winners. Congratulations In some post-election news, the passing played with him, I thought, “This’ll be a to these valuable members of our Seattle of Initiative 1183, otherwise known as the cinch.” I fancied myself a writer and well- Asian American community and thank “liquor bill” not only means consumers A Story About read. I was 9 years-old. But with each tile you to our voters. will be able to purchase alcohol at their he decisively lay down, my confidence On a tragic note, Danny Vega, a Filipino nearest grocery store, but state workers wavered. How did he know so many American hairdresser, was robbed and will be laid off. We profile Manny Castro, Winners words? Wait a minute – is “shirk” a word? beaten in South Seattle, later dying from a Filipino American liquor store clerk and Is it? Oh, yes, it is. his injuries on Nov. 27. Vega’s family and father of a baby son, to learn what he’ll do My dad explained that while a boy in friends are devastated by what they call a when his store closes next year. Vietnam, he played Scrabble frequently, hate crime. Seattle’s mayor made a state- In the weekend before Thanksgiving, DIEM LY on an old, threadbare board with cracked ment on the incident and the SPD is re- protesters rallied in front of a Chase bank in Editor in Chief tiles. I felt like I got hustled in a pool hall evaluating the case’s classification as a hate South Seattle to protest the bank’s excessive out of my own bet. But, as we played in crime, which carries heavier penalties. profits which they believe came, in part, at One of my favorite holiday memories that warm living room, my father thor- Another death saddened the community, the expense of a family nutrition program. is playing Scrabble with my dad. We once oughly enjoying himself as he cracked when Chinese American architect and phi- The oldest Chinese restaurant in a lived in Mukilteo in a tiny house that sat on cashew shells with one hand and popped lanthropist Ark Chin passed away on Nov. neighborhood known for Chinese restau- a hill. In our living room, my father and I the nut in his mouth, I couldn’t have felt 13. His contributions to the Asian American rants is featured — not for the longevity sat cross-legged on either side of a coffee better losing. And with this happy memo- community span decades and are detailed of its business, but for that of its workers. table with a pellet stove crackling nearby. ry, I’m the real winner. here with interviews from his family. Waiters at Tai Tung restaurant are a faith- We didn’t say a word while we set up the In this issue, we’re happy to feature Other contributors to the Asian ful brood — some serving for 50 years. game. Only the sound of the tiles clinking winners of another kind. Our reader’s American community were honored Enjoy these special features you can and the vinyl-backed board cracking as it have spoken and we are proud to publish at the Asian Hall of Fame event at only see in the IE and please consider opened was heard. the results of our 2nd annual Northwest the Asian Resource Center. Among this donating to our End of Year campaign Once the game started, my dad grew Asian Pacific American Reader’s Choice year’s inductees are a major sports man- (more details are on page 16). more animated, his shoulders shaking as Awards of 2011! There are some old ager, a White House physician, and a And, can someone look up the word he giggled and lay down each tile. He favorites along with newcomers to round- mega film producer. “shirk” for me? It was ridiculously awkward. People observing, pointing, and making com- her in elementary school. The guy seemed put on name tags, then glanced around, ments. “Look at that guy over there,” one like a jerk, bouncing around in khaki Jagged Noodles: nervously, hoping someone would rec- of them said. “His name is Toby. Poor pants, a blazer, and a tie. “You should go ognize them and come over to talk. The guy, no one’s talking to him. He was a over and tell him off,” I recommended. awkwardness was palpable. I ordered a nerd in high school.” I grabbed my drink “Yeah, I should,” she said. Then we both How to long island iced tea. and went over to him. “Toby?” I said, “Is stood still and drank. It was even more awkward when you that you? It’s Huy! Remember? Huy from Overall, it was incredibly boring for didn’t go to the school but are rather Mr. Sherman’s class!” “I’m so sorry,” he me. Which was why I stood in the cor- Amuse Yourself the spouse of someone who did. You’re stammered. “It’s OK,” I said, “we had a ner with my drink and yelled, “Boring! reduced to a prop. A sexy, vegan prop. large class. No way you can remember Borrrrrriiiinng!” Eventually, we spotted at a High I decided to have my own fun by pre- everyone. Come on let me introduce a woman that Jameelah and her friends tending I was one of the students. While you to some people.” I pulled him over knew. “That’s Hannah,” they said. “She Jameelah stood in the corner scoping out and introduced him to Jameelah and her got kind of fat.” Hannah came over, and School Reunion she was rather attractive and a fascinat- BY HUY X. LE ing person. She holds parties for adult IE Columnist High school reunions, from what we’ve seen in the media, toys. “They’re like Tupperware parties,” she said. Last week, someone called me a are supposed to be a cathartic experience that Jameelah, who was nervous, becomes “mensch” over email. I was about to exceptionally social, usually charming, write back and say, “Oh yeah? Well, your validates the choices you made in life, unblocks psychological after her fifth or sixth cranberry-vodka. She face looks like a butcher’s apron,” but I was talking to people, laughing and joking Wikipediaed it, and apparently a mensch with them. I had to drag her away. At this is a “person of integrity and honor.” There barriers that stem from traumatic high school point, I should make some sort of profound are just some words that do not sound observation about how the real world is like what they mean. Like “rolfing.” It’s experience, or ideally both. And there’s usually free food like high-school. But I can’t clear my mind just some form of deep-tissue massage or of the image of a Tupperware/Rolfing party. something, but it just sounds dirty. and booze and you can see who got fat. Overall, Jameelah had a good time and Anyway, last weekend, Jameelah and I probably felt validated for the choices she attended her 10-year high school reunion, people, chugging her cranberry-vodka, friends. Poor Toby didn’t know what to made in life. Apparently she was a punk held at a bar in Capitol Hill. High school I went around the room and yelled, say. I talked to him about videogames for who beat up people and instilled fear in reunions, from what we’ve seen in the “Anna?! Anna Martinez?!” at random a while before he awkwardly wandered the masses; now she’s a well-regarded media, are supposed to be a cathartic women. People were so nervous that off to talk to no one. teacher. For me, it unblocked some psy- experience that validates the choices you they were glad anyone is approaching Throughout the evening, people got chological barriers that stemmed from my made in life, unblocks psychological bar- them at all. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” I said, “you more relaxed as the alcohol kicked in, experience with high school. Namely, I riers that stem from traumatic high school looked like Anna. Whatever happened to thank God. I was hoping for a cathartic missed out on the joys of drinking. experience, or ideally both. And there’s her?” Then I’d move on. showdown, but no such luck. The closest usually free food and booze and you can Several of Jameelah’s friends came was one of Jameelah’s friends, Katie, who Visit Huy at his Jagged Noodles blog at see who got fat. and they all fell into patterns of hugging, pointed out a guy who used to torment www.jaggednoodles.com. IE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARTS EDITOR INTERNS/PARTNERS Jana Jack Andy Yip, Interim Pres. Alan Chong Lau Terrence Lin Al Young Gary Iwamoto, V.P. [email protected] Pei Chou Paul Mori Arlene Oki Cindy Domingo BUSINESS MANAGER CONTRIBUTORS International Examiner Ray Ishii Ellen Suzuki Huy X. Le 622 S. Washington St. Joyce Zhou [email protected] Atia Musazay Seattle, WA 98104 Maureen Francisco Yayoi Lena Winfrey Tel: (206) 624-3925 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Roxanne Ray Fax: (206) 624-3046 ADVISOR Ryan Catabay Nan Nan Liu Ron Chew [email protected] Paul Kim Website: www.iexaminer.org EDITOR IN CHIEF PRODUCTION DESIGNER Diem Ly Abe Wong Don’t Get Take-Out — [email protected] [email protected] Have it Delivered! SUBSCRIBE TO THE IE! Support Your Local News! ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE WEBMASTER/IT SUPPORT $35 a year, $60 for two years — 24 in-depth issues a year! Go to Angelo Ongpin Jimmy Tang www.iexaminer.org and click on the SUBSCRIBE button or mail [email protected] [email protected] a check to: 622 S.