Friends, warm greetings to you during this season of celebration and new beginnings. My family’s Chinese New Year has included a strong community component this year — a service at our church for the third consecutive year and a dumpling making party that raised money for the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco.

I wanted to write with the news that I’ve recently started a new work project that will reduce the amount of time I have to manage Chinese American Family. As a result, I expect the pace of new recipes, activities, crafts and products posted to the site will slow for the near future while I balance my new commitments.

During this moment of transition, I’ve reflected with gratitude on how the site has grown. Chinese American Family now reaches up to 100,000 readers a month with a Shop serving customers in all 50 states and 19 countries. I am so appreciative of the community we’ve built in this little corner of the Internet.

Looking forward to the year ahead.

Wes

Happy all the holidays to you, as I’ve taken to saying. There was Thanksgiving in November, now Christmas, Hanukkah, Dongzhi and New Year’s Eve in December, then finally the Lunar New Year right around the corner in January. It’s a lot! Regardless of what you celebrate at this time of year, I hope your family is happy, healthy and together. ~Wes

New in our community this week:

• Jeremy Lin brings Linsansity to the Beijing Ducks.
• Chinatown BBQs tackle Thanksgiving turkeys.
• The perils of praying for Hong Kong.

Family Corner

Practice making the glutinous rice dumplings called tang yuan for the Dongzhi Festival on December 22, then you’ll be ready to make them again when the Lunar New Year arrives in January. Chinese American Family

With over a hundred years of history in Los Angeles, networks of Chinese schools continue to share culture with children through language. Attending language school every weekend remains a familiar regimen for many. Annenberg Media

In smaller communities like Gainesville, FL, Chinese schools serve a similar purpose. Because they’re fewer in number, the programs act as community magnets that draw students and families from the wider region. NPR

Voices

“I’ve worked as a minority actor in television since the age of 10,” writes Michaela Zee, “In the animation industry, where the actor’s appearance is concealed, minorities often must yield to two options: either be typecast or whitewashed.” New School Free Press

Chi Wang explores why the recent Hong Kong district council election results are a win for Chinese people everywhere. “Hong Kong may be part of China,” he writes, “but it has also belonged to the world – including the West – for over a century.” South China Morning Post

Praying for Hong Kong can be politically disruptive — even in America. Chinese diaspora churches remain silent while Hong Kongers take to the streets. Christianity Today

Entertainment

After receiving no offers following his first NBA World Championship title, Jeremy Lin signed a $3 million contract with the Beijing Ducks in August, hoping for an opportunity to showcase his unappreciated NBA skillset. And boy, he hasn’t let any of his Linsane fans down. Annenberg Media

Photographer Michael Jang has just published his first monograph to accompany an exhibition of his work at the McEvoy Foundation for the Arts in San Francisco. Among the most engaging photos are images of his own extended family. New York Review of Books

Voice of America and Radio Free Asia are joining forces to launch a new Mandarin language network with content to reach a younger audience during a time of Chinese ascendancy and eroding American soft power. South China Morning Post

Food

With juicy meat and extra-crisp skin, holiday turkeys cooked in the manner of their iconic roasted ducks are keeping Chinatown barbecue restaurants busy across the United States. Customers of all backgrounds are embracing this American-born innovation. New York Times

A former gambling hall and brothel in the California Delta town of Isleton has been reborn as the Mei Wah Beer Room, a thriving and award-winning tap room for local craft beers. East Bay Times

Lucky Lee’s, the fast-casual Chinese restaurant in New York that sparked viral outrage for racist marketing language, is closing after less than a year in business. Eater

History

What was life like for Chinese Americans in 19th-century St. Louis? Housing discrimination forced the members of the city’s Chinese community to live in one block of downtown known as Hop Alley. St. Louis Magazine

A Grain Of Rice

“It may be overdramatic, but in that moment, I learned what it meant to be Chinese by ethnicity, American by nationality and Chinese American by identity.” — Sarah Ko, about watching Jeremy Lin play in the NBA

Whether due to the Hong Kong protests, representation in the media or culinary trends, there’s been a lot of fascinating Chinese American cultural commentary in the news. This past Monday, November 11, provided the most recent example when we saw two holidays celebrated: Veterans Day in America and Singles Day in China. Read on for more! ~Wes

New in our community this week:

• The rise (and stall) of the “Boba Generation.”
• Rushing to save Oregon’s Chinese mining sites.
• Reflecting on death, migration and the loss of culture.

Family Corner

While deep fried, egg battered bread slathered in fruit jam can’t be on the breakfast table every morning, Hong Kong-style french toast sure does make a delicious treat. Try it this weekend! Chinese American Family

The world’s biggest shopping event occurs every year on November 11, and most Americans are only vaguely aware of it. Called Singles Day in China, shoppers in the U.S. don’t look forward to it the way they anticipate Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, but maybe they should. Vox

I Miss My Grandpa, The Dragon Warrior and Paper Son make this list of the 13 best Asian American children’s and young adult books of 2019. NBC News

Voices

Twice a year, Janelle Bitker gets a text from her mom, reminding her it’s time to visit her grandparents. What happens, she reflects, when years of migration cause treasured family traditions to vanish? SF Chronicle

William Wang reflects on the Hong Kong protests. “Truth is,” he writes, “Chinese nationals and Chinese Americans are two sets of an alien people. I’ve always found a quiet disconnect in the way I interacted with my cousins, unable to fully grasp what it meant to be Chinese.” Cornell Daily Sun

A professor at the University of Pennsylvania considers campus dynamics preventing Chinese international students from adopting democratic values during their time in the United States. USA Today

Entertainment

If a post-“Crazy Rich Asians” world marked a shift for Asian American representation, Rich Ting can attest to whether it’s real. Starring in recent Cinemax and Amazon productions, Ting represents a specific case study about the mechanics of Hollywood’s purported sea change. SF Chronicle

As you’re thinking of holiday gifts, consider these five books about the Chinese American experience. The list includes a few classics, along with new entries like Ghosts of Gold Mountain and At America’s Gates. NBC News

Food

The rhythms and motifs in 2013’s “Bobalife” by the Fung Brothers are likely familiar to anyone who spent their formative years drinking bubble tea with friends. Here’s how bubble tea became far more than just a drink to young Asian Americans. Eater

Restaurants in Atlanta, a city without a historic Chinatown to anchor its local Chinese American community, offer fascinating environments to consider the influences of “old school” and “new school” Chinese cuisine in American life. Atlanta Magazine

History

For years, Portland recognized him as the retired cyclist who traveled the world on his bike, but 96-year-old James Hong’s adventurous spirit didn’t start on two wheels ⁠— rather in the tail of a legendary B-17 Flying Fortress during the height of World War II. Oregon Live

Chinese influence is visible across Oregon’s early history. Chinese immigrants built the railroads. Their mines helped prop up the economy. They worked in canneries and hop farms. They even changed the shape of the land they lived on. U.S. News & World Report

A Grain Of Rice

“This character is powerful. He’s loyal. He’s commanding. At the end of the day, he’s just strong, inside and outside. And to me, that was the biggest win.” — Rich Ting, Actor, on his character in “Warrior”

Happy Halloween! I hope your kiddos have an exciting time out trick-or-treating this year. Will any Chinese candies make it into your child’s bag or will you hand any out from your front door? Perhaps a topic for a future post. More Halloween reflections and spooky stories below! ~Wes

New in our community this week:

• The Hong Kong protests reach American colleges and arenas.
• The money and ambitions behind trendy new Chinese restaurants.
• Supporting the parents of children with autism.

Family Corner

For more stories featuring scary ghouls and ghosts in the night, try children’s books about the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival. Use Halloween as an opportunity to introduce your family to spooky tales that are distinctly Chinese. Chinese American Family

When Jess Huang thinks of Halloween, she doesn’t think of candy, costumes, or even the Halloween movie franchise. Instead, she thinks of one thing: three slightly overripe pumpkins carefully buckled into the back of her grandfather’s 1993 Buick LeSabre. Thrillist

Many studies examine the experience of parenting an autistic child in the United States, but few investigate that of first-generation Chinese-American parents. These parents face unique challenges while reconciling their cultural perceptions of autism. Harvard Political Review

Voices

As protests in Hong Kong continue, the conflict is spilling onto campuses across the United States and highlighting tensions between Hong Kong-born students and their classmates from mainland China. New York Times

Cornell student Weifeng Yang reflects on the relationship between international Chinese students and Chinese American students. Ultimately, he writes, “Not all Chinese here are Americans (obviously) and that’s fine. Cornell Daily Sun

At Johns Hopkins, Natalie Wu reflects on presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s role as a community representative. “For Asian Americans like me who want to shed stereotypes,” she concludes, “Yang has been disappointing.” Johns Hopkins News-Letter

Entertainment

For Asian American fans of the Houston Rockets, the recent NBA-China rift is personal. The NBA risks alienating both its Chinese business partners and fans who support Hong Kong’s protestors. NBC News

As his musical Soft Power opens in New York, David Henry Hwang sits for an interview to discuss internalized oppression, the tricky balancing act of reviving classic musicals and what he learned from Sam Shepard. Time

Food

Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant is about as Mom and Pop as they come, so it’s not the first place you think of when considering the consequences of the gig economy. However, it’s much harder to find staff for the kitchen these days, largely because of Uber and Lyft. SF Gate

Headline-grabbing Chinese restaurants are opening in American cities, offering dishes from across China’s regions. Frequently, they’re run by young Chinese who attended university here and have plenty of funds from back home to expand quickly. Foreign Policy

Parental expectations and filial response to these pressures are recurring themes in Ann Hui’s new book exploring Chinese-Canadian restaurants and family ties, Chop Suey Nation. Forbes

History

In his new book, Hollywood Chinese, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Arthur Dong dives deep into the history of Chinese representation in U.S. cinema, from early depictions of San Francisco’s Tong Wars to the hit romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians.” Variety

A Grain Of Rice

“Having representation in any industry is going to increase diversity within that industry.” — Scott Chang-Fleeman, Farmer

As we dive headlong into fall, I’m reminded that this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival was the first time I’ve ever seen a Chinese holiday other than Lunar New Year celebrated at school. How cool for my son and his classmates! Tips for getting involved in your own child’s classroom are below. ~Wes

New in our community this week:

• Xi’an Famous Foods CEO implores customers to add spice.
• David Henry Hwang’s “Soft Power” makes its NYC debut.
• Comedian Ali Wong releases a new essay collection.

Family Corner

Representation matters, especially at school. By getting involved, parents can help build an acceptance of a broader set of cultures in the classroom. Here’s are 6 easy tips for becoming a go-to classroom parent for Chinese culture. Chinese American Family

Cantonese For Families shares their favorite stories on YouTube. They’re a great way to increase exposure to Cantonese, a good compromise for those with a limited screentime policy. Cantonese For Families

Best friends Vivian Chan and Jennifer Qiao founded East Meets Dress after Qiao had a hard time finding the right cheongsam for her wedding. Now their startup offers 50 customizable designs. San Mateo Daily Journal

Voices

“It’s all about word choice,” Ali Wong says about audience testing new jokes. “Sometimes I have a joke I know is funny, but I haven’t found the right word, and when I do find it, it’s so satisfying.” New York Times

Early in his Presidential candidacy, Andrew Yang seemed happy to serve as the human emissary of a thought experiment: the “Freedom Dividend,” his market-tested rebrand of universal basic income. New Yorker

A Harvard fellow grapples with the aftermath of the university’s admissions lawsuit and argues for the inclusion of Asian Americans in the national dialogue about race relations. Harvard Crimson

Entertainment

David Henry Hwang’s “Soft Power” opened in New York recently. A complex look at democracy from an Asian perspective, an applauding reviewer writes, turns “The King and I” inside out. New York Times

Bowen Yang made headlines for being the first Chinese American cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” If his debut was any indication, he’ll continue making headlines for a long, long time. Washington Post

While the comic book hero Ling struggles with bullies and math class, her creators hope that she will inspire Asian Americans to break the “model minority” myth in the real world. NBC News

Food

Xi’an Famous Foods CEO Jason Wang recently posted a “personal message” at the company’s 14 locations, warning customers that if they order certain menu items as “not spicy,” they may be disappointed. Eater

Chef Paul Ma ran restaurants, cooking classes and food tours for years in Yorktown Heights, NY. His story, and others like it, are illuminated in the American Food History Project. Smithsonian Magazine

History

It’s time for a canon, a set of films that make undeniable the fact that Asian American cinema exists and has cultural impact. Here are nominees for the 20 best Asian American films of the last 20 years. Los Angeles Times

A Grain Of Rice

“We’re not asking for access anymore. We’re just doing it. And we’re deploying tools and capital in our arsenal to tell these stories without asking for the permission we historically had to do.” — Dennis Liu, Writer

A highlight of the summer was the appearance of giant green mangos from Ecuador in our Bay Area markets. They’re the largest and sweetest I’ve seen outside the wet markets in Hong Kong. Wow. Hope you’ve enjoyed a similar surprise in your neck of the woods. ~Wes

New in our community this week:

• Chinese grocery stores disappear from Los Angeles Chinatown.
• A decision in the Harvard admissions case.
• An early look at the WWII Congressional Gold Medal design.

Family Corner

Just around the corner on October 7, the Double Ninth Festival, also referred to as the Chong Yang Festival, is a traditional folk holiday focused on good health and long life. Take the opportunity to visit elderly relatives and get outside to enjoy the crisp fall weather. Chinese American Family

You’ll want to check this one out. Betty at Chalk Academy shares how she taught her child 1000+ Chinese characters as a non-fluent speaker. The post includes all sorts of tips, tricks and time-savers. Chalk Academy

Building on the language-learning theme, Amanda at Miss Panda Chinese contributes 8 “Do’s” for raising bilingual kids. Tip #1? Give constant input in the target language. Miss Panda Chinese

Voices

Why it matters that “Emily Doe” in the Brock Turner case is Asian-American. In her memoir, Chanel Miller offers a new understanding of her treatment by the legal system. New York Times

Harvard University does not discriminate against Asian Americans in its admissions process, a federal judge ruled in a lawsuit that reignited a national debate over affirmative action. LA Times

Take a walk along the praya and you’ll eventually reach a tiny cha chaan teng where you can have one of the best cocktail buns and yin yeung in town. Do you speak Hong Kong English? Zolima CityMag

Entertainment

In the new animated feature, “Abominable,” Asian actors play Asian characters. Also rare for a big-studio production, the movie is centered on a modern Chinese family. Will it help change the lack of Asian representation onscreen? New York Times

The core of Leland Cheuk’s upcoming novel was there from the start: a book about an Asian American comic. But the true heart of “No Good Very Bad Asian” didn’t come until Cheuk himself took the stage. Datebook

Food

Why does a community like Los Angeles Chinatown change? Chinese grocery stores play a vital role because they act as neighborhood anchors. What happens when they disappear? LA Times

Junzi Kitchen, which recently received $5 million in an early funding round, is looking at ghost kitchens and other outside-the-box models to rethink Chinese takeout. Restaurant Business

History

The Commission of Fine Arts has endorsed a design for a Chinese-American Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal. The medal depicts Chinese-American servicemen and a nurse representing all U.S. service branches. Coin World

A Grain Of Rice

“Chinese food in China is so different. There’s the rich culture behind it. Let’s reverse process Americanized Chinese food to the Chinesification of the American restaurant.” — Yong Zhao, Entrepreneur

I hope you had a great Mid-Autumn Festival with your family last Friday night! We shared a picnic of chicken, fruit, mooncakes and tea under the rising moon here in Oakland. Now, onward into the fall! ~Wes

New in our community this week:

• Bowen Yang joins the cast of Saturday Night Live.
• Differing views on presidential candidate Andrew Yang.
• Meet my Shop’s new featured designers, Lillian Lee and Dingding Hu.

Family Corner

One of my goals when I launched Chinese American Family was to feature the work of talented artists in the community. Meet Lillian Lee and Dingding Hu, two illustrators who’ve created baby and stationery products that are now available in the Shop! Chinese American Family

Want an easy way to keep the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration going at your house? Help your kiddo learn more about moon phases by making Play-Doh mooncakes. This is such a clever idea. Chalk Academy

Voices

The entrepreneur turned presidential candidate Andrew Yang is explaining automation to the masses. And as voters realize he is serious and substantive, he is gaining a passionate following. New York Times

“I’m Asian, so I know a lot of doctors,” Andrew Yang declared at the Democratic presidential debate. Good at math? Work hard? Some Asian Americans bristle at Yang’s use of stereotypes. Washington Post

William Y. Chang, whose English-language newspaper sought to help the children of Chinese immigrants develop an American identity as they adapted to life in the United States, passed away in San Francisco at the age of 103. New York Times

Entertainment

Comedian Bowen Yang recently joined Saturday Night Live, becoming the show’s first Chinese American cast member. In 2008, his prescient high school classmates voted Yang “Most Likely to Be a Cast Member on Saturday Night Live.” Denver Post

Only a few short years ago, Constance Wu was a full-time waitress and forty thousand dollars in debt, with only a few acting credits to her name. Coming late to celebrity, the star has at times felt the burden of representing all Asian Americans. The New Yorker

Food

When Simone Tong opened Little Tong Noodle Shop in New York’s East Village, Pete Wells at The New York Times awarded it two stars for its mixian, or Yunnanese rice noodles. The issue? Tong never intended her inventive cooking to be representative of Yunnan. Vice

Crossing the pond, author and chef Fuchsia Dunlop offers a fascinating retrospective of the 200 year history of Chinese food in the United Kingdom, journeying from city docksides to Michelin stars. The Guardian

OK, this one’s just for fun. Here’s news out of Chicago about a restaurant that intends to use robots to serve a hot pot meal. The X Pot promises that the robots will make dinner “seamless.” Hmm. Block Club Chicago

History

The longest running Chinese restaurant in Memphis was commemorated with a historic marker in the Beale Street entertainment district. Chu Lau and Chu Lain opened what became the Chop Suey Cafe on Beale Street in 1920, where it remained until it closed in 1967. Daily Memphian

A Grain Of Rice

“For what reason must I sit in jail? / It is only because my country is weak and / my family poor.” — Unknown Poet, Angel Island Immigration Center

One of my goals when I launched Chinese American Family was to feature the work of talented artists and designers in the community. Today I’m excited to introduce Lillian Lee and Dingding Hu, two illustrators who’ve recently created new baby and stationery products that are now available to purchase in the Shop!

Meet Lillian Lee

Boston-based illustrator and graphic designer Lillian Lee is the creator of the Empty Bamboo Girl comic, which she calls a love letter to her American born Chinese life. She’s a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art & Design and currently works for WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station. Lillian shares that she drinks way too many Americanos, watches way too many food YouTube videos, and owns way too many Hello Kitty things.

Thank you for designing new products for the Chinese American Family Shop! Please take a moment to introduce yourself to the community here.

LILLIAN LEE: I’m a designer and illustrator in Boston, where I live with my husband and baby boy. My family is originally from Hong Kong, but I was born here. We just had our baby, so a lot of what I’m doing now is informed by that. Culture has become really important to me since he was born, so I’m trying to do things that will help him know where he comes from. I’ve never spoken as much Chinese as I have since having him. I spend most of my time drawing, working on my comics and taking care of him.

You describe your comic as a “love letter to your American born Chinese life.” What do you mean by that?

LL: It’s a celebration of the food that I eat and the things I’ve grown up with — perhaps, the things I wasn’t as enthused about when I was younger or thought were weird because they weren’t how everyone else grew up. Now that I’m older, I appreciate these things more and my comic and my art reflect that. I draw the food and the small things in family life that other people can relate to, as well. Moments like my mom saying, “Don’t eat too much junk food or your qi will be off balance.”

Where do you draw inspiration for your work?

LL: From observing my family and my husband’s family really closely! Both families grew up under the same circumstances, so it’s funny to see what’s similar and what’s different between us. It’s watching my mom making the little rice ball dumplings for Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s watching my dad tending a little garden in front growing Chinese vegetables. In a way, I’m documenting them and the way I’ve grown up, the things that I appreciate and take pride in now.

Take us all through the products you’ve created for the Shop. What do you want the community to know about each of your designs?

Little Egg Tart & Little Dumpling Onesies

I hope these Little Dumpling and Little Egg Tart designs warm your heart. My baby was just born and, for some reason, I started calling him all these little dim sum names. Little pork bun. Little dumpling. He really served as inspiration for these onesies.

Mixed Fruit Cake Birthday Greeting Cards

These birthday cards are inspired by how in my husband’s family, he and his three brothers each get a Chinese bakery cake every year, no matter what. I had a lot of reference photos for this design! Shop Now »

Lucky Oranges Chinese New Year Cards

This Chinese New Year card design combines oranges and the number six to create the symbolism for prosperity, luck and good fortune. Shop Now »

I hope your designs help others celebrate their backgrounds. What are the everyday moments when you feel most connected with Chinese culture?

LL: Our weekly family dim sum brunches. They pretty much encapsulate something to look forward to, a family tradition where we experience food and warmth together. If you want more tea, you tap on the table, little things like that. It’s really all about family, so these meals symbolize it all for me.

Meet Dingding Hu

New York-based illustrator and storyteller Dingding Hu has had her designs appear everywhere from the New York Times to the Museum of Chinese in America. She’s won a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators and is the creator of the stationery collection Hu is Hungry.

Welcome to the Chinese American Family community! Please introduce yourself.

DINGDING HU: I was born and raised in mainland China and moved to the United States at the age of 22 for art school. Afterwards, I stayed in the U.S. in New York to pursue my art career. Just today, I was working on a series of illustration assets for an animation client.

How do you describe your artistic style?

DH: I think my style is modern and simple, with a vivid color palette and a lot of storytelling. I’ve developed my own unique color palette over different jobs, as well as personal taste, since I graduated from art school. And later on I realize there is much similarity between my art palette and ancient Chinese deco art on ceramics and architecture. I think it is fair to say my modern art style is unconsciously influenced by my Chinese identity, both in the storytelling as well as color palette. And the more I realize that, the more I become interested in ancient decorative and narrative Chinese art.

Where do you get inspiration for your work?

DH: I’m very interested in food, because I was raised in Sichuan, one of the most delicious provinces in China. I am also now married to someone who works in the restaurant industry. I have a vision of turning the texture, shape and color of food into simple and descriptive digital art, which also applies to my other artwork. I have developed my vision through a Tumblr called Hu is Hungry, which I created to practice my digital art craft in the early days. Later on I was able to expand the subject matter to flowers and objects, but people keep commenting on my art as tasty and juicy.

Take us through the four designs you’ve created for the Shop. What do you want readers to understand about what you’ve made?

DH: For the baby onesies, I did a lot of research about what’s out there and even asked my mom to see what’s selling in China right now. I realized that there’s not much variety out there beyond what’s just meant to be cute. That made me think about putting traditional Chinese motifs on baby onesies. I think it looks good visually and gives the baby something very Chinese to grow up in and create early memories. Baby onesies are a very Western product, so adding some traditional Chinese designs makes me feel like we’re combining two things together.

Fish and Lotus Onesie

The fish has a lot of meaning related to abundance and a fish in water has the most freedom and flexibility. The lotus is a Chinese flower that symbolizes a noble personality. Together, the fish, water and lotus are a good blessing for a baby. Shop Now »

Tiger and Rose Onesie

The tiger is about bravery. I added a rose, so that it’s about having strength and vigor inside you, while also being gentle and kind. It’s good to have both. Shop Now »

Chinese Label Art Greeting Cards

These Birthday Cards and Chinese New Year Cards are inspired by traditional Chinese label art. It’s good to give these ideas new life, because you can’t really find them outside of antique stores or second hand stores. But they’re really beautiful and well-designed.

You’ve lived in the United States now for about 8 years. What are the everyday moments when you feel most connected with Chinese culture?

DH: I live in New York, so there are a lot of good Chinese restaurants like Café China, but also Chinatown itself as a whole makes me feel connected to the culture. In New York, I feel like people genuinely appreciate Chinese culture, while growing up in China, I observe that people favor the western style! Traditional Chinese art is looked at as something that’s old and not cool. By being in New York and seeing many cool interpretations of Chinese art, it helped me rediscover my love for my own culture. I’m most interested in traditional Chinese art, especially label and packaging design, as well as ceramics. I guess I’m kind of stuck in the old world, but I really like that kind of stuff.

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Your turn! Have you checked out these new products? What inspiration do you draw from Lillian and Dingding’s experiences?

The Mid-Autumn Festival is about a week away during a busy time for my family, so quick and easy ways to celebrate are on my mind. Maybe you, too? Ideas and inspiration are coming next week! ~Wes

New in our community this week:

• A famous Guangzhou rice roll chain arrives in Los Angeles.
• Eddie Huang and Constance Wu open up in interviews.
• Healthy school snacks for your child’s lunch box.

Family Corner

One of the best parts of grade school is eagerly opening your bag to see what treat Mom and Dad packed for you to eat. Finding healthy, satisfying snacks is challenging enough, but what if it’s also important that your child’s school snacks incorporate a Chinese influence? Chinese American Family

As we all prepare for next week’s Mid-Autumn Festival, here are 18 family-friendly YouTube videos in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hakka about the holiday’s historical origins, along with songs, poems, stories and tutorials for making mooncakes. Chalk Academy

Hapa Mama Grace Hwang Lynch shares a series of posts from her family’s summer trip to Taiwan. First up? Pictures and descriptions of all the delicious foods they ate. Oh my goodness. Hapa Mama

Voices

“Papa, your accent has never been anything to hide from,” Kimberly Yam writes. “It’s a stubborn reminder of your first language, resplendent and lovely. Every misplaced word of English is a gateway to the stories you hold deep in your heart.” Huffington Post

The New York Times continues its “Overlooked” series of unreported obituaries with Lau Sing Kee, an early 20th century American war hero and civic leader who also became a convicted criminal for skirting discriminatory immigration laws. New York Times

Entertainment

In a recent interview, restaurateur and author Eddie Huang recounts that his constant aim is to smash the “model minority myth” about Asian-Americans. “In America,” he says, “there is a desire to identify, to describe, and then categorize people.” CBS News

Actress Constance Wu candidly describes a burden children of immigrants can carry. “In a strange way, sometimes you feel like you have to protect [your parents] from the things that they don’t understand.” Huffington Post

A new generation of comedians is challenging stereotypes about Asian American masculinity and redefining old notions, while reminding us all how much further the culture has to go. New York Times

Food

Sasha Chan and her staff are in the eye of an unrelenting storm. It’s 1:30 p.m. on a Tuesday at Yin Ji Chang Fen, the first LA-area branch of the Guangzhou-based Cantonese rice roll chain, and Chan is greeting customers who won’t stop coming in. Eater

Los Angeles chefs are rewriting the playbook for Chinese food. When a chef like Shirley Chung says she specializes in “progressive Chinese-American cuisine,” she means that she’s cooking without limitations. Food & Wine

For many Asian immigrants across the United States, growing food that’s absent from larger grocery chains and then cooking familiar dishes is a radical act of cultural preservation. Huffington Post

History

Professor Gordon H. Chang’s new book “Ghosts of Gold Mountain” offers a definitive history of the Chinese laborers who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad and forge modern America, only to disappear into the shadows of history. The Mercury

A Grain Of Rice

“Some people thought that the United States had learned a valuable lesson from the misguided Chinese Exclusion Act — that it was wrong to deny a person an immigrant visa because of race or ethnicity. This was never supposed to happen again.” — Professor William Wei

It’s back to school season for our family and we’re busy settling into the familiar daily routine of school lunches, homework and earlier bedtimes. If you’re around San Francisco this weekend, consider checking out the Chinese Historical Society’s event, The Future Of Our Mother Tongues.

This week:

• Keeping Chinese culture in our family lives this school year.
• Rams rookie Taylor Rapp takes on the NFL.
• Mapo tofu gets a California twist.

Family Corner

Amidst the upheaval of Back To School season, with its new routines and commitments, the tendency can be to default to what’s easy, simple and dominant in our environments. That is, mainstream American culture. Here are 20+ easy opportunities to keep Chinese culture in our family lives as we send our kids off to school this fall. Chinese American Family

Children who grow up with a multicultural upbringing have unique opportunities to see life from varying perspectives. Parents from different nationalities, religions or cultures can provide their children with experiences that can positively influence their outlooks on life. Here are a few examples. Bicultural Mama

Want to know what it costs for a family to spend a summer abroad in Taiwan visiting family and building Chinese language skills? Mandarin Mama Virginia Duan tallies the full cost for her family of six, including travel, housing, summer camps, food and entertainment. Romper

Voices

Three years ago, Zirui Yan moved from Guiyang, China, to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to attend college. Like many people who move to a new country, he found that his perception of the United States didn’t exactly line up with reality. Business Insider

Author Celeste Ng chose Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior for a PBS-New York Times book club. “Growing up Chinese American, I was never sure which things were ‘real’ American or ‘real’ Chinese, or if they were simply my parents’ idiosyncrasies,” Ng writes. “I’m still not sure.” KQED

The Associated Press recently made a major change to its style guide, dropping hyphens from identities and expressions of dual heritage. Peter Feng explains how “Asian American” evolved into a political term, as opposed to a “cultural designation.” JSTOR Daily

Entertainment

Rams rookie safety Taylor Rapp wants to “show that Asians can play.” He’s a Chinese American who looked up to his older brother, earned a scholarship to play football at Washington, and in turn became a role model for young Asian Americans across the Seattle region. ESPN

After a General Motors factory near Dayton, Ohio, closed in 2008, Fuyao, a Chinese automotive glass company, moved into the former GM plant and started hiring again. The upcoming documentary “American Factory” tracks what followed in a day-to-day examination of globalization. Marketplace

Wu Assassins star Celia Au discusses her role and Asian American representation in Hollywood. “I think the more and more you see us on screen, the more you normalize it,” she says. “And I think a good way to start is in media, because everyone watches TV.” Digital Spy

Food

Yu Bo and his wife, Dai Shuang, gained international fame with their restaurant Yu’s Family Kitchen in Chengdu, China. Yu has created a twist on mapo tofu, the beloved Sichuan folk dish, by adding a California twist — chunks of ripe avocado. And it’s really good. L.A. Times

West Hollywood’s recently-renovated Formosa Cafe still has its swagger, as well as a new space devoted to Asian actors on the silver screen. Filmmaker and author Arthur Dong explains how he showcased actors who worked in Hollywood from 1910 to 1970. LAist

For 80 years, Frank Fat’s has been “home away from home” for politicians in Sacramento. Recently, a bunch of Capitol old-timers — including Jerry Brown, Willie Brown and John Burton — packed the iconic restaurant to salute its birthday. L.A. Times

History

Towering over an edge of downtown Portland, the Chinatown Gate is a visible symbol of the city’s Chinese heritage. However, after decades of change, the 33 year old gate feels like a relic of a forgotten neighborhood. Can a new crop of businesses revitalize the area? Metro News

A Grain Of Rice

“Asian American ethnicity is determined by a tension between many cultures…Given this diversity of cultural experience, how can there be a voice that is distinctively Asian American?” — Film Scholar Peter Feng