By Mary Tablante A diverse group of people gathered for the 57th presidential inauguration on Jan. 21 to watch President Obama takes the oath of office for his second term. Although the crowds were smaller than the 2009 inauguration, there were still hundreds of thousands who flocked to the National Mall and the inaugural parade route to witness a part …

By Devika Koppikar

By Michelle Phipps-Evans Washington’s AAPI stars sparkled brightly the night of January 20, coming out in celebration not only of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, but also for the unprecedented increase in Asian American representation in Congress. The Pearl Inaugural Gala was held at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, filling two ballrooms with men looking dashing in black tie and women gliding …

Sister Cities International welcomed guests from all over the world and across the country to attend its star-studded Inaugural Gala, which took place at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a stone’s throw from the White House.  

By Devika Koppikar The Indiaspora Inaugural Ball 2013, the first Indian American inaugural ball, featured more than 1,300 guests at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, January 19, 2013. The event began with a VIP reception featuring prominent political and business leaders in the Indian community.  

300 party-goers attended the Hawaii Presidential Center Inaugural Gala at the top of the Hay Adams Hotel, overlooking the White House, during Inauguration Weekend. The five-star affair raised money for the Hawaii Presidential Center Initiative, a community-wide project led by the University of Hawaii to compete for the location of Barack Obama’s Presidential Library against Chicago. Dignitaries from Obama’s birth …

By Mary Tablante Japanese American Veterans Honored New Orleans, LA—To spread the story of Japanese-American veterans, the Congressional Gold Medal that was collectively given to Japanese Americans who served in World War II is on a yearlong tour, starting Jan. 11 at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Irene Hirano Inouye, widow of the late Sen. Daniel …

By Amanda L. Andrei  To enter the world       of abstract expressionism is to jump into a jungle of fierce colors, explosive textures, and unruly patterns. This month, the Phillips Collection opens its doors to the wild world of Angels, Demons, Savages: Pollock, Ossorio, Dubuffet, an exhibit focusing on the artistic influences and close friendships between American painter Jackson …

By Daphne Domingo For regular diners at Full Kee longing for a taste of home, or for newcomers curious about the experience of authentic Chinese cuisine, owner Gary Zhu has a simple suggestion: ask your server, “What specials do you have for today?” That question usually leads to an array of options, many based on unusual ingredients they bring in …

By Michelle Phipps-Evans Forty years ago an American president who had built his political career as a hard-line anti-Communist shocked the world by opening doors between the U.S. and China. Richard Nixon went further, personally visiting the Asian giant in a trip which produced the “Shanghai Communiqué,” a statement of foreign policy views gingerly worked out between the two nations. …

  Georgetown professor by day, self-described “theater maker” most other waking moments, Natsu Onada Power is wowing critics and audiences alike with her wildly innovative and visually stunning production, A Trip to the Moon at Synetic Theater. Her play, Astro Boy and the God of Comics at Studio Theatre was one of D.C.’s top hits of 2012. The director, writer & …

We welcome D.C.’s newest A-Lister, Linda Schatz (2nd from right). A Kaimuki girl, she was born and raised in Hawaii by parents who had fled communism in China. Linda received her Doctorate in Architecture this year, while raising two children and caring for her parents. And, almost forgot, that’s her husband, Brian Shatz, on the left, the new U.S. Senator …

Designer and Fashionista Anchyi Wei starting off 2013 with her usual flair. “If you’re really passionate about something, you’ve just got to go for it,” says Anchyi, whose New Year’s resolutions center around building her new jewelry design business. Originally from Tapei, and raised in Gaithersburg, Wei blends Chinese cultural influences and antiques with modern materials. Wei and hubby Michael …

  Korean pop star Psy, right, is greeted by owner George Tsui at Peking Gourmet Inn at Bailey’s Crossroads between DC concerts in December. The singer and dancer brought a party of ten along to dine on shark fin soup, Peking duck, pork with garlic sprouts, jumbo onion with sea cucumber, abalone with fresh Chinese greens, Jeo Yan Shrimp, and …

    Provocative Chinese-born Yuja Wang One, one of the most exciting concert pianists in the world, treated Kennedy Center audiences to a sublime evening of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1. She also premiered Jennifer Higdon’s Piano Concerto with Grammy-winning conductor Andrew Litton.

By The Car Chick The $64, 000 Question: 2013 Infiniti M37 My first New Year’s resolution is to not fall in love with $64,000 cars. Or, if I do fall in love with a $64,000 car, make sure it’s one where exciting engine performance is matched by equally impressive handling. I guess my money’s safe this go-round, as that match …

By Norman Mineta   One of the greatest Americans in his­tory passed away recently. I’m not entirely objective about Sena­tor Daniel Ken Inouye. (None of us who knew him can be.) Many Americans know him as the second longest serving U.S. Senator in history, who most recent­ly, as President Pro Tempore of the Unit­ed States Senate, was third in line …

By Lily Qi When NBC4 morn­ing news anchor Aaron Gilchrist commented at the end of a news sto­ry recently that black men who don’t want to be cast in stereotypi­cal roles are sometimes considered “not black enough,” I was taken aback by his openness in discussing a highly sensitive topic during morning news hours. After all, race is not something …

By Devika Koppikar Nearly two years after the termination of the controversial NSEERS program (for National Security Entry-Exit Registration System) (http://www.dhs.gov/dhs-removes-designated-countries-nseers-registration-may-2011) many immigrants continue to face barriers at U.S. ports-of-entries when returning from overseas trips. A majority of the immigrants facing reentry barriers have legal status and are simply returning to jobs, families and communities, activists say. Yet, they face heavy interrogations …

By Amanda L. Andrei A Monday night in Dupont Circle. Traffic is light, bar activity is subdued. Everyone knows Metro will close at midnight, and taxis are easier to grab. Monday: not your typical going-out night. But in the heart of the neighborhood someone is singing her heart out, eyes closed and hands wrapped around the mic. Someone is reciting …

Director, Writer and Illustrator Natsu Onada Power Gives D.C. Theater a New Look By Stan Kang The buzz about Natsu Onada Power is overwhelming. A uniquely creative “theater maker,” as she describes it, the petite Japanese American is rapidly building a following which seems destined to propel her into the top ranks of directors, writers and illustrators. Washington Post theater …

Photos and text by Mary Tablante It’s happening all over the D.C. metro area: young Asian American professionals using social media to network, meet and find ways to advance their careers or just make friends. Making connections is one of the ways political Washington works; it’s one of the ways the business world works, too. And now the AAPI community …

By Mary Tablante The growing economic clout of Asian Americans extends beyond our role as consumers. We are increasingly becom­ing business owners. In fact, one in four minority businesses is owned by an Asian American, according to the U.S. Depart­ment of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency. And those busi­nesses are unusually successful, produc­ing more than fifty percent of the gross …