Profiles

By Jennie L. Ilustre Surae Chinn once wrote for Asian Fortune. “It was my first job out of college,” she said. “I wrote about events in the community.” That was late in 1996 until 1997. Well, look at her now. She’s an award-winning reporter for WUSA-TV9. She also fills in as anchor on occasions. In 2004, she won the prestigious …

She’s strictly business by day at the U.S. Department of Commerce, but she sways so gently by night. D.C. resident Emy Tseng, getting raves at local clubs, released her debut album of Brazilian jazz music in February. Tseng moved here from the Bay Area in 2009 for serious work “lessening the digital divide in underserved communities.” She was pleasantly surprised …

CCTV anchor Elaine Reyes is gearing up to raise money for the March of Dimes “Walk for Babies,” fundraising walks which will take place beginning in late April. Reyes, a familiar on-air presence at WRC-TV, NBC4 before joining CCTV, has been passionate about the cause since her daughter Mercer was a preemie, born at 30 weeks. A child of parents …

Are we potentially looking at the first Asian American Supreme Court Justice? Maybe. Raymond T. Chen has been tabbed for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit by President Obama. It’s a high- profile judgeship that should put his name on future lists for the Supremes. Chen is currently Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property Law and Solicitor …

She’s baaaaack! She was the embattled D.C. schools chancellor, and now she’s an author. Michelle Rhee was back in town recently promoting her book, “Radical: Fighting to Put Students First,” a tome that combines autobiography with her views on educational reform. She appeared at Sixth & I Historical Synagogue.

If you looked for departing Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu at the President’s State of the Union Address, you didn’t find him. Dr. Chu was this year’s designated survivor, the one cabinet secretary who stays away from the Capitol in case the roof caves in and no one else is left to run America. His office won’t tell us where …

Fans were elbowing each other to pose with Miss Vietnam DC, Catherine Ho, at the Pearl Gala. She’s tall, strikingly attractive and charismatic, and brainy, too. A graduate of the Smith School of Business of University of Maryland, Ho is a senior consultant providing “project-based finance, accounting and operational consulting services.” She is going places, and the A-List will follow …

By Michelle Phipps-Evans The name Theary Chan Seng generates a fervor approaching reverence in the Cambodian community here and abroad. She is the Cambodian-born, American-educated lawyer and civil rights activist who founded the Cambodian Center for Justice & Reconciliation. It is a major component of another organization she serves as founding president, CIVICUS: Center for Cambodian Civic Education. This nonprofit …

A-List watchers want to know: who’s that athletic-looking guy who has been popping up on national TV lately every time President Obama talks to the press? Moments before POTUS shows, there’s Kevin Xu, a 26-year-old White House press aide, arranging the boss’ notes on The Blue Goose, as insiders call the presidential podium. Here he is, looking businesslike behind the …

By Amanda L. Andrei Tonight, there is fog in Lorton, Virginia. The normally murky Route 123 is even more difficult to navigate—until you see bright lights emanating from the Lorton Workhouse Art Center. Inside, a welcoming gallery glow illuminates art lovers as they walk to artists’ opening receptions, admire new paintings and sculpture, and watch demonstrations of glassblowing and pottery …

Chris Lu is taking a break from the demands of his top White House job. Lu and his wife Katie Thomson chatted with AF’s Dottie Li at the Pearl Inaugural Gala, several days before he stepped down as White House Cabinet Secretary. His old law school pal, President Obama, praised Lu, writing, “Chris Lu is one of my longest-serving and …

Joe Zee, (r) creative director of ELLE Magazine, guided CNN’s Piers Morgan and Erin Burnett through DC fashion hits and misses Inauguration night. Broadcasting from the Official Inaugural Ball at the Convention Center, Zee gave Michelle Obama a thumbs-up for her stunning red Jason Wu gown and her day coat. Zee, born in Hong Kong and raised in Toronto, is …

  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 Jem Palo One night about 10 years ago in suburban Virginia, a young police officer was in the last hour of his shift on patrol when his experienced eye noticed something suspicious. There was a car cruising along, carrying four men. Wearing sunglasses. At night. Thinking that strange, the officer followed the car and the car slowed down. But …

D.C.’s newest A-Lister, Representative-Elect Tulsi Gabbard, Democrat of Hawaii arrives at an APAICS/CAPAC reception honoring the five latest House Members (and one Senator) of Asian descent to serve on Capitol Hill.  

During his stay at KenCen, celebrated pianist Lang Lang was busy around town, seen here autographing copies of “The Chopin Album,” his latest album for fans.

NASCAR driver Jeff Oleen (right) chats with Montgomery County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett at an OCA-DC awards gala at the New Fortune Restaurant in Gaithersburg, Md. Oleen was recently named NASCAR “Rookie of the Year.”

New York and D.C. actor Christopher Mueller, right, greets Signature Theatre co-founder and artistic director Eric Schaeffer. The occasion was a Kennedy Center celebration for Schaeffer’s 50th birthday November 19. Mueller has performed at Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and in other D.C. and New York theaters. Schaeffer directs musicals around the world, including Broadway and London’s West …

By Daphne Domingo   The state of Hawaii overwhelmingly voted for Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to take over the U.S. Senate seat vacated by longtime Senator Daniel Akaka. Hirono, who has represented Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district since 2007, now becomes the nation’s first Asian American female senator, the first Japanese-born senator and first Buddhist senator. At the APAI reception November 29, …