May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time that Evanston ASPA founder Melissa Raman Molitor sees as an opportunity to celebrate and honor the role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have played in American history.
“AAPI Heritage Month brings about events, activities and programming that raises awareness and engages the community at large in learning about the diverse histories, cultures and lived experiences of Asian Americans,” Molitor said in an email. “For Asian Americans, seeing themselves reflected in their community fosters a sense of belonging. The focus raises awareness and spotlights specific cultures and communities, but the hope is always that it is simply a gateway for year-long learning and engagement in each other’s diverse racial and cultural experiences.”
Evanston is host to a full calendar of AAPI Heritage Month events, exhibits and other educational opportunities, most of which are free to the public. Here are a few ideas to get started.
Shop at AAPI-Owned Businesses: Evanston has more than 70 salons, stores and services that are owned by people of AAPI heritage. Seek one (or several) out this month, and perhaps find a new favorite local spot.
Support AAPI Restaurants: From Thai to Korean, Evanston is home to dozens of AAPI-owned restaurants and cafes for authentic eats year round. To get started, the RoundTable’s food editor Julie Chernoff offers her favorite local spots for bubble tea.
Hear AAPI Musicians: Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music offers a number of concerts featuring outstanding musicians of AAPI heritage. Whether piano to percussion, the student recitals are free, open to the public and of the highest caliber.
Sinag-Ray of Light: Through May 25, Evanston Art Center. This exhibit celebrates Filipino heritage and honors Filipino health-care workers, especially against the backdrop of the pandemic and rise in hate crimes against those of Asian descent, and features various media from acrylic to photography.
Riley Visits Asia: Through May 30, Robert Crown Branch Library. Branch mascot Riley visits Asia, and guests are invited to find all the dishes they try on their journey. Scavenger hunt participants can also enter a raffle to win a gift card from a local business.
Short & Sweet: In Honor of Lei Day: Through May 30, Evanston Public Library Children’s Room. While supplies last, guests can pick up a Short & Sweet Craft Kit with a QR code for a beautiful story and a lei craft in honor of Lei Day.
The Peking Acrobats: May 6-7, Northshore Center for the Performing Arts. Performers from The Shanghai Circus have created a performance like no other, featuring acrobatics, comedy and more. This show offers more than a glimpse into the fascinating traditions of the Orient and is appropriate for all ages.
The Many Lives of Kal Penn: May 7, 7 p.m., Virtual presentation by the Evanston Public Library. Join EPL for a conversation with Kal Penn on his latest projects. The actor and former President’s liaison to Young Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders released his first book, You Can’t Be Serious, in 2021.
Teen and Tween Anime Club Meetup: May 9, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Robert Crown Branch Library. Explore this popular style of animation from Japan that has taken the West by storm. Participants can hang out, watch anime, talk about favorites, have a snack, do crafts and play video games. Tween Club is for ages 9-11, and Teen Club is open to grades 6-12.
Asian Night Market: May 10, 5-9 p.m., at Oakton College. Get immersed in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Asia and the Pacific Islands right here in our community. The event offers delicious Asian and Pacific Island food, vibrant cultural performances, and unique handmade crafts.
Umbrella Arts Fest: May 11, noon-4 p.m., at Fountain Square. This annual event, organized by Evanston ASPA, features an interactive celebration of Asian American art, music, dance, food and culture. The umbrella symbolizes the Asian American diaspora, which includes a diversity of ethnicities from more than 40 countries around the world, and the festival draws artists, vendors and performers from cultures representing Japan, China, Philippines, Bali, Cambodia, Korea, India and more.
DIY Japanese Woodblock Prints: May 19, 2-3:30 p.m., Robert Crown Branch Library. Participants can create their own woodblock print in this hands-on workshop. Popular during the Edo period (1615–1868), colorful woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e depicted scenes from everyday Japan. Open to all ages and registration is not required.
The Covenant of Water: Book Discussion: May 20, 6-7:30 p.m., Evanston Public Library. On South India’s Malabar Coast, three generations of a family suffer a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning – and in Kerala, water is everywhere.
The Verifiers Book Discussion: May 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Robert Crown Branch Library. Part literary mystery, part family story, The Verifiers is a clever and incisive examination of how technology shapes our choices and the nature of romantic love in the digital age. It follows Claudia Lin, a sharp-witted amateur sleuth who verifies people’s online lives – and lies – for a dating detective agency in New York City.
A Traditional Chinese Tea Demonstration: May 23, 11 a.m. at Robert Crown Branch Library. Attendees at this workshop will engage in the ritual of tea handling, teaware function and identification, and proper tea steeping with Yvonne Wolf. Participants can choose from two types of tea tastings, including one non-caffeinated option. This event is for ages 55+.
Japanese Calligraphy (shodō): May 26, 1-2:30 p.m. at Robert Crown Branch Library. Participants in this workshop will explore 書道, or shodō, a form of calligraphy that is backed by thousands of years of history. Presented by The Japanese Cultural Center of Chicago, an organization dedicated to sharing Japan’s rich culture with the public. This class is appropriate for those 16+. Registration is required and space is limited.
The Placemaking Project: May 29, noon-1 p.m. at Robert Crown Branch Library. The Placemaking Project aims to uncover the stories that have been lost about the Asian Americans who have been living in the Evanston area since the 1800s. The project seeks to prevent the cultural erasure that threatens the Asian American community, of which there are no records to document their existence. This discussion is co-led by Evanston ASPA.