This was the particular thought I had for not going to attend until my kind "gah jeh" told me some great news when I was visiting DC area. Thanks to her kindness, idea and generousity I could swing Philly as a possible convention to get back into the OCA fold. I rejoined the OCA NOVA (Northern Virginia Chapter)- Go Dan, Jack and Thanitha!
The first day, I had to miss the reception and arrival into Philly was particularly hellish. (Blogged about that experience already).
Once I got into bed after chitchatting with "gah jeh" it was already almost 4am. I got up with "gah jeh" at 8:30am as she had to be ready by 9am. No breakfast was served so we (after meeting up with the newly enaged Dan and Thanitha (cute couple alert) for our breakfast options. It was a gorgeous sunny day and we were excited to be outside.
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Reading Terminal Market Today
Today, Reading Terminal Market is once again the gastronomic bazaar that its original planners had envisioned. Many of the historic Market stands survived the reconstruction and are once again filled with local produce, fresh eggs, milk, meats, poultry, seafood, handmade crafts, jewelry, and clothing. The Market is home to more than 80 merchants, three of whom are descendants of the original standholders from a century before. Today, the Market is 100 percent leased. On any given day, except Sunday, when the Market is closed, one can find an eclectic array of fresh baked Amish goods, produce direct from the field, unusual spices, free range meats and poultry, flowers, ethnic foods, and much more. Eighty thousand Philadelphians and tourists pass through the Reading Terminal Market every week enjoying its exceptional products, history, and people.source: http://readingterminalmarket.org/about.php
I suggested the Reading Terminal (which ended up being only a 20 minute walk away from the Sheraton City Centre Location we were located. All of us were excited and instead of dim sum or the usual breakfast we feasted on a variety of things. From the splendid pumpkin pecan muffin from Le Buse. to the Amish sausage on a bun, chicken pot pie, whole cream ice cream (very artery clogging but ooooooh soooo yummy goodness and creaminess), spectacular strawberry lemonade! (Later I did try "gah jeh's" raw honeycomb (very interesting) and turkey jerky (I enjoyed the slight chewiness and spiciness). This particular weekend marked a special AMISH Festival too.
So in the span of one hour, we really were happy campers. We enjoyed the ice cream even better when we saw how it was made via a hand cranked iold style ice cream making machine set inside a big container with ice. Very cool and the ice cream comes out a bit mushy and the peach ice cream I had sampled was fabulous with chunks of real peaches in a thick, rich vanilla surroundings.
Before heading back, we take photos with the LOVE statue by the fountain and it was fun. Then we headed over to the beginning of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before scooting over to the hotel which was the site of the OCA convention.
LOVE Statue - John F. Kennedy Plaza
Robert Indiana, 1978
Kennedy Plaza, 15th and JFK
(www.philadelphia.about.com)
From there, we meandered back to the Convention and had a chance to hear a workshop. Lunch time was good, there were some presentations and lunch was awesome with lasagna florentine style (veggies and cream sauce) with some julienned veggies. Dessert seemed some panna cotta concoction. The salad was plated and consisted of a mesclun mix with balsamic vinagrette. The OCA Chapter awards are given out and my friend JL of OCA-NOVA chapter won two awards. He was the chapter representative to receive the accolades. It is always great to see him and reconnect. I have the utmost respect for him, love his humor and he is astoundingly very intelligent. Plus a great I had a chance to reconnect and learn some NAAAP news, talk about the upcoming convention and decide who are the top 5 people who we met through NAAAP we thought were cool (local chapter NAAAP friends not included). I had a chicagoan, texan, north carolinan, new yorker as some of my choices.
After lunch, the workshop I wanted to attend was the Health Disparites of Asian Americans. I felt it is important for all people not just Asians to know of health issues especially ones that are preventable using preventative measures such as---getting a physical, eyes -teeth and ears checked, moving your body, eating a variety of foods etc. But also being aware of the current health policies facing the typical persons well as Asian Americans.
Then I went to the job fair. In the past, I always looked up to their job fair and thought it was always stellar. It was still good but not as to the gold standard I have come to expect as before. The convention was not up to the usual standards of what I have come to expect of OCA. I was a bit disappointed. I know OCA Philadelphia worked hard but some things are not the same from the last convention I attended. It was not as traditionally strong of a program. I then found out that the dates were originally in July had to change to August. So with that knowledge, it made sense why all the changes ocurred causing the many changes that did affect the quality of the conference. (Though I did enjoy the pockets of free time allotted to attendees which was wonderful to allow them to have a more pleasurable experience.)
Then I took a break and went upstairs for a nap. Woke up at six and changed to get ready for the dinner and entertainment festivities. We have a lovely buffet dinner. From awesome ribs, mash potatoes, hamburgers, salad (caesar), fruit selection, cookies and brownies (I abstained from them) were some of the food selection we had to eat.
The nights' entertainment was a big departure and very innovative and creative in comparison to times past. Alan Niu (Magician who also has been on tv with his own show), Yellow Rage ( a powerful, thought provoking spoken word female duo who rocked the house with their social consciousness and realistic look at issues) along with the talented and funny Comedian Eliot Chang (www.echang.com) closing out the night.
YELLOW RAGE
(http://awol.objector.org/artistprofiles/yellowrage.html)
Together, Michelle Myers and Catzie Vilayphonh are Yellow Rage, a dynamic duo of Philly-based Asian American female spoken word poets. Both are part of the larger Asian American Philadelphia performance collective "Something to Say", led by Gary San Angel of Peeling Banana fame. Through their voices, Catzie and Michelle hope to provide an awareness that is not often heard. Exploring topics from fetishes to cultural appropriation to ethnic pride, Yellow Rage challenges mainstream misconceptions of Asianness.
Check them out at www.yellowrage.com
There was some music and dancing afterwards for some time. Eliot Chang was selling some great tshirts with some cool phrases and thoughts (personally I liked the tshirt in the shape of the USA, with Asian countries names written across it to create an outline of our country and ASIAN AMERICA written somewhere in the front.
After the dancing ended at midnight, we hit South Philadelphia to have the infamous Philadelphia Cheesesteak. Thankfully, John C. of Houston drove and we all went down near to Pats on 9th Street and Passyunk (215 468 1546) open 361 days and for 24 hours. It was between Pat's and Ginos. Since I have been to Ginos we opted for Pat's this time. Turns out Pat's was the first one to originate it and has strict ordering rules. Have the money out, say what you want, with our without (onions), cheese (if other than the traditional CHEEZWHIZ) and then pay. (The price list includes the tax so the customer can be prepared. Turns out both joints turnout cheesesteaks for 24 hours and both places have long lines. It is not uncommon to have to wait almost half an hour during the wee hours of the night. We waited for our Philly Cheesesteak experience for almost 20 to 30 minutes. We were pretty excited. I share with "gah jeh" (continuing the theme of the weekend of sharing great food) and we enjoyed it. The crispy Italian roll (made the sandwich with the right amount of crispiness coming from toasting, sauteed beef with cheesewhiz and onions was delicious.
www.patskingofsteaks.com
DAY TWO (saturday 8/12/06), we wake up for the breakfast (I end up with about 4 hours sleep again). I learned long ago Conventions are not great venues for getting tons of sleep. We eat our sit down breakfast (scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage and fresh fruit) while a panel on Media Watchdog on various anti-asian slurs within the media nationwide, It as very disturbing of the many media cases that are occurring throughout our great nation still in this day and age. It is truly disheartening.
Then went to a workshop panel on State of Asian Pacific America Summit in regards to the current climate for API's in the USA. There was some great points and discussion during the Q & A and tons of pertinent and important information was available in regards to government, social and economic policies to access for basic privileges from immigrants.
Luckily one hour break is built in and "gah jeh" and I take a quick one hour nap. We head to lunch and enjoy the chicken dish. Today the interns and OCA scholarship winners are announced. I enjoyed the interns innovative media presentation to introduce themselves by scattering themselves all around DC to create their presentation.
Afterwards, I get my blood pressure checked 128 over 80. I am told I have to be careful and can be pre-hypertension. Nothing but diet and exercise would correct. I even check my glucose levels after lunch I am doing well. So I guess I have to be more vigilant.
Then I go with Dan and Thanitha to go to the Atwater Kent Museum (see within Blog a description). I got the DVD series on Chinese Restaurants (5 in all at 60 minutes a piece). There are some Normal Rockwell cover printings for the Washington Post during last century.
Back to the conference and with only one hour to spare before the cocktail hour and the gala night, I join "gah jeh" in taking another nap. I felt good when I was done and missed the open bar. (I am glad as I didn't need the drinks). "Gah Jeh" was bidding on some items and ended up winning two of them ---Esprit Wallet and a bottle of wine she wanted to win (to rebuild her wine collection at home).
We had a lovely surf and turf dinner for the Gala dinner. The petit filet mignon was lovely with the lump crab cake (light dusting of bread crumbs) made for a delicious meal.
Our table hostess SW (of DC) shared her Remy Martin Cognac with the whole table. As they say "Sharing is caring" it truly was in this instance. We all had a grand time and toasted a lot! It was such a convivial atmosphere. Later on we got a chance to dance to the live band and whiled the time away til midnight.
Afterwards I was chitchatting with a NY Long Island OCA member who was at his 10th convention (his contingent mainly his family consisted of 50) was pretty impressive. We put Dan under the spotlight but he skillfully eluded us on answering questions regarding his lovely fiancee. (BTW I want pics Dan of our Philly weekend!)
Repacking and figuring out what to keep and not keep as I had an early flight. I got into bed at 4am and up at 7am. Grabbed my breakfast buffet (thanks to the night manager on early Friday morning) and had eggs, sausage, fruit, yogurt and granola. I had a big breakfast.
I almost forgot my glasses (after putting in my contacts) and i did make my shuttle (every half hour) to the Philly International Airport. The one way trip only cost $8. The lines for security and getting my boarding pass were minimimal in light of the Aug 10 (THU) terrorist plot being foiled. Effiicient, pleasant and I had a great experience there plus my flight was on time. I got back into Logan to find a LONG LONG check in line snaking all the way to United's luggage carousel. I was glad I did not have to deal with it.
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In the triad world, hugely dominated by men, where heroes are molded from blood, brawn and brains, are there any place to accommodate a defenseless girl?
The only exception to the rule is if you earn your respect as “Ah Sou” - the big boss’ wife.
Mob Sister tells the extraordinary story of an innocent girl who was appointed successor to Hong Kong’s ruling triad. This role becomes a double-edged sword for our young heroine, who is sucked into a maelstrom of vicious gang wars, hair-raising assassination attempts, ruthless power struggles and betrayals. Through numerous violent episodes and unexpected reversals, she discovers her own inner strength and re-writes the laws of the triad.
1 comment:
Thanks for the info!
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