AAPI Heritage Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is observed in the United States during the month of May and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. In Old Pasadena, we continue to look for ways to honor all the diversity in our commUNITY and to support equity and inclusion for all people.  We stand against violence and in support of tolerance and understanding.  Please join us in celebrating AAPI Month!

Nearly 30% of all businesses in Old Pasadena are Asian-owned and many provide uniquely Asian goods and services. Scroll down for places to visit and more resources.

"Learning about the past can change our future..."

- Susie Ling, Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies at Pasadena City College

Celebrating in Old Pasadena

SAT MAY 25 - 11 AM - 4 PM
glee + friends AAPI Market
In celebration of AAPI month, glee + co is hosting a pop-up market in The Courtyard at One Colorado on Saturday, May 25, from 11 am to 4 pm. They will pop up alongside local AAPI-owned small business friends in the alleyway near their first brick & mortar. This is a FREE family and pet-friendly event, so come enjoy the long weekend and support some small businesses!

Celebrating with the City of Pasadena

The City of Pasadena is proud to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to honor and recognize the contributions of the AAPI community to the rich cultural tapestry of our city and nation. Pasadena Public Library, Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, and The Friends of the Pasadena Public Library are offering a month-long series of in-person and virtual activities and events to celebrate the AAPI heritage, history, and achievements. All programs and events are free.

These events will include cultural educational activities, workshops, and crafts that showcase the diverse traditions and contributions of the AAPI community. These events aim to promote understanding, appreciation, and respect for the AAPI community and their contributions to the City of Pasadena.

For information about the City of Pasadena's programs and events, please visit CityOfPasadena.net/News.

 

THINGS TO DO

The Huntington
Music in the Chinese Garden
Wednesday afternoons

A different solo musician performs each week, playing unamplified melodies on classical instruments including the dizi 笛子, pipa 琵琶, and erhu二胡. Let the music transport you to another time and place as you stroll through one of the most magical landscapes in Southern California. Generous support for this music series is provided by the Justin Vajna Memorial Fund for Educational Programs in the Chinese Garden.  DETAILS

USC Pacific Asia Museum
Celebrate USC PAM's New Mural
May 18, 2024

From 1pm - 5pm, join USC PAM for a vibrant celebration of their new mural, A Momentous Moment in Time of Passage and Landing, created by artist Dave Young Kim. Enjoy cultural dances, crafts, food trucks, and an insightful artist talk. Free admission to the museum is included.  DETAILS

Norton Simon Museum
Goddesses of South Asia
May 19, 2024

Space is open on a first come, first served basis. Sign up at the Information Desk to engage in a conversation with a museum educator of the divine feminine and depictions of goddesses in the museum's permanent collection.  DETAILS

The Huntington
Chinese Garden Open House
May 22, 2024

Learn about some of the most important plants used in Chinese Medicine for the past 2,00 years. Two informal tours will take place to celebrate the new Chinese Medicinal Garden in the Chinese Garden. Free with general admission into The Huntington.  DETAILS

USC Pacific Asia Museum
Crossroads: Exploring the Silk Road
Current Exhibition

Throughout the AAPI Month, visitors can enter for free with the generous support of Wescom Credit Union. Take a journey through Dunhuang, an ancient oasis connecting people and cultures. The gallery explores the ancient trade routes along the Silk Road with an interactive discovery map, an intergenerational reading area, music, tactile objects, and highlights from the museum's collection.  DETAILS

The Huntington
Paintings in Print: Studying Art in China
Now - May 27, 2024

"Paintings in Print" focuses on two painting manuals: The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting and the Ten Bamboo Studio Collection of Calligraphy and Painting. Both books are complemented with paintings to be examples of the innovative painting techniques, history, and appreciation in early modern China. DETAILS

Jackie Robinson Community Center
Chinese Tea Brewing and Tasting: Gong Fu Style
May 24, 2024 | 1-3 pm

Calling all tea lovers! Participants will taste four Gong Fu style brewed teas, including leaves from the Ancient Tea Tree in the Yunnan Province in southwestern China. Presentations on the history, brewing techniques, and benefits of tea will be provided by Wendy Chen and Nathan Epstein, owners of the Callisto Tea House. Open on first, first-served basis to the first 50 attendants. DETAILS

 

PLACES TO VISIT

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden
Ongoing and temporary related exhibitions and events 
At The Huntington, the Asian art collections are heterogeneous. Recently, acquisitions have been more related to the East Asian garden arts, paintings, literature, music, theater, tea culture, and stone appreciation. A highlight from the collection is a Mounted Double-Gourd Vase that was produced in 14th-century China as a serving jug.

Norton Simon Museum
South and Southeast Asian Paintings and Sculpture Collection
The Norton Simon Museum houses a world-renowned collection of art from South and Southeast Asia that includes examples of the rich sculptural and painting traditions that developed in this region over the course of more than 2,000 years.

USC Pacific Asia Museum (PAM)
Admission is FREE for the entire Month of May in honor of AANHPI Heritage Month! Courtesy of Wescom Credit Union.  

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

 

LINKS & RESOURCES

Asian Pacific Heritage
Official page paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success. Check for virtual events and resources.

California Japantowns
Exploring the preservation of history, culture, and community

Densho
Preserving stories of the past for the generations of tomorrow

Old Pasadena Japanese American Businesses 1940
Maps of communities in California where Japanese Americans lived and worked prior to World War II

Naomi Hirahara
Pasadena-born Edgar Award-winning author of multiple traditional mystery series and noir short stories

Susie Ling's Blog "Thinking Aloud"
Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies at Pasadena City College

Stop AAPI Hate
Tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.