Art: Awkward Coming-Of-Age Stories And Other Adventures In The Chinatown-International District

Former Seattle civic poet and Ten Thousand Things podcast host Shin Yu Pai hasn't yet seen the new two-woman show Crash Course, but she's pretty excited to see it. 

For one thing, Shin Yu says Crash Course explores a struggle many of us are familiar with - the "moment of becoming aware that you might want something different than what people are telling you". 

But also, Crash Course runs from June 5th-8th at Theatre Off Jackson in the Chinatown-International District or CID. Shin Yu plans to use the show as a springboard to wander around the CID. On this episode, she invites us to wander the neighborhood with her. 

Shin Yu recommends stopping at two bookstores in the CID. Kinokuniya Seattle, known for its selection of Japanese and English books, as well as its high quality stationery and cute plushies. Mam’s Books is a new independent Asian American bookstore that’s named after the owner’s dad.

Risograph classes and workshops are what Shin Yu calls a “lo-fi, affordable method of making multi-colored zines.” The classes take place at Reclaim Clay Collective.

There’s also the Panama Hotel & Tea House. Built in 1910, it was originally a workingman’s hotel for single Japanese men. When the federal government incarcerated people of Japanese ancestry during World War Two, some locals stashed their valuable belongings at the hotel, with the hopes of picking up their beloved items later. But many personal items still remain. Visitors can see these items and also listen to vintage Japanese music on an old record player as part of an art installation. Here’s an episode of Ten Thousand Things about that sound installation. 

If you’d like to load up on snacks, like Japanese mochi, Shin Yu says you can’t go wrong at Uwajimaya and recommends the mango & lychee flavors. 

 Other CID arts and culture gems mentioned in the episode: 

Shin Yu curated this exhibit at the Wing Luke Museum 

Seattle Pinball Museum

Kobo Seattle

Giant loquat tree on 8th Ave S (listed as #2 in this guide)  

Loquat tree episode of Ten Thousand Things 

Wing Luke Museum (Shin Yu curated this exhibit)

And on June 5 from 5:30-8 pm, Shin Yu is hosting a Ten Thousand Things listening party at the Wing Luke! 

Upcoming events we mentioned in the episode:

Meet Me at the Waterfront Park 5K, Seattle, May 31, 8 am - 2 pm

Mindfulness Meditation at The Frye Art Museum, first & third Wednesday of the month, 12:30 - 1 pm

Hot Shop Hot Nights with Eriko Kobayashi, Hilltop Heritage Middle School, Tacoma June 6, 5-8 pm

Have you checked out an event we recommended? Tell us how it went! Leave us a message at 206-221-6100. Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

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