Asian American / Asian Research Institute

Chunxiang: a Queer Musical
2026-08-15 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Glow Cultural Center, 13329 41st Ave, Flushing, NY, 11335
This August, join us for the first public presentation of Chunxiang: A Queer Musical, an original Mandarin musical inspired by The Peony Pavilion.
ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
This event is a work-in-progress staged musical reading workshop featuring the first half of the musical. It is not a complete production or a fully staged performance.
Through live readings and musical performances, audiences will have an early opportunity to experience the world, characters, and music of the piece as it continues to take shape.
The presentation will be followed by a conversation with the creative team. We invite audience members to share their responses, questions, and ideas. Your feedback will become part of the musical’s ongoing development.
Rather than simply attending a finished performance, you are being invited into the creative process and helping us discover what this story may become.
ABOUT THE MUSICAL
Chunxiang: a queer musical is an original Chinese-language musical reimagining the Ming-dynasty classic The Peony Pavilion through a queer-feminist lens. The piece blends the lyricism of Chinese opera with the emotional immediacy of contemporary musical theatre, exploring desire, death, and rebirth across time.
At its heart is the belief that queerness is not a modern invention, but as old as human longing itself. By restoring queer voices within canonical texts, the work bridges tradition and the present, offering both continuity and new ways of seeing.
This August in Flushing, join us for a work-in-progress musical reading workshop, and become part of the musical’s development.
Language: Mandarin Chinese with EN supertitles
Whether you’re a theatre lover, a fan of new musicals, or simply curious about new stories, we‘d love to have you with us at this early stage of the journey.
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026
🕒 2:00–4:00 PM
🏠 Glow Cultural Center
📍 133-29 41st Ave, Flushing, NY
🗣️ Performed in Mandarin Chinese with English supertitles
🎟️ Donation-based RSVP

Chhaya Housing and Community Resource Fair
2026-08-15 14:00 - 17:00 | Leo Kearns Parking Lot, 103-33 Lefferts Blvd, South Richmood Hill, NY, 11419, United States
Chhaya is hosting a free Housing and Community Resource Fair on Saturday, August 15, from 2–5 PM at the Leo Kearns Parking Lot in South Richmond Hill.
Renters, homeowners, and people interested in buying a home can meet with housing and government agencies, speak with housing experts, and get information about tenant protections, the home-buying process, Chhaya’s services, and other resources.
There will also be music and children’s activities. Services will be available in English, Bangla, Punjabi, and Spanish. The event is free and open to all.
Location: Leo Kearns Parking Lot, 103-33 Lefferts Blvd., South Richmond, NY 11419

Filipino Canadian Book Festival: Across the Page, Across Canada: A Community Reading and Discussion
2026-08-15 15:30 - 16:30 | NY
Facilitated by award-winning Filipino Canadian author Renato Gandia, this special gathering brings together authors Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez, Chris Gatchalian and Mark Sy for readings and a thoughtful discussion about migration, faith, memory, sexuality and belonging.
Recently named the first Filipino recipient of the RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers and winner of the Pacific Spirit Poetry Prize from PRISM international, Gandia’s work offers a powerful meditation on the complexities of identity, history and home.
Through featured readings and an open discussion, we will reflect on how writing can connect communities across distance, hold complicated histories and create space for recognition, tenderness and possibility.
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m. PST
Format: Virtual panel with a live audience
This event will also be streamed live at the Museum of Vancouver. If you’d like to attend in person, please RSVP here. To attend virtually, please RSVP using this page!

Music: Spirits from Both Sides: Arturo O’Farrill x Vincent Hsu
2026-08-15 20:00 - 22:00 | Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11354, United States
Six-time Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, and bandleader Arturo O’Farrill (@pianitis), a leading voice in Afro-Latin Jazz, is joined by longtime collaborator, bassist and composer Vincent Hsu (@vincenthsujazz), whose award-winning music fuses Jazz and Afro-Cuban sounds with his Taiwanese roots, Making their U.S. debut, the two masters will perform at FTH’s theater. Don’t miss out on an evening of Afro-Taiwanese Jazz with a live orchestra, dancing, food, and drinks!
After the concert, the party continues! Stay for a talk between O’Farrill and Hsu, moderated by former Executive Director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Tracy Hyter-Suffern.
Get tickets early for a lower price! Tickets available on our website or using the link in bio!
FTH Members! Before the show, join us for a Pre-Show Members Lounge at 6:30 PM in our gallery for small bites, beverages, and great company. If you’re coming to the performance and are not a member, take this opportunity to support our efforts to bring global arts to our global community, by joining our Circle of Friends, to enjoy this special event and many other exclusive member benefits!
Co-presented by Flushing Town Hall and Belongó (@afrolatinjazz), with additional support from the Taipei Cultural Center (@taipeiculturalcenter).

Music: Azaadi Beats
2026-08-15 21:00 - 2026-08-16 04:00 | Starr Bar, 214 Starr Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11237, United States
Our communities have always turned struggle into solidarity. At a time when immigrant families are organizing against deportations, detention, and attacks on our rights, we invite you to join us for Azaadi Beats a night of live music, DJs, dancing, and community.
Featuring live music by Cole Quest and Alex Deane, with DJs Cardamami, 444, Undocubougie, and Sri.
Together, we’ll raise funds to continue DRUM’s organizing for immigrant justice and worker power at
Azaadi Beats
Saturday, August 15
9 PM – 4 AM
Starr Bar
214 Starr Street
Brooklyn, NY 11237
Featuring live music by Cole Quest and Alex Deane, with DJs Cardamami, 444, Undocubougie, and Sri.

44th The World’s Largest India Day Parade New York
2026-08-16 12:00 - 18:00 | East 38th Street & Madison Avenue, East 38th Street & Madison Avenue, New York, NY
For over more than 4 decades FIA India Day Parade is culminating every year on August month is observed as Indian Anniversary of Independence. It is considered to be the largest parade outside the India brings together over hundred-thousand members of the Diaspora for one of the biggest cultural extravaganzas in New York City.
This India Day Parade event marks the unique mix of togetherness of Indo-America where Indian immigrants residing in the USA come together with the visitors of different countries participating in the parade by holding aloft an Indian flag, and witness Indian culture, its identity and exchange social bonding with cultural understandings. The parade showcases an exuberance of pageantry displays, each meticulously crafted in accordance with its respective theme, serving as a representation of the prosperous culture and historical legacy of India. Bollywood celebrities, cricket greats, civic and community leaders, successful businesspeople, and eminent diasporan trend-setters have all historically participated in the procession and enhanced its magnificence. Prominent networks including ABC News, Channel 9, Timesnow, News 18, NDTV, Yupp TV, TV9, and TV Asia have covered the march LIVE, drawing in over 4 million people from 53 countries.

Eastwind Summer Book Club: Orphan Bachelors
2026-08-16 15:00 - 16:00 | NY
Join us for our second annual Summer Book Club where we’ll be discussing Fae Myenne Ng’s intimate and striking memoir Orphan Bachelors!

Join us for an heartfelt discussion on Orphan Bachelors, the Fae Myenne Ng’s award-winning memoir on being a confession baby, Chinatown daughter, baa-bai sister, caretaker of exotics, literary balloon peddler, and grand historian of a doomed American family.
Please RSVP for the Zoom link. This will be a virtual event, so come in your comfiest clothes and have your favorite snacks on hand. We encourage you to finish the book before the event, but you’re more than welcome to join us no matter how far you’ve read. We look forward to seeing you!
There is also a special book club sale for the book on our website. The paperback is $5 off for book club attendees!
About the Book
In pre-Communist China, Fae Myenne Ng’s father memorized a book of lies and gained entry to the United States as a stranger’s son, evading the Exclusion Act, an immigration law which he believed was meant to extinguish the Chinese American family. During the McCarthy era, he entered the Confession Program in a failed attempt to salvage his marriage only to have his citizenship revoked to resident alien. Exclusion and Confession, America’s two slamming doors. As Ng’s father said, “America didn’t have to kill any Chinese, the Exclusion Act ensured none would be born.”
Ng was her parents’ precocious first born, the translator, the bossy eldest sister. A child raised by a seafaring father and a seamstress mother, by San Francisco’s Chinatown and its legendary Orphan Bachelors — men without wives or children, Exclusion’s living legacy. She and her siblings were their stand-in descendants, Ng’s family grocery store their haven.
Each Orphan Bachelor bequeathed the children their true American inheritance. Ng absorbed their suspicious, lonely, barren nature; she found storytelling and chosen children in the form of her students. Exclusion’s legacy followed her from the back alleys of Chinatown in the 60s, to Manhattan in the 80s, to the high desert of California in the 90s, until her return home in the 2000s when the untimely deaths of her youngest brother and her father devastated the family. A a child, Ng believed her father’s lies; as an adult, she returned to her childhood home to write his truth.Orphan Bachelors weaves together the history of one family, lucky to exist and nevertheless doomed; an elegy for brothers estranged and for elders lost; and insights into writing between languages and teaching between generations. It also features Cantonese profanity, snakes that cure fear and opium that conquers sorrow, and a seemingly immortal creep of tortoises. In this powerful remembrance, Fae Myenne Ng gives voice to her valiant ancestors, her bold and ruthless Orphan Bachelors, and her own inner self, howling in Cantonese, impossible to translate but determined to be heard.

Concert: Taiwanese Waves 10th Anniversary
2026-08-16 18:00 - 22:00 | Central Park
Doors Open: 5:00 PM
Central Park, Rumsey Playfield, New York, NY, 10021
Taiwanese Waves is celebrating its 10th anniversary by showcasing a diverse lineup of artists from across the musical spectrum. This year’s program includes a trio of R&B and hip-hop acts: 9m88 (pronounced “Jo-m-Baba”), a jazzy singer-songwriter with strong R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop influences; ØZI, a singer-songwriter and rapper known for blending urban American styles with Mandopop; and YELLOW 黃宣, the fashion-forward avant pop artist with a flair for the dramatic. You’re likely to hear some of their collaborations, such as ØZI and 9m88’s song “Black Out,” or the 9m88 and YELLOW (黃宣) single “怪天氣Strange Weather.” They’re joined by Chance Emerson, a relative of Ralph Waldo Emerson born in Taiwan to a Taiwanese mother and American father and a singer-songwriter who explores the human condition with humor and empathy; Mong Tong, Taiwanese brothers who channel Southeast Asian mythology and folklore through the hypnotic rhythms and ethereal melodies of ‘60s and ‘70s psychedelic music; and a DJ set from Chinatown Records, the archival project from DJ and historian yiuyiu 瑶瑶 that stewards more than 30 distinct vinyl, CD, and cassette collections inherited from her family & neighbors, spanning nearly 100 years of Chinese music and beyond.

Model ShakesParody: A Comedy Night of Errors (Hybrid)
2026-08-16 19:00 - 19:30 | Under St Marks Theater, 94 St Marks Pl, New York, 10009, United States
Come see Shakespeare as skewered by one of the most acclaimed sketch comedy teams in New York (or come see Model Majority inspired by one of the most acclaimed playwrights in history, depending on your point of view).
Model Majority is proud to be a feature selection of the Little Shakespeare Festival, brought to New York by Frigid NYC. With a festival theme of “ShakesPUNK”, Model Majority’s talented writers and performers will bring a variety of hysterical comedy sketches inspired by the works of the Bard for a fun and memorable evening.
Featuring:
Veronica Dang
Kevin Chew
Carol Lee
Elijah Guo
Nicole Hendrickson
Allie Sharma Nelson

Dance: Dabke Workshop
2026-08-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Malikah Safety Center, 25-61 Steinway Street, Queens, NY, 11103, United States
Join Malikah and Yaa Samar Dance Theatre for a Dabke workshop, followed by a community potluck and conversation.

Looking for a fun way to connect with your community? Join Malikah and Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre for an exciting Dabke workshop at the Malikah Safety Center! Whether it’s your first time dancing or you already know the steps, everyone is welcome. We recommend that attendees wear comfortable shoes and clothing that allows you to move with ease.
After the workshop, stay for a community potluck and conversation. We encourage you to bring a dish to share. Enjoy complimentary desserts, matcha, and handcrafted mocktails from Zainoubia Café as you connect with fellow attendees.
Come dance, eat, connect, and celebrate culture with us for a memorable evening of movement, community, and fun!

Author Talks: Kim Eui-Kyung
2026-08-18 | NY
In her absorbing and candid novel Hello Baby, Kim Eui-Kyung explores what women endure to become mothers. The novel features six women in their thirties and forties who strike up a friendship at a fertility clinic in Seoul and share their personal paths to motherhood via a group chat they name “Hello Baby.” Switching between the six characters—a journalist, a police officer, a vet, a lawyer, and two housewives—this thought-provoking novel explores the social pressure and emotional strain on women struggling to conceive. Written with insight, humor, and great empathy, Hello Baby is a moving portrait of what it means to be a woman today and the lengths some will go to seek motherhood.
In this episode of Author Talks, Kim Eui-Kyung discusses her novel, translated into English by Sora Kim-Russell.

Storytelling Showcase & Festival Closing Party
2026-08-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Think!Chinatown Studio, 1 Pike Street, New York, NY, 10002
Storytellers will share their stories and projects with the public to close out this year’s Storytelling festival on August 18th.
Storytellers were selected from the Open Call for Community Works. Each presenter will share their project followed by a short discussion. We’ll have a reception where you can meet & greet our storytellers to close out our Storytelling Festival 2026! More details to come.
RSVP with Donation

Koshari, Kitchari, Arroz con Gandules: Food of the Masses
2026-08-18 18:30 - 20:30 | The World’s Borough Bookshop, 34-06 73rd Street, Jackson Heights, NY, 11372
Join us for a Tasting and Teach-In about Egyptian, Indian, and Puerto Rican dishes featuring Rice and Lentils!

Rice and Lentils together form the basis of nutritious, delicious, and cheap meals that have fed our peoples for generations. At this event, we will serve small portions of three different dishes that feature Rice and Lentils: Koshari (Egyptian), Kitchari (Indian), and Arroz con Gandules (Puerto Rican).
But there’s more! Come for the tasting, and stay for a teach-in on how these foods of the masses tell our personal and cultural stories. It will range from family anecdotes to the history of how Boricuas, Indians, and Egyptians have fought to provide self-sustenance and forge a cultural identity amidst colonialism.
Throughout the event, attendees will have space to be in community with each other and reflect on the foods that connect them to their own identities.

MOCA Summer Mahjong Night
2026-08-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10013
Mahjong has become one of the most popular social games in recent years, attracting a new generation of players while remaining a beloved tradition in Asian communities around the world. At MOCA, mahjong has long been more than a game. It is a way to bring people together through culture, conversation, and shared experiences.
Join us this summer for a lively evening of friendly competition, community building, and fun. Whether you are a seasoned player, a casual enthusiast, or completely new to the game, you will find a welcoming table waiting for you. Experienced players can jump right into open play, while beginners are invited to learn the fundamentals through hands on instruction in a supportive and relaxed environment. . On August 20, instructor Sokie Lee leads an evening of Hong Kong Mahjong. Both are among the most widely played variations of the game and offer players the opportunity to experience distinct traditions, strategies, and styles of play.
Pull up a chair, gather around the table, sip on a beer or glass of wine, and enjoy a summer evening at MOCA filled with lively play, cultural connection, and good company.
Sokie Lee is passionate about promoting Hong Kong Mahjong and making the game accessible to everyone. She has introduced countless beginners to Chinese Mahjong, helping new players learn and play within 15 minutes. Sokie initiated the popular Mahjong Game Nights at the Museum of Chinese in America and has led workshops for Mastercard, JPMorgan Chase, W. W. Norton & Company, NBC Universal, and Blackstone. She has also partnered with Potluck Asian America, Pearl River Mart and Think!Chinatown to bring Mahjong to diverse communities. Besides being a Mahjong educator, Sokie is a New York State–licensed massage therapist, Tai Chi and Qigong instructor, and avid table tennis player.

NapRyang: Midnight Scream in NY - The Wailing
2026-08-20 21:00 - 2026-08-21 00:00 | Korean Cultural Center NY, 122 E 32nd St, New York, NY, 10016
Director: Na Hong-jin
Synopsis: Never be deceived.
The bait has been taken.
A quiet village is thrown into chaos by a series of mysterious and violent incidents that begin shortly after the arrival of a mysterious outsider. Although the police initially conclude that the cases are the result of mass wild mushroom poisoning, rumors quickly spread that the stranger is responsible for everything that has happened.
Police officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) begins to believe the rumors after meeting a woman known only as Moo-myeong (Chun Woo-hee), who claims to have witnessed the events firsthand.
When his daughter Hyo-jin starts exhibiting symptoms similar to those of the victims, Jong-goo becomes desperate. Determined to save her, he confronts the outsider and seeks the help of the shaman Il-gwang (Hwang Jung-min).
But as the mystery deepens, Jong-goo finds himself drawn into a terrifying battle between faith, fear, and the unknown…

Mekong NYC Presents: Campfire Stories
2026-08-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Serviam Hall, 2848 Bainbridge Ave, Bronx, NY, 10458, United States
🔥🎭 Mekong NYC Presents: Campfire Stories 🎭🔥
Join us for our annual Summer Community Event! Our fourteen Summer Youth have spent the past few weeks writing their own screenplay, designing backdrops, and rehearsing their hearts out.
Come see their hard work come to life through a live play performance, plus a fashion showcase.
📅 August 21, 2026
🕒 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Serviam Hall, 2848 Bainbridge Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
Come support our youth and celebrate their creativity! See you around the campfire.

NapRyang: Midnight Scream in NY - My Daughter is a Zombie
2026-08-21 21:00 - 2026-08-22 00:00 | Korean Cultural Center NY, 122 E 32nd St, New York, NY, 10016
Director: Pil Gam-Sung
Synopsis: “My daughter is a zombie—the last remaining zombie in the world.”
Jung-hwan, a zookeeper who specializes in caring for fierce wild animals, spends his days bickering with his teenage daughter Su-a, an aspiring dancer with boundless passion.
When Su-a becomes infected with a zombie virus that has spread across the globe, Jung-hwan takes her to Eunbong-ri, a quiet seaside village where his mother, Bamsoon, lives, determined to protect her at all costs.
As society grows increasingly intent on identifying and isolating the infected, Jung-hwan begins to notice signs that Su-a may still retain part of her humanity. She seems to understand human speech, responds to the dance she once loved, and even reacts to the sting of her grandmother Bamsoon’s trusty backscratcher.
Refusing to give up on his daughter, Jung-hwan draws on his years of experience as a tiger keeper and embarks on an unconventional mission: training his zombie daughter in the hope of bringing her back to herself.

Asian Foodways Workshop: BBQ Around Asia
2026-08-22 12:30 - 17:00 | Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11354, United States
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Asian Foodways Workshop returns for a sizzling summer celebration: BBQ Around Asia! Our annual summer tradition invites you to explore the rich culinary traditions of Asia through live demonstrations, cultural context, and hands-on tasting.
Dr. Hsing-Lih Chou and Dr. Yi-Nian Lee, joined by students from Overseas Chinese University of Taiwan, take you on a mouthwatering journey across the continent:
• Taiwan/China: Grilled Taiwanese Sausage and King Oyster Mushrooms
• Korea: Bulgogi (Korean Marinated Beef BBQ)
• Malaysia: Chicken Satay with Traditional Flavor
Watch live cooking demos, learn the cultural stories behind each dish, and taste every recipe yourself. All supplies included! Check-in starts at 12:30 pm, and the workshop starts at 1:30 pm.

Blank Canvas with Akiko Higashimura Q&A
2026-08-22 19:00 - 21:30 | Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY, 10017, United States
Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey (Kakukaku Shikajika) is an autobiographical manga by Eisner-winner Akiko Higashimura, the creator of Princess Jellyfish and Tokyo Tarareba Girls, about her high school dream to become a comic book creator. Published in Japan from 2011 to 2015, it inspired a live-action adaptation in 2025, and Japan Society is honored now to present this film with original manga creator Akiko Higashimura joining us in-person for a Q&A and signing.

The Korean Tea Table: Discover the Art of Korean Tea and Traditional Tea Snacks with Korea’s Tea Ambassador, Tea Master Yoon Hee Kim
2026-08-23 | Korean Cultural Center NY, 122 E 32nd St, New York, NY, 10016
The Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY) is pleased to present The Korean Tea Table: Discover the Art of Korean Tea and Traditional Tea Snacks with Tea Master Yoon Hee Kim, a special cultural workshop presented as part of the Global K-Zone Project, an initiative designed to introduce the richness of Korean culture and lifestyle to audiences around the world.
This immersive workshop invites participants to experience the beauty of Korean tea culture through an introduction to Darye (Korean tea ceremony), a guided tasting of traditional Korean teas, and a hands-on workshop creating traditional Korean snacks. Participants will explore the stories behind Korea’s tea traditions, discover the characteristics of a variety of traditional teas, and learn how tea and traditional confections are thoughtfully paired to create harmony in flavor, texture, and presentation.

Shoes Off: All Asian Improv
2026-08-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Caveat, 21 A Clinton St, New York, NY, 10002, United States
Celebrate culture, comedy and experience improv from a different perspective!

Asian improv icons unite! Celebrate culture, comedy and experience improv from a different perspective. Featuring a rotating cast of Asian performers!

Asian American Voter Survey 2026 Webinar
2026-08-26 13:00 - 14:00 | NY
Join us for a briefing on newly released findings from the 2026 Asian American Voter Survey, the longest-running pre-election survey that focuses on how Asian Americans think about the election, presidential candidates, party identification, key issues shaping their political engagement, and more. This is our movement’s #YearOfAction
Presented by APIAVote, AAPI Data, NCAPA

An Advice and Networking Event (Technology)
2026-08-26 18:00 - 19:15 | NY
Overview

Committee of 100 Asian American Career Ceilings August 26, 2026 from 6 pm ET to 7:15 pm ET

The Committee of 100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative

“An Advice and Networking Event (Technology)”
August 26, 2026 from 6 pm ET to 7:15 pm ET

We are pleased to invite you to the 60th event organized by the Committee of 100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative. This virtual event will enable Asian Americans who are in the early to mid-stages of their careers to get valuable advice from experienced and successful Asian Americans in the technology industry. We have been holding this event for different professions in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
We will start with welcoming comments and introduction to the advisors, followed by virtual breakout rooms where the experienced Asian American advisors will host individual breakout rooms that attendees can join. The attendees will have a list of the experienced advisors in advance and will be able to choose which breakout rooms they want to visit to get career advice and to ask questions. The attendees will be able to move from room to room as they wish.
This will be a unique opportunity to explore career paths in the technology profession with experienced industry executives. Discussions will be frank and informative as each breakout room host will answer your questions and share personal insights and their stories about successful careers in technology.
We hope this event will help those of you who are getting ready to start your careers or who are at junior or mid-level levels of your organization. We hope that this event will help you overcome obstacles and accelerate your careers.
If you would like to join us for this networking/advisory event, please register at https://c100-8-26-2026.eventbrite.com
Regards,
Peter Young
Chair, Committee of 100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative
New York Regional Chair, Committee of 100, and board member
The Committee of 100
The Committee of 100 (C100) is a non-profit, non-partisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, and the arts founded 36 years ago.
The Committee’s purpose is to provide leadership and act as a constructive force in the dual mission of:
● Promoting the full participation of all Chinese Americans in American society and acting as a public policy resource for the Chinese-American community;
● Advancing constructive dialogue and relationships between the peoples and leaders of the United States and Greater China.
To learn more about the organization, please go to https://www.committee100.org.

Summer at the Terminal: AAPI Culture Day
2026-08-27 14:00 - 18:00 | Brooklyn Army Terminal, 80 58th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11220, United States
A free outdoor celebration of AAPI culture featuring live music, cultural performances, food, arts & crafts, kids activities, and community

Come celebrate AAPI Culture Day — part of the Summer at the Terminal 2026 series at Brooklyn Army Terminal!
Join us for a free afternoon on the waterfront honoring the rich diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture, with something for the whole community:
🎶 Live Music & Cultural Performances — Experience the sounds, movement, and artistry of AAPI culture through live performances throughout the afternoon.
🍜 Food Vendors — Savor a curated lineup of local AAPI food vendors serving authentic and delicious flavors.
🎨 Arts & Crafts — Hands-on creative activities inspired by AAPI traditions and artistic expression.
🎡 Kids Activities & Games — Fun, family-friendly activities for the little ones to enjoy all afternoon.
🏮 Community Tabling — Connect with local AAPI organizations, learn about resources, and engage with the community.
This event is FREE and open to all — come as you are, bring your family, and spend a summer afternoon celebrating culture by the water.

Finding Your Path: Perspectives on Korean American Giving
2026-08-27 18:30 - 20:00 | The Korea Society, 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, NY, 10017, United States
The Korea Society and the Korean American Community Foundation’s (KACF) Associate Board are excited to present Finding Your Path: Perspectives on Korean American Giving, an intimate conversation exploring philanthropy, purpose-driven leadership, and the power of giving back.

Screening - FILIPIÑANA
2026-08-28 - 2026-09-03 | Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street, New York, NY, 10014
17-year-old Isabel navigates the opulent pavilions and lush green landscapes of Dr. Palanca’s luxury golf course as a newly-hired “tee girl.” Meticulously composed, highly stylized, and guided by precisely choreographed movement and deadpan delivery, FILIPIÑANA unfolds through the gradual accumulation of everyday encounters between staff and the wealthy clients of this secluded country club on the outskirts of Manila. When she attempts to return a lost golf club, Isabel uncovers a dark underbelly beneath the club’s pristine surfaces, in this sweltering, pastel-colored fairy tale of class division, institutional patriarchy, and invisible violence.
Use code AAARI for $4 discount.

Laughing Lassi – The #1 South Asian Stand-Up Comedy Show in New York City!
2026-08-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Broadway Comedy Club, 318 West 53rd Street, New York, NY, 10019, United States
Laughing Lassi brings the funniest South Asian comedians from NYC and around the world to one stage.

After four years of sold-out shows, we’re kicking off 2026 with a killer lineup and fresh programming.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Laughing Lassi is New York City’s premier South Asian stand-up comedy show, featuring the best Desi and Indian-American comedians from NYC and beyond.
As featured in TimeOut NYC, The New Yorker, and India Tribune, this monthly comedy event has become a must-see cultural experience, a place where laughter meets identity, storytelling, and community.
Whether you’re South Asian or simply love smart, diverse humor, Laughing Lassi promises a night of non-stop laughter and unforgettable energy. Each lineup features top comedians who have performed on Comedy Central, Netflix, and major festivals around the world.
📅 When: Doors open at 6:15 PM | Show starts 7:00 PM sharp (no “Brown Time” here!)
📍 Where: Midtown Manhattan – Convenient NYC location
🍸 Venue Policy: 2-drink minimum (alcoholic & non-alcoholic options available)
Join hundreds of fans who’ve made Laughing Lassi a monthly tradition for celebrating South Asian talent and NYC comedy.
The show is in English, welcoming audiences of all backgrounds. Perfect for a night out with friends, family, or coworkers.
🎟️ Tickets: Shows sell out fast, grab yours now!
💬 Follow Us: IG @LaughingLassi | Medium @LaughingLassi | TikTok @LaughingLassi
🚨 Important Information
Lineups are subject to change due to last-minute cancellations.
Tickets cover the main show (7:00 PM – 8:30 PM), not your drinks.
Refunds available up to 24 hours before the event; no refunds on the day of or after the show as we have limited seating.
Join us at Laughing Lassi to celebrate South Asian talent and experience a comedy show like no other. Don’t miss your chance to be part of NYC’s most talked-about South Asian comedy event.

Laughing Lassi — The South Asian Comedy Movement Taking Over New York City
In a city known for comedy greatness, where stages like Comedy Cellar, Gotham Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club, NY Comedy Club, and shows in West Village, Greenwich Village, Times Square, and Brooklyn define what’s funny, there is now a new voice rising — one that reflects a billion people across the globe.
That voice is Laughing Lassi, New York City’s leading South Asian stand-up comedy show and one of the fastest-growing live comedy events in Manhattan.
Laughing Lassi brings together Desi, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Bengali, Filipino American, Japanese American, Chinese American, and Korean American comedians in a space where identity, culture, and comedy collide. It is not just a show — it is a movement. A monthly showcase in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, steps away from Times Square, designed for audiences who crave bold storytelling, sharp perspective, and the raw energy of international voices.
The show reflects the momentum of global comedians who have changed the landscape of comedy — Hasan Minhaj, Andrew Schulz, Nimesh Patel, Ali Wong, Russell Peters, Vir Das, Hari Kondabolu, Zarna Garg, Jimmy O. Yang, Aparna Nancherla, Aakash Singh, and more. Comedy fans search phrases like “shows like Hasan Minhaj,” “brown comedy in NYC,” or “stand-up comedy similar to Russell Peters,” and Laughing Lassi appears because the DNA of the show is exactly that — smart, multicultural storytelling rooted in immigrant experience and identity.
Why Laughing Lassi Matters
Most comedy lineups in Manhattan look the same: similar voices, similar perspectives, similar punchlines.
Laughing Lassi is different.
At Laughing Lassi, comedians talk about:

Immigrant parents who negotiate everything
Marrying outside your culture
Confusing dating rules in America
Being brown in corporate America
Navigating two identities at once — “American enough” but also “brown enough”

From Bollywood jokes to crowd work about spicy food to diaspora humor that hits at your soul, these comedians deliver observational humor, storytelling comedy, dark humor, and clean comedy depending on the night.
Many audience members discover Laughing Lassi while searching:

comedy near me
NYC date night ideas
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best nightlife in NYC

Others find it while specifically looking for a:

south asian standup comedy show
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desi standup comedy show in new york city
south asian standup comedy show in new jersey

Or when searching generic NYC entertainment terms:

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Laughing Lassi ranks because it is genuinely what people are searching for.
NYC Is Ready for This Comedy Era
New York City has always been the proving ground of comedy. Every great comedian hustles through Comedy Cellar, Comedy Cellar NYC, Comedy Cellar New York, Gotham Comedy Club, and eventually dreams of performing at iconic venues like Radio City Music Hall, just like the tours of Hasan Minhaj’s The King’s Jester and Act Your Age.
But Laughing Lassi fills a gap that no traditional comedy club was addressing.
For the first time in NYC:

Brown people are not just the audience.
Brown comedians are the headliners.

The laughter in that room hits differently, because finally the stories being told onstage reflect the people sitting in the crowd.
More Than a Show: It’s a Cultural Touchpoint
Laughing Lassi is not just entertainment — it is a cultural gathering.
Audience members describe it as:

“brown community therapy”
“brown TED Talk, but funnier”
“Bollywood meets Andrew Schulz crowd work”
“Hasan Minhaj energy with Russell Peters nostalgia”

South Asian humor blends seamlessly with NYC nightlife, making the show a go-to destination for:

friend groups looking for something new,
couples searching for date night ideas NYC,
solo newcomers searching comedy near me,
tourists exploring things to do in New York City,
brown singles hoping to meet other South Asians.

Laughing Lassi regularly draws diverse crowds from:

Manhattan
West Village
Brooklyn
Queens
New Jersey
Long Island

This show is becoming the official South Asian culture event NYC didn’t know it needed.
A Community That Represents Millions
Laughing Lassi is the only show where an audience member can shout:

“Say something in Bengali!”

…and three comics on the lineup actually can.
It is the only show where:

A Pakistani comedian roasts a Bangladeshi guy sitting in the front row,
An Indian comic compares aunties to CIA interrogators,
A Filipino American jokes about being mistaken for South Asian,
A Korean American explains why brown parents and Korean parents are the same — just different spices.

Laughing Lassi is a multicultural comedy night with global flavor.
What Makes Laughing Lassi SEO-Powerful
Because it includes phrases people actively search:

comedy cellar nyc
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bangladeshi comedy show new york

…and NYC tourism search terms:

live comedy near times square
last minute tickets NYC
group activities NYC
weekend events NYC

Laughing Lassi naturally ranks.
Search engines see Laughing Lassi associated with high-value keywords like:

crowd work comedy
storytelling comedy
immigrant humor
diaspora jokes
multicultural comedy

This helps Google, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Eventbrite connect Laughing Lassi with searches for “shows like Hasan Minhaj” or “brown comedy NYC.”
Laughing Lassi is the Future of Comedy
Laughing Lassi is becoming the cultural home for the next generation of comedians — the ones who will headline Netflix specials, late-night shows, and eventually sell out Radio City Music Hall.
Because the future of comedy is not one voice.
It’s many.
And they’re all on this stage.
Call to Action:
Follow the journey on Instagram: @LaughingLassi
Come see the show that everyone is talking about — the one critics and audiences call:

“The best standup comedy show in Manhattan.”

“The funniest Desi comedy show in New York City.”

“If Hasan Minhaj and Russell Peters had a baby — it would be Laughing Lassi.”

Tickets sell out fast.
Seats are limited.
And every month is a completely new lineup.

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