In a blink of an eye, April showers have brought May flowers! May has been declared Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage month in the US and many celebrations and events take place all over the country. May was chosen as it is when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the US in 1873. Here are some fun and educational ways to celebrate the Asian American and Pacific Islander culture at home or in and around Austin…
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- Read a children’s book featuring Asian characters.
- Watch a movie featuring Asian characters like Moana, Raya, or this lesser known gem- The Tiger’s Apprentice.
- Research an Asian country and discuss the culture, landmarks, and food. We are currently obsessed with Korea ( skincare for the tween girls) and Japan ( sushi, anime, and Pokemon).
- Speaking of food, explore Austin’s Asian food scene. In attempt to be short which is a challenge when it comes to talking about food, I will share our family recommendations:
- Visit HMart’s food hall for selection of goodies. We also love picking up mochi from the frozen food section of the grocery store.
- Boba Tea- delicious tea or slushies with boba are always a hit. Family favorite is Teapioca, but you can find many options all around town.
- OMG Squee for their cute mochi donuts. Bonus, these treats are gluten-free. Recommend getting there early for the best selection.
- Soupleaf Hotpot– for a unique experience that is over 2000 years old try the hotpot here. This is an All You Can Eat, pick your broth, noodles, proteins, veggie and sauce and be your own cook experience. I’d also be remiss if I did not mention that the kids love the self-serve ice cream machine. Not recommended for young ones that can’t feed themselves, because this is a highly DIY experience.
- Enjoy dim sum where the servers roll carts around and you pick out what you want. These are few and far between in Austin these days, but New Fortune 2 reopened in a new location and serves dim sum via carts on the weekends.
- Attend the CelebASIA fest at the Asian American Resource Center on May 18 and explore art, dance, and food from a variety of Asian cultures.
- See the Summit Lion Dance team perform at the Austin FC game on May 18th, for a double dose of entertainment. The Summit Lion Dance team never disappoints and if you have never seen them before- check them out here
- Celebrate at the Austin Central library on May 19th, with dragons, puppets, lei making and more.
I hope you and your family enjoy celebrating APIA heritage month with some of these family friendly options!
