Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated each May and the North Shore has events throughout May for those looking to celebrate.
Evanston
May 11: Umbrella Arts Festival – Come celebrate Asian American art, food, music and culture at the fourth annual Umbrella Arts Festival in downtown Evanston at Fountain Square. Admission is free. Saturday, May 11 from noon to 4 p.m.
May 19: DIY Japanese Woodblock Prints – Popular during the Edo period (1615 – 1868), colorful woodblock prints, known as ukiyo-e, depicted scenes from everyday Japan. Create your own woodblock print, whether you take inspiration from the Edo period style or your own imagination! This activity is open to all ages, no registration is required. All ages. Sunday, May 19, 2 – 3:30 pm, Robert Crown Branch. Register online at evanston.libnet.info.
May 23: A Traditional Chinese Tea Demonstration. According to Confucianism, the art of tea is as much transformative on an introspective level as it is on a ceremonial level. Engage in the ritual of tea handling, teaware function and identification, and proper tea steeping with Yvonne Wolf. Yvonne will offer two types of tea tastings, including one non-caffeinated option. Part of our Art for Older Adults series. Thursday, May 23, 11:00am – 12:30 pm, Robert Crown Branch. Register online at evanston.libnet.info.
May 26: Japanese Calligraphy (shodō). 書道, or shodō is a form of calligraphy that is backed by thousands of years of history. This class is presented by The Japanese Cultural Center of Chicago, an organization dedicated to sharing Japan’s rich culture with the public. This class is appropriate for those 16+. All supplies are provided and space is limited. Registration is required. Sunday, May 26, 1 – 2:30 pm, Robert Crown Branch. Register online at evanston.libnet.info.
May 29: The Placemaking Project. Asian Americans have been living in the Evanston area since the 1800’s yet there are no records, documents, or artifacts that mark their existence much less their contributions to the city’s development and growth over the years. The Placemaking Project seeks to uncover the stories that have been lost and to record the ones that exist today in an effort to prevent the cultural erasure that threatens the Asian American community across the country and in our own backyard. Wednesday, May 29, 12 – 1:00 pm, Robert Crown Branch. Register online at evanston.libnet.info.
Wilmette
May 16: K-Pop Party – Celebrate all things K-pop with crafts, random dances, karaoke, trivia, and more at the Wilmette Public Library on May 16 from 7 to 7:45 p.m. Open to grades 5 through 12. Register online at wilmette.libnet.info.
May 16: An Introduction to the Japanese Garden – Learn about the symbolism, aesthetics and meaning behind Japanese gardens as part of the Wilmette Public Library’s Focus on Japan series. Examples will include exhibits from the Chicago Botanic Garden among others. Stop by on May 16 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
May 18: Mandarin-English Bilingual Storytime – The entire family can stop by the Wilmette Public Library for stories, songs, and fun in Mandarin and English presented by local educator Ling Liu on May 18 from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Register at wilmette.libnet.info.
May 19: The Chicago Koto Group Concert – Experience the music of The Chciago Koto Group as they play the traditional Japanese instrument. The koto is a plucked half-tube zither instrument and is the national instrument of Japan. Check it out on May 19 from 2 to 3 p.m.
May 23: Walking Book Club Discussion for Older Adults – Join the group and discuss “The Swimmers: A Novel by Julie Otsuka” with a 45 minute walk around Wilmette. The event is open to all but registration at wilmette.libnet.info is required. The walk begins at 10 a.m. on May 23.
