Asian Sites and Sounds in Chicago

Whether you are a Koreaboo, an old school hallyu fan, or someone who simply appreciates Asian culture, Chicago is full of opportunities to explore and learn about Eastern Asian Culture.  If you’re in the Windy City to catch one, or both of BTS’ shows at Soldier Field, take some time to explore some of the different Asian-cultural sites and sounds that the city has to offer.

(First- please read Sherri Molen’s amazing list of ‘The Top Ten Korean Things to Do in Chicago’ including Korean karaoke and more.)

Chinatown

Although it’s known as ‘Chinatown’ – the area near Cermak Road and Wentworth Rd is a hot pot of Asian culture. Here you’ll find some of the best Asian restaurants in the city, along with stores selling Chinese spices and other household items.

(Pro-tip: For the cheapest parking go to the Chinatown North Parking Lot, 2001 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, it's only $2 for the first 3-hours if get your ticket validated at one of the Chinatown businesses).

Need to kill a few hours? Hang out at the Chinatown Branch of the Chicago public library, take advantage of the free wi-fi, and if you’re lucky, maybe someone will pink away on the piano downstairs for some nice background music.

If gaming is your thing, you can check out the Pie Internet Café. Delicious food is available to order while you play.

Your GPS will likely take you to the main Chinatown streets, near Armour Square – but the main hub will be the Chinatown Square outdoor mall. (To find it, search for Pie Internet Cafe or Daebak Korean BBQ in your preferred navigation app).

To jam out to K-pop videos while you eat, check out DaebakKorean BBQ. You’ll want to plan ahead, because it gets packed during BTS weekend. Use Yelp’s waitlist to skip part of the line. Finish your meal with a sweet treat and head over to Joy Yee Plus for a delicious waffle sundae, boba smoothie or instagrammable tea.

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Chinatown is also hometown to K-Pop of Chinatown, Chicago’s only full-size K-pop store. The store is a K-pop fans dream and is filled with unofficial merch from your favorite idols. Stickers, light sticks, face masks, post-its, mugs, sock, and hard to find CDs are all under one roof. Some reviews say the staff is rude, but if you respect them, they will respect you. You will be asked to put your bag by a shelf at the front door.

For one of the best Korean food experiences in Chicago, I highly recommend Dancen restaurant. The food is delicious and will be cooked right in front of you by your waiter. K-pop will also pour from the speakers while you eat.

Museums/Cultural Centers

The Heritage Museum of Asian Art, showcases a wide range of art forms, spanning many cultures and time periods of Asia. Admission is also free during the month of May in celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month.

You can also check out the Chinese American Museum of Chicago.

The Art Institute of Chicago also has an extensive collection of Asian art, with 35,000 pieces spanning nearly five millennia from China, Japan, Korea and beyond.

Grocery Store

Joong Boo is one of the area’s largest Asian grocery stores. Stock up on some of the cheapest soju in Chicago, grab some hottaek mix, snacks and green tea lattes for your drive home. They have a delicious Snack Corner that’s perfect if you’re looking for authentic Korean food, including noodles or sundae (sausage).

Wkpop

If you're around Sunday night and not going to the show at Soldier Field, check out Wkpop's dance classes. 

Garden of the Phoenix

Known as the Garden of the Phoenix, this portion of the Jackson Park's Wooded Island symbolizes the mutual respect between the U.S. and Japan. The Cherry Blossoms are expected to be at their peak during the first two weeks of May. 

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Did I leave anything out? Share your favorite Asian cultural spots in the comments below.

Am I Asian? The answer is...

The 23andme results are in. What did they say?

Am I Asian? Or the secret wish #23andme

I’ve been asked ‘Where are you from?’ more times than I can count. Really they were asking, “You look foreign. Are you Asian/Chinese?’ I’ve always had 2 standard answers, “I have no idea. I’m adopted,” and if I felt sarcastic – ‘Dallas.’

Every time someone asked, my heart would squeeze a little. I was afraid too afraid to admit- I wanted to know where I belonged. For 30+ years I’ve longed to know why my top eyelids curve more than the average American. I’ve wanted there to be a reason why my hair is jet black and my eyes are dark brown. I didn’t want it to be random.

My desire manifested itself throughout my life. In middle school Biology I was obsessed with Punnett Squares – the little diagrams that determine what the chances of a child inheriting a trait or gene. My birth mother had dark blonde/light brown hair, so I knew my biological father likely carried the dark hair gene in order for me to turn out the way I did.

I also made a game of deciding if people looked more like their moms or their dads. When I first met my in-laws I was blown away by how much my husband’s siblings looked alike. My now siblings have entertained my discussions of their looks for over 9 years.

I’ve also been drawn to Asian characters in pop culture my entire life. For example, when they were younger, most girls probably identified with Kimberly, the Pink Power Ranger. I was instead drawn to Trini, played by Vietnamese actress Thuy Trang. I thought she was beautiful and strong. There are plenty of examples beyond that, and it would mean a lot to me if I had a deeper connection to it than just enjoying the culture.

So – I finally decided it was time. After seeing some of my favorite YouTube personalities receive their #23andme results (here’s looking to you Jen Ruggirello and Eugene Lee Yang, (both of whom are of Asian descent), I took the plunge. My heart is racing just thinking about it. In just a short month I will finally know where I am from.

I so desperately want to be Asian, and to believe that one of the biggest desires of my heart could come true, but why admit it before I see the results? What if they come back completely different? I’m tired of waiting – and maybe you’re tired of waiting for something as well. We all have a hope we’re carrying around in our back pocket, and it’s time to let that dream breathe.

3 Questions I Wish People Didn't Ask About Adoption

I am adopted.

Adoption isn't a topic that naturally comes up in conversation, but I haven't made a secret of it either in my life. It's part of my identity. It feels natural, like it's part of my very DNA. I have no idea what it's like to be born and raised by my biological parents.

Kids are curious beings, and when anyone, acquaintances or random waiters at Chili's (yes, really) found out I was adopted they felt that it was okay to ask whatever was on their minds. Just like you shouldn't ask a married couple if they want to have kids because you don't know if they're struggling to conceive, there are some things that can feel like invasions of privacy to an adopted child.

Below I've compiled a list of 3 questions that (IMHO) you shouldn't ask an adopted person unless you know them really, really well.

1. Do you know your REAL parents?

My response was always, "Yes, my Mom and Dad." Inevitably, it would always be followed by, "No, I mean your REAL parents." Kids are trying to figure out who they are, and their identity is tied to their family. The only thing I cared about is that the parents who raised me are my family. Don't assume that someone has an open adoption and knows who there biological parents are.

2. Will you ever look up your birth parents?

This is a deeply personal issue. Some adopted children will be open about wanting to find their biological parents. For me, it was never super important when I was a kid. I lived in a happy, love filled home, and had no desire to learn anything else. This can, and will most likely, change with time. But as a kid, every time I was asked this question and said, "No," I felt like something was wrong with me, that I should feel differently.

3. Where were you adopted from?/Are you Asian?

AKA - 'Are you Chinese?' I can't count the number of times I have been asked this question, including one memorable time by a waiter at a Chili's in rural Kentucky. He knew one of the friends I was with, but still felt like it was okay to ask someone he had just met about their ethnic background.

I get it. My skin is pale, but I have dark brown hair, brown eyes and slight curve to my upper eyelids. I may look ambiguously ethnic, but that doesn't mean it's appropriate to ask about my background, or that I'm comfortable at all with that question.

I try to respect the privacy of friends that have adopted from foreign countries. I can tell just by looking that their beautiful children are probably from outside of the U.S., but it should be their decision to share their story. Their adoption story may have been filled with rough spots, and it's up to them if they want to be reminded of that journey.

I am proud to be adopted. I am blessed to have grown up in a family full of love. But now, as an adult who is trying to figure out my place in this world, I wish that I had been treated differently by people who barely knew me growing up. I was more than happy to share my personal story with those close to me. It was those who barely knew me that always threw me off.

Thought for Sunday June 28th

When I'm on a budget, it's easier for me to splurge on other people than to spend money on myself.

Today was my Dad's birthday, and I can say I went outside of my budget getting his presents. (On top of his big gift, I spent about $14 running around to various seedy gas stations and buying the pink coconut Sno Ball desserts he likes). Hahah. And yet I will spend *weeks* debating the best time to order that used book off of Amazon that I really want. And you know what? I'm happy about that. The money I make isn't mine...it's been given to me from God. And I love using the little bit I have to put a smile on somebody else's face. There are times when I regret how selfish and self-serving I can be, so when I find these times when I realize I am capable of reaching outside of myself, I thank God for giving me wisdom.

A Thought for Every Day

Do you ever have those moments when you realize something kind of profound about life, and really want to share them with someone? Have you ever stumbled upon something cool that you think someone else could get a kick out of? Or, do you stumble upon random facts but there's no one around that would understand where you're coming from? After too many of those revelations, I decided to share them here, and create a blog based around 'A Thought for Every Day'. It's like twitter, only with substance.

This is NOT an orginal day. My friend Rebekah is chronicling her summer by taking a picture that represents each day. So, I'm just reimagining her idea.

Okay...so first thought of the day:

One of my biggest passions in life is to see my friends dreams come true.

I love seeing people I know succeed. I love sharing their excitement about getting an interview, choosing a major, getting picked for the leadership position they've prayed over, or being hired for that first job. To see prayer's be answered is a beautiful thing. Celebrating something rewarding is a GREAT feeling.

Post-College Faith

The other day as I walked out the door past my Bible, I thought to myself ,"Why is it so hard for my faith to grow now that I'm out of school? It was so easy at ______ (insert any Christian college name here." Then, I realized I struggled to ready my Bible then as much as I do now. My faith grew stronger in college because of mandatory chapel three times a week. It had nothing to do with my own personal choices.

Reading the Word has always been something I'll do 'whenever' I get through the busy stages of life. I'll read after this project is over. I'll have more time in the summer. After I get my job and move away. But after you get that first job, there's no more guaranteed next step. Nothing coming around the bend that I have to prepare for before I move on. In all reality I'm in a place where I will stay for a few years. So I had no more excuses.

Last week I started reading a chapter of the Bible before I went to bed. And I know it's cliched, but it's made a difference. I'm reading through Revelation right now, and there are definitely some things to ponder in that chapter. I can already tell reading the Word has effected my everyday life. I think about scripture more during the day, and I definitely pray more when conflict comes up in life.

So here I am, probably trying to grow for the first time in my life. And I feel stronger.