Commentary
East West
- by Fern Siegel , March 7, 2007
Moreover, eating Chinese food is a longstanding Jewish tradition. I've yet to find a restaurant in Chinatown that doesn't have a photo of former mayor Ed Koch, arms extended, in his
famous "How am I doing?" pose. Like Moses, he raised his hands to the heavens, but while the former brought down the Ten Commandments, Koch settled for moo goo gai pan. Apparently, it's all in the
wrist.
Or in the ads.
We open with a double-spread just before the table of contents. The advertiser is Indie Finds, which offers slick accessories -- Ravish perfume, handbags, etc. But what's great is the Eastern tie-in -- a lotus checkbook cover, parasol pocket mirror or -- my fave -- mah jong earings. In the 1930s and '40s, Jewish women of a certain age played mah jong with the same ferocity chronicled in "The Joy Luck Club." This is what we call a cross-cultural platform -- with built-in fashion élan.
And that's the point of East West, which smartly positions each section -- news, features, food -- with a decidedly Eastern flair. And most of the writers, save a few, are of Asian heritage, too. Even the horoscope is via your Chinese astrological sign.
In short, the 3-year-old EW works, neatly blending East/West experiences for a targeted readership.
As someone who counts the weekend wasted if she doesn't visit Chinatown, I was struck by the story "On the Streets of Hainan," which takes readers on a culinary journey through China's only tropical province. It carries, among other delicacies, turtle soup, reputed to increase longevity. Personally, I'm too afraid Social Security will be history when I ripen to look forward to an extended run. Unless, of course, my annuities pay off. Otherwise, my broker will get a non-filleted fish wrapped in a cheap vest, a la "Godfather." According to the movie, that's also an effective cultural message, though a decidedly Western one.
But I digress.
Let's regroup with the "We Like" section, where the mag's editors look for interesting products. It opens with a mint martini, since several mint species hail from Asia. It may be a stretch, but so what? There is much to be said for a gentle buzz. Sometimes, it's the best way to digest the more serious aspects of life, such as the ongoing work of the Asia Society, complete with a $100 million global expansion plan.
Vishakha N. Desai, the scholar who heads it, explains its mission in the 21st century. For openers, she notes it doesn't just help "Caucasians better understand China and India." It also helps "Asians in the region better understand their neighbors." Given the emergence of China and India as global powers, these are key concerns.
So is the story on the emergence of Asian American actors on TV, such as Masi Oka on "Heroes," Sandra Oh on "Grey's Anatomy," Ravi Kapoor on "Crossing Jordan." Once relegated to small or stereotypical roles, actors of Asian descent are moving to the forefront. The progress is incremental, but the increase of diversity in film and TV is a plus.
Admittedly, I'm partial to the Big Apple section, which features everything from the city's South Asian art scene to Eastern-inspired spa treatments -- what I would call the head-to-toe experience. A don't-miss: the new MoCa, the Museum of Chinese in the Americas, a super sleek structure by architect Maya Lin that opens later this year. As for the "Spa and the City" offerings, sign me up. The ginseng herbal facial with triple-phase peel is 100 minutes and $175. There is only so much daily maintenance a working woman can do. Why not lie back, smile and let the pros have a go. If the promise of "change of face" is real, eastward, ho.
EW clearly agrees. It celebrates the health of its community and champions its forward motion. L'chaim.
MAG STATS
Published by: EW Woman, LLC
Frequency: Bimonthly
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