APA Toy Drive at the Japanese American National Museum

“17th annual”, so I guess they’ve been doing this a while, hahaha. Well, this is the first time I’ve been, and luckily my friend Dominique clued me in because I had no clue.

Not only did I go, but I hit up several others friends (Sharon, Hans, Lilee and Kero One, thanks for coming down. BTW KO, this could be an annual thing vs. every three years to check out). Since it was a charity event, I thought I’d do my small contribution by getting several friends to come on down to the event.

In 2017, I assume they’ll be doing an 18th annual toy drive, so I thought I’d put this piece together so that you can come off like you’ve been going and supporting the cause for years. Now you can cite some of the things from the 2016 event.

The Toy Drive

Island Pacific the Filipino Supermarket was the title sponsor this year.

So who gets these toys? Low-income families in the Los Angeles Asian community do, and they get these gifts when you contribute either $20 (or more, yea you can donate more) or bring in a toy(s) worth at least $20. I was tempted to go out and buy something, but I know I would have kept it (like an Attack on Titan Mikasa action figure), so I stuck with cash.

In the Year 2000

The first toy drive was way back in 2000 when the people of Earth were facing imminent doom from electronic calendars not being able to comprehend a 1999 transition to 2000. Somehow with that looming over, the organizers were still able to put together this event.

The event is made up and was founded by lawyers (don’t let that scare you in wanting to go because they seemed harmless), so majority of the orginizations seem to be all similarly related such as APALC, KABA, APWC, AYC, CPAF, just to name a few.

The Food

The food was provided by a mix of small restaurants, chains, caterers, to manufacturers.

Exciting photography like this comes easy because it that shot isn’t great.

Surprisingly enough I liked the salad amongst all the items at the event… maybe I was having a salad kind of day, or it was that good. After all Feast from the East (1949 Westwood Blvd, LA) has been open for more than 35 years.

Minus all the sexual innuendo by Starry Kitchen with their signage or Mr. Banana dude offering up his balls, these saucy slathered balls were tasty and were meant to be gobbled down on like any well produced Bang Bro’s video. Although the table partner, Boo’s must have ran out of their Philly cheesesteaks which I didn’t get to try. I wish I got to try them since the owners were Jersey’ites, but now they’re straight out fixtures of LA.

Who would have thought a kimchi gumbo would be good which is one good reason for these events. If it weren’t for this event, I wouldn’t have heard or known about the Food Laboratory (LA based) which is in their words “Our mission is to inspire people to support communities who face food insecurity and nutrition inequality, while always fighting for equity in health.” If you want to find out more or get involved, go to their website cookinglaboratory.org.

Don’t you love people who love the camera which is one reason to check out Chado Tea. They have 3 locations (one inside the JANM), and they also sell online.

Brewyard dudes are like yea you can’t double fist drinks, but you can keep coming back.

I love to drink, so I made frequent visits to Emil, and I think Jason who was working the Brewyard taps. They quickly ran out of a couple of the beers they had offered, so that you’d have to visit their Glendale micro-brewery – I must do that after getting a taste.

The Rest of the Image Gallery

Very friendly and great staff (Halal Guys)

Get my drink on n’ my smoke on…. smoke meat everyday (aka Snoop Dogg.. or is it Snoop Lion)

I should have taken one, but by the time I wanted to, they packed up because who wants to lug around a brick of tofu?

the line-up including one of their new products

wasn’t down for a sammich for dinner, so I didn’t get a taste

high ISO, slow shutter speed, and a mediocre shot

They not only served up salad, but chicken wings too which were done perfectly

DId I mention you should enoy their balls in your mouth.

I think there’s a spot right next door to the museum

Ok, I got New Moon Mixed up with Far Bar, but Far Bar is next door.

bust out a flash to get that shot of that BBQ

after guzzling down a couple beers, I didn’t bother to try and find out what this was. Wild guess, toasted rice over something… yea something

Ok got it with the inuendo… balls in your mouth, and they weren’t salty

This is how you do it! They have where they’re located because they’re not just thinking about just showing up at the event

so that must be the furikake and the shrimp

This was a kim chi gumbo!?! Was not expecting this to be good

but I had to try it because I love Southern food which is why I serve it during the holidays

“RIGGED”, hahaha, I joke! Nice Dom, you would win.

I was wondering who in the world is the “Cooking Laboratory”

Who We Have to Thank

APA Event Website

APA Toy Drive event website

Title Sponsor

Island Pacific Supermarket: Islands in the pacific? So you’re thinking Hawaii, but this is actually a Filipino Supermarket that I’ve been to a couple times to pick up some snacks and a slab of tocino for my topsilog.

Gold Sponsors

Co-Sponsors

Beverage Sponsors:

Johnnie Walker
Crown Royal
Brewyard, 906 Western Ave, Glendale, CA

Food Sponsors

I had to throw in the address because there’s nothing I can’t stand more is to visit a business at an event, and they simply don’t have any follow up information such as where they’re located.