Julie Kim
#SPOTTED: SIMU LIU, JEREMY LIN, KIM LEE, CHARLES MELTON, RONNY CHIENG + MORE IN TORONTO FOR 2022 CCYAA CELEBRITY CLASSIC
It was one for the books as the second CCYAA (Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association) Celebrity Classic powered by Virgin Plus, took place last night at the University of Toronto‘s Goldring Centre! Headlined by and featuring guest appearances by the likes of Simu Liu and NBA star Jeremy Lin, Comedian Ronny Chieng, Comedian Hasan Minhaj, Bling Empire star Kim Lee, Shang-Chi star Meng’er Zhang and more, the weekend was highlighted by a series of events leading up to the match. The event raises funds for the Jeremy Lin Foundation and the CCYAA’s new Community Centre.
Among the festivities this weekend were three Comedy Shows at Yuk Yuk’s with Comedian Julie Kim headlining. Kim recently wrote the Script for the JUNOS, hosted by Liu, and is confirmed for the upcoming Just for Laughs Festival! There also was a Youth Jam held at Goldring Centre, plus a four-day vendor Festival, FRESH FEST, at indoor Asian Night Market, SUPERFRESH in the Annex. For one day only, popular California Bubble Tea Chain BOPOMOFE CAFE did a pop-up shop which saw at one point, a 90-minute queue outside the hotspot.
As expected, Lin strut his stuff at the tournament, not to be outshined by Content Creator Mike Wu, whom many were saying deserved MVP! Fans went wild seeing up-close and personal some of their Asian-Canadian/American idols!
We were out and about and so thrilled to get to meet some of the stars in-town for the affair celebrating North American Asian Excellence.
See who we spotted, with a little help from beanie!
This event is amazing and hoping in coming years it remains an annual thing! So important to celebrate the accomplishments of this Community!
Learn more about it here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SPOTTED: JULIE KIM AT TORONTO’S COMEDY BAR
It’s been years since we’ve enjoyed some live Comedy! Scarborough’s Julie Kim continues to make waves in Comedy and Toronto was so lucky to get her back for two shows tonight on her current Tour, after having supported Funnyman Ronny Chieng on his Hope You Get Rich Tour. Though she’s based now in Vancouver, Kim‘s ties to Toronto continue to remain strong and she’s currently working closely with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu, as he hosts the Juno Awards in the City next month.
For those who aren’t familiar with Kim‘s Comedy, she looks at motherhood, marriage and also more so of late, race relations being a mother of a bi-racial daughter. She delivers a set that is unfiltered, hilarious and relatable, often poking fun at men and other women who are judgmental.
Kim headlined her own show at Comedy Bar on Bloor West, filling the club for two shows tonight – one at 7 PM and one at 9 PM. She worked the room, building to a crescendo. She ponders her life has a mother, whether it be breastfeeding, or her choice to “save the v” by doing the “c”, a Caesarian section. She admits she never thought much about race much growing-up, but this been on her mind of late as we group people by terms like “Person of Colour” or “BIPOC”, plus also seeing that many of her daughter’s classmates like her are bi-racial. She also makes funny observations about the “fetishization” of Asian women by white men.
Kim‘s ability to storytell is her strongest suit and in addition to being a sharp Comedian with a great command of the stage, her writing also is tight and edited. Inasmuch as the people in the front tables get picked-on a lot, we’re sure they love being in on the joke.
She was supported by some up-and-coming Canadian talent including Marito Lopez, who had the crowd cackling as he jokes about being a Latino Comedian from Calgary, and the height difference between his girlfriend and him, proclaiming himself a “Short King”.
Charles Demers emceed the night, the JUNO-nominated Comedian joking about being outnumbered by gay men in in his family and also being married to a Chinese-Canadian wife, something Kim wanted him to share seeing that some of her Comedy is inspired by her interracial marriage also.
Toronto’s Joe Vu also supported, reflecting on his experiences as an Asian man trying to date outside his race, with humour.
And there were some very special guests in the audience tonight, including Run the Burbs and Kim’s Convenience‘s Andrew Phung, plus also Meng’er Zhang who stars in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Zhang has just been announced to star in THE WITCHER as Milv, a Huntress with great skills in Archery. She is a good friend of Kim‘s! What a treat!
Learn more about Julie Kim‘s Comedy here, including her videos on YouTube which have garnered over 20+ million views.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SPOTTED: RONNY CHIENG X JULIE KIM IN TORONTO FOR “HOPE YOU GET RICH” TOUR
Funnyman Ronny Chieng has become a staple of the Just for Laughs circuit and tonight he brought his HOPE YOU GET RICH Tour to Toronto at Massey Hall! Despite losing his luggage, he was able to pull together a sharp outfit from Uniqlo (he tells me) at Eaton Centre, just in time for tonight’s gig before a packed house.
Chieng got a huge boost starring in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021 as Jon Jon and it was just announced his new Comedy Special – only his second ever – SPEAK EASY will arrive April 5, 2022 on Netflix! The Special promises more of this The Daily Show Correspondent’s hot takes on things like the Pandemic, Cancel Culture and more! Chieng can be seen in upcoming Features M3GAN alongside Allison Williams and Joah Jordan‘s Helvellyn Edge.
Such a joy meeting him and Supporting Act, two-time Canadian Comedy Award winner, Toronto’s own Julie Kim who is touring with Chieng. Learn more about her here.
..,and how is this for a surprise? Meng’er Zhang, who played Xialng in Shang-Chi also came out to Toronto to show support!
When you scroll to the left and realize that’s another Cast member of SHANG-CHI! Nice to see you Meng’er Zhang! pic.twitter.com/TP05i4qzmn
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 20, 2022
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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