Food, Art, and Music of the World offered at the Edmonds Historical Museum this Saturday, May 24

If you visit the Edmonds Historical Museum this Saturday, May 24, from 9am to 2pm, the world will be there to greet you--and feed you, and sing for you.

At 10:30, you will be treated to bites of mango sticky rice, egg rolls, tapioca dumplings, and pastries made by Mai Tran, her son, Dat, and her partner, Anh Nguyen from Rise and Shine Bakery.

You will also hear the story of how Mai persevered time and again after moving here from Vietnam until finally gaining ground and a strong, faithful following at her current Edmonds restaurant.

And you'll get to visit with T&T Seafood Restaurant owners Tony Mann and Theresa Lam, both ethnically Chinese from Vietnam, as you taste their famous sesame balls.

Between 10:00 and noon, you'll have the opportunity to talk with Shoreline CC student Jesus Ruiz, about how his art tells the story of losing both his American mother to death and his Mexican father to deportation at a very young age.

At 11:00 and noon, you'll hear sets by singer/songwriter Jess Pillay, the daughter of Indo-Fijian immigrants.

And at 1:00, you'll have the opportunity to talk to Kenyan artist James Kiare, who sought political asylum here after facing threats to his life while attempting to run for political office in his home country.

All of these people are featured in the museum's new exhibit “An Immigrant History of Edmonds," honoring the diverse cultural heritage of Edmonds and the significant contributions immigrants have made to shape our community into what it is today.

The exhibit will feature personal stories, photographs, and artifacts from the early settlers who arrived from Scandinavia and Japan to more recent immigrants from Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

“This exhibit is about more than history — it’s about connection,” explains curator Polly Yorioka. “We’re sharing real stories from real people who’ve made this community home. As Edmonds is growing, changing, and drawing people from around the world, my dream was to share these stories--and to get to know community members along the way."

Also featured:

City Council member and accountant Will Chen, born in Canton, China, Benji and Ian Rose Parilla from the Philippines, Raja Shahzad, the Pakistani owner of Caravan Kebab, Robert Ha, founder of the Asian Service Center, Amure Quirino, an Edmonds nurse born in South Sudan and raised in a refugee camp in Uganda, Ingrid Osterhaug, born in Nazi Germany to an Ashkenazi Jewish family that fled to China, the UK, and then to the United States, and Genesis Rojas of Rinconcito Peruano Restaurant.

What else will heal this world of ours other than food, art, music, and stories? Come and be a part of this special day to celebrate those who have brought such rich depth to our community.

To experience the virtual exhibit, please visit www.animmigranthistoryofedmonds.com, also available on May 24.

Edmonds Historical Museum, 118 5th Ave N, Edmonds, WA. Free with suggested $5 donation

(425) 774-0900

Email: info@historicedmonds.org Website: www.historicedmonds.org