Fasnacht is a yeast-raised potato pastry that is deep-fried like a doughnut. The name fastnacht is German for “fast night,” and the tradition of making them began with the Pennsylvania Dutch as a way to use up the lard, sugar, fat and butter that are forbidden during Lent.

My coworker got them from her local grocery store. She lives in Pennsylvania where the Dutch culture is still very prevalent. However, I don’t think they are common in stores located in the Washington, DC area, which is why this is my first time eating it.

The box of Fasnacht came in glazed, powered and plain. I grabbed the glazed, as that is my favorite type of doughnut. While the Fasnacht looks like a doughnut, its consistency is a lot thicker. To me, it tasted like coffee cake or King cake to make a Fat Tuesday reference.  In addition, I think it’s fascinating how a pastry can be made from potato starch instead of flour.

All in all Fasnacht is a tasty pastry. I just wonder if it is really a once a year treat. I’d love to try it again.

African braiding, a true art form, is just one type of hair expression that comes in various creations such as cornrows, twists and individual braids and that can be worn in different styles such as a French roll, updo or ponytail. For me it took five long hours to have my hair braided individually. However, through the restlessness of sitting that long, I enjoyed listening to the stylists speak in Twi, a Ghanaian dialect, and to lively African gospel music. For a moment, it felt like I was in another country until I felt two women tugging on my hair in opposite directions. Ouch!

Nowadays black women are not the only ones wearing African braids. African American men and women of other races, including Asian, Caucasian and Latino, are also sporting these styles.

The festival started March 27th and ends April 11th. It is a great way to celebrate the beginning of spring and to learn more about Japanese culture. If you can’t make it this year, consider a trip to DC next spring.

Romare Bearden, an African American artist, is known for his creative and textured collages through various photographic processes: etchings, aquatints, collagraphs, photo projections, lithographs and screenprints. Through his work, Bearden illustrated African American experiences, including slavery, civil rights, religion, love and jazz music.

Upon entering the museum, we learned that actors from the Arena Players, a renowned African-American regional theater, were performing excerpts from August Wilson plays to show the similarity in themes and universal relevance with Romare Bearden’s work. We came in on the end but were able to hear one song and two readings. The performances were well worth our visit, and we had yet to see the exhibit.

The Romare Bearden exhibit included 75 works and explained in detail how Bearden produced different art forms. It also relayed how many writers, including August Wilson, Langston Hughes and Toni Morrison, were inspired by Bearden’s work, which led them to used his artwork as the covers of their books.

Another added bonus to our museum visit was the Ulysses Marshall exhibit titled “Storytales.” This artist was also inspired by Bearden and produced mixed-media paintings that incorporated elements of collage and print-making. His work on display pays tribute to the sharecroppers, bluesmen, rural families and ancestral figures that form the continuum of African American experience.

If you are unfamiliar with Romare Bearden or Ulysses Marshall’s work, I encourage you to seek it out. Their works give beautiful and vivid illustrations of social and cultural issues facing the African American community.

In addition, the museum’s permanent exhibits focus on the history of the African American community in Maryland, including farming, politics, medicine, sports and education. There are interesting objects on display such as Dominique Dawes’ gymnastic leotard from the 1996 Olympics and medical tools used by Dr. Ben Carson.

If you are ever in Baltimore, definitely visit the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. It’s worth the trip.

Initially, I assumed the magazine would only give me a glimpse of the Hispanic culture and important issues to this community. However, beyond language, I did not recognize a major difference between this publication and other women’s magazines. There were stories on popular actors such as Sandra Bullok, Cameron Diaz and Laurence Fishburne; Italian designers; and musicians like Lady Gaga, Fergie, Rhianna and Gwen Stefani. Furthermore, featured articles included travel in Madrid, a 50-year timeline of top models and the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Lastly, the advertisements were similar to most magazines (e.g. Covergirl, Pantene and Downy), but the ads were written in Spanish and featured mostly women of color.

Through this experience, I was reminded to not judge a “magazine” by its cover. And even if the magazine focuses on a certain culture, I can still read interesting articles and get the latest news on different issues. My point…pick up “cultural” magazines or read them online to see what they have to offer. If anything, practice reading in another language.

Other suggested “cultural” women magazines:

• Asian Woman
• Essence (African-American)
• Latina

As part of the Orthodox Jewish culture, I understand that “keeping kosher” means their food must be prepared in accordance with Jewish law. However, I never knew Chinese food restaurants could be designated as kosher. My mom took me out for lunch at David Chu’s China Bistro, a kosher establishment in Baltimore. The restaurant’s sign had a “K” which identified itself as kosher, and many patrons were dressed in Orthodox Jewish attire, which led me to believe that this restaurant was in fact kosher.

The service was great, and the menu was no different than most Americanized Chinese food restaurants. Before we ordered, we were served hot tea and fried wonton type crackers. For our main entrees, we shared platters of Hunan chicken and chicken egg foo young. At the end, the bill came with a couple of fortune cookies. Now I would not say this was the best Chinese food ever, but I would say this was one of the most interesting and educational Chinese food experiences.

This year, I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Baltimore; therefore, our meal was influenced by African-American and southern cultures. Our menu consisted of turkey, ham, glazed sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, “yellow” potato salad, corn bread dressing, giblet gravy, creamed onions, salad, cranberry sauce and rolls. For dessert, we had apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake and a pound cake. As usual, the food was scrumptious, and we had a lot of fun talking about family activities, politics, sports and how much weight we may have just gained.

I’ve learned that while Thanksgiving meals may have cultural twists, they tend to have the same purpose: to enjoy fellowship with family and friends and to be thankful for all of the blessings in your life. Next time you are invited to a Thanksgiving meal that may be different from your traditions, go and let me know what was on the menu.

Today I visited the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and came across incredible exhibits that were historic and modern. The museum is celebrating American Indian Heritage Month so there were demonstrations on deer-hide tanning, bead working and moccasin making. It was interesting to see craftsmanship created centuries ago that is still used today. Unfortunately, I missed the drumming and dance performances, which I am sure would have enhanced my cultural experience.

Luckily, I saw two fascinating exhibits that were highlights of my visit. The first was an amazing modern exhibition by Brian Jungen. This artist took objects that were sports related like Michael Jordan sneakers and golf bags and turned them into life size American Indian artwork such as masks and totem poles. The second exhibit was titled “Indivisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas.” This exhibit of photos, writings and video revealed conflicts African-Native Americans had from slavery to present due to racism, government policy and laws. It also explained how the blending of Native and African American cultures influenced food, writing, music, dance, storytelling and visual arts. This exhibit was thought provoking and very educational. 

Finally, as I worked my way through the museum, I also found a resource center where one can research genealogy, hear panel discussions or find information about Native peoples as well as the museum’s collections. And of course, my visit ended at the gift shop where one can take a piece of the culture with them by purchasing American Indian music, art, jewelry, books, clothing or other items.

Museums such as this one, brings culture to life and allows you to feel like you traveled to a foreign place. If you are looking for a similar trip, take advantage of local cultural museums in your community.

If you are interested in international music or want a mental getaway, try the world section of online radio stations like AOL or Pandora.

Aloha!