Wiki chop suey seattle free#

Though the restaurant was closing and out of food, the miners demanded service. The dish came about when a group of drunken miners stumbled into a Chinese restaurant. White miners committed horrible atrocities on Chinese immigrants with no repercussions because no one could testify against them. This was at a time when white Goldrush miners had particular hatred towards Chinese immigrants who they saw as a group moving in on their gold claims. In the 1800’s, California had laws that made it illegal for Chinese people to testify in court.

The name itself, Chop Suey, comes from a time of real racism, hatred and violence towards Asian Americans. No one should have to see their own race caricatured in a venue that hosts so many great touring bands. As a Chinese person, seeing fake Chinese decor in a club that is not owned by Chinese people makes my heart sink. However, many of us have avoided going to the venue because of the racial implications that the name and theme have. I and many other people I know love the acts that have come through Chop Suey over the years.

But, most importantly, I’m excited because you have the opportunity to enact some real change. First of all, as a fellow musician it is great to hear that another musician will keep the tradition of bringing great bands to Seattle. I was very excited to hear that you have become an owner of Chop Suey.

Wiki chop suey seattle free#

If you feel like encouraging her to change the name while they have the opportunity for a new start, please message her or send an email to Feel free to copy anything from this letter and share and circulate as much as possible. I sent this letter to the new owner of Chop Suey, Brianna Rettig (she is on Facebook). People should be outraged that this business exists, and even angrier that most people just accept it. How would this be any different? It wouldn’t be different at all. If the same crackers who own Chop Suey opened up an African-American-style bar or nightclub with the same sense of kitsch–cultural imperialistic icons similar to those that Chop Suey utilizes in its theme and décor–you can be damn sure that people would be upset about it. It is disgusting to me that a business so blatantly offensive can open its doors to a supposed community of open-minded artists and musicians. I would much rather have Chromatics play a guerrilla show in the parking lot of Jack in the Box on Broadway than under the pagoda at Chop Suey, the new racist hotspot masquerading as a cutting-edge, hip nightclub. says it’s OK to change it.īack in 2002, there was at least one musician who wasn’t pleased with the choice: “The new owners are giving it a new look so a new name makes perfect sense.” She adds that she “never loved the name anyway.” So, hey, Linda D. “Chop Suey has had so many owners over the years but the decor has pretty much remained the same,” she writes. UPDATE: While she didn’t shine any light on the genesis for the name, Derschang did say she thinks it’s ready for it to be retired. That team overhauled the venue and gave it what the Seattle Times called a “swank rock” feel - a “front-of-the-club lounge, with leopard carpet, Chinese lanterns, cocktail tables and a wrap-around bench.” We’ll see what we can find out about where the name came from.

The early 2000s transition from punk hangout the Breakroom came under the auspices of some familiar names - the founding co-owners were Wade Weigel, Jeff O’Felt, and Linda Derschang.

“No one should have to see their own race caricatured in a venue that hosts so many great touring bands.” “As a Chinese person, seeing fake Chinese decor in a club that is not owned by Chinese people makes my heart sink,” Panda writes. Panda has posted an open letter asking the new owners of the Chop Suey to do away with the venue’s name. It is a difficult song to play on guitar because of a rapid 16th note chord-to-note strumming style and is on the highest tier for bass.With a new life and overhauled venue in the works, it might be a good time to do something about the name. It is from their 2001 album Toxicity and is one of their most successful and popular songs. Chop Suey is a song by alternative metal band System of a Down and is featured in Rock Band 2.