Festival raises funds to fight anti-Asian hate crimes.
The Houston restaurant and bar industry is once again banding together for a great cause.
Stop the Hate, a food and drink event that is raising money for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) advocacy organizations, will bring about 50 vendors to the East End on April 25.
The fundraiser, whose proceeds will benefit Stop AAPI Hate and OCA Greater Houston-Asian Pacific American Advocates, is organized by activist David Lam, Justin Ware and Patrick Abalos of the soon-to-open Night Shift, and Gabby Nguyen of APDAT Print Co. The group started planning the event a month ago in light of the increased violence against people in the Asian community in the past year.
“It’s hard not to notice all the hate crime that’s been happening in the world,” said Lam. “This one hits closer to home for myself because I’m of Asian descent.”
The event was Lam’s idea. He approached Ware and Abalos to participate, and they ended up offering their 17,000-square-foot parking lot as a host space and taking on an active organizer role. APDAT Print Co. came on as a co-host.
“Some of our really good friends are in the Asian community,” said Ware. “With all the negative things that have been going on, we really needed to do something.”
Lam said he hopes the event will educate people as well as raise awareness and money.
Night Shift is a cocktail bar that Ware and Abalos are opening this summer at 3509 Harrisburg. On April 25, the location will turn into an outdoor market, with dozens of vendors, each serving one 4-ounce cocktail and one bite of food.
Local Asian-owned businesses that will have booths set up include Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, Danny Love, Dumpling Haus, Ninja Ramen and Ming River Sichuan Baijiu. Other participants include Grand Prize, Johnny’s Gold Brick, Miss Carousel, Equal Parts Brewing, Eureka Heights Brewing, Bravado Spice Co, Tacos A La Madre, Space Cowboy and many more.
Guests will be given the opportunity to vote for their favorite food-and-drink pairing. The winner will receive “bragging rights,” said Ware.
The Stop the Hate organizers are hoping to raise about $120,000 for the two nonprofits.
Tickets are on sale now via Stop the Hate’s website and will be available for purchase at the door on the day of the event, too. There are four tiered options: $20 for a silver ticket (two food tickets, two drink tickets), $50 for a gold ticket (six food tickets, six drink tickets), $100 for a platinum ticket (12 food tickets, 12 drink tickets and a swag bag), and $500 for a diamond ticket (unlimited food and drink tickets, VIP swag bag and VIP tent access).
To promote social distancing, admission is timed in three segments of two hours each: noon-2 p.m., 2-4 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.
Lam said he hopes Stop the Hate will become an annual event and have a lasting impact in the community.
“I’ve lived in Houston my entire life,” he said. “One of the things I love about Houston is how strong and loving and positive the people here are. We want to keep giving back.”