Alvin Eng writer-performer

31/05/2026

Over the top thrilled that both my memoir, “Our Laundry, Our Town,” and my niece Heather Eng’s debut novel, “Double Happiness,” are featured in the window of our beloved Yu & Me Books in Manhattan’s Chinatown!

As my mother is on the cover of my book alongside my six-year-old self, three generations of our family are represented in the window display––just three doors down Mulberry Street from where both my parents, Heather’s paternal grandparents, had their funerals. Thank "yu," Yu & Me Books... Support Indie Bookstores!

Both books are in the right case––mine is on the middle shelf right, Heather's is front and center, lower shelf left...I'm getting used to being "Heather's Uncle."

12/05/2026

Jackson Heights/Queens and NYC Lit lovers: After getting snowed out on Lunar New Year, I am excited to share that my author event at the beloved The World's Borough Bookshop (34-06 73rd St. Jackson Heights) has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 21 at 6pm. The event will now celebrate AANHPI/Asian Heritage Month! First up will be a reading from my memoir, "Our Laundry, Our Town." Then I am honored to be joined in conversation by Jackson Heights author/essayist, Radha Vatsal, author of "No. 10 Doyers St." I hope you can join us! Please share this with anyone in the area who may be interested, thanks.

Admission is $5––with advance reservations, your admission becomes a $5 voucher towards a purchase at WBB! Please Support Indie Bookstores!

Announcement and RSVP link follow.
https://theworldsboroughbookshop.com/event/2026-05-21/our-laundry-our-town-alvin-eng-conversation-radha-vatsal

20/04/2026

Can’t wait to participate in this panel discussion of New York City born-and-raised writers––curated & moderated by Ada Calhoun, author of two of my fave NYC books, "St. Marks Is Dead" and "Also a Poet." We will convene on Thursday, April 30, from 6-7pm, at the celebrated Tompkins Square Library of the NYPL The New York Public Library.

From the NYPL: Native NYC writers share thoughts on their story-filled childhoods and how growing up in the city has shaped their lives and work. You'll hear from three boroughs and three generations: the illustrator Joana Avillez, who grew up by the Fulton Fish Market and has a fantastic new edition of Joseph Mitchell's essay collection "The Bottom of the Harbor" out in May; Collier Meyerson, author of the essay "I Was a Teenage Subway Terror," raised on the Upper West Side and creator of the Crown Heights podcast "Love Thy Neighbor"; Alvin Eng, from Flushing, Queens, but educated by the downtown punk scene of the 1970s (and author of the memoir, "Our Laundry, Our Town"); Vincent Coppola, whose poignant new memoir about his 1960s childhood: "Gowanus Crossing: A Brooklyn Boyhood," is out this June (we get a preview!).
Hope you can join us in the East Village's landmarked library!
NYPL Events link:
https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2026/04/30/were-here-writing-city-raised-us-author-panel-discussion-moderated-ada
Fordham University Press
Ada Calhoun

01/03/2026

Celebrating the paperback book launch of Ada Calhoun's acclaimed novel, "Crush," in the rare books room of Strand Books. Congratulations, Ada!

22/02/2026

21/02/2026

Looking forward to celebrating the Lunar New Year in my home borough at the renowned World's Borough Bookshop this Sunday, 2/22, from 4-5pm. I will read from my memoir, “Our Laundry, Our Town: My Chinese American Life from Flushing to the Downtown Stage and Beyond,” then be joined in conversation by Jackson Heights’ own Radha Vatsal. The photo is from when I had the pleasure of being Radha Vatsal's conversation partner at a Think! Chinatown event for her historical novel, "No. 10 Doyers St." Honored that she will be my conversation partner thus Sunday! Please join us to celebrate NYC literature, community, and the Year of the Fire Horse! RSVP/Ticket Info
https://checkout.square.site/.../B7KPDZ7WIYP33A5LGNYV6V4F

16/02/2026

We had a fascinating conversation with Jesse Rifkin, author of "This Must Be the Place: Music, Community, and Vanished Spaces in New York City," in my “Downtown Manhattan as Muse (1960s - 90s)” course at Pace University. After reading Jesse's intriguing chapters on Max's Kansas City & CBGB & OMFUG, the students had probing questions and comments. A great way to get the Spring semester into full gallop...just ahead of the Year of the Horse. Thanks for visiting, Jesse!
h/t Loonam for recommending the book!

11/02/2026

🌎Join us at The World’s Borough Bookshop for a conversation with Alvin Eng, author of "Our Laundry, Our Town: My Chinese American Life from Flushing to the Downtown Stage and Beyond."

In conversation with Radha Vatsal!

A memoir of family, performance, and growing up Chinese American in Queens and downtown New York.

📅 February 22
🕓 4–5 pm
📍 The World’s Borough Bookshop
3406 73rd Street, Jackson Heights

22/11/2025

Congratulating John Leguizamo after a powerful performance of his new and first multi-character play, "The Other Americans," at The Public Theater (thru Sunday, 11/23). As a child of a Chinese Hand Laundry family in Flushing, I completely related to Leguizamo's drama about a Colombian laundromat family torn between Forest Hills and Jackson Heights. John Leguizamo always makes us Queens natives proud. Dig his Mets cap!

07/11/2025

Honored to host my longtime friend, Jessica Hagedorn, as a Guest Speaker in my "Downtown Manhattan as Muse (1960s-90s)" class at Pace University. Here we are welcoming Jessica with my Pace colleagues, Jeremy Rafal, and English Dept. co-chairs, Stephanie Hsu and Sid Ray.