Alvin Eng writer-performer

05/08/2026

This Sunday, Aug. 9 at 3:30pm, I am excited to be returning to Queens and The World's Borough Bookshop to celebrate WBB's 3rd Anniversary and participate in "From Queens with Love: Writers on the Borough that Inspired Them." Looking forward to being in conversation with fellow native Queens authors, Sylvia Chen and my niece, Heather Eng, who will be moderating this event! Hope you can join us––more info: https://theworldsboroughbookshop.com/event/2026-08-09/queens-love-writers-borough-inspired-them

26/07/2026

It was an honor to perform a song at "Celebration of Life-–Christine Choy" presented by Third World Newsreel in partnership with the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU, Asian CineVision and Asian American Arts Alliance at The People's Forum, July 18, 2026. A revered Academy Award-nominated filmmaker (the groundbreaking doc, "Who Killed Vincent Chin?"––co-directed with Renee Tajima-Peña), Christine was also a firebrand force of nature activist with deep roots in the Asian American and Black Panther communities. My life was indelibly changed by following David Henry Hwang's lead in the early 90s "Miss Saigon" protests. At the Celebration of Life, David recalled how Christine changed his life by giving him the inspiration and spirit to lead that game-changing action of Asian American and NYC theatre/arts activism.

Celebrating her uncompromising artistry and streetwise ways, I performed "Three Chords, Three Bows" from my solo acoustic punk raconteur work, “Here Comes Johnny Yen Again (or How I Kicked Punk).” (Video link embedded.) Thank you, Chris. Rest in Power.
https://youtu.be/4nU9u7TdU7k?si=cVQtgIZ-SetKTtqL

This week, Christine Choy's films will be screened at MoMA The Museum of Modern Art on July 27 & 28 as part of their "Immigrant Nation: People in Transit" series.

On Sunday, August 2 at 3pm, the 49th Asian American International Film Festival will host a two film and discussion program, "Out Of Bounds: A Tribute to Christine Choy"––presented by Asian CineVision at the Asia Society New York.
Event links:
https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/11507
https://aaiff.filmbot.com/2026/programs/breaking-boundaries-across-time-and-distance-a-christine-choy-tribute/

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