GAM-TV is doing a mini-feature on Asians and Friends Chicago's long-time member and supporter, fashion designer Kevin Vong, who created and will debut a dress made from 10,000 single puffs of popcorn, each individually glued on over the course of an entire month.

The dress design, which blends his Laotian roots with the glamor of a 1940s and ‘50’s ball gown is the centerpiece of AFC’s “Gayflower” float, a high-masted ship that is set to sail as entry No. 19 in this year’s Chicago Gay Pride Parade.

Asians & Friends Chicago (www.afchicago.org) are planning a "Hug an Asian Day" ethnic dress-and-outfit pub crawl for Sat. May 11 at 7 p.m. It'll start at Bonsai Bar, 3503 N. Halsted in Chicago and make its way through the area's Boystown bars. The event is designed to market the organization and to celebrate the city's Asian Pacific Islander month. Organizers say last year's event was successful in drawing attention to the group and helping members socialize among other bar patrons.

[Editorial note: As GAM-TV grows further in its vision, we will begin linking to other blogs and content sources produced by gay Asian men in the United States, and in some cases, internationally. Ben, a food blogger based in San Francisco, will be our first regular contributor. Lifestyle contributions will appear here on our home page with their bios and resources on our LIVE tab.]

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A hugely successful "Panda" premiere party at @mosphere in Chicago last weekend. Over 60 people in attendance and a overwhelming and generous response. Thanks to cast and crew and everyone who contributed to the final product. Visit our Webisodes page to download the webisode.

The premiere party for "Panda: Tale of a Gay Asian Bear" is set for this Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 8 p.m. at @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark Street in Chicago. At that time, "Panda" will go live online and be available for download/purchase here at gamTVusa.com (click our Webisodes tab). The debut follows a successful preview in New York City last week at Uncle Charlie's bar in Midtown Manhattan. A full bar of guests expressed how impressed they were with the production and hoped to see more from GAM-TV.

GAM-TV is proud to add a preview party for a preliminary version of its latest webisode, "Panda: Tale of a Gay Asian Bear" in New York City. It'll be at Uncle Charlie's bar, 139 E. 45th St., at 7 p.m. on Wed., March 13, 2013. Admission is free. Showing will probably be about 7:30 p.m. with an 18 min. running time. DVDs of GAM-TV's romantic comedies, musicals and documentaries will be available, with proceeds to benefit the AIDS-awareness charity, School Street Arts Movement. For more information, e-mail Angel at AngelChgo@aol.com.

The premiere party for "Panda: Tale of a Gay Asian Bear" is set for Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 8 p.m. at @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark Street in Chicago. “Panda” follows Tim, a broader set, gay, Asian man who's realizing his current relationship is ending. In the face of that, he steps into the world of gay bears, hoping that with a little liquid courage to find a new love—or at least a distraction. In this panda’s world, truths surface about the meaning of attraction and what the gay mainstream in America deems beautiful.

GAM-TV's spring season will premiere a webisode series called "Panda: Tale of a Gay Asian Bear." In this series, Tim is experiencing the true reality of his long-term relationship ending. A conversation with his activist roommate resets his dating perspective and challenges his ideas about what's attractive in a man. It all takes place in the setting of a bear bar in the U.S. city of Chicago. Who will he choose?

GAM-TV's winter season continues with "The Glamorous Mind of Kevin Vong:"

Have you ever eaten a spider? Stand out at Pride Parade? Designed a dress for Michelle Obama? This webisode documentary follows the peculiar life of Chicago-based fashion designer Kevin Vong. From his childhood as a Buddhist monk to an 18-year relationship with the love of his life, Kevin is living the American Dream. Follow his journey. It's something to see!

To download the webisode, click the WEBISODES tag on our Home navigation page.

Day 1 of four shoot days for GAM-TV's spring season is in the can, with the first scene of the new webisode, "Panda," filmed last weekend. As shooting continues through the winter, GAM-TV would like to reveal its Chicago-based actors: