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Chinese New Year – the New York Event - Welcoming the Year of the Dog
EVENT SCHEDULE :
Annual Lunar New Year Flower Market @ Columbus Park
Friday, January 27th, Noon - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 28th, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
New Year's Day Firecracker Ceremony & Culture Festival
Sunday, January 29th
Firecracker Ceremony: 12:00 PM at intersection of Mott & Bayard Streets
Culture Festival:1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at intersection of Mott & Bayard Streets
7th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
Parade: Sunday, February 5th at 1pm starting at Canal & Mott Streets
Culture Festival: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Mott & Bayard Streets
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The Year of the Dog.
No, this is not another Dick Cheney homage (see Marimar’s blogs for that http://www.nyc.com/people/Marimar/home.aspx). This is the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Dog.
The Year of the Dog is supposed to be good for the honest, upright and faithful among us. It’s a reflection of the qualities of Man’s best friend. Of course, man’s best friend can get snarly and rabid, so there are pros and cons.
According to my Dragon friends, the year of the dog is an unlucky for those born in the year of the Dragon. They intend to lie low once the lunar New Year begins. But for now, they are ready to party.
Gearing up for Chinatown’s New Year means getting ready for the crowds. The best idea is to plot your course prior to heading to Canal Street. If you plan on eating at a place like Peking Duck, you better make a reservation – this is ine of the most popular places in Chinatown.
One of the busiest intersections is Canal at Mulberry – this of course where much of the
action will take place. Take the 6 or the N or R to Canal and jump into the mix.
Stop 1: Bubble Tea. You will need a nice refreshment – to steel yourself for the festivities. Pop into one of the many hip joints that serve bubble tea and then force your way into the crowd that will surge towards Columbus Park. Wear elbow and knee pads if you are into extreme sports. They can’t hurt.
Stop 2: The Main Drag. Stop for Peking Duck at Peking Duck – but make a reservation! This place gets crowded fast.Then, follow crowd until you reach Confucius Plaza.
Stop 3: Photo Op. If you are lucky enough to get up close to the dragons, be sure to pose in such a way that you can you picture taken.
How to enjoy the Year of the Dog: Visit China Town.
Since 911, China Town has suffered a severe decline. There are many reasons for this, most of which have to do with the loss of business coming up from downtown, and from the many places that closed after 911 due to contamination and loss of workforce. Now, as gentrification sets in, China Town is disappearing block by block. While it is true that much of China Town has relocated to Queens, Manhattan is slowly loosing part of the bone mass that has created the fantastic cityscape that we all love. The fish markets, restaurants, herbal merchants, fantastic storefronts, traditional theatres and markets that pepper the area around Canal Street – some since the Victorian period – are part of what makes New York the city that it is. If we all we see is more and more overly priced, sliver-sized apartments in boring high-rise buildings, all we will have left is a monotonous and unsalted soup. Who wants a bland and salt-less soup (besides Dick Cheney)?
Tags:
bubble tea, chinatown, chinese new year, dumplings, new york events, year of the dog
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Posted on 1/24/2006
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