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Welcome February: Lunar New Year, Black History Month & Cold-Weather Treats
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Lunar New Year
This year, the Lunar New Year began on February 1 and runs for 15 days culminating in the Spring Lantern Festival. It is a time of rebirth, celebration, and hope for the year ahead.
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Celebratory Events
Over the next two weeks, there are Lunar New Year's events across the country, including parades, meals, crafts, dances, and lantern displays. This year, there are virtual options, as well. In NYC, on the afternoon of February 12, don't miss Chinatown's New Year Parade featuring dragon dancing, colorful costumes, firecrackers, and an impressive array of street vendors selling food and crafts. In Los Angeles, visit the Chinese American Museum for several events over the coming weeks, including children's storytelling and the Red Envelope Exhibition, which opens this weekend. In Miami, visit the Mandarin Oriental to view stunning decorations, and taste festive cocktails and traditional foods inspired by the Year of the Tiger. In London, stop by Michelin starred A. Wong to try their new evening menu launching this month for the Lunar New Year. For those looking for virtual events, the New York Public Library has put together an impressive variety of online events inspired by the holiday, including arts and crafts lessons for young children, book chats and crafts for teens, and a book club for adults. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles is presenting a new program, "Through the Eyes of the Dragon," which will air on Saturday, February 12 - visit the Chinese Chamber Facebook to view.
Recipes
If you'd rather bundle up and stay home this holiday, there are plenty of recipes you can make with the family, whether you have 30 minutes or a whole afternoon to commit to them. If you're up for a cooking project, try your hand at homemade longevity noodles or pork chive dumplings - older children can help assemble these! Neither recipe is too cumbersome, but they do require a bit of time and patience. If you're looking for an easy and quick crowd-pleaser, try Kung Pao Chicken or Sweet and Sour Pork. For an impressive presentation, prepare a whole steamed fish surrounded by vegetables and an aromatic sauce. For dessert, we love Nian Gao (traditional New Year cake) or Jian Dui (crispy sesame balls). And don't forget to stock up on Mandarin oranges - the fruit is exchanged this time of year as a symbol of luck, prosperity, and a long life.
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Celebrating Black History Month
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Visit Museums and Historic Sites
Take a few days this month to visit museums or cultural sites in your area that celebrate Black history. In NYC, we love the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art in Brooklyn and the Louis Armstrong House Museum. Starting on the 10th, the Louis Armstrong House will be offering a special tour for 2 weeks only exploring Civil Rights. In Los Angeles, visit the California African American Museum to view a rich program of changing exhibitions highlighting the critical role of African Americans in U.S. history. In Miami, visit the The African American Research Library and Cultural Center - the 6,000 sq. ft facility boasts more Black history books and books written by Black authors, both for children and adults, than any other in the country. Online, the Bowers Museum is hosting a special presentation on the Black experience in California from 1889 through present day.
Read Together
The New York Public Library is a great online resource to discover books no matter where you live. They've compiled several helpful lists by subject, theme, age range, and more. Click here for books celebrating Black History Month for young readers. Click here for memories celebrating Black History Month and here for book recommendations for adults and teens.
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