Chinese New Year Celebration (District 5280 Event)
Posted by Wes Bradford
on Feb 22, 2014
We rode the Club bus from Peninsula Center to the Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown in Los Angeles, wearing red and enjoying wine en route served by Astrid & Jacques Naviaux.
We arrived to a 10-course Chinese banquet to celebrate the 4712 Year of the Wood Horse, and were escorted to our tables, directed by Angi Ma Wong and assisted by Jennifer Kain and Astrid & Jacques Naviaux. There were New Year gifts for everyone at each place setting.
(Every 12th year of the Chinese Zodiac is a Horse, and every 5th year is Wood, so this cycle repeats every 60 years. The Horse is hard-working, independent, intelligent, friendly, good with the hands [or hooves?], and enjoys entertainment and large crowds.)
We were treated to the magic tricks of David Chen (a Hollywood Magic Castle member), who made doves come out of objects in his hands. The birds were remarkably well-behaved and harmonious, not flying about marking the dinner plates. Then 2 Dragon-Dance teams accompanied by drum & gongs came dancing out among the tables breathing their fiery breath and swallowing monetary tips passed to their mouths (their tongues inside looked remarkably like human hands). A Kung Fu demonstration/dance intimidated any remaining evil spirits lurking about (firecrackers were not allowed inside the restaurant).
We enjoyed talking with other District Rotarians and our many guests, and returned home to begin a successful New Year of the Horse.