If you haven't been downtown in a while, you may notice that there are some twinkling new additions to the Chinatown cityscape. New "Welcome gateways" with 3-D light displays and dangling crystal lights are welcoming tourists and residents as they celebrate the holidays. They are on display through the Lunar New Year so don't miss your chance to see the newest sparkles in Chinatown when you come for dinner and of course ice cream!
YUEN YUEN CLOSES
My neighbor Yuen Yuen will be closing its doors on 12/31.
Yuen Yuen has been serving up its sam bow fan, fresh squeezed orange juice and dessert soups so long; that I can't remember when it wasn't there. I also remember reading a NY Times write up that raved about their snake soup. This hidden neighborhood treasure might even be older than me!
The two women that usually work in the front both open and close their shop before CICF. Working more than 12 hour days for that many years; they are probably due for retirement.
Get your last meal here while you can!
Part of a changing Chinatown.... What's coming next?
YUEN YUEN
59 BAYARD STREET
CHRISTMAS CAROLING IN CHINATOWN
The Greater Chinatown Community Association will be Christmas caroling from 1-3 pm tomorrow (Christmas Eve) in front of Transfiguration Catholic Church (on Mott Street) in Chinatown. A wonderful holiday tradition, it's an opportunity to sing some catchy seasonal tunes and raise some $$ for senior programming in Chinatown. Join us if you can -- it's a pick-up singing group. We have a great time, songbooks, and love to include anyone who wants to sing out on Christmas Eve.
Christmas is coming to Chinatown
And it's a great time to get together with family and friends to remember how lucky we are to have weathered so many storms together. As residents and businesses are still struggling with the aftermath of Sandy, we must not forget the efforts of the workers and service people who help keep Chinatown the vibrant and amazing community it has always been. CICF is proud to be part of this community and we are blessed to be part of your Christmas memories. Happy Holidays and don't forget there's always room for ice cream!
APA Event: Housing and Community after Hurricane Sandy
As Chinatown and other communities are still recovering from Sandy, join longtime activists, advocates, writers, and photographers to discuss the effects of natural disasters and poverty on low-income communities of color in New York City. When: Monday, 12/3 @ 7pm
Where: NYU A/P/A Institute @ 8 Washington Mews, between University Place and 5th Avenue (north of Washington Square North & south of 8th Street)
Panelists include:
-Jason Chan, Organizer, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities
-Bethany Li, Staff Attorney, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
-Alisa Pizarro, Public Housing Resident and Organizer, Red Hook Initiative
-Damaris Reyes, Executive Director, Good Old Lower East Side
-Garrett Wright, Staff Attorney, Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center
With introductory remarks by Suketu Mehta, author of the critically-acclaimed Maximum City, and photographs by Open City magazine contributors Gina Chung, E. Tammy Kim, and Yuko Torihara. Curated by E. Tammy Kim.
Cosponsored by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities, Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center, Good Old Lower East Side, Open City magazine of the Asian American Writers' Workshop, and Red Hook Initiative.
RSVP by Friday, November 30 at www.apa.nyu.edu/events, apa.rsvp@nyu.edu, or 212.992.9653.
