San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
Credit: David Yu
FLOWER MARKET FAIR EAT + DRINK
This family-friendly daytime gathering on January 18 and 19 showcases
more than 120 booths scattered around Chinatown during the
weekend before New Year’s Day (January 25) selling fresh flowers
and plants to welcome the arrival of spring and prepare the home
for the New Year. You’ll also find fruit, such as oranges and
tangerines — symbols for abundant happiness — and candies, served
to family and friends who visit during Chinese New Year, and symbolize
wealth, happiness, and luck. Follow the line-ups to Golden Gate Bakery, an institution for
dan tat — egg custard tarts that are especially tasty straight from the
oven. Just down the street, Eastern Bakery holds the title of oldest
bakery in Chinatown. Try a mooncake, a pastry of red bean or lotus
seed paste surrounded by a thin crust, often gifted to friends and
family during the mid-Autumn moon festival, but available year round.
COMMUNITY STREET FAIR
Underneath the swaying red lanterns of Grant Avenue on February 8
and 9, you can browse various stalls selling Chinese clothing, souvenirs,
toys, food, and red and gold envelops called Lai See that are filled with
money and given at Chinese New Year. Also enjoy performances by
folk dancers, drummers, and opera singers, and don’t forget to snap
that Instagram photo with the giant puppets and dragons.
CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADE
Rain or shine, the festival’s centerpiece parade begins its march and float
on February 8 at around 5:15 pm, winding its way through downtown,
Chinatown, and Union Square before finishing at Columbus Avenue.
The 3.5-hour extravaganza delights with vibrant colors and costumes,
traditional music, firecrackers and lights, and Gum Lung — the 288-foot
golden dragon. One of the few remaining night illuminated parades in
North America, and the biggest lunar New Year parade outside of Asia,
there are ample reasons why it welcomes hundreds of thousands of
revelers each year. Stand for free along the parade route (check online
for exact path), or buy reserved bleacher seating.
Sam Wo Restaurant first welcomed diners in 1907 but was spruced
up and reopened in a new location in 2015 after a three-year closure.
You’ll still find their beloved barbecue-pork rice-noodle bowls as well as
a rice porridge known as jook, and other Cantonese comforts.
Chef Brandon Jew recalls shopping in Chinatown with his
grandmother. He is making his own splash in the old neighborhood
with his Michelin-starred Mister Jiu’s and the stylish Moongate
Lounge, where he wows diners with signature cocktails and high-end
Chinese-California cuisine.
Family-owned Red Blossom Tea Company was founded more than
30 years ago as an apothecary and now sells and serves samples of
organic green, black, green and other varieties; purchase teaware
imported from China and Taiwan, too.
GETTING THERE
United and Alaska Airlines both offer daily nonstop service from both
Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Reagan National Airport (DCA)
to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
WINTER 2019/20 49 FLYWASHINGTON.COM