January 17, 2017 TnH Global

17 ways to discover New York City this Lunar New Year

NYC & Company highlights Lunar New Year activities and City’s Three Chinatowns in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens!

With the Year of the Rooster kicking off Saturday, January 28, visitors and locals looking to celebrate Lunar New Year should look no further than New York City. From a multitude of celebratory events to exploring the City’s three Chinatowns (Sunset Park in Brooklyn, downtown Manhattan’s Chinatown and Flushing in Queens,) the destination has something to offer everyone.

“With the largest Chinese population in the United States, New York City offers no shortage of authentic and celebratory experiences in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens,” said Fred Dixon, NYC & Company president and CEO. “From festive fireworks and parades, to some of the world’s best dim sum, to a multitude of cultural organizations, NYC is the ideal place to celebrate this Lunar New Year.”

17 Ways to Celebrate the 2017 Lunar New Year in NYC:

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College presents Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company’s Lunar New Year Celebration, an all-new family-friendly celebration of Chinese culture commemorating the Year of the Rooster, on January 22 at 3pm.
Horn blower Cruises and Spirit Cruises both offer Dinner Cruises on January 26with views of fireworks, dining and entertainment onboard.
The iconic Empire State Building celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year with a dynamic display of its world-famous tower lights on January 26–27.
From 11am-3:30pm on January 28, Chinese New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival takes place in Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
The next day, the second annual Madison Street to Madison Avenue event will take place, including musical performances, a traditional Chinese marionette show and martial arts. Additionally, a Lion Dance troupe will make its way along Madison Avenue from East 42nd Street to East 86th Street on a decorated trolley, stopping at select luxury retailers offering Lunar New Year promotions.
The Flushing Lunar New Year Parade and Festival Celebration takes place at 11am on February 4. Festivities include a parade, music, fireworks, dancers and more.
The 18th Annual New York City Lunar New Year Parade & Festival takes place on February 5 in Manhattan’s Chinatown, with the parade kicking off at 1pm.
On February 8 at 6pm, the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce is hosting its first Lunar New Year Celebration at the historic Flushing Town Hall, complete with delicacies and an energetic lion dance performance.
Eat your way through Sunset Park with Fujianese cuisine at Mister Hotpot, dim sum at Pacificana and Vietnamese dishes at Ba Xuyên.
While in Sunset Park, enjoy the neighborhood’s namesake park. Sunset Parkis known for a vista that overlooks the East River with views of Statue of Liberty and Manhattan’s skyline.
Also in Sunset Park, New Yorkers and visitors can tour Brooklyn Army Terminal, a complex used as a supply base from WWI to the Vietnam War, through Turnstile Tours. Industry City, a recently renovated manufacturing center, is home to a distillery, food hall and events throughout the year.
In Manhattan’s Chinatown, the Museum of Chinese in America tells the story of Chinese-Americans in the United States and presents Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy: Stories of Chinese Food and Identity in America through March 26.
Experience why so many New Yorkers and visitors head to Chinatown. Jing Fong is a traditional Cantonese restaurant offering dim sum; Joe’s Shanghai’s extensive menu includes their famed soup dumplings; and Nom Wah Tea Parlor is NYC’s oldest dim sum parlor.
While in Chinatown, stock up on Chinese medicine at Kamwo Herbal Pharmacy, one of the oldest and largest herbal pharmacies in the country, or Chinese sweets and savories at Aji Ichiban.
There are several bakeries and restaurants serving authentic Asian cuisine in Flushing—from breakfast at Tai Pan Bakery to lunch at Ajisen Ramen todinner at Mulan.
Golden Shopping Mall in Flushing is home to beloved Xi’An Famous Foods, the NYC-based restaurant chain serving specialty, spicy Chinese cuisine.Queens Crossing Mall offers a variety of shops and dining establishments, including 10 Below Ice Cream, New York’s first to serve Thai-inspired ice cream rolls.
Flushing’s cultural attractions include the kid-friendly New York Hall of Science; the Queens Museum; the Louis Armstrong House Museum,honoring the jazz legend’s legacy; and the Kingsland Homestead, home to the Queens Historical Society.