Today we went to the San Diego Chinese New Year Faire in the Gaslamp's Asian Pacific Historic District . We parked at Horton Plaza and walked a few blocks over. We've been going to this event since TC was a toddler. Before parking, we went round the block by the HP parking lot and passed by the Balboa Theatre (which is undergoing renovation).
Earlier on Broadway, we passed by the Spreckels Theatre (the same sugar magnate Spreckels as in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park;TC recognized it from her field trip last year).
and the NBC studios...
and the (fenced off) Horton Plaza Fountain, designed by famed San Diego architect, Irving J. Gill. Behind it is the Horton Plaza Shopping Center. That store used to be Robinson's when it first opened back in 1985. Then it became the ill-fated Planet Hollywood. I don't know what's there now. The foundtain is in Horton Plaza Park, which used to have benches, then the city took them all out because all of the transients would congregate there and scare off passerbies (I'm sure I spelled that wrong!) and (gasp) tourists.
I couldn't find a link to this, but this mural was on our way to the festival; I forgot which street!
At the festival...
The Lion Dancers were making their way down the street to the thunderous beat of really loud drums. A little girl "fed" the lion a red envelope with $$$ inside.
Up close and personal:
The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum on 3rd Avenue.
Adjacent is the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Gate. Behind is the peaceful Sun Yat Sen garden.
A statue of the "First Emperor" located in front of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum's new extension (across the street). I found out that it opened just last year! Where have I been?
Admission to the museum was $2. Their current exhibit was "Threads of Love: The Art of Chinese Needlework" which was absolutely amazing. Words can't even describe the intricacy of the stitches and the vibrant colors and designs. We got stickers for admission and were also allowed into the original museum so we didn't have to pay twice!
These are the new condos above the new museum. Nice! This area was across from the stage.
This guy (and a woman who isn't pictured) was playing zither and harp music, which TC likened to music from "Avatar - The Last Airbender"! Uh, not quite! We also saw an acrobat and some singers as well as an older man who could mimic various animals (his bird mimicry was the best!)
TC made a Chinese lantern craft for "Year of the Boar". Actually I just noticed she didn't make any slits on this lantern! Oh well! In years past, she made lanterns for the Dog, the Rooster and Monkey (with our help!).
Another view of the festival. You can see the Manchester Grant behind the Kettle Corn booth. I call that building the "Flathead Screwdriver".
This is where Bert and TC got their food (shared an $8 combo):
Here it is: your standard chicken skewer, fried rice and chow mein. I thought it was overpriced, but then again, so is most festival food.
A dragon head along with (hidden) body that was propped near the festival entrance:
One of the exhibits in the original museum:
The Garden behind the museum which memorializes Sun Yat Sen.
This booth sold almond sponge cake ($1 a slice), butterfly cookies, rice krispy treats and buns. The butterfly cookies were twisted and fried won ton skins (.50 each) that had MEGA powdered sugar on them! Messy to eat!
I wasn't sure if this was an actual building that Ah Quin lived in or owned:
The Butterfly cookie. I ended up tapping off most of the powdered sugar. Last year, it got all over my nice black pants!
We only stayed for several hours. A funny thing that I saw was the sight of this kid's full on butt crack! She was sitting on her father's shoulder's and her elastic pants were pulled down really low! I mean, it was totally hanging out and at eye level! They were standing in front of the stage watching the guy play the Chinese zither. Sorry, no photo! Ha ha!
Earlier on Broadway, we passed by the Spreckels Theatre (the same sugar magnate Spreckels as in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park;TC recognized it from her field trip last year).
and the NBC studios...
and the (fenced off) Horton Plaza Fountain, designed by famed San Diego architect, Irving J. Gill. Behind it is the Horton Plaza Shopping Center. That store used to be Robinson's when it first opened back in 1985. Then it became the ill-fated Planet Hollywood. I don't know what's there now. The foundtain is in Horton Plaza Park, which used to have benches, then the city took them all out because all of the transients would congregate there and scare off passerbies (I'm sure I spelled that wrong!) and (gasp) tourists.
I couldn't find a link to this, but this mural was on our way to the festival; I forgot which street!
At the festival...
The Lion Dancers were making their way down the street to the thunderous beat of really loud drums. A little girl "fed" the lion a red envelope with $$$ inside.
Up close and personal:
The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum on 3rd Avenue.
Adjacent is the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Gate. Behind is the peaceful Sun Yat Sen garden.
A statue of the "First Emperor" located in front of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum's new extension (across the street). I found out that it opened just last year! Where have I been?
Admission to the museum was $2. Their current exhibit was "Threads of Love: The Art of Chinese Needlework" which was absolutely amazing. Words can't even describe the intricacy of the stitches and the vibrant colors and designs. We got stickers for admission and were also allowed into the original museum so we didn't have to pay twice!
These are the new condos above the new museum. Nice! This area was across from the stage.
This guy (and a woman who isn't pictured) was playing zither and harp music, which TC likened to music from "Avatar - The Last Airbender"! Uh, not quite! We also saw an acrobat and some singers as well as an older man who could mimic various animals (his bird mimicry was the best!)
TC made a Chinese lantern craft for "Year of the Boar". Actually I just noticed she didn't make any slits on this lantern! Oh well! In years past, she made lanterns for the Dog, the Rooster and Monkey (with our help!).
Another view of the festival. You can see the Manchester Grant behind the Kettle Corn booth. I call that building the "Flathead Screwdriver".
Mmmm...Pork and chicken skewers!
This is where Bert and TC got their food (shared an $8 combo):
Here it is: your standard chicken skewer, fried rice and chow mein. I thought it was overpriced, but then again, so is most festival food.
A dragon head along with (hidden) body that was propped near the festival entrance:
One of the exhibits in the original museum:
The Garden behind the museum which memorializes Sun Yat Sen.
This booth sold almond sponge cake ($1 a slice), butterfly cookies, rice krispy treats and buns. The butterfly cookies were twisted and fried won ton skins (.50 each) that had MEGA powdered sugar on them! Messy to eat!
I wasn't sure if this was an actual building that Ah Quin lived in or owned:
The Butterfly cookie. I ended up tapping off most of the powdered sugar. Last year, it got all over my nice black pants!
We only stayed for several hours. A funny thing that I saw was the sight of this kid's full on butt crack! She was sitting on her father's shoulder's and her elastic pants were pulled down really low! I mean, it was totally hanging out and at eye level! They were standing in front of the stage watching the guy play the Chinese zither. Sorry, no photo! Ha ha! I saw several parents of my former students. The parents were manning booths. One was at her Chinese society's booth selling lai si, or lucky red envelopes. Another was selling her beautiful cards which incorporated handmade papers, origami, and Chinese coins and calligraphy. Her husband recognized me first and waved me over to their booth. They proudly updated me on one of their sons (he was a genius and a champion origami enthusiast) who recently got a promotion with Dreamworks. Wow! He had given me an intricate beetle origami years ago. The younger son had given me origami roses. The weather, although cloudy at times, was quite mild and enjoyable. It was a a nice way to see Chinese American culture on a weekend. 
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
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