The Year of the Ox

I Spent the day in Chinatown bringing in the year of the ox and the start of the 4,707th year on the Chinese calendar. We started off the morning having Dim Sum. Dim Sum is a snack served at tea or breakfast time and consists of meat, vegetables and seafood in various dumpling type preparations and is a very popular family gathering. At the Empress in downtown LA, the maitre d' seats you at a table with a guest check and a pot of tea. The servers wheel around with trolley carts, each with a different dish on them, you pick out what you want and they stamp your check. Everything is in Chinese so its difficult to know exactly what you're ordering - some hits, some misses - but it's certainly adventurous. It's very cheap and a fun and filling way to eat. In honor of the New Year a troupe came through the restaurant doing a traditional lion dance.

It's been years since I've visited Chinatown so after breakfast we strolled through the courtyard where a crowd was already gathering for the celebration. There was a stage in the center and a line up of customary folly was scheduled all afternoon. The first act was a group of seven synchronized drummers beating their drums with fury.

I was amazed by the diverse crowd turnout. It was a wonderful representation of Los Angeles and all the different ethnicities we
attract. Next up was the Lion dance. It was rather impressive because each lion is commandeered by two people - one at the head and one managing the body - who are so well coordinated in their movements in near perfect sync with the symbols clanging out percussion rhythms.

Following was a slew of acrobats and warriors. Their focus and incredible agility was intense. Young girls bent their bodies into pretzels, spun hula hoops on every limb while others balanced vases extending three feet in the air on the end of sticks from their nose. Showing off their strength and talent a group of young men tumbled and did handsprings through small rings like Olympic gymnasts before flying through the air on poles 15 feet high as effortless as monkeys.Then warriors display their expertise with nun-chucks and Kill Bill style whirly things. They even sparred with swords while blindfolded. Amazing.

By now it was time for the parade. I'm not a huge fan of parades but I thought this might be a little different experience. It wasn't. We'd seen all the excitement I had hope for so we only stuck around long enough to see the dragon which was maybe 60 feet long manned by about 20. It was a very interesting cultural experience plus I found my new favorite go to gift shop called Flock Shop. The owners, Michelle and her husband, insist on carrying only domestically made artisan items for the urban lifestyle. Just another reason to visit Chinatown.