Plainsboro Public Library invites the community to celebrate the Year of the Snake on Saturday, February 23, at 1 p.m.
The festivities begin with a reception in the art gallery for three generations of artists, Grace Kwok, Allison Kwok, and Choi-Ying Chui, whose combined exhibit features beading, Chinese knotting, and paper cutting (The News, February 1).
Children will be treated to a special story time with Miss Liv at 2 p.m. Students of the Southern Shaolin Academy present a traditional Lion Dance at 2:30 p.m.
Cultural entertainment begins in the newly renovated community room at 3 p.m. Highlights of the musical performances include the Bravura Youth Symphonic Orchestra and Shaolin Liu, who will play tunes on the erhu, a two-stringed fiddle. The Happi Tai Chi Group presents a fan dance and a sword dance.
Experience hands-on Chinese culture from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sample Chinese cooking, courtesy of Plainsboro’s Asian Food Market. Michael Shiue presents Chinese calligraphy and pictures are brush painted by Yuchen Chen and Sissi Lu. David Lee, also known as the Dough Man, has new creations. Tangram puzzles and a crafts table will be hosted by Qing Xue. PNC Bank bring the big wheel to experience a bit of Atlantic City.
Children’s games and prizes begin at 5 p.m. in the community room. Adults are welcome to join in the library’s adaptation of the lantern riddle tradition. There will be hundreds of puzzles, in both Chinese and English, waiting to be solved.
The library’s monthly used book sale will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “You may even find books and films in Chinese there,” says Eileen Burnash, director of the library. “We have one of the largest Mandarin collections in the Mercer-Middlesex County area. The library also maintains a major collection of English language books about Chinese art and Chinese translations of classic American authors.”
The red envelopes, one of the holiday traditions, will be distributed by local elders and political dignitaries. Usually filled with money, the red envelopes will be filled with golden coins — chocolate. “Everyone will also get a juicy orange in the spirit of the holiday’s customs,” says Burnash.
Chinese New Year’s Celebration, Plainsboro Public Library, 9 Van Doren Street. Saturday, February 23, 1 to 6 p.m. Reception in the art gallery features works of Grace Kwok, Allison Kwok, and Choi-Ying Chui, three generations of artists. Story time with Miss Liv at 2 p.m. Traditional lion dance presented by students of Southern Shaolin Academy at 2:30 p.m. Musical performance by Bravura Youth Symphonic Orchestra and Shaolin Liu on the Erhu; and a fan dance and sword dance by the Happy Tai Chi Group at 3 p.m. Chinese cooking presented by Asian Food Market, Chinese calligraphy by Michael Shiue, and brush painted pictures by Yuchen Chen and Sissi Lu. David Lee presents dough art. Tangram puzzles, children’s games, books for sales, and prizes. Library services will be open only from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event has been coordinated by Iris Chang, a library trustee. 609-275-2897. www.lmxac.org/plainsboro.
