Author: andres@davidperry.com

More than 50,000 Visit American Premiere of Global Winter Wonderland

Spectacular Giant Lanterns Create a Magical World of Holiday Light

Next to Great America in Santa Clara through January 2, 2012

www.globalwonderland.org

28 November 2011 – Santa Clara, CA: They came, they “oohed”, they “awed” and they got to visit the Eiffel Tower, Golden Gate Bridge, Statue of Liberty and, oh yes, even the Taj Mahal. The “they” is more than 50,000 people who streamed through the gates of the Global Winter Wonderland (www.globalwonderland.org) in its American Premiere next to Santa Clara’s California’s Great America during this past Thanksgiving Weekend. 


“We built it and they came, and they’re still coming,” said Lulu Huang, head of Fremont’s International Culture Exchange Group that produced Global Winter Wonderland. “Ever since I saw my first lantern festival near my home in China, I knew that I wanted to bring this unique cultural experience to my new home, here in California.”

A new take on traditional Chinese lantern festivals, Huang’s Global Winter Wonderland is the largest such festival ever presented outside of China. The lanterns, some as large as 50 feet tall and 100 feet wide, are illuminated by 30,000 low-voltage LEDs and fluorescent lights, with several of the structures powered by solar panels, all connected with over 13 miles of electrical wire. Global Winter Wonderland’s gigantic lanterns depict famous architectural landmarks from around the world, including the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Big Ben, Chichen Itza, and many others; animals real and imagined; a Dinosaur Maze; a Holiday Village celebrating holiday traditions and cuisines from around the world, and much more.

On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, hundreds of people lined up hours before the opening to witness the traditional sunset lighting of the first lantern. In this case, the honor was given to Gao Zhansheng, Consul General of The People’s Republic of China, who pushed the button to light up a huge lantern replica of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, which then triggered lanterns bursting forth with light throughout the Festival grounds.

The following YouTube interview captured the spontaneous reactions of some of the event’s attendees:

Earlier that day, Santa Claus and the 49er Gold Rush Girls boarded the VTA Light Rail, making 24 stops on their way to Global Winter Wonderland. At 3pm Santa and the Gold Rush Girls led a grand opening parade accompanied by local school children and a traditional Chinese Lion Dance to open the event.

“Global Winter Wonderland is ‘a dream come true’ for our City, hotels and local businesses,” said Steve Van Dorn, President & CEO of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau who officiated at the opening ceremonies. “This is normally a slower time of year for meetings and leisure travelers. Global Winter Wonderland fills this void while also bringing different cultures together to experience this very special event”.

In addition to the economic benefit and cultural panache of Global Winter Wonderland, there is a decidedly “green tinge” to the spectacle. To construct Global Winter Wonderland, dozens of workers used 600 gallons of glue to stretch more than 30,000 yards of colored silk around the lanterns’ steel frames, built from over 80 tons of steel. Global Winter Wonderland showcases more than 40 amazing eco-friendly lanterns, designed by the same team of engineers who built lanterns for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, built from recycled materials that include over 14,000 plastic bottles, 35,000 glass bottles, beverage cans, bottle caps, CDs, porcelain dishes and metal flatware.

Global Winter Wonderland is located just east of US 101 in the Parking Lot adjacent to Great America, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054. The festival is open weekends from 4 pm to 11 pm, and will be open daily from December 16 through January 2. Dates and hours of operation are:

• Friday through Sunday, November 25–27, December 2–4, and December 9–11, 4 pm to 11 pm.
• Daily from Friday, December 16, through Monday, January 2; Friday–Saturday, 4 pm to 11 pm, Sunday–Thursday, 4 pm to 10 pm.

Admission at the gate is $12 for adults (13-61); $10 for children (4-12) and Seniors (62+); with children 3 & under admitted free. Save money and purchase tickets online at www.globalwonderland.org or by phone at 1-(888) 768-7469.

Ten Years of Tangerine

On Friday, December 2, San Francisco’s Acclaimed Pan Asian Restaurant Celebrates a Decade of Delicious Dining

www.tangerinesf.com

28 November 2011 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA: In an era of fast food and fast departures from the restaurant scene, Tangerine (www.tangerinesf.com), the iconic San Francisco restaurant made famous by Chef Sean’s acclaimed California and Pacific Rim cuisine, is celebrating an admirable benchmark: its tenth year of delicious dining at 3499 16th Street at Sanchez in San Francisco’s Castro District.

“Friendly food and delicious atmosphere are the key to longevity,” says Tangerine co-owner and Executive Chef Sean Pattanasuvoranun. “In restaurant years, two years is success: ten is a blessing.”

“Our guests treat us like their dining room, and we like it that way,” says Tangerine co-owner Peter Goss. “This proves that our loyal clientele and every day new customers appreciate quality food, creatively prepared at a reasonable price.”

To mark the occasion, Tangerine will revamp its menu and add a special section: “Ten Years of Favorites” bringing back some of the restaurant’s original favorites such as Drunken Duck, Sea Bass Edamame and Tempura Vegetables with Juniper Berry Broth. Throughout the day of Friday, December 2 – for both brunch and dinner – Chef Sean and Goss will be on hand to welcome and thank their friends, guests and neighbors. Complimentary “anniversary cake” and sparkling wine or apple cider will be served with every meal.

Over the last decade, Tangerine has won several awards, including CitySearch and Open Table notices for “Best Brunch” and from CitySearch for “Best Pan Asian Food.” The restaurant continues to work in partnership with the neighboring Sanchez College Preparatory School and support various programs for the children, including the Primary Intervention Program as well has health, nutrition and slow food events. During the filming of MILK, Oscar-winner Sean Penn dined regularly at Tangerine as did Director Gus Van Sant who called it one of his favorite restaurants in Passport Magazine.

Throughout the week, the restaurant features a number of popular discounts and specials for its loyal clientele.

“Locals Love It” weekday brunch discount: 10% off normal brunch prices Wednesday / Thursday / Friday.
“Wine on Wednesdays” when diners get a free glass of house wine with every dinner entre
“Thrifty Thursdays” with easy-on-the wallet $9.95 dinner specials.
“Two for One Sundays” with 2-for-the-price of one on all glasses and bottles of wine during dinner.

Tangerine is the San Francisco “neighborhood restaurant that will always do you right” (SF Examiner). “A Castro favorite for dinner and brunch, it’s conveniently located at 16th and Sanchez and offers outstanding and inexpensive Pacific Rim cuisine by Chef Sean,” (Bettyslist.com / David Grabstald). Featuring California / Pacific Rim cuisine, Tangerine’s “glorious” and “vividly executed food” (SF Bay Guardian) has made this “cool, airy, orange-hued eatery in the Castro” (Asian Week) a favorite with discerning Bay Area diners. Tangerine as “a well executed menu that conforms to a purist standard. The textured menu is full of surprises both subtle and spicy and is, in my view, worth repeated investigation.” (Teddy Valentine Witherington, Bay Times). This “casually attractive dining spot in a quiet corner of the Castro cooks up complex, delicious examples of Pacific Rim fusion.”(SF Weekly). “The food is superb here and the service splendid. This Castro neighborhood restaurant, brimming with the color tangerine, serves up food from the Pacific Rim. The scrumptious dishes will make your mouth water and have you returning for more. Gives me a good excuse to return.” (Liam Mayclem of CBS-5’s “Eye on the Bay.”)

Tangerine is located at 3499 16th Street, at Sanchez, in San Francisco’s Castro District. Tangerine is open Wednesday – Sunday: 10am ‘til 3pm for brunch; 5pm ‘til 10pm for dinner. The restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays except for special events and private parties. Reservations phone: (415) 626-1700 / info@tangerinesf.com / www.tangerinesf.com

Santa Claus and the 49ers Gold Rush Girls lead the parade to Grand Opening of Global Winter Wonderland

California’s Great America Parking Lot, Santa Clara

November 25 – January 2, 2012


Travel the World this holiday season at U.S. Premiere of Traditional Chinese Lantern Festival with Spectacular Lanterns, Live Entertainment, and International Cuisine

www.globalwonderland.org

23 November 2011 – Santa Clara, CA: Ho! Ho! Ho! The holidays are here, and Global Winter Wonderland invites you to kick them off with an official parade and lighting ceremony led by Santa Claus and the 49er Gold Rush Girls! On Friday, November 25, the Merry Old Elf with his escort of cheerleaders will board the South Bay’s VTA light rail for transport to the magical site of Global Winter Wonderland (www.globalwonderland.org) on Great America Parkway in Santa Clara. From November 25 – January 2, gigantic illuminated lanterns depicting the world’s greatest architectural achievements — such as the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, Chichen Itza, and the Golden Gate Bridge — will light up the sky from the parking lot adjacent to California’s Great America in Santa Clara. Covering more than nine acres, the festival showcases hundreds of amazing lantern displays, some of them more than 50-feet tall and nearly 100-feet wide, all lit by 30,000 energy-efficient lightbulbs. The centerpiece of Global Winter Wonderland is a 33-foot tall Christmas Tree Lantern. The tree and all the lanterns will be lit with Santa’s arrival on Friday, November 25, the day after Thanksgiving. Advance tickets can be ordered online at www.globalwonderland.org or by phone at 1 (888) 768-7469.

On Friday, November 25, at 1:30pm Santa Claus and the 49er Gold Rush Girls will board the VTA Light Rail at the Campbell/Winchester station, making 24 stops along the way, arriving at the Great America/Tasman Station in Santa Clara at 2:45pm, across from Global Winter Wonderland. At 3:00pm Santa and the Gold Rush Girls will lead the parade to Global Winter Wonderland accompanied by local school children and a traditional Chinese Lion Dance. Then at sunset history will be made when the Consul General of The People’s Republic of China, Gao Zhansheng, pushes the button to light up the lanterns throughout the Festival Grounds.

In additional to iconic landmarks, highlights of Global Winter Wonderland include the Holiday Village and Chinatown exhibit, featuring more than 40 eco-friendly lanterns made from recycled materials such as beverage cans, bottle caps, CDs, porcelain dishes and metal flatware, designed by the same team of engineers who built lanterns for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Other features include a dinosaur maze, carnival games, international cuisine, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and celebrations of holiday traditions from around the world.

Created by the International Culture Exchange Group, the U.S. debut of Global Winter Wonderland offers a fun and entertaining opportunity to experience the rich cultures and holiday traditions of the world, right here in California. Major sponsors of this family holiday event include the San Francisco 49ers and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).


Located in the parking lot adjacent to Great America (4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA), Global Winter Wonderland is open weekends beginning Friday, November 25, from 4pm to 11pm, and open daily from December 16 through January 2. Dates and hours of operation are:

• Friday through Sunday, November 25–27, December 2–4, and December 9–11, 4 pm to 11 pm.
• Daily from Friday, December 16, through Monday, January 2; Friday–Saturday, 4 pm to 11 pm, Sunday–Thursday, 4 pm to 10 pm.

Admission at the gate is $12 for adults (13-61); $10 for children (4-12) and Seniors (62+); children 3 and under are admitted free. Save money and purchase tickets online at www.globalwonderland.org or by phone at 1-(888) 768-7469.

Chinese Historical Society Of America Museum Celebrates 10-Years in famed Julia Morgan Building in San Francisco’s Chinatow

All day celebration, Saturday, November 12: 11am-4pm

Celebration coincides with birthday of iconic Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen

www.chsa.org

7 November 2011 – San Francisco, CA: Ten years ago, The Chinese Historical Society of America (www.chsa.org) opened a Museum in the landmark Julia Morgan-designed Chinatown YWCA Building at 965 Clay Street in San Francisco. On Saturday, November 12, 2011, the Chinese Historical Society invites the community for a FREE day-long 10th Anniversary Celebration from 11am to 4pm, featuring lion dancing, exhibits, music, refreshments, and talks on Chinese American art, culture, and history. In addition, a special performance will commemorate the birthday of iconic Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen, celebrated that same day, November 12. To RSVP to these activities, please call (415) 391-1188, x101 or info@chsa.org.

“Today, our stories are more important than ever. Our 10th Anniversary is a huge milestone to the community—celebrating a decade in our beautiful museum and a half century that CHSA has existed,” CHSA Executive Director Sue Lee said. “From our humble beginnings as a historical society with invaluable collections, we are proud to have built up to a museum and learning institution. We look forward to many more years of sharing our remarkable stories.”

For the last five decades, CHSA has brought the largely untold stories of the Chinese American experience to the American historical narrative. From the beginnings of Chinese immigration in the 19th century to recent years when political & public achievement has reached unprecedented heights, CHSA is committed to honoring and growing this vibrant community with exhibits, theater performances, public programs, and publications.

Entertainment Line-up for November 12 includes:
11am: Opening Ceremony Lion Dance by Chung Ngai Dance Troupe
12 noon: Chinatown Miniatures Presentation by Artist Frank Wong
1pm: History Alive! Performance “Sun Yat-sen & The Three People’s Principles” by Artist-in-Residence Charlie Chin
2pm: A Musical Tribute to CHSA Museum by Pianist Jon Jang & Saxophonist Francis Wong of Asian Improv aRts
3pm — “Finding Jake Lee: The Paintings at Kan’s” Talk by CHSA Executive Director Sue Lee about the Museum’s popular exhibition

The artists and performers will be available for audience discussion. Through November and December 2011, Museum admission is FREE, courtesy of PG&E.

Founded in 1963, CHSA is the oldest and largest organization in the country dedicated to the documentation, study, and presentation of Chinese American history. Through exhibitions, publications, and educational and public programs, CHSA promotes the contributions and legacy of Chinese America. In 2001, CHSA relocated to the historic YWCA building, designed in 1932 by prolific and innovative architect Julia Morgan. The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum is located at 965 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA 94108. For information contact (415) 391-1188 or info@chsa.org or go online to www.chsa.org

ABOUT THE NOVEMBER 12th PROGRAM

Chung Ngai Dance Troupe Established in 1966, Chung Ngai Dance Troupe is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Chinese culture in the U.S. through performing arts, where it is now one of the premier lion dance troupes. Since the 1970’s, Chung Ngai has been a staple unit of the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade.

Frank Wong Born and raised in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Frank Wong attended Galileo High School and became a set designer for numerous movies and plays in Hollywood, including Magnum PI. He also spent much of his time working in Hawaii before returning to Chinatown. Frank Wong’s miniature dioramas span an array of different Chinatown scenes, including an herb shop, a holiday scene, shoeshine station, and a single room occupancy hotel.

Charlie Chin in “Sun Yat-sen & the Three People’s Principles” CHSA Artist-in-Residence Charlie Chin is a renowned writer, historian and performer. This museum theater piece features the unique story of Dr. Sun’s life in America before returning as the first provisional President of the Republic of China. This program illuminates the link between the modern history of China and the history of Chinese America. It also explores the linkage between democratic ideas pursued in the post-American Civil War era and the aspirations of Chinese, both in China and in America. The program also marks the Centennial of the 1911 Chinese Revolution, a key moment shared by Chinese throughout the global diaspora.

Asian Improv aRts’ (AIR) is a non-profit multidisciplinary arts presenter that produces arts and cultural events for 24 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Community based and major venues include: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (with Dohee Lee’s FLUX), Great American Music Hall (with SF Jazz), and Zellerbach Playhouse (Cal Performances) as well as various venues outside the Bay Area including the Museum of Contemporary Arts (Chicago), Flynn Center (Vermont), Library of Congress (Washington DC) and Banlieues Bleus Festival (Paris, France). AIR pursues a strategy of collaboration between artists, community resources and mainstream institutions to create cultural and educational programming that brings together diverse sectors across generational, cultural and social experiences.

“Finding Jake Lee: The Paintings at Kan’s” Exhibit Artist Jake Lee (1911–1991) is emerging as the visual chronicler of the Chinese American past. Lee was born in Guangzhou, China and grew up in Monterey, California. He studied at San Jose State College and Otis Art Institute and had a prolific career as a commercial artist and an art teacher. In 1959, Johnny Kan, owner of the landmark Kan’s Restaurant in Chinatown, commissioned a series of 12 watercolor paintings by Lee, which hung for many years in Kan’s private Gum Shan (“Gold Mountain”) dining room. CHSA recently recovered eight of the paintings, which are now on display in the “Finding Jake Lee: The Paintings at Kan’s” exhibit.