February 2021
Volume 16 Issue 2
CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL 2021
ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE RECEIVES MLK JR. BUSINESS AWARD
VALENTINE’S SPECIAL:
COUPLES CELEBRATE 50+ YEARS OF MARRIAGE
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PRESIDENT’S NOTE Asian Avenue Magazine was honored to receive the Martin Luther King Jr. Business Award last month in celebration of MLK Jr. Day. This award recognized community leaders and businesses that embody the spirit of Dr. King. Thank you to the Asian Chamber of Commerce for nominating us for this distinguished honor. Being among the esteemed group of recipients was inspiring and has furthered our conviction to be advocates of social justice. In February, we highlight the beautiful stories of Asian couples in Colorado who have been married for more than 50 years—several of which were arranged marriages. Each couple has endured the challenges of immigrating to the US and raising a family. They have grown old together—a dream that many of us hope for. Take their advice as together, they have a combined 297 years of marriage! We are excited to share the story of Howard Chou, Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, in this issue! We hope his leadership and political engagement as a Chinese American in our state motivates you as much as it does us at Asian Avenue! Our community is lucky to have him in our state working tirelessly to advance equity and inclusion, register more AAPI voters, and encourage AAPIs to run for political office. Like everything else, lunar new year celebrations will be virtual this year. Sadly, it’s not quite the same watching a lively lion dance and hearing loud drums from behind a screen. But we hope you will still find ways to celebrate and ring in the Year of the Ox on February 12. Visit Truong An Gifts to pick up red envelopes, new year decorations, and Asian snacks! We will have our Asian Avenue LNY boxes available through the end of February. Lunar new year and Valentine’s Day also fall on the same weekend this year, so you may consider a two-in-one way to celebrate! Check out our 9 Valentine’s Day ideas for inspiration! Happy new year and happy Valentine’s Day to you all! Annie Guo VanDan, President | Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com
President’s Note | Asian Avenue Magazine
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FEB 2021 5
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FEATURE: Asian Avenue Magazine receives the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Business Award
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COMMUNITY UPDATE: COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan
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COVER STORY: Couples reflect on 50+ years of marriage and building a life together in Colorado
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COVER STORY: 9 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
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FEATURE: Lantern Festival
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HEALTH: 6 Tips to Create Healthy Meals for Your Family SPOTLIGHT: Howard Chou takes on leadership in Colorado politics RESTAURANT PEEK: Seoul Mandoo brings giant-sized Korean dumplings to Aurora RESTAURANT PEEK: China Cafe II delivers on beef noodle soups and dumplings from Northern China INSIDE STORY: Denver Kunming Sister Cities celebrates the new year
20 ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE
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February 2021 | Table of Contents
2 YEAR 24 Issues for $40 Payment Enclosed Bill Me
President ANNIE GUO VANDAN Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web Designer JASON ZHANG Marketing Manager JOIE HA Marketing Coordinator LINA ZHU Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG Staff Writer JESSALYN HERRERIA LANGEVIN
on the cover Asian Avenue’s Annie Guo VanDan (President) and Christina Yutai Guo (Publisher) receive the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Business Award. Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine.
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P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com
Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO
Looking to promote your business? Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses a costeffective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For more information, call 303.937.6888 or e-mail us at marketing@asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates. Send story ideas to info@asianavemag.com. Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
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Asian Avenue Magazine receives the
2021 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BUSINESS AWARD
Christina Yutai Guo Publisher of Asian Avenue Magazine
“
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On January 15, the 36th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Awards ceremony celebrated community leaders and corporations that proudly represent the spirit of Dr. King. Asian Avenue Magazine was among the outstanding 2021 recipients which included Marsha Brown, Demesha Hill, Carla Ladd, Morris Price, Jr., The Other Side Academy and Roz Duman. During the Livestream awards ceremony, both the Governor of Colorado Jared Polis and Mayor of Denver Michael B. Hancock provided a welcome address, followed by “Reflections on the Past 36 Years” by former Mayor of Denver, Wellington E. Webb and Founder and Chair Emeritus, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission, Wilma J. Webb. Governor Polis congratulated the award recipients by saying: “Dr. King’s commit-
Asian Avenue Magazine is an English print publication in Colorado dedicated to sharing Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) experiences and cultures. Founded in July 2006 by the mother-daughter team of Christina Yutai Guo and Annie Guo VanDan, the monthly magazine has published more than 200 issues over the past 15 years. Asian Avenue Magazine provides a platform for AAPI voices in Colorado. In 2009, Christina and Annie founded the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network to promote leadership programs for young AAPI women and students. Most notably, they present the annual Asian American Hero of Colorado awards, recognizing AAPI leaders for their work in the community. Significantly, Asian Avenue Magazine has explored where Asians fit into the Black Lives Matter Movement. This June 2020, the magazine published a Statement of Solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.
ment to justice, equality, nonviolence, and serving others allowed him to lead a movement for social, institutional, and legal changes. These individuals and organizations deserve our heartfelt gratitude for doing their part to emulate King’s ideals and make his dream a reality. Colorado is better because of you and in these most challenging times, your work is more important than ever.” In his keynote address, John Hickenlooper, U.S. Senator from Colorado said: “I know that we can and we will achieve social justice and tackle the civil rights issues of our time. To do it together, we must accept the baton from our freedom fighters who died too early, but were catalytic to monumental change... we must never lose sight of the dream.”
The event was produced by Stephen Straight and moderated by journalist Tamara Banks. Asian Avenue Magazine was nominated for this award by the Asian Chamber of Commerce.
Watch the awards ceremony at mlkbusiness awards.org.
MLK Jr. Business Award | asian avenue magazine
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Colorado COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan To be as fair and efficient with distribution as possible, the state has developed a phased approach to vaccine distribution to save lives and end the crisis. All information below (and much more) available at: covid19.colorado.gov. PHASE 1 WINTER 2020 - 2021
1A
• Highest-risk health care workers and individuals: • People who have direct contact with COVID-19 patients for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. • Long-term care facility staff and residents.
1B
• Coloradans age 70+, moderate-risk health care workers, first responders, frontline essential workers, and continuity of state government: • Health care workers with less direct contact with COVID-19 patients (e.g. home health, hospice, pharmacy, dental, etc.) and EMS. • Firefighters, police, COVID-19 response personnel, correctional workers, and funeral services. • People age 70 and older. • Frontline essential workers in education, food and agriculture, manufacturing, U.S. postal service, public transit and specialized transportation staff, grocery, public health, frontline essential human service workers, and direct care providers for Coloradans experiencing homelessness. • Essential officials from executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government. • Essential frontline journalists.
PHASE 2 SPRING 2021 • Higher-risk individuals and other essential workers: • People age 60-69. • People age 16-59 with obesity, diabetes, chronic lung disease, significant heart disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, or are immunocompromised. • Other essential workers and continuity of local government. • Adults who received a placebo during a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial.
PHASE 3 SUMMER 2021 • The general public: anyone age 16-59. Colorado is in Phase 1A and 1B. 631 vacccine providers 410,050 people immunized with 1 dose 109,208 people immunized with 2 doses as of Jan. 27, 2021
WHERE DO I GET THE VACCINE? The majority of early phase 1 recipients will receive the vaccine through their employer, local public health agency or through the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? It will be free. The cost will not be an obstacle to getting the vaccine. Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance are required to cover the cost of the COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, uninsured Coloradans will have access to free vaccines. A vaccine provider may not turn you away for the vaccine because of an inability to pay or your medical coverage status.
“Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available to us. To slow the spread of disease, Coloradans should continue to use basic public health guidance, like physical distancing and mask-wearing, until a vaccine is widely available and used by Coloradans.” Reminder from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 6
February 2021 | Community Update
CAN I GET COVID-19 FROM THE VACCINE? A COVID-19 vaccine will give you protection against the disease without having to get sick with the actual virus. It is not possible to get COVID-19 from a vaccine, but it is possible to get symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19. The goal of the vaccine is to provide your body with the tools it needs to fight the COVID-19 virus if you were to get infected. HOW DO WE KNOW THE VACCINE IS SAFE? The FDA requires that vaccines undergo a rigorous scientific process, including three phases of clinical trials, before they authorize or approve the vaccine. To date, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board overseeing Phase 3 trials of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has not identified or reported any serious safety concerns.
Wendy Bui
Chuong Lai Littleton Age: 88
“We decided for my dad to get vaccinated because of the risks if he caught COVID from transmission.Seniors his age most likely would not make it if they got COVID. He got his first dose of Moderna on January 11 and his second dose on February 8. He registered through his primary care provider. He received the shot within ten minutes of checking in, and you need to wait 15 minutes after the shot to make sure there are no side effects. I took him because he does not drive. The process was fairly easy for my dad, but I know that hasn’t been the case for most.” [Interview with daughter Yen Lai]
Jeannie Tran Denver Nurse
“My hospital was fortunate to get enough doses for all employees who wanted a vaccine. We were able to sign up online, those who work in areas with more exposure (ICU and Emergency Department) got to sign up first. I got the vaccine so that I could protect the patients that I work with and also protect my family and friends. I don’t want to see more lives being lost. I want us to be able to get back to some sort of normalcy again.”
Denver Healthcare Worker
“I know there are a lot of misconceptions about the vaccine, but it is safe and I know much safer than getting COVID. I got this vaccine because I believe in science. Thank you to all those who played a vital role in making this happen. From the brilliant and hard-working individuals that developed this vaccine to those that scheduled the appointments and administered it. I hope that in the months ahead when you are given the opportunity to receive it, please think twice before you decline it. Together we can fight COVID.”
COVID-19 Vaccine | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Love
Long-lasting
Colorado Couples Celebrates 50+ Years of Marriage In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Asian Avenue magazine interviewed couples who have been together for more than 50 years. On top of marriage and children, these couples also faced adversities immigrating to the U.S. and rebuilding their lives and families in Colorado. In this feature, they reflect on their wedding day and also share advice as to what has worked for them to make a lasting marriage. Take heed!
Samuel &
Jessica Kim
Korean | Married for 63 Years Samuel (88) and Jessica (84) Kim have been
married for 63 years. They immigrated to the US from Korea and have been Colorado residents since 1976. Recently, Jessica was featured on PeopleTV for making 3,000 masks. Together, they own properties in Aurora that house Third Culture Bakery, Baba and Pops and Lady Justice Brewing Company.
How did you meet? A blind date. Describe your wedding day. Dec 20, 1957: We were dressed in both traditional Korean outfit and western style. Back then and in Korea, it was said that a smiling bride brings bad luck so we looked stoic in all their wedding photos. We sang Elvis’ Love Me Tender at our reception. What was the happiest moment of your life together? It has to see our four children born, grow up and become responsible adults and in turn have their own children. We are proud to see each generation do better than the generation before. What was the most difficult time in your life together? Immigrant life the first twenty years. Coming to the US with four young kids in mid-life and not speaking English. Marriage advice: Be considerate to your partner and do no harm.
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February 2021 | Cover Story
Quding Zhou & Shaoru Wang
Chinese | Married for 65 Years
Shaoru Wang (88) and Quding Zhou (95) have been married for 65 years. After writing letters to each other for a while (they were long distance at the beginning of the relationship), they started having feelings for each other. The couple got married in 1956 with a simple wedding as husband Quding was busy traveling for work. The couple believe that having a good marriage means understanding and tolerating each other. This mentality has helped them get through some of the most challenging times in their marriage.
How did the couple meet? Shaoru’s aunt and grandpa worked together at the Iron and Steel Institute in Beijing in 1952 (which later became the Beijing University of Science and Technology). Her aunt introduced Quding to her. Since Shaoru lived in Taiyuan and Quding lived in Beijing, they initially wrote letters to keep in touch with each other. Quding was an assistant professor and every year during the summer and winter, he would take his students to the steel plant in Taiyuan for internships. There, he would meet Shaoru, and thus their relationship grew stronger. Describe their wedding day. Shaoru and Quding got married on February 11, 1956. Because husband Quding was very busy at that time, the wedding was very simple and held in my his office at the university. Relatives and colleagues attended, sweets and tea were set up, and that was it. After the wedding, the couple went to a photo studio in town to take some wedding photos. What was the happiest moment of their marriage? The happiest time was when Quding took students to lecture all over the country during winter and summer. In between lectures, he would travel with Shaoru in the area—eating and drinking. What was the most challenging time during your life together? When Quding was busy doing research and lectures, he would spend ten months traveling for work during the year. Shaoru used to get upset at him because she had to take care of the children on her own. Even when their son was born, Quding was working out of town so Shaoru gave birth to her son alone in the hospital. However, Shaoru later realized that Quding spent so much time on scientific research because he wanted to contribute to the development of China. She got used to it after a long time and stopped complaining about Quding’s frequent absence ever since. Marriage advice: Be patient when your spouse may lose his/her temper. Make an effort to understand and tolerate each other, never placing blame. Interview was with the couple in Mandarin and translated into English Long-lasting Love | asian avenue magazine
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How did your parents meet? While in college in New York, they were introduced to each other through a mutual friend because they were the youngest ones there. Eight years after they got married, they left New York (where both their families lived) to move to Colorado due to my dad’s job. Describe their wedding day. They were young. Mom was 19, and it was Dad’s 20th birthday. The reception was held at a small house in New York, so it was very crowded with 30-40 people in attendance, made up of immediate family (Dad has seven siblings) and some close friends. Only my mom’s father and one sister were present (of her six siblings), as the rest of her family were still in the Philippines. The weather was pleasant. My dad’s recollection of the day: “I was nervous and in a fog.” How many children do they have? 3 children — 2 sons and a daughter What was the happiest moment of their life together? Happiest moments are always the times we have been able to share with family -- whether we are on a family vacation exploring new places or a quiet Christmas at home, sharing quality time means the most to them. What was a most challenging time during their life together? We lost my brother two days before Christmas 2019, and then the pandemic hit in early 2020, so this past year has been very difficult for the whole family. Through the darkest days, my parents continue to find strength in each other and their relationship through God. How do they celebrate their anniversary? Usually they celebrate the day with family and close family friends. For their 25th wedding anniversary, my parents had a full wedding ceremony and reception that was the bash of the century. They both turned 70 last year and also celebrated 50 years together. We had hoped to do a big event for their 50th anniversary, but sadly the pandemic hit and changed all our plans. Interview with Tina Hong (daughter of Ed and Natee) Marriage advice: Trust. Lean on each other’s strengths.
Ed &
Natee Anolin
Filipino | Married for 50 Years
Ed and Natee Anolin (both 70) have been active in Colorado’s Asian community for more than 40 years. They have both won multiple awards through their involvement in organizations such as the Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership and Philippine American Society of Colorado. When they first moved to the state, they made many new friends in the Filipino community, many of which they are still good friends with today. Having been married for 50 years, they love to dance and tend to be the life of the party on the dance floor.
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February 2021 | Cover Story
Describe your wedding day. On April 23, 1966, there were normal rituals performed by the bride and groom in our respective homes. In the evening, the Barat procession took place at the bride’s residence, where a big pandal was erected to welcome the procession, perform cultural and religious ceremonies, followed by a grand dinner. At that time, many serious restrictions had been imposed by the government restricting the number of guests, and the number and types of dishes to be served. These were austerity measures strictly enforced by police, since India was under the shadow of shortages of essential commodities like food-grains, milk and milk products, etc. On April 24, a reception was held in a prestigious five star Imperial Hotel in the center of New Delhi city. The Minister of Railways, Government of India, and Local Delhi City Mayor graced the function.
Dr. Kishan K. Khanna
& Aruna Prabha
Indian | Married for 55 Years
Dr. Kishan K. Khanna (82) and Aruna Prabha (74) were married in New Delhi, India in 1966. They first met in 1963 when Aruna’s father met Dr. Khanna during a business meeting in his office at Firozepur, Punjab, India. The Indian couple has lived in Colorado since 1999. Dr. Khanna has a Ph.D. in Law and was an attorney in civil, criminal and business law.
How many children do you have? We have one daughter and one son. Our daughter Namita Khanna Nariani is the President of Mudra Dance Studio, and also an architect with a master’s degree from CU-Boulder. She is married to her college classmate Sanjiv Nariani, and together they own an architectural firm N@DESIGN P.C. They are both great dancers and founded Mudra Dance Studio in 1992. The studio is a 501c3 organization devoted to teaching various dance forms and performing arts of India. Namita and Sanjiv’s children, our granddaughters, are also both great dancers. Eishu is now a psychology graduate and registered nurse, and Ninaad is studying to become a teacher. Our son Karunesh Khanna is a practicing attorney of Colorado, working in a very senior position in the federal government in Washington. What was the happiest moment of their life together? We spent a 3-month long honeymoon in the hills and valleys of Kashmir, particularly in picturesque Shrinagar, Jammu, Pahalgam, and then another well known Hill Station in Uttarakhand, in India. We experienced a long, unequalled period of happy life which included an envied life of being duet singers and performers on stage as a hero and heroine – with Dr. Khanna being a writer, producer, director and actor of Hindi plays in the artistic nawab city of Lucknow in India. What was a most challenging time during their life together? In 1970, we left for the USA when Dr. Khanna received admission for a Ph.D. program and teaching fellowship from Kent State University. In less than three years, Dr. Khanna earned both a Master and Ph.D. degree and later, the UNESCO award for his PhD. dissertation. These were difficult times for the family as Dr. Khanna pursued higher education in a new country, while Mrs. Khanna took care of the house, including their first child Namita. Marriage advice: Conflict develops often from very small issues, which must be overlooked with better perseverance and feelings of give and take. Actually, no individual remains the same all his or her life. Divorce is not the solution for marital conflicts because it causes a break not only in the individuals’ life but it adversely affects the children and the general society. One important advice to young couples is to not rush to the courts, as lawyers generally add fuel to fire and must be avoided unless the situation is really very bad. Find someone who can help mediate. Both individuals better make some adjustments in approach to life to avoid the long term ill effects of divorce. Long-lasting Love | asian avenue magazine
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How did the couple meet? Risheng and Xiuying grew up as neighbors in Huaiyang City, Jiangsu Province. At that time, several children in the neighborhood played shuttlecock for recreation, and Risheng and Xiuying were the two best players in the neighborhood, so they got to know each other and played together all the time. At that time there was no concept of love. Since both of them were the oldest in their family, they were not allowed to go to school but had to start working to support their family at a very young age. After they knew each other for many years, their families arranged their marriage. Describe their wedding day. Risheng and Xiuying married in 1957 before the Spring Festival. In Chinese traditional culture, it is important to bring a daughter-in-law home for the Chinese New Year. At that time, the two families were not rich, so the wedding was very simple. It was held with the help of colleagues from work, and the couple prepared five pieces of clothing (cotton jacket, cotton pants, and so on) as a dowry. What was the happiest moment in their marriage? Three of the happiest moments of their marriage are: when they had their first child; when their son went to college as they were very proud of his effort and achievement during a difficult time; and when they immigrated to the U.S. and finally received the green card. What was a challenging time during their life together? They don’t think they have encountered many difficulties during their marriage because both of them were busy working and taking their children. They worked hard every day and came home and just wanted to sleep, so they didn’t have much energy to fight or argue. Xiuying believes in faith, so she doesn’t complain much and believes everything happens for a reason. Marriage advice: Trust is important. Tolerate each other’s shortcomings/weaknesses, try to understand each other, be respectful, learn how to communicate with each other, and always think about the issue from the other person’s perspective. As a couple, try to solve the problem in private instead of sharing it with many outsiders. Sometimes you have to sacrifice for each other. An appropriate amount of sacrifice is necessary for marriage. Interview was with the couple in Mandarin and translated into English
Risheng Du & Xiuying Bian Chinese | Married for 64 Years Risheng Du (89) and his wife Xiuying Bian (83) have been married for 64 years. They grew up as neighbors, playing shuttlecock together around the neighborhood in Huaiyang City, Jiangsu Province, China. After knowing each other for many years, their family thought they would be a good match and arranged their marriage in 1957. Together, they have three beautiful children who now live all over the world. The couple moved to the U.S. in 2003 in order to help take care of their grandchildren.
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February 2021 | Cover Story
9 Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day Holiday celebrations look different these days.
This Valentine’s Day, check out these fun activities you can do with your loved one.
1. Romance Under The Sea
5. Denver Nuggets V. Los Angeles Lakers
WHEN: Feb. 12–14 WHERE: Downtown Aquarium HOW: Reserve a spot at opentable.com Looking for a unique dining experience this Valentine’s Day? Take your sweetheart to the Downtown Aquarium for a decadent four-course meal, complete with two glasses of champagne and two Aquarium Adventure Passes.
WHEN: Feb. 14 WHERE: On TV/radio, watch from home HOW: Watch on Altitude Sports or listen to KKSE 92.5FM Calling all basketball fans! The Denver Nuggets will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on the court! Cheer on the Nuggets from the comfort of your own home as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers.
2. Boulder Symphony: True Love
6. Couples Spa Escape
WHEN: Feb. 13 WHERE: Boulder Theater HOW: Get tickets at bouldersymphony.org Celebrate music from the last hundred years to today that brings the greatest love stories to life. All tickets are sold at tables of four or eight and include two drinks. Additional beverages, food, and upgrades are also available.
WHEN: Anytime WHERE: Ritz-Carlton’s Couples Spa Escape HOW: Go to ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/colorado/denver/spa Unwind together! The Ritz-Carlton’s Couples Spa Escape offers two hours of relaxation with your partner, including side-byside massages and full, private access to all spa facilities.
3. Virtual Valentine’s Dinner Date
WHEN: Feb. 14 WHERE: Online HOW: Reserve a sport at dug.org/valentines Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) is excited to host local food hero Chef Biju Thomas for an intimate night in with a virtual Valentine’s cooking class! DUG will provide everything, including custom cocktails, live music, and all the ingredients you’ll need to whip up your romantic meal of fattoush (z’atar) salad; winter vegetable roast with chicken, falafel, or crispy tofu; and wildflower honey and butter-poached pistachios in pastry with cinnamon cream.
4. Year of the Golden Ox Celebration WHEN: Feb. 11 at 5:30pm; Feb. 12 and 13 at 9:30am, 1:30pm, 5:30pm WHERE: Online HOW: Get tickets at lonetreeartscenter.org Why not celebrate Valentine’s Day AND Chinese New Year with one event? This Livestream program with three onehour sessions will showcase the diversity of traditional and contemporary Chinese American artists. Programs include dance, music, acrobatics, and Chinese Opera performed by world renowned Chinese American performers living in America and a panel discussion with them.
7. Downtown Horse & Carriage Ride
WHEN: Anytime WHERE: Downtown Denver HOW: Book a ride at irishrosedrafts.com/downtown Take a romantic ride through downtown Denver. Sit up high, snuggled under a blanket, in a Cinderella carriage drawn by magnificent draft horses. As you slowly clip-clop along the streets, you’ll get a different perspective of the sights and lights of downtown Denver.
8. Dillon Ice Castles
WHEN: Thru Feb. 28 WHERE: Dillon Town Park HOW: Get tickets at icecastles.com/colorado Check out the award-winning frozen attraction is built using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists. The castles include breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, ice-carved tunnels, frozen thrones, slides, fountains, and more.
9. Cooking With Cupid
WHEN: Feb. 11–14 WHERE: Online HOW: Visit cookstreet.com/product/cooking-with-cupid Join the chefs at Cook Street for a Valentine’s celebration that’s guaranteed to stir up more than just delicious dishes. These deluxe class sumptuous dishes guaranteed to spoil your palate and an optional wine tasting. Valentine’s Day Ideas | asian avenue magazine
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2021
Lantern Festival Lantern Festival, also called Yuan Xiao Festival (元宵节), is a holiday celebrated in China and many other Asian countries that honor deceased ancestors on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. This year, the Lantern Festival is celebrated on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. The Lantern Festival is a time of reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness. The holiday marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year. After the festival, Chinese New Year taboos are no longer in effect, and all New Year decorations are taken down. The Lantern Festival is also the first full moon night in the Chinese calendar, marking the return of spring and sym-
bolizing the reunion of family. However, most people cannot celebrate it with their family at in a big reunion because the festival is not considered a public holiday, so traveling long distances is not feasible, plus this year—COVID.
Origins of the Lantern Festival The Lantern Festival may have originated as far back as 2,000 years ago during the Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). At that time, Emperor Hanmingdi was an advocate of Buddhism. He heard that some monks lit lanterns in the temples to show respect to Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Therefore, he ordered that all the tem-
ples, households, and royal palaces should light lanterns on that evening. This Buddhist custom gradually became a grand festival among the people.
Traditions Activities and Events According to Chinese tradition, people get together on the night of the Lantern Festival to celebrate with different activities. As China is a vast country with a long history and diverse cultures, Lantern Festival customs vary regionally including lighting and appreciating lanterns, appreciating the bright full moon, setting off fireworks, flying drones, guessing riddles written on lanterns, eating tangyuan, and more. Here is a list of the events that people often do to celebrate the Lantern Festival and the meaning behind it. •
Lighting and Watching Lanterns Lighting and appreciating lanterns is the main activity of the festival. When the festival comes, lanterns of various shapes and sizes are seen everywhere including
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January 2021 | Spotlight February 2021 | Feature
households, shopping malls, parks, and streets—attracting numerous viewers. The lanterns’ artwork vividly demonstrates traditional Chinese images and symbols such as fruits, flowers, birds, animals, people, and buildings. Lighting lanterns is a way for people to pray that they will have a smooth future and express their best wishes for their families. Women who want to be pregnant would walk under a hanging lantern praying for a child. •
Guessing Lantern Riddles Lantern owners write riddles on paper notes and paste them upon the colorful lanterns. People crowd around to guess the riddles. If someone thinks they have the right answer, they can pull the riddle off and go to the lantern owner to check their answer. If the answer is right, there is usually a small gift as a prize. Guessing (solving) lantern riddles, starting in the Song Dynasty (960–1279), is one of the most important and popular activities. Lion Dances The lion dance is one of the most outstanding traditional dances in China. Ancient people regarded the lion as a symbol of bravery and strength and thought that it could scare away evil and protect people and their livestocks. Therefore, lion dances are performed at important events, especially the Lantern Festival, to ward off evil and pray for good fortune and safety. During lion dance, the “lion” moves from place to place looking for some green vegetables and red envelopes in which money are hidden inside. The performance is very amusing and spectators enjoy it very much.
Traditional Foods In China, people in northern China eat Yuanxiao (元宵: glutinous rice balls) while people in southern China eat Tangyuan (汤圆: glutinous rice balls) on Lantern Festival. In fact, Yuanxiao and Tangyuan are both made of glutinous rice flour and
filling; there is not much difference between the ingredients. When you take a look at the two, you might not even be able to tell the difference. Although these two glutinous rice balls are similar in raw material and appearance, they are actually two kinds of food with different practices and tastes. YUANXIAO (元宵 (元宵)) Yuanxiao in Chinese means the evening of the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival was first called Shangyuanjie (上 元节). Because the most important activities in the evening at Lantern Festival are eating Yuanxiao and enjoying the moon and the lanterns, the name of the festival in Chinese gradually changed into Yuanxiaojie (元宵节: Yuanxiao Festival).
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TANGYUAN (汤圆 (汤圆)) Tangyuan is a traditional Chinese snack. It is a ball shape food made from glutinous rice flour. Generally, Tangyuan contains fillings just like Yuanxiao. It is said that the rice ball symbolizes a better life and family reunion, eating Tangyuan means a happy new year. It is the essential food for the Lantern Festival in south China. In some areas of southern China, people even eat Tangyuan instead of dumplings during the Spring Festival. Lantern Spotlight Festival ||asian asianavenue avenuemagazine magazine
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A Romantic Celebration In addition to the celebration of the end of the Chinese New Year, the rarely mentioned part about the festival is that it was traditionally seen as Chinese Valentine’s Day, providing an opportunity for unmarried men and women to meet. In ancient times, young women, especially daughters of eminent families, hardly stepped out of their houses. But during the Lantern Festival, it was a tradition that all people, including those young women, would come out to watch lantern shows. Watching lanterns at night was an opportunity for young women to find a man whose appearance appealed to them. Guessing the answers to lantern riddles was an activity that gave young people a chance to interact with each other and get to know more about each other. For thousands of years, there have been numerous love stories originating during the Lantern Festival.
Ancient Chinese poets often expressed their emotions/feelings toward their loved ones during the lantern festival. For example, a favorite poem is Lantern Festival · The Green Berry 生查子· 元夕 by one of the most famous poets Ouyang Xiu, in which he expressed missing his lover during the lantern festival.
Lantern Festival · The Green Berry By Ouyang Xiu On the fifteenth spring night last year, The lanterns on the street did glow. The moon was up, the willows below; For their date in twilight they’d go. On the fifteenth spring night this year, The lanterns and moon are still so. Where’s the one here one year ago? To her sleeve her missing tears flow.
Bible Stories Lantern Show in Yilan, Taiwan
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May Chiu’s design production
May Chiu’s design production
Many large lantern shows in Taiwan were canceled due to COVID-19, however, the smaller ones are making a splash. Yilan’s “The Beautiful Night” Lunar New Year’s Eve streetscape lantern show includes the “Bible Stories Lantern Show” to add a more diverse
cultural look. Twelve large themed lanterns, designed by designer May Chiu, were displayed in Warehouse No. 4 of the Yilan Zhongxing Cultural and Creative Park until March 1, 2021. Chiu said that the design of the 12 lantern show cars is based on biblical
February 2021 | Feature
May Chiu and her daughter stories such as “The Angel’s Tidings,” “The Three Doctors of the East,” “The Star of Bethlehem,” and “The Christmas Gift”. Each show car has a biblical verse, which records the origin of the story and embodies the Bible in a spiritual and artistic journey.
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Tips to Create Healthy Meals for Your Family By: Samm Diep-Vidal
I began making bento boxes for my kids in 2016 when my oldest started preschool. Today, my daughters Clara (8) and Gemma (6) are adventurous eaters. I’m Chinese, born in Vietnam, and my husband Marc is from Spain. We’ve always believed in the importance of raising our girls to know and understand the cultures that make them unique. In 2018, we took the most amazing family trip to Hong Kong & Tokyo where, in Tokyo, I attended a 1-on-1 Bento-making class with a Japanese mom and returned home with even more ideas and tricks to try. Between the class and stocking up on Daiso bento accessories, I felt equipped to take lunches to a whole new level. In 2019, I began teaching beginner and intermediate bento-making classes through Denver Parks and Recreation. It was so much fun to meet like-minded moms who were also looking to explore more meal ideas for their kiddos. Here are ideas that have helped me provide healthy and culturally-relevant foods for my kids:
#1 MEAL PLANNING
Meal planning and prepping is huge in my house, especially for those days I have elaborate bentos planned. I love repurposing leftovers into stir fries, empanadas, onigiri, quiches, etc. Since the pandemic, I post a weekly menu of what’s for lunch and dinner each day. It’s nice for the family to see and also helps me plan better with groceries and prepping. I use an app called MealBoard which allows you to import recipes from websites and to schedule them for specific meals. You don’t need to use a fancy app, just have a general weekly idea to avoid potential stress and repetition.
#2 BRING ON THE OPTIONS
It may seem like a lot more work to pack your kids a bunch of different options in their lunches but most of the healthy snacks (fruits/veggies/cheese/ nuts) can easily be prepacked the night before and stored in the fridge. Then, you can just focus on preparing their main meal the morning of. Giving plenty of options minimizes the poten-
tial waste if there’s something they don’t like as well as giving them a fun sense of independence because they get to choose what they want to eat.
#3 SKEWERS FOR THE WIN
Skewering foods is a simple way to make them more attractive. You don’t need fancy picks from Japan. You can pick up some cocktail toothpicks from the grocery store. The dollar store also sells plastic/reusable colorful picks with hearts and stars. You’d be surprised how much more appealing cherry tomatoes, peppers, broccoli and cheeses/lunch meat look when skewed on a colorful stick versus just put in a container.
#4 MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR
Allow your kids to be a part of the process. I ask my kids for meal suggestions and ideas. Contributing in preparing your own meal always rewards you with a sense of pride and accomplishment, especially for kids. My kids are also in charge of cleaning and reorganizing all the bento accessories.
#5 TRY, TRY AGAIN
If foods come home untouched, don’t give up. Keep trying them. Cut carrots into fun shapes. Make a rice ball head and give it some broccoli hair. Sneak cauliflower into muffins (it actually makes them quite moist!). It’s all trial and error. Find different ways to sneak in the foods you want them to eat into meals you know they already enjoy. This is a fun process, don’t overthink it and don’t stress yourself out.
#6 INCORPORATE CULTURE
Add aspects of your culture to each meal. I do a lot of stir fries because they’re super quick and easy and you can throw in tons of tofu and veggies. Another big staple in our house, from my husband’s side, is tortilla de patatas (also known as “tortilla española”). It’s like a giant cake made from potatoes, eggs and onions/garlic. We make this weekly and my kids love it, hot and fresh or room temp, in their lunches. You’ll find this served as a tapa in just about any bar in Spain. Every child is different and has different tastes and interests. The important thing is to expose them to as many varieties of foods as possible. Health | asian avenue magazine
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Chou and his family campaign for Biden with Jason Crow, U.S. House of Representatives (CO), and Julian Castro, former U.S. Secretary of Housing
By Annie Guo VanDan
EQUITY AND INCLUSION AT THE HELM “My first memory of being politically active was when I was about 16 during the Rodney King civil unrest back in 1991. That was my first exposure to racism within the system. Looking back, I wish we had the Black Lives Matter movement then and we could have worked on systemic change for the last 30 years.” Howard Chou recalls speaking at City Hall in San Mateo, Calif. about the injustice that Rodney King had suffered. Since he can remember, he has always been fighting for social justice—either through his work or through contributing to political activities. In recent years, he has taken his political and civic engagement to another level by being elected into a leadership role with the Democratic Party. Chou was first elected as the Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party in December of 2018. As the only Asian American to hold any elected political party position in Colorado, the opportunity to lead in this role means a lot to him. “I am both proud and honored because I have an opportunity continue to bring our values of equity and inclusion to the forefront and continue to expand our base and elect leaders who truly represent the people,” he said. This role also allows him to serve on the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which he takes great pride in
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February 2021 | Spotlight
representing Colorado on the national scene. Re-elected in March 2019, he is completing his two-year term and running for re-election in March of this year. Furthermore, he was elected as the Treasurer for the Association of State Democratic Committee (a branch of the DNC). Born in Shanghai, Chou immigrated to the U.S. in 1980. His grandmother was a refugee granted asykum and was able to
Chou and his son Evan with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris
sponsor his parents, brother and him into the U.S. Chou spent his younger years in the San Francisco Bay Area, before moving to Kansas in 2003, and then to Colorado in 2007. “Most of what shaped my perspective was being in lower income areas in a very diverse Bay Area where I would spend a lot of my time in other families’ homes,” he said.
Chou and his family with Morgan Carroll, Chairwoman of the Colorado Democratic Party
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Representative for New York
Andrew Yang, candidate for New York City mayor These experiences have fueled his passion to advance racial justice and civil rights, climate care, immigrant and human rights, and healthcare for everyone. With this new administration, Chou believes in President Biden’s plan to address the pandemic and contain the virus. “We have, for the first time, a strategic plan in place and the necessary leadership to address it by consulting with medical and scientific experts and effectively put wheels in motion to stop the spread.” He continues: “I am looking forward to preserving our planet again; Biden has put us back in the Paris Agreement, revoked the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline and put a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic. But we need to continue to protect our environment and exercise climate care.” Chou makes it a point to stay up to date on immigration issues. He believes there must be a humane
As the current chair of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Initiative of Colorado Democrats, he encourages AAPIs to run for office. Seeing diverse representation in leadership positions is important for communities of color. He believes that Kamala Harris stepping into the Vice President position as the first Black and South Asian woman is powerful. “Both the Black and Asian community can now envision a future where our perspective and influence can be repJoseph Neguse, resented at the highest level. That U.S. Representative is a great day for all of America.” for Colorado As he looks ahead, he acknowledges that there is so much work to do, but finally it can be done handling of immigrants, who make the without obstruction from the top. backbone of this nation. And he is “The lack of leadership in the looking for real systemic changlast four years has eroded our es for racial justice and equity. government and it has only One way to move the neeshown how far off path we dle on equity is to engage have gone and the hate communities of color to and divisiveness that exvote and get involved poists in our country.” litically. He is working on “Now that we have increasing AAPI voter endirection, we need to gagement as well as helping be vigilant in protecting with outreach to voters in our democracy and build a rural and mountain towns in backbone for a sustainable Colorado. future for everyone.”
Grace Meng, U.S. Representative for New York
HOWARD CHOU Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Co-Founder/Chair, Asian American Pacific Islander Initiative of Colorado Democrats Howard Chou | asian avenue magazine
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SEOUL MANDOO 2222 S Havana St Unit J, Aurora, CO 80014 303.953.9590 | seoulmandoo.com Open Hours: Mon to Sat 11am - 8pm; Sun 11am - 6pm Seoul Mandoo in Aurora opened in April 2020, just in time to get shut down during the pandemic. In these past 10 months, the restaurant and its staff have been adapting to all of the changes in Colorado’s restaurant industry. Despite opening during the COVID era, the restaurant’s owner JW Lee was hopeful to bring giant dumplings or traditional Seoul dumplings to Colorado. Lee, who is also the owner of Seoul Korean BBQ and Hot Pot and has more than 20 years of chef experience, has always enjoyed experimenting with new restaurant concepts. The location that is now Seoul Mandoo was previously a pastry shop, ramen restaurant, and Korean restaurant. Now, in his latest venture, Lee presents his newest concept—giant steamed Korean dumplings! Mandu are dumplings in Korean cuisine. Mandu can be steamed, boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried. The styles vary across regions in Korea, and they are well-known street foods in Korea, especially popular on New Year’s Day.
What makes Seoul Mandoo’s dumplings unique is their size. Rose Lee said: “Before Seoul Mandoo, I had never seen such large dumplings.” Rose Lee, the manager of Seoul Mandoo, shared that the dumpling recipes are straight from Korea and include steaming all of the large dumplings with all types of fillings such as meat (silky marinated pork), kimchi, veggie, shrimp, and galbi (sugar-and-soy-marinated Korean pork), and frying some of the smaller ones with kimchi or meat filling. JW and Rose also work together to create new and innovative items, such as the veggie dumplings. “We wanted to have an option for vegetarians, including both dumplings and rice cakes, as we are seeing more and more vegetarians in the area.” Rose said: “Our menu is growing. At first, we started with only three items. Then we added the shrimp dumpling, sweet red bean, spicy rice cake, and the combo plate.” While the timing of opening a new restaurant during a pandemic was not ideal, Seoul Mandoo has been thriving as many people have been ordering takeout and looking for simple, yet delicious meals to eat at home. Additionally, the restaurant offers frozen pre-cooked dumplings that just need to be heated up at home (microwaved or fried). While the restaurant has been operating for less than a year, they have grown a huge following with nearly 3,000 followers on Instagram. Rose notes that they have a lot of regulars as well as new customers every day through word of mouth.
Order online at seoulmandoo.com or find Seoul Mandoo on UberEats for delivery options. Follow their Instagram at @seoul. mandoo for their giveaways and restaurant updates. If you’re trying Seoul Mandoo for the first time, go for the Giant Dumpling Combo (Kimchi, Galbi, Shrimp, Meat) for $13 to taste a bit of everything!
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February 2021 | Restaurant Peek
Soul Dumpling (6 pieces) $6 • Meat/Kimchi (steamed or fried) Giant Dumpling • Meat/Kimchi/Veggie (4 pieces) $11 • Galbi (4 pieces) $13 • Shrimp (5 pieces) $15 Frozen Dumpling (25 pieces) $20 • Meat/Kimchi
By Lina Zhu Photos by Lijin Zhao
China Cafe II
China Cafe II, located in East Iliff Plaza (Iliff and Buckley), serves authentic Chinese cuisine. The restaurant specializes in traditional Northern China dishes such as beef noodle soups, dumplings, and meat buns. While China Cafe II offers your traditional Americanized Chinese food—sesame chicken, Mongolian beef, and chicken lo mein—it is their traditional Northern Chinese dishes that make them stand out among Chinese restaurants in Aurora. The restaurant’s owner, who is originally from northeast China, was the previous owner of the popular Lucky China restaurant on Havana Street. When she moved to her new location and opened China Cafe II, her focus was to serve traditional dishes from her hometown. Since Northern China experiences harsh, cold, and dry winters, as well as hot summers, consuming calories and salt is crucial. Northerners tend to go heavy with the salt and strong seasonings, compared with the South where chilies and pickles are more commonly used. Some of the signature dishes at China Cafe II include:
Bao Zi
Bao Zi is considered a Chinese ‘convenience’ food that is hearty, nutritious, and fulfilling. This portable snack or meal is the king of street food in Asia. China Cafe II offers several Bao Zi options filled with meat or veggies. Eat it on the go and with your hands!
16870 E Iliff Avenue Aurora, CO 80013 303.369.0330 www.chinacafeiiii.com Open Hours: 11am - 9pm
Beef Noodle Soup
All of the components of beef noodle soup are important—the soup, the meat, the noodles—and any bonus add-ons. At China Cafe II, the soup is red braised, which means the soup base was braised in soy sauce for hours before serving. The soup is seasoned with five spices, extra star anise, loads of ginger, and fermented bean sauce. The noodles are cooked a little more than al dente, accounting for the noodles continuing to soften in the hot broth. Tender chunks of beef enhance the chewy noodles and savory soup. China Cafe II’s signature beef soups are Spicy Beef Noodle ($12.99), Tomato Juice Beef Noodle ($12.99), and Braised Beef Noodles ($12.99).
Meat Buns
Meat Buns, also known as Roujiamo, are street food originating from the cuisine of the Shaanxi Province and widely consumed all over China. The meat is most commonly pork, stewed for hours in a soup containing over 20 spices and seasonings. Since this dish is very traditional, you don’t often find it in Chinese restaurants in the U.S., so it is a special treat offered at China Cafe II. The Pork in Baked Bun comes with two pieces ($9.99)!
By Lina Zhu Photos by Lijin Zhao
Dumplings
Jiaozi is a type of Chinese dumpling, commonly eaten in China and other parts of East Asia. Jiaozi typically consists of ground meat and/ or vegetable fillings wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together. China Cafe II offers steamed and fried dumplings with a variety of fillings including pork with napa cabbage, chives shrimp with pork, beef with radish, pickled napa with pork, and so on.
Restaurant Peek | asian avenue magazine
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Denver Kunming Sister Cities Committee plans for a virtual Chinese New Year celebration By Jeanie Johnson and France Addington-Lee, Kunming Committee Co-Chairs In February 2020, Denver Sister City’s Kunming, China Committee was fortunate to hold a live Chinese New Year Celebration and silent auction at the Empress Seafood Restaurant before the pandemic set in. This event is the committee’s main annual fundraiser with earnings from the 2020 event dedicated to the new John H. Yee Scholarship Fund.
John H. Yee Scholarship Fund
Denver Sister Cities International members Jim Ryder and Rachel Clements with OCA Chair Margaret Choi at The Purple Ginger to donate meals to seniors.
Local Pandemic Support
In the spring, the committee gave gift certificates from the Empress Seafood Restaurant to hard-working, frontline workers with Denver Health. We also partnered with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Colorado to donate meals from The Purple Ginger and 1,000 masks to Asian-American seniors in Aurora.
Kunming Park Picnic
Many Coloradans may have known John Yee who helped found the Denver-Kunming Sister City relationship. A translator for the venerated Flying Tigers during WWII in Kunming, chance brought John Yee to Denver where he became an educator, professor, and community leader. After his passing in 2019, the Kunming Committee created a new scholarship fund to honor his memory and life’s work. The Scholarship Fund provides financial aid to Denver students of all ages for educational and cultural travel to Kunming. Student trips can be life-changing experiences and promote intercultural relationships, global awareness, and leadership development in our youth. They also help build long-term relationships between Denver and Kunming.
In October, committee members and friends enjoyed a socially-distanced picnic at Kunming Park to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and see the new interpretive park sign. We encourage you to visit Kunming Park, located at 200 E. Harvard Avenue, one of Denver’s most beautiful parks with an outstanding view of the mountains.
2021 Free Virtual Chinese New Year Celebration
Lion dance at the 2020 CNY celebration
Autumn Harvest Festival Celebration in Kunming Park
Si Wu plays the guzheng
To support student exchanges with Kunming, we appreciate donations to the John H. Yee Scholarship Fund. Please mail a check to Denver Sister Cities, 2650 E. 40th Ave., Denver, CO 80205 or visit www.denversistercities.org.
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February 2021 | Inside Story
Our annual tradition of celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year will continue, but this year it will be virtual and free. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 20, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature new year greetings from Kunming, kung fu and guzheng performances, how to cook “Crossing-theBridge Noodles” – Kunming’s local specialty, a calligraphy demonstration of a couplet and more. We hope to see you and we wish you much happiness, health and prosperity in the year ahead! Register at bit.ly/398Sjm7.
On Scene | Asian Avenue Magazine
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