By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Lau Yin Tak offers money to the lion for luck in his herb shop
during last year's celebration at the Chinese Cultural Plaza.
Oh my. Must be Chinese New Year.
Yes, the Year of the Rabbit begins Feb. 16, but the celebrating starts NOW. It promises, as always, to be joyful and quite loud.
Chinatown's two big festivals are lined up for this weekend and next.
Plan on enjoying all the trappings of the new year, from good-luck noodles to your rabbit T-shirt.
Look for vendors selling new year's food and all manner of souvenirs. Entertainment will be held on several stages and there will be firecrackers aplenty.
The festival runs 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with a parade at 4 p.m. from the State Capitol to River Street, featuring Miss Chinatown Queen Stephanie Ching and her court.
A Tien Mien Banquet will be held at the Sea Fortune Chinese Restaurant on North King Street at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20. Call 595-6417.
The festival runs 5-11 p.m. on Friday the 12th and noon to 11 p.m. the 13th. A lion dance with firecrackers will be held at the chamber office, 42 N. King St., at 6:30 p.m. on the 12th. Call 533-3181.
Warm up for the Pro Bowl at Bowl Jam II, a concert taking place tomorrow at World Cafe. R&B stars land in big Bowl of jam
On the bill are Bad Boy recording artists 112 and Faith Evans, Uncle Sam, and local performers Natural Vibrations and Sharon Sanchez.
112 is known best for its hit song "Love Me and Cupid." Puff Daddy protege Evans -- who was married to the late Christopher Wallace a.k.a The Notorious B.I.G. -- makes her Bowl Jam debut with smooth R&B, and we'll hear live the sultry voice of Uncle Sam, currently dominating the I-94 play list with his hit, "When I See You Smile" from the "Touched by an Angel" soundtrack.
The jam is open to an 18 and older audience. Tickets, at $20 advance, are available at World Cafe, Tower Records Video and Bloch Arena. Tickets are $22 at the door, which opens at 9 p.m. The show scheduled to start at 10 p.m.
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