Jessa Wu, dinner co-chairs Tim Wu, Philomina King, Lauren Lai-Bellings, Leslie Hu and Sharon Seto chaired the all-day affair that reigned at San Francisco Symphony’s annual Chinese New Year’s Celebration at Davies Symphony Hall, that was timed at 4 p.m. to catch families bringing their kids. The orchestra, conducted by Seattle Symphony’s Carolyn Kuan, was accompanied by 14-year-old pianist Peng Peng and a work by composer Gang Situ. A festive post-concert reception featured lion dancers, fortune-tellers and Chinese desserts. The busy day concluded with an elegant Imperial dinner at City Hall, followed by Hong Kong design house Blanc de Chine’s premiere of their spring line of luxurious silk creations for men and women.
commemorating milestones
Let’s celebrate the 100th birthday of Tan-Shui Lee, who was feted in February at Self-Help for the Elderly’s San Mateo center. Lee lives in Foster City and takes three busses to get to the center’s activities, which are highlights to his day. Another senior celebrating at Self-Help is Rosa Roo, who has been an unwavering volunteer for 15 years.
Beatriz Mar overcame limited education opportunities in Costa Rica to get a pharmacy degree, Ohio State scholarship, and raise a family in Sunnyvale.
Recently, Bea was heralded by two parties — one in the East Bay and another in the South Bay — in honor of her 90th birthday. Her secret to looking youthful at nine decades? How about the Bea Mar simple formula of eating right, lifting 10-lb. weights daily, Pond’s Face Cream, Vaseline for fine lines, and keeping busy with a happy face?
A birthday celebration sent me to the new Wynn Macau, which looks just like its predecessor, the Wynn Las Vegas. While there, I tasted Chef Aldo Volpi’s pasta at Wynn’s Il Teatro, and luxuriated in the breathtaking views of Macau’s new skyline. Hong Kong resident Bernadine Chan brought me and James and Evelyn Gate to Red 8 Noodles for evening jook, a specialty there.
Remodeling in Hong Kong
Los Altos Hills Reader Frances Liu writes that the opulent Hong Kong house built for her great-grandfather Ho Kom Tong in 1914 has, following a 94 million Hong Kong dollar renovation, now opened as the Sun Yat-Sen Museum.
Designed by a British architect, the Edwardian architecture shows red brick walls, curved façades with granite columns, wrought iron verandas, Art Nouveau, stained-glass windows and majestic wood paneling, It is well worth a visit to study the life of Sun Yat-Sen in the museum while seeing this historic home. For more info, visit lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/sysm/en/address.php
Table Hopping at Bamboo Gardens
Mr. and Mrs. Chen Dong Hai returned to the U.S. from their hometown of Toishan, China, in time to present an elaborate wedding celebration in their own Sunnyvale restaurant Bamboo Gardens, for daughter Feiming to Eric Nip. Feiming and Eric, in true Chinese tradition, went table-hopping to toast all their guests.
Eye-Eye for Low and Lum
The Campbell Chamber of Commerce’s announcement of “Celebrate Campbell Only Has Eyes for You” honored Campbell Optometric Group — Drs. Art Low and Rod Lum — as the Business of the Year for 2006 at the Villa Ragusa in downtown Campbell. Congratulations, all!
Iris Chang Bronze
Congratulations to Beijing’s China Foundation for Human Rights Development, who unveiled a bronze bust of the late Iris Chang at the Hoover Institution.
Dr. Shau-Lin Chang, Iris’s father, thanked the foundation for this honor to the memory of his daughter and noted the library was always Iris’s favorite place to be.
Her bust will join other notables such as presidents Reagan and Herbert Hoover.
30th on the 30th
Asian Law Alliance will celebrate its 30th on the 30th of March at the Fairmont San Jose Hotel.
Honored that evening for Legal Impact – Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin, Business Impact – Dr. Hsing Kung, and Community Impact – Sanjeev Bery, ACLU of Northern California San Jose director. For reservations, call (408) 287 9710.
Wake Up, Elvis Fans
Ballet San Jose will present their all-time favorite program, “Blue Suede Shoes,” at the Center for the Performing Arts, March 16-25.
Mirai Noda and Yui Yonezawa star in the “Hot Dog Drive-In” number as car hops and Vietnamese male favorite, Le Mai Linh, plays a very energetic Short Order Shorty. For tickets, call (408) 288 2820.