The Arts Take Over
San Francisco Symphony once again threw open the doors of Davies Symphony Hall to ring in the Chinese New Year with a gala celebration. Peng Peng (15 years old) and Conrad Tao (10) played Mozart’s “Concerto for Two Pianos” and were the reigning talents of the day, outshining the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Post concert activities included crafts for the children, lion dancing and an imperial dinner for 400 supporters of this annual event. Heading this wonderful celebration event were Chairs Sharon Seto, Lauren Lai Billings, Lesley Hu and Linda Lei.
Alice and the Wave brought lively music to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley New Year’s Dance at the Cupertino Dynasty Ballroom. President Dennis Wan introduced 49ers owner John York, who had donated team memorabilia for the auction.
Dancing on the crowded dance floor were the Harold Wongs, Quon Louies, Howard Woos and the Raymond Chongs, the latter of whom was celebrating his 92nd birthday. Michael Chan was there promoting his Legacy Through Giving Gala event, a collaborative fund-raiser for all participating organizations, which is coming up on March 22 at the Hyatt Regency S.F. Airport (Legacy ThroughGiving.org).
The Association of Chinese Cooking Teachers’ 25th Silver Anniversary Kickoff Dinner was a gala at Cupertino’s newest Singaporean fusion restaurant, Merlion. Many founders, including Rose Chang, Brenda Chinn and May Mullin, mingled with the more than 100 members and guests who enjoyed chef Henry Lau’s demonstration. Welcoming all were the 2008 officers: president Doris Lum, VP Frank Jang, secretary Jo Kadis and treasurer Karen Mezzetta. Partaking of the lavish buffet were Florence and Ed Wong, Al Lowe, Ginger Lai, Alex Locke, Margaret Mar and longtime member Hank Quock.
The cultural diversity of Honolulu is evidenced in its vast offerings of restaurants within the island’s small radius. While visiting recently, a group of the Silicon Valley Foon Hay Golf Club were hosted to a traditional luau at the home of Bunny Look, co-hosted by Sylvia Young. Enjoying the lau laus were Honolulu natives Owen and Leona Chock, Sarah and Alvin Kan, and Helen Richardson as well as Californians Don and Jeannette Wong. Ed and Margaret Lee hosted their annual Sony Open Buffet Luncheon, where guests could view the competing golf champions from their adjoining 16th-hole backyard. Enjoying the action were Candy and Ed Matsuda, and the Lee’s houseguests, the Lane Lees and John Kaos.
Myrna Chun Hoon and Bernice Tom held a women-only lunch at Ala Moana Center, while the Ronald Youngs shared Vietnamese fare at Pho Trinh with visiting Texan Patrick Chan and Californians Wilson and Pauline Fong. Dr. Larry Tseu, busy with community activities as sponsor of the Narcissus Coronation Ball, as well as the upcoming April Chinese Chamber of Commerce fund-raiser with Nancy Kwan at his home, hosted a dinner at his Oahu Country Club. Hunky and Jeannette Pang shared a traditional Chinese dinner at one of Honolulu’s most popular restaurants, Kirin. From their new offices of the Honolulu Medical Supply Company, Rodney and Marvey Pang introduced us to Japanese fare at Asahi Restaurant.
Chinatown Lions Club president Violet Yoshimura introduced us to this chapter, and San Franciscans Dennis and Nancy Louie could see that members Ernest Chang, Clifford Wong and Bob Lee keep this organization active in community service projects. A 50-year reunion with fellow Univ. of Michigan friends Phillip and Susie Loh at their home high atop St. Louis Heights was another Hawaiian memory not soon to be forgotten.
Silicon Valley-based nonprofit Dimension Performing Arts Inc. brought the Peking Acrobats to a packed house at Cupertino’s Flint Center in January. Kudos to Board member Maria Chen and executive director Jim Fung for continuing to bring the Chinese arts to the American public. Marveling at the talents of these young performers from China were Harold and Gwen Wong and Lillian Gong-Guy.