With the price of gas and airfares soaring, start appreciating the beauty right underneath your nose.
Looking for beauty within oneself is what Dr. Iris Gin specializes in at her Kalia Dermatology and Laser Center (Kaliaskincare.com). As the NBC11 Living Well Expert, Gin explains that people of all ages feel beautiful when they think they look better, and she has specialized in cosmetic, laser and medical dermatology for over a decade in Los Gatos, Calif.
Putting a beautiful face forward is also the goal at Dr. Michael Wong‘s San Mateo Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. He says his greatest satisfaction is seeing his patient’s smile with confidence and happiness. Recent patients Pearl Lee and Cynthia Yee can testify to the pleasure of showing off their new smiles, as can his mother, yours truly.
Chi Am Circle‘s theme this year for its women members is “Year of Health and Wellness,” and their latest meeting was a cooking demonstration of Chinese dishes that are both tasty and good for you, according to lecturer/members Mabel Lai and Diana Chan. At the Los Gatos hilltop home of Lily Chang, chairpersons Gloria Hom, Lillian Timm and Aurora Louie welcomed fellow members Julie Ho, Joyce Shen and Zeny Zeid with a tasty buffet.
Dr. Lloyd and Geri Wong encouraged me to venture to Michigan for one of America’s hidden gems. They shared their favorite Chinese restaurant, Hong Hua, and the Henry Ford Museum, where we rode a genuine Model T Ford. It is northern Michigan, however, and specifically Mackinaw Island that captures nature’s beauty to the fullest. With no cars allowed, a horse and buggy take you through the many wooded trails. Golfers Roger and Sylvia Eng were especially thrilled to have a buggy waiting to transport them through the one-mile trek from the front nine holes to the back nine of the Grand’s Jewel Courses. The Grand Hotel’s historian Bob Tagatz has many tales of the place, known for the longest porch in the world (660 feet). Kevin O’Brien of the St. Eves Resort introduced his two spectacular five-star courses at the hotel.
Those in search of good times closer to home may have ended up at the Zeum Theater in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens to see Oh My Godmother (ohmygodmother.com), a campy boisterous retelling of the Cinderella story with toe-tapping tunes and clever lyrics. Producer Barbara Nemer helped bring this lighthearted musical to the San Francisco stage, now held over until Aug. 31. Bill and Sonya Lee, Melanie Soo Hoo and May Chan couldn’t stop laughing.
Another evening of laughter was found at the San Jose Repertory Theater, announced Michelle Hou, where Carrie Fisher performed her one-woman show, Wishful Drinking. I attended an extra special night that treated the audience. Carrie’s father, Eddie Fisher, was in the audience and later joined her on stage to sing with her at the end of the two-hour, hilarious monologue about her life.
Congratulations to…
Angela Lee, who recently penned The Forbidden Well, a children’s book about an eight-year-old who discovers a mysterious terracotta warrior and is thrust back in time to the Qin Dynasty. With illustrations by Jeffrey Yeh, the book is a fun mystery read with a little history lesson to boot. Angela’s in-laws, Kim and Carole Lee, are mighty proud of their budding author.
Merlion Restaurant and owner William Chang of Cupertino, will celebrate the restaurant’s first anniversary and soon host a grand celebration.
Barbara Why, who celebrated her recent birthday with a “Diva Spa” Day hosted by Judy Eng and Wanda Wong at the latter’s Sunnyvale home. Barbara and 20 guests were treated to manicures, massages by Peter, hair stylings by Jordan and makeovers by Patti Maxwell of Mary Kay. Among those beautified were Ada Mew, Antonia Tu, Ruby Fong, Rose Tang and Pauline Fong.
Jonah Yee was heralded by his grandparents Werner and Jeannette Yee, at a Red Egg and Ginger Party at the China Village Seafood Restaurant of Belmont.
