Happy Lunar New Year and welcome to the Year of the Rooster! While the official start of Chinese New Year was on January 28th, the world famous San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade goes down this Saturday. The parade route is definitely a place to be, Year of the Rooster will be taking place all over town. Behold these 6 ways to celebrate Chinese New Year this weekend:
1. The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade is one of the best annual parades EVER. If you can handle the crowds and the chaos, it is definitely worth snagging a sidewalk spot at this colorful event. The parade runs from 5:15pm to 8pm and starts at Market and 2nd Streets. The line of floats, dancers, school groups and the famed Golden Dragon makes its way to Kearny and Jackson Streets. We recommend arriving early (like, really early, think 3pm), bringing a folding chair and securing space near the judges booth on Kearny Street.
2. The Chinese New Year Community Street Fair takes place in the heart of Chinatown along Grant Street both Saturday and Sunday. Check out over 120 booth and concession stands, amazing food, live performances and photo opportunities with giant puppets. The fair runs Saturday from 10am till 4:30pm and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
3. Martin Yan (the chef you might know from his 30 cookbooks, his thousands of cooking shows and his M.Y. China restaurant in the Westfield Centre) will be hosting cooking demonstrations and free samples from 2-3pm at Macy's Union Square on Saturday. Arrive on time to catch Yan de-bone a chicken in 18 seconds.
4. Several local restaurants are offering special Chinese New Year menus. Check out Hakkasan, Mister Jiu's and M.Y. China for some amazing, multi-course deals. Even Humphry Slocombe is offering a limited-time ice cream sundae called "Chinese Food and Donuts" starring oolong ice cream, an orange blossom Dynamo Donut, soy caramel and crushed sesame seeds.
5. Admission to the Chinese Historical Society (which is a small but fascinating and beautifully curated museum in Chinatown) will be free on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. It's definitely worth a visit.
6. There is something to be said for staying in to order Chinese food while watching the parade on KTVU Channel 2 from 6-8pm.
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