Chinese New Year in New York City

We had a great weekend in New York City recently for Chinese New Year! We left around noon on Saturday and drove to NYC. We checked into our hotel which was just two blocks from Times Square. We walked around Times Square, bought some CDs at the Virgin Megastore, and went to Rockefeller Center and saw the ice skaters. We then ended up going to a nice dinner at the Heartland Brewery before heading to the Chinese New Year Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.



The show was beautiful and the colors were amazing. There was one candlelight number with a little girl that made me choke up a little bit.

The next day (Sunday- New Year's Day)- we spent the day in Chinatown. We took a cab to Chinatown and arrived in time for the firecracker demonstration at Chatham Square. It was FREEZING. The firecrackers were a bit scary becasue we were right in the area where they were set off and the smoke, sound, debris, etc. were kind of overwhelming. For a few seconds, I even thought something had gone horribly wrong and all of NYC would explode! They set off the firecrackers to scare away evil spirits. I'm sure it works after having witnessed it!

We shopped around Chinatown- frequently coming across dancing dragons and much confetti in the streets.





We went to a nice lunch at the same place we had been last time we were in NYC for Chinese New Year. It was warm and cozy and we were just happy to be seated quickly and warm ourselves up with some tea! We shopped some more after lunch and then headed to Soho where we shopped in Pearl River. It is amazing for all things Asian! I bought many things for future Secret Pals and for Jade/us.

We then had some wonderful cappucino and dessert at an Italian restaurant before catching a cab back to our hotel. We headed out to see if we could have a drink at Mars 2112 but the bar was closed for the night. We considered having dinner there, but I had my heart set on Charlotte's Web and Chinese take out from our favorite place- Lucky Sunday- in the hotel room! I ate my shrimp with asparagus happily in my pajamas!

The next day, Monday- we headed out to M & M World and then for some hot chocolate before heading to Mars 2112 for lunch. What a fun place! It is a theme restaurant that "transports" you to Mars for your meal. We enjoyed it even though it was pricey.







We headed home and when we arrived back in town, we went to order Jade's furniture for her room. The furniture store was having a great no interest until 2011 option, so we did it!

All in all, it was a great weekend and a LOT of fun!