As revelers said goodbye Rat, hello Ox, Jan. 26 saw the beginning of the Chinese New Year. But don't worry if you missed out; it's still not too late to celebrate (or get a fresh start on those New Year's resolutions).
Traditionally, Chinese New Year starts on the first night of the first lunar month and ends fifteen days later with the Lantern Festival. It's a time for making amends, settling debts and spending time with family. For the average college student, it may be the time to clean up dorm rooms, do some laundry and buy new clothes.
There are many upcoming celebrations for the Chinese New Year in the greater Boston area. For an adventure that's light on the pocketbook, check out the celebrations going on in Boston's Chinatown. On Feb. 1, the Chinatown Lion Dance parade will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Harrison Avenue and Essex Street. Just follow the sounds of the loud drums, traditionally paired with a lion dance and firecrackers to scare away evil spirits.
Hitting up Chinatown's restaurants is another great way to celebrate the New Year. The area is perfect for a college student's budget. Restaurants offer cheap, satisfying food with large, family-style portions. Here are some basic Chinatown survival tips: Many businesses don't accept credit cards, so bring cash. Wait staff in Chinese establishments can't be bothered with docile customers, so be aggressive to gain their attention.
A favorite Chinatown specialty of students is dim sum, a brunch or lunch event where carts of small dishes are pushed around the restaurant and one points to choose what to eat. The more people that eat together as a group, the greater variety of food one can try. Check out Hei La Moon at 88 Beach Street for some of the best dim sum in Boston. Som.e house favorites include the shrimp dumplings, steamed roast pork buns and the spare ribs over flat rice noodles.
If dim sum doesn't seem appealing, try Kaze Shabu Shabu at 1 Harrison Avenue. Shabu-shabu is the Japanese version of Chinese hot pot, in which a simmering pot of stock is placed in the middle of the table. The desired dishes are served raw to be cooked at the table, which is supplied with a variety of dipping sauces. Dim sum and shabu-shabu are a perfect way to go Dutch for a meal. That cheap friend who always shortchanges the pile will have no choice but to pay up.
For more of a take-out-style menu, go to China Pearl Best Cafe at 11 Tyler Street. This small local eatery is a great place for basic rice and noodle dishes. The salt fish and chicken fried rice is fit for any meal of the day, as are the various fried noodle dishes. For a true taste of Chinatown, try one of the already-cooked meats which hang in the window over hot rice and vegetables. Don't worry; there are no mystery meats up there, just a variety of pork, chicken and duck.
For dessert, try Hing Shing Pastry at the corner of Hudson and Beach. The coconut-filled pastries are a favorite, costing only 80 cents a bun. For a more authentic bakery, try Ho Yuen Bakery at 54 Beach Street for a similar pastry that features toasted sesame and more coconut shavings. It also sells special New Year's pastries and dumplings for the holiday.
To buy some snacks for the dorm room, check out C Mart Supermarket at 686 Washington Street. This huge supermarket has a wide selection that includes everything from spicy Korean ramen to fresh shiitake mushrooms. This is also one of the only places in Chinatown to find fresh seafood. Try the strawberry Pocky, a snack worshipped among Asian youth all over the world.
So remember, even if you missed the actual day, there's still time to celebrate the New Year in the authentic Chinese way: through food.
