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Ringing In the Year of the Ox: How Asian America celebrates the Lunar New. Year
As a chorus of Gung Hay Fat Choy rings around the world, attention focuses on Chinese New Year's celebrations across the nation. Traditional events -- including the grand San Francisco parade, the largest Chinese New Year's parade outside of Asia -- will once again reign supreme.
While some New Year's festivities were dampened by Mother Nature (unusually severe flooding in the Sacramento area) and a safety-conscious mayor (Rudolph Guiliani's ban on firecracker lighting in New York's Chinatown), Asian Americans can revel in what promises to be a prosperous Year of the Ox.
Following is a list of events across the nation celebrating the Lunar New Year.
- Northern California
San Francisco
MISS CHINATOWN U.S.A. PAGEANT The annual pageant was held on Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Nob Hill Masonic Center at 1111 California Street.
MISS CHINATOWN U.S.A. CORONATION BALL This year's winner will be showcased at a dinner and dance event. Feb. 21, 6 p.m.-midnight. $75 and $100. (Hilton Hotel Towers, 333 O'Farrell St. 415-982-3000.)
MISS CHINATOWN U.S.A. FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON The 34th annual event will introduce this year's Miss Chinatown U.S.A., Miss Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Miss San Francisco Chinatown, and the princesses of the Miss Chinatown Court. Among the fashions which will be showcased this year are Chinese robes by Martha Hertelendy and Linda Lei. Police Chief Fred Lau and Mayor Willie Brown are also scheduled to grace the runway. Television personality Jan Yanehiro will emcee the ceremonies. Feb. 22, noon. $45 and $65. (Westin St. Francis Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 333 Powell St. Tickets can be purchased at the Wok Shop, 718 Grant Avenue, 415-989-3797.)
CHINESE NEW YEAR'S PARADE This year's parade promises to be even bigger and better than years past, with enhanced television coverage and the first-ever live Internet images adding new dimensions to the premier Chinese New Year's parade in the U.S. In addition to the once-a-year appearance of the famous 120' Golden Dragon will be three ornate floats portraying Chinese Imperial Court life and the "Young Deaf Dragon" and "Hard-of-Hearing Ox" featuring deaf and hard-of-hearing youth. Feb. 22, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. (Parade begins at Market and Steuart streets, turns north on...