Lower Manhattan newsletter excerpt, Oct 2001

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Helping Hand From singing trees to twinkling plum blossoms, holiday present in Chinese paintings, the plum blossom shows , J cheer will be easy to spot this winter on the streets of vitality by blooming in the cold of winter, explained Don ! Lower Manhattan. Several downtown neighborhoods Lee, executive director of the Chinatown Community i have plans to commemorate holiday traditions and cele­ Economic Development Project, which is organizing the ? brations with beautiful decorations and festive events decorations. “It is symbolic of Chinese-Americans and i I for all to enjoy. of Chinatown-that we will continue to grow even j through adverse conditions,” he said. I WLUnlhg Up If’ '■'''I® neighborhood business owners are setting Downtown sights high as they sponsor the second annual Not to be outdone, the South Street Seaport will have i '. Christmas in Little Italy Celebration, “We want to make at its center a 50-foot Chorus Tree. This tree-shaped ’ f y ; • this a destination spot in New York City for the holidays,” stage, decorated with thousands of tiny, twinkling, white I s w'D < said Robert lanniello, Jr., president of the Little Italy lights, will be filled by members of the Big Apple Chorus, i Merchant's Association. People can still think of midtown a premier a cappella singing group. The chorus will give i in when they think of Christmas in Manhattan, he said, as six performances each weekend in December, as well long as they think of Mulberry Street, too. as special performances on Christmas Eve and New ■'fT' ''m,.' ij.h Year's Day. Santa will stroll along the seaport's cobbled k To that end, during each weekend in December, Little streets seven days a week through December 24, giving I Italy's three-block stretch of restaurants and cafes, on Did You Know children ample opportunity to hand-deliver their wish I Mulberry Street from Canal to Broome, will be transformed lists and pose for complimentary photos atop his lap. sHi I into a winter wonderland, with overhead holiday lighting I and beautiful ornament-laden frees on every corner. As Christmas ends, Kwanzaa begins. Lower Manhattan's I Each Saturday will feature a parade of floats through observance will include an afternoon of events honoring I th© streets, while a priest-led religious procession will this weeklong African celebration of family, community I follow Mass every Sunday. The area's many restaurants and culture, sponsored by the African Burial Ground SE I also will play their part, serving holiday meals and Project. The event will take place on December 28 I sweets while competing to take the prize for most beautifully between noon and 4 p.m. at 290 Broadway and is open J decorated storefront. “What we have planned reminds to the public. Call (212) 337-2001 for reservations. I me of a Naples of the past,” said lanniello. In keeping with the richness and diversity of its histoiy I Holiday cheer also can be found in neighboring Chinatown. and neighborhoods, Lower Manhattan provides many I Although Lunar New Year, the highlight of the Chinese ways to celebrate the special traditions that grace this I winter calendar, doesn't arrive until the end of January, time of the year. Happy holidays. I festive lighting will line the streets well before that. I During the winter months, twinkling lights shaped like I Chinese plum blossoms will hang overhead. Often

■ DECEMBER 2002 f VOL , issue i I liHl i-11 A ’. Hill NYC-WfC_000143176