The Chinese Lunar New Year Parade is a gathering of elaborate floats, lion and dragon dancing, beauty queens, acrobats, magicians, processions and a bunch of creepy Brooklynites with Asian fetishes. The 15th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival was today (2/2/2014), so I decided to check it out with my friend Kerry and my new Lumix GF5 (I can finally use my camera!). If you suffer from claustrophobia, the lunar festival isn't for you. I hate large crowds, so I'm going to have to pass on the 2015 parade. That being said, I'm glad I went this year. Here are a few reasons why....
Colorful trinkets
If you love color, cheap decor and spectacle, you gotta go to the lunar parade, just once. Look at these hipsters getting in on the action.
Costumes & Makeup
In a world of less is more, it's nice to see modern-day peeps in elaborate designs. This guy is serving enough fierce face to make Manila Luzon look like Wallace Shawn.
Beauty Queens
Look at all the pretty people, young and old....
Dragons
Dragons are fucking cool and pretty much the only reason I went to the festival.
This guy is about to get chomped.
Cute kiddos
What's that I hear screaming? Oh yeah, that would be my ovaries.
Friends
I had a great time with my friend Kerry.
Duped by a fucking fortune cookie. We have no fortune, just a sponsorship.
Cuisine
I probably wouldn't touch this shit, but it's cool to look at.
Zadie Smith
Spotted author Zadie Smith. We exchanged a smile. Out of respect for one of my favorite authors, I decided not to snap a pic in front of her face. Instead I took this creepy paparazzo shot from behind. Cute kid.
Joe's Shanghai
We headed a few blocks over to Joe's Shanghai "the best dumplings in town." We were sat at a community table. I felt like I was in an Anthony Bourdain episode without all the snark and pretension.
I ordered the pork fried dumplings.
They weren't so bad.
Kerry ordered one of their signature soup dumplings.
I think she liked it. I don't know.
This guy was all over Chinatown. Me doing my best impression. Show me your Chinatown teeth.
Know of any fun festivals I can check out? Send me a message through my contact form.
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