Where to Celebrate the Lunar New Year this February

by | Feb 1, 2019 | Coming Up, Dining, Downtown Eats Guides, Events, Featured

We’re already a month into 2019, but the Year of the Pig is about to begin! Check out these Lunar New Year specials to help you celebrate on February 5th and beyond.

Westfield World Trade Center

oculus

Westfield World Trade Center is ringing in the Year of the Pig with its first annual Lunar New Year celebrations. On Friday, Feb. 8 at 7:30PM, Westfield will kick off celebrations with  a one-hour unique and dynamic orchestral performance presented by the Port Authority of NY & NJ in partnership with the Asian Cultural Center, whose Asian Cultural Symphony of the USA has participated in hundreds of performances across the United States, such as the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the United Nations Headquarters. The music performance is complemented by an all-afternoon and evening art exhibit that features local artists throughout the Transportation Hub. There will be other events throughout the beginning of the month as well:

    • Friday, Feb 1, 5:30–7:30 PM: Calligraphy at Toytoise
    • Saturday, Feb 2, 1–3 PM: Brush Painting at Sugarfina; 3–6 PM: Calligraphy at Pandora
    • Saturday, Feb 2, 2–4 PM: Contemporary Chinese Music at Longines
    • Friday, Feb 8, 5–7 PM: Calligraphy at & Other Stories, Wood Block Art at London Jewelers, 4–7 PM: Music & Moutai Tasting at Pure Liquid Wine & Spirits; 5–7 PM: Calligraphy at& Other Stories; 7:30–9 PM Asian Cultural Center Orchestra Performance in the Oculus
    • Saturday, Feb 9, 2–4 PM: Chinese Go at Toytoise
  • Tuesday, Feb 12, 4–7 PM: Chinese Business Etiquette + Live Music at BOSS Hugo Boss

Loosie’s Kitchen

suckling pig

henry lu

South Williamsburg’s Loosie’s Kitchen is celebrating Chinese New Year with a menu inspired by Executive Chef Henry Lu’s childhood! Chef Henry grew up in the Bronx where his family owned & operated Chinese restaurants. He’s taken that nostalgia and used it as inspiration to recreate his family traditions for a Chinese New Year feast at Loosie’s. On Tuesday, February 5th from 7:30–10:30 PM, Loosie’s Kitchen and Chef Henry are throwing a “We Are All Pigs” Chinese New Year Party with a buffet-style menu, $5 Tsingtao and house party vibes! Menu highlights include build-your-own steamed buns, pork belly stuffed suckling pig and sweet sticky rice. Tickets are $30 per person and reservations can be made by emailing sayhi@loosieskitchen.com or via Eventbrite.

Little Tong

little tong lunar new year

Photo by Emmeline Zhao

For the year of the pig, Little Tong Noodle Shop’s East Village location will be serving its take on ShengJian Bao (SJB) – crispy pan-seared pork soup dumplings served with a black sesame plum chili vinaigrette. In addition, they will offer a special mixian with wild mushrooms and sausage for the duration of the two week plus new year festival as well as festive BBQ baby back ribs.

886 x Van Leeuwen

886 lunar new year

886 (the buzzy Taiwanese-American restaurant in the East Village) has teamed up with Van Leeuwen, (Greenpoint-based purveyors of artisanal ice cream made from scratch) on a collaborative, limited edition Lunar New Year ice cream flavor. The offering is inspired by Pineapple Cake, a sweet traditional Taiwanese pastry that’s associated with celebrations and gift giving. Van Leeuwen’s caramelized pineapple jam is sandwiched between layers of housemade buttery miso shortbread, and folded into a classic sweet cream base that’s been amped up with double fold vanilla extract and vanilla bean caviar. The restaurant will serve the Lunar New Year flavor on a fried bun with spicy honey and candied bacon. Dubbed the “Year of the Pig Sandwich” ($11), the offering is available through March 3rd; it will be served on the weekend brunch menu and as a secret off-the-menu item at dinner. Scoops and pints of the Lunar New Year flavor ($5.50 single scoop / $7.50 double scoop) will be available at the East Village, LES, and SoHo outposts of Van Leeuwen through February 21st. The flavor can also be incorporated into affogatos, sundaes and other preparations.

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