Lunar New Year

[antoinekhuu]

Since the Lunar New Year is around the corner.I make this poll.
Should Dallas have full-scale Lunar New Year festival in DTD as a tourist attraction?
If Yes,What street should be closed for the festival?

[RobertB]

It's funny having a birthday in January. All the Chinese restaurant tablecloths get your sign wrong, because they only list "year-animal", without accounting for the fact that the Lunar New Year is not January 1.

As far as I can tell, I'm a Horse. On the Western side, though, I'm on the cusp of two signs, so I remain eternally confused.

[Mballar]

Please, add a poll option for "I don't know."

[shawndb]

Some Festivities are already happening for The Lunar New Year and I think it's the perfect location given the extensive Trammell Crow Asian art collection. Here are the details if you're interested...

Chinese New Year
What: Festival featuring traditional Chinese music, a dragon parade, and lion dance to bring in the year of the canine.
Why: It’s a dog day afternoon.
When: Sun., noon-5 p.m.
Where: The Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, 2010 Flora St., Downtown (214-979-6435).

[mikedsjr]

shawn, I think he is implying a major event. Would that be considered a major event?

[shawndb]

I don't think a major event in Dallas would ever happen unless our asian community suddenly grew exponentially. On that note. I will definitely be celebrating the Lunar New Year and The Year of The Dog. Any reason to celebrate is good enough for me.

[antoinekhuu]

The more festivals we have,the more tourist money DTD will get.
Lunar New year offers something unique,so I don't think that only Asian can enjoy it.A lot of us travel to Asia,why dont we bring some of those cultures here for everybody.I would think the composition of attendant is 30% East Asian,30% Caucasian and 40 % others.

[RobertB]

Wouldn't this celebration take place more logically in an area of town with a greater Asian population? Perhaps the area near the upcoming Royal Lane DART station -- I seem to remember hearing that it will be a gateway to Dallas' "Little Asia", though the name of the area was still being debated. (Though anything's better than the previous name for the area as part of "Whorey Hines Blvd")

[antoinekhuu]

Demographic aside,the atmosphere and architecture of place are very importance.
I'm not sure that I want to walk around the Harry Hines and Royal intersection.Besides, no Asian lives around that district,only a concentration of Korean and Indian stores. A festival there will inherently fail.
We have a lot of Asian in Arlington,Irving,Richardson and Garland,so a central location is ideal for this type of festival.

[RobertB]

Demographic aside,the atmosphere and architecture of place are very important.
Ok, then here's a cross-pollination from another thread (http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=3979): instead of trying to out-cow Fort Worth with a faux "cowboy paradise" at the Reunion Arena / Lot E site, why not turn the whole place into the Official Dallas Chinatown?

[antoinekhuu]

I doubt anybody would approve that.How about a world district with architecture from all over the world there like in Disneyworld. 9 I forgot the names,but there are several buildings from with all kind of architecture around the lake)

[rjlevins]

We had an Asian Lunar New Year themed open house at our office. It wasn't exactly a big tourist draw, but around 300 people packed our tiny little office in a 3 hour time period. Our executive secetary planned the event fabulously. The theme was a hit. People really appreciated the originality and culture. I could see a city, not even Asian dominated, throw an amazing festival in a downtown.

There is some Chinese tv station that threw parties in 16 cities around the globe celebrating the Asian Lunar New Year, including Houston, San Francisco, Hong Kong, etc. Not Dallas though, if I am correct.