Katy’s report to World Journal (世界日報): Lunar New Year celebration by Chinese Restaurant Association

Katy’s dispatch to World Journal (世界日報) reporting Lunar New Year celebration by Chinese Restaurant Association at Pittsburgh was published on Feb. 7.

You may read it directly online,
http://www.worldjournal.com/view/wjnjpanews/17422194/article-%E5%8C%B9%E8%8C%B2%E5%A0%A1%E4%B8%AD%E9%A4%90%E5%8D%94%E6%9C%83%E6%85%B6%E9%BE%8D%E5%B9%B4-%E9%80%BE700%E4%BA%BA%E5%90%8C%E6%AD%A1?instance=panews

 
The Lunar New Year celebration by the Chinese Restaurant Association was held at Rivers Casino on Feb. 5.  More than 700 people indulged in the abundant and scrumptious sea food buffet, thanks to the effort of the president of the association, Michael Chen (陳飛) and the 15 board members.

The lion dance accompanied by the spirited and lively drum and gong started the festive feast at the second floor of the casino at 8PM.

王麗雅 was in charge of the program; she asked Michael Chen why the casino was chosen for the annual celebration.  There are several reasons: It is not easy to find a fancy restaurant that can accommodate more than 700 people.  The location is perfect with the casino sitting in the center of the city that provided easy and free parking.  The All-You-Can-Eat sea food buffet is a steal.  王麗雅 added that one also can try one’s luck and ‘win’ after the feast.

Michael Chen pointed out that the Chinese restaurants, through their hard work, continue to thrive and prosper despite the global economic downturn, providing fine food at an affordable price.  The coming president, 李永壽, hoped that all the association members will cooperate and unite to meet the challenges coming our way, making business prosperous and successful.

The New Year celebration is the biggest event of the association, sponsored by many restaurants.  The entertainment was provided the professional ballroom dancers (Kristen & Bandon and Erick and Lisa from their dancing studio) and many talented singers, the likes of  夏丹宇、馬曉美、韓英亮.  The guests were treated with beautiful songs of 「歡天喜地過大年」、「萬事如意」、「壯志在我心」.

The association also provided $8,000 lottery prizes.  Many got $100, $200 or $300 prizes.  Unfortunately some lucky (or unlucky) ones failed to come up to claim the prizes.  The last three big prize winners ($600, $800 and $1,000) claimed the award in awe and rapture.  Everyone received $20 coupon from the casino for the slot machines to try their luck.  (Katy Tsai, 張瓊月)

(The following is Katy’s dispatch.)

匹茲堡中餐協會慶龍年 逾700人同歡

【賓州匹茲堡訊】 世界新聞網 北美華文新聞、華商資訊

February 07, 2012 06:00 AM

中國餐飲業協會匹茲堡分會5日在匹茲堡河流賭場（Rivers Casino） 舉行龍年新春海鮮晚宴，該會理事長陳飛及15位理事邀請華洋嘉賓700多人出席。

晚會在晚上8時開始，包下整個賭場的二樓，由紅黃雙獅伴著熱鬧的鑼鼓聲高昂闊步登場。

主持人王麗雅首先問陳飛，為何挑選匹茲堡河流賭場作為聚餐地點？陳飛解釋，首先要找700多人聚餐的地方實非易事，其次是新的河流賭場位居匹茲堡市中心，交通地點適中，加上停車場很大且免費，而且晚宴採取自助餐方式「All-you-can-eat」， 出席者可各取所需大快朵頤。王麗雅打趣補充說：「還有第 四，就是可以贏錢！」

陳飛在會上表示，這幾年全球經濟不景氣，中餐業者刻苦努力經營，仍然保持中餐價廉物美的品質。即將出任下屆理事長的李永壽也表示，希望新的一年中餐業者團結一致，共體時艱，生意更興隆。

每年新春聚會是中餐協會最大的年度盛事，當天晚宴由多家餐館贊助，席間有娛樂界人士Kristen、 Bandon與Erich、Lisa搭檔表演交際舞，還有歌星夏丹宇、馬曉美、韓英亮高歌「歡天喜地過大年」、「萬事如意」、「壯志在我心」等娛樂嘉賓。

匹茲堡中餐協會並準備了8000元現金摸彩，不少人抽中100元、200元、300元的獎金，但不時發生得獎者未出現而棄權重抽的情況。最後三個大獎分別為 600元、800元及1000元， 幸運兒歡天喜地領獎。河流賭場並贈送700多位嘉賓每人20元賭場禮券。有些出席者散席後，乾脆拿著贈券就到一樓賭場玩 吃角子老虎機。（張瓊月)