October 15, 2007 by Chinatown Blogger.

This Sunday, the Chinatown Blogger visited the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. The museum has an extensive collection of Asian arts and the special exhibit, Yin Yu Tang, a 18th century Chinese house. The museum was established in 1799 as the East India Marine Society and later merged to become to the Peabody Essex Museum in 1992.

The Chinatown Blogger, out of respect for the museum, only took photos of the displays advertising the exhibits.

The Yin Yu Tang is the prized exhibit of the PEM. The house is 200 years old and belonged to the Huang family of Anhui, China. The house was meticulously disassembled and and shipped to the museum to be reassembled again. There is also a Yin Yu Tang gallery along with a video documenting life in rural China.

Other Asian exhibits included Perfect Imbalance, which runs until May 2009 and Gateway Bombay, a series of paintings and photos documenting life in Bombay, or what is now known as Mumbai. In addition to these special exhibits, the museum has permanent galleries of arts from China, Japan, Korea, and the Pacific Islands. One of the neat special exhibits was the Mysterious Photos, a collection of weird and funny Black and White photos of American life.

Founded by early ship merchants, the museum has a good collection of early American maritime arts. These included model ships and posters documenting their journeys across the Atlantic. The early ship merchants travelled to many parts of the world and collected (or stole, depending on how one sees it) items of interest. The Chinatown Blogger recalled 5-6 years ago when the Peabody Essex Museum displayed a collection from the Qing Imperial Court. The Chinatown Blogger kept pestering the tour guide how these Imperial items came into the hands of Americans and why it wasn’t the property of the Chinese government. The tour guide glared back with annoyance. The objects in question, seemed to have been “collected” or taken during the Boxer Rebellion when the city of Beijing was attacked by European and American forces. Anyhow, that’s old news and the Chinatown Blogger doesn’t hold any grudges but do wish that the truth be told on how museum artifacts were acquired.

Outside the museum, Salem was alive with vendors and performances in beautiful 60 degrees fall weather. A 3-man band performed Beatles cover songs while a street cart sold kettled popcorn, “slightly sweet and salty”. As this being Salem, the place where supposed witches were found, there were the usual promotions for the Witch Museum and tours. If you ever get the chance, check out the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA.

Posted in LIFE AND STORIES OF ASIAN AMERICANS | Print | 1 Comment »

October 13, 2007 by willng24.

There is a great representation of Red Sox Nation in Chinatown, I can easily find the time of tonight’s game. Additionally, you can’t walk down any street without spotting a Sox cap. However, where is the support of the local businesses? Surely the few local bars and restaurants that have televisions show the game to their patrons, but I don’t see any signs of support from any place else. Is Chinatown not a Red Sox fan?

Speaking to Jon of Sun Sun Market, he says “business owners are focused on running their businesses.” However, why do these same businesses hang Christmas lights in December and decorations for Chinese New Year?

Growing up in Allston, I was exposed to the large Brazilian population in that neighborhood. This is a culture that is huge sports fans. I always knew when Brazil was playing soccer, especially when then won. Businesses would be filled with fans watching each game. Huge street parties seem to come out of no where, but why isn’t there something like this in Chinatown? What are we missing?

During the 2004 baseball season I was not living in Chinatown, but my neighborhood was definitely in great spirits when the Sox won. Surely we can bring the same spirit to Chinatown! So hang your Sox gear, get behind your home team and bring home another Championship.

Posted in AROUND C-TOWN | Print | 2 Comments »

October 12, 2007 by Chinatown Blogger.

The new building at 87 Tyler St. will house both the Kwong Kow Chinese School and the Asian American Civic Association.

The back of the building looking from Harrison Avenue.

Thomas Ng, principal of the the Kwong Kow Chinese School, said at the recent Chinatown Coalition meeting that the school will host a “ribbon-cutting” opening ceremony on October 25 11:00 AM.

The school will move across the street from 90 Tyler Street to 87 Tyler Street. The new 6-story building will be called the Kwong Kow Chinatown Community Educational Center and will be co-own by both Kwong Kow and the Asian American Civic Association (each will occupy 3 floors).

Kwong Kow currently serves 700 students and teaches Chinese and English immersion classes. Total estimated cost for Kwong Kow’s half was $6.4 million and $5 million have been raised far. The new building will provide 16,892 sq. ft. of space and inlude 16 classrooms (vs. 7 in the old building), a multi-function auditorium that can seat 290 people, library, a computer lab with 12 CPUs, a dance room and handicap access.

Program uses will include: Mandarin class for K-Grade 9, English immersion classes for Grades 7-9 and cultural programs for adults. For more information call 617-542-5103.

Posted in CHINATOWN CALENDAR | Print | No Comments »

October 11, 2007 by willng24.

Hello and Welcome! Around C-Town is a new article for The Chinatown Blog that will focus on culture, history and modern day events in and around our great Chinatown neighborhood. There are many things that are happening around us that we easily miss as we stroll through the neighborhood, but with the help of this column I aim to bring those things to light.

My name is Will Ng and I’m born and raised in the Allston area and now reside in Chinatown. In addition to writing for The Chinatown Blog, I also maintain my own site willng.com and attend Babson College for graduate studies.

I look forward to the great events that this column will cover, so if there are any subjects that you’d like to comment on or like me to discuss, please contact me at will@willng.com

Thanks

Posted in AROUND C-TOWN | Print | No Comments »

October 10, 2007 by Chinatown Blogger.

Parcel 12 is currently a parking lot. Picture taken from Tremont Street looking east towards Washington Street.

On the site of Parcel 12, looking west one can see the blue glass tower of John Hancock Building and the Prudential Building.

Parcel 12 is adjacent to the Double Tree Inn and the YMCA Chinatown. The Double Tree Inn and the YMCA sits on the site of the former Don Bosco High School.

The Asian Community Development Corporation released a fact sheet on current talks by the City to turn Parcel 12 into a school. Parcel 12, also known as the Don Bosco lot, is between Tremont Street and Washington Street. The site is bounded by an eight-story Tufts New England Medical Center parking garage and the Doubletree Hotel.

In August, there was a City Council hearing to explore moving the Boston Arts Academy from the Fenway neighborhood to Parcel 12 in Chinatown. Asian CDC has spoken at multiple community meetings to inform the Chinatown community of what’s happening. As part of their informational speeches, Asian CDC has called for a more open and transparent process from the Boston Redevelopment Authority on what is happening. In addition, Asian CDC argued that the Chinatown community should be allowed to voice their opinion on what should be developed on Parcel 12. For example, several hundred units of residential units could be generated on Parcel 12 along with community space for a library, theatre, and small retail. Word on the street is that Mayor Menino supports moving the Boston Arts Academy to Parcel 12.

Posted in WORD ON THE STREET | Print | No Comments »