Vanessa Chan (pictured above)
Tenth-grader, Chinatown
How’s the day been so far?
Well, once I woke up, my parents gave me my red envelope. When you receive one, you’re meant to say a few words. Like, “Gong hei fat choy,” which means “Good luck, I wish you good health, good wealth.” A lot of kids my age — I’m 15 — think Lunar New Year is only about the red envelopes. But it’s not. It’s about celebrating a fresh start.
Have you been celebrating a fresh start?
Oh my gosh, yes. I got a haircut, I got new shoes, I got this entirely new outfit to wear today, and I actually redid my room. I’d wanted to for so long but didn’t have the time, because I’m always busy with school and helping my parents at their restaurant. I’m a manager, but not officially, because I’m a kid, too. But anyway, I got a new desk, a new cabinet, and floating shelves. I’m very happy and very satisfied, and very grateful because a lot of people don’t have the privilege to redo their room.
Athena Mae De Leon Guerrero
Talent-acquisition coordinator, Ozone Park
Alena Chuchen
Third-grader, Upper East Side
Great outfit.
Well, we learned at school in social studies that on Lunar New Year, you aren’t supposed to wear black because it means bad luck. But I had to wear these boots because of the weather.
Joherra Harris
Assistant principal, Flatbush
Mia Tam
Second-grader, Dyker Heights
Miles Perlman
11th-grader, East Village
What have you seen today?
A lot of people around Chinatown were popping confetti and taking pictures in front of stores they like. And I got followed into the House of Joy by a dragon. They go into stores and restaurants and are given some money in exchange for a dance, which is basically blessing the place with good prosperity.
Aribella Hung
Sixth-grader, Chinatown
Tanyarat Tummasiri
Housewife, Westbury
What’s the best dish you had tonight?
Shrimp shumai is my favorite. I make it at home, too — I learned from my mom. When I was little, she wouldn’t really let me go anywhere. So I just stayed with her and cooked every day.
Gianna Perlman
Tenth-grader, East Village
Caleb Gao
3-year-old, Lower East Side
William Su
Association chairman, Financial District
Have you eaten here before?
Many times. We use it for banquets for the association I helped start in 1974 to support other people like me who were coming to the United States from Myanmar. We used to have a lot of members — years ago, we could fill all 100 tables at Jin Fong. But membership has been shrinking. Many of the old-timers have moved away or passed away.
Emerson Lee
Ninth-grader, Financial District
Brandon Lam
Eighth-grader, Fort Washington
Davis Fox
Stylist, Astoria
Max Lin
Kindergartner, New Hyde Park
What was your favorite part of the day?
The dragon. He wasn’t scary — he came around the tables. I tried to feed him money in an envelope, but I guess he didn’t want it. I don’t know why! He just walked away.
Claire Comisarow
Ninth-grader, Upper East Side
Joherra Cobwell
Third-grader, Flatbush
Chris Yeoh
Investor-services manager, Astoria
Love the shirt.
I know I’m supposed to wear red for Lunar New Year, but green actually suits me. I also read an article by a feng shui master saying that green is an auspicious color for this year. That being said, different feng shui masters will tell you different things.
Leila Wong
2-year-old, Albertson
Athena Mae De Leon Guerrero
Talent-acquisition coordinator, Ozone Park
Alena Chuchen
Third-grader, Upper East Side
Great outfit.
Well, we learned at school in social studies that on Lunar New Year, you aren’t supposed to wear black because it means bad luck. But I had to wear these boots because of the weather.
Joherra Harris
Assistant principal, Flatbush
Mia Tam
Second-grader, Dyker Heights
Miles Perlman
11th-grader, East Village
What have you seen today?
A lot of people around Chinatown were popping confetti and taking pictures in front of stores they like. And I got followed into the House of Joy by a dragon. They go into stores and restaurants and are given some money in exchange for a dance, which is basically blessing the place with good prosperity.
Aribella Hung
Sixth-grader, Chinatown
Tanyarat Tummasiri
Housewife, Westbury
What’s the best dish you had tonight?
Shrimp shumai is my favorite. I make it at home, too — I learned from my mom. When I was little, she wouldn’t really let me go anywhere. So I just stayed with her and cooked every day.
Gianna Perlman
Tenth-grader, East Village
Caleb Gao
3-year-old, Lower East Side
William Su
Association chairman, Financial District
Have you eaten here before?
Many times. We use it for banquets for the association I helped start in 1974 to support other people like me who were coming to the United States from Myanmar. We used to have a lot of members — years ago, we could fill all 100 tables at Jin Fong. But membership has been shrinking. Many of the old-timers have moved away or passed away.
Emerson Lee
Ninth-grader, Financial District
Brandon Lam
Eighth-grader, Fort Washington
Davis Fox
Stylist, Astoria
Max Lin
Kindergartner, New Hyde Park
What was your favorite part of the day?
The dragon. He wasn’t scary — he came around the tables. I tried to feed him money in an envelope, but I guess he didn’t want it. I don’t know why! He just walked away.
Claire Comisarow
Ninth-grader, Upper East Side
Joherra Cobwell
Third-grader, Flatbush
Chris Yeoh
Investor-services manager, Astoria
Love the shirt.
I know I’m supposed to wear red for Lunar New Year, but green actually suits me. I also read an article by a feng shui master saying that green is an auspicious color for this year. That being said, different feng shui masters will tell you different things.
Leila Wong
2-year-old, Albertson
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