27 Jan 2015
LOS ANGELES—Westfield is celebrating the Lunar New Year at selected shopping centers in California, New Jersey and Washington State with each marking the Chinese New Year in ways that will excite and delight visitors with special events, music, dancers, and other traditional festivities.
“Westfield shopping centers are exhilarating and convenient destinations to celebrate this important traditional Chinese holiday,” said Karla Villatoro, Director of Tourism for Westfield in the United States. “We're collaborating with diverse local partners, from museums and student groups to retailers and restaurants, to celebrate the Lunar New Year with an exciting array of events, activities and special offers for our local guests and tourists at several of our centers.”
In California, Westfield shopping centers with special Lunar New Year celebrations include: Westfield San Francisco Centre in downtown San Francisco; Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose; Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia; and, Westfield MainPlace in Santa Ana. Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, and Westfield Southcenter in Seattle, Washington, are also celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Westfield shopping centers marking the Lunar New Year will celebrate in their own exciting ways and on different dates with events ranging from a public party with a celebrity chef and live calligraphy painting to children's art displays and fundraisers for local nonprofits. In each location, there will be live music, traditional lion dancers and special offers from retailers, including the distribution of traditional red envelopes with special gifts or offers from retailers while supplies last. Specific details for Lunar New Year celebrations at each shopping center are below.
Westfield San Francisco Centre in Downtown San Francisco
Westfield San Francisco Centre, the city's premier destination for world-class fashion, entertainment and dining, is partnering with the Asian Art Museum, Bloomingdale's San Francisco, China UnionPay, and M.Y. China to offer a dazzling array of events to celebrate the Lunar New Year from Jan. 25—March 8.
- Jan. 25—Feb. 21: M.Y. China, celebrity chef and James Beard winner Martin Yan's restaurant serving authentic modern Chinese food, will offer two special menus with unforgettable delicacies called Property and Wealth in honor of the Lunar New Year.
- Jan. 26—March 8: Westfield and the Asian Art Museum will present a colorful and informative display about the animals of the zodiac, which are used to mark each year in Chinese culture; and, China UnionPay, the preferred method of payment in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, also has partnered with the Centre for special giveaways.
- Feb. 5–28: Bloomingdale's San Francisco will be offering special events, cultural animation, Lunar New Year merchandise, and more.
- Feb. 28: a free public Lunar New Year celebration under the Centre's iconic Dome will be hosted by celebrity Chef Martin Yan, and will feature live music, lion dancers and a popular noodle pulling demonstration by M.Y. China.
- Visit www.westfield.com/sanfrancisco for additional details.
Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose, California
Beginning Feb. 1, Westfield Valley Fair, Silicon Valley's premier shopping destination, will launch its Lunar New Year festivities. Valley Fair will be filled with décor reflective of Lunar New Year, including vitrines displaying new fashion trends. Retailers will host Lunar New Year promotions and cultural activities throughout February, such as cooking classes inside Williams-Sonoma. The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project will showcase their traveling exhibition “Pioneering the Valley: The Chinese American Legacy in Santa Clara County.” A wishing tree will be displayed in the center Feb. 1-28 to raise funds for the nonprofit Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), which focuses on improving the health, mental health and well being of individuals, families and the Asian community. On Feb. 28, a Lunar New Year community celebration will feature: Chinese calligraphy demonstrations; arts and crafts for children in partnership with the San Jose Public Library; performances by the Far East Dragon Lion Dance Association and the award-winning Team-M Taekwondo; food and drink sampling; red envelope distribution; green screen Lunar New Year photos by Polaroid Fotobar; and an informal fashion presentation by Macy's and more. Visit www.westfield.com/valleyfair for additional details.
Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia, California
On Feb. 15, Westfield Santa Anita, the premier shopping and entertainment destination for the San Gabriel Valley, kicks off a month of Lunar New Activities with a special lion dance, children's art display and craft tables, calligraphy painting, and games. There will be live traditional Chinese music and dance Performances. In partnership with the Arcadia Unified School District, student artwork marking the Lunar New Year will be showcased during the event. A wishing tree will be displayed to raise funds for the nonprofit Asian Pacific Community Fund in partnership with First General Bank. The Chinese American Museum will display art in four vitrines. The Japanese American National Museum also will participate in events throughout the month. Visit www.westfield.com/santaanita for additional details.
Westfield MainPlace in Santa Ana, California
On Feb. 15, Westfield MainPlace, a stylish and convenient destination for area professionals and families in the heart of Orange County, will celebrate the Lunar New Year with a traditional lion dance, cultural music & dance performances, children's craft tables, calligraphy painting, anda Zodiac display to discover your sign on the Chinese calendar. A wishing tree will be displayed to raise funds for the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (UVSA). The day's celebration is conducted in partnership with the 34th Annual UVSA Tet Festival. Visit www.westfield.com/mainplace for additional details.
Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus, New Jersey
On February 28, Westfield Garden State Plaza, the premier shopping center in the metro New York/New Jersey area and one of the top performing malls in the U.S., will celebrate the Lunar New Year in style at its new fashion district with traditional lion dances, Lunar New Year dancers and drummers, live music, special retail offers, restaurant food samples, and a Red Envelope Sweepstakes with the chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree. Visit www.westfield.com/gardenstateplaza for additional details.
Westfield Southcenter in Seattle, Washington
Westfield Southcenter, Seattle's foremost destination for an abundant choice of Northwest-inspired fashion, dining, and entertainment, will celebrate the Lunar New Year from Jan. 26—Feb. 28. South Center's month-long celebration will include traditional décor, fashion displays, a wishing tree, gift suggestions, and a variety of festivities.
- February 12: In partnership with the King County Library System, Dragon Art Studio will present the Images of China puppet show using Chinese rod puppets and telling stories from folklore with elegance, humor and special effects.
- February 21: A community celebration includes a traditional lion dance parade, martial arts, and Chinese opera, folk songs and dance, Taekwondo, Chinese Yo-Yo demonstrations, and a traditional Chinese costume fashion show. In the Children's Wing will be commemorative live calligraphy painting, origami and children's arts and crafts.
- Visit www.westfield.com/southcenter for additional details.
About Westfield:
Westfield Corporation (ASX: WFD) is a global leader in the design, development, and operation of premier retail destinations with interests in 40 shopping centers in the United States and United Kingdom, along with a major development site in Milan, Italy. In the U.S., Westfield's portfolio of 38 shopping centers includes more than 6,700 retail shops across 46 million square feet of space in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington.
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Media Contact:
Karla M. Villatoro
Director of Tourism for Westfield
310-754-3857
