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Celebrate Lunar New Year on Argyle Street Saturday

By Josh McGhee | February 12, 2016 5:53am
 The celebration will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Argyle Street and Broadway.
The celebration will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Argyle Street and Broadway.
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Courtesy of Uptown United

UPTOWN — Uptown residents can ring in Lunar New Year while checking out the updated Argyle Streetscape Saturday.

Work on the Argyle Street has halted for the winter months, making this the perfect time to support the businesses, which struggled to draw customers due to the construction in 2015, said Sara Dinges, of Uptown United.

"It's a nice break from construction and a great time for neighbors to visit them and show extra love," said Dinges. "It's always a really big time of the year [for businesses] because of the new year. All the restaurants are open and we encourage everyone to take time to visit the businesses."

The Argyle Lunar New Year celebration of the Year of the Monkey will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Argyle and Broadway. Sometimes known as Chinese New Year, the holiday is one of the biggest annual celebrations for many Asian cultures.

Only Argyle Street will be closed to vehicular traffic Saturday, Dinges said.

The celebration will feature a welcome with various dignitaries from the area including Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) and local business owners. It will also feature lion and dragon dancers weaving through Argyle Street, Dinges said.

"We have Chinese Mutual Aid Association bringing their youth dancers ... young ladies that do a fan dance and young men who do the dragon dance and drumming. It was really big last year. A lot of people came out. It's always a popular celebration on Argyle Street," she said.

From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., the association will also be hosting a free celebration of the Lunar New Year including a traditional Chinese lunch, youth performances and more than 400 community members, politicians and diplomats. The event and parking is free, but tickets are required. To get a ticket contact Michelle Lura White at michellew@chinesemutualaid.org.

"Here's a great chance for the whole family to enjoy colorful lion and dragon dancers making their way through the Uptown neighborhood as we celebrate the Asian community and the profound impact they've made to both the 46th Ward and the City of Chicago," Ald. James Cappleman (46th) said.

For more information on the event click here.

 

Members of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association's Lion Dance group perform at #neighborsnightout in Uptown

A video posted by Josh McGhee (@thevoiceofjosh) on

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