The Clackamas print., February 17, 2010, Page 9, Image 9

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010
sisunru
the clackamas print
Chinese Garden
[ociation. The lion dance con-
are different,” Terry Lee explained.
tee lions. Each lion consists
“It’s more gracefill. It’s more of doing
are lit It promises to be quite a sight
fencers. one which controls
formations and patterns with it”
to see. On Feb. 27 and 28 the Lee’s
Association will return to the Chinese
the lake while all the red lanterns
fs movement and expressions
Brandon Lee, one of the dragon
btlie r dancer controls the rear
lie to lift the first person into
dancers explained how he became
Garden to perform their lion dance
involved, “My uncle’s the coach.
and dragon procession. On Feb. 28,
order for the lion to stand on
When he wanted to start he just asked
the Lee’s Association dragon proces­
farters.
I team was formed in April
all of his little nephews if we wanted
sion will be held at 7:30 pm. while
to do something fun.”
the 200 lanterns light the lake.
| coach Terry Lee said. “The
“It’s a great experience, you get to
Despite the threatening rain, the
re is more of power and
Ll based on Chinese Kung
meet a bunch of interesting people,”
nonprofit Lan Su Chinese Garden
Lee continued. ‘You get to go to a lot
kept the celebration strong and is
jot of strong dancers, power-
of dififerent places. It’s pretty cool. We
looking forward to lhe -rest of foe
fcents.”
tons playfully left the stage in
go to the convention center, here; we
Lunar Year Celebration.
■ food. wading through the
I There were a total of five
82nd. We just go all around Portland,
[lions ktween three different
really.”
“For this year’s
pees.
L trying to figure out a way
le youth involved; bring in
New Year, we have
lung people and teach them
said.
Ions," Terry Lee said.
Brian Steele Clackamas Pf*rtt
go to a bunch of local businesses on
ABOVE: Terry Lee leads the dragon
procession through the garden.
30 events sched­
uled,” Terry Lee
The
15
day
[pan. two of the lions were
tied by a long dragon con-
Feb. 28 with what
pine dancers.
[dragon is really long kind
Viewing.” There will
Ijerpent, and the movements
be 200 lanterns floating in
festival will end on
is called the “Lantern
Lunar yearCoveraye
ise review
Ing from the downstairs to
water and plant life.
kirs via a winding set of
Beyond the quiet atmosphere
me upstairs is much like the
and calming surroundings is a tea
airs in décor with the tables
house which means they serve tea
I against the windows and
among other variety of products.
The main focus, of course, is the
lhe middle of the room. The
k overlook the gardens and
tea that comes in a wide selection
open there is a
of green to black teas. The selection
k windows
pt breeze that drifts over the
Bnan Steele Clackamas Print
Dr. Yang demonstrates calligraphy for
visitors to the garden.
is vast enough to be daunting to one
who hasn’t done a study of tea and
yet, the choices can be broken down
BOTTOM: A bamboo lion dances in front
of people along the walkways.
easily enough. The menu gives a
very detailed description of the teas
and the flavor and texture each tea
Mark Sunderland Clackamas Print
beholds. Green teas, black teas,
to herbal infusions and chai teas:
who aren’t meat eaters).
herbal teas that vary from the infu­
The food listed on the menu
sions as they aren’t a blended mix of
is a much shorter list with a selec­
leaves and spices.
Pick a tea from the mild green
tion that one wouldn’t find in any
teas to a potent black tea. Yet what
dishes of sweet mango to a platter
is tea without some snack or light
of various fruits and nuts. There is
meal? Why, it would be nothing
enough variety to perk one’s interest
‘regular’ Chinese restaurant with
but a simple pot of tea to which
and, while not al 1, the food is tasty;
one could enjoy a quiet afternoon
even if it is a bit oddly named. All
overlooking the garden that hides
in all, the tea house can be quite
the city beyond the walls. The issue
an experience and that experience
that may arise is that most teas are
blended with a visit to the gardens
enjoyed with some sort of snack
themselves. It is quite an opportu­
that varies from Chinese dumplings
nity, especially if one gets a chance
to a bowl of noodles bedecked with
to visit the garden and tea house on
carrots and turkey (or tofu for those
a Chinese hoi iday or event
Kayla Berge Clackamas Print
Brian Steele Clackamas Print