Special Celebrations

JAN: Noted restaurateur Michael Tong’s Chinese New Year dinner in honor of Auntie Juliana Koo at his Shun Lee Palace in NYC. Mom & I joined Laurette Feng, Joan Fu, and many other friends for luxurious dishes invoking good fortune including auspiciously named cold appetizers, whole abalone, and the most perfectly roasted squab I’ve ever tasted!

APR: I joined Bill Curlis, Carol Porter, Ruth Milligan, Herb Asher, Stan Aronoff, Neal Zimmers, Bob Klaffky, Matt Brown, Steve George, & hundreds of Reps & Dems at a surprise party for Doug Preisse’s 50th birthday in Columbus.

MAY: Her daughter Patty and Henry Tang, & granddaughter Penelope & Ben August held a tea dance to celebrate my godmother Aileen Pei’s 100th birthday at NYC’s Colony Club. Mom & I, and Kaity Tong were among the many there who also celebrated I.M. Pei’s 95th with cakes modeled after his Souzhou Museum and Auntie Aileen’s mah jongg table.

SEP: Relatives & friends gathered to celebrate David’s mother Ruthie’s 90th at her Acton, MA assisted living center, where Alex did splits and her first cartwheel.

SEP: Harriet & C.C. Tung flew in from Hong Kong to celebrate his and Jim Chang’s big birthdays at a dinner they threw at Bouley’s Test Kitchen in Tribeca, NYC. Fifty foodies, including Patty Tang and Pamela Tung, savored the delights prepared before our eyes at this culinary temple. 

 OCT: The highlight of the NYC Chinese Social Calendar is always Auntie Juliana Koo’s birthday party hosted by her children Gene & Shirley Young and Oscar Tang, this year celebrating her 107th at NYC’s Pierre Hotel. My dragon- embroidered silk jacket filled the “festive dress” request. Classic Beef Wellington and modern party favors matched her spirit: When Oscar asked if she felt up to a second dance, she replied “Yes, please, but with faster music!”