This project has always been about celebrating that and right now, there's a greater need to give it more love. We're finding new ways to give love to the Chinatown community - spending money at restaurants and shops, volunteering at food pantries, donating to causes like Feed + Fuel Chinatown, a pandemic initiative that provides hot meals to public housing residents while supporting local restaurants.Ĭhinatown is not just a tourist destination. However, it's still possible to connect with older folks. In San Francisco, there aren't as many card and chess players in Portsmouth Square or regulars discussing the news while eating chicken rice at Dol Ho. Senior citizens, a driving force of Chinatown, have become less visible. Then, an increase in hate crimes, robberies and attacks on elders. The decline in business that started before the pandemic was exacerbated by the economic destruction caused by the virus - the quiet got quieter. Does this project carry a different weight for you now than when you first started? ![]() Come earlier on the weekend when the restaurant is at its busiest, because the dim sum will be made more frequently. The quality can really vary depending on the time of day you’re here. I came across Chinatown Pretty for the first time this year and couldn't help but see it through the lens of the pandemic and other recent events, namely the attacks on Asian seniors across the country. Triple Crown’s food can be pretty average, but when you want dim sum in a classic space in the old part of Chinatown, it does the trick. "The hat, the vest – it's all like a security blanket for her." "My dad always liked bright colors," Tom's daughter said. This was one of her first outings after her husband's passing. The setting is in a large dining room, with small and large tables, and during the typical hours it’s served, between 9am 3pm, you can see servers pushing carts around with the. ![]() Their answers have been edited for length and clarity.Īndria Lo Yu Tom, 84, shops for oranges on the weekend before Lunar New Year in 2014 wearing layers of purple knitted sweaters. Triple Crown Restaurant, located on the main strip in Chinatown, is a classic spot for becoming entranced in the dim sum experience. NPR spoke to Luu and Lo about the project, which the duo started in 2014, and now includes interviews from more than 100 people from San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Vancouver. "The DIY ethos is thickly woven into Chinatown seniors' approach to clothes and accessories." "We see tender stitches keeping cardigan buttons in place, or two or three bags combined to maximize storage," Luu said of the portrait subjects' resourcefulness. And now add to that, a global pandemic."Īmid the harrowing challenges posed by coronavirus - and a recent surge of anti-Asian hate crimes targeting the elderly - the images of Chinatown Pretty are a powerful, and often spirited, reminder of these seniors' joy and resilience. "We interview them about what they did before retirement as well as their immigration journeys, which are often rife with taxing stories of work, war and loss. But the heart of the project goes beyond the sartorial: "The clothes serve as a gateway to their life histories," Luu says. The Terrace is open for the season, weather dependent.In Chinatown Pretty, photographer Andria Lo and writer Valerie Luu document the vibrant street style of seniors in Chinatowns across North America. Please be sure to indicate your preference when reserving your table. In cooler months when The Terrace is not available, additional seating is provided in The Lobby – a soaring, majestic room with floor to ceiling windows, towering ceilings, and elegant chandeliers. In warmer weather, additional seating is provided on The Terrace, an urban garden with spectacular skyline views that allows diners to experience the magic of summertime in Chicago. ![]() With Chef de Cuisine Elmo Han at the helm, the menu encompasses a blend of traditional dishes and creative interpretations of classics, making it known as some of the best Chinese cuisine found in Chicago.Ī Private Dining Room is available to reserve for up to 30 guests while The Main Dining Room offers a seductive 1930’s Shanghai eatery-inspired atmosphere decorated in tones of ebony, gold and scarlet. ![]() Shanghai Terrace offers Chinese cuisine highlighting contemporary interpretations of Shanghainese, Cantonese, and Sichuanese classics.
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