Pacific Lighthouse - Alameda

[El Dingo]

I play Pokemon Go!

The Wind River 'campus' is situated on the Alameda estuary, the "Bay Trail" runs along the back of our offices and often I take breaks or eat my lunch sitting on a bench facing Jack London Square watching the sailboats and seabirds around the water.

Since playing Pokemon Go! I now walk the Bay Trail since it is rife with Psyducks, Krabbys, Tenticools and Staryus.

Anyway, in July, as I walked the trail, I noticed a previously empty building next to the Alameda Yacht Club renovated. Soon a pair of stone Chinese lions guarded the door and tables were moved in.

One day in August I heard amplified voices and applause from the area. Apparently this was the grand opening of a new Chinese restaurant. The mayor of Alameda was there and ceremonies (in English and Chinese) were held , including a Lion Dance.

OK - How to say this? I have only seen Lion Dances at the KFM events and they blow my mind. The feeding, the bowing, the rearing and crowd interaction is electrifying. The restaurant opening, not so much. I did appreciate the effort.

Anyway, our group had a farewell lunch at the Pacific Lighthouse for a well-liked team member a couple weeks after the opening.

I was the first to arrive and was escorted to a table. Immediately servers in weird sneeze-guard masks approached the table and attempted to solicit me with plates of unidentifiable dishes. No English was understood so I used basic 'No-No' motions to fend them off.

As others arrived they were ambushed by rolling carts of mystery food.

I won't go into detail here, since I had no clue what was happening. We ended up with about 20 plates of mystery food which everyone tried (except me, Mr. Vegetarian). Someone ordered duck which turned out to be 'Duck Chins' so he got a plate of bills, but not 'The Bill'. Get it? The Bill?

Anyway - it was probably the most authentic Chinese food I've ever seen (they have aquariums that serve stuff live).

Next time I will catch my Pidgeys and stick to the cafe salad bar.

[Drunk Monk]

Now, I thought the duck bill was the only part of the duck you don't eat.  I ate a duck head and duck tongues before.  Let's see, I wrote about that here: http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/arti...rticle=593 (If you don't want to read all of my blather - lord knows you get enough of it here - skip down to the photo of the beer girl and start reading from the group photo above at "For every trip...")

There's actually a special ritual for Lion Dancing for restaurant and business openings.  The lion is supposed to test every door and go through the whole kitchen to chase out evil spirits.  A lot happens off stage, so to speak.  Remember it's more like an exorcism than a performance.  At least, that's the Feng Shui take on it.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Starting your business with an exorcism makes sense to me.

[Drunk Monk]

wait.....victory had no exorcism? That explains the fire.

[Greg]

Less of an exorcism more of an opening a gateway.

[Drunk Monk]

...there was a big issue in Chinatown many years ago about lion dancing being a cover for protection money payment.  It was a cultural thing.  The Tongs often sponsor lion dance teams and symbolically, the lion represents the martial master, so by giving lucky money, there is an implied payment for protection.  Given gwailoyeti's 'hood, it could be.  It just could be...

If you need a lion dance team, I can hook you up.  

[Greg]

Send in Bruce Wen's team!

[Drunk Monk]

no, no, send in Sals.    

<this is funny to greg & me - don't even try to understand>

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

New owner of the building is from Hong Kong...

[Drunk Monk]

What you need to do is to carry some Chinese swords.

Hmmm, wonder where you might get some of those.