Meet Chinatown Recap: Wandering and Immersing in Manhattan Chinatown Through Our New Digital Directory
Chinatown is its own ecosystem that continues to serve incredibly important socio-economic functions: as a gateway and a home, as a guardian of art, history and culture, and as a refuge from discrimination.
Last month, we invited New York to Meet Chinatown – to honor the people and businesses that have shaped the past, present, and future of this heritage gem. Locals and visitors got to immerse themselves in Chinatown through Welcome to Chinatown’s new digital directory, Meet Chinatown, experience and learn about the neighborhood through our immersive videos and exhibits, and go on a self-guided scavenger hunt.
We partnered with streetwear brand Billionaire Boys Club and filmmakers Slim Cinema to bring this weekend to life, and celebrate the launch of our digital directory. With Slim Cinema, we launched a video campaign featuring everyday scenes and community members. With Billionaire Boys Club and artist David Park, we created limited-edition merchandise that became prizes for our scavenger hunt. Both supported our mission of introducing Chinatown to the community, and bringing people to explore the neighborhood.
Meet Chinatown was a way for us to highlight our community as more than a place for “cheap eats” and tchotchkes. We’re thrilled to see everyone having a meaningful visit to Chinatown – learning about the community and it’s small businesses that make up the legacy of this cultural enclave.
On Friday evening, we gathered with friends, family and members of our community to celebrate the launch of our directory and get a preview of the weekend’s activities. Starting at Silk Road Cafe, guests made their way past participating storefronts, hung out with the KK Discount Li family (including the one and only Little Miss Chinatown!), and ended at our Shadow Wall exhibit. Our gathering spilled onto the streets of Chinatown and into the evening.
Our multipart weekend event took visitors all over Chinatown, creating a palpable lively energy all around. What exactly did the event entail:
Participants would start at Lanterne Candle Lab which was transformed into an immersive art space, to interact with a technology art installation by Cy Kim.
They could then embark on a scavenger hunt all over Chinatown. Using our online Digital Directory, participants could visit 10 Chinatown businesses and find plaques to learn more about their history and importance for the community.
After they completed the scavenger hunt and found all 10 plaques, participants headed over to Billionaire Boys Club’s Flagship Store to play a game to draw for Prizes.
To receive the final prize, participants played Kau Chim (a Chinese fortune game). Instead of a fortune, players would draw for their prize
We’re grateful for all that came out to immerse and discover, and we’re heartened to see all the wonderful interactions with participants and business owners. Stay tuned for more community events from Welcome to Chinatown!
