Empire Garden - A stop in Boston before heading to China!

Bolton students, teachers, parents, and community members traveling to China:

Sometime between now and the time we leave for China you must head to 690 Washington Street in Boston (very easy to find), and have dinner at the restaurant pictured above: Emperor's Garden or Empire Garden (whichever portion of the sign you read)!

I did some research as to the best Chinese restaurants in Boston's Chinatown - and this one appeared on many lists. Believe me, it did not disappoint. I brought our Chinese guests for a treat - and to get a real critique of the food!

Walking through the doors, one climbs the stairs to a former theatre now packed with tables and lavish decorations. Be prepared to hear a lot of Chinese spoken - and you may end up a little out of your comfort zone as food comes around to your table on carts and you indicate which ones you would like to have. I cannot even tell you the names of all of the food I tried!

As carts rolled up to our table, we would make some choices and by the time we had made all of our selections, we had tried 10 different plates of food - a typical Chinese meal, where you take a small portion of a number of different foods. All were served in authentic Chinese style!

The Peking Duck is a must - served just like it is in China. Chopped up in lengthwise slices, with bone all mixed in. Watch your teeth!

Eating here is the closet you will get to a Chinese experience in the US before we all travel together in April. Let me know if you are going and I will gladly give you directions.

(Of course, after the meal, I walked our guests up to the North End for the best cannolis in town - at Mike's pastry on Hanover Street!)

Thank you to all who helped bring Da Chen to Bolton!

(Pictured: Da Chen with BHS Librarian, Mrs. Fazzina)

There are way too many people to thank as a result of Da Chen’s visit to Bolton – and that is a great problem to have! This was as a complete community event beyond what one could hope for!

On Monday (Septermber 14), Da Chen enthralled a group of students, teachers, parents, community members, the China travelers, and even book club members with his stories, some heart wrenching and others humorous. He managed to entrance the crowd with his playing of an authentic Chinese bamboo flute and signed books using the traditional brush calligraphy. After the event, we all enjoyed traditional Chinese snacks prepared by a crew supervised by Arlis Bobb. The critics in the crowd, Mr. Sima and his daughter (our visitors from the Shandong Province), went on and on over the superb quality of the Chinese food.

Da Chen spent the night with the Catanese family, enjoying the Patriots game and playing ping-pong. (Da has met Tom Brady compliments of NBC, who had he and his family sit in the audience of “Saturday Night Live” as part of one of the sketches that Tom Brady did while hosting several years ago. Of course, that’s not the most interesting story of his life!)

The next day (September 15) began with a writers’ workshop in the high school library. Following that meeting, Da Chen spoke and played his flute for our high school students and our grade 5 students, who we bused over. The day finished up with a luncheon in the library for students who were interested in asking the author questions. It was just a fantastic couple of days.

The author was able to generate enthusiasm in the entire community and thanks to the partnership of those who funded the visit (Bolton Community Education Foundation, Bolton Women’s Club, and the Bolton Public Schools) the experience of our “One Book, One Community” must be considered a great success!

What we could not achieve alone was achieved with the cooperation of several groups together to benefit the students and the town. The power of teamwork in our community was certainly evident this week – and I am grateful!

Da Chen in Bolton!

Author, Da Chen visits Bolton, Connecticut!

Reserve Monday evening,
September 14 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
to meet author,
Da Chen

at the Bolton Senior Center.

This event is free and open to the public.

Chen is the autor of the memoir, Colors of the Mountain, required summer reading for Bolton High School students during the summer of 2009 and the choice of the "One Book, One Community" reading selection for the town of Bolton.

Author, Da Chen will spend time at Bolton High School on Tuesday, September 15 beginning early in the morning!

8:00 AM - Writer's Workshop

9:00 AM - Grade 5 students meet the author

10:00 AM - All BHS students in an assembly with the author

11:30 AM - Lunch with the author in the high school Library

Don't miss the opportunity to meet Da Chen!

Visit the website: www.dachen.org

Visit the school's webiste: www.boltonpublicschools.org