Bay Meadows

Xin Nian Kuai Le!  January 31^st marks the Chinese Lunar New Year! Just a hop, skip and jump away from your life at Bay Meadows is one of the top ten parades in the world that promises to warm your heart and electrify your senses. Experience gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions and exploding firecrackers. The newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. with her court is a crowd favorite in the spectacular 268′ Golden Dragon. Did you know?  It takes a team of over 100 to carry the float throughout the streets of San Francisco.

Celebrate The Year of the Horse at the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade
When: Saturday, February 15, 2014 starting at 5:20pm
Where: Stepping off at Second and Market Street
Entrance: Bleacher seat tickets can be purchased here.

Other great ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year:
Enjoy classical Chinese dance and music in a dazzlingly colorful and exhilarating show between Jan 4-12! Shen Yun returns to San Francisco Opera House. Get your tickets here.

Dine on Taiwanese specialties at China Bee on B Street in San Mateo (or grab some take-out)! Yelper, Kim C.  recommends the You Tiao (Chinese Donuts). “This reminds me of my childhood in Taiwan. Pretty good, especially when dipped into the sweet soy milk.” Everyone else we’ve spoken to around town says the Stinky Tofu and Scallion Pancakes are “must-haves”.  Get to know the Bee family and their specialty menu items here.

2014 is the Year of the Horse – A great sign for Bay Meadows, once a thoroughbred racetrack where the Daily Double was born and Seabiscuit heard the roar of excited fans.

If you are decorating your new home be sure to include a few lucky colors, use key numeric groupings and adorn your space with these flowers:

Lucky Colors: green, red, purple
Lucky Numbers: 2, 3, 7, 4, 9
Lucky Flowers: calla lily, jasmine, marigold, giant taro

This year welcomes the Year of the Horse and the beginning of a new year on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and for other Asian cultures.  The Horse is the seventh sign in the Chinese astrological cycle.  History suggests that before Buddha left this world, he invited all of the animals to join him around his table for a feast.  Of all of the creatures in the land, only 12 arrived.  The steadfast Ox led the way, but at the last moment, the Rat, opportunistic and fleet of foot, scampered over the Ox’ back and arrived first at Buddha’s door.  For their loyalty and faithfulness, these animals were rewarded in perpetuity by having a year named after each of them in their order of arrival.

The 12 animals run in sequence beginning with the Rat and followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and last, but not least, the Pig.

If you were born during the Year of the Horse…
Year of Birth: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
The Horse symbolizes such character traits as strength, energy, and an outgoing nature. People born in the year of the horse are extremely animated, energetic and thrive when they’re the center of attention, at times even self-centered. Always in search of a good time, Horses are the life of the party and keep the crowds happy with their humor and their wit.

Horses are honest, trustworthy, friendly, open-minded and like to be surrounded by their relatives and friends. Horses are extremely intelligent so they’re able to grasp new subjects with ease. They’re also capable of multi-tasking however they don’t always finish what they start because they’re forever chasing the next opportunity.

Show us how you play at Bay Meadows and beyond: As we develop community, we want to see how you live or play at Bay Meadows. Share your fun lifestyle photos with our community by using #baymeadowslife. You could WIN $50 or our Grand Prize of $500 at the end of 2014 and be featured in a live pop-up gallery exhibit event.

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Information cited from these sources: SW Parade, ChineseZodiac, HanBan