Chinese Culture Group of Greater Grand Rapids

Join Adoption Associates, Inc. for a fundraiser on March 19 at the Culver’s Restaurant in Jenison, Michigan.

West Michigan area families are encouraged to join Adoption Associates, Inc. on March 19, 2009 from 4-9pm at Culver’s restaurant in Jenison, Michigan. Culver’s restaurant of Jenison will give a generous donation to Adoption Associates, Inc. of 10% of the sales made during that time. Adoption Associates, Inc. staff will be present at the restaurant throughout the evening.

Please consider attending and helping us spread the word by inviting your friends, families, and neighbors to join us! Culver’s restaurant is located near the corner of Chicago Drive and Cottonwood in Jenison, near Meijer.

Mike Carroll
Chief Development Officer
Adoption Associates

www.adoptionassociates.net
mcarroll@adoptionassociates.net

1-800-677-2367

On Tuesday March 10, 2009 (from 6:30 – 8:00 PM), we will be having a get together at Bounce Party, which is located at:

4740 Talon Ct SE # 2
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
(616) 656-3220

The cost of this event is $8.00 per child for 90 minutes of unlimited bouncing.  For more information, please click on the following link: http://www.bounceparty.net/public.html

Please note that there are some changes to our bowling date.  We will now be meeting at the Corner Bar in Rockford at 12:30 PM and will be bowling at Rockford Lanes from 2 PM – ???

Hope to see you there – Dan Richter

Happy New Year everyone!

I wanted to remind you that on Friday January 30, 2009 (from 6-9PM) we will be having our annual Chinese New Year party at Ming Ten Restaurant (616-365-3989), which is located at:

The party will feature an all-you-can-eat buffet as well as good company and entertainment.  We are asking for a $3.00 donation per family to cover the costs of entertainment and gifts for the kids. 

Hope to see you there,

Mark

With the arrival of the new year, the CCGGGR board has planned several events for the next few months. On Friday January 30, 2009 (from 6-9PM) we will be having our annual Chinese New Year party at Ming Ten Restaurant (616-365-3989), which is located at:

The party will feature an all-you-can-eat buffet as well as good company and entertainment.  We are asking for a $3.00 donation per family to cover the costs of entertainment and gifts for the kids.  For more information about Ming Ten including reviews, please click on the following link:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ming-ten-grand-rapids

On Saturday February 21, 2009 (from 10 AM – Noon) we will be bowling at Rockford Lanes, which is located at:

117 E Bridge St
Rockford, MI 49341
(616) 866-0200

Bumpers and ramps will be available for beginners. For more information about Rockford Lanes including costs, etc. please click on the following link: http://www.therockfordnetwork.com/rockford-mi-473-Rockford-Lanes.htm

Following bowling, there will be lunch at the Corner Bar (located approximately one block from the bowling alley).  The Corner Bar is a family friendly restaurant offering a variety of food, as well as their locally renowned hotdogs.  For more information about The Corner Bar, please click on the following link: http://www.rockfordcornerbar.com/

On Tuesday March 10, 2009 (from 6:30 – 8:00 PM), we will be having a get together at Bounce Party, which is located at:

4740 Talon Ct SE # 2
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
(616) 656-3220

The cost of this event is $8.00 per child for 90 minutes of unlimited bouncing.  For more information, please click on the following link: http://www.bounceparty.net/public.html

There are several other non-CCGGGR events coming to the area.  On Saturday January 24, 2009, the Chinese Association of West Michigan (CAWM) will be holding their annual Chinese New Year Gala.  For more information, please see their website: http://www.wmchineseassociation.org/en/calendar.html

On Tuesday February 3, 2009, the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center will be hosting the Golden Dragon Acrobats (http://www.goldendragonacrobats.com/), an acrobatic troupe from Hebei, China.

For more information about this event, please see the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center’s website: http://www.fhfineartscenter.com/home.html

If there are any questions about upcoming events or announcements you would like posted on this website, please contact one of the board members.  In addition, with the new year here, we are asking for your consideration regarding several matters:

1) During July 2009, terms end for the current board members.  We are looking for new faces to carry on the spirit of this group.  Please consider this opportunity.

2) We are always open to feedback and suggestions for upcoming gatherings.  Please direct any suggestions, etc to one of the board members via email.

Here’s to a safe and wonderful 2009!! – Dan Richter, board chairperson

Our annual Holiday Party will be held on Saturday December 6, 2008 at Golden Gate Restaurant (616-534-7087), which is located at 4023 S. Division Avenue in Wyoming.  The party will take place from noon to 2 PM and will feature live entertainment from the Chinese Village Dancers, as well as arts & crafts including ornament making and cookie decorating.  There will also be an all-you-can-eat buffet including the following:

Appetizers: Egg rolls, potstickers, crab cheese

Soup: Egg Drop

Main Entrees: Vegetable Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Hunan Pork, Stir Fried Green Beans, Sesame Chicken, Almond Boneless Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Shrimp With Brocoli, Cashew Chicken

Desserts: Cake, Pudding, Jello

Drinks: Coffee, Tea, Soda

Prices for the buffet are as follows:

• Ages 4 & under: Free
• Ages 4-10: $6.99 per person
• Ages 10 & up: $12.99 per person

Please note that 6% sales tax and %15 gratuity are not included in these costs.

Crafts will start at noon and The Chinese Village dancers will be start at 12:30 PM.  Our meal will be directly after this.

Also, if anyone has a Santa Suit or is willing to play Santa for the party, please contact one of the board members.

Hope to see you there – Dan Richter

On Saturday November 8, 2008 (From 10:30 AM – 2 PM), we have an event planned for Craig’s Cruisers in Grand Rapids: http://www.craigscruisers.com/ 

For $11.99 kids get to choose from 2 activities that includes laser tag, bumper cars, co-carts, frog hopper, and ropes course. The $11.99 cost includes an all-you-can eat buffet. Additional activities can be added for $4.00 more.

Adult chaperons do not have to pay for activities and can pay a separate cost for the buffet if they just want to eat. Children 36 inches and smaller eat free at the buffet however there really are no activities for kids under 36 inches other than video games. 

If you are interested in attending this outing, please click on the following link so that we can get a tentative “head count.” http://ccgggr.org/content/signup/craigs-cruisers-nov-8-2008-event-signup/

I’ve dreamed for years of Savannah performing with the Chinese Village Dancers.

Recently I talked with Lily and she informed me that they only have 3 girls enrolled which isn’t enough to hold the class.

Chinese dance is a great way for your daughter to learn a part of her culture that she will enjoy for years to come. Dance is a lot of fun and also helps build self esteem. If you’re interested in signing up please visit the website listed below

Thanks,

Mark

www.chinesevillage.org

With summer fading away, it’s time to look ahead for Fall. We have things planned for each month starting with our annual Moon Festival, which will be held on Friday September 5, 2008 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Keystone Community Church http://www.keystonecc.org/app/. The Moon Festival will follow our traditional format as follows:

• Potluck Dinner (Each family needs to bring a main dish to pass. Deserts are optional).
• Moon Festival Story.
• Arts & Crafts.
• Fireworks.
• Glow Stick Hunt

The cost of this event is $5.00 per family which will help to pay for supplies and facility rental costs. To sign up for this event, please click on the following link: http://ccgggr.org/content/signup/moon-festival-signup/

On Saturday October 18, 2008 (From 10 AM – ??) we will be going to Klackle Orchards: http://www.klackleorchards.com/. For those of you who have never been to Klackle, you’re in for a very memorable time. There are over a dozen activities to do for the kids including:

• Wagon Ride with 1/4 peck of apples to pick
• Enchanted Pumpkin Ride (Starts Sept. 29th)
• Inflatables
• Animal Crackers Petting Zoo
• Face Painting
• Barrel Train Ride
• Pedal Carts, Tractors & Trikes
• Field of Fun (Maze, BMX Track, Apple Shoot, Putt Putt Pumpkin)
• Coaster Slide Area
• Picnic Areas
• Bonfires

• BMX Track
• Putt Putt Pumpkin
• Straw Tower
• Corn Maze

The cost of this event is $10.00 per person (to be paid on the date of the event). This cost includes all aforementioned activities as well as donuts and cider for all attendees, a private tractor ride to the apple orchard or pumpkin patch, and a private meeting/gathering place. A rain date is scheduled for 10-25-08 in case Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate with us on the 18th.

On Saturday November 8, 2008 (From 10:30 AM – 2 PM), we have an event planned for Craig’s Cruisers in Grand Rapids: http://www.craigscruisers.com/ For $11.99 kids get to choose from 2 activities that includes laser tag, bumper cars, co-carts, frog hopper, and ropes course. The $11.99 cost includes an all-you-can eat buffet. Additional activities can be added for $4.00 more. Adult chaperons do not have to pay for activities and can pay a separate cost for the buffet if they just want to eat. Children 36 inches and smaller eat free at the buffet (the buffet last for up to 3 hours and contains 50 items). There are really no activities for kids under 36 inches other than video games.  If you are interested in attending this outing, please click on the following link so that we can get a tentative “head count.” http://ccgggr.org/content/signup/craigs-cruisers-nov-8-2008-event-signup/

On Saturday December 6, 2008, we will be having our annual Holiday Party from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM at Golden Gate Restaurant located at 4023 S Division Ave/Grand Rapids, MI 49548. The telephone number for the restaurant is 616-534-7087. Back in 2004 we had a group meal/cooking demonstration at this restaurant. Aside from good food, the hospitality of the owners was incredible! They are very excited to have us back and are opening the restaurant especially for our group (they are typically closed on Saturday afternoon). Presently, there are options for a buffet style dinner. If you are interested in attending and ordering a buffet, please click on the following link: http://ccgggr.org/content/signup/christmas-signup/ If there is minimal/limited interested in a buffet, families can order from their menu. The deadline for signing up is November 24, 2008. Here’s to a great fall! Peace – Dan Richter, Chairperson

Check out http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/category/sports/2008-olympics/ for coverage and facts pertaining to the Beijing Olympics.

You can check out other China related news feeds at http://ccgggr.org/content/china-news-feeds-rss/

Let the games begin!

Mark