Fire Horse potluck
The Lunar New Year is fast approaching! The OCAW Virginia Chapter will be hosting what is becoming a well-enjoyed potluck lunch for members, their families, and their friends. Planned for Saturday, February 21, 2026, the lunch will be held in the penthouse party room of Amy Lee’s condo in Alexandria, VA.
In addition to celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse, we are delighted that we will also be celebrating Florence Kwok’s husband’s birthday. Florence has been a lifetime member of the Virginia Chapter, and CF has attended almost all of the chapter’s events in the past.
The new President of the Maryland Chapter, Patricia Fenn, has extended our invitation to the Maryland Chapter, and we are hopeful that many will be able to come.
Art Show
(from Barbara York and Amy Lee, Lifetime member and event host)
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, a group from OCAW-VA toured an art exhibit of paintings, entitled “In Touch With Nature,” by Tsoying Madeleine Chen, a former OCAW-VA member, at the Green Spring Gardens Historic House in Alexandria, Virginia. The weather was perfect, and we were able to enjoy walking around the grounds as well.
Korean Treasures Exhibition Tour
Amy Lee, OCAW-VA lifetime member and event host, along with out-of-town friends, enjoyed a tour of the Korean Treasures Exhibition at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. Their tour took place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, and was led by informative docent Walter Woo.
Mid-Autumn Festival Potluck Dinner
The Virginia Chapter had a very successful Mid-Autumn Festival Potluck Dinner on Sunday, October 5, 2025. It was held on the 23rd floor Penthouse Party Room in Alexandria, Virginia. Attendees totaled 41 and included members and their families and friends ranging in age from 99 years to 3 years old. The highlight of the evening was a near perfect moon in an absolutely clear sky.
Competing strongly against the moon was a feast that included: Pork braised with Bamboo; Chicken Curry; Seafood Medley; Yellow Rice with Vegetables; a pair of beautifully Steamed Fish; Beef with Red Peppers; Diced Chicken with Vegetables; Chinese-style Chicken Biryani; a magnificent Jai (Chinese all vegetable special dish for New Year); Buddha Jumping Over the Wall (with abalone, scallops, shrimp, and vegetables); Chinese Salad; Baked Sable Fish; Korean Corn Cheese; Sweet Rice with Pork Ribs, Chestnuts, and Mushrooms; Sesame Noodles; Chinese Roast Pork; Steamed Chinese Sausage; Baked Brussel Sprouts; Crisp Lotus Roots; Boiled Peanuts; Fruit Salad; Tapioca and Taro Pudding; Moon Cakes galore; and some lovely French Bordeaux.
Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society Exhibit
On Saturday, October 25, 2025, OCAW-VA members and friends attended the annual exhibit of the Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society, organized by Camilla Ng, former President of the Society and longtime member of the OCAW Maryland and Virginia Chapters.
This display of beautiful flowers, held at the James Lee Community Center in Falls Church, Virginia, is a special once-a-year treat. It was enjoyed by Barbara York
, Amy Lee, Cathy and Dick Roberts, and Amy’s neighbors Shu and Lois.
From Maria Yang Autumn Splendor in Falls Church
At the Falls Church Chrysanthemum Show, the exhibition room was filled with bursts of color – sunny yellows, royal purples, soft pinks, and pure whites. Each bloom seemed to tell its own story. Visitors wandered among the displays, admiring arrangements shaped like waterfalls, lanterns, and even dragons made entirely of petals. What made the event even more special was its cultural spirit. Alongside the flowers, conversations flowed effortlessly, bridging generations and cultures. For many, it felt like more than a flower show; it was a joyful gathering that celebrated beauty, friendship, heritage, and memory.
Thousands of miles away, in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, chrysanthemums also take center stage each autumn. Known as the “City of Flowers,” Chengdu has been nurturing chrysanthemums for over a thousand years. During the annual Chrysanthemum Festival, local parks transform into vibrant seas of blooms. Chengdu’s residents have a deep affection for the chrysanthemum. In Chinese culture, it symbolizes integrity and perseverance – blooming brightly even as the weather cools. Chinese poets like Tao Yuanming once wrote of retreating to the countryside to admire chrysanthemums, finding peace in their simple strength. That same sentiment still lingers in Chengdu today, where visitors can stroll through parks filled with the scent of flowers and the echoes of history.
In Taipei, Taiwan’s lively and modern capital, the chrysanthemum continues to inspire both artists and gardeners. Every fall, the Taipei Chrysanthemum Exhibition at the Shilin Official Residence transforms the grounds into a dreamlike landscape. Thousands of chrysanthemums, carefully cultivated and artistically arranged, fill the gardens with color and fragrance.
The show reflects Taipei’s creative spirit; traditional flower art mingles with contemporary design. Visitors might find chrysanthemums arranged as intricate sculptures, or displayed in peaceful Zen-style gardens. For many families, attending the exhibition is an annual tradition, a moment to slow down and appreciate nature’s quiet beauty amid the city’s energy.
A Shared Language of Flowers
Though Falls Church, Chengdu, and Taipei are separated by distance, they are connected through the timeless charm of the chrysanthemum. The flower speaks a universal language – one of resilience, elegance, and gratitude for life’s changing seasons.
Standing before a chrysanthemum in full bloom, it’s easy to feel a sense of calm and wonder. No matter where it grows – on Virginia soil, in a Chengdu park, or in a Taipei garden, it reminds us of what we share: love for beauty, a respect for nature, and a celebration of life’s quiet moments.
Duanwu Jie / Dragon Boat Festival: History, Culture, and Culinary Treats
(from Kitty Hsu Dana, OCAW Maryland Chapter Vice President)
The Virginia Chapter hosted a Dragon Boat Celebration in the Quincy Room of the Arlington Central Library in Arlington, VA, on Friday, May 23, 2025. It was organized by Maria Yang, OCAW National President and Acting President of the Maryland Chapter, and Barbara York, OCAW Virginia President. Members across the Potomac gathered for a slide show presentation about the origin and significance of the holiday.
Maria presented an informative, enjoyable, and participative slide show about the history and culture surrounding Duanwu Jie. Popularly known as the Dragon Boat Festival, the holiday is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese Lunar calendar – in China and among the Chinese diaspora around the world. Well-known traditions include teams racing long, narrow boats dressed like dragons, and the eating of Zongzi, a sticky rice treat wrapped in bamboo leaves. These practices commemorate the poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), who drowned himself as an expression of his patriotism for his country, and the fishermen and people who threw rice wrapped with bamboo leaves into the water so the fish would not eat Qu Yuan’s body. It is also referred to as Chinese Poets’ Day. Maria invited participants to recite one of their favorite poems, enriching the occasion to get to know one another.
(from Pu-Chin Hsueh Waide, OCAW-VA Lifetime Member)
Maria Yang and Barbara York organized a most enjoyable and delicious gathering of some of our Virginia OCAW sisters for the Dragon Boat Festival duān wǔ jie. Maria gave us a very succinct history of Qu Yuan, the reason for the Dragon Boat Festival, and how the eating of the tricornered bamboo-leaf wrapped sticky rice zongzi became a tradition.
Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), a minister in the court of King Huai of Chu. Qu Yuan had dreamt of a State of a just and righteous kingdom; instead he was depressed and concerned by the corruption around him. He was slandered by evil ministers. Even though Qu Yuan loved his King, he was sent into exile. He was witnessing the “falling of this motherland” (Wikipedia) and wrote one of his famous poems, “The Lament.”
“I harnessed the jade dragons to a phoenix chariot,
And soared to the heavens in search of the virtuous.
But the way was long and fraught with peril,
My journey hindered by treacherous winds and clouds.”
So he jumped into the Milou River to end his life. But he was well loved by the common people, who took their boats to try and pull him out of the waters. However, they could not save him. Then they made small nuòmǐ fàn (sticky rice) with tasty morsels and wrapped in bamboo leaves and threw these into the waters so the fish and water-dragon would not eat their beloved minister.
He was the only person in China who is still considered to be “the People’s Poet” (Wikipedia). The Dragon Boat Festival is also “Chinese Poet’s Day.”
This was a combined project with Maryland and Virginia chapters.
Click here to go back to Maryland’s page.
Tour of new Japanese grocery/household goods store
(from Linda Devine)
In Maria’s email invitation to OCAW members, she stated (excerpts): “We are delighted to invite you to a cultural field trip to Marufuji Japanese Market, a new, charming local store that offers a wide array of Japanese groceries, snacks, seasonal items, and household goods. Our goal is simply to enjoy a light-hearted and enriching experience as we explore the flavors, customs, and aesthetic sensibilities of Japanese culture, right here in Tyson’s Corner, VA. This outing is an opportunity to approach another culture with curiosity, understanding, and open hearts. We believe that building bridges through shared experiences can deepen our appreciation of diverse cultures and strengthen community bonds.” Well said, Maria!
Thus, on Thursday, June 19, 2025, a group of OCAW-MD and OCAW-VA members met at 11 a.m. at the new, impressive Japanese market in Vienna, Virginia. Maria had the foresight to realize that with a decent-sized group as ours was, we might be able to arrange for a tour of the store. Store manager Mai Carriker was very gracious and obliged Maria’s request, making Noah, one of her staff members, available as our tour guide. In an organized, systematic fashion, Noah led us aisle by aisle and section by section through the store, explaining the various items that it had to offer, some of which were especially interesting. We appreciated his commentary. For instance, I did not realize that there is white miso and red miso. After leading us through the large quantities of food products, Noah showed us the wide variety of non-food items that the store had for sale. *So* many items throughout! Definitely a shopper’s delight! Once our tour was complete, we adjourned to the food court, where we pulled tables together and ordered entrees from the wide selection. During our tour, Maria had been filling up a shopping cart with lots of items, which I assumed was for future meals she had planned to prepare for her and Bill. However, at the end of our lunch, she spread out all of the packages on the table and insisted that we select an item/items to take home – which served as nice ‘souvenirs’ of our outing. Thank you, Maria!
All in all, it was a most enjoyable gathering with participants saying that they had a lot of fun.
(from Barbara York)
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, OCAW-VA Chapter members Barbara York, Amy Lee, and Maria Yang met and toured Marufuji Japanese Market, the new Japanese grocery/household goods store at Tysons 3 Center in Vienna, VA. We explored the store and had lunch in their very nice food court.
Marufuji is the first new Asian branded grocery store to open in the DMV (District/Maryland/Virginia) area in the last decade. It contains many interesting items from groceries to household goods to cosmetics. There are some amazingly high-end, expensive items – but a lot of other wares as well. It has received great reviews for the products it carries – but poor reviews for the crowding and subsequent depleted shelves. However, at the time of day we went, we avoided the crowds, and the shelves were well stocked, much to our pleasure. It was a very interesting and enjoyable outing!
Lunar New Year Potluck Lunch
The OCAW-VA Chapter enjoyed our 2025 Lunar New Year Potluck Lunch on Saturday, February 1, 2025. It was held once again in the Penthouse Party Room on the 23rd floor of Amy Lee’s condo building in Alexandria, Virginia. Members, family members, and friends totaled 21 attendees.
There was a huge spread of amazingly delicious dishes that included all the “good luck” food: shrimp, steamed fish, braised pork hock, grilled pork skewers, ham, spareribs, sweet and sour meatballs, duck, lohan jai, spring rolls, fried dumplings, roasted vegetables, a fruit platter, and red bean cake. There was even a Chinese-Indian ginger chicken curry.
The Virginia Chapter wishes all OCAW members and their families a Happy, Healthy, and Successful Year of the Snake!
Several members of the OCAW-VA Chapter attended the 1882 Foundation’s annual Year-End Dinner on Saturday, December 17, 2024, at the venerable Chinatown Garden restaurant in Washington, D.C. https://1882foundation.org/event-recaps/2024-end-of-year-dinner-recap/
Executive Director Ted Gong introduced a special guest and a significant announcement. The guest was Lisa Davidson from the National Historic Landmarks Program of the U.S. National Park Service. And the announcement was that the Summit Tunnel in California is now an Official Historic Landmark. The Summit Tunnel was the first railroad line to traverse the Sierra Nevada Range. It was built primarily by Chinese workers and was hand drilled and blasted over 15 months. It is a feat of engineering and brutal hard work.
For more information, here are some links:
https://1882foundation.org/programs/historic-preservation/summit-tunnel/
https://noehill.com/nevada_county_california/poi_great_summit_tunnel_marker.asp
https://www.uprrmuseum.org/uprrm/exhibits/curators-corner/summit-tunnel/index.htm
That the dinner was held on December 17 is significant because the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act took place on December 17, 1943, when the Magnuson Act was passed and allowed Chinese immigrants to become naturalized U.S. citizens.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the 1882 Foundation, it is the singular organization that keeps alive the fraught history of Chinese in America. Here is a link to their website:
https://1882foundation.org/about-the-foundation/
Intermediate Chinese Classes
Maria Yang who voluntarily teaches Intermediate Chinese in a Zoom class invited the students to join OCAW as lifetime members and thereby enroll in her class for no tuition. Four students accepted her offer, and the Virginia Chapter welcomed new lifetime members.
Maria has graciously offered this opportunity to anyone who would like to join her class. If you are a lifetime member and would like to study (and/or refresh your) reading and speaking Intermediate Chinese, please contact Maria at: yangyutan@icloud.com. Your requirement would be to join OCAW as lifetime member and access to a device like phone, tablet or computer. You do not have to be a Virginia resident, but be aware of the time difference.
Donations to help Tragedy in U.S. Maui
(from Barbara York, President, and Cathy Roberts, Treasurer)
As a result of the wildfires that devastated parts of Maui, Hawaii, in August 2023, OCAW members have risen to the challenge and have raised funds for the island’s rebuilding efforts.
Cathy Roberts, National Vice President for Programs and Virginia Chapter Treasurer, hosted a fundraising tea at her lovely home in Oakton, VA, on Saturday, September 9, 2023. It was very successful, and Cathy announced that it raised $2,150 for the Maui Strong Fund coordinated by the Hawaii Community Foundation.
Cathy sent the contributions to the OCAW Hawaii Chapter to forward to the relief fund, and OCAW Hawaii.
Chapter President Edwina Lee thanked chapter members for their kindness and support.
Barbara wishes to thank those who contributed
so generously to the fund, and to give special thanks to Cathy whose focus and faith in the project were instrumental in raising the donations.
The Orange Ribbon
Used to raise awareness for racial tolerance.
The orange ribbon in our Solidarity Against AAPI Hate logo is used to raise awareness for racial tolerance. The United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Australia’s Harmony Day also use the ribbon for racial harmony. Maryland and Virginia Chapter members Camilla Ng and Veronica Li attended the National Day of Solidarity Against AAPI Hate rally held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Monday, May 31,. 2021. Hundreds of people voiced against the widespread hate crimes against Asian Americans, and made demands for justice and inclusion. This was one of 20 such rallies across the country on Memorial Day. This movement is supported by about 50 diverse advocacy and community groups, including the Chinese American Heritage Foundation, Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates), Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA), 1882 Foundation, APIAVote, Council of Korean Americans, Arab American Institute, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and NAACP.
Yellow Whistle
Yellow whistles with wrist bands were given out at the rally. Sponsored by The Yellow WhistleTM, the “Yellow Whistle is a symbol of self-protection and solidarity in the fight against historical discrimination and anti-Asian violence. It is a simple gadget with a universal purpose – to signal alarm and call for help for all Americans. We shall not remain silent, because we belong.” To obtain your Yellow Whistle, go to the THE YELLOW WHISTLE website. The rally was closed with a powerful soulful protest song, No More by KHA, a Vietnamese-American pop soul singer and songwriter, born and raised in the DC area. The lyrics of this beautiful song capture the history of the contributions of Asian Americans and their struggle against discrimination and injustice. It may become the national anthem for the Asian Americans. Ctrl-Click on the link below for this song. NO MORE – Original by KHA – Bing video All in all, it was a colorful, entertaining, and inspiring rally. The message was loud and clear: We belong and we will be silent no more. About Solidarity Against AAPI Hate (SAAH) SAAH is the brainchild of the Chinese American Heritage Foundation, created in direct response to the Atlanta shootings and the rise of anti-Asian violence brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its goal is to amplify the AAPI voice, educate, inspire action, and affect change. Ctrl-Click on the link below for more information. Take Action – National Day of Solidarity Against Hate (solidarityagainstaapihate.org) (Photos taken by Camilla Ng) (Editor’s Note: It is Camilla’s personal hope that more Asian Americans will come out to support our communities under attack.)
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