Big hubbub in Little China.
At a time when NYC’s Chinatown faces multiple threats ranging from decreased foot traffic and violent crime to urban renewal, one local organization has come up with a great way to support the historic nabe — by throwing a fun and affordable late-night party.
For a few fleeting Fridays this summer, Big Apple Sinophiles can enjoy the neighborhood well after the usual post-COVID closing time — as the Chinatown Night Market descends on Forsyth Plaza from 8-11:45 p.m., including this evening.
The lively and delicious event, with food costing $7 or less per dish, has been organized by Think! Chinatown, a neighborhood non-profit that works to keep the area’s profile high as the city evolves.
“Chinatown Night Market is much more than just a street fair,” said director Yin Kong, per Timeout. “It’s a stake in the ground to proudly claim space for our community in the face of encroaching gentrification.”
The threat to the area’s one-of-a-kind energy comes, ironically, as Manhattan enjoys a Chinese food boom, with neighborhoods throughout the borough spoiled for choice, from the authentic Shanghainese concept Che Li in the East Village to the world’s largest Din Tai Fung just steps from the heart of Times Square.
The open-air expo will feature multiple vendors specializing in traditional Chinatown art, food and more — no kanip kanop carts and fake watches here, according to the organizers.
The culinary offerings will showcase an increasingly diverse array of offerings lining Chinatown’s atmospheric streets.
Food highlights this season entail an all-star lineup of eateries, including:
- Bánh Mì Cô Út (a shop hawking the iconic French-inflected Vietnamese sandwiches among other eats)
- Grand Tea & Imports
- Kuih Cafe (NY’s first Malaysian dessert depot)
- Sugarcane Daddy (which specializes in fresh sugar cane juice)
- Yan Wo Dou Bun (a family-owned venture founded in 1936 that offers soy milk and bean curd)
- The Little One (a boutique Japanese pastry shop) and more.
Also expect a plethora of locally-made crafts, from dough figurines to sugar paintings, framed calligraphy and traditional paper-cut art.
Also keep your eyes peeled for the the intermittent cultural dances occurring on the upper plaza at 8:45, 9:45 and 10:45 p.m.
The organizers promise that neither the festival’s fare nor merchandise will break the bank — a rarity amid inflation.
A majority of the food items run visitors “$7 and under” while the lion’s share of crafts cost $25 or less.
