CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT, HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN!!! By Polly Guerin

Here’s your chance to celebrate again with the Chinese New Year and Lunar events at the MET plus Black History Month then view St. Trinians jolly romps. Only in New York, my friends, only in New York. Here’s the scoop!!!
THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT
The Chinese New Year begins on February 3, the beginning of the lunar year ushering in a period of renewal and longevity. It extends to personal matters and all signs are poised to enjoy greater fulfillment during the year to come. The Chinese mark the occasion with a long list of traditions intended to bring good luck so celebrate new beginnings in the new year and sweep clean your house to usher in a brighter future. Increase your luck and wear something new on New Year’s Day, especially lucky red. Heads up it’s going to be an interesting year ahead.
LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
Fun for Everyone: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Celebrates Chinese Arts and Culture on Saturday, February 5th from 11a.m.-4 p.m. The Museum rings in the Year of the Rabbit with interactive programs, art-making workshops and lively performances. Afternoon programs include a dramatic lion dance procession up the Museum’s front steps and into the building at 12.15 p.m., a Chinese tea ceremony at 2:15 p.m. and fan and ribbon dances at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. All events are free with museum admission with the exception of the one-hour children’s version of the Peking Opera’s Little Red Riding Hood at 3 p.m., tickets $15. A full-length production of the classic tale at 7 p.m., tickets $30. Complete schedule programs at www.metmuseum.org/lunarnewyear.aspx.
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Brooklyn Museum’s Target first Saturday offers FREE programs of art and entertainment each month. February 5th events celebrate Black History Month and the contributions of African Americans during the thirties, forties and fifties with programs inspired by the exhibition “Lorna Simpson: Gathered.” Highlights include 5-7 p.m. MUSIC, the Fat Cat Big Band plays behob and swing. 5:30 pm FILM, The Great Debaters (Denzel Washington) the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, who inspired students to form the school’s first debate team in the segregated South of 1935. 6:30-8:30 p.m. HANDS-ON-ART create a triptych portrait inspired by the work of Lorna Simpson. Museum admission FREE after 5 p.m. Tickets to events on first-come, first served basis. www.brooklynmuseum.org. 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn.
RONALD SEARLE, Celebrating a Great Caricaturist
In celebration of Ronald Searle’s 90th birthday year, The Forbes Gallery’s retrospective exhibit “A Lifetime of Drawing” spans the artist's wide-ranging career, from his rare World War II drawings to his successful work as a magazine and book illustrator, to the enormously popular series of “St. Trinian’s” drawings, to his work for movies and businesses and his famous drawings of cats. His wit is infused with compassion and a sense of the ridiculous, but above all there is joy in his work that evokes humor, silliness, pathos and absurdity in everything. At 62 Fifth Ave. www.forbesgalleries.com.
Ta Ta darlings!!! I’m going to a Chinese restaurant and celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with friends, just cause it’s reason to Celebrate new beginnings. Fan mail pollytalk@verizon.net. Go to www.pollytalk.com and click on any of my Blogs in the left hand column and also click on the link Polly’s feature article on Giulio Gari, which takes you to the Gari homepage.