How to get there
Fung Wah Bus Transportation
617-345-8000 (Boston area),212-925-8889 (New York)www.fungwahbus.comFung Wah buses leave South Station in Boston every hour on the hour, 7 a.m.-11:30 p.m., making the trip to New York in four hours. From New York, buses leave every hour on the hour from 7-10. Fare is $15 one way.
What to doExplore Chinatownwww.explorechinatown.com
This publicly funded tourism promotional campaign maintains an excellent website and an information booth at Canal and Walker streets, staffed weekdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and weekends 10-7.
Museum of Chinese in the Americas70 Mulberry St.212-619-4785; www.moca-nyc.orgTuesday-Sunday, noon-6 p.m., Friday until 7. Suggested donations: adults $3, seniors $1, children free. No donations requested on Fridays. Walking tours by reservation: adults $12, students $6, seniors and children under 5 free. Special ''Preparing for the New Year" tours offered today and next Sunday at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
New Year highlights
Lunar New Year Flower MarketRoosevelt ParkGrand and Chrystie streetsToday 10-5.
Chinatown Lunar New YearFirecracker Ceremony
Market Street and East Broadway
Wednesday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Firecrackers at 2 p.m., followed by Lion, Dragon, and Unicorn dance troupes marching along the main streets of Chinatown (Mott, Bowery, East Broadway, Bayard, Elizabeth, and Pell).Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
Next Sunday. Snakes through the big streets of Chinatown (see above, plus Forsyth, Division, and Worth streets). Best viewing along East Broadway.
Where to staySolita Soho Hotel159 Grand St.888-765-4828; 212-925-3600Rooms are small but comfortable, totally new above the second floor. Rooms $199-$269.Holiday Inn Downtown138 Lafayette St.
212-966-8898Rooms $149, including taxes, through next Sunday.
Where to eatMany Chinatown restaurants do not accept credit cards, which is not a problem, given the neighborhood's many banks and ATMs.Golden Unicorn Restaurant18 East Broadway212-941-0911
A large, inviting upstairs restaurant. Weekdays 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., weekends 9-4 for dim sum. Dinner weekdays 5:30-10:30 p.m., weekends 5-midnight. Dim sum $2-$3.95 per dish. Entrees $12.80 (vegetarian) to $32.80; $28 per person multicourse New Year feasts through March 6.
Oriental Garden14 Elizabeth St.212-619-0085Specializes in seafood. The dining room is relatively small; reservations recommended. Daily 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for dim sum, then until 10 p.m. for regular menu. Entrees $11-$21.
Ten Ren Tea & Ginseng Co. Inc.75 Mott St.212-349-2286Daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Offers 20-minute tea brewing and tasting sessions for which it is advisable to book ahead. The $30 charge may be waived if you make a purchase.
