LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Big Read this month is presenting a schedule of events in honor of “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan, the 2013 event's featured reading selection.
On Saturday, The Big Read celebrated the joy of horticulture at Star Gardens in Middletown.
Nursery proprietor Tanya Striedieck shared a wealth of research and knowledge on the chinesis species and family of plants native to China.
Many of Lake County’s local garden and landscaping plants are originally from China, particularly since China was not affected by the last Ice Age, thereby preserving many of the species which became extinct in Europe.
The idyllic setting of the nursery, and the passion for gardening, reading, and baking was evident in the preparations by Striedieck and staff member Mikki Canfield and her daughter Grace, who generously prepared an assortment of Chinese teas and homemade ginger snaps and almond cookies.
This week, chef Julie Hoskins will lead a hands-on cooking class at the Lower Lake High School culinary kitchen on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Aroma Café on the Yuba College campus will feature a Chinese luncheon buffet open to the public, as well as a student performance based on the novel.
On Thursday, the Chinese film festival at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum will host the popular and critically acclaimed film, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” at 6 p.m. Admission is free. View this cinematic masterpiece on the large screen in the historic venue.
This Saturday morning, young chess players from around the lake are encouraged to compete in a chess tournament to be held at the Burns Valley School in Clearlake. Winners will receive a savings account voucher sponsored by the Mendo/Lake Credit Union. Visit the LCOE Web site to register at www.lakecoe.org .
The Saturday evening Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre (featuring a 1930s Chinese setting) at the Tallman Hotel is sold out, but the public can still partake in the Chinese appetizer and beverage pairings at the Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake that evening.
A delectable culinary menu will be served with carefully chosen local wines, a plum wine and a Chinese beer. Reservations can be made by contacting the wine studio directly.
Sunday morning, the Friends of Boggs Mountain will lead a “Paths and Passages” hike on Boggs Mountain. Meet at the kiosk on Forestry Road at 9 a.m. Bring a copy of the novel (or one can be provided) and water, and wear sturdy shoes for this 2.9 mile walk in the coniferous forest.
The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
For more information, visit the Big Read Communities page at www.neabigread.org or the LCOE site at www.lakecoe.org .