The Green Show at Center Valley

By Mara Hernandez-Capili

2009 is indeed the year where the Earth Day celebrations are more visible and more people are focused in making the event a success. Center Valley has a unique offering for all its residents this year. It is once again time to bond and gather together for the Green Show Affair! The Green show Affair is an annual event that caters for the promotion of Earth Day and environmental care and significance. Green Show this year has several unique offerings that would not only excite the spectators but contribute more to their advocacies as well.

These bands are not just any band but those who are personally handpicked by the organizers because of their unique contributions to the environment. They will sing their newest records which include Song of the Environment and taking care of Mother Earth.The Green Shows includes a lot of offerings and one of them is the Green Music Nights. This event features local bands and artists of the music scene of Center Valley, all gathered to share their talents and join in the festivity.

The event will also feature several talented artists that will share their talents in the field of Fine Arts. In the event, galleries will be put up in different medium such as watercolor, acrylic and oil- all artworks depicting planet care.

There will be bazaars that feature recycled materials for everyone to enjoy. Kids have a place to for the Green Show. They can attend the free art classes and partake in the instructors' lessons on making great looking artworks. Moms and Dads will gain a lot of knowledge by attending the "Green is IN" seminar which features healthy options of living green within the family.

Come at the Green Show at Center Valley and be IN!

About the Author:

Mara Hernandez-Capili is a writer and a researcher on events in Travel and Leisure. Visiting events such as craft fairs will open one's spirit on the beauty of the world beyond home's borders. If youre staying in the US, the author suggests checking out craft shows for entertainments to make your stay memorable.

From A Foolish Buyer To A Purple Clay Teapot Collector

By Jason Jia

China is famous for its tea and tea sets, especially unique Yixing purple clay teapots. Some Chinese tea lovers see collecting purple clay teapots as a great pleasure. Mr. Liu Tianbao has evolved from an amateur teapot buyer to a master purple clay teapot collector.

The Costly Lesson

As a child, Liu was greatly influenced by his father's love of purple clay flowerpots. He was crazy about miniature gardens, so there were a lot of flower pots made of Yixing purple clay in their home. Liu learned the special qualities of purple clay from his father.

Back in the 1970's, Beijing did not have as many antique markets as today. The only places featuring traditional handicrafts were Tian Qiao, Shi Cha Hai, and De Sheng Men. Following his father's example, Liu visited these venues to hunt for valuable things.

One day, Liu hit a second-hand curio market. He purchased nearly 50 secondhand Yixing purple clay teapots! Then he hurried home excitedly, and dipped all the treasures into a tank. He was petrified by what he saw. The handles and spouts dropped one by one off the teapots. It turns out he bought many worthless, broken teapots pieced together by glue. He was taught a costly lesson.

Destiny's Pot

In 1986, Liu made a trip to Tianjin. At a local antique market he took a fancy to a quaint purple clay teapot. Regrettably, the price was more than he could afford, and the seller refused to bargain with Liu. In the end, Liu had to part with the pot reluctantly. However, this was not the end. In 1996, Liu unexpectedly discovered the same teapot at a secondhand antique market in Beijing. He didn't skip the chance a second time. He bought it right away.

Based on his research, the creator of this purple clay teapot was Pei Shimin, one of the most distinguished master potters of the Qing dynasty. The teapot was covered with a layer of yellow glaze. Only a master at could complete such a design at that time, as it required the pot to be placed in a kiln at very high temperatures, not once, but twice. At present, you can only find this type of purple clay teapot at the Forbidden City in Beijing.

A Pot is Like a Son

Liu treasures his purple clay teapots to the uttermost, for he knows their intrinsic worth. One day he purchased a rare purple clay teapot from the late Qing dynasty. He felt very glad. He put the pot into his backpack with great care, and then rode away on his bike. On the way, he kept singing his favorite songs.

But all of sudden, an old man walked in front of Liu. To prevent from bumping into the old man, Liu rolled down and off his bicycle. In the blink of an eye, he gripped his teapot fast, and let his hipbone, instead of the teapot, hit the ground first. As a result, a hipbone fracture laid him up for twelve months. Whenever his friends referred to his incident, they would gasp in admiration at how Liu loves his purple clay teapots much more than his bones.

Now Liu has been collecting purple clay teapots for over thirty years. He describes each of his unique teapots as his son. His collections prove that he has a sharp eye for purple clay teapots.

Liu thinks an Yixing purple clay teapot inevitably involves its creator's ingenuity, workmanship, and vision. And he says a purple clay teapot embodies its collector's ability to find good things, and a little luck.

About the Author:

Specialist J. Jia has studied Chinese culture, calligraphy, and arts & crafts including Chinese teapots for 20+ years. Occasionally, he endorses the work of certain potters. See samples of quality Yixing teapots here.

For all the kids out there

By Mara Hernandez-Capili

My Sunday won't be completed by my favorite kiddies meal. I would frolic and have fun on its playground until my grandparents would call me off to go home. McDonalds have always been a symbol of fun and good food for kids and all ages. But McDonald's has a heart for the children enjoying its playing amenities and food. I remember when I was a kid our destination after we go to church is McDonalds.

It is an experience that is now imprinted and a big part of my youth. I remember the joy I felt just realizing that it is already Saturday and tomorrow will be a Sunday. In my mind I would say its McDonalds day again! This is for a fact a common thinking for all kids and kids at heart. We had always enjoyed McDonalds as an established institution of fun and good fast food

A fun filled day of fun is coming at the McDonalds kids' day. The place where the event will be held is planned to be filled with a lot of playthings. Sandboxes, a lot of slides, plastic ball pools and a lot more are to be expected. Games are also expected and prices will also be there. Colorful playgrounds will fill the kid's eyes and even tickle the kid in you. Everyone is invited and registration to enter will be very easy.

They say that no one is to leave empty handed and that is a promise. The event will be for children from 4 years of age up to 12 years old. Just fill up the form in the registration table and they will pin you a lapel and there you go. All the games and attractions are free, and the prizes are fun.

Come and join us bring every kid you know to the Annual McDonalds Kids day

About the Author:

Mara Hernandez-Capili is a writer and a researcher on events in Travel and Leisure. Visiting events such as craft fairs will open one's spirit on the beauty of the world beyond home's borders. If youre staying in the US, the author suggests checking out craft shows for entertainments to make your stay memorable.