Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái!
Saehae Bok Mani Badeuseyo!
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!
Happy Lunar New Year!
When the streets of Chinatown are adorned with vibrant lanterns, families are dressed in new red outfits, freshly coiffed heads are sporting new haircuts, aunties are folding dumplings in the kitchen, red envelopes are being exchanged, and all the Asian supermarkets are filled with sweet treats, you know exactly what time of the year it is: it’s Lunar New Year.
And of course, Lunar New Year also means lots of festivals and events happening all around town!
Last Friday, February 16, the Concordia Canadian Asian Society (CCAS), McGill’s Hong Kong Student Network (HKSN), McGill’s Malaysian and Singaporean Student Association (MASSA), the McGill Chinese Student Society (MCSS), the McGill Korean Educational and Cultural Association (MECA), and the McGill Taiwanese Student Association (MTSA) all joined forces at the Omni Hotel to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with their annual Lunar New Year Night Market.
Over 35 vendors served a mix of food, apparel, crafts, and cultural items, from jade bangles and bracelets to Southeast Asian coffee beans. The night market even featured special performances by long-time pianist Daniel Luo, the Saber Phoenix, and many K-pop dance troupes including Genesis and B-Ware. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the first 10 people to come in were even welcomed with free boba from Gong Cha!
Here are some of the small businesses that caught my eye that night.
1. Artsy Tamiie
Category: Stationery and Gifts
Website: artsytamiie.etsy.com
Instagram: @artsytamiie
If you know me, you know that I love stickers and I love food. So when I stumbled upon these Asian food-inspired sticker sheets, I knew right away that I had to get them!
But what makes Artsy Tamiie even more special is the talented artist behind the brand. Thanh Tam Lê is the self-taught artist and pun enthusiast (you’ll find a lot of great ones in her work!) who designs all the stickers and cards in her shop with a unique blend of creativity and passion.
When she’s not busy drawing or painting, you can find her at Le Salon Dust, where she works as a part-time hairdresser.
2. Bask Hour
Category: Home and Living
Website: baskhour.com
Instagram: @baskhour
What if I told you that you could immortalize a memory simply by lighting a candle? That’s the magic of Bask Hour, the best candles (and soap bars too!) in town, handcrafted with only the purest, cleanest ingredients.
My go-to candle has always been their Cà Phê Sữa Đá, but their new Lunar New Year collection might be a close contender. One sniff of the Fortune, Mandarin, and Temple candles will instantly transport you to memories of visiting your Asian grandparents’ home during special occasions, surrounded by the comforting smell of incense.
3. Broidery by Ally
Category: Apparel and Accessories
Instagram: @broiderybyally
There’s a reason why this booth caught my eye: I recognized a familiar face!
I’ve been a huge fan of Broidery by Ally since I first discovered them at a Filipino Night Market Filipinos of Montreal hosted about two summers ago. What I love about their brand is that you can get pretty much anything embroidered on anything – from tote bags to crewnecks, bucket hats, and even nurse scrub hats!
Their new iron-on patches are so cute. Plus, they carry lots of fun designs, including your favourite anime, Mario Kart, and Sanrio characters. And nothing screams Lunar New Year more than an iron-on patch of Hello Kitty dressed as a Lucky Cat!
4. Milmo
Category: Bags and Accessories
Website: lemilmo.com
Instagram: @lemilmo
Plastic bags aren’t good for the environment. And reusable grocery bags aren’t always the prettiest bags to carry around. So that’s when Jordan Marcelino created the Milmo 1813, the revolutionary, most versatile bag that’s perfect for work, errands, and everything in between. It’s 18 inches long, 13 inches wide, and 6 inches in depth, has straps engineered for heavy loads, and even has a removable, easy to clean, waterproof liner.
If you’re like me and you’re always forgetting to bring your (not-so-pretty) reusable grocery bags to the store (and always ending up having to buy more), this is the bag for you!
5. My Fluffy Friend
Category: Crafts and DIY
Instagram: @my_fluffyfriend_
Remember when Montreal had all these Build-a-Bear stores at the Malls? Well, let me introduce you to a whole new level of cuddly companions: My Fluffy Friend.
Their all-in-one kit has everything you need to craft your very own charming, palm-sized, fluffy wire doll, including an exclusive guide (with a video QR code) accompanied by detailed illustrations for every crafting move. And if handmade dolls aren’t really your thing, they also have fluffy toploaders, fluffy keychains (my favourite is their little onigiri one!) and fluffy phone grips.
Now you can relive all your childhood Build-a-Bear days with a unique twist!
6. TK’s Little Studio
Category: Stationery and Gifts
Websites: https://www.tida-kheav.com/ and https://www.etsy.com/shop/tkslittlestudio
Instagram: @tkslittlestudio
And just when I thought I had enough stationery, I stumbled upon the prettiest purple and seafoam green booth with the most playful, warm, and whimsical card, print, and sticker designs.
What really caught my eye, though, were these anxiety-themed, and then Asian snacks-inspired, sticker sheets. And yes, I’m talking about all the Asian grocery store staples we grew up loving: Pocky, Yan-Yan, Hello Panda, Yakult, shrimp crackers, you name it!
TK stands for Tida Kheav, the self-taught, Cambodian-Canadian artist behind the brand. She pours her whole heart into her illustrations, drawing inspiration from her Asian-Canadian upbringing, her travels, and her own experiences with mental health.
7. Thé Perlé
Category: Food and Beverage
Instagram: @theperle.mtl
And after all that shopping, I definitely needed some food!
That night, I was looking for vegetarian meal options when I stumbled upon Thé Perlé. Their vermicelli bowls were loaded with veggies and the juiciest-looking grilled beef, and looked absolutely mouthwatering. But when I asked if they had any meat-less options, to my surprise, they revealed that what appeared to be beef was actually tofu! And wow did that tofu really taste like meat!
So be sure to visit the next time you’re craving a satisfying and innovative vegetarian meal. And if you’re not a fan of veggies, don’t worry, they have “meatatarian” options too.
Plus, they have the cutest boba plush toys!
Attending this year’s Concordia-McGill Lunar New Year Night Market, I was impressed by the mix of school clubs from different Asian backgrounds, and the variety of vendors displaying their goods and foods.
And so if there’s one thing I learned, it’s this: that Lunar New Year is a reminder that amidst diversity, there’s a beautiful unity that binds everyone.
That it doesn’t matter whether you call it Chinese New Year, or Tết, or Seollal. Because what truly matters is the spirit of joy and togetherness that defines this special celebration.
So Happy Year of the Dragon, everyone! And may this year be filled with unity, joy, and prosperity.
The Lilac Blog 