8671. THIS MANNERISM IS A CLASSIC

THIS MANNERISM 

IS A CLASSIC

The Chinatown Gate in Philadelphia just

doesn't work. There's another one, and nearly

like it, in San Francisco and that works better.

It's something about location and place. The

Philadelphia one just comes out of nowhere

and goes to nothing. Hundred year-old

eggs notwithstanding  - Those are preserved

duck eggs the Chinese really eat  - preserved 

in clay, ash, salt, quicklime and rice hulls. 

They'also have 1000-year eggs, called

'Millenium Eggs.' There's a treat!

-

When I say the gate doesn't work, I don't

mean like the hinges or latches and things. 

It's not that kind of gate  -  it's an entry archway

you walk through to really 'enter' Chinatown.

Heavily decorated and maybe 30 feet high  -  

all garish, with dragons and colors. Just

too much activity, visually I mean, to have

to bother with. The same way with their 

fireworks  -  all that paper and decoration 

for something that blows away in a second. 

A hundred-year expectation.