www.SICTV.org

A dragon is a legendary creature. All legendary stories about Chinese dragons are from the sky, which means heaven in China. The image of dragon is blurred, misty, mystic, occulted, noble and untouchable. For China, it is the symbol of power from heaven. The Chinese emperor was considered the son of heaven. An emperor has the authority to send command to Dragons. One Chinese story mentioned an emperor killed a dragon in his dream. After 581 AD, Chinese emperors began to wear imperial robes with dragon symbols. During the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), the dragon can be seen everywhere on the roofs, doors, pillars, bridges, utensils in the forbidden city. The most powerful dragon is the five-clawed dragon. It appears only on the yellow imperial robe. Because of this, Dragon is one of most auspicious animals in China.
They say that Dragon has nine sons. People didn't know too much about the Nine Dragons until Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). However, there is more than one version of the Nine Dragons story. One story is the following.
The Dragon sent its nine sons to help the first emperor of Ming Dynasty to conquer China. After completing the mission, nine dragons were preparing their journey to return to heaven. But the emperor wanted them to continue to help the Ming Dynasty. The nine dragons wouldn't stay and the emperor couldn't stop them. However, the emperor decided to play a trick on the most powerful dragon, the 6th son. He tricked the sixth dragon son to carry a magic stele with a carved inscription, which could suppress any ghost, spirit or evil creature. The 6th dragon couldn't move under the magic stele, and all of his other brothers wouldn't leave without him. However, they wouldn't work for the emperor anymore. They decided to no longer show their dragon identities and turned themselves into evil creatures. Since then, the nine dragons have stayed in China.

The Year of the Dragon holds special importance for the Chinese as it is considered to be the luckiest of Chinese years which brings happiness and success.

According to Chinese culture, the dragon is the most auspicious and powerful animal in the Chinese zodiac which is also associated with prosperity.

And since this lunar year is the year of water dragon - occurring only in 60 years - it is considered even more auspicious to the Chinese.
 The dragon year will possibly bring a slight boom to the housing market in China. Many people who subscribe to the Chinese zodiac are expected to wed this year and purchase a house.

Tens of thousands of couples are preparing to marry under what is considered an auspicious sign. To win over a bride in a country undersupplied with women, it helps a lot if the aspiring groom first proves his worth by buying a home.

www.ExposeYourBusiness.com, www.ElPatronMexicanGrill.net, www.AjaxUnion.com

By going outside your own community or comfort zone, you can dramatically increase your visibility and get your company's name into the hands of the decision makers you need to reach. The most successful companies have realized the huge opportunities available in the markets of other cultures and have diversified their customer base. Studies show that businesses that overlook this strategy often do so because they lack the time and resources to make these connections in person which is still the most effective way to generate sales.

The NY Multicultural Business Expo will create these opportunities in one place at one time. Businesses looking to broaden their customer base will exhibit their products and services to a variety of businesses they may never have a chance to encounter.

I was invited to a business mixer at El Patron Mexican Grill‎ 194-01 Northern Boulevard

Flushing, NY 11358-3032

(718) 819-2121

ElPatronMexicanGrill.net‎ last night and I found it to be not just a little more than I expected.

 

Not your usual mixer where you shake hands with dozens of new acquaintances and swap business cards and elevator speeches, this one actually had content.  

Mark Neuwirt, Founder and President of Expos Your Business
Mark is a trade show veteran having produced several highly successful B2B events to date. He is a member of the Queens, Brooklyn & Melville Chambers of Commerce as well as an active member of more than 10 prominent networking groups from Staten Island to Suffolk. He has formed strategic relationships with regional and local media companies who have committed to supporting the first annual NY Multicultural Business Expo. He recently entered into a reciprocal co-marketing arrangement with Event Management, the producer of the NY XPO for Business held at the Jacob Javits Center. Mark is a hands-on professional who designed Expos Your Business to be a state of the art marketing company focusing on face to face as well as virtual interaction between businesses and customers resulting in significant revenue growth.

Contact: mark@exposyourbusiness.com or 718-813-8173 or 516-813-6155

  Those who attended got to meet new people, munch on some good food, hear great features of the NY Multicultural Business Expo and hear an amazingly information packed presentation on how to present your event through social media. Thanks again to Kalli Meisler, who is a fountain of information and energy, and to Ajax Union for providing her services. 

 

www.TheStaaten.com

Aor is from Thailand and is so thrilled and happy to be marrying  Paul that she is always busting at the seams with joy and that kind of love is contagious!

They picked a lovely day in January and had the ceremony at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brooklyn and the party was at Li Greci's Staaten.

Continuing in a tradition of elegance, exquisite cuisine, and exemplary service, The Staaten provides the perfect setting for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

For nearly 50 years, the LiGreci family has dedicated themselves to making each affair at The Staaten a treasured experience. From intimate gatherings to lavish celebrations, they have the expertise to help you create an affair that reflects your personal style, taste and budget. The Staaten’s long-standing reputation of excellence reflects this experience and commitment.

The LiGreci family takes pride in making your special occasion an extraordinary and memorable event. As a family owned and operated business, there will always be a family member available to fulfill any individual need and ensure your special day is given the attention and dedication it deserves.  When planning your affair, visit www.TheStaaten.com then call

Jack & Gary LiGreci and Family

at (718) 448-6000 to experience their brand of unbeatable service.

www.RelaxOnCloud9.com

Want the best massage in Staten Island? Look no further than Relax on Cloud 9 -- Staten Islands premier massage, spa, and yoga studio.  694 Clove Road  Staten Island, NY 10310-2707

(718) 448-3412

1 Google review

Relax On Cloud Nine was founded in 1995 when opening Staten Islands first dollar a minute massage store at the Staten Island Mall. In 1998 it opened the first Day Spa on Staten Island offering massage therapy, facials, vichy shower, sauna/steam, mud/seaweed wraps and hydrotherapy mineral bath treatments. It has been highlighted in "Time Out NY" as "homey, peaceful and unlike anything you can experience in Manhattan." "I felt as if I was in a Berkshires bedroom. The massage itself was expert. The therapist paid careful attention to my concerns and used a good deal of pressure." The Next Wellness Event The Next Wellness Event is Friday, January 13th, 7-9pm RSVP: doreen@relaxoncloud9.com 718-448-3412 The owner Doreen is one of the officers of the BUCKS BUSINESS NETWORK (www.BucksBlog.net) I see her weekly at the breakfast meetings and recommend her wholeheartedly. My videographer Mike (www.MjVideoProductions.com) was just there on Saturday Relaxing, Rejuvenating and Restoring and my chief photographer Sara (AliceAusten.org) has plans to go there soon.

www.WeddingsByFlint.com

www.Shadowbrook.com

“The Knot” best of weddings winner
Brides choice awards winner – WeddingWire.com
“Top 100 independent restaurants” – Restaurant Hospitality Magazine
“America’s top 100 restaurants” – Restaurants and Institutions Magazine
“Best of the best” place to get married – Asbury Park Press Readers’ choice awards
“A “long driveway” takes you into a “world of magic” at this Shrewsbury traditional American set in a “beautiful” Georgian Mansion on a “sprawling” estate; the “utterly elegant”, “fairy-tale” location and “old-world” ambiance make it an “experience to remember” and a natural site for “weddings” – Zagat Survey

My last wedding of the year was for Brandice and Matt at the beautiful Shadowbrook on Route 35 in Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 just south of Red Bank.  Call them at 732 747 0200. 

Third generation of restaurateurs & hoteliers

Owners Robert and Ronnie both grew up in Lakewood, NJ, where they went through the Lakewood school system. Robert attended the renowned Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, graduating with honors and being a member of Ye Hosts Honorary Society.  Ronnie spent her college years on the East Hill of Ithaca at Ithaca College.  Robert began working at an early age in his parents hotels in both Lakewood and Bradley Beach, while playing on Lakewood State Championship Basketball Teams.  Robert worked at every position both front and back of the house.
Robert and Ronnie started working together managing a famous seashore restaurant and club during their summer breaks from college.  Robert and Ronnie married in 1971 and later that year purchased Shadowbrook with Robert’s dad and brother.  They have developed Shadowbrook into the landmark that it is today, acquiring sole possession in 1985.  Robert and Ronnie support and contribute their time and resources to many local, state and national charities and organizations.  They are willing to help anyone in need and through Shadowbrook, assist scores of charities each year. They have been honored by many organizations for their community work.  Each year they donate meals to over 1,000 children with cancer for the Francis Foundation.
Robert and Ronnie would like to thank their dedicated family of employees at Shadowbrook for their support.  They have employees that have been with them since 1971. There are over a dozen employees with over 20 years of service and over a dozen with over 10 years of service.  Because of their employees, they have been able to obtain the time and resources to help others!
Robert and Ronnie live in Holmdel, NJ and have two daughters, Ali and Daryl, both Cornell University Hotel School graduates. The family shares interests in sports and vintage sports and racing cars. The Zweben’s travel extensively and attend food events all over the world. They incorporate new ideas in décor, cuisine and service that are culled from their experiences. The Zweben Family’s goal is to provide a menu, a service and an ambiance that are unsurpassed for you special occasions. Their dedication to excellence is evident in every aspect of Shadowbrook.