The Wei Li Restaurant buffet will benefit LPL’s children’s folk dance program

AUBURN – While celebrating Chinese New Year at Wei Li Restaurant Sunday, Feb. 18, diners will get to watch a colorful program of dance and music by the Chinese Folk Art Ensemble of Boston, captured on video when they performed in Lewiston last summer.

In a tribute to the holiday, the restaurant’s all-you-can-eat dinner buffet will include such Chinese New Year staples as rice noodles, fish and pineapple. These foods carry special significance when eaten at the start of the Chinese New Year, according to Yu Li “Lilly” Huang, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Cam Luu. “Noodles are thought to bring good health for the coming year, while fish stands for prosperity and pineapple stands for good luck,” Huang explained.

Proceeds from the buffet will benefit a new children’s folk dance program at the Lewiston Public Library’s cultural learning center. The couple’s 7-year-old daughter, Katie, is one of some two dozen youngsters age 5 to 16 currently enrolled in the program.

“Several of these kids, including Katie, were enthusiastic participants at a Chinese dance workshop that members of the Chinese Folk Art Ensemble held here at LPL,” said Cindy Larock, cultural coordinator at the library. “We used this positive momentum to launch a series of classes in international folk dancing last month, which we hope to be able to continue into phase two through this gesture of generosity by Wei Li Restaurant.”

The video, to be shown on the restaurant’s large-screen TV, is of a performance presented in August by the 30-member troupe of Chinese-American teens at the Franco-American Heritage Center, which packed the house and ended with a rousing standing ovation.

“We’ve heard from countless people since then who regret that they missed that show, as well as others who would like to see it again,” said Larock, “So, we felt that this was the perfect opportunity to present the video version of it.”

There will be two sittings: 4:30 and 7 p.m. A selection of four appetizers and seven main dishes, including, pork, shrimp and vegetables, will be offered. The cost, which includes beverage and gratuity: $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12. Reservations are recommended. Call 344-0022. Wei Li Restaurant is at 945 Center St.