Story Intro

5) Other Fun Activities: Several businesses and organizations will have special events and meals to enjoy over the holiday.

           Frog I Mexican Restaurant & Pub (105, Hua Mei W. St.; sec. 1; tel. 2321-1197) will have a free barbecue and other thing to eat each night from 6 to 8 p.m. from January 24 to January 28.  At Frogs pubs 1 through 5 during the same dates, customers who buy a drink will get a free red envelope with gift inside.

           The Evergreen Laurel Hotel (6, Taichung Kang Rd., sec. 2; tel. 2313-9988) is offering various Chinese and Western dining selections at its many restaurants from January 23 to 28.  First-floor Cafe Laurel and B2-level La Farfalla Ristorante Italiano will both have buffet meals, respectively costing NT$750 and NT$699 for adults and NT$550 and NT$499 for children.  For Asian flavors, the third-floor Formosa Restaurant will also have a buffet for NT$888/adult and NT$688/child.  Chevalier Teppanyaki & Steakhouse, on the second floor, will have set menu meals starting at NT$750 per person, and so will the Evergreen Club and Canton Palace, respectively starting at NT$2,000 and NT$1,500 per person.  Finally, a special Deluxe Hamper, with abalone, shark's fin and other delicacies, will be available for take-away at the first-floor Gourmet Shop, starting at NT$250.   

           The Landis Taichung Hotel (9, Taichung Kang Rd., sec. 2; tel. 2326-8008) is holding a variety of Chinese new year feasts at its three main restaurants, plus take-away service, from January 23 to 28.  The main event is an elegant New Year Feast in the hotel's banquet room on January 23, costing NT$13,500 (plus 10%) per table and including two bottles of red wine (per table).  For a western feast, first-floor La Mode restaurant will have NT$780/880 lunch specials like roast beef, or pan-fried salmon with lobster sauce, plus NT$880/980 dinners with dishes like braised Boston Lobster.  Special Hangzhou-style and Cantonese meals will respectively be served at the second-floor Tien Hsiang Lo and B1-level Cantonese restaurants.  Both restaurants have meals costing NT$13,500 for a table of 12 and NT$1,800 per person.  All restaurants have take-away dishes, which must be booked four days in advance.

A banquet will take place in the Plaza International Hotel Taichung¡¦s International Hall and Jumbo Restaurant on Chinese New Year¡¦s Eve (January 23^rd).  The cost is NT$1200 per person plus 10% service charge.  Reservations are accepted for groups of six or more.  From January 23^rd to February 7^th, the Yasher Coffee Shop will be offering special set meals for the New Year at NT$999 per person plus 10% service charge.  In addition, the Garden Restaurant will be featuring Western-style set meals also at NT$999 per person plus 10% service charge.  On January 25^th, the Jumbo Restaurant will be having a banquet to celebrate the 2^nd day of the Chinese New Year, when it is tradition for a married woman to visit her parents.  The cost is NT$1200 plus 10% service charge.  Reservations are accepted for groups of six or more.  For more information, call 2295-6789

Organizers at Taichung's Hash House Harriers will continue to hold their weekly run through the holiday.  Show up on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., at the McDonald's on Wenhsin Road, section 2, across from the Taichung Police/Foreign Affairs Police headquarters.  Call Tom at 2326-5277 or try asking the folks at Salt & Pepper Restaurant (2329-6400).