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Around Town
Let’s celebrate

Qi Xi
By D.L. Hopkins
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TRADITIONS
For the Chinese holiday Qi Xi (pronounced “chee shee”)—often called Chinese Valentine’s
Day—people gather for stargazing and retelling an ancient love story: the tale of a young
celestial weaver Zhinu and her cow-herder beau Niulang eternally separated by Zhinu’s
Bristol Renaissance Faire meddling mom. Long ago, women would visit a temple and pray to find their soul mate.
Today’s celebrations involve flowers, barbecues, presents and even speed matchmaking Hit up beaches! Bike race! Pack a picnic!
Living out a fantasy in
dating events.
Kenosha.
ORIGINS
Street life Dating back more than 2,000 years, the holiday takes place each year on the seventh day of Sexy Chicago
the seventh lunar month. The myth refers to two distant stars—forever separated by the
Public eye Milky Way, a slash in the sky made by Zhinu’s angry mother.

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PARTY!
Catch Qi Xi: A Chinese Love Story, a four-act production presented by the Chinese Fine
Arts Society (Millennium Park, Cloud Gate, 55 N Michigan Ave, 312-369-3197,
chinesefinearts.org; 2:30–4pm, free) . Vibrant costumed dancers, opera singers and martial
artists from All Star Kung Fu, Cheng Da Percussion Ensemble and Chicago Chinese Sexy reading Burlesque EXXXtacy show
Cultural Center’s Lion Dancers perform the fairy tale. “We figured that this was a beautiful series
story that lends to the architectural backdrop to Millennium Park,” says Chinese Fine Arts
Society board president Julie Tiao Ma.
Around Town blog
At the Qi Xi After Party, the audience can mix and mingle with the cast over hors d’oeuvres
Qi Xi: A Chinese Love Story: photo gallery
and enter a raffle to win two round-trip airline tickets to Shanghai or Beijing (Chicago
Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E Washington St; chinesefinearts.org; 4:30– 8/23/10
6:30pm; $15, advance $12, kids 11 and under $7). More Museums & Culture posts
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Articles Venues
Time Out Chicago / Issue 286 : Aug 19–25, 2010

1. Oh, my God
| Send to a friend | Print 2. What’s up with that?
3. Qi Xi
4. Widespread Hispanic
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5. School daze
 6. Your perfect weekend
Leave a comment 7. The buddy system
8. Naked Girls Rock: Photo gallery
9. Defense mechanism
Name 10. Nude yoga

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