Chinese New Year Celebration, Please join us on Saturday, February 4, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as our FCC community celebrates the Year of the Rabbit, at the NW Hills United Methodist Church (Youth Center), located at 7050 Village Center Dr., in Austin 78731. This year’s event will include a Chinese buffet dinner from First Chinese BBQ, crafts, Chinese dances by our younger members, FCC annual board elections, a silent auction, and other early evening fun! Dinner will be on the early side of the event, starting at 4:30 PM or 5:00 PM. 2023 Austin Kite Festival, April 1st, from 10:00 to 5:00 at Zilker Park: 2207 Lou Neff Rd., Austin, 78746. This is a dog-friendly, free, magical event. The FCC Austin Annual Retreat this year will be the weekend of April 28th (Friday eve) to April 30th (Sunday noon) at John Knox Ranch in Fischer, Texas. It’s a beautiful, 300-acre nature preserve set on the Blanco River in the Hill Country near Wimberley. At our disposal would be John Knox’s own “blue hole” swimming area and the commons building with a kitchen, comfortable living areas, a big screened porch, and a fireplace. We’ll have lots of opportunities for communal activities and outdoor fun!     Deadline to RSVP: March 25th     Choose Your Accommodation Options: 1) Bunk room with 6 bunk beds and 1 queen bed with private bathroom, A/C and heat, OR 2)  a screened cabin with 20 beds for individuals who want to be closer to nature, sans A/C and heat with bath accommodations in a shared, separate building.     Each private bunk room is grouped with another similar unit as part of a duplex. There are enough beds so that families could double-up in one room if desired, or if we get tight on space. We can rent a maximum of 4 duplexes, which would accommodate at least 8 families.     The exact cost will depend on how many families and individuals sign up and buy tickets, which we will make available on Eventbrite. The cost should be in the range of $250 to $300 per family for 2 nights in the bunk rooms. The cost could be less per family if families want to double up. This includes accommodations and common space rentals and some activities (like swimming under supervision of lifeguards). The cost for staying in the screened, 20-bed bunk room would be charged by the individual (versus family) with each individual paying approximately $60 for 2 nights.     Not included will be food costs. Meals would be handled as in the past, with teams planning, buying, and preparing food for 4 simple meals: Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Sunday breakfast. In the past, food costs have been low... our menus have been simple like eggs and pancakes, pasta, tacos, etc.     If you are interested in joining the Retreat or want more info, please contact Tom Hurt at 512 694-7833, and let him know if you want to reserve a cabin or a space in the screened bunk room so he can get a firm accommodation plan together. Austin Swim Party, Deep Eddy Pool, August 20th, 3:00 to 5:00 pm. FCC invites you to our annual Summer Swim Party! Pool entrance fee for Austin residents is $5 for adults, $3 for juniors, $2 for children. We will meet on the grassy area by the shallow end. Hello friends! FCC would like to invite you to our annual Mid Autumn Festival! The event will be on Sunday, October 1st from 4:00 to 6:30 pm at Central Market North Lamar (by the patio). We have a bunch of fun activities lined up such as lion dancing, Chinese snacks, henna tattoos, and painting, so please come out and join us! In addition, we will be holding a super special raffle for a Central Market gift basket! This gift basket will feature the best snacks and products that Central Market has to offer. Raffle tickets will be $2 each, or 3 for $5. We hope to see everyone there! Asian American Resource Center’s 10-year Anniversary! Join us in celebration as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the City of Austin’s Asian American Resource Center (AARC) on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. The AARC outdoor campus will be transformed into a Night Bazaar featuring food & merchandise vendors, community organizations, activities, games, and more. This family friendly, outdoor event serves as an opportunity for both first-time and longtime AARC-goers to come together in appreciation of our past while looking forward towards our future. Click the link above to RSVP. FREE Lion Dance Workshop with Heavenly Dragon Lion Dance Association of Austin! Saturday, December 9th, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Lake Creek Park (800 Deerfoot Trail, Round Rock) This event is open to FCC members, friends, children, teens, and adults. Learn the history and tradition of lion dancing, kung fu moves that dancers use in performances, how to move the lion head, and some of the drumming and cymbals rhythms. This will be a hands-on workshop.