花和霧 flowers and fog : picnic

As a special prelude to the feature-length performance of 花和霧 flowers and fog, limited audiences of 12 are invited to join Joy and Melissa for a small dimsum picnic near the historic Portsmouth Square park (before it gets torn down for redevelopment later this year). The picnic RSVP includes a small serving of sweet + savory dimsum, tea and a special gift — in addition to an intimate performance offering from Joy and Melissa.

You are invited to bring a parent, elder or special friend!

Menu will include:

• choice of 1 savory dimsum item (veg or shrimp),
• choice of 1 sweet dimsum item,
• assorted snacks,
• a small amount of hot tea.

* ASL Interpretation will be provided on May 19 and May 25 shows *

You will be followed up with via email to receive instructions to confirm menu selections for your party + the exact location of the meeting point in early May.

Due to the very limited capacity of 12, please plan ahead and ensure the dates/times work for you. Exchanges/refunds cannot be guaranteed and may depend on the amount of advance notice; your unique participation and attendance will be carefully planned for by Joy, Melissa and the production team. Thank you for your understanding and help making this special experience possible. *

The feature performance of 花和霧 flowers and fog is a short walk away at the historic Gateway Theater (215 Jackson St - a former movie-theater-turned-Broadway-musical venue). This reservation does not include admittance to the 3pm in-theater performance. You can reserve separately here.

For help with sliding scale / NOTAFLOF reservations, please email [email protected]

(above photo by Robbie Sweeny - Dresher Ensemble Artist Residency ; header photo by RJ Muna)

A bit more about the show and collaboration: 花和霧 flowers and fog is a performance portrait of Melissa alongside their mother, Joy ChenYu Lewis — bridging cultures, identities, and art disciplines. Joy is 74, a singer + performer born in 1949 Beijing. Joy fled to Inner Mongolia for five years during China’s Cultural Revolution before immigrating to NYC in 1980 to study English and music at Columbia / City College. She is an avid gardener and has worked as a medical interpreter for 3+ decades. Melissa is a queer mixed Chinese dance + drag artist that has been based in Yelamu (SF) since 2010. Several years in the making, 花和霧 flowers and fog explores the relationship between a parent and child, and its inevitable ruptures and reconnections. Joy and Melissa weave artistic lineages through film, contemporary/Chinese dance, drag, and classical Chinese song to find a meeting place in the middle.

For more information visit melissalewis.art/flowers-and-fog or follow @lemelissa (ig).

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*By reserving a ticket, you agree to hold melissa lewis wong and their contracted collaborators harmless for any bodily injury, illness, or loss/damage of property incurred during the event. You acknowledge this gathering may happen partly in a public park with variable, perhaps unpredictable conditions (including but not limited access to seating, public restrooms, weather, other people not affiliated with the project, sound). The organizers and staff will provide advance notice of any logistical changes and communicate as clearly/promptly as possible. If you have severe food allergies or dietary restrictions, please make a note with your order. Dimsum will be prepared by a local eatery and possibly in close proximity to potential allergens; you understand melissa lewis wong and their contracted staff are not liable for the delivered food and agree to not hold them responsible.

This project has received producing support from Asian Babe Gang, Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center's 2024 USAAF, Dresher Ensemble Arftist Residency, FACT/SF's Production Support Grant, Horizons Foundation, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, San Francisco Arts Commission and Zellerbach Family Foundation.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Near Portsmouth Square - secret location to be shared closer to the event, Chinatown, San Francisco, United States