Chinatown Community & Cultural Center

Only one review? I have only been there once, for the Chinese New Year celebration. There was not much that interested me, personally, except for the $ 2 calligraphy some guy was doing. However, I did pick up a calendar and see they have lots of cool stuff going on as the other reviewer said. There are Mandarin and Cantonese classes on Saturdays (paid), Ping Pong, martial arts on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Free crafts activity.

I was surfing the web for Tai Chi classes and found the Chinatown Community & Cultural Center! Er the best part about their classes — tis FREE!!! The Center is situated on the 2^nd floor in a swanky looking office building just round the corner from Gallery Place Metro station. The first time I went there, I got horribly lost and the irony is that no one could tell me where the Center was located when I asked (I asked for directions from the owner of a souvenir shop on the same street and from the noodle restaurant round the corner) ! I was working under the mistaken assumption that the Chinatown businesses would know this place!!! Ah well.
If you are walking from Gallery Place, the Center is located on the 2^nd floor of the building between 7^th and 6^th St in the middle of H street. Look out for the sign to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Asian Liaison Unit. The Asian Liaison Unit is on the first floor and the Center is one floor up. As you walk through the side lobby, you’d know you’re in the right place cos there are display cases showing off handicrafts made at the Center’s various classes.
The Center’s website says that their mission is to «preserve and promote Chinatown and celebrate Chinese culture, history, language, and heritage» and boy do they offer lots of programs — some of which are free! Class schedules and info are listed on their website.
Some of the classes offered are: martial arts classes (tai chi and kung fu), language classes, art and calligraphy classes & chinese instrument classes. The martial arts classes are free while the art class cost ($ 15 a lesson — pay as you go) and calligraphy at ($ 8 a lesson). Quite a bargain!
I attended the tai chi class and it was quite a workout. I was apprehensive about attending the class cos I wasnt sure if it would be in «Chinese» but the class instructor spoke English! (Before class — I had nightmares of me standing in the middle of class not understanding instructions given in Chinese and going right when everyone went left!!!)
Am looking forward to checking out the rest of the programs available.