Every year the Solano Avenue Association hosts a performance to celebrate Lunar New Year. It’s a free community event that highlights music, dance, martial arts, Chinese language learners, and just about the cutest little kids you’ll ever see. The Albany Twin Theater was standing-room-only. I was tasked with covering the event for Albany Patch, and it was a challenge. There was no way to move around without creating undo disturbance, so I took all my shots from a center seat in the second row.

At one point I turned around, and I’m so glad I did. This is my favorite image from the day. I hope you’ll visit the gallery here. The little chicken dancers stole my heart.

I am so grateful to Albany Patch for giving me these opportunities to appreciate this town I live in. It’s pretty charming here, close to home.

Also? Contortionists creep me out. I got this shot before I had to look away.

Happy New Year, everyone!