Faces and Places
Vallejo Sister City Annual Meeting and Open House
The Vallejo Sister City Association hosted its Annual Meeting and Open House on Jan. 14 and to say this event was successful would be an understatement.
The event was held in the Vallejo Room at the old children's library on Santa Clara Street here in Vallejo. Upon arriving guests were prompted to check-in and sign up for a membership to join the Vallejo Sister City Association and enter a drawing for gift certificates to local food vendors and restaurants. As guests piled in on a cold and rainy Saturday, tables were being set up and the local entertainment such as William Kim's Tae Kwon Do Studio and the Moon Azteca Ballet Folkorico were practicing for
their performances.
After the Sister City Association presented awards and voted on some association topics, the event was off to a great start with locals visiting the many tables that represented the sisterhoods and friendships Vallejo has around the world. Tables representing Norway, Japan, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines and Tanzania each had interactive games and activities that families could take part in and even take home. Making bracelets at the Italian table garnered a lot of attention as did the calligraphy and origami table. Throughout the event, in between the informative (and entertaining) cooking show which consisted of Yolanda Kim and Dinah Villanueva Ryan demonstrating how to make kimbap and chicken adobo, prizes were given to kids who could identify African flags and answer trivia questions about our town Vallejo.
Before guests could enjoy the delicious food that was being made and set up around the room, performances from local institutions like President William Kim's Tae Kwon Do Studio, the Moon Azteca Ballet Folkorico and even a performance of traditional Filipino dance by Cultura International Dance & Ensemble was given to a full room of Vallejo's family and friends. It was so great to see everyone, but especially the children so engaged and interested in what great cultural value our town has to offer. Then it was time to indulge in all of the great food that represented our relationship with the various sister cities. The line for the food and drink which also included a variation of wines for a small donation was practically wrapped around the room. It was a fantastic turnout that even included Mayor McConnell and other city council members as well.
As everyone was rendered silent while eating their full plates, the hour arrived that everyone was waiting for: the prize announcements for local food vendors. Gift certificates to restaurants like House of Soul, Yo Sushi, Palermos Cucinas Italiana, Selecta Pilipino restaurant and Korean Mama restaurant were given out and winners even took a photo with the mayor. As the event came to close, new members and visitors alike went back to the food table for seconds (and even thirds) and spent time communing with others about their relationship with Vallejo, goals they hope to achieve with the Sister City Association and young ones ran around the room still trying to name flags and win their commemorative two-dollar bills. Even during an historic storm