Time for me to post possibly the only review of this small seasonal event, as I ,and evidently the only one, am obsessing over it more than needed.
I think the Lunar New Year Celebration was nicely composed. The event has been vastly improved from last year's, which was pretty lackluster. This year there were a few notable additions, including (but not limited to) the plum blossom arch, an additional meet-and-greet spot, themed food/drinks, small plum blossom trees with wish-making stations, and even atmospheric Chinese music replacing the usual old age Hollywood tracks that normally flood Universal Plaza. My only wish for the event, if it were to return next year, would be the inclusion of some sort of performance in the center of the plaza that incorporates large puppets, kites, and a traditional dragon dance.
I spent quite a lot of time enjoying the aforementioned additions, and took some photos for those who didn't get to see the event:
The Universal Plaza arch, adorned in festive red lanterns.
Celebrating the Year of the Ram.
A close-up of the plum blossom arch.
Themed snack carts, featuring goodies like Lucky Coin Chests (mini cinnamon donuts), Red Dragon Tails (churros in red cinnamon), and iced green tea.
A reverse view of Universal Plaza. On the top right of the main structure, you can see an umbrella covering the hideout for Megatron's voice actor as he watches the meet-and-greet.
The meet-and-greet spot for Woody Woodpecker, Winnie Woodpecker, and Curious George (all in their traditional Chinese dress).
Mandarin Megatron himself.
Hidden Mickey at Universal Studios?
Dragon Well Tea, being sold at the Brews Brothers cart across from Universal Plaza.
Lastly, the Universal Plaza tower showing off a striking red glow after sunset.