LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Big Read is partnering with various businesses, organizations, libraries and schools to provide numerous opportunities to engage with the story of “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan.

Activities and events will only occur in the program month of October, so plan to schedule at least one Big Read event in the next few weeks.

The Chinese Film Series opens this Thursday with a screening of “Raise the Red Lantern,” a highly acclaimed foreign film (subtitled) at the Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake. This film is recommended for ages 14 and older. Showtime is 6 p.m. Admission is free.

This Saturday, Star Gardens in Middletown will host a talk and tea on the Chine sis plant species, native to China, at 1 p.m. These plants include popular garden varieties such as wisteria and the ever blooming rose. Bring a folding chair and be ready to learn, as well as enjoy the lush and peaceful environment of the nursery gardens. Admission is free.

Next week, gourmet food caterer Chic le Chef is offering a Chinese cooking class at the Lower Lake High School culinary kitchen. Menu items have been lovingly chosen from the novel and are sure to delight the senses.

The cost is $35 per person and includes hands on instruction, a take home recipe booklet, and the chance to enjoy the pleasures of food, and book discussion. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register. Space is limited.

Adding to the opportunities for culinary Chinese delights, the Aroma Café on the Yuba Community College campus in Clearlake is hosting a sumptuous Chinese luncheon buffet on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Lunch reservations can be arranged by contacting the restaurant on campus. Additionally, a special student performance based on The Joy Luck Club will be presented that afternoon.

Future programming includes a Chinese food and wine pairing at the Lake County Wine Studio on Saturday, Oct. 19, a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at the Tallman Hotel on Oct. 19, and a young people’s chess tournament at Burns Valley School on Oct. 19.

The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.

Managed by Arts Midwest, The Big Read provides competitive grants to support innovative reading programs in selected communities.

For more information on the Lake County Big Read events, visit the www.NEABigRead.org site (follow the link to communities and click on the Lake County balloon) or the www.lakecoe.org Web site (follow the links to the Big Read page).

Contact Program Director Robin Shrive at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more specific questions or to volunteer.