Autumn Colors, Lakeside Laughter — AAAA Members and Families Enjoy a Day at Crystal Park

• A full day in the countryside for AAAA members, friends and families — from toddlers to grandparents
• Crystal Park: the private estate of Crystal Window & Door founder Thomas Chen, built over more than a decade into a home for art and recreation
• Group photo at the Crystal Park gate with the AAAA banner
• Barbecue lunch under the pavilion, warmed by a stone fireplace
• Target shooting under the guidance of experienced instructors — a first for many, and the day’s most popular activity
• Hayride through the grounds, ATV and off-road vehicle rides, the giant gong, and the “moon seat” overlooking the meadow
• Fishing by the lake at sunset — the fish bit, but the big ones got away
• Jointly organized by AAAA’s Events Committee and the CSY Club, with thanks to Crystal Window & Door Systems for its sponsorship

On Saturday, November 7, 2026, members and friends of the Asian American Attorneys Association (AAAA), together with their families, left the city behind for a day at Crystal Park. The outing was jointly organized by AAAA’s Events Committee and the CSY Club, and was free of charge for members and their families.

The day began with a group photo at the park’s stone gate, beneath the late-autumn reds and golds, with the AAAA banner held high. Lunch followed under the wooden pavilion: a barbecue prepared on site, long tables of home-style dishes, and a stone fireplace crackling against the November chill. Colleagues who usually meet in courtrooms and conference rooms sat down with each other’s spouses, parents and children, and the conversation flowed easily.

The most popular activity of the day turned out to be target shooting. With ear protection on and an experienced instructor standing beside each participant, many tried a firearm for the very first time. Most were a little nervous at first — and grew steadier and more confident with every round. For many, it was the highlight of the day.

In the afternoon, everyone also climbed aboard a covered hayride for a tour of the grounds. The children took turns striking the giant gong; the more adventurous tried the ATVs and off-road vehicles; others walked the trails among sculpted stones and evergreens, or rested in the striking “moon seat” overlooking the open meadow. Many of the park’s great stones can actually be turned by hand, and everyone took a turn — in Chinese, “the stone turns” sounds just like “your luck turns,” a lucky wish for the year ahead. As the day drew to a close, some cast their lines into the lake and fished as the sun went down, the sky turning gold and rose over the still water — a quiet, lovely end to a lively day. The fish did bite, but they were so big they broke free and got away; no one landed a catch, but everyone went home with a good fish story and a reason to come back. Before heading home, everyone warmed up by the fire one last time.

For an association whose members usually meet in courtrooms, conference rooms and lecture halls, days like this matter: attorneys get to know each other as people, and their families become friends.

AAAA sincerely thanks the CSY Club for co-organizing the outing, and Crystal Window & Door Systems for sponsoring the day. We also thank our 2026 annual sponsors, whose support allows AAAA’s programs to remain free and open to the community.

【About Crystal Park】 Crystal Park, in Pawling, Dutchess County, New York, is the private estate of Thomas Chen, founder and chairman of Crystal Window & Door Systems. Mr. Chen acquired the land in 2010, and over more than a decade has devoted a great deal of his time, resources and energy to building it, step by step, into a private estate that brings together art and recreation: among its woods, rocky hills and lake stand many outdoor sculptures and works of land art by invited artists, and the park hosts an artist residency. Crystal Park is not open to the public; AAAA members and their families were fortunate to be welcomed there, and we sincerely thank Mr. Chen for his hospitality.