Category: Events

Leisure and Pleasure: Events in Hong Kong this November

Whether you’re a music lover, ballet aficionado, avid reader or artist at heart, Hong Kong has something for everyone to enjoy this month. Here are some exciting events happening this November. 

Clockenflap

Hong Kong’s biggest music and arts festival is going all out for its 10th anniversary along the waterfront. This year’s line-up is headlined by international acts including Massive Attack (UK), Feist (Canada) and MØ (Denmark). “Festivals like Clockenflap occupy a very important place in the cultural and creative landscape of the city,” says founder Justin Sweeting. “This is our 10th year and we’re very much staying true to our vision and spirit as always. You’ll have to come to see for yourself – the only way to experience the magic.”

17-19 November
Central Harbourfront Event Space
9 Lung Wo Road, Central
HK$570-1,720
clockenflap.com

Arts in the Park

Calling all kids and kids at heart – this popular annual outdoor youth arts festival and puppet parade is back, this time celebrating all things Roald Dahl. The British novelist’s works (Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) will come alive in the form of giant characters and storytelling sessions. Interactive activities like the African Drum Jam and free art stalls will allow youngsters to unleash their creative energy in projects like mask and headdress making or face painting.

11-12 November
Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
Free
hkyaf.com

Rugby Charity Ball

Now in its 16th year, the prestigious Hong Kong Rugby Union Charity Ball continues its gala-for-a-cause. This year’s event will be headlined by World Classic Rockers, a supergroup composed of former members of Santana, Kansas, Boston and other legendary bands. The annual fundraiser has contributed over HK$88 million to education and rugby programmes serving underprivileged children since 2002. The black tie affair includes pre-dinner cocktails, a four-course dinner, a live concert and an auction (starring a custom-painted Harley- Davidson bike!) to cap off the night.

11 November
Convention Hall, Hong Kong Convention
& Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. 6pm
HK$2,488
hkrucharityball.org

World Cultures Festival

Thumping beats and tribal arts travel to Hong Kong from the cradle of civilisation: Africa. The colourful World Cultures Festival is set to showcase the continent’s most distinctive music, dance and theatre acts in a line-up opened by none other than “African artist of the century” Youssou N’Dour (Senegal). The closing performance by Cape Town Opera pays tribute to South Africa’s first black president in a stirring folk opera entitled Mandela Trilogy.

Until 19 November
Schedule and venues vary
HK$80-$580
worldfestival.gov.hk/2017

Secret Theatre’s Project Mayhem

If you’ve been bemoaning the lack of an edgy arts scene in the 852 reminiscent of London and New York, maybe you haven’t been looking hard enough. Secret Theatre – which got its start with a production of Edward Scissorhands in an abandoned New York City factory – is in town for another round of immersive storytelling. While details on this experiential dinner and theatre show are intentionally scant, audiences can expect to be placed in a warehouse with devious characters who will act out “one of modern history’s most twisted tales of fraternity, violence and all-out psychological warfare”. You’ve been warned!

3 November – 10 December
Location to be announced upon ticket purchase
From HK$850
secretstudiolab.com, ticketflap.com/projectmayhemhk

Hong Kong International Literary Festival

Established and emerging writers from around the world come to Hong Kong for a 10-day programme of discussions, literary-themed lunches, workshops, debates, book signings, lectures and readings. The annual festival embraces creative writing in English, with an emphasis on connections to Asia. Look out for Amy Tan (author of The Joy Luck Club) at the gala dinner.

3-12 November
Venues and prices vary
festival.org.hk

Le Corsaire

Emmy Award-winning choreographer Anna-Marie Holmes is the creative force behind Hong Kong Ballet’s premiere of Le Corsaire. This staging stars Moscow-born Maria Kochetkova (San Francisco Ballet) and Canadian Matthew Golding (The Royal Ballet). Audiences can follow the romance between a dashing pirate and the beautiful harem girl he rescues – a classic adventure with a side of pas de trois.

3-12 November
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
2:30pm & 7:30pm
HK$140-$1,000
hkballet.com

 

Opening of Valentino’s new VLTN pop-up draws city’s elite

Valentino’s Resort Collection 2018 VLTN store is the latest pop-up to take up residence in Hong Kong’s popular ifc mall.

That the shop has a distinctly urban jungle-meets-sporty vibe is not an accident. Valentino’s new Resort Collection 2018 is heavily inspired by both athletics and ‘active underground’ spaces.

Korean singer Sehun Oh, Hong Kong actress Kelly Chen, Japanese model Lala Takahashi and local high jump star Cecilia Yeung were all spotted at the store’s opening cocktail reception. They were joined by Pakho Chau, Karena Ng, Fish Liu, Jennifer Yu, and more.

Australia’s emerging wine trends showcased at 2017 Wine & Dine Festival

Last week, the annual Wine & Dine Festival began under the auspices of an exclusive showcase by Wine Australia. In collaboration with Meiburg Wine Media (MWM), Wine Australia – the country’s top statutory authority – invited media and hospitality professionals to sample exclusive varietals. Notably, a number of these wines were not exhibited at this year’s Festival.

Held at Michelin starred BIBO, the event was warmly attended. Eight tasting stations, manned by diverse regional winemakers, were erected throughout the space; complemented by fresh canapés made from local Australian produce. Alex Aranchikov, Communications Manager at MWM, said that the evening’s objective was to expose Hong Kong oenophiles to contemporary developments in the Australian winemaking scene: including the focus on cool climate wines; rosé; and minimal intervention.

Highlights included cold climate releases (e.g. the Clairault Estate Chardonnay) from Clairault Streicker – a Margaret River winery that is a far cry from the stodgy syrah makers of the Barossa. Elsewhere, Paringa Estate – hailing from the heart of Victoria’s iconic Mornington Peninsula appellation – showcased their Estate Pinot Noir, a textural yet finely grained collection of red wines made from far-ranging vintages (2010-2014).

For those who missed the opportunity to attend the Wine Australia event, the MWM Wine School holds regular tastings year-round. Based in Aberdeen, they provide a comprehensive range of educational programmes suited to everyone from beginners to accredited wine masters.

Text by Randalph Lai

Tip of the iceberg: There’s more to Scandinavia than the Aurora Borealis

 

Fancy sledding in the Arctic Circle on reindeer sledges? Or listening to a private concert in a grotto in Iceland? Or maybe snowmobiling through frozen lakes in Sweden?

If you are all geared up for a Scandinavian adventure this winter, look no further! Award-winning luxury travel company, Jacada Travel, has just introduced its Northern European travel experiences, designed to transport you to the fairy-tale land of Frozen with lots of chilling adventures in tow.

And if winter’s not your thing, fret not, because each season in Scandinavia is unique and brings its own set of attractions. While in autumn, the nature blooms to its brightest colours before a barren winter, in spring-summer, there’s a chance of spotting bears that have just come out of hibernation.

To give us a sneak peek into what’s in store in a Scandinavian vacation, Jacada Travel is currently hosting an exhibition ‘In Search of Light’ by British photographer and explorer, George Turner, who has captured the beauty of lesser-known terrains of Norway, Finland, Scotland and Iceland through his lenses.

Exhibition details:
The Haven by Jacada Travel
29/F Wyndham Place, 40-44 Wyndham Street, Central
21 October to 9 December 2017
From 10am to 8pm (7pm on Mondays)
Free for public

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Check out the who’s who at Chanel’s Code Coco launch party

 

Chanel’s recent cocktail party for the launch of its iconic watch CODE COCO at ArtisTree saw support from Hong Kong’s top fashionistas and socialites. Hong Kong’s favourite diva Sammi Cheng, K-pop idol Krystal, popular faces Tracy Chu, Charmaine Fong, Kearan Pang, Angela Yuen, Rosa Maria Velasco, and Yvette Kong were in attendance. Also spotted were prominent socialites like Candice Chan, Jacqueline Chow, Ruth Chao, Ming Ho, Catherine Chiu, Vanessa Wong and Sherie Kong.

Paying tribute to first timepiece “Première” 30 years ago, Chanel’s latest offering CODE COCO is at once a jewel and a watch. Featuring the 2.55 handbag clasp, a quilted motif and diamonds, the watch lives by all the codes of the maison.

BMW’s 6-series GT promises sportier, roomier ride

Car enthusiasts listen up! The latest line of BMW luxury cars has just landed in our city. The new 6-series Gran Turismo, first unveiled at Frankfurt’s International Motor Show back in September, promises a sportier, speedier and more spacious ride than its predecessor.

Several variations of the 6-series GT will be up for grabs. Here’s a quick look at the entry-level 630i petrol model’s stats. There’s a 2-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission that delivers 258bhp and 400Nm of torque and goes from 0-100kph in just 6.3 seconds. Fuel consumption averages around 15-16km per litre.

Countless tweaks and updates have been made, but let’s skip over the technical mumbo jumbo and get right to what really distinguishes this car from the popular 5-series model.

For starters, over 150kgs have been shed and ride height lowered slightly for a lighter sportier drive experience.

There’s also more room in the boot for your suitcases, golf clubs or other paraphernalia – 110 litres more, to be precise. If that’s not enough, the rear seats drop down for yet more storage space.

But the best upgrades are in the driver’s seat. Opt in for some optional extras, it almost feels like you’re driving a spaceship, especially with the enlarged Head-Up Display and gesture control. There’s also a 10.25-inch touch screen control pad, intelligent voice-control assistance and eight massage programmes in the plush leather seat.

Dr Ian Robertson, board member for BMW AG commented, “The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo offers a unique combination of luxurious interior comfort and flexible practicality, packaged within a truly elegant design.”

Official sales for the BMW 6-Series Gran Turismo get underway in November 2017.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Gigi Ip, BMW

Coffee Culture: COVA celebrates its 200th anniversary

On the eve of its birthday bash, COVA’s CEO Paola Faccioli tells us how the brand successfully balances its 200-year Italian heritage with modern tastes and trends.

What makes COVA unique?

COVA is an experience. It’s not just a product store or a cup of coffee. Whether you’re stepping into our store in Milan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, etc, you will be touched by all the tastes and atmosphere that are quintessentially Milanese. This adherence to tradition has helped us reach this 200 anniversary milestone today.

How do you tailor the COVA experience for local palates?

Our first expansion into Hong Kong over 25 years ago taught us a lot. You can’t just transplant our original café into a new destination and not make some changes. There’s a big back and forth, a cultural exchange local trends and our traditional roots that keeps us fresh in new markets.

A great example is our mango cake. It’s not something that we traditionally have in Italy, but it’s a huge favourite in Asia. So our Hong Kong chef created a mango cake to cater to local tastes first, and now it’s become one of our international favourites.

How has coffee culture evolved in Hong Kong?

When we first entered Hong Kong, nobody knew what coffee really was. It was not a common habit to drink coffee and very few had tried an authentic espresso or a cappuccino. We were pioneers.

With the advent of Starbucks and the globalisation of coffee, everything has changed. People are more aware of different types of beans and brewing methods. They have become more selective so they now recognise the high quality that COVA provides.

Do you have any special 200th anniversary products?

We’ve released a limited edition Capsule Collection which is a compilation of COVA’s best-selling products. There is also special 200th anniversary packaging for all our products from the world-famous panettone to delectable chocolates. We also launched some special menus for the big occasion.

What plans for the future?

We just opened a lovely and intimate café in Monte Carlo this September. It’s our first café other than our original Milan location in 200 years, so it was very exciting for us. We are also opening another store, a big one, in Dubai at the end of this year.

There are other major projects in the pipelines in the Middle East and even North America, so keep an eye out for those announcements, too!

Thank you.

Interview: Tenzing Thondup

Famous fans celebrate Emporio Armani’s new Fall/Winter 2017 line

Emporio Armani celebrated its new Fall/Winter 2017 Collection with an exclusive cocktail party at its Canton Road flagship store.

Brand ambassador and Chinese sensation Hu Ge – whose face is splashed across Emporio Armani ads all over town – was the star of the show in a dapper double-breasted evening jacket over a white mandarin collar shirt from the new men’s line.

The private event also attracted local celebrities and socialites including actress and singer Kelly Chen, actress Cherry Ngan, Adam Pak, Jason Wu, Angie Ng, Faye Tsui, and more. Many were spotted eagerly browsing through the displayed selection.

Interactive hi-tech digital gadgetry kept guests entertained and gave the evening a futuristic vibe as they dabbled with an augmented reality game app and posed at the 3D photo booth.

Gucci’s new store celebrates the ‘do it yourself’ spirit

With its recent flagship store reopening at Landmark, Gucci has once again shown why it’s a brand with a difference.

Creating a space that is instantly recognisable as Gucci, the store is huge by Hong Kong standards, boasting 7,700 sq. ft of floor area, spread across two storeys, featuring an extensive range of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collection, handbags, accessories, shoes and watches.

The collection and store design matches Creative Director Alessandro Michele’s whimsical, idiosyncratic aesthetic style and evokes the same retro-chic vibe that Gucci has been aiming for in the last few years.

To accentuate the fashion label’s new direction, the ground floor of the newly refurbished store houses the Gucci DIY (Do It Yourself) service that allows customers to personalise certain products to best express their individualism.

As expected in any Gucci event, the launch cocktail party saw a host of socialites attending the event. Among those spotted were Kary Ng, Aarif Lee, Hilary Tsui, Wyman Wong, Carmen Yim, Yen Kuok, Antonia Li, Tiffany Chan, Rene Chu and many more.

TOD’S launches new concept flagship boutique at Landmark

With two-stories of silver and taupe saddle-stitched leather-panelled steel vitrines, suspended showcases and high-gloss ceilings, the TOD’S new flagship store at Landmark is a classy affair. In sync with the brand’s global identity, it evokes a space that is discreetly luxurious while being contemporary and elegant.

TOD’S celebrated the special occasion with an exclusive cocktail party that was attended by its brand ambassador, actress Liu Shi Shi, along with a host of other celebrities and socialites, including Pakho Chau, Jennifer Tse, Gaile Lok, Kathy Chow, Sarah Song, Jason Chan, Zelia Zhong, Sing Lam and many others.

One of the highlights of the evening was a special demo to show the craftsmanship on the latest iconic bag, TOD’S SELLA, by one of the maison’s skilled artisans who flew in from Italy especially for the event.