French artist Invader attacks Harbour City with street art for a good cause

Have you noticed some quirky mosaic artwork on the walls of Harbour City recently? If you are wondering who’s behind this, we’re here to unravel the mystery!

Iconic French street artist Invader has hit Hong Kong with a new series of 32 impressive artworks. He recently invaded Harbour City installing 18 of his art pieces on prominent locations around the mall. His signature piece Space Invader is one of the most eye-catching installations. Other pieces like Anchor, Mermaid and Emojis match the theme of Harbour City.

What makes this collaboration so unique is that this is the first time that the iconoclastic artist is pairing up with a shopping mall for a charity fundraiser. For the occasion, he has designed a limited-edition umbrella printed with the same mosaic Anchor pattern that is displayed at the Ocean Terminal Rooftop Carpark.

Harbour City x Invader Limited Edition Umbrella – Charity Redemption Details

Date: 18 December 2017 – 11 February 2018
Time: 12noon – 8pm
Location: Level 3, Ocean Centre, Harbour City (near OC312, Leonidas)

Participation Method:

  1. Upload three photos of Invader’s mosaic artworks in Hong Kong or elsewhere on personal Facebook or Instagram account; hashtag #harbourcity & #hcart; and @harbourcity (at least one of the photos must be a self-portrait taken with the mosaic artwork at Harbour City)
  2. Present the related post and personal ID proof for verification, with simple registration and onsite donation of HK$200 to “Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation” to redeem one umbrella.

*Each person can redeem one umbrella throughout the whole redemption period only. Quota applies on a first-come-first-served basis while stock lasts.

More details on http://www.harbourcity.com.hk.

New Abercrombie & Fitch prototype store unveiled at Harbour City

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Abercrombie & Fitch is the latest international brand to open doors at Harbour City. Its Hong Kong flagship showcases a new prototype store concept from the American apparel company – the first of its kind outside of the United States.

“Hong Kong is an extremely important market for us,” shares A&F Brand President Stacia Andersen, “that’s why we built the first international prototype store here. It’s a great opportunity to showcase who the new brand is, while also learning more about this market.”

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HK urbanites may recall the brand’s previous address on Pedder Street. But the two locations could not be more different. “The Pedder store was focused on the image of the brand, the history of the building and on really being a beautiful space,” explains Andersen, “This store was built for just the customer.”

This focus on user experience and customer engagement is evident in every aspect of the new store, from swanky fitting rooms with adjustable lighting, music and charging stations to well-distributed cashier counters for easier access. Even the waiting area is an oasis that boasts panoramic views of Victoria Harbour.

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Abercrombie & Fitch will also launch unique products only available at the Hong Kong prototype store, including a soon-to-be-released Chinese New Year collection.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Images: A&F, Gigi Ip

Christmas in the Air: Harbour City to host HK’s first-ever public drone show

With the calendar fast approaching the last month of the year, Hong Kong is all set to usher in Christmas in style. One of the major attractions is Harbour City’s annual outdoor Christmas lighting display.

This year, there’s more reason to celebrate, as Harbour City plans to illuminate Hong Kong’s skyline with its theme ‘Christmas in the Air’. The event, spanning from 21 November to 1 January, kicked off with a formal Christmas Lighting Ceremony officiated by Yen Leng, Executive Director of Wharf Estates, Linda Kuk, Chairman of HK Blood Cancer Foundation and the renowned artist Andy Lau.

Like every year, Harbour City has planned surprises that you can enjoy with your entire family. Giant Santa airships, LED shows and the city’s first-ever public drone show are sure to wow children and adults alike!

Find below a complete list of events and shows at Harbour City:

Christmas in the Air @Harbour City
Date: 21 November 2017 to 1 January 2018
Time: 10am – 10pm
Venue: Ocean Terminal Forecourt, Harbour City

Christmas in the Air LED show
Date: 26 November 2017 to 26 December 2017 (Every Sunday and Public Holidays)
Time: 6pm
Venue: Ocean Terminal Forecourt, Harbour City

Christmas Balloon House
Date: 25 November 2017 to 1 January 2018 (Every Weekend and Public Holidays)
Time: 4pm – 9pm
Venue: Ocean Terminal Forecourt, Harbour City

Giants of Christmas Forest Decoration
Date: 4 December 2017 to 1 January 2018
Time: 10am – 10pm
Venue: Gateway Arcade II & Ocean Terminal Lobby

Japanese with a view: ANA TEN opens at Harbour City’s New Waterfront Extension

Last September, contemporary Japanese culinary innovator ANA TEN opened its doors in Harbour City’s New Waterfront Extension. You may have to walk a bit from the Star Ferry to get to the commercial centre’s new wing, but the oceanfront setting is worth it. If you’re doing your early holiday shopping around the terminal, it’s a great spot for winding down with a drink in the spacious terrace.

LUBUDS F&B Group is behind this avant-garde fusion concept, energized by the success of their flagship ANA SUSHI in Causeway Bay and fun Vietnamese eatery What the PHO. Japanese chef Ryogo Ozawa (former poissonnier of France’s 3-Michelin-starred L’Assiette Champenois) crafted the exquisite menu here along with executive chef Kam Wah Au-Yeung.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but stepping in you’ll be impressed by the panoramic vistas of Victoria Harbour revealed by floor-to-ceiling windows. The 2,000-plus-square-foot area is divided into four sections: omakase, tempura, skewer and cocktails. Let your mood guide the way.

We began with the Japanese folklore themed cocktails: The delicate Madama Butterfly (HK$128) of Japanese Plum Wine and rose water, a Pina-co-Matcha (HK$108) – pineapple plus green tea – and the elegant Crane Lady (HK$118) with gin and lemon-lime. It’s usually so difficult to get cocktails that aren’t over-flavoured, but ANA TEN’s mixologist Dorothy Lam nails her concoctions with expert touches of cherry blossom tea and Chrysanthemum sake here and there.

Begin your meal with fusion sashimi like the rich Sea Urchin wrapped in Saga Beef (HK$198). The Thin Sliced Yellow Tail (HK$228) borrows from French tradition with its foie gras cube on nanko plum vinegar sauce. But the most dramatically presented Smoked Fatty Tuna (HK$328) with egg yolk sauce was the show-stopper. The latter was prepared by smoking toro loin over walnut wood, unveiled by lifting a glass lid and releasing the aromatic plumes to whet the diner’s appetite. 

If you’re sharing, order instead the whole caboodle: Premium Sashimi Platter (HK$498) compiling the freshest and finest catch from the sea: salmon loin, Spot prawn, scallops, Japanese Yellow Tail, Sea bream, Greater Amberjack… the list goes on. If you’re not too peckish, you can settle for the Homemade Sushi egg (HK$49), a baked pre-blended mixture of fish, shrimp and egg.

From the tempura zone, the highlights were the Baby Kini Tempura (HK$88) – a prized deep sea fish from Hokkaido. They also have the flavourful Japanese Mantis Shrimp Tempura (HK$88) served with crab paste.

Finally, among the meat dishes, we would recommend the Classic Grilled Wagyu (HK$598) with Japanese side vegetables. The beef is specially sourced from the highlands of Takayama in Gifu prefecture. We’d skip the skewers unless you have a special fondness for chicken kidney and neck.

If you love your sushi and sashimi but want to change things up a bit, this is definitely a place to try. We would go back if just for a cool drink with that fantastic view.

Visit ANA TEN at Harbour City, Shop OTE 304, Level 3, Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong. (852) 2701 9881. Open Monday to Sunday 12nn to 11pm

Text: Julienne C. Raboca

Celebrate Christmas with snowmen, animals and Santa Claus

With the imminent arrival of Santa Claus, shopping malls throughout Hong Kong are getting people into the festive spirit with their elaborate Christmas displays.

Pacific Place, The Landmark, 1881 Heritage and Harbour City have put up displays for the young and old to enjoy.

This festive season, Pacific Place has a selection of entertainment, bespoke gifts and sensory experiences. The mall has a number of pop-ups that provide personalised gift ideas for the holiday season. Visitors will get to enjoy a sensory Christmas experience with mulled wine, Christmas carols, hot chocolate, a visit with Santa and much more.

The Landmark’s animal circus display features characters demonstrating their inner-strength with surreal performances presided over by Santa Paws. The display is based on scenes of Santa Paws and his friends created by renowned French illustrator Eric Giriat, and features over 100 animated figurines that burst into life every 30 minutes.

Harbour City is focusing on a light display and a lot of snowmen for its display this year — more than 150 to be exact. The snowmen are a combination of two big snowballs and come in 32 different designs and colours. There is also a 12-metre tall Christmas tree — made out of snowmen — a large carousel and an outdoor Christmas light display.

Also utilising the snowman theme is 1881 Heritage. The centrepiece of the boutique shopping mall’s display is a 15-metre tall snowman, with other, smaller snowmen sledging and frollicking nearby.

To help get you into the Christmas spirit — if you aren’t already — watch Gafencu’s video of the displays.

Stay tuned for our next Christmas video!