December events: Highlights for Hong Kong’s upcoming month

Bringing good tidings into the festive month with highlights of Hong Kong’s upcoming events in December.  From The Nutcracker to the Hong Kong Philharmonic orchestra, fill the dates on your calendar with events to lead up to the new year. 
 
December events Highlights Gafencu Magazine ifc find your sparkle High-tech christmas treat
 
Find Your Sparkle
 
Until Jan 1
Ifc mall presents Christmas in a truly delightful and high-tech manner, featuring futuristic Augmented Reality (AR) fun and interactive activities that shoppers and visitors will enjoy. Guests can use their mobile phones to create their own personalised Christmas town, along with the mall’s holiday-themed Instagram filters. The Yuletide cheer at the mall in Central is complemented and enhanced by an imposing six-metre-high Christmas bauble sparkle, creatively employed as a backdrop to the dazzling light show that is enlivened no end by a symphony of music.  
 
Details: Oval Atrium, ifc Mall, Central. Free entry. ifc.com.hk/xmas2020 

 December events Highlights Gafencu Magazine new arts power

New Arts Power
 
Until Jan 31

The Jockey Club New Arts Power joins and beefs up  the city’s thriving  art festival scene. Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, New Arts Power brings together established and up-and-coming local artists in a series of interesting performances including drama, music, dance and visual arts. The new institution will offer an array of arts presentations that highlight local communities and which will nurture the talents of emerging artists. 

Details: Various locations. newartspower.hk

December events Highlights Gafencu Magazine winter wonderland
 
Winter Wonderland
 
Dec 1-Feb 1

Take in the magnificent Christmas light display across the city’s skyline with a view of Victoria Harbour as you enjoy a ride at the iconic Ferris wheel erected at the AIA Vitality Park in Central. Other fun activities that family members can enjoy are the carousel and seasonal activities and events hosted at the park.

Details: Hong Kong Observation Wheel and AIA Vitality Park, Central. Tickets start at HK$20. hkow.hk.

December events Highlights Gafencu Magazine creamfields hong kong
 
Creamfields Hong Kong 
 
Dec 12-13
Following cancellations of major music festivals and much-anticipated concerts this past year, Creamfields returns to the city and brings new excitement to the city’s music scene with a electrifying two-day dance music festival at the harbourside Art Park. 
 
Details: Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui. HK$1,300 up. livenationelectronic.asia.
 
December events Highlights Gafencu Magazine the nut cracker hong kong
 
The Nutcracker
 
Dec 17-27

An all-time favourite of children and adults alike, The Nutcracker rounds up the festive season with a performance of adventure, fantasy and romance. It is a classic ballet that captivates audiences with its magnificent display of costumes, set decorations and an enthralling score by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky performed live by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. VIP ticket holders are granted access to dining privileges at several restaurants at Rosewood Hotel. 

Details: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui. HK$1000. hkballet.com

December events Highlights Gafencu Magazine stanley christmas market
 
Stanley Plaza Christmas Market
 
Early-Late Dec
The annual Christmas bazaar returns to Stanley Plaza, which will treat visitors to a fun and festive shopping experience as over 50 booths of delectable goodies, gifts and handicrafts enliven this idyllic seaside community. Pre-registration through Link’s Park & Dine mobile app is required prior to any visit, in line with the prescribed proper social distancing measures. 
 
Details: Stanley Plaza, Stanley. Free entry. parkndine.linkhk.com
 

December events Highlights Gafencu Magazine Hong Kong Philharmonic orchestra yuletide treat

Hong Kong Philharmonic Christmas Fantasia
 
Dec 24

Moving performances that will delight the ears and warm the heart are to be presented by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra on Christmas and New Year’s eve. The Hong Kong Children’s Choir and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus, together with the HK Phil, will treat audience to Christmas classics, including The Nutcracker by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Ave Maria by French composer Charles Gounod.

Details: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultral Centre. HK$220 up. hkphil.org.

December events Highlights Gafencu Magazine New Year's even fireworks display and countdown

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display and Countdown

Dec 31-Jan 1

Usher in the New Year at the iconic Victoria Harbour against the backdrop of the traditional epic display of music and fireworks. Whether you are propped up by the seaside, watching from the rooftop of one of the numerous skyscrapers along the harbourfront, or enjoying dinner at a restaurant with a view of the city’s iconic skyline, you can certainly take delight in the magnificent illumination of the night sky in this annual countdown that marks the end of the year and celebrates the incoming new one. 
 
Details: Various locations. Free entry. discoverhongkong.com 

Dear Lilly opens on IFC mall rooftop after success of Ophelia, Iron Fairies

Ashley Sutton is on a roll. After making his Hong Kong debut nearly two years ago with Ophelia, he has since opened successful establishments J.Boroski, Iron Fairies and Yojimbo in partnership with Dining Concepts. It looks like the man has got a winning formula to answer the often-fickle tastes of 852 denizens. Let’s take a look at his latest venture Dear Lilly, which Gafencu visited last week on its soft opening.

Dear Lilly features Sutton’s characteristic intricate designs, this time a floral wonderland of old photographs, vintage perfume bottles and antique typewriters

The Setting

Dear Lilly’s glass-walled saloon replaces the former Zentro Loft on ifc mall’s rooftop. We were first impressed by the stunning view as we approached the spot, and then inside, by the the elaborate interiors. It was a bit difficult to reconcile the two at the beginning, as both compete for your attention with equally-matched charm.

Sutton obviously tapped his romantic side when coming up with the theme here: prints of love letters from times gone by serve as placemats to your meal (ahem, Dear Lilly). Countless bouquets of dried flowers take up the whole ceiling space. You can even make like Alice in Wonderland climbing into a super-sized jewellery box: that’s the effect you get when getting into the intimate booths housed inside the heart-shaped steel structures. (Fun fact: It apparently took Sutton over two years to recreate his cousins’ old metal jewel boxes large enough to fit people into).

Trinkets hang from the kinetic ceiling at the bar

Eat and drink

We began with cocktails: all pretty as a picture, but some teetering dangerously on the sweet side. 1920s French tipples are the stars of the show here, featuring spirits and liqueurs the likes of lillet blanc and swizzled calvados. 

Food – contemporary European cuisine – was surprisingly well executed compared to the fare at Sutton’s other bars. The Tuna Poke (HK$138) won our palates with its laudable mix of sweet onion vinaigrette, avocado and scallions. The 12-hour Slow Cooked Octopus (HK$128) and honey-glazed Prime Beef Short Ribs (HK$138) are also excellent starter choices.

Vegetarians won’t feel left out with Dear Lilly’s textured Curly Kale Salad (HK$128) and wholesome Mezze Platter (HK$178). The former comes in a rainbow of guilt-free ingredients: quinoa, dry seeds and red radish with orange vinaigrette. The latter features delicious Middle Eastern staples: hummus, baba ganoush, tzatziki, falafel, marinated olives, and grilled halloumi with pita bread.

Dear Lilly offers both a set lunch and an a la carte menu; the set lunch is available as either a two or three-course meal. 

Of the mains, the unanimous favourite was the Wild Mushroom Risotto (HK$178) of black truffle and parmesan. Personally, however, I loved the Puttanesca Pappardelle (HK$188) as I have a weakness for anchovies. If you’re really hungry, don’t hesitate to get the hefty Grill Cornfed Chicken (HK$168) at seriously good value. 

The verdict

Sutton and Dining Concepts decided to make a gamble when they prioritised aesthetic over potential profitability in this ambitious project – a rare and brave decision in Hong Kong’s cutthroat F&B scene. Rather than packing the space with as much dining area as possible, they decided to go with outrageous design elements that aligned with the artist’s vision. Bravo, we say to that.

Dear Lilly definitely got the right mix in for the food menu, but we’re afraid so much going on might detract from the nuances that would otherwise be highlighted. The drinks, meanwhile, need a bit more refining; cocktails look beautiful, but taste-wise, the team could use a hand from the folks at J.Boroski. Other than that, we can’t complain; rather, we’ve made a note to come back and check it out in daylight. We certainly want to see the place again in all its light-washed glory. 

Dear Lilly, Shop 4010, Podium Level 4, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. 

 

Words: Julienne C. Raboca