There is so much going on each month in Hong Kong. From shopping to shows to kids’ activities, here’s our list of what’s new and happening around the city this season for all the family.
Crafternoons, Art Activities & More
You’ll know Bookazine for its bookstores (and regular book reviews in each issue of Expat Living!), but it also offers events and workshops for the community that go beyond its fab book clubs. Taking place at a newly opened space called Bookazone Social in Tai Kwan, these creative activities include stamping, watercolouring, bargello and candle making, with plenty more to come for adults and kids alike. Stay in the loop at bit.ly/bookazinesocial.
The Downlow on Dock 1A
Now available for lease, the revitalisation of Dock 1A is well underway and fast approaching a grand opening scheduled for January! The 10-storey shopping mall at 1A Chui Tong Road aims to become a community and recreation hub offering a wide range of shops, dining, entertainment, fitness and supermarkets, with more than 380 parking spaces. For those in Sai Kung, it’s only a five-minute walk from the town centre and 10 minutes from the pier.
Our Readers’ Choice Awards are Back!
Do you want to spread the good word about your favourite businesses in Hong Kong? The Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards are kicking off in November, giving
you the chance to vote for your favourite hair salon, grocer, café, health provider and much more. You’ll not only reward them with recognition for their hard work, but there will also be some amazing prizes up for grabs for voters. Sign up to our newsletter so you don’t miss it! expatliving.hk/news
The Best of WestK
The 2024-2025 WestK season is in full swing! From now until June next year, there will be over 600 performances alongside four performing arts festivals, spanning multiple genres including xiqu, music, dance and theatre. The first flagship festival taking place is the seventh edition of the Black Box Chinese Opera Festival (3 to 24 October), featuring original experimental xiqu productions. This is followed by the Freespace Jazz Fest (24 to 27 October) with US legend Herbie Hancock, 21-year-old Indonesian child prodigy pianist Joey Alexander and others. More festivals will follow, including FunFest, the hugely popular family-oriented festival, next March. Details at westk.hk/en/season2425.
Join the Team!
The Hong Kong Development Basketball League (HKDBL) is one of the most active and competitive women’s basketball leagues in HK’s English-speaking community. Competitions are held Tuesday or Thursday at Central and Western LCSD basketball courts; come along to watch the games or join in the next season, starting 3 September. For more information, contact 9170 1104 (WhatsApp) or jess@hongkongdbl.com, or visit hongkongdbl.com or the Facebook, Instagram or YouTube pages.
Save the date for Christmas shopping
The date of this year’s Prestige Fair is locked in! For one fabulous day, browse a large range of gifts, lifestyle products, food and beverages all from small businesses and artisans. More than that, it’s just in time for any last-minute Christmas gifts that your family is unlikely to have found anywhere else! So make sure to grab your friends and get ready for a fab time shopping on Monday 18 November at the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hong Kong. prestigefairs.hk
Winning wines!
The inaugural Market Place Wine Awards were held recently, with a panel of professional Hong Kong-based sommeliers choosing the best wines from over 200 bottles from around the world through a rigorous blind tasting. Every judge went through different flights, based on the Aroma, Palate, Structure and Finish, to rate the wines; 44 bottles were listed as Finalists, with 17 Winners emerging as the best of the best for different drinking occasions. Here’s just a small taste – pun intended! – of the judges’ recommendations:
- Torbreck The Struie Shiraz
- Charles Smith K Vintners ‘Ovide’ Jack’s Vineyard Cabernet-Syrah
- Petaluma Yellow Label Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay
And the best part? Shoppers can enjoy a special discount on full-case purchase of selected winning or nominated wines at the Market Place Online Shop from now until 25 July 2024! Plus, yuu Members can also earn 10x yuu Points when buying any wines that were winners or finalists.
Heartwarming HK Tale
My Extra-Special Aunty is a new children’s book exploring the extraordinary migrant domestic workers who play an integral role in the lives of many Hong Kong families. The story explores the special bond that these women, known colloquially as “aunties”, make with families, from the perspective of a child. Written by Award-winning filmmaker Joanna Bowers and illustrated by artists Cristina Cayat and Noemi Caballero Manguerra, it’s Hong Kong’s first children’s book illustrated by migrant domestic workers. All proceeds from sales and events will support local charities dedicated to supporting migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong.
Theatre for kids
For 25 years, Faust International Youth Theatre has brought the wonderful world of theatre, performing arts and creativity to young people in Hong Kong. It offers after-school and holiday programmes in drama, musical theatre and creative writing, along with specialised programmes and a wide range of theatrical productions. Students learn in a fun-filled environment, developing their performance skills, theatre knowledge, teamwork, leadership skills, individual expression and confidence.
This year’s Faust Summer Programmes 2024 are running from 24 June to 23 August, for ages three to 15. There are three different week-long programmes available at different times across the nine-week period.
Register now at the website. 2547 9114 | faustworld.com
Pampering for All Ages
There are three new experiences at MiraSpa to cover all the best celebrations with loved ones. For kids aged five to 13, the Celebration Package includes a choice of a pampering mani or pedi (using non-toxic and child-friendly nail polish that can be peeled off without nail polish remover), plus fab party foods and goodie bags. The Ultimate Celebration Package adds access to the indoor infinity pool and a full
mani-pedi treatment for each child. For adults, MiraSpa has a new couples package – ideal for an anniversary or a romantic surprise for your partner. The Sakura & Sake Spa Ritual (available until 30 June) includes over two hours of pampering starting with a welcome sake and cake before a 90-minute aromatherapy massage, jacuzzi bath and steam shower. Plus, you can linger longer and relax on a waterbed lounge, take a dip in the infinity pool or make use of the gym throughout the day.
2315 5500 | miraspa@themirahotel.com
Groovy Friday Nights
To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is introducing a luxury nightlife experience in collaboration with local and international nightlife visionaries. “The Aubrey After Dark” pays homage to the beginnings of HK nightlife in the early 1960’s, the same period The Mandarin opened. Every Friday night, expect a curated series of events blending soulful house and disco with innovative sounds from the underground scenes of London, New York and Paris. International DJs will be paired with local talent to create a mix of Classic Disco and Chicago House enriched with music genres like Amapiano and Afro and Latin vibes.
Find out more here!
HK-inspired Reading
The next instalment of the Holly-Mei series by Christina Matula, The Not So-Simple Question, is out now! The series is about a Taiwanese British girl finding her place in a new world of private schools and frenemies when her family moves to Hong Kong. Inspired by her time studying at HKU, the author has packed these stories with humour and heart, while exploring themes of displacement, self-discovery and adolescent friendship that all middle-grade readers can relate to! Make sure to read The Not-So Uniform-Life of Holly-Mei and The Not-So-Perfect Plan first; the third book will be on sale in April.
Say it with RokSaan
Earlier this year, the team behind The Lion Rock Press realised that in a world where digital connections are on the rise, there was still an innate desire for heartfelt, tangible expressions of love, gratitude and best wishes. So they set their minds to finding a way to bridge the gap between charming traditional card giving and technology. The result is RokSaan, a greeting card platform where local artists and creators can share their talents, and you can purchase personalised cards for all occasions. For as little as $59, senders can customise card designs, include their own message and photos (with an option to add a thoughtful, locally-sourced gift), and have the card sent directly to the recipient’s door. roksaan.com
A Staycation for Creatives
If you’re interested in an eclectic, creative and design-forward hotel, you’ll love the Mondrian Hong Kong. Designed by Karin Krautgartner of KK Design and a selection of local and international artists, this hotel aims to be a new HK icon, inspired by lively fishing villages and the city’s renowned tailors. The triangular windows offer sweeping harbour and island skyline views, the bathroom tiles reflect our pebbled beaches, and you’ll find beautiful fabrics, glass chandeliers, underwater creatures engraved along corridors, a water goddess mural and more. bit.ly/mondrianhk
Community Connections
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Australian Association of Hong Kong! The warm and welcoming community started in 1954 and since then has been committed to connecting people and creating friendship networking opportunities, while also providing the chance to join social and sporting activities. Membership is open to all!
Join in this year at ozhongkong.com.
Uncovering Hong Kong
You could spend a lifetime discovering the interesting layers of Hong Kong. So to start you off, join one of the small group tours run by Angel, a local who is passionate about her home. Angel’s upcoming explorations include immersive experiences in Sham Shui Po and at the Aberdeen Dragon Boat Festival and Tai O Hau Wong Festival. All tours can be found at hkgreeters.com/group tours, and you can find out more by following @explore_hongkong.
Worried about Web Fraud?
There’s been plenty of discussion about web fraud lately, so we’d like to draw your attention to a government website that can help you to see if you have been targeted by an online scammer. All you need to do is put some details into the search bar of this website: cyberdefender.hk/en-us.
Easy Access to Overseas Products
Missing some of your favourite everyday products from back home? Spot On Dealz is an online retailer that sources high-quality products from Europe, the UK, Japan, Korea and elsewhere and offers them right here in Hong Kong. Expect to find beauty and skincare items, cleaning products, furniture, electrical appliances, snacks, seasonal goods and more, which you can shop online, with free delivery for purchases of $250 or more. Spot On also has a physical store in Kowloon Bay with exclusive offers on children’s toys, household items and electronics, starting from just $10!
Special offer: Expat Living readers can enjoy 12 percent off at Spot On by using promotion code Expat12 (T&Cs apply).
More Wild Critters!
Hot off the success of Bugs of Hong Kong, author Robert Ferguson has released his latest book, a captivating guide to the remarkable wildlife found in HK. Did you know that there are 130 known species of dragonflies alone in our midst? Find out more interesting facts and scientific detail in Wild Creatures of Hong Kong, presented in a handy reference format. There’s a page for each animal including key identification features and stunning colour photos. Buy it from The Lion Rock Press, Bookazine and Robert’s website, wildcreatureshongkong.org
An Upcoming Mall
New shopping and office development AIRSIDE will have a soft opening in Q3 this year, featuring a 1.9 million square-foot skyscraper with 32 floors of office space and a 700,000-square-foot shopping mall. With a focus on sustainability, the mall offers visitors a one-stop shopping experience with convenient transport links and amenities including premium retail stores, F&B outlets, art and culture spaces, a cinema – even an indoor surfing centre! The mall is also pet friendly with dedicated dining outlets, stores and green spaces for fur-kids. Find out more at airside.com.hk.
VIP Club in Central
Recently opened on Lyndhurst Street in Central is Whale Club, an exclusive members-only club featuring VIP rooms, a bar and gallery, and a cigar room. Described as a private “playground” of luxe escapism in the heart of Hong Kong, members can kick back and enjoy plush comforts, like-minded company, culinary experiences, themed events, art and NFT showcases, game-playing and private celebrations – something to cater to every whim! Individual and corporate membership plans are available.
Visit whaleclub.vip or call 2506 0880 for more information.
Greener Transport
After two years in the making, the first pure electric public minibus from EV Dynamics has commenced service in Hong Kong. The APEX Mini is one of eight new models of electric minibus selected by the government for a trial of 40 minibuses across HK. It’s estimated there are around 3,000 Public Light Buses in operation, and despite some converting from LPG to diesel, they are still major air polluters in our crowded streets. The new minibus is the first pure electric, fully accessible public minibus in a new era of eco-friendly and socially inclusive public transportation. And that can only be good news!
Holistic Fitness
Renowned founder of Cookie DPT and CARBON, Wil Fang, has joined forces with three leading figures in the local fitness industry (Jess Shih, Soojin Leu, and Dan Yeung) to open holistic wellness destination Renation. Far from a regular gym, the expansive studio on the third floor at H Code in Pottinger Street, features four distinct areas, all designed to provide holistic offerings catered to different facets of wellness and health. At one end of the space, “Recycle” is dedicated to rhythmic cycling, and at the other, “Recondition” offers strength and conditioning classes. “Recover” offers an area to rest and stretch with the help of physiotherapists and sports masseuses and “Recharge” is a juice and smoothie bar where you can enjoy a signature Spirulina Colada and other healthy treats.
Find out more at renation.com.
Tales of India
Bhakti Mathur, author of the bestselling Amma, Tell Me series of children’s picture books, has released her fifth book in the series: Amma, Take Me to the Taj Mahal. This time, Amma, Shiv and Veer take the reader on a historical tour of the Mughal empire that led to the creation of the renowned Taj Mahal. Through questions and anecdotes, Amma tells her boys the stories of Babur’s invasion, Akbar’s great reign, and Shah Jahan’s undying love for Mumtaz, while peppering them with interesting titbits about what it took to create the architectural marvel. Available at Bookazine HK.
A Tribute to Hong Kong!
Premium stationer and gift brand The Lion Rock Press has launched the latest in its range of luxury 1000-piece double-sided jigsaw puzzles. Entitled “Tribute to Hong Kong”, the puzzle was created by The Lion Rock Press Founder Claire Yates alongside art therapist Katie Flowers, by cutting phrases and images from The South China Morning Post’s Post Magazine (diligently saved by Claire’s grandparents every week). The resulting collage depicts defining moments, forgotten details and unique idiosyncrasies in the form of icons, characters, street scenes, wildlife, well-loved foods and other familiar memories of Hong Kong from over the years.
Find it at online at thelionrockpress.com.
Take your shopping sky high
Cathay has opened its first experiential retail space bringing together everything you love about travel and lifestyle. Located in Hong Kong’s Cityplaza shopping mall, browse a whole range of carefully selected and special edition products including Cathay branded merchandise. When you shop in-store you can earn miles for your next trip. Use the Cathay app to scan the product QR codes, add the items to your shopping cart and select your preferred delivery or store pick-up option. Pay using Asia Miles, cash or a combination of both.
Read more here.
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