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.
Nice Ice
If you’re an ice-skating enthusiast, you’ll soon be able to show off some cool moves, with the upcoming opening of DB Ice Rink. Set to be the largest ice rink in Hong Kong (27 by 59 metres), this brand new skating experience features state-ofthe-art amenities and a world-class coaching team. It caters for leisure and figure skating, ice hockey training, international competitions and more. The DB Ice Skating School will offer programmes for ages three and up, following the Ice Skating Institute Asia syllabus. G/F, Block C, DB Plaza, Discovery Bay, Lantau.
Bamboo benefits
Sustainable homeware and lifestyle store Bamboa Home has launched the Grow Bamboo Initiative, aiming to support local communities and economies through planting bamboo. Currently, the initiative is helping families in Nepal’s Kavre District, where one hectare has been filled so far. Bamboo is among the world’s fastest growing plants, a nutritional food source and the raw material for items such as baskets, furniture and chopsticks. For every HK$100 you donate, one bamboo will be planted. Plus, you’ll receive one BOO-Coin, made of 100 percent ethically-sourced bamboo; keep it to use as a coaster, or give it as a holiday gift! Find out more at
bamboahome.com/pages/grow-bamboo-initiative.
Beautiful Blooms
Here’s a beautiful gift idea if you have friends or family in the UK. The Real Flower Company creates luxury bouquets from exquisitely scented roses, flowers, herbs and foliage grown on its own English and Fairtrade sustainable farms, and delivers them to most UK postcodes. The company is offering a 10 percent discount on its stunning Christmas flowers and wreaths for EL readers. Just go to realflowers.co.uk/expat-living-magazinechristmas-collection for the details, and use the offer code “ELM10” at checkout. The offer is valid until 22 December.
More for Kids
Bookazine has opened a new concept store in IFC mall, right next to its existing shop. With hundreds of toys, games and activity kits to choose from, the brand new store (with an appropriate tweak on the name: Bookidzine) is toy heaven for kids in Hong Kong! It’s great timing with the holiday season upon us – whether it’s for doing the Christmas shopping, or getting some fun stuff for home for the CNY break. You can browse Bookazine’s shelves for a gift for a grown-up while little ones take their pick from Bookidzine. Shop 3092D, Podium Level 3, IFC Mall, Central.
New for 2021
Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong will be offering a half-day programme for students entering Nursery classes from January 2021 onwards. The programme will run from 8am to 11.30am in class groups of up to 19, with students enjoying weekly aquatics lessons alongside specialist-led music and Chinese language classes. The halfday option will also benefit those who remain at school in the afternoon, as classes will reduce in volume for the second half of the day, increasing individual contact time. Find out more by emailing admissions@shrewsbury.edu.hk or calling 2480 1500.
shrewsbury.edu.hk/news/stories
Impossible Arrival
There hasn’t been much coming or going to Hong Kong lately, but one particular item of arriving cargo is welcome news. Impossible Foods, the award-winning, plant-based meat that we’ve already been enjoying in several of the city’s restaurants, has now hit HK stores. This is the first time the product has been made available outside the US. Impossible Beef is available at nearly 100 ParknShop banner stores, including ParknShop, Fusion, Taste, Food Le Parc and Great Food Hall. It’s also available for delivery through parknshop.com. Expect to pay around HK$90 for a 340g retail pack
Help for Helpers
A year after launching its new website, HelperChoice – the first digital platform to search, interview and hire foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong – is now the first online service accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). This is a big step in the HelperChoice mission to improve living conditions for foreign domestic workers , eradicate illegal agency placement fees and more through digitalisation. It means, for one thing, the service can process visas for FDWs.
Virtual School Tours
Want to get a glimpse into the Canadian International School of Hong Kong? In January, the CDNIS Admissions team is hosting a series of virtual events for families interested in applying to the school. Register for the Open House Webinars at 11.30am on 14 January (for Grades 3-5) and 10am on 20 January (for Grades 6-12) and learn more about the application process for both the Lower School and Upper School, as well as the Chinese Programme. More event and registration details can be found at cdnis.edu.hk/virtual-tours.
Sneakers Galore
Need new kicks? A giant Foot Locker Power Store is opening at Gala Place in Mong Kok in January. The US brand is a big name in global sports fashion, and the 20,000-square-foot flagship store will be Hong Kong’s biggest single-storey Foot Locker outlet. Different zones will focus on different sports and brands (think Adidas, Nike, Puma, Reebok and Vans), while the “House of Hoops” is a special basketball concept area in the store.
Going Meatless
Hong Kong-based Ovolo Hotels is the first hotel group to go entirely vegetarian across its restaurants, bars and food services for a year. The designer chain – which also has properties in Australia – has phased out meat and is focusing on plant-based cuisine and fresh locally-sourced produce. Ovolo has also revamped its room service menus with a range of tasty vegetarian dishes. This move is the latest in the group’s series of ecofriendly initiatives.
New Nail Bar
Wong Chuk Hang has a new hidden gem! Urban Chillez offers a new definition in nail art, with a service that includes chic and stylish themes all year round, plus some seasonal editions to match the mood and help spice up your look for different occasions. All its products are cruelty-free and eco-friendly, and the nail bar also takes pandemic precaution very seriously, employing state-of-the-art air filters and disinfectants. Not only that, but there are complimentary drinks – including house wine – and even a lunch package if you’re taking a break from work!
2A E-Fat Industrial Building, 4 Heung Yip Road. 5597 4277 | Instagram @urbanchillez
High-speed Sportswear
McLaren Automotive and British premium sportswear brand Castore have collaborated to debut their first sportswear collection for men. It’s a lightweight technical capsule collection that takes inspiration directly from McLaren’s modern design and use of lightweight materials to improve performance. The limited-edition collection offers style and comfort in its range of cotton T-shirts, performance tops and outerwear. Shop online at castore.com – and the good news is that there’s free shipping to Hong Kong on all orders!
Jolly Jams
Looking for a great gift idea, or just want to lift you breakfast game? Hong Kong-based Wanna Jam uses fresh ingredients to produce handmade, small-batch, no-preservative jams and butters. The company likes to keep things simple, with no artificial preservatives and a no- or low-sugar policy for its products. You can order their signature items – Berry Jam (HK$168), Osmanthus Honey ($168), Peanut Butter ($98), Apple Cinnamon Butter ($98) and more – via their socials (@ wannajamhk) or email, or at select design stores around HK. Keep an eye out for their holiday hampers, too!
6011 2694 | hello@wannajamhk.com
Lightweight Lappy
The brand-new FE Series of laptops by VAIO is now available in Hong Kong. The super compact series aims for minimalism in every design detail; it’s slim and carefully-proportioned, yet still with the performance you need to handle a busy business or workload – a 10th-generation Intel Core processor, for starters, plus a solid-state extra-capacity drive and 16GB of memory.
Find it in two screen sizes (14.1 and 15.6 inch) at exclusive retailers and nexstmall.com, from HK$8,990. nexstgo.com
This article first appeared in the Winter 2020 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
