It’s that time of year again! Pumpkins are for sale, dismembered limbs hang high above Lan Kwai Fong, and spooky decorations are popping up all over the city. In keeping with tradition, the legendary ‘Dead Not Alive‘ Halloween party, hosted by the Alive Not Dead gang, will be taking place on Saturday, October 29th at Zuma.

Although there are other events happening around town, these guys take their Halloween party seriously. Previous Dead Not Alive parties have been wild fun, with a combination of quality crowd, great music and amazing costumes.

Dead Not Alive isn’t the type of party where you sit on the sidelines and gawk at other people’s costumes. If you want to attend, you must wear a costume. This is one of the reasons why the party always sells out.

This year the event features headlining DJ Ta-Shi, a three-time DMC champion from Japan, in addition to DJ Miss Yellow, an Alive Not Dead success story. Also in the mix are Seraphim Yami, Suki Wong, and Jeana Ho.

If you’re interested in attending, I highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, as the event does sell out! For detailed ticket information, go here.

Dead Not Alive
feat. DJ Ta-Shi, Miss Yellow, Seraphim Yami, Suki Wong, and Jeana Ho
Saturday, October 29th, 2011
Zuma
The Landmark 5 & 6 F,
15 Queens Road
Central, Hong Kong
11pm til late

Advance: $350HKD with two free drinks
At the door: $450HKD with two free drinks
Late entry (after 2am): $250HKD with one free drink

Halloween Hong Kong 2011
Starting from Friday night you can expect to see people parading around the city’s nightlife areas in costume. Bisous is having a special Halloween weekend, and if you’re not partied out, they are transforming the club into a haunted house on Monday night!

XXX, another new nightlife option, will feature a special Halloween party titled ‘Screams for Children’ featuring Indie Rock and Alternative music on the 29th.

For a nostalgic look back at previous Halloween celebrations in Hong Kong, check out 2008, 2007, and and 2006.

Happy Halloween!

Those who lined up to attend Hong Kong’s RedBull Dragon Run event were not disappointed! If they wanted to see an F1 car burning up a H.K. street there was plenty of action! In addition, there were motorcycle stunts and a drift show. Check out the super-sized videos!

And the drift show:

Few places can brag about introducing an entirely new concept to Hong Kong’s crowded nightlife landscape. Bisous, which has already become a stop on the city’s party circuit, is unique as part cabaret, and part speakeasy.

This Saturday, June 25th, Moet & Bisous are presenting Moet Imperial Follies, a theme event that perfectly matches the venue and taps the club’s retro ambiance.

Recalling a golden era of Hollywood glamor circa the 1920′s and 30′s, the party will include hourly performances featuring costumed singers and dancers. Shows will take place at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30.

The door charge for the night is a very reasonable $100 HKD which includes one standard drink. There’s also free entry for girls before midnight!

To get partygoers in the mood, there will be a vintage Hollywood backdrop for photo ops, as well as accessories to enhance the experience. A contest for best dressed (along with three chances to win,) includes solid prizes such as $3000 drink credit at Bisous, together with a magnum of Golden Moet Imperial! (Perhaps now is a good time to dust off the tuxedo!)

Moet will be on special all night, with bottles of Moet Imperial for $1000 HKD, and magnums for $1900.

With the birthday of one of Bisous’s founders taking place on the same night, expect a fun crowd and a friendly party atmosphere. If you have yet to visit Bisous, the Moet Imperial Follies party is a prime chance!

Have a peek at what Bisous looked like on its opening night.

During the week they have numerous d.j.s along with live cabaret performances. Generally, on the busier nights, a cover charge of $100 HKD for guys gets you entry plus one drink. There is typically free entry for girls, along with free drinks on Thursday nights. The cozy decor makes Bisous a comfy Happy Hour spot as well, with specials from 6pm to 9pm during weekdays.

Recommended!

Moët Imperial Follies
Saturday, June 25th, 2011
Bisous
9/F, LKF Tower
33 Wyndham Street
Central, Hong Kong

$100 cover charge gets you entry, plus one standard drink

Red Bull is bringing the roar of F1 racing to Hong Kong for the very first time, taking over the brand new Lung Wo Road in Central for a demonstration of automotive muscle power. Saturday, June 18th, at 6pm, they will be unleashing a Formula One car driven by the professional driver, Jaime Alguersuari.

Over the last few years, Red Bull has built an impresive track record of events around the city. Last year’s Flugtag event, which had teams of participants crashing home-made planes into the harbor, was perhaps the most successful new event in Hong Kong in over a decade. (For videos of that go here!)

The F1 event, officially titled – Red Bull Dragon Run Hong Kong, will last for over an hour and include trick moves never seen on the racetrack! Also on the menu is stunt driving and a drift show! For fans of car racing this is a rare opportunity to see some high-powered moves up close.

The place to catch the excitement is on the length of Lung Wo Road between IFC and the Wanchai Convention Centre.

The show will take place between 6pm and 7:30.

Red Bull F1 Dragon Run Hong Kong presented by 7-11
Saturday, June 18th, 2011
6pm, Lung Wo Road (near Edinburgh Place)
Central, Hong Kong
Free

There are more and more nightlife choices in Hong Kong, which makes choosing a place to celebrate Halloween all the more difficult. Some clubs just go through the motions, not investing much thought into creating the right environment, while others plan elaborate decorations and entertainment.

You don’t want to show up and be the only one standing around in costume – it’s a buzz-kill to be surrounded by people not in full Halloween spirit! Here are two picks that promise to be the most fun – one for Friday, and another for Saturday night!

There are several factors to weigh in choosing your Halloween destination. Call us old fashioned, but the things we looked at include: the d.j.s; the track record of past events; the overall environment; the number of people in costume; and the location, which is somewhat of an issue for Halloween. (Read up on that here.)

Volar Goes Green on Halloween

Friday’s “Volar Goes Green On Halloween” party looks to be fun. The d.j. from Belgium is a natural fit for Halloween. Named Dr. Lektroluv, he’s a hard bangin’ Electro d.j., who looks like some sort of alien behind the turntables!

This guy is always performing in costume, and it’s entertaining, especially since he has the party-rockin’ music to back up the weirdness angle. He’s green – ’nuff said!

Volar has done a good job with decorations in the past, and they are guaranteed to have a lively crowd. Regarding the location deep in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong, Volar can arrange pick-ups to steer you through the traffic in Lan Kwai Fong on Friday night. Contact them directly for more information: intoxicated@volar.com.hk or (852) 2810 1510. Keep in mind that by prime-time, the Halloween traffic (of people just standing around taking photos,) has thinned, making LKF easier to access.

Dr. Lektroluv
Volar’s Gone Green On Halloween
Friday, October 29th, 2010
Volar
Basement, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street
Lan Kwai Fong
Central, Hong Kong
$350 includes two drinks

Alive Not Dead’s “Dead Not Alive” Halloween Party

Saturday’s pick is Alive Not Dead’s third annual Halloween party titled “Dead Not Alive.” This event has lots to offer including a strong d.j. line-up with international, as well as local talent. The d.j.s play a variety of dance music genres and include Suivez (Switzerland,) Beware (Austria,) Kid Fresh (Germany,) Re:Flex (U.S.,) and I-Tek (U.S.).

The Alive Not Dead gang are known for their parties, and actually strive to make each year better than the last. The “Dead Not Alive” party is costume-mandatory, which guarantees everyone will be on the same vibe. Their crowd is made up of entertainment figures, so you never know who you might encounter in costume!

The venue they’ve chosen to hold the party this year is Hyde, which has a larger dancefloor, better sound system, and great lighting (yes, I’m a sucker for lasers!) Compared to any of their previous Halloween parties, the facilities are superior. Another advantage of having it at Hyde is that you don’t need to wade through the crowds of Lan Kwai Fong in order to enter. You can access Hyde by taking the escalator up to Hollywood Road, and then walking down Lyndhurst Terrace to reach the club. Another route would be to take Caine Road to Arbuthnot Road and then walk down from there.

One word of caution – last year’s Dead Not Alive party completely sold-out before Halloween, so if you’re interested in attending, book your tickets now. You can pay by credit card on their store here.

Alive Not Dead’s 3rd Annual “Dead Not Alive” Halloween bash
Saturday, October 30th, 2010
DJ Beware, DJ Suivez, Kid Fresh, Re:Flex and I-Tek
Costume mandatory!
Hyde
1 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central, Hong Kong
$370 includes two drinks

Racks “Zombie Punk Halloween”

If you’re looking for a free event in the neighborhood, those slackers at Racks have a Zombie Punk theme this Halloween on both Friday and Saturday night. Racks was once the site of a particularly wild Halloween.

You can sneak into Racks by walking down Wyndham Street from the top (which isn’t blocked off.) By the way, local legend has it that the girl’s bathroom is haunted…

Zombie Punk or Punk Zombie?
Friday, October 29th, and Saturday, October 30th, 2010
Racks MDB
7/F, M88, 2-8 Wellington Street (opposite California Fitness)
Central, Hong Kong
Free

Ever wanted to be a cast member of the movie Jackass? Or perhaps become famous doing something crazy on YouTube? Welcome to Red Bull Flugtag!

Next Sunday, October 10th, Red Bull is holding Hong Kong’s first Flugtag event. Flugtag means ‘flying day’ in German, and the event is your chance to create a team, build a flying machine, and take a running leap into the harbor… yes, literally! The team that flies the longest distance wins.

From what I’ve seen, most of the flugtag entries don’t actually fly, but that’s part of the fun of it. Some of the teams make no attempt at aerodynamics at all, and instead work the comedy angle. The creations often resemble a carnival float with wings. Red Bull’s Flugtag promises to be a creative, fun, and unique event.

The turnout to watch Flugtag in other cities around the world has been surprisingly large. Several cities in the U.S. have drawn around 90,000 spectators! (People in America love a good crash!)

The local interest in Hong Kong’s Flugtag competition has been spectacular, with Red Bull having to limit the event to forty teams. It’s not a bunch of foreigners either, but mostly Hong Kong locals who have taken up the challenge.

The event is free and takes place near Elements by the West Kowloon waterfront. Participants will be ‘flying’ their home-made contraptions from the West Kowloon heliport directly into Victoria harbor! We wish them all luck!

You can check out the inside scoop on teams building their flying machines here and here. The official website also has information including details about many of the designs. To get a better idea of what Redbull’s Flugtag is really all about though, check out the video below!

Recommended!

Red Bull Flugtag Hong Kong
Sunday, October 10th, 2010 at 12 pm
West Kowloon Heliport
West Kowloon
(By MTR, take the Tung Chung line to Kowloon Station and walk, or take the special shuttle to the heliport. It’s just towards the harbor from Elements Shopping Mall.)

Sometimes all it takes is doing things a little bit different to have a great event. Last week’s Subcrew / G-Shock party, held on a 500-person boat was creative, fun, and a major success!

Combine a cool local crowd with a new atmosphere, good music, (and plenty of free drinks,) and one of the most sweltering nights of the year turns into one of the best recent events.

You never know what to expect going to a new venue for the first time. Boat parties in particular take a good deal of courage as you’re trapped on board for the duration of the event. Unlike most parties, you can’t just leave whenever you want to.

Many years ago I’d attended a party on a huge industrial ferry near North Point, so I had a slight idea of what the scenario would be like. Once everyone boarded, the boat started cruising around the harbor, parking for a while near the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The ship for the Subcrew / G-Shock event was actually well furnished (and thankfully air-conditioned!). Climbing aboard, it almost felt like entering a banquet hall.

The carpeted interior took up the length of the ship, with large, banquet-style round tables ringing both sides of the room. Even the tablecloths were branded with the G-Shock / Subcrew logos for the night!

Wait staff stood around passing out drinks. At the front of the boat was a d.j. booth, at the back was a buffet. What else does one need? Oh yes, for smokers, there was a rooftop with plenty of room to maneuver and gawk at the harbor lights.

In addition to the bright yellow signage covering the entire ferry terminal and much of the boat, G-Shock had set up a large aquatic display near the buffet. Inside aquarium tanks were the colorful G-Shock and limited edition Subcrew Sharkmarine watches.

The party started off with a d.j., but also included a live acoustic segment that was fresh and unexpected.

Co-owner of the Subcrew brand, the actor Sam Lee, presided over the turntables for part of the night, playing his usual party-rocking sounds. (See photo at top!)

Towards the end of the event, the rain started pouring down in Gilligan’s Island proportions, but the crowd was having too much fun to care, apart from snapping a few photos. Check out the video below!

As we reached the dock, miraculously, there was a break in the bad weather, and land-lovers scampered off to the nearby North Point MTR station or hailed taxis to their next Wednesday night party destination.

To me, Alive Not Dead are known for two things – operating a celebrity-filled social network and WILD parties. Throughout their existence, they’ve probably generated more hangovers than any other online brand. Even with all the high-profile actors, singers and models, their parties are never pretentious affairs but fun, jump up and down kind of nights.

After the success of Alive Not Dead’s Halloween party at Zuma (which was easily the best in town,) the social network is back again with a special New Year’s Eve extravaganza.

This time around the party features a strong line-up of prime-time d.j.s. including DJ Becareful, Miss Yellow, DJ Noodles from Taiwan and Enso from Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy. You want to go a little crazy? This is the gang you want playing. They all spin a party-rockin’ mixture that includes multiple genres of Electronic dance music fused with Rock and Hip Hop.

The headliner, DJ Becareful Lee (the actor Sam Lee,) plays like a car going down a hill with no brakes. His music gets more and more intense as his set goes on. If you’re looking for a dance floor for New Year’s Eve, this is the place!

Zuma is a great venue because it’s close to the action in Lan Kwai Fong, yet just outside the zone that gets annoyingly barricaded by the police. (Read the Halloween post for why that’s a hassle!)

When it’s set up for a party, Zuma is a spacious venue that includes a larger dance floor than most Hong Kong clubs. For smokers there’s a huge outdoor patio, so there’s no need to leave the party or furtively sneak a puff.

If you want to say goodbye to 2009 without the annoying table scene and stuffy attitudes (and just concentrate on having fun,) this is the party for you.

Get your tickets now!

Alive Not Dead’s Halloween party sold out of pre-sale tickets several days before the actual night, with a large crowd still trying to pay to get in. For New Year’s Eve it’s convenient (and cheaper!) to get your tickets ahead of time.

To attend the event you have several ticket options. Pre-sale tickets are going for $250 HKD and include one drink. Tickets at the door are selling for $300 HKD and also include one drink.

For those looking to make a full night at Zuma, there’s a dinner plus party package for $1500 HKD per person. The dinner begins at 7pm. Check out the menu here.

For latecomers, there’s a final option for $200 HKD that allows entrance after 1am and includes one drink.

To easily purchase your tickets online go here.

Recommended!

Alive Not Dead New Year’s Eve 2009
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Feat. DJ Becareful Lee, Miss Yellow, DJ Noodles, DJ Enso
Zuma
6/F, The Landmark
15 Queens Road Central
Central, Hong Kong

* Party starts at 10pm
* Dinner package starts at 7pm

What do top clubs, Dragon-i and Volar have in common? As both celebrated birthdays earlier this month, Hong Kong Hustle began to think back about their contributions to the city’s nightlife scene.

Dragon-i held their seventh anniversary last weekend, hosting major dance music talents, Axwell and Ron Carroll. Volar celebrated on December third, bringing well known group Digitalism.

Through their musical direction and dedication over the years, the two clubs have transformed Hong Kong from a c-list city into a primary destination on the international nightclub circuit.

Dragon-i’s seventh anniversary!

Dragon-i has shown a knack for creativity recently. The invitation sent out to members this year was as extravagant as it was unique. Each potential guest received a box that included a large wooden die with Dragon-i’s logo and sevens printed on each side. Also packed inside was a small flashlight that beamed the event details onto any surface it was pointed at!

On their anniversary, the club itself was modified for the night’s affair. The ambiance began as guests entered the outdoor patio area. The space was converted into a cozy lounge enclosed by white fabric with special seats and tables fashioned for the occasion. Arriving at the club, guests could see large number sevens dangling from the ceiling.

The night kicked off with a traditional lion dance performance followed by a short speech by owner Gilbert Yeung. After the customary spraying of the crowd with champagne, the night got underway.

D.j. / singer / producer Ron Carroll’s early set was top notch. Though I didn’t recognize a single song (that’s a good thing!,) each of the tracks he played was strong and got the crowd moving.

Towards the middle of his set he began playing more well-known cuts, including a few of his own! The capacity crowd responded by dancing on every surface available, including on top of the seats!

The turnout at Dragon-i was made up of familiar faces including several generations of nightlife personalities and models. The diverse-as-it-was-massive crowd once again showed why Dragon-i defines high-end clubbing in Hong Kong.

Volar’s fifth anniversary!

note the T-shirts with the ‘V’ near the bottom left

Volar celebrated their fifth anniversary with a neon theme. As guests arrived they were given special t-shirts with LED lights in the shape of a ‘V’. When a small box attached to the shirt was activated, the ‘V’ on the shirt began to emit a series of flashing patterns! Very cool!

Digitalism, the headliners for the night were highly anticipated. Under the guidance of club co-founders and music fans, Benedict Ku, and his wife Jaime Ho Ku, Volar has brought a steady stream of new dance acts, particularly in the Electro realm. Digitalism personifies the musical direction that Volar has taken over the years as they span the space between new Rock and Electro.

On anniversary night, the attendees packed into the club to check out Digitalism. It was obvious by the crowd reaction that they were familiar with the music, throwing their hands in the air in unison.

Digitalism’s Jens “Jence” Moelle

Happy anniversary to Dragon-i and Volar – thanks for putting Hong Kong on the map and giving us access to the people who shape music around the world.

Lines! (Or ‘queues’, for you British English speakers.)

Here’s the scenario:

You get all dressed up and head out to Lan Kwai Fong (the epicenter of Hong Kong’s Halloween celebration,) but instead of being able to join the party, you have to walk slowly through check points for thirty minutes to an hour, with throngs of people not even in costume!

Do you know how we spell that at Hong Kong Hustle? L A M E!

Last year we talked about the long, long lines, this year, we’re talking about two parties that are outside of the lockdown area, so you can have a good time immediately, and completely avoid the circuitous march.

Alive Not Dead’s “Dead Not Alive” Halloween Party

How can you get in the proper Halloween mood with un-costumed people standing around? Forget about it! This is a costumes-mandatory party and that’s the way it should be.

The venue is Zuma, the swank Japanese restaurant located (above Gucci) in The Landmark shopping center.

The pluses: cool atmosphere, large space, two levels, and a big outdoor balcony for people who want to smoke. The entertainment for the night features three diverse d.j.s including Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy’s Kid Fresh, D.J. Re:Flex and New York’s N.K.S.. Last year’s party by the same gang (the celebrity-centric social network Alive Not Dead,) was a blast! Word on the street is that they already have over one hundred “artists” attending, and that there’s a chance the place may get completely filled!

This year they’re selling tickets to avoid the crush. We highly recommend buying tickets ahead of time to skip the hassle on Halloween night. You can purchase tickets online directly from alivenotdead using credit cards or PayPal.

Go here and scroll down until you see a small window that says ‘Buy Now’. Enter the number of tickets you want into the window and press the ‘Buy Now’ button. It will take you to a secure PayPal page where you can enter in your payment details.

Dead Not Alive by alivenotdead.com
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Zuma
Level 5 and 6, The Landmark
15 Queens Road Central
Central, Hong Kong

Tickets are $200 HKD and include one Belvedere IX drink
Party starts at 11pm.

Dragon-i, “Doctors & Nurses Halloween Party”

Dragon-i is winner of this year’s coolest invitation award!

Actually, no one else even came close. D.I.’s Halloween invitation to members is a perfect fit for their “Doctors & Nurses” theme. They sent out a first-aid box filled with medicine, including a packet of capsules with the party info printed on the back, a jar of prescription pills, and a bottle of cough syrup. (Jeez, I’m happy they left out the hypodermic needle!)

The pluses: located above the Lan Kwai Fong Halloween lockdown area, easy theme to get costumes for, sexy atmosphere, and a guaranteed large turnout.

Doctors & Nurses Halloween Party
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Dragon-i
Upper ground floor, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street
Central, Hong Kong
$400 cover charge for non-members

Plan C: It’s possible to avoid the long lines of Lan Kwai Fong completely if you arrive later in the night.

After a certain time, the police will remove the blockades, or the number of people entering will dwindle. This means that places like Volar will remain a good late-night option. (They have also been known to have excellent Halloween decorations!)

Check out photos from Halloween 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005!

“Woof! Woof! Happy Halloween!”