The grand finale of Le French May is being thrown by the Volar gang. The big bash takes place on May 30th and features nearly all the artists on the Ed Banger label (sans Justice.) In case you’ve been under a rock, these are some of the hottest d.j. / producer / musicians in club music. Segments of the Ed Banger crew have come to Hong Kong before, but this time around it’s seven of their artists! This would be a major deal for any international city and it’s happening right here in Hong Kong! Mark your calendars! (more…)

This Brutal House, Simon Birch’s latest exhibition launched on April 18th. The show is a major undertaking for the Hong Kong based artist. The opening night featured a mixture of new paintings, videos, installations and even performance art! The show was exhibited simultaneously in three spaces operated by the Chancery Lane Gallery. The majority of works are located in Chai Wan at the brand new Chancery Lane Art Projects.

After first checking out the Soho branch, which contains several important paintings, I headed out to Chai Wan. The gallery runs two separate spaces on the sixth floor of a former factory building. Arriving inside it felt as though we are entering a brand new era for Hong Kong art. (more…)

Wednesday night was the opening of Love Art, a collection of contemporary works being shown until April 28th at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wanchai. Headlining the exhibition was artwork by Banksy, a newcomer who has become increasingly hot at auctions and started to attract celebrity collectors such as Angelina Jolie. His works have a broad appeal due to a combination of witty messages, novel delivery, street credibility and the legendary antics involved in creating his guerrilla art. (more…)

Tuesday night I headed out to Megabox in Kowloon Bay for the premiere of 6th Floor Rear Flat 2. The film is a sequel to the sleeper hit directed by Barbara Wong in 2003. What was the turnout like in far-away Kowloon Bay? (more…)

If there is any doubt left that Macau is the new Las Vegas it’s quickly disappearing. I received an email last week announcing the arrival of the first Asia Adult Expo set to take place in Macau next December.

Vegas is known for this sort of exhibition, which seems to match the town’s reputation as “Sin City.” Macau is likewise an appropriate destination for this type of event. The territory has a certain notoriety as a bastion of adult entertainment. Beyond the casinos, the city’s nightlife is dominated by saunas, escorts and adult karaokes.

Yet with the recent building boom, Macau seems poised for change. (more…)

Friday night I stopped by the reopening of the newly renovated Juice store in Causeway Bay. Juice is the retail arm of Hong Kong’s CLOT crew and the older brother to the ACU shop in Shanghai. Open for several years already, I always recommend Juice to visitors interested in fashion. Though many small shops parallel import Japanese street wear to Hong Kong, Juice was the first to develop a direct connection to some of the most exclusive brands and provide a large selection of unique, limited edition merchandise under one roof.

Part of the charm of the original store was the warm interior made of wood. It was a real stand out from the cold, stark style of other retailers in Hong Kong and matched the under-stated feel of the high-end street wear perfectly.

So just how extensive was the renovation? (more…)

In Japan you can find all sorts of things for sale in vending machines. Since I’ve lived in Hong Kong however, I’ve never seen an explosion of this sort of retailing in the city. So it came as a surprise to encounter a lonely looking vending machine while walking through Silvercord shopping center last week. (more…)

Friday night, April 18th, artist Simon Birch christens the newly expanded Chancery Lane Annex in Chai Wan with a solo exhibition. Simon, one of Hong Kong’s foremost contemporary painters, is in the midst of putting together several major international shows. This is a chance to catch up with his latest work before he’s off again to another part of the world. What to expect? Read on for details about the exhibition, getting to the show and the after-party! (more…)

The anticipation for the World Wide Bape Heads Show in HITEC on Thursday night was intense. Kanye West and Pharrell Williams are two of the biggest names in contemporary music. Aside from their strong personal performances, part of what differentiates them from others involved in Pop is their well-rounded musicianship and their talented bands. FULL POST COMING SOON!

Just when you think you know everything, you discover something totally new. The Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park is a place I’ve passed by a dozen times, but never actually visited. Due to its location on a steep hillside, just below the reclusive Parkview complex, I’ve never had an occasion to go there.

Last weekend, wanting to go for a walk after lunch I suggested it to my friends. I actually had no idea what to expect. (more…)