Grand Opening @ King Ludwig am Meer, Soho West – 10 November, 2024

The King Parrot Group celebrated the opening of their latest restaurant King Ludwig am Meer in Soho West with a party on 10 November, 2024.

Okay, I know many of you will go ‘Soho West!’ Well, think of Sai Wan Ho’s Soho East in the West. It’s a short walk from Nam Cheong MTR, and while it is all high-rise concrete and glass…  The waterfront promenade is pet friendly, faces west to catch the sunset, and even boasts a view of Hong Kong Island. You can also, sort of, walk along the water’s edge all the way to West Kowloon and thence to TST and the Star Ferry.

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All in all, in a very manufactured way, it is rather a nice place to grab some fresh air – especially now you can enjoy a cold beer at King Ludwig and sit outside!

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All images copyright bc magazine/ Simon Durrant – all rights reserved

USMEF Oktoberfest in Central Market – 29 October, 2024

Oktoberfest is one of those fun festivals that has been adopted globally. And just as Songkran encourages us to soak others in water, Oktoberfest is an ‘excuse’ for people around the world to have fun and dance on the table…

The US Meat Export Federation hosted a night at Oktoberfest in Central Market on 29 October. The open centre of the market has been converted into a Hong Kong style German Beer Hall including a stage where traditional German music from the Notenhobler’s sets the mood.

There’s a range of traditional German dishes: pork knuckle, pretzels, sauerkraut, apple strudel and some delicious US pork ribs.

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After dinner, while enjoying your beer, you can blow the big horn and start the party with some fun games.

 

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All images copyright bc magazine/ Simon Durrant – all rights reserved

Choices, Choices, Choices…

Choices, choices, choices… The HKTB‘s Wine & Dine Festival is back with over 300 booths full of food and drink to explore savour and hopefully enjoy.

Everyone will have their own preferences and ideas as to how to explore the festival. My approach is what can I do and taste here which I probably can’t/wouldn’t away from the festival. And that mostly means food! There are so many wine and spirits shops in Hong Kong that you can buy a bottle of pretty much anything you want to sample away from the festival.

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The Cutest drink

Honestly, to tease and please your tastebuds head to the Culinary Stars area first to sample dishes from some of Hong Kong’s finest restaurants including The Aubery, Fisholic, Hong Kong CuisineAn ChoiThe Baker and The Bottleman and The Grand HK which is showcasing their new Bakery.

Where Wine and Dine Shines…

When you go out to a restaurant you can enjoy one version of a dish. At the festival, several restaurants are, for example, offering Siu Mai – so you can buy from several booths and taste and compare them at the same time. Exploring how each chef views and thinks of such a basic staple and much-loved Hong Kong dish. The different flavours and textures are profound, surprising and delicious and will spoil you for your basic everyday version.

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What Not to Miss!

The Vietnamese egg coffee at An Choi – as good, if not better than you’ll find on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

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To the left of the entrance is the ‘hotel zone’ where some of Hong Kong fancy hotels are showcasing the favourite dishes from their restaurants. It’s also one of the areas where you can find vegetarian food.

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There’s US and Argentinan Beef to enjoy.

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Near the Star Fery entrance is the French zone with some lovely cheeses – a nice way to start or something to enjoy later with a glass of wine or a cocktail.

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Don’t forget to take pictures of your food

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There are two live music stages, both of which have chairs, when you a rest.

Cheers and Enjoy!

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
Date: 23-27 October, 2024
Venue: Central Harbourfront Event Space
Tickets: $400, $290, $240
Notes:
23 October 2024 (Wednesday), 7:30–11pm
24–25 October 2024 (Thursday – Friday), 4–11pm
26–27 October 2024 (Saturday – Sunday), 12–11pm

All images copyright bc magazine / simon durrant – all rights reserved

Wine & Dine Festival 2024 – Opening Night

HKTB‘s Wine & Dine Festival 2024 buzzed with excitement and anticipation as booth owners—first-timers and old hands—rushed to finalize their preparations. Suddenly, it was 6:30 p.m., and the doors were open…

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Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
Date: 23-27 October, 2024
Venue: Central Harbourfront Event Space
Tickets: $400, $290, $240
Notes:
23 October 2024 (Wednesday), 7:30–11pm
24–25 October 2024 (Thursday – Friday), 4–11pm
26–27 October 2024 (Saturday – Sunday), 12–11pm

All images copyright bc magazine / simon durrant – all rights reserved

Hong Kong Halloween

Halloween starts early this year with a 3D light show projected onto the domed roof of the Hong Kong Space Museum on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. The show runs from 20:15-22:30 daily until 31 October.

Characters include a hungry pumpkin enjoying local delicacies, a funky ghost DJ playing music through the 1night, a friendly pineapple bun inviting passers-by to pose for selfies, a romantic galactic spirit exploring Hong Kong on an iconic tram, and a party-loving bat toasting the Halloween season.

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Also look out for the Halloween tram…

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Halloween 3D Celestial Projection Show
Date: 18-31 October, 2024
Venue: Hong Kong Space Museum
Tickets: Free

image: HK Tourism

Tai Hang Fire Dragon Festival 2024

On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets of Tai Hang resonate with the vibrant sounds of gongs and drums. And the intense smell of incense heralds the arrival of the century-old fire dragon as it dances for good fortune.

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The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is staged for three consecutive nights (16 to 18 September) on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival to bring good fortune to the neighbourhood and its residents.

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The 220-foot dragon is handcrafted each year by the Tai Hang Residents’ Welfare Association, a process that takes around two months. The head and tail sections are constructed of rattan, and the body of thick rope with the dragon’s body then wrapped in chamber bitter leaves.

The dragon’s body is pierced with incense sticks ahead of the consecration ceremony which takes place the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, at the  Lin Fa Kung Temple. After the dragon’s eyes are painted on, the fire dragon is alive.

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This year the traditional joss sticks have been replaced with 10,000 LED
bulbs and the route extended so more people can enjoy the dance up-close.

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images: HK Tourism

Riize Live in Hong Kong – 1 June 2024

South Korean boy band Riize visited Hong Kong for the first time for a “RIIZING DAY” at AsiaWorld-Expo on 1 June 2024.

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As can be seen, the fans loved the show.

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Riize 2024 Hong Kong Set List

Breeze and Storm
Siren
One Thing
Happy! Happy! Happy!
White Christmas
Love119
Lost Tape
Honestly
Talk Saxy
Get A Guitar
Joy
9days
Impossible

Encore

One Kiss

Encore (Short)

Memories
Memories Inst

Roh Tae Hyun – Hong Kong Fan Meeting, 5 November, 2023

Roh Tae Hyun hosted a fan meeting at KITEC on 5 November, and Hong Kong fans got to meet, talk and hear their idols in person.

Honestly, we’d have preferred a full concert – but a fan meet is better than nothing…

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Roh Tae Hyun – Hong Kong Fan Meeting
Date: 7pm, 5 November, 2023
Venue: Kitec, Music Zone @E-Max
Tickets: $1,399, $1,299, $799 from HK Ticketing

Images courtesy of Freez