The night before All Saints Day (1 November) is known as All Hallows Eve, which has evolved over the centuries to Halloween and been embraced locally as a time to dress up, have fun and eat sweet treats. Commercially a single night has become a season, and there’s no better example of this than Ocean Park where it’s 15th Halloween Fest is a 6 week branding bonanza for sponsors stretching from 18 September to 1 November.
Spokesperson Allan Zeman said Halloween Fest is principally targeted at Hongkongers… Which makes it hard to understand why H15 this year’s signature Halloween attraction, for a park looking to attract 36,000+ people a day, is a single person journey strapped to a board from your funeral through the first seven days postmortem. Needless to say advance registration on 4 and 10 September is required. Looking to cater to everyone Ocean Park has Halloween tie-ins with TV show The Walking Dead and anime favourite Doraemon among its 10 Halloween attractions and 12 seasonal shows. Not having previewed any of the these it’s impossible to comment on them, although calling an attraction Lolita Mansion seems a little distasteful. There are also a variety of themed menus on offer.
So grab a few friends, set aside your cyncism and have a little fun, entry is $345, but nothing is that simple these days and there are almost as many discounted entry tickets, passes and ways avoid queues as there days in Halloween Fest, take a look at their website to see how to save www.oceanpark.com.hk
After 21 year it’s last orders at Delaney’s Wanchai and bc spoke to two of Wanchai’s loveliest ladies Clare and Jeanette, as well as David “No problem, i’ll fix it” the bar’s longest serving employee about their memories and experiences over that time.
Clare: I started in 1997 the same time as Jeanette as a waitress on the 2nd floor. I left in 1999 only to rejoin Delaney’s in 2003 as Duty Manager, I have been the GM for around 8 years.
Jeanette: What is there to say about my years in Delaney’s Wanchai? Although, I have only been back at the Wanchai branch for just over 4 years, the company has played a major role in my 18 years here in Hong Kong. From a waitress up on the second floor in 1997, progressing to Floor Head. I left to go to the original Dublin Jack, on Cochrane Street in March 1999.
David: I started in December 1997 as a bartender on the 2nd floor, it was a very busy bar when I started. How I’m the man who fixes things and keeps the bar running smoothly.
Is there a single night at Delaneys that stands out as your favourite night? Clare: I think for me personally one of the highlights in my time at Delaneys was the Spurs Legends night ,this fell on my birthday so was an added bonus & was just something totally different to our normal nights!! Jeanette: One evening that will always be remembered, for me personally, will be the night we had our “Meet The Barbarians Event”. That was a lot of fun, and a chance to meet some great rugby players. Although I am not a great fan of football, the Spurs Legends night was also fantastic. To see the bar packed to the rafters with such dedicated Spurs fans from all over the region was actually very emotional! David:I’ve worked through 17th St.Paddy days and 17 Rugby 7’s here which was unforgettable.
Best moment/memory? Clare: The other great nights that stick in mind are St Patrick’s Day each year with the Dargle band flying over from Ireland, & the Rugby 7’s weekends were always hard work but a lot of fun. Jeanette: Highs? Rugby 7’s weekends are always fun, if not very hard work. St. Patrick’s Day always sticks in my mind, although I’m not sure that it has always been fun! As a rugby fan, the last world cup in 2011 was one of my most fun times. David: My great nights was always on the weekends with all the footy and rugby games it’s hard to make every customer happy, but good when I can.
Worst moment/memory at Delaneys? Clare: I think some of the worst nights I have had have been during the football World Cups especially when they have been at silly o clock times & people are at their worst & the hours we have worked have been incredibly long. Jeanette: Lows? Any time that involves football! Ha Ha! Gary: The worst times were the 2002 World Cup coz the kick-off time in HK (noon/day time) and when England are playing football, the doors are always shut 2 hours before kick-off and people get angry when we can’t let them in.
What will you miss most/least about Dalaneys Wanchai? Clare: I think in the 12yrs I have been here the one thing I will miss are the amazing people I have worked with & all the customers that have gone on to become good friends over the years. Jeanette: Things I will miss? The wonderful customers we have here, some of which I have known since the my early days here in 1997. Some are now close friends, and many hold a place in my heart.
Things I won’t miss? Wanchai. The area is changing, and I don’t think for the better. David: I will miss all of the people I’ve met here, I’ve made so many friends.
What memories will you take away? Clare: It has always been a family at Delaney’s Wanchai & that is one of the biggest things I will miss….although I am happy to leave the Wanchai area as that has gone downhill in my opinion over the past few years! Jeanette: Delaney’s as a company are a very close knit bunch, from the Directors at the top down to all the front-of-house and back-of-house staff. We have been through some wonderful times together. We have laughed and cried, we have had our ups and downs, but we have always been together. I will take those memories away with me and hold them for ever close. David: Working here for 18 years, Delaney’s is just like my 2nd home, a home has so many memories.
What next? Clare: I am looking forward to a rest for a little while & then I will see what happens next! Jeanette: I will be having a well earned rest, and taking a look at what I would like to do next. At the moment, no plans are in place so i’m open to interesting offers. David: The next step, I will look for a new job. If they open a new Delaneys, I am happy to come back stick everything back together.
Delaney’s Wanchai shuts it’s doors for the final time on 13 August, should be a bit of a craic!
18 years after it closed, and 66 years after it originally opened Lai Yuen is ‘re-imagined’ on the Central Harbourfront this summer. The result is simple uncomplicated fun. The contrast to last winter’s Great European Carnival couldn’t be more profound, that was noise, flashing lights, scream inducing rides… Lai Yuen by contrast is a throw back to a simpler less complicated time where fun and enjoyment was shared and involved participation rather than staring at a screen which provides the entertainment.
There’s a wide range of games, flick your flip flop, parachute man, toss the magnet, feed the elephant and my favourite throw the feather duster. A half dozen rides aimed strictly, apart from the dodgems, at young children and ice-skating.
If there’s a criticism it’s that the food quality is very average and the prices – $15 for a small bottle of water – a bit expensive. There’s also a lack of seating near the food court. Last winters GEC had its food prices and quality just right. But there’s nothing stopping you bring your own beverages, and even with mist sprays on many of the games the Lai Yuen midway is hot when the sun’s beating down.
Games and rides are paid for with tokens, each token is $10. For food and beverage, you need to purchase a (top-upable) stored value card which is valid for the duration of the fair and unused credit up to $300 can be refunded.
Is it any good? Yes, go with a group of friends take a step back in time and enjoy the simple fun of playing, sharing, relaxing and having fun. Does it have the repeat visit attraction of the Great European Carnival maybe not. But it’s different, and enjoyable and a reminder of days gone bye.
Say Goodbye this week to The AIA Great European Carnival and Hello to the Year of the Goat!
There’s an action packed final week of fun and fireworks at The AIA Great European Carnival which will be open until 2am on New Year’s Eve Wednesday 18th February, with tickets only available at the gate.
Choi Sun will be making daily appearances at the Cherry Blossom Tree from Wednesday to Sunday, so be sure to bring some good luck for the year and get a photo of yourself with the God of Wealth.
There will Lion Dances daily from the 19th to the 22nd February. Times are 5pm on Thursday, 4pm on Friday, and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The Smurfs will be meeting their fans live on the main stage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
And of course the carnival is one of the best vantage points in Hong Kong from which to watch the fireworks at 8pm on Friday evening.
So come on down, see out the old year, welcome in the new year, and say goodbye to the carnival until next winter!
We’re in the midst of a ‘game’ generation. Everyone is gaming whether on their phone, using a computer or game station or even vicariously by watching videos of others gaming. And it’s fun! We enjoy pitting our skills against the computer or friends across the digital world. But it’s intrinsically a singular experience we game alone in our own world… which goes really against the idea of games. Games are social experiences, people get together to share, have fun, build bonds, reduce stress – all things apart from fun, that are missing in the digital experience.
Andy Raishbrook, Sue Man and HK ‘The Original’ Stig at ARace’s opening Pit Stop
Looking to change that are Andy Raishbrook and Sue Man the founders of ARace who are wanting to bring the social back into gaming and give people a fun night out with real world experiences and memories. The ARace 50m long track recently opened in Quarry Bay and after a few hours of fun, crashes, spills and racing bc asked Andy and Sue what it’s all about.
Why slot car racing? The new era of digital slot car racing is a popular hobby and sport enjoyed in many parts of Europe, the US, Australia and New Zealand. However, slot car racing has never become popular in Hong Kong, not because the people of Hong Kong are not interested in it, but because it hasn’t been as readily available to them.
ARace is seeking to build awareness of digital slot car racing, and has set up a large 50-metre commercial track to enable Hong Kongers to participate in an activity that is enjoyed by citizens of many other nations around the world. Slot car racing is not just for children or teens. With the advancement of technology, slot car racing is now just as enjoyable and challenging for adults.
ARace is setup to provide slot car racing as a fun and socially interactive sport, ideal for a social gathering, party, corporate event, or teambuilding activity. Those who want to enjoy racing cars have previously been limited to driving simulators, where enjoyment is limited to the individual racer. ARace provides an active and more social racing experience, where racers can drive while standing side by side and moving freely around a large track Teammates can assist in the racing challenges as ‘pit crew’, and spectators can also enjoy watching and cheering the racers from beside the track. Slot car racing can be a useful tool for teamwork activities, and for encouraging good sportsmanship. There will be fun and exciting themed race events at ARace, including James Bond and Formula 1 race nights.
With several different slot car systems available why did you chose Carrera? There were many reasons why we chose to build our slot car circuit using the Carrera system. The main reason was that we believe the Carrera system to be the most robust and reliable. Our research found that the Austrian manufacturing company, Stadlbauer, had invested significantly in recent years to introduce new digital and wireless technology that provides more exciting challenges, and experiences closer to those faced in real-life motor-racing.
The detailing of the Carrera cars, of which there is a large and varied catalogue, the precise engineering, and the high standards of quality production by Stadlbauer, are further reasons why we chose to select their system for our venue.
The Stadlbauer team has been most helpful and receptive to our ideas and suggestions and strives to continually improve and better the experiences for slot car racers. Indeed, we were recently able to welcome the company founder Dr Dieter Stadlbauer, the Managing Director Mr Andreas Stadlbauer, and their team, to our venue when they recently visited Hong Kong.
We hope to be able to continue working with Stadlbauer into the future, to ensure that the new exciting digital technology now emerging in slot car racing, and being implemented in the Carrera system, is brought to Hong Kong so that Hongkongers can be amongst the first to enjoy it.
How has technology impacted slot car racing? For those of us who were able to experience slot-car racing when we were younger, we know how fun and exciting it can be to spend hours playing without getting bored. In the past, slot car racing was limited to just two racers, circling on simple parallel tracks, with limited challenges.
In recent years, advanced digital and wireless technology has been introduced that brings slot-car racing to a new exciting level. At ARace, we can race up to six drivers simultaneously on custom built circuits that can include multiple lanes, lane changing, and overtaking possibilities. The wireless handsets allow “drivers” to move 360 degrees around the circuit, with no impediment. One of the most exciting innovations is that we can now simulate each car having a “fuel load” at the beginning of each race, necessitating a pit-stop strategy for periodically “refueling”. This is just one example of the extra challenges available to more experienced slot car racers. There are numerous challenges that can be set for different skill levels.
The digital technology further enhances the racing experience as we are now able to accurately record lap times, race positions, speed, and laps completed. At ARace, our Carrera system is connected to a PC, and to large monitors positioned around our comfortable venue. The statistics of each race can be displayed, including graphical information of race performance, for all to see and discuss. Post-race analysis is often lively and interesting.
Can customers bring and race their own cars? Yes. Our standard racing sessions will include the hire of 6 cars, normally Porsche 911 models at 1:32 scale. However, we encourage our customers to consider purchasing their own cars from the extensive range available from Carrera, including Formula 1 models. A new range of Carrera cars becomes available every year, including nice collectors’ items for car enthusiasts. The ARace system is suitable for Carrera slot cars at either 1:32 or 1:24 scale which must have a Carrera digital chip. Digital chips by other makers will not function on our track. If customers bring their own cars they will be tested to ensure compatibility, and to avoid damaging our system.
We are currently liaising with educational organisations to incorporate slot car racing into the classroom. Slot car racing has already been successfully implemented in the US, and has been incorporated into the syllabus in numerous subjects, such as science and technology, mathematics and arts and crafts. Such projects are very student-centered, practical, and motivating for both students and teachers. Students can design, build, and then race their own slot-cars, and by using advanced computer software students can design and decorate their own slot cars in the most imaginative of ways.
ARace is set up as a communal/social experience, what options are there for individuals to race? Whilst ARace is readily available for groups and families to enjoy slot car racing, we also have membership plans available for individuals to come and race too. Once sufficient individual members have signed up, exciting race events will be scheduled, and leagues will be established to compete for the fastest race times.
The individual memberships will be categorised into 3 different age groups, namely; a: kids (8 to 12); b: teens (13 to 17); and c: adults (18+). Further information about individual memberships will be available in due course.
Interested individuals can currently join our online “Meetup” group at http://www.meetup.com/Slot-Car-Racing-Hong- Kong-Social-Meetup-Group or they may email us at [email protected].
You can find more information on membership or sign up for to the ARace monthly newsletter to receive the latest information, promotions, updates on the availability of Carrera products and upcoming special Arace events at www.arace.hk.
Would you confuse beer and an energy drink? Red Bull seems to think it’s customers are that stupid or maybe they’ll be confused that Red Bull has entered the beer market, if they came in contact with Virginia’s Old Ox Brewery?
Attorneys for the extreme drink certainly think so, and have filed a complaint in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In it, attorneys – always looking to increase their billable hours – for the energy drink assert some consumers might confuse the brands because “An ‘ox’ and a ‘bull’ both fall within the same class of ‘bovine’ animals and are virtually indistinguishable to most consumers. In addition, an ox is a castrated bull.”
In reply the Old Ox Brewery released a public letter asking the company that makes Red Bull energy drinks to drop its complaint.
Hey Red Bull –
You seem pretty cool. You sponsor snowboarders, adventure racers, rock climbers and motocross bikers. You launch people into space so that they can skydive back down to earth. That’s all really darn cool. For all I know, you’re reading this while strapping yourself into a Formula One racecar that is about to be lit on fire and jumped over a large chasm of some sort. How cool would that be? Feel free to give it a try.
Here’s the thing, though. You are being extremely uncool to us at Old Ox Brewery. We are a small startup brewery in Ashburn, Virginia. We’re family-run, we love beer, and we love our community. For reasons that we cannot understand, you have attempted to strong arm us into changing our identity for the last 10 months because you believe folks might mistake Old Ox beer for Red Bull energy drinks. We respectfully disagree. The only similarity between our two products is that they are both liquids. You make non-alcoholic (but very extreme) energy drinks. We make delicious (but laid-back) beer. Our consumers are looking for two distinctly different experiences from our respective products.
Basically you are holding us hostage with a list of demands that, if agreed to, would severely limit our ability to use our brand. Demands like, never use the colour red, silver or blue; never use red with any bovine term or image; and never produce soft drinks. Do you own the colour red? What about fuchsia, scarlet, crimson, or mauve? Are you planting your flag in the colour wheel and claiming those shades for Red Bull? Do you claim exclusive rights to all things bovine? Do you plan to herd all heifers, cows, yaks, buffalo, bison, and steer into your intellectual property corral, too?
When we refused to succumb to your demands, you responded by filing a formal opposition to not just our trademark but to the very name Old Ox Brewery. Way to step on our American dream. You say you are protecting your intellectual property rights, but your claim, in our opinion, is Red Bulls**t.
We can only interpret your actions as one thing—bullying. You are a big Red Bully. Just like that mean kid from grade school pushing everyone down on the playground and giving us post-gym class wedgies. You are giving us one hell of a corporate wedgie. We don’t appreciate it and we sure as hell don’t deserve it.
Is this really what you’re about? Are you a bully? Your extensive marketing campaigns (your glitzy advertising, your sponsored sports events, your death defying stunt shows, etc.) certainly don’t project that image. Take a hard look at your “case.” Can you honestly look at our brand and say, “this is a threat to my image?” We don’t think you can. Given that, we repeat our offer: We agree NEVER to produce energy drinks. In exchange, we are asking for one simple thing: Leave us alone. Drop this trademark dispute. The only people benefiting are the lawyers.
Sincerely and Uninfringingly Yours,
Chris Burns President – Old Ox Brewery
As Shelly commented it’s easy to get confused “I’m just a silly girl. Sometimes I really need an energy drink and I get confused why I’m in a brewery. Wait, why are they carding me for an energy drink? This is weird. Oh wait…. I’m getting drunk from this energy drink from my tulip glass. And sometimes I’m in 7-11 thinking I can get a great craft beer, but this can is only making me hyper… Why is life so hard? I need a beer.”
