Mid-levels Dec 2017

FAMILY | FOOD | PARTIES | BAUBLES

Mid-levels hongkongliving.com

December 2017 A new lease of life A restored 1970s apartment in Sai Ying Pun (p.36)

It’s a date!

Last chance for luxury advent calendars (p.34)

The night the typhoon almost stole Christmas

A Christmas tale (p.22)

Matchmaker, matchmaker The founder of Maitre D’ate on finding love in Hong Kong (p.18)

Deck the halls Gifts, decorations and trees (p.32)

Merry Christmas, Hong Kong!

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Mid-levels magazine

The really useful magazine December 2017

26 4

9

8 32

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33 PEOPLE

COVER STORY

4 Snapped!

Life around Mid-levels

22 The night the typhoon almost stole Christmas A Hong Kong Christmas tale

THE PLANNER 6 Happening in December Events for your diary NEWS 14 What’s going on?

In your back yard

EATING 26 Eat, drink and be merry!

Christmas meals and dinner parties made easy. Plus turkeys LIFE & STYLE 32 Deck the halls Fab decorations and where to find real Christmas trees

GIVEAWAYS 16 Free stuff Fab things to win

THINGS WE’D BUY

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

18 Ariadna Peretz Hong Kong’s newest matchmaker LOCAL

PICTURE THIS 40 Painting of the month Yuen Po Bird Garden HOROSCOPE 42 Signs from the stars Adam White predicts your future ZIM CITY 44 Paul Zimmerman on….

What a district councillor actually does MERRY CHRISTMAS! 48 Spot Santa He’s hiding in there somewhere!

34 It’s a date!

The best luxury advent calendars this season HOME & LIVING

20 The Blue House, Wan Chai On receiving UNESCO’s highest heritage conservation award

38 A new lease of life A restored 1970s apartment in Sai Ying Pun

“ONE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH SOCKS. ANOTHER CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE AND I DIDN’T GET A SINGLE PAIR.” - ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

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contributors

Vivian Uhlir

Eleanor Doughty

Paul Zimmerman

...is this month’s cover artist. Vivian is Arts & Illustrations Editor for EUScience Magazine and a freelance illustrator for projects that promote creative narratives, STEAM, and environmentalism. You’ ll often find her playing water sports or immersed in the latest indie video ga mes. See her work at sites.google.com/view/vivianuhlir-illustration

...is a freelance illustrator who is passionate about urban sketching. She recently moved from New York City to Seattle,, where she works and lives with her partner and large brood of houseplants. She has traveled to five continents (and counting!) and many cities, but Hong Kong is her favourite. See her work on the backpage and more at edoughty.com

...is CEO of Designing Hong Kong, and District Councillor for Pok Fu La m. Paul is passionate about design and the green issues that affect our city. When he’s not tracking down flytippers or trawling beaches for medical waste, you can find him hiking, walking his dogs or paragliding. Find out about his job on page 44.

Want to write for Mid-levels Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com

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people Mid-levels snaps

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have your say “What’s on your Christmas wish list?”

A holiday to Spain.

- Hardeep

A new coat and a trip to Australia!

- Cloé

A new job. Perfume. Pyjamas.

- Olivier

Kites. And camera lenses.

- Raphael

New shoes! I love Christmas in Hong Kong—the energy everywhere and the decorations in Times Square!

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Markets and fêtes

DEC 2 AND 10

Prestige Christmas Showcase at the Conrad

Over 350 pop-up stalls and brands from around the world to solve your gift-buying woes. If you prefer a more opulent environment to street fairs, this is for you. Browse the best of fashion, gourmet food, homeware, children’s products and more within the luxury of the Conrad. Participating stalls vary on each date. Shoppers are eligible for a 15 per cent VIP Prestige Shopper Discount when dining at the Garden Café or Lobby Lounge. Free admission, 10am-6pm or 8pm. Visit prestigefairs.hk for the full list of vendors. Grand Ballroom, Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway.

UNTIL DEC 2 White Christmas Street Fair Swire Properties brings us festive shopping, food and drinks, DIY workshops, and live entertainment. Look out for this season’s mascot, a gingerbread man. Tong Chong Street, Taikoo Place. Visit facebook.com/ SwireXmasFair for updates.

DEC 1 Bradbury School Winter Night Market Local vendors, international food, games prizes and more. No parking available (a regular shuttle bus will operate from Central and the Cricket Club). Entrance fee is $30 per person, $100 per family. 5:30-8:30pm. 43C Stubbs Road. bradbury.edu.hk

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DEC 1 Discovery Montessori Academy Bazaar Enjoy Christmas plays and musicals presented by the kids as well as Christmas carols from the school choir. Plus Santa’s Grotto, a Rumple & Friends Show, bauble decorating, a raffle and oodles of stalls selling food, drinks, crafts, books, gifts and Christmas fruits. 9am-1pm.

92 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay North.

DEC 1 Quarry Bay School Christmas Fayre Expect multiple food stalls with delicacies from all around the world, all lovingly prepared by the parents—plus game stalls, special performances and a lucky draw. Tickets are $10 per person. 6-8pm. 6 Hau Yuen Path, Braemar Hill, North Point. qbs.edu.hk

St. Stephen’s Chapel Annual Christmas Fête The annual Christmas fête is one of the highlights of the year with a bouncy castle, game stalls, a visit from Santa via helicopter at 12:30pm and plenty of food.

Free admissions for children, $20 for adults. 11am - 4:30pm, no parking available. St.Stephen’s College Sports Ground, Wong Ma Kok Road, Stanley. ststephen.org.hk

DEC 2

Christmas Southside Market and Long Lunch

DEC 3

Hosted by the Butchers Club Secret Kitchen. Grab the kids (or some friends) and head down for a buffet lunch, a best holiday jumper competition, lawn games, live music, face painters, temporary tattoo artists and a variety of F&B vendors. Little Picasso Studio will host a series of arts and craft workshops throughout the day for the kids—sign up on arrival. Guests past the age of 4 need to purchase all-you-can-eat tickets for $250. Free flow wine or beer is available at extra cost. Noon-4pm. Enter through 16/F, Shui Ki Industrial Building, 18 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen. Visit thebutchers.club

happening in December DEC 9-10 AND 16-17 Stanley Plaza Christmas Market For two consecutive weekends starting December 9, Stanley Plaza will be transformed into an authentic Finnish market inspired by the St. Thomas Christmas Market in Finland.

Browse over 80 festive stalls, see the Glass Dining Dome, and enjoy traditional Finnish food and mulled wine. Guests can even watch an aurora VR show in an igloo and experience a Finnish jacuzzi. Performances include Santa Lucia, Finnish folk dance, Christmas carolling, and a Nativity play. Free shuttle buses will operate from Ocean Park MTR, Shau Kei Wan and Aberdeen. Noon-8pm. Stanley Plaza Amphitheatre & Public Open Space.

DEC 10 Discovery Bay Handmade Sunday Market DEC 2 FIS Christmas Fair Expect Christmas shopping, lucky draw games, refreshment stalls and more. Don’t miss the homemade cakes on offer at Café Jardine.

10am-5pm. FIS Primary School campus, 34 Price Road, Jardine’s Lookout, visit fis.edu.hk

DEC 2 GSIS Christmas Bazaar Get a taste of authentic German Swiss festivities with games, a Santa’s grotto, stalls selling gifts and decorations, and traditional food like raclette and Stollen. Parking is not available, but free shuttle bus services operate to and from Central, Pok Fu Lam, and Southside. 10am4pm. German Swiss International School, 11 Guildford Road, The Peak.

The DB Sunday Market will have many stalls filled with handmade products – perfect for unique Christmas presents.

11am-6pm, Discovery Bay Main Plaza. handmadehongkong.com

DEC 2-3 LUMP Christmas Ceramics Market Get your hands on original ceramic pieces for unique Christmas gifts. Over 40 ceramic artists from Hong Kong and abroad will be showcasing their pieces, with fun demos held throughout the two days. Only cash purchases accepted, entry is free. Noon-7pm. LUMP Studio, 11A, Gee Luen Hing Industrial Building, 2 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang. lumpstudio.com.hk

DEC 14 Deadline for letters to Santa via Hong Kong Post Send your letters in before this date to get a reply in time for Christmas—don’t forget to address it to Santa Claus and include your return address!

DEC 9 SISHK Xmas Fair

DEC 15 Christmas Jumper Day

Expect a vibrant bazaar with 44 retail stalls, food and beverage stands, games and prizes, and a flea market. Visitors are to buy cash coupons for use at activities, but vendors at the trading stalls will also accept cash payments.

Free entry. 10am-4pm. Singapore International School primary school campus, 23 Nam Long Shan Road, Wong Chuk Hang.

Launched in the UK in 2012, Christmas Jumper Day has finally launched in 852! Don a Christmas jumper today to show off your festive fashion and also raise awareness for international NGO Save the Children. Find out more at christmasjumperday.org.hk

DEC 2 Il Mercatino Charity Fair Hosted by the Italian Women’s Association.

Browse Italian food and wine, branded clothes, toys and accessories, sportswear, plus an Italian gourmet corner. $20 entrance fee; attendees are encouraged to bring their own shopping bags. Funds raised will help projects at the pediatric The Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital, 12 Sandy Bay Road. Onsite parking is not available, but Cyberport carpark is nearby.

Get a taste of Finland at Stanley Plaza Christmas Market

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Carols, concerts and shows

DEC 7, 14, 21, 28 The Pete Kelly Trio The STUDIO has quickly become one of the most popular places for live music in Hong Kong. Pete Kelly and his band have come from Australia and will be playing live jazz every Thursday till April 2018. He plays ballads, classical jazz and new contemporary covers. To book a table email reservations@studioclub.asia.

1/F On Hing Building, Central.

DEC 16-17 AND 23-26 The Nutcracker Brought to you by the Hong Kong Ballet. Follow the magical adventures of Clara, Fritz and the heroic Nutcracker in their quest to defeat the evil Rat King and reunite true love. Tchaikovsky’s timeless score will be accompanied live by Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Prices range from $180 to $1,000 on urbtix.hk. Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. hkballet.com

DEC 8

Christmas Carol Concert Appeal

Join the festivities with drinks, canapés and carols to benefit the Society for Community Organization. This event will be their sixth annual carol concert. Tickets range from $600 to $2,500, visit ticketflap.com/christmas-carol-concert-appeal-2017. 6:30-8:30pm. Helena May, 35 Garden Road, Central.

DEC 1 11th Annual Community Carols The Hong Kong Singers is the longest established theatrical group in Hong Kong.

Over the years they have presented productions from Mendelssohn’s Elijah to West End and Broadway classics, and every year they do carolling tours all over Hong Kong, performing from the beginning of the month until Christmas.

Admission to the community carols is free for all.

7:30pm start. Lan Kwai Fong Amphitheatre, Wo On Lane, Central.

DEC 1-2 Father Christmas An adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ children’s book Father Christmas by international theatre company ABA Productions. Watch as Santa makes his final preparations for his snowy night flights to deliver presents—a festive treat perfect for those under 6 filled with live music and playful puppetry. Tickets range from $335 to $435 at hongkongticketing.com. Five time slots across two days, Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai.

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DEC 1-28 3D Pulse Light Show at the Harbourfront A series of holiday themed light shows in eight-minute blocks, on display each night from 8:20-9:40pm. The Hong Kong Culture Centre and Clock Tower. No ticket or entrance fees. discoverhongkong.com

Classics for Kids Christmas Concert

DEC 3&10

The SAR Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual interactive concert introduces children to classical music and lets them try out the instruments too. Shows at 2.15pm and 5pm, Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets from $295 at hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

DEC 19- 26 Scrooge! The Musical Adapted from Charles Dickens’ famous work, the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre brings us Scrooge! The Musical. The show is presented in Cantonese but the songs are performed in English, with both Cantonese and English subtitles. Prices range from $85 to $350. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, hongkongticketing.com

Festivals and carnivals

happening in December

DEC 21 – FEB 25

AIA The Great European Carnival

This year’s offering is filled with rides and roller coasters, game stands for all ages, plenty of food stalls, live music and performances, as well as the famous Gandey European Circus staged in a 1,200 seat big top circus tent. Central Harbourfront event space. Tickets can be bought online at tgec.asia/registration or on site.

Hong Kong WinterFest

UNT JAN I1L

Organised by Hong Kong Tourism Board, WinterFest consists largely of a range of seasonal displays spread across several landmark buildings. Worthy of note is the Christmas tree at North Statue Square in Central, and also the two dazzling multimedia shows: A Symphony of Lights and the Hong Kong Pulse Light Show.

Soak up the festive spirit and uncover new Christmas delights such as special shopping offers and festive menus as you roam the city. discoverhongkong.com

UNTIL JAN 1 A Disney Christmas

DEC 11–JAN 1 Ocean Park Christmas Sensation

Disneyland has been transformed into a magical winter wonderland for the holidays. Enjoy shows and events such as Mickey and Friends Christmastime Ball, and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The restaurants within the park and hotels have added more than 70 items especially for their festive menus. In addition, from now until December 22, Hong Kong residents can sign up for the Double The Fun offer for two entries on or before December 23 for $639. 10:30am-8pm. $419 for child tickets, $589 for adults and $100 for seniors. For more details, visit disneyland.com

We’ve been promised that this year’s Ocean Park festive events will be bigger and better than ever. Headlining the festivities is Hong Kong’s first ever virtual reality rollercoaster, Mine Train, with several other VR game zones.

They have also collaborated with Pinkoi, Asia’s leading online marketplace for designers, to turn Waterfront Plaza into a Christmas village where, apart from the festive marketplace, there will be also be staples such as Santa’s Cottage and Garden of Romance. Don’t miss the daily Light Up the Night ceremony at the Park’s signature 40-foot tree with a choir performance. Kids can also participate in the interactive Whiskers and Friends Winter Games at Whiskers Harbour.

Ocean Park, Aberdeen. oceanpark.com.hk

DEC 24-28 Food Festival Try food from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Italy, Australia, Thailand and more.

Dec 24-27: 10am-9pm, Dec 28: 10am-7pm. Hall 3, HKCEC, Wan Chai. $20 to enter; free for those below 4 and above 64.

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Other events

DEC 10

Hong Kong Corporate Sevens

Watch men and women from the city’s many corporates—including HSBC, Savills and KPMG—compete in tag rugby and help to raise funds for the Po Leung Kuk Tackling Life programme. The programme seeks to introduce Po Leung Kuk students to rugby and encourage a healthy and positive lifestyle. The Kidz Zone will be open from 10:30am-4pm. Head to the Village for hot bacon rolls and enter the raffle for the chance to win prizes. 9am-8pm, 2850 5990. So Kon Po Recreation Ground, a 15 minute walk from the Causeway Bay MTR Exit F. You could also take the 5B City Bus, 675 KBM or the 936 bus.

UNTIL DEC 26 Exhibition: The World of Tintin

deTour 2017

Created in 1929, The Tintin Adventures has been translated into 100 different languages and sold more than 230 million copies worldwide. The world of Tintin is a landmark exhibition exploring the internationally known cartoon reporter and adventurer. The exhibition showcases eight albums from The Adventures of Tintin series and much more. Wednesday to Sunday, Noon-8pm.

ArtisTree, 1/F, Cambridge House, Quarry Bay. horca.org/the-world-of-tintin

A ten-day festival to celebrate cultural expression. deTour showcases Hong Kong for the international creative hub it is. Expect public interactive installations, exhibitions from local and international designers, and workshops and dialogues from some of the most exciting minds in the industry. This year’s theme is ‘Harmonious Chaos’, exploring the often overlooked beauty that lies in the imperfect process of creation. All exhibitions and events are free of charge.

PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central. detour.hk

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DEC 1-10

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planner UNTIL MAR 2018 Exhibition: Glitter, Glitz, Glamour

Wind Water book signing

A collaboration between Avenue of Stars and movie poster artist Yuen Tai-Yung. This series spans 24 caricatures of famous movie stars and singers, such as Bruce Lee, Angelina Jolie, Steve McQueen, Jackie Chan, Leslie Cheung and many more. The exhibition continues from now to March 2018. Admission is free; Garden of Stars, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

DEC 2-3 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix The opener for the annual Formula E season takes place at Central Harbourfront. At the centre of the events lies the Allianz E-Village, where attendees can try interactive experiences such as the racing simulator.

Only a small number of Grandstand tickets remain, prices start from $1,190. For ticketing, chances to win Allianz E-Village entry and more information, visit hkformulae.com

DEC 14

Palani Mohan is bringing out his sixth book Wind Water, a visual and artistic reflection on the feng shui elements that power Hong Kong. He reckons this city has the most powerful elemental energy of any place on earth, and seeks to capture that in his stunning latest work. Take a look through Mohan’s eyes and see the spirit of Hong Kong that so captures newcomers and natives alike. His book launch at F22 gallery will run from 6:30-8:30pm, and his previous books and fine art prints are available on palanimohan.com, F22, 5/F, Amber Commercial Building, 70-74 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai.

Nutcracker’ and a cup of hot chocolate (for both kids and adults during storytelling); Santa himself will drop by with cookies. Open to 5- to 11-year-olds, $380 per head. The Steak House winebar + grill, InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon. hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com

DEC 18-25 Christmastime at The Mandarin Drop by The Mandarin Oriental for a host of festive entertainment including magicians and face painters, choir and ballet performances and an appearance from Santa himself. Starts from noon on December 23-25. Don’t miss the hotel’s long-standing tradition of enjoying fresh roasted chestnuts, mince pies and warm mulled wine; available at varying times from December 18-25. Visit mandarinoriental.com for a full schedule of the hotel’s Christmas events. 5 Connaught Road Central.

DEC 20 VSA Admissions Introductory Session

DEC 2, 3 AND 23 Kids Holiday Treats Decorating Classes

Learn about the Victoria Shanghai Academy secondary school curriculum. Stay afterwards for the school’s alfresco carol concert, featuring performances from the primary and secondary choirs and orchestras, acapella group, jazz band and more. 5:50-7pm. Sign up at vsa.edu.hk/en/School_Tour_Booking.aspx

InterContinental Hong Kong’s executive pastry chef Cyril Dupuis will lead three sessions of festive treats decorating. The last will be gingerbread house decorating. Classes are inclusive of a storytelling session from ‘The

BOOK NOW JAN 6- 28 CATS the Musical

Photo by Viaggio Routard via Flickr

The 2015 Olivier Award-nominated, Andrew Lloyd Weber production CATS is coming back to Hong Kong after a 12 year absence from London’s West End. Witness the Jellicle Cats’ annual gathering to decide which feline will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and a new life.

Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Tickets from $445 to $1,245; family packages and student discount available.

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Lyric Theatre. hongkongticketing.com

JAN 13 International Montessori School Open Day Find out if IMS is the right fit for your children and family by touring the campus and speaking to faculty members. 9am to noon. Email apply@ ims.edu.hk for enquiries. Phase III, Ma Hang Estate, Stanley.

JAN 14- FEB 11 Kidsfest 2018 This festival is full of different plays adapted from books for children. These include The Gruffalo

by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler and Ugly Duckling by Emma Reeves. Other events include Dinosaur Zoo. Tickets prices vary, book at hongkongticketing.com or visit kidsfest.com.hk

JAN 25- 28 Disney on Ice The show returns to Hong Kong to celebrate “100 years of magic” (Walt Disney’s 100th birthday). The program includes 50 Disney characters and 30 sing-along songs include ‘Let

It Go’, ‘Hakuna Matata’ and You’ve Got A Friend In Me’. Ticket prices from $300 to $780. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai. disneyonice.com

MAR 8-18 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time An adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time written by Mark Haddon by Britain’s National Theatre. The play has won five Tony Awards and seven Oliviers including Best Play, Best Design, and Best Director. Showtimes vary. Ticket prices range from $180 to $580. Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wanchai. hk.artfestivals.org

MAY 2- 6 Swan Lake Performed by Russia’s critically acclaimed St.Petersburg Ballet Theatre. Tickets from $445 to $995. Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com.hk

Got an event? We can publish the details for free. Email editorial@hongkongliving.com.

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news

British expat makes record swim around Hong Kong Island

Octopus to lend a helping hand In a bid to save drivers from having to lean out of their windows or open their car doors to scan their Octopus cards at tunnel tolls and carparks, the company has come up with a little handshaped wand to ensure the scanners can be reached with barely a stretch. The Extendable Octopus is readily available for purchase at Circle K shops or the Octopus online store for $128, and can be used and topped up just like a regular Octopus card. Not all drivers think this is a helpful idea, however. Southern District Councillor Paul Zimmerman thinks this new piece of gear will just end up being counterproductive. “If you need a magic wand to pay Octopus fees, then maybe the card readers are in the wrong place,” Zimmerman quipped.

Simon Holliday, a learning and development manager for a Hong Kong law firm, successfully swam around Hong Kong Island last month.

The swim, which took place on November 11, was part of an attempt to set a new record—the world’s first solo swim-circumnavigation of Hong Kong Island by a male swimmer. It also raised money for Holliday’s charity Splash, which has taught more than 700 domestic workers, most from the Philippines and Indonesia, to swim and be water safe.

While no official record for this particular challenge exists, it was first attempted by former Australian Olympic swimmer Linda McGill on May 23, 1974. She swam the 48 km around Hong Kong Island in 17 hours. To set

an official record, Holliday had to follow rules set by the Channel Swimming Association.

These included wearing shorts as opposed to a wetsuit, wearing just one swimming hat and a pair of goggles, and not touching any of his team’s boats. He was permitted to stop to tread water and eat snacks if they were thrown to him in the water.

With tides, currents, marine traffic and potential for adverse weather conditions, the Holliday concluded his swim at Sai Wan Swimming Shed at 3:32pm—a total time of just twelve and a half hours. The swim was predicted to take anywhere between 15 to 18 hours. His Splash foundation surpassed its target of raising $1million. Well done!

Insight School launches Saturday design diploma The New Year is also a new start. In that spirit, Insight School of Interior Design is now accepting registrations for its 2018 Interior Design Diploma course, great for anyone interested in interior design, perhaps even considering a change of career. The full-time diploma course (Monday to Friday for a year) begins on February 5, but there is also a Saturday-only option which starts on January 13 (taking about three years to complete).

Insight School is the only school in Hong Kong to offer an interior design diploma on a Saturday. The school was founded in 2014

by Eve Mercier, an interior designer and art historian who is no stranger to career change.

Mercier worked at auction houses in Paris

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and London, the French edition of The Art Newspaper and a London interior design firm before setting up her own, Eve Mercier Designs.

For information, visit insightschoolhk.com

Hong Kong awarded 2022 Gay Games Hong Kong has been awarded the 2022 Gay Games. The city beat out Washington, the United States and Guadalajara, Mexico to host the event.

The Gay Games is a sports and cultural event which began life as the Gay Olympics in San Francisco in 1982. Hong Kong will be the first Asian country to host the games since its inception. The city’s bid was supported by the likes of the Equal Opportunities Commission, businessman Allan Zeman, the Tourism Board and Cathay Pacific.

The games are billed as the largest global sport and cultural gathering open to all. They are held every four years, with 70 countries expected to participate in Paris next year.

Participants do not have to be gay to take part.

Organisers are planning 36 events, including local favourites trail running and dragon boat racing, as well as the traditional track and field events. “This is testament to Hong Kong’s spirit and passion for increased inclusion and diversity” said bid chair Dennis Philipse after the final presentation. “Bringing the Gay Games to Asia and Hong Kong as host proves the growth in openness in the city and across the region”.

news

Divers win prizes for underwater snaps 36 photographers have been awarded for their photographs of Hong Kong’s underwater life. The Hong Kong Underwater Photo and Video Competition attracted 436 submissions.

“Entries over the years have showcased the beauty of marine life and habitats in Hong Kong waters, and helped promote the conservation of the marine environment,” said a spokesperson.

Atim Lau Pong-wing won the Macro and Close-up category for his photo of a cuttlefish devouring a crab in waters off the Ninepin Islands. Daniel Ho Tsz-hung’s photo of a crab hiding underneath a rock in Sai Kung won the Standard and Wide Angle category. Yui Mingtak won the video category for ‘Tiny Beauties and Where To Find Them’.

See the winning photos at afcd.gov.uk

Matilda International Hospital drops prices Calling all mums-to-be. Matilda International Hospital has dropped the prices of its maternity package prices, which have been lowered by up to 23 per cent. Specifically, Hospital prices for two-night normal deliveries in a shared room now start from $21,500

(previously $29,500) while four-night caesarian packages now start from $29,500 (previously $41,500). No deposit is required for booking a maternity bed. To book a maternity tour, call 2849 0355 or email psc@matilda.org. The hospital is at 41 Mount Kellett Road, The Peak.

Students create app to pair helpers and employers Two postgraduate students in Hong Kong have created a free app that pairs domestic helpers and drivers in the city with employers. It’s called MamaHelpers and, since launching in September, has attracted over 20,000 members.

MamaHelpers allows employers to review, connect and hire a helper or driver directly. It has also established partnerships with “ethical agencies” (those it has determined are reliable, considerate and responsible).

“We started MamaHelpers to help employers and helpers alike. We believe in order to improve the current employment system, greater transparency is needed,” said co-founder Amanda So Tsz-yan. “We encourage users to contribute to the community and write reviews for every helper they have employed, ensuring future employers know who they’re hiring.”

Employers only pay once they’ve successfully signed a contract. Those hiring domestic helpers via the app are charged from $1,598 to $5,200, depending on the type of contract. Those looking to hire a part-time helper do not have to pay because no contract is needed.

Find out more at mamahelpers.co

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win at hongkongliving.com

GIVEAWAYS

enter to win!

Picked by Poppins This new, user-friendly mummy, baby and child online store is full of brands that parents trust and kids love. From organic foods and natural bath bubbles, to toys and gift vouchers, you’re sure to find something here. Find out more at pickedbypoppins.com We’re giving away an Ergobaby Original Carrier in Black and Camel, valued at $990.

Insight School

Scooter by Meekboyz

Insight School of Interior Design is the city’s only school dedicated to design.

It offers a year-long diploma as well as over 20 short courses for anyone with a passion for design.

One lucky reader will win the opportunity to attend a one-day course valued at $2,600.

Founded by the adventure sports-loving Meek family, Meekboyz scooters are created using light-weight parts which makes it easier to do tricks—use the flat deck on the sides to pull off an impressive finger whip. The Meta X-1 Scooter is ready for any skate park or street spot!

We have one Meekboyz Meta X-1 Pro Park scooter in black, worth $1,999, to give away.

Classified Classified has launched a new range of Christmas hampers ready for this year’s festive season. Choose from three homemade gourmet hampers, all filled with treats and nibbles, perfect for Christmas party gatherings with family, friends or co-workers. Order from December 1 at classifiedfood.com, or purchase from any Classified outlets.

We’re excited to give away an indulgent ‘All I Want For Christmas’ hamper, valued at $2,400. Enter by December 15.

Click the Giveaways tab on our website: hongkongliving.com

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five minutes with

Mid-levels magazine

Publisher

Tom Hilditch tom@hongkongliving.com

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief Shreena Patel shreena@hongkongliving.com Contributing Editor Carolynne Dear carolynne@hongkongliving.com Editor Eric Ho eric@hongkongliving.com Editorial Assistant Catharina Cheung catharina@hongkongliving.com

Design

Design Manager Cindy Suen cindy@hongkongliving.com Graphic Designer Anna Schulteisz anna@hongkongliving.com

Digital

Digital Assistant Cora Chan cora@hongkongliving.com

Thanks to

Adam White Eleanor Doughty Jennifer Lee Joni Chan Leanne Mirandilla Mehul Dhakka Paul Zimmerman Vivian Uhlir

Published by

Hong Kong Living Ltd. Floor LG1, 222 Queens Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Illustration by: Vivian Uhlir

Ariadna Peretz

The founder of matchmaking agency Maitre D’ate talks to Shreena Patel about unrealistic expectations, the rise of dating apps and finding love in Hong Kong It was the lack of love in Hong Kong that set me on the path of becoming a professional matchmaker. Hong Kong felt like it was the easiest place to get laid but the hardest place to have a meaningful relationship…even though so many people were telling me they wanted a Significant Other.

I help my clients fall in love with themselves first. All love is selflove; we need to love ourselves before we can truly love others.

HONG KONG hongkongliving.com

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The best part of my job is seeing clients understand themselves better, love themselves, and, of course, matching them well.

The thing I like least is running a business. I’m writing a book about the challenges of starting a business and how it can affect a marriage. My marriage is solid but starting a business has tested it.

Matchmaking makes sense for anyone who has not been

successful with their current methods of finding a Significant Other. “Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results” so if apps and bars haven’t been much help why not try me?! I’m far from being the most expensive, though

If apps and bars haven’t been much help, why not try me?

I’m not the least expensive either.

Maitre D’ate is special because we do lots of exercises to understand what it is you want and need in your Significant Other and why. I recommend everyone

who is single but wants to be in a relationship to ask themselves what they really want and why. You can find a free worksheet at maitredate. com/dealbreakers-preferencesworksheet Matching criteria can include everything from age and career to social habits and values.

Matching based on written criteria is the easy part. Then there’s chemistry, which can only be felt and is not always immediate. It can take time to develop and requires patience, which is something Hongkongers have little of.

It’s hard to measure how many of the matches work out. What does that mean? Do they get married? Do they go on more than one date? I see success as clients learning about themselves, loving themselves, realising their dealbreakers and preferences are more flexible than they first thought, and meeting their Significant Other.

match of the day It’s human nature to have unrealistic expectations of their potential partners. We don’t talk about the stuff that matters—are we a couple? Do you love me? Why did you ghost* me and reappear three months later?—because it’s uncomfortable. Hence, our expectations guide us. But, when your expectations and mine don’t match we get upset. I think it’s always best to start out with good intentions and no expectations. As things progress, check in and discuss what’s on your mind. It’s your heart, protect it.

In general, I think we’re better off with dating apps because we are introduced to more people.

But they have also created a Pending Better Offer (PBO) attitude—we always have one foot out of the door thinking we might get someone better if we keep on swiping. We need to think less about ‘finding’ the best love and more about ‘making’ it. Dating apps have also made us forget that the people we’re swiping on are humans with feelings, hopes and dreams, and our online brashness and IRL ghosting have consequences.

Modern dating is brutal. My advice to get that second date? If you like the person, flirt, make jokes (and laugh at theirs), break the physical barrier (i.e. make contact in a comfortable and appropriate way). Learn about each other by asking questions (“What do you do for a living?”

does not cut it), have fun, throw in a couple of compliments, don’t take yourself so seriously.

Obviously, if you’re no longer interested in the person you are under no obligation to flirt or break the physical barrier.

or number of Instagram followers. Identify, understand and accept what is truly important to you and discard the rest.

I haven’t had any terrible dates (thankfully). I guess I should say something about my husband for the best date but that would be a lie.

You are worth more than the sum of your deals or the size of your bank account

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt in this job is that most people want to be intellectually stimulated but have a hard time getting into deep conversation and would rather stay in the safe zone (small talk). I now offer conversation coaching to help people get more comfortable segueing and asking more probing questions.

That’s where you make the real connection.

I think the biggest mistake people make on a date is forgetting it’s a date. It is a date. You’re not networking and you’re not out with a friend.

You’re on a date because there was at least a little spark of attraction. Don’t lose it. If you often get frozen because of first-date nerves, watch Amy Cuddy’s TED talk and try power posing.

What has surprised me most is that most men are OK dating a woman who is taller than them but it is a big deal for women. I’m on a crusade to change that!

My advice for singles in Hong Kong? First things first: put your phone away and get to know yourself. Love yourself, forgive yourself, treat yourself right. You are worth more than the sum of your deals or size of your bank account

There’s no secret to finding love: If you want a healthy relationship you need to love yourself first because all love is self-love. * When someone suddenly stops all communication with the person they’ve been seeing, the theory being that the person being ignored will “get the hint”.

MID-LEVELS.CO | 19

local

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Mid-levels Magazine is published by Hong Kong Living Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication.

The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Mid-levels Magazine cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or pubishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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20 | MID-LEVELS.CO

A Wan Chai building gets its fifteen minutes of fame. Jennifer Lee reports

A

residential and community complex in Wan Chai—formerly a cluster of historic tenement buildings—has won an international award for heritage conservation. The Blue House cluster has won this year’s Award of Excellence at this year’s UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

This is UNESCO’s highest heritage conservation award.

In the citation, the jury called the government-funded effort to revamp the cluster a “truly inclusive approach to urban conservation”. “This unprecedented civic effort to protect marginalised local heritage in one of the world’s most high-pressure real estate markets is an inspiration for other embattled urban districts in the region and beyond,” it went on. “Succeeding against all odds, their impassioned efforts and innovative participatory programmes have safeguarded not only the architecture, but also the living history and culture of a neighbourhood which is rooted in a formative chapter of Hong Kong’s past”.

17 other projects in Hong Kong have been awarded honourable mentions or merit prizes in the past, but this marks the first time a local project has won the top award.

The Award of Excellence is the highest award presented to projects displaying exceptional achievement in all criteria and, according to UNESCO, have a “major catalytic impact” at the national or regional level. To be eligible for the award, projects must have been completed within the past decade, and any buildings having undergone a change in usage must have been in use for at least a year by the time the awards are announced.

The three-building cluster, which is owned by the government, was built in the early 1920s and named after the distinctive colour of the main building. The Blue House

The Blue House cluster is located at 72 Stone Nullah Lane

is right next to the Yellow House, a listed Grade 3 structure built at around the same time, and the Orange House, which was built in the 1950s. It is also one of the few remaining examples of tong lau, or tenement houses without elevators,

This proves that a conservation approach to retain the building and its people can work

where a balcony can still be found.

The cluster faced demolition and redevelopment at one point, but was spared after campaigns by original tenants, social workers and conservationists to preserve it.

It was declared a Grade I historic building in 2000.

In 2009, it became part of a newly launched government scheme to revitalize historic

buildings. The charity St James’ Settlement was chosen to redevelop the site. The refurbishment took approximately four years and marked the first project in Hong Kong where a building has been revitalized while allowing the tenants to remain afterwards. After refurbishment, the buildings were turned into a multifunctional complex, which now houses 20 residential flats, a community service centre, two restaurants run by social enterprises, and a space dedicated to recording and exhibiting Hong Kong stories.

“It is a great honour for the Blue House cluster to be recognized by UNESCO,” said a spokesperson for St James’ Settlement. “This proves that a conservation approach to retain the building and its people can work and is worth encouraging despite the city’s rapid development and gentrification”.

She added the charity hoped its experience could “become a reference for others in Hong Kong and show that development isn’t the only option”. M

MID-LEVELS.CO | 21

cover story

The night the typhoon almost stole Christmas

By Shreena Patel. Illustrated by Anna Schulteisz

‘T

was the night before Christmas When high above the world A tale as old as time itself Was about to unfurl

One night was all they ever had To deliver their gifts Or else come Christmas morning The elves would be miffed

Everything was silent Not a creature about When suddenly came the sound Of a familiar shout

From Australia to Seoul Singapore to Taipei The reindeer raced to finish their work Before the break of day

“Ho ho ho!” cried the old man In the holly red suit He’d presents for the whole wide world Packed into the boot

“My, the chimneys are shrinking!”

Said Claus as he shimmied down “No, it’s you,” replied Rudolph “Put the pineapple cake down!”

Of his magical sleigh Which never missed a house Thanks to nine flying reindeer And a little North Pole nouse

Yes, old Claus had a sweet tooth For one thing most of all The yellow egg custard tarts In Macau and Portugal

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ho ho ho!

While visiting the former He ate one, two, four...ten Until he never wished to see Any egg tarts again Then he and his nine reindeer Flew off into the night “Next stop my furry friends, Hong Kong!”

“Straight ahead, then bear right!”

When there came a sudden howl Claus looked right and then left To see a typhoon approaching At great speed from the west “But what is this?” Claus cried With considerable dismay “The Observatory made no forecast I checked just yesterday” Then suddenly with a groan A loud crack and then snap!

The unexpected typhoon Swiftly broke the sleigh’s back Falling lower, Claus shouted, “We need to crash land!

Look there, it’s Hong Kong Airport— On the runway if you can!”

“Is it a bird? Or a plane?”

Said air traffic control They’d never seen such a vessel Made of wood and real gold

MID-LEVELS.CO | 23

cover story The crew landed with a bump Skidding down the runway The sleigh’s gold bell broke clean off And rolled slowly away In light of their quandary Frantic panic set in “Time is ticking, where will we find— Such a vehicle akin?”

“And what if...” piped up Prancer “What if we’re recognised?”

“Don’t worry,” said Claus calmly “I’m a master of disguise” Ever sharp and resourceful He’d already hatched a plan And took out from his sack costumes One for each of the clan

24 | MID-LEVELS.CO

At immigration they asked, “What’s the reason for your stay?”

“A flying visit,” replied Claus “I’ve an aunt in Repulse Bay”

Claus smiled kindly at the driver “Sir, my friends and I here— Are in a bind, the name’s Claus, May your taxi we commandeer?”

Onto baggage claim quickly Then nothing to declare At last, into the taxi queue “Number four, over there”

The driver rolled his eyes “Very funny, but it’s late It’s Christmas Eve, the meter’s running Now tell me, where to, mate?”

ho ho ho!

He was in no mood for jokes He was on the night shift And dreading Christmas morning You see, he hadn’t the gift

Then to Wan Chai and North Point Caine Road and Hollywood Statue Square, Sai Ying Pun and each Mid-Levels neighbourhood

“Thank you for your help good sir, Now, just one gift remains Yours of course!” Claus told the driver Who happily exclaimed

His daughter had asked for She deserved it no doubt But by the time he’d saved up The stores had all run out

The escalator was still There was no one about For whom a flying red taxi Would cast any self-doubt

“The dolls’ house my daughter wished for!

But how did you know?”

Claus replied, “I’ve been in this job— many years now, you know”

Then suddenly he noticed The cab was in mid-air!

He looked at Claus with mouth open An incredulous stare

To the beaches of Southside And villages of Sai Kung The cows beneath slept soundly Together with their young

“Sometimes things don’t go to plan I’ve learnt not to be distraught For gifts are but material True love is never bought”

“Never in my wildest dreams Can it really be you?”

“It can, it is, my dear fellow Now pray on to Wah Fu!

Then onto Russia, Mumbai...

By the time the sun shone All the world had been visited It was time to go home

And with these words Claus vanished Reindeer and sleigh, I’m told All that remained of the night’s events Was a bell made of pure gold. M

MID-LEVELS.CO | 25

eating

Have a cracker of a Christmas at Gaucho

Christmas calories don’t count Catharina Cheung brings you the best our city has to offer for festive foods. Eat, drink, and be merry!

CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY Gaucho Gaucho’s Christmas brunch begins with refreshing starter platters made for sharing, such as the tuna or sea bass ceviche and the exquisite watermelon salad with feta cheese.

Meat lovers will adore the braised beef baked back ribs. For mains, choose between the Ancho prime ribeye steak, oven baked salmon, or the slow-cooked braised lamb shank. All mains are accompanied by classic sides to share like brussel sprouts, carrots, parsnips, Yorkshire pudding and more—we particularly enjoyed the chorizo pigs in blankets. Finish off the meal with Gaucho’s famed dulce de leche cheesecake, dulce de leche cookie man, apple crumble, or warm chocolate brownies.

The basic package starts at $518 for free flow starters, sides, and desserts, going up to $768

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which also includes unlimited Veuve Clicquot champagne and select cocktails. Available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 11am-4pm. On Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, the same menu will also be available from 6pm onwards.

5/F, LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road Central.

2386 8090, gauchorestaurants.com

Sevva Celebrate Christmas in refinement at SEVVA, with a specially curated menu. Enjoy the spectacular views from the terrace before settling into the Christmas Celebration Set Lunch, which features roast turkey (of course) as well as a rum and fig Christmas pudding in French crêpe with crème Anglaise ($600/guest; available December 4 to 22). Alternatively, book

MID-LEVELS.CO | 27

eating Bibo Holiday season diners will be given an artistic dining experience in this art deco inspired venue featuring artwork from contemporary artists such as Basquiat, Damien Hirst, and King of Kowloon. Bibo is also the only restaurant in Hong Kong that is part of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux group. Highlights from the Christmas lunch and dinner menus include La Langoustine pan fried Norway lobster, Le Pigeon roast fillet with foie gras, and La Boule de Noel chestnut Bavarois. Lunch costs $480 and dinner $980; both include a glass of champagne and are available from December 24-26.

Bibo, 163 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan. 2956 3188, bibo.hk

The Peninsula Hong Kong

in for the restaurant’s Christmas Eve Dinner Menu ($2,580/guest), highlights of which include·a prawn, crab meat & zucchini crêpe with Champagne beurre blanc and caviar, plus roast duckling with red cabbage and sweet onion risotto.

25/F, Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Road, Central. 2537 1388, sevva.hk

Rhoda Go the whole hog (literally) and gather family and friends at Rhoda this Christmas to feast on a whole hog from the proudly British Wicks Manor Farm. Choose from three starters—including cured Scottish salmon, heritage beetroot and horseradish cream— before tucking into a buffet-style spread with roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, pigs-in-blankets along with gravy and burnt apple sauce. Rhoda’s popular cheesecake finishes things off.

Choose between a 12pm lunch or 6pm dinner on Christmas Day ($748 pp including a 2.5-hour free-flow drinks package).

345 Des Voeux Rd W, Shek Tong Tsui.

2177 5050, rhoda.hk

FRITES FRITES brings us a hearty festive special menu with new corn chowder mussels, turkey ballotine, or 1855 USDA black angus roast beef, and Christmas brioche pudding. Enjoy two hours of unlimited prosecco, draught beers, house wine, spirits and soft drinks for

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an additional $250 per person. Kids will also receive a Christmas gift and candies from Santa. This special menu costs $495 per person, and will be available from 6pm on Christmas Eve until the end of Christmas Day. 2217 6671, 1/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central

Bistro du Vin The Parisian-style restaurant launches its home-style provincial French Christmas classic menu for the month of December, including Christmas Eve and Day. Three festive menus are available for groups of at least six, ranging from $600 to $800. Particularly appealing dishes include the duck rillette, pan-seared Hokkaido scallops in seaweed butter, grilled Côte de Bœuf, and escargot on bone marrow.

These menus are also available for delivery, fully prepped including Le Creuset crockery and heating instructions.

G/F, Shop 1D, Davis Street, Kennedy Town.

2824 3010, piccoloconcepts.com/bistro-du-vin

The Peninsula is bringing out a variety of holiday offerings at its signature restaurants and bars. Much-loved Swiss restaurant Chesa will host a festive five-course gala dinner on Christmas Eve ($1,888) and a three-course lunch on Christmas Day ($628), while French fine dining institution Gaddi’s will offer a six-course Christmas Eve dinner ($3,388), in addition to a four-course festive lunch ($1,288) and five-course dinner menu on Christmas Day ($2,088). Those with a penchant for the avant garde should consider heading to Felix for a six-course Christmas Eve meal ($2,888).

Alternatively, on Christmas Day Felix offers a choice of a three-course early dinner from 6-8pm ($1,388) or a five-course meal from 8pm onwards ($1,988). There will also be a live band performing from 8pm from Christmas Eve to New Years Eve. Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. 2926 2888, hongkong.peninsula.com

MID-LEVELS.CO | 29

eating DINNER PARTIES MADE EASY

Christmas hampers Classified Classified’s 2017 hamper collection includes three homemade options packed with delcious treats like mince pies, mulled wine and cider mix, homemade pickles, Champagne and gingerbread men.

Choose from All I Want for Christmas ($2,400), Winter Wonderland ($990) and Little Drummer Boy ($700). Order before December 26 to enjoy 10 percent off.

Available from Classified outlets and online at classifiedfood.com

208 Duecento Otto

La Rotisserie

Want the privacy of your own dining room without the washing up? Consider 208’s private dining space ‘The Cellar’. Gather your friends and family in this clandestine venue for a touch of exclusivity. There’s no special Christmas menu, but you can enjoy a family style sharing feast, the highlight of which is a five and a half kg slow roasted Tomahawk cut. This feasting menu costs $660 per person and includes free flow house wine, aperol spritz and draught beer.

The Cellar is available for dinner functions from Sunday to Thursday. 208 Hollywood Road, Central. 2549 0208, 208.com.hk

This year, La Rotisserie brings two typically French seasonal delights to Hong Kong: Guinea Fowl and Capon. Guinea fowl ($288, 1.4kg) is tender and rich in flavour, with a sweet, crisp skin when roasted, ideal in size for smaller parties of three to four people. Buttery and tender, Capon ($888, 3.5kg) offers much more meat and can serve eight to 10. Both are imported directly from France and served with homemade Champagne sauce.

If you’re feeling really lazy, the “Capon Feast” ($1,680) and ‘Guinea Fowl delight” ($1,380) feed eight to 10 people and include either one Capon or two Guinea Fowl served with homemade Champagne sauce, side dishes (truffle parmesan mashed potatoes, roast pumpkin and forest mushrooms, and sautéed French beans), and a whole chocolate cake topped with sea salt.

Advance booking of at least three days is required. Email catering@larotisserie.com.hk or visit larotisserie.com.hk/catering

Aberdeen Street Social Pull off an impressive dinner party with minimal effort, with a little help from Chef Chris Whitmore and his team. What’s on the menu?

Beef Wellington, roasted potatoes, carrots and shallots braised in port and red wine sauce, and more. $350pp, minimum size serves two. All the prep work is done, just heat up and serve.

If you’re on the hunt for a decent mince pie, Aberdeen Street Social’s mini mince pies are baked fresh daily and available to pre-order in packs of six ($88).

G/F, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, 2866 0300, aberdeenstreetsocial.hk

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Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong If you’re planning to host a festive feast at home, the Mandarin Oriental has everything you need. Roasted turkeys come in two sizes: large (10kg, $3,088) or small (7kg, $2,888), with all the trimmings—stuffing, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, roast pumpkin and mashed potatoes.

Alternatively, the honey glazed ham ($7kg, $3,088) is served with Madeira sauce, roast pumpkin and mashed potatoes.

Available for delivery December 1 to 31.

Place your order before December 22 by calling 2825 4008 or emailing mohkg-cakeshop@mohg.com

Marks and Spencer This year M&S presents several hampers to suit all tastes, including a gluten free option.

Contents include Portuguese 10-year-old Aged Tawny Port, marc de Champagne truffles, and mulled wine winter berry conserve. Prices range from $130.50 for the Kid’s Delights to $3,889 for the Christmas Spectacular hamper. Order before December 15 to receive complimentary delivery on select hampers. Order in all M&S stores or phone 3656 2337.

Lala Curio If you love Christmas, beautiful objects and sweet treats, this is for you. Design boutique Lala Curio’s hampers include its own signature products, such as Cloisonné curios and Obi cushions, as well as a few sweet delights from Jouer Atelier.. Prices range from $2,200–$5,500. To order, call 2528 5007 or visit the store, lalacurio.com

MID-LEVELS.CO | 31

life & style Porcelain ornament (copper) $95 from Mirth M/F, B T Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang mirthhome.com

Silver Baubles Pack $298 from Lane Crawford, Online and instore locations across Hong Kong including IFC and Pacific Place lanecrawford.com.hk

Glass ornament dome tree $80 from Francfranc Locations across Hong Kong including Cityplaza and Causeway Bay Fashion Walk francfranc.com.hk

Box of hanging doll ornaments $199 from Zara Home Stores in Harbour City and Festival Walk zarahome.com/hk

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Resin nutcracker $150 from Francfranc Locations across Hong Kong including Cityplaza and Causeway Bay Fashion Walk Francfranc.com.hk

Put on some Christmas tunes and deck the halls with our favourite festive ornaments. By Catharina Cheung

Candleholder with leaves and gold decorations $149 from Zara Home Stores in Harbour City and Festival Walk zarahome.com/hk

Felt Robin Hanging Decoration $75 from Citta Design inside.com.hk Hong Kong Transport hanging decorations $350 (set of four) from The Lion Rock Press thelionrockpress.com and selected retailers, including all Bookazine stores

Embroidery ornament Noel $120 from Francfranc Locations across Hong Kong including Cityplaza and Causeway Bay Fashion Walk francfranc.com.hk

Gold line large round ceramic jar $1,090 from Bowerbird Home 8/F, 2 Lee Wing Street, Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau bowerbird-home.com

Advent candle $95 from kikki.K Four locations across Hong Kong including Times Square and Prince’s Building kikki-k.com

Capiz ornament star gold $80 from Francfranc, also available in pink Locations across Hong Kong including Cityplaza and Causeway Bay Fashion Walk francfranc.com.hk

Fabric garland clothes $150 from Francfranc Locations across Hong Kong including Cityplaza and Causeway Bay Fashion Walk francfranc.com.hk

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O Christmas tree Not a fan of faux fir? Here’s where you can pick up a real tree this Christmas

Anglo Chinese Florist A selection of wreaths, plants and Christmas trees. Our top picks are the dried fruit, cinnamon stick, berries and pine cones wreath ($1,080); the berries, orange peels, cinnamon sticks & pine cones mini Christmas tree ($1,080); and the Poinsettia ($88).

G/F, 13 Lyndhurst Terrace, 2921 2986

Mong Kok Flower Market During the festive season the aptly named Flower market in Mong Kok is lined with Christmas trees and other festive plants and decorations. Shop around for the best bargain.

Flower Market Road, Mong Kok, 9:30am7:30pm

Chun Hing Garden Noble firs range from $680–$37,950; Douglas firs from $1,050–$2,950.

Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, 2572 6430, chunhinggarden.com, email ch@ChunHingGarden.com

fa la la la la, la la la la! van der Bloom Order yourself a sturdy Noble fir. Choose as size from 3–4ft. (90–120cm) up to 6–7ft.

(182–213cm). Prices range from $890–$1,960.

Delivery to Hong Kong island costs $200 (removal costs $250). Get 10 per cent off when you order more than one tree. Either complete the online form or head in store.

G/F, 61 Hollywood Road, SoHo, 5505 1661, vanderbloom.com.hk

P&F Garden Douglas firs range from $988–$1,878; Noble firs from $598–$3,288.

G/F, Blk I&J, Scenic Villa, 18-20 Scenic Villa Drive, Pok Fu Lam, 2812 0948

Xmastreeonline Real Douglas firs are the only trees available this season. Prices start at $1,088.

Xmastreeonline.hk

IKEA Order a real fir tree, grown in a sustainable ecoenvironment. Prices range from $599–$699.

Order until December 18. Last delivery on December 22. Order at any IKEA store.

Locations include Upper Basement, Parklane Hotel, 310 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, 10:30am-10:30pm. M

MID-LEVELS.CO | 33

things we’d buy Jo Malone Advent Calendar $4,000 available at Lane Crawford What’s in it? 24 mini colognes, candles and creams, all housed in the model of a beautiful Georgian townhouse lanecrawford.com.hk

“That Boutique-y Whisky Company” Advent calendar by Drinks by The Dram $1,520 (plus $260 shipping) What’s in it? A fine selection of twenty-four 30ml whiskies, ranging in origin Available at selfridges.com

The Nutcracker Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar by Meri Meri $260 available at Lane Crawford What’s in it? This Nutcracker themed jewellery box is complete with soldier and fairy pop-up characters. Collect a charm each day to build a bracelet to wear on Christmas Day lanecrawford.com.hk

Eraser Advent Calendar

by Kikki.K $220 available at Kikki K boutiques and online What’s in it? Beautiful Swedish paper houses, each filled with an eraser and gratitude prompt kikki-k.com

Calendar girls (and boys)

It’s your last chance for luxury advent calendars. Shreena Patel rounds up the best of 2017 The Grooming Calendar by ASOS $670 (free standard shipping or orders above $100) available at asos.com What’s in it? 24 grooming products for men and a special ASOS discount code on day 25. Brands include Elemis, Carmex, Marvis, ManCave, Percy Nobleman and more asos.com

Charlotte Tilbury “Naughty & Nice Magic Box” $1,340 (plus $260 shipping) available at selfridges.com What’s in it? 12 best-selling makeup treasures, including a full size Colour Chameleon glitter eyeshadow pencil in Mesmerising Mink, full size Matte Revolution Lipstick in Walk of Shame, and mini Wonderglow Face Primer selfridges.com

Crabtree & Evelyn “12 days of Christmas” Advent Calendar $840 available at Crabtree & Evelyn boutiques and online What’s in it? 12 fragrant hand creams crabtree-evelyn.com.hk

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stocking fillers

Fortnum & Mason Rare Tea Wooden Advent Calendar £125 (international shipping from £15), available at fortnumandmason.com What’s in it? A selection of 12 rare teas, including Ceylon Uva St James Pekoe, Assam Hattialli GTGFOP, Double Dragon Pearl and Margaret's Hope Second Flush FTGFOP1 fortnumandmason.com

The Advent Calendar Railway by Meri Meri $285 available at Lane Crawford What’s in it? Create your own mini railway track. Each compartment holds an etched wooden piece of a railway scene, complete with train, conductor, tunnels, cranes and scenery lanecrawford.com.hk

Carat London 12-door advent calendar $3,150 (plus $260 shipping) available at selfridges.com What’s in it? Each door reveals a shimmering piece of impeccably cut jewellery, from next season exclusives to bestsellers like the Atrias necklace selfridges.com

Kikki.K “Stationery Lovers” Advent Calendar $810 (plus $260 shipping) available at selfridges.com What’s in it? All your favourite stationery goodies— including a candle and notepad selfridges.com

Tiffany’s New York Bar Advent Calendars $1,888–4,888 available at the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong.

What’s in it? 24 luxurious whiskies (each 30ml) from around the world, complemented by a Tiffany’s Glencairn Glass. Several editions available. At the top end, the “Aficionado Edition” includes Glenfiddich, Macallan, Highland Park and more, aged up to 30 years Order online at bit.ly/xmas-icgs

L’Occitane Advent Calendar $450 available at L’Occitane boutiques and online What’s in it? 24 bestsellers, such as the Almond Delicious Soap, Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel and Arlésienne Eau de Toilette, etc…. Illustrated

by Japanese artist Kanako hk.loccitane.com

LUSH “12 Days of Christmas” gift box $995 available at LUSH boutiques and online What’s in it? 12 great smelling, handmade products to use in the bath and shower—think bath bombs, shower gels, soaps, bubble bars and body conditioners. Suitable for vegans hk.lush.com

La Maison du Chocolat “Starlit Night” Advent Calendar $690 available at La Maison du Chocolat boutiques across the city.

What’s in it? 24 pockets of delicious chocolates lamaisonduchocolat.hk

MID-LEVELS.CO | 35

home & living

A slice of history

This 1970s apartment was beautifully restored and expanded to accommodate a growing family. Leanne Mirandilla discovers more

G

ood things come to those who wait, the saying goes. For lawyer Jackie Ng, it took two years of patient searching before she discovered the Sai Ying Pun property that would become her family’s home. “I purchased the flat from the original owner, and he had kept all the wonderful original fittings from 1972, when the building was constructed,” Ng says. “I had always preferred the older 1970s layout. Space efficiency was better and ceilings were higher.”

The local shops, historical buildings – Hong Kong University, for instance – and ancient trees in the area also contributed to the old Hong Kong vibe.

Ng and her husband, English chef James Black, did a major renovation when they first purchased the 1,200-square-foot flat in 2010, and another, four-month revamp in 2016 to accommodate their growing family. “During the first renovation, we changed it from a three bedroom to a two-bedroom—plus a walkin wardrobe—to make the living area more spacious,” explains Ng. “We now have two

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young children and needed that third bedroom back.” The couple spearheaded the initial renovation themselves to save on costs, but they wanted their second to be as stress-free as possible. Enter design studio Hintegro and its director, Keith Chan.

Aside from changing up the layout, Ng wished to preserve and repair the forty-plusyear-old teak parquet floor whose wood was sourced from an extinct Burmese forest, as well as add back the 1970s design features throughout the apartment—a careful restoration that many design firms weren’t keen to take on, she quickly found. “It takes far more time and effort to restore something versus ripping it out and installing new [features],” she says.

“Keith was the only designer I spoke to who didn’t try to talk me out of preserving the old flooring. Instead, he agreed. He saw the value in preserving old things.”

In addition to the home’s original aspects, its new design filled the space with nostalgia, from the cha chaan teng-inspired tiles in the kitchen to the brass-handled feature windows in

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home & living

the living room that resemble old school Central Market windows. The couple’s old sofa was reupholstered with vintage coverings, and two dining chairs that Ng has had for years were given new life, thanks to a combination of her Pinterest-inspired ideas and Chan’s know-how.

(Ng inherited the chairs from her previous flat’s owners; Chan stripped and repainted them for a sleek new look.) Pieces by late Hong Kong photographer Fan Ho hang on the walls: Her Study, a poignant photograph of a girl doing her homework on the stairs of a 1950s tong lau, graces the living room, while As Evening Hurries By, a more recent acquisition depicting Kennedy Town, is tucked into one corridor. “I love old historical Hong Kong, maybe because it was such a meaningful time of growth and struggle,” says Ng, who grew up in Hong Kong and Australia.

Not everything in the couple’s abode was about looking to the past, however—plenty of new additions were introduced, too, that cater to the couple’s lifestyle. The newly added room, the kid’s room, was done up in a green and blue colour scheme inspired by the Star Ferry, and was fitted with custom-designed furnishings that the children can grow up with. Half of the kitchen was redesigned to incorporate a “man

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Half of the kitchen was redesigned to incorporate a ‘man cave’

cave” where Black could store his bicycle and helmets. The former guest bathroom was also remodelled into a gentleman’s bathroom for Black, which has a barbershop feel and accessible storage for his collection of straight razors. Ng also took the opportunity to introduce a feature she’d always wanted—a “book wall” that lines the living room. Plenty of other storage was added in clever, discreet corners throughout the home. “With the extra storage and [our] diligence with living with less, the space isn’t completely taken over by toys,” Ng says. Finally, the lighting pieces were all replaced with new installations from shops such as From Light With Shade and Archetypal, to brighten up the dark pockets of the flat.

The couple spend their days at home relaxing with their two children and entertaining friends, with Black whipping up plenty of delicious dinners in the open kitchen. Thanks to the efforts of Chan and his team, they’ve been able to preserve the home’s original features while also making it undoubtedly their own. M

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picture this

Painting of the month: “YUEN PO BIRD GARDEN”

by Rob Sketcherman Tell me about yourself.

I’m an urban sketcher. I use an iPad to record snippets of life, on location, wherever I go. The bug bit me in Hong Kong a few years ago, and has taken me to many interesting spots around the globe.

Describe yourself in three words.

Only three? Oops! For real: curious, wordy, gadget-geeky

Where do you live?

Causeway Bay—home of shopping, dining and a sea of bobbing black heads on weekends.

How nice that I can pop out for a bite at any hour of the day and swing by a selection of 24hour supermarkets at 3:35am should the urgent need for specific snacks arise.

How long have you been painting?

My mum says I started scrawling before I could walk. I learnt to draw from copying borrowed and discarded comic books. You could say that Superman introduced me to anatomy, and Spidey to dynamic poses.

What’s special about these works?

These works, which I’m currently exhibiting at the Cordis, are examples of urban sketching.

It’s something fairly recent for me, but wow, am I excited about it! I chanced upon the practice while doodling scenes at cafes and bars with friends from life drawing sessions. You need to absorb the environment, then edit and distill the essence you see and feel, often within a pretty short timeframe. This breeds a particular type of discipline which I find both invigorating and meditative. Artists have been doing something similar for centuries, and have called it plein air painting, which usually brings to mind pastoral scenes and sweeping landscapes.

The global Urban Sketchers movement is a little different. Our motto is to “see the world one drawing at a time”, with a focus on sketching and sharing how and where people live, hence the ‘urban’. Social media makes the sharing bit a snap, and a variety of online feeds inspire and educate members all over the globe on the various quirks and majesties of life around us, from stunning architecture to folk festivals and lesser-known byways that hold all variety of visual delight.

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How has becoming part of the movement changed your approach?

When I found Urban Sketchers, I knew I’d found my people. The monthly sketchwalks and informal get-togethers here in Hong Kong allowed me to discover and draw parts of the city and its hinterland that I would never have ordinarily stumbled upon on my own. I also found myself becoming more alive and alert, noticing details that would have normally slipped my attention. Stories stood around in broad daylight, waiting to be drawn, and I began to feel compelled to record them.

What’s the story behind this picture?

This piece was done in Prince Edward’s Yuen Po Bird Garden. I visit occasionally to watch one of the last vestiges of the fading practice of keeping songbirds. I do find myself somewhat torn whenever observing; while I have personal opinions about birds in captivity, this is an example of disappearing Hong Kong, and it has a very charming side. It’s fascinating to note, for instance, that keeping songbirds seems to be a very male-dominated hobby. I am particularly taken with how gruff, grumpy and loud the bird owners can be, but when they speak to their darling little birds, demeanors transform, and boisterous brusqueness melts into doting endearment.

the birds This gentleman was much quieter than his fellow bird owners. He would occasionally coo at his songbird

Where can we find more of your paintings?

I have work on my website, sketcherman.com, with the most recent pieces and back stories posted on Facebook (Rob Sketcherman) and Instagram (@robsketcherman).

Is there anything you’d like to add?

If you’ve been to the Bird Garden before, you’ve seen the little concrete seats dotted along the edges of paths and landscaping. As I sat on one, soaking in a particularly animated conversation about the best grubs to feed which birds, the man you see on the right of my painting caught my eye. Seated right in front of me, he had a little cage in hand. Each cage has a ring at its base, allowing its owner to securely palm cage and bird, to show off with broad sweeping gestures, or hold close for eagle-eyed inspection.

This gentleman was much quieter than his fellow bird owners. He would occasionally coo at his songbird, watching its movements with infinite patience and such tenderness. Now and then, it would perk up and titter a chorus

of something, and he’d light up, allowing a small smile to reach his cheeks. Those tender moments are what compelled me to start drawing the scene. I must have watched those gents for at least half an hour before pulling my kit out. Once I captured the man in the foreground, the cast of characters in the background just flowed into frame.

Where would you like to paint next?

I love it when the weather cools in Hong Kong, and have plans to draw and paint all over the city this winter, with a particular focus on streets from Yau Ma Tei to Prince Edward. I’ve done bits before, but there are many scenes and stories that yet await!

There is something truly special about working live on location. I often call it the uniquely delicious chemistry of time, place and artist. I love drawing people the most, so what makes urban sketching constantly fascinating to me, are the everyday stories and little details of the way people live, work and play, in a variety of environments.

Many people today are lost in the little worlds on their smartphones. I’m using my smart device to interact, converse with and capture the world around me—through my artwork, I hope to inspire people to look up more, and see life with fresh eyes; to really delight in the details. Shapes, colors, textures, movement and stories... there’s always an infinite number of fascinating sights to appreciate, and a city like Hong Kong is a complex, multi-layered visual buffet... which is another reason I really love this place. M

Have you painted Hong Kong?

Each month we feature a painting of Hong Kong and a 60-second interview with the artist who created it. If you’d like to be featured, email editorial@hongkongliving.com

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Horoscopes

hong kong horoscopes

AQUARIUS Jan 21 – Feb 19

PISCES Feb 20 – Mar 20

ARIES Mar 21 – Apr 20

TAURUS Apr 21 – May 21

Tiger Balm Garden in Tai Hang was once a place of wonders. It was a landscaped garden full of weird and wonderful statues, from frolicking mermaids to vast Buddhist dioramas. It was a place of imagination and adventure, but tragically it was demolished in 2004.

Aquarius, think of yourself as a Tiger Balm Garden: entertaining, a little weird, and continually full of surprises.

Possession Street in Sheung Wan marks the former location of Possession Point—the spit of land on which Commodore James Bremer took formal possession of Hong Kong in 1841. The harbour has long since been filled in, but the street exists to remind us of this historic spot. Where would you stake your claim, Pisces? Maybe it’s time you did so, before someone else gets there first.

Sham Shui Po is crammed full of textile shops offering bolts of cloth from all around the world. There’s so much choice, but it can be disorienting to a newcomer.

So bear in mind that fabrics, like humans, come in all shapes and sizes. It’s OK to ask for advice. Hint: I’m not necessarily talking about textiles any more. Hint #2: I’m talking about love.

Ocean Park and Disneyland both put on a nightly fireworks show as the parks close for the night.

The lights arc into the sky, bringing a little extra joy into the hearts of the kids headed home. Think of those nightly fireworks, Taurus. Think of all that brilliance in the sky, and all the people it’s making happy. That’s the power of light.

LEO Jul 23 – Aug 22

VIRGO Aug 23 – Sep 23

LIBRA Sep 24 – Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24 – Nov 22

What kind of Hong Kong bruncher are you? Are you the all-in $700 champagneand-lobster sort? A $168 eggs Benedict kind of person? Or will a few baskets of dim sum suit you just fine?

No matter how you choose to eat, make sure that you’re surrounded by good food and good company. Everything else is immaterial, although I have to admit that a glass of bubbles makes even chicken feet taste better.

At the Wishing Trees of Lam Tsuen village, near Tai Po, visitors throw wishes tied to oranges into the branches of the trees. If a wish hangs on a branch, then it’ll come true. But you don’t need to go out to Tai Po to make a wish, Virgo. I’ll let you make one in the pages of this very magazine. I hope it comes true, Virgo. What can you do to help it along?

The little island of Yim Tin Tsai in Sai Kung was settled by the Hakka people in the 19th century. At one point it housed 500 people, a school and a chapel. The chapel still stands, but over time the population dwindled—and for years the island was abandoned. But now the island is bustling again as a heritage and ecotourism destination. Time and change are difficult things, but if Yim Tin Tsai can weather it, so can you.

The weather’s lovely! It’s time to call up the boat boy, get the cruiser ready, and set a course for the open sea. Wait, you don’t own a superyacht? Oh, sorry. No problem, though—just jump on the Star Ferry to feel the wind in your hair. After all, there’s a solution for every price point in Hong Kong.

Stay flexible enough to find it, and you’ll fare all the better.

As transmitted to Adam White, writer, editor and occasional soothsayer 42 | MID-LEVELS.CO

GEMINI May 22 – Jun 21

CANCER Jun 22 – Jul 22

Hong Kong is a place of specialization. Especially when it comes to tech, there’s a special mall for everything: cameras, computers, phones, video games… you name it, there’s a mall for it. You should take inspiration from them, Gemini. Find your own specialization, the thing that makes you unique. Soon enough you’ll have more attention than the Wan Chai Computer Centre.

Had a few heavy nights out, huh? Well, this is Hong Kong, what did you expect?

But it’s how you deal with it afterwards that’s key. My tried-and-tested remedy: Water, painkillers, apologies, usually in that order. Then think about this: what was the best bit of your night out, before it got messy?

That’s what to recapture.

Throw everything else by the wayside. Oh, and stop ordering Jägerbombs.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 – Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 – Jan 20

Tsat Tsz Mui Road— “Seven Sisters Road”—in North Point takes its name from a tragic story. Seven girls in a village of Hakka people pledged to be virginal sisters forever, never to marry. When one of the sisters was forced into marriage, all seven sisters drowned themselves in the sea. The next day, seven rocks appeared off the coast.

It’s a sad tale, but isn’t the loyalty on show something we can all take to heart?

Last month my ID card of 10 years snapped in two, so I had to go to the Immigration Department to get a new one. Handing me my new card, the immigration department official said to me: “wahh, you’re a lot more handsome now!” An ego boost with an ID card? Now that’s service.

And it’s a lesson that your identity is what you make of it: change it if you’d like.

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What’s my job?

zim city

The latest green issues affecting our city.

“What do you do as a District Councillor?” Paul Zimmerman answers

“W

hat do you do as a District Councillor?”

Well, there are the fun things— influencing the planning for the district. Sometimes that is easy—with submissions and comments in the District Council and the Town Planning Board. When it is not, more creative means are needed.

For example, take the Tai Tam Reservoir Dam. For years we have asked for a simple solution to the traffic problem: traffic lights. But risk of unintended consequences paralyses bureaucrats. To break such a mould you either need a bad accident, or great publicity.

Enter Scott Myklebust. He rendered stunning visuals of a second bridge which were picked up by the media. And a drone pilot recorded some bad traffic jams with a Tesla driver unable to pass a bus. This combination got us to the stage where a set of traffic lights was tested last month, in advance of permanent installation next year.

Another example is the clean-up of Aberdeen Harbour. A group came together via emails and Facebook and by reaching out to interested parties. We agreed on a name, created a banner, a Facebook page, and met five times over a year to ‘fish trash’. In response, the government is now devoting more resources into keeping the harbour clean itself. If all goes well, we will not have to fish again. Which is a pity, because cruising around in all manner of boats, meeting new friends, was a lot of fun.

And then there is the hard work—dealing with reports of traffic problems, transport deficiencies, leaking trucks, fly-tipping, poorly managed refuse collection points, overpopulation of wild boars, illegal parking causing road safety issues, land filling, cutting trees, illegal road building, etc...

Reports come not only from residents in my own district, but also others looking for advice. Let me use this column to provide some tips on self-help.

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Paul at a charity collection last month in Cyberport

First of all, government hotline tellme@1823.gov.hk is very efficient in trafficking complaints. Most importantly, it keeps a record and monitors the response rate of departments. The best way to get help is to send photographs as attachments. Instead of a thousand words, simply provide time, date, and location (street name, and house or lamp post number) and a simple description of the issue. Specify the department to forward the report to if you know.

Some useful tools: map.gov.hk allows you to find lamp post and house numbers. ozp.tpb.gov.hk helps you find out about land use zoning. slope.lands.gov. hk gives clear information on slope responsibilities and lot boundaries. And had.gov.hk/rre/eng/village_ map/ helps to identify village boundaries.

Of course, you can always email me at paul@designinghongkong.com or connect via Facebook at facebook.com/PZpage P.S. Best wishes for the festive season ahead. M

Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, a Southern District Councillor and the co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks alliance.

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Dear reader, We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Illustration by Eleanor Doughty

Merry Christmas!

Love, All the team at Hong Kong Living.

See you in 2018! xxx 48 | MID-LEVELS.CO

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