Articles (147)
The best jazz venues in Hong Kong
We’re a classy bunch in Hong Kong and there’s no classier genre than jazz (to quiet, classical fans: we want a drink with our live music). As such, our city can be quite the hub for anyone keen to experience live jazz across its differing sub-genres. Here’s our pick of some of the best around. RECOMMENDED: See what concerts and music events are coming up next in Hong Kong and Macau!
Amazing things to do at Singapore Changi Airport
Whether you’re catching a flight or simply looking for a place to lepak over the weekend, Singapore Changi Airport has a wide variety of activities to keep you entertained. After all, there’s a reason why it’s the best airport in Asia. There might be all the good stuff like great architecture and hawker fare waiting for you on the outside but you can find some pretty neat architectural marvels and thrilling activities within the airport as well. Go on restaurant-hopping and try a wide variety of cuisines, or catch a film at a cinema. Heck, you can even whizz out a 12 metre-long slide at Terminal 3. Whatever it is, there’s plenty of ways to relax and make yourself comfortable at Changi Airport. RECOMMENDED: The best airport hotels in Singapore and Singapore's OG travel influencers share their favourite offbeat destinations and top travel tips
The best sports bars in Singapore
We're all for chilling at home and enjoying a respectable, sedate appreciation of various sports including cricket, mixed martial arts and, of course, the beautiful game of football. But there’s nothing quite as exhilarating as some good old-fashioned tribalism – being surrounded by your fellow and rival countrymen – enhancing the atmosphere and making even the dullest game a spectacle. Here are our picks of the best bars in Singapore that are screening the games live. RECOMMENDED: The best pubs in Singapore and the best bars in Singapore
The best clubs in Lan Kwai Fong
Oh Lan Kwai Fong – harbinger of revellry and regret, how we love you. While Hong Kong's night out offerings goes far beyond LKF with amazing specialist bars, karaoke and darts bars all readily available, LKF will always be ground zero for having a big night out in the city. And no loose evening is complete without hitting the dance floor and there's plenty of choice if it's a nightclub you're looking for. So without further ado, here are the best clubs in Lan Kwai Fong.
Top 10 quiet places in Hong Kong
It’s no secret that Hong Kong is one big stressful city. Just manoeuvring around in one of the world’s densest urban hubs can elevate anyone’s blood pressure. Not to mention, the challenging working hours and rising living costs. The list goes on for the things that fill Hongkongers with rage. If you’ve been complaining about these things at least once every hour, seems like you’re actually crying out for some quiet time. Thankfully, our beloved city has plenty of places, like the Hong Kong Victoria Peak Garden and scenic outlying islands like Tap Mun, where you can enjoy escaping the craziness for some peace of mind. RECOMMENDED: If all else fails, there’s always booze. Drink your stress away at one of Hong Kong’s best bars.
The best fry-ups in Hong Kong
The fry-up is a hallowed meal for many. What better way to kick-start your day than a massive plate of (and various combinations of) sausages, eggs, bacon, toast, black pudding, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and chips? It’s the perfect hangover cure too if anyone's going to party hard at one of Hong Kong’s best bars. RECOMMENDED: If it does all sound too much though, try Hong Kong’s best places for pancakes. Or to take it to the next level, an epic brunch with free-flow options?
Things that make Hongkongers mad when it rains
When it rains, it pours – especially here in Hong Kong. You’d think with the apocalyptic torrents we frequently enjoy in Hong Kong, we‘d be regular experts at dealing with it. But nay. So whenever it’s chucking it down, it’s time to seek shelter, batten down the hatches and complain.Once you’ve enjoyed the catharsis below, here are some things you can do when it rains to help you try and make the most of the bad weather. Enjoy feeling enraged? Read this list of things that make Hongkongers mad.
The best regular live music nights in Hong Kong
Burgeoning; aspirational; crap; brilliant; severely limited – the conversation surrounding live music in Hong Kong often descends into hyperbole, no matter who you speak to. True, it’s a disappointment that our compact city of seven million people isn’t home to a more relentless, all-encompassing live music scene the way it should be – we’ve covered the trials and tribulations of Hong Kong’s underground venues before – but don’t think for a second that there’s not a lot going on here. There’s a company of dedicates powering the scene on a daily basis, like these five scene stalwarts, and a slew of great live music venues that consistently put on great shows. These are the venues and live music nights built by such champions. These nights are happening every day or every week and they’re all worth your time.
The best clubs outside Lan Kwai Fong
Ask someone about Hong Kong nightlife and ‘Lan Kwai Fong’ – like a mnemonic trigger – tends to be the response. Even those cool cats who reply with something else like Wong Chuk Hang or Fo Tan still keep up to date with Hong Kong's most famous party hub. So if LKF feels inescapable on your club nights, you’re not alone. But there are plenty of other places you can go for a drink and a dance after dark. As such, we’ve rounded up five of our favourite clubs outside of Lan Kwai Fong. RECOMMENDED: If you're looking to dance, be sure to check out the talented DJs who are defining our clubbing scene.
The best arcades in Singapore
We're trading shopping arcades for the much better version: shoot ’em ups, beat ’em ups and drive...'em ups? Doesn't really work but sure, why not. Whether it’s an old classic you want to revisit, a mental import that you have no idea how to play, the latest innovation or some faux-gambling, these arcades have them all. Looking for more inspiration on things to do around Singapore? Why not check out our guide on the city's best parks and when you finally crawl out of the arcade, discover what you can do in Singapore at 3am.
Hong Kong’s best ladies’ nights
Planning a girls’ night out because afternoon tea and macarons just ain’t cutting it? Whether you’re looking to keep it classy with bubbles, gossip and beautiful surrounds or aiming to rough it on a proper messy blowout, we have the answers. This is Time Out Hong Kong’s guide to the best ladies’ night deals where you can score free-flow drinks, cocktails and more to keep you and your gal pals happy. Men, if you're feeling left out, check out our guide to the best bars in Hong Kong. RECOMMENDED: Looking to fill up before hitting the town, why not check out one of the city's best afternoon teas? And if you're looking for more drinking deals, there's also the best happy hours in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s best practice rooms and studios
Suburban America this ain’t. It’s all good and well when Dave Grohl says the best way to get your band going is to take over your mum’s garage and be all DIY, but the harsh reality of Hong Kong is that having sufficient space, and understanding neighbours, is often the stuff of pipedreams in our crowded little city.So, what to do? You and your crew are willing, talented and love playing but don’t have anywhere to practice. Well, worry not. Hong Kong actually has a plethora of spots that cater to most budgets that’ll let you practice, play and even record to your heart’s content. Get out there and make it happen! Need some insipiration? Then check out the best music venues in Hong Kong and our city's best record shops.
Listings and reviews (24)
Tsz Shan Monastery
In a bid to bring Buddhism to the masses, Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s massive Tsz Shan Monastery project has just opened to the public. It’s cost $1.5 billion and has taken 12 years to build. Arm yourselves with the facts before you book a visit to this huge religious structure... What is it?In short, Tsz Shan Monastery is the heady Buddhist nirvana of one the world’s richest men. Since Li basically may as well have invented money, no expense has been spared in making this monastery the formative religious compound of its kind. Though this is in no way a bad thing, the monastery is a gift to all, a means to promote Buddhism and to create a sanctuary for those who already practice it. The 500,000sq ft compound is both state-of-the-art yet reverentially traditional in its composition. Found in Tai Po’s Ting Tsz hills near Tai Mei Tuk, Tsz Shan is grandiose, Tang dynasty-styled goodness. It’s free for the public to visit and, considering the sweeping majesty of it all (minus the over-zealous eyesore of a car park), it deserves a look in. How do I visit?In a bid to maintain Tsz Shan’s serenity and to avoid upsetting its undeniably harmonious surrounds, there’s a strict limit on how many people can visit every day – which, along with it being free, is a condition we applaud. As a means to keep things civil and organised, you can book a time to visit online on a surprisingly elegant timetable (be warned, though, at the time of writing, the wait time is eight days). If you’re ke
Nexus
It’s not uncommon to see bars decked out with pool tables or darts boards or a karaoke machine. Often though, they feel tacked on as an afterthought, the tips of the darts bent or the selection of songs dreadful. Nexus, situated halfway between Kwun Tong and Ngau Tau Kok MTR stations, happily bucks this trend by throwing all sorts of entertainment at its punters and doing so with a generally high level of success. A big factor in this success is the fact that Nexus has enough room to give everything some space to breathe. At a gargantuan 15,000sq ft, the unpretentiously studenty bar features a massive rooftop area, darts, karaoke, beer pong, billiards, VIP party rooms and TV screens showing whatever sport’s on. There’s even a cigar room. On our visit, early evening, the place is relatively filled out with friendly, smiling students and young professionals already enjoying rounds of beer pong and darts. The menu plays to the clientele, so naturally, there’s a shooter section. It seems only right to lead with one of these and Nexus’ lemondrop ($68) isn’t bad. It doesn’t go too heavy on the lemon juice and there’s a liberal amount of Cointreau. Next up, sidestepping the standard array of beers and house pours, we order a lychee rose mojito ($118). It’s certainly refreshing, but it falls into the trap that so many drinks that use rose gomme syrup succumb to – the rose comes on so strong that it drowns out anything else apart from lime. Not to mention, it’s hardly the cheapest coc
Starbucks (Lee Garden)
With some 150 Starbucks branches in Hong Kong, how do you make yet another outlet stand out? The Seattle behemoth’s newest location in Lee Gardens – the corporation’s first flagship store in Hong Kong – has landed with a considerable amount of hype, with advance PR stressing that this isn’t Starbucks as you know it. Yes, the poster boy for homogenised caffeine consumption is now offering craft beer, cocktails and gourmet snacks. This is a supposed brave new world – Starbucks doesn’t just want you there for your morning coffee, you should be there for your after-work drink too. To that end, as well as all the usual caffeinated options there are three craft beers on tap, a handful of wines and one cocktail. This new sales tactic seems to be working as getting a seat is a Herculean task despite the 5,500sq ft size of the space, which looks like just about every other Starbucks except for some ludicrously large brewing equipment. Keen to try the new brevvies, we start with the Caramel Macchiato Cream Ale ($78 for a three-quarter pint). It’s a decent whistle-wetter – the nuttiness of the coffee coming through on the back end and balancing well with some subtle caramel notes. A purist would argue there isn’t much depth to the flavour but it’s decent enough if you’re just looking for something refreshing. With a dark ale of any kind, however, shallowness in flavour is no good, and so it goes with the Mocha Brown Ale (also $78). Chocolate and coffee are a partnership made in beer hea
Lost Stars
Part live house, part bar and part restaurant, the newest addition to increasingly cool Tai Kok Tsui is Lost Stars. So, jack of all trades, master of none? Not quite. In terms of looks, Lost Stars is spacious, modern and gorgeous – undoubtedly one of the best-looking live venues in town. When we walk in, all we can do is wonder whether the band playing later that night – local emo punk stalwarts Site Access – will look a bit silly belting out power chords in a setting reminiscent of a modern French bistro. We put those cares to one side, however, and scan the drinks menu. Adorably, all the signature cocktails are named after songs. We opt for the two best by way of a High and Dry and a Zombie ($92, though a decent happy hour runs daily from 3pm to 7.30pm when all cocktails are $72). The former is a take on a Dark and Stormy. Made with gold rum, ginger, lime, cinnamon, Darjeeling tea and of course, ginger beer, it’s a pleasant, understated alternative to the original with the musky sweetness of the tea adding a pleasant, lingering aftertaste. The Zombie is fairly reverential take on a gin martini with Bombay Sapphire, Dolin Dry, Dolin Bianco, Italicus and osmanthus sugar. It’s not dissimilar from the original but the fruity Italicus adds some playful levity, which is a nice touch. The food menu is surprisingly posh, especially considering we’d soon be head-banging to some rowdy emo across the room. Baring that in mind, we take a crack at two of the less fussy options by wa
The Artist House
“You want a beer? Sure! But why not tailor your craft beer with something from our fragrance laboratory? Care to nibble on an edible flower? Or how about changing your suds’ flavour with an infusion from our micro-brewery? What about a VR brewery tour while munching on a pastry – a craft beer-infused pastry, naturally. How about creating a custom label for your bottle? What about a coffee for your friend? It’s a cold-press farm-to-cup brew…” Welcome to hipster wet dream The Artist House – it’s not a bar or a coffee shop but a ‘lifestyle hub’, a ‘laboratory of innovation’ where the only thing missing is the tattooist or 50s-style barber. The space is gorgeous. Unlike the many offered goods, it’s sleek and uncluttered – heavy on wood panelling and exposed brick, maintaining a nice balance of rustic, intimate and cool. But what about the beer? No, it’s not from a medieval brewery founded in 1343 like the bottles imply. The brewery where The Artist House makes its beers in Belgium traces its lineage back to that date, yes, but it was only a few years ago following a heavy renovation that The Artist started making brews there. They’re not hiding this information – it’s all on the establishment’s website – but we raise the point since some might consider it disingenuous. There are four standard offerings when it comes to the beer: blonde, IPA, white and raspberry – a very reasonable $48 each for a 330ml bottle. For all the Artist’s frippery, they’re good. Very good. The blon
Yojimbo
What do Akira Kurosawa’s seminal samurai film Yojimbo, the country’s imperial past, Harajuku punks and Ginza’s storied drinking culture have in common? Apart from them being Japanese, absolutely nothing. And yet, these chalk, cheese and rising suns collide in Dining Concepts’ new cocktail bar and nightclub, Yojimbo, which has taken over the spot formerly occupied by Boujis. Much like a kid having a blast trying to fit together puzzle pieces that don’t match, designer Ash Sutton clearly isn’t here to pander to historians or cinephiles. He’s more interested in being fun than coherent or cohesive – and that’s absolutely fine.Once we’re past the door and through the curtains, we’re met with a good-sized seating area – replete with rising sun chairs – prefacing the main bulk of the club, a more chill place to start the night. Stepping through into the main area, we’re struck by how understated the surrounds are given the ostentatious nature of Sutton’s previous efforts at Ophelia, J Boroski and The Iron Fairies. Another rising sun is the predominant decoration here thanks to a giant light fixture that spreads across the entire left-hand side of the club.As for the drinks, with Alberto Aldave, formerly of The Rivoli Bar at The Ritz London, in charge, we expect big things. Thankfully, Yojimbo delivers. To kick off, we opt for the Yakuza Revenge ($130) with José Cuervo tequila, Campari, Lillet Rouge, orange Curaçao and chocolate bitters. Basically a modified negroni, the extra accout
The Madhouse Taproom
The Kowloon Taproom, T.A.P – The Ale Project, The Oak Crafted and now, The Madhouse – Yau Tsim Mong is officially the place to be in Hong Kong for craft beer. This latest addition – whose name belies the reality – is a cosy, modern and robustly stocked little beer joint. There’s not much else to The Madhouse and there really doesn’t need to be. No lunacy then, just a bloody good bar for the discerning drinker who wants to sample some of Europe and Asia’s finest craft beers.The small, sparsely decorated bar can seat up to 30. It’s a compact space but one arranged smartly enough that you still have room to manoeuvre. The beers and ciders housed in The Madhouse’s 18 taps are displayed on screens above the bar making everything decidedly clear and concise. They’re supplemented by a further 10 bottle and can options displaying a decent geographical reach from Europe to Australia and Hong Kong.Between the information supplied on the screens and the three bar staff offering suggestions to querying customers, we feel plenty able to make an informed choice and kick off with an Aussie cider by way of Bulpin (200ml, $48). It’s crisp, balanced and isn’t overly-sweet – a good suggestion from one of the attentive barmen. Next up, we opt for the Aegir Rapa raspberry pale ale (200ml, $48). It’s another winner – subtly flavoured, refreshing and poured heavily enough to release the carbonation without leaving the beer flat. Top marks so far. To finish, we try one more cheeky half by way of the
LANY
Named number one on Spotify’s most streamed artist of all time through the Spotify Discover feature with streams in excess of 50 million, Lany have established themselves as something special. The American trios delicious hooks are drenched in a menacingly dark veneer, making Lany a unique prospect and an outfit well worth checking out.
Overhand Party - Part II
The second part of Kiosky's house and techno Weekender on post SAR Sunday at the ecstatic at beautiful Lo So Shing Beach. Take in some sun, have a drink and a dance with secret guest DJs spinning and free-flow all you can drink beer and spirits for $200.
Third Party
Since starting out in the London club scene, Third Party have went on to remix hits for artists like Swedish House Mafia, Tiësto, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Sigma’s UK number one, Nobody To Love. Their debut album, Hope, released in February, has established the duo as one of the hottest properties on the global house scene, don't miss their Hong Kong debut!
Swagkidz X XLarge Live Underground Party
Featuring Swagkidz latest summer clothing line, plus a live dj set by Xlarge Live's DJ playing Canto hip hop, 90s hip hop, drum 'n' bass, grime, funk and break beat. There'll also be a live rap perofrmance by the The Low Mays (米奇老味神奇屋) and Lostboyz. All this, and, a barber and tattooist. Phew.
FLX X FOB Presents Canada Day with DJ Dopey
As a founding member of the Turntable Monkz, and a certified world champion (2003 DMC World Champion), DJ Dopey (born Jon Ryan Santiago) has establshed himself as not only one of Canada’s premiere DJ talents, but a big-hitter on the global stage. Expect a proper, old-school DJ with actual, real-life DJing skills involved...
News (163)
Maroon 5 announce Macau show!
You're gonna have to wait until March 3, 2019, but perennial hit machines Maroon 5 – otherwise known as Adam Levine – are making a return to our sister SAR next year. You don't need us to convince you to go – you either love 'em or hate 'em. There's no denying though that their latest album, sure was more Maroon 5. So that's good. Tickets will likely unicorn levels of rarity when they become available. When that is remains unclear (along with pretty any other details), but we'll let you know. In the meantime, here's a song from back when they were a band (no offence, we like their new stuff too.)
The Weeknd announces first-ever Hong Kong show!
Since emerging as something of a mystery talent with his debut mixtape, House of Balloons, in 2011, Abel Tesfaye – aka, the Weeknd – has become one of the most respected names in popular music. His subsequent three studio albums, while rooted in R&B, employ an impressive range of qualities and are effortlessly genre-spanning.Excellent news then that the 28-year-old Canadian has announced he’s set to play his first-ever Hong Kong show on Friday November 30! That’s about as much info as there is going around at the minute but once we know more, we’ll give you a shout. In the meantime, here's a track to get you in the mood for the Weeknd.
Indie legends Teenage Fanclub announce first-ever Hong Kong show!
We’ve been waiting a long time for this one. Teenage Fanclub, aka one of the greatest-ever indie bands, will come to The Vine in Wan Chai on February 1 of next year. Throughout their incredible 11-album back catalogue, the Bellshill natives have gone from scrappy underdogs to one of the most revered indie bands in Britain. In particular, A Catholic Education, Bandwagonesque, Grand Prix and Songs From Northern Britain stand as four seminal albums from a band whose output has never been less than stellar. Even Kurt Cobain often referred to them as ‘the best band in the world’. You’re not gonna argue with him, are you?This is a huge occasion for live music in Hong Kong, a watershed moment (we’re not being hyperbolic, shut up). We’re making the big call that Teenage Fanclub will be the best gig of 2019. Get your tickets here now.
Stone Nullah Tavern brings back its awesome $1 happy hour!
Hong Kong’s best happy hour deal is back. Yup, we’re talking about Beat the Clock at Wan Chai’s Stone Nullah Tavern. The legendary deal saw drinks costing $1 at 5pm, with prices doubling every 20 minutes. Happy hour at the Tavern achieved legendary status thanks to an affordability that pleased even the most penny-pinching drinker. It was a sad day when the Tavern’s owners called time on it and replaced the deal with one less appealing. So it’s with delight (and to the dismay of our livers), that we can reveal that a revamped Beat the Clock is returning to Stone Nullah Tavern. Now known as the 'Back to School' edition, you can enjoy standard drinks starting at $1 at 5pm every Monday to Friday, with the price doubling every 20 minutes until 7pm. So, it's basically the same, but with a new name. We’re totally cool with that.
Legendary indie rockers Interpol unveiled in Clockenflap's first line-up drop!
Time to start getting excited. The first batch of bands set to play Hong Kong's biggest music and arts fest, Clockenflap – being held November 9 to 11 at Central Harbourfront – has been released, and it's a helluva start. Interpol, Khalid, David Byrne and anpu lead the charge. But that's just the beginning, between those and the other acts announced (detailed in full, below) the line-up surely constitutes one of the festival's strongest ever (and this is only the first batch of bands). Here's what we got so far in full: InterpolKhalidDavid ByrneanpuCaribouThe VaccinesWolf AliceAmadou & MariamCorneliusRhyeAlvvaysEats EverythingPeking DuckMijaBlawanGDJYBRoni SizeRoneSwindle Sunflower BeanYoungrShameD.A.N.9M88Chancha Via CircuitoBodegaBlue HawaiiLydmorBohan Phoenix CifikaCocoonics There are lots more still to come, but what's there already has us scrambling to grab those early bird tickets (which you can buy here).
Ant-Man and the Wasp are getting their own attraction at Disneyland
If you’ve enjoyed Paul Rudd’s return as Ant-Man, then you’ll be thrilled with Disneyland Hong Kong’s latest news. Coming in 2019, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle is the latest Marvel attraction to land in the theme park following last year’s surprisingly fun (and HK set) Iron Man Experience.Details of the new ride are vague yet tantalising. The ‘story’ of the upcoming attraction goes like this: A visit to Shield Science and Technology Pavilion at Stark Expo at Disneyland turns dangerous as something happens and guests have to help save the day. Visitors will get to ride in Shield’s ‘state-of-the-art vehicle’, fight alongside Ant-Man and the Wasp against Armin Zola (no, not the former Italian football player) and his army of Hydra swarm-bots.As of now, the ride only exists as renderings. But if you want to start getting excited, check this out below...
Try guided meditation on the Observation Wheel for free this weekend
If you like your meditation with a view then this Saturday, July 21, is your lucky day. Pure Yoga is offering everyone and anyone the chance to come down to AIA Vitality park to try a free meditation session in one of the Observation Wheel’s 42 gondolas, each with its own teacher on board to show you the ropes. Just rock up (bring a pal if you want) and boom, insta-zen. Afterwards, there’ll be some post-practice activities if want to make a full day of it.To end, we could make a joke about heightened senses, but we’re better than that.
McDonald’s rolls out the memetastic Szechuan sauce featured in Rick and Morty
McDonald’s is on a roll. After bringing the durian McFlurry to our shores last week – so popular it sold out in days – we’re finally getting Szechuan teriyaki sauce (more popularly known simply as Szechuan sauce), a hallowed dip originally rolled out in support of the 1998 Disney film Mulan. The sauce has re-entered public consciousness thanks to Adult Swim cartoon Rick and Morty, which has led to people demanding the dipping sauce make a comeback, predominantly through cringey internet videos.Aside from the Szechuan teriyaki sauce, McDonald's is also rolling out the new Szechuan kung pao. Both chicken-dippers are available from tomorrow if you order McDonald’s clucking good 18-piece nugget set. As an added bonus, you’ll also get Singapore curry and honey mustard sauces with that feast.If all that bird is simply too much, you’ll have to wait a little while to try all four sauces. Szechuan kung pao and honey mustard are available from tomorrow with smaller nugget sets but Szechuan teriyaki and Singapore curry won’t be available with smaller sets until July 26. This new brave new world also sees the return of Shake Shake fries with a choice of seaweed, barbecue or kimchi seasoning (which we think is equally exciting).The Szechuan takeover will remain until stocks run out. Given how quickly the durian McFlurry sold out, that probably won’t take long. Best get in line tomorrow to avoid disappointment.
McDonald’s officially goes off the deep end with new Jack the Dipper campaign
What does cheap chicken – mainly breaded with tears – gold and one of history’s most feared serial killers have in common? Absolutely nothing is the answer. But that isn’t stopping perpetual colon-irritators McDonald’s from rolling out their latest and possibly most bonkers campaign to date.Yes, McDonald’s has brought back ‘infamous’ nugget-sauce stealing don, Jack the Dipper (they claim he’s a beloved character in what we’re choosing to call the MCEU – the McDonald’s Extended Universe). This time though, he’s not alone. Eater of world’s, Jack the Dip Shit Dipper, has assembled the definitely not crappily named Dipper League – yes, apparently that’s the best they could do – in a bid to steal the newly minted 24-carat gold McNuggets.Okay, that's the backstory, here’s where you come in. Customers have a chance to win pure golden nuggets and other prizes such as 365 days of free Chicken McNuggets (we hope you have robust health insurance), by playing four different online games which can be unlocked with the purchase of boxes of McNuggets. Within these games, players need to pass certain missions and collect virtual dipping sauces (no Szechuan, alas – the PR team really missed a trick with that clanger) that will ultimately unlock the safe that holds the golden prize. The rest of the details are a bit hazy but we’re assuming everyone that completes the challenges will be put in a prize draw.We look forward to McDonald’s next campaign featuring either Adolf Dipler, The Zodiac Dip
Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand announce Hong Kong show!
Following the release of their latest album, Always Ascending – a wondrous return to the dirty synth-pop and raw indie sensibilities that made the band such a formidable prospect when they exploded onto the scene in 2004 – Glaswegian five-piece Franz Ferdinand are returning to Hong Kong to play Southorn Stadium on November 23. Expect a healthy dose of newer material lovingly punctuated with some classics like Take Me Out, Ulysses and the absolute belter that is Jacqueline (if you haven't heard that one for a while, have a listen below).Tickets are on sale now. Grab ’em here.
Last days for Hong Kong Records
A sad day for music lovers in the city as Hong Kong Records’ original Pacific Place outlet opens its doors for the last time today. Punishing rents and a populace that increasingly relies on streaming services for its entertainment needs means the local institution is closing on June 27 after 29 years in business. The CD, DVD, video game and record store’s Harbour City outlet is also due to shut, although an official date has not yet been confirmed. Get yourself down there and say your goodbyes and maybe pick up a record or two.It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Hong Kong still has a clutch of independent music stores fighting the good fight. Music lovers still enamoured with physical media should do their best to support these remaining few brick and mortar operations. Our faves remain Zoo Records in Mong Kok and Prince Edwards’ White Noise Records. Vinyl lovers are sure to be familiar with Ah Paul but it’s worth mentioning Vinyl Hero all the same. Here’s hoping these indie stalwarts don’t go the same way as the soon to be departed Hong Kong Records.
The 2018 Fifa World Cup kicks off tonight!
Now that the geopolitical summits are all out of the way, we can finally start talking about the one thing that really matters: football. After months of build-up, the 2018 Fifa World Cup kicks off tonight at 10pm. After the opening ceremony, the first match, Russia vs Saudi Arabia, gets under way at 11pm. Heading out to the pub to watch is always a risky option if you’ve got work tomorrow but if you’re game, we suggest you head to one of these great venues.If you fancy staying in and watching the games, Viu TV (channel 99) will be showing a select 19 games – including the opening one and the final – while the whole tournament will be broadcast on Now TV’s dedicated World Cup 2018 channels (channels 618 and 619).