India by the Bay: A Digital Series

The Sixth India by the Bay, postponed from February, has become a slimmed-down online festival entitled India by the Bay: A Digital Series running from 15-18 October, 2020

The virtual festival features four free events and offers HongKongers an insight into Indian culture and history through film, food, yoga and conversation. The events are:

Yoga as a Way of Life | 15 October, 7pm
Yoga philosopher Daniel Simpson will present a specially designed session on the benefits of Yoga in these difficult times

Zaika: Food, Creativity and Lockdown | 16 October, 7pm
Romy Gill and Rahul Gomes Pereira in conversation with Vir Sanghvi

East West – A Legacy | 17 October, 7pm
Shubhendra Rao, disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar celebrates the centenary of his Guru’s birth.

Churchill: Hero or Anti Hero | 18 October, 7pm
Shashi Tharoor in conversation with Mukulika Banerjee on the life and legacy of Winston Churchill, one of history’s most complex figures.

India by the Bay 2020
Date: 15-18 October, 2020
Venue: Asia Society Hong Kong Center
Tickets: free

Livin’ La Dolce Vita – Italia Mia

The first Italia Mia festival opens on the 20th September with the launch of the Leonardo da Vinci Art and Science Then and Now exhibition at City University of Hong Kong and will run through October and November with a variety of events that showcase Italian creativity, innovation and excellence.

The Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong Mr Clemente Contestabile introduced the new festival in this way… “We are proud to present the first ever Italia Mia Festival in Hong Kong and Macao. Italy is rich in heritage, culture, technology and natural beauty; it is well known for the tastiness of its food and wines; it is the homeland of great personalities of the past and of stylish fashion, design and luxury companies. Italia Mia is here in Hong Kong to bring everyone a taste of Italian flair and character without leaving the city. The Festival may tempt and entice you to travel to Italy as well.”

In October and November, Italia Mia events include “Colours of Asia, Paintings by Francesco Lietti”, “Talk with Beppe Severgnini”, “Bing Bing Wang & Klassic Swing Italian Quartet”, “Waitress on Top – La Serva Padrona”, “Week of Italian Cuisine in the World”, “A Pinch of Salt”, “Nous Quartet”, “Marco Polo and the Sounds of Carnival”, “Salt of the Earth”, “Olivia Steindler Solo Violin Concert”, “White Truffle Extravaganza Dinner”…

Full details of the festival and the many events can be found here www.italiamiafestival

Bruce Lee Tribute Clothing Range

New Era has launched a new Bruce Lee, who passed away 45 years ago, tribute apparel collection. The designs include Lee’s famous “Be Water, My Friend” quote and film stills from Way of the Dragon (1972) and his iconic flying-kick logo silhouette.

The advertising campaign for the seven-piece headwear and six-piece t-shirt range features Hong Kong actor and martial artist German Cheung.

The Bruce Lee range, priced between $419-339, is available now at the New Era store: Shop 221-222, 2/F, Silvercord, 30 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui,.

Ruby Law’s Debut Playboy Shoot

Local photographer Rugby Law celebrated the release of her first USA Playboy shoot – which appears in the May/June 2018 issue – in Wanchai on 4 May. The surprise event organised by her friends saw Law presented with a smoking jacket and a pipe in honour of her Playboy debut.

Law is the first female Hong Kong photographer to appear in the US print edition of the famous magazine – and she’ll soon be appearing again as she’s been commissioned to shoot another set.

Featuring a local model Reluca the 5 hour shoot took place in Bali and showcases Law’s slightly dark, personality  driven style.

You can see more of Ruby’s work here: www.rubylaw.photos

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Ruby-Law-Playboy-Photo-Shoot-Exhibition-4-May-2018/i-5JsQtx9

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Click on any photo for more images

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9 May, 2018 – edited for clarity that it was a surprise party

Asian Film Awards 2018 – Red Carpet

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bc’s Arra Aranas and Jade Manalac checked out the red carpet at the 12th Asian Film Awards. Some very beautifully dressed ladies and elegant gentlemen and some people wearing outfits where you assume they had been paid a fortune to wear something so hideous or that they need some friends who will say “Really we know you love it, but it just doesn’t suit you”. The ‘beauty’ of fashion is we can all agree to disagree.
Click on any photo to see the full red carpet gallery.

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Art Central VIP Preview @ Central Harbourfront – 20 March, 2017

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The sun emerged, after weeks in hiding, to shine on the start of Art Week and turn Art Central’s two massive tents into impromptu saunas. That didn’t deter the opening day crowds who flocked to see what was on show.

Again there’s a little of something for everyone but the trend still seems to be for massive works that look fine in a big tent, but would be out of place in our space saving flats. Last years paint a massive picture cut it up and give away the pieces has in true HK style been replaced with a massive painting where you can buy a small square…

Art Central runs until the 25 March, click on any photo for the full gallery.

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Aperitivo at Attire House – 14 March, 2017

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One of the joys of living in Hong Kong is that she’s always full of surprises. Take for example 8 Wyndham Street as boring an office block as you can find – but on the top floor (29/F) is the recently opened Attire House, a men’s boutique complete with Barber’s Shop and wet shave, and Bar de Lune a very relaxed Japanese whisky and cocktail bar. Bar de Luxe is a joint venture between the owners of Attire and Tokyo’s famous mixologist Hidetsugu Ueno.

To introduce the brands Cesare Attolini and E Marinella Attire House hosted an aperitivo with cocktails and Tartuflanghe truffle chips.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images.

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Asia Adult Expo

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It’s Asia Adult Expo time where China’s sex toy manufacturers showcase their products to stores and buyers from across the globe. The wholesale prices are ridiculously cheap, a stark reminder of the margins involved in much of retail today.

https://youtu.be/KofNsG9epAU

In recent years a lot of creativity, thought, science and manufacturing wizardry has gone into improving and enhancing how we can bring ourselves and our partners pleasure. Although I’m not sure that many of us will be wanting to fiddle with a phone app in the middle of an orgasm… And a first person perspective 3D VR film loses it’s impact when as is legally required in Japan genitals are pixelated out.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Asia-Adult-Expo-2016/i-Sr9XC4s

At any other product expo, visitors to the show would be touching, examining the products to check for quality, design… Yet still society’s taboo on pleasuring ourselves and others exerts it’s influence with most visitors discretely looking from outside a booth rather than stepping in as they would with other product expos.

If you don’t fancy a visit to sex store but want to improve your sex life most of the manufacturers have websites where you can buy direct through Alibaba.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Asia-Adult-Expo-2016/i-dFRJpkH

Asia Adult Expo
Date: 28-31 August 2016
Venue: HK Convention & Exhibition Centre
Tickets: By invitation, trade