Sport For All Day 2017

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold a “Sport For All Day 2017” on 6 August 2017 to encourage people to maintain a healthy lifestyle through sports and activity participation and form the habit of exercising at least half an hour a day.

There will be a wide range of free programmes offered across the city from ‘run gait analysis’ to ‘towel exercises for fun’ see the full programme schedule here.

To get you in the mood and habit of exercising the LCSD have created a simple daily stretching programme – the pdf of which you can download here.

Various normally fee-charging LCSD facilities will be open for free on 6 August. The facilities include:

Indoor facilities: badminton courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, netball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, American pool tables, billiard tables, sport climbing walls, bowling greens, golf facilities, fitness rooms, activity rooms, dance rooms, cycling track.

Outdoor facilities: tennis courts, tennis practice courts, bowling greens, batting cages, sport climbing walls, archery ranges, a rope course and golf facilities (excluding camp facilities, sports grounds and artificial and natural turf pitches); Public swimming pools (excluding Wan Chai Swimming Pool); and Craft at water sports centres.

Bookings for land-based leisure facilities and craft at water sports centres on 6 August can be made at the Leisure Link booking counters at LCSD venues (except for self-service kiosks) from 9am on 30 July. Each person can only book one free session on a first-come, first-served basis irrespective of the type of facility.

No prior booking is required for public swimming pools where entrance is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sport For All Day 2017
Date:
6 August, 2017
Venue: LCSD Sports Facilities
Tickets: Free
More info: Bookings from 30 July.
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad/2017/index.html

The End of 5 Terrible Years

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Sadly the idea of a leader trying to improve the lot of those he/she leads rarely applies in politics. And so it was with ‘what’s in it for me’ 689 who’s naked pursuit of $elf-intere$t is perhaps only exceeded by 54’s.

Thankfully, though it seemed far longer, the 5 years of 689 are over. A ‘fuck-off and don’t come back’ drink, accompanied by a lone piper for the departure countdown, was held at Tamar Park.

Hong’s Kong’s stunning skyline a reminder that whatever incompetent leaders Beijing imposes on Hong Kong. We will survive, for we are HongKongers!

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Lai Yuen Cha Chaan Teng

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Almost everyone over a certain age remembers Lai Yuen, yet today it’s a brand in search of an identity and a product. The recent carnivals at Central Harbourfront in 2015 and Asiaworld Expo last year were a dose of nostalgia brought to life. But Hong Kong has two amusement parks today and even with 60 million tourists a year there’s not economic room for another. So what now? Earlier this month Lai Yuen open it’s first cha chaan teng style restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui. bc went along for a lai cha.

Cha chaan teng’s are such an integral part of Hong Kong life, can they be ‘modernised’ and ‘branded’ – the answer is a qualified yes. Surprisingly the dishes we tasted at Lai Yuen were pretty good. The menu is extensive and full of traditional dishes and drinks.

The lai cha milk tea ($21) has body and flavour and is nicely smooth, as is the ‘yuan yang’ ($21) both strangely are served in plastic mugs. There’s a fun unique twist to the signature Fresh Pineapple Ice ($31) you’re also given the pineapple so you can ‘squeeze’ more juice yourself. Rather clever, especially in today’s selfie taking world.

The portions sizes are good, the signature Lai Yuen chicken drumstick ($48) is massive, a full meal in itself. The Dino curries have a good range of flavours from the mild Japanese, served with a Pork cutlet ($72) to the slow cooked beef brisket ($78) which has a nice ‘bite’ to it without being overpowering.

Dinos instant noodles with bacon, kimchee and cheese sauce ($64) has four good sized slices of bacon, a fairly dense cheese sauce and again is very filling. The addition of kimchee might seem a little odd, but the sharpness cuts through the denseness of the cheese noodles – if you want it to.

One of the signature dishes is Roasted Whole Chicken With Glutinous Rice ($158). It looks good was tasty and filling, although the chicken was a little dry, but not something you’d instantly return to buy unlike some of the other menu items.

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A staple of any cha chaan teng is ‘French toast’ and Lai Yuen’s is pretty good. Offering a variety of options including a caramel version ($30, $36 with soft boiled egg) for those who find the traditional version too sweet. The bread is big, cut reasonably thick but the egg dip and frying lacked that little quality that takes a dish from good to memorable and must return for.

And the place itself… Well that’s where Lai Yeun is a little strange. For a brand so identified with entertainment there’s strangely little atmosphere. Cha chaan teng’s, like amusement parks, are vibrant energetic places but Lai Yuen isn’t – despite the merry-go-round style lighting and horses hanging from the ceiling. It’s hard to say exactly why, but pondering on it I think it was the grey/green walls. It’s such a drab colour and seems to suck the energy and life from place.

A strange colour choice, certainly not a brand building or a colour to establish an identity on. Which is a shame, because the food and drinks are good, portion sizes are filling meal sizes – no eating here and leaving hungry – and prices very reasonable for 2017. There’s not many places in TST where you can get eat better for the price.

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Lai Yuen
12-16 Granville Road, TST, Tel: 3598 3088
www.laiyuenrestaurants.com
Opening Hours: 10am-11pm

McLaren 720S Debuts in Hong Kong

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The first second generation McLaren supercar the 720S made it’s debut locally yesterday after it’s recent global launch at the Geneva Motor Show.

The mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, two-seat McLaren is the successor to the 650 Series. The completely redesigned carbon-fibre body is kilograms lighter than the previous edition. While the new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine produces 720PS (hence the name) and 770Nm, with a power-to- weight ratio of up to 561PS per tonne.

What those numbers translate to, on roads where you can safely enjoy it, is 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds! And a top speed of 212 mph. 0-200 km/h takes 7.8 seconds, while braking from 200 km/h to standstill is almost half that, just 4.6 seconds and covering 117m.

Perhaps the most noticeable changes though are the sharp new profile with sculptured air intakes on the sides replacing the radiator and the increased amount of interior space. The 720S feels much bigger inside and is certainly easier to get into and out of.

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Check out the new 720S at McLaren’s showroom at  213 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai.

 

HK Sixes Returns in October

Cricket Hong Kong have announced that after a gap of five years the Hong Kong Sixes will return to the local sporting calendar on the 28-29 October 2017 at Kowloon Cricket Club.

The ‘fastest’ cricket format in the world will see eight international teams participating in matches that take just 45 minutes to complete. The Sixes will also look to take advantage of technology changes as Cricket Hong Kong aims to create a tournament with a distinct identity.

“Everyone in the cricket community here in Hong Kong is delighted to have the Sixes confirmed as being back on our calendar,” Cricket Hong Kong Director Jonathan Cummings said. “We love what the Sixes were and are passionate about bringing the best bits with us, but we won’t be satisfied putting on the same show as in 2012.”

“This will be the Sixes 2.0 and over time, we want to make this the most hi-tech, innovative cricket tournament in the world. The emergence of Twenty20 leagues around the world is great, but this is an opportunity to create a different a experience for cricket lovers and to engage new fans to the sport.”

“It’s a format where we aren’t bound by the traditional rules of the game, so we will be designing everything to provide maximum entertainment value and engagement.” Cummings said.

“We’ve already launched the Junior Cricket Sixes into local schools and we look forward to connecting that programme with the October event. Anyone can enjoy Sixes cricket, lots of big hits and great entertainment with no breaks.”

The Sixes will be held at the Kowloon Cricket Club with KCC President David Brettell commenting that “KCC is in full support of Cricket Hong Kong’s efforts to reinstate the event. We are delighted to welcome back the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes to the KCC and we are excited to be partnering with Cricket Hong Kong in their endeavour to bring a world class sporting event to Hong Kong”.

“We’d like to extend our thanks to Kowloon Cricket Club,” Cummings said. “The venue is perfect for Sixes cricket and they have the experience in providing world class hospitality and service and will host spectators to an outstanding weekend.”

Teams for the event will be confirmed within the next month with a minimum of six full member nations to participate.

HK Cricket Sixes
Date: 28-29 October, 2017
Venue: Kowloon Cricket Club
Tickets: tbc

Additional reporting and image: HK Cricket

Our Sanrio Times, Memories of an Iconic Kitty

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Is there a company or character that has permeated life more enduringly over the last four decades than Sanrio’s Hello Kitty? Like her or loath her Hello Kitty has endured despite being leveraged and branded across every product under the sun and then some.

Even Disney who’ve created some truly iconic characters must wonder why no amount of over exposure or crass marketing harms the kitty’s appeal. Why is someone willing, for example, to pay a significant premium for an apple with a Hello Kitty sticker on it than exactly the same unstickered apple next to it on the shelf?

A new exhibition in Macau, Our Sanrio Times, will showcase some of Hello Kitty’s and other Sanrio characters merchandising over the last 40 years. There are also several interactive zones. Whether you like it or not will depend on your affection for the brand, but it’s also interesting to see how the types of items have changed over the years. A vintage Hello Kitty letter opener is a stark reminder as to how communication has changed in just the last decade. As is the exhibitions merchandise store full of phone covers.

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Our Sanrio Times
Date: 28 July-3 September, 2017
Venue: Studio City, Macau
Tickets: $150

Spirits Pairing Event @ Park Lane Hotel – 24 June, 2017

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A spirits pairing and tasting event at the Park Lane Hotel on the 24 June included masterclasses, cocktails and even cigars with instruction and advice on mixing, pairing and enjoying a wide range of spirits.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images.

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Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 Bid, Community Reception @ PMQ – 21 June, 2017

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Over 300 people turned up at the Gay Games HK 2022 Community Reception, the final event of the bid inspection visit by the games organisers. Hong Kong is vying with Washington and Guadalajara to host the 2022 games, the host city will be announced in November.

Read more information about the games bid at www.gaygameshk2022.com
Click on any photo to see the full image gallery.

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