Natasha Rogai

A bumper crop of overseas ballet companies included the Hong Kong Arts Festival offerings of American Ballet Theatre in Alexei Ratmansky’s sparkling if superficial Whipped Cream. Photo: Gene Schiavone

Arts & Culture

Dance in 2018: triple Giselles and Hong Kong Ballet’s forward strides

29 Dec 2018 - 6:15pm

Kim Jaeduk’s Jangdan from City Contemporary Dance Company’s Come Across programme. Photo: Conrado Dy-Liacco

Arts & Culture

City Contemporary Dance Company puts on a strong double bill

10 Dec 2018 - 1:09pm

Veteran dancer Jin Yao gives her ‘finest performance’ in emotionally charged ballet
Guest dancer Marcelo Gomes lifts an amazing production to new heights

Culture

Hong Kong Ballet’s Giselle a triumph for retiring prima ballerina

29 Oct 2018 - 3:39pm

Brazilian ballet dancer Marcelo Gomes will appear in Hong Kong Ballet’s 2018 production of Giselle. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Arts & Culture

Hong Kong Ballet can skyrocket under Webre, guest Marcelo Gomes says

24 Oct 2018 - 7:19pm

Royal Ballet choreographer Wayne McGregor’s Tree of Codes inspired by Jonathan Safran Foer’s book
Stunning visual effects and stage design by Olafur Eliasson, but content lacked variety and structure

Arts & Culture

Tree of Codes dance production needed more structure: review

22 Oct 2018 - 2:34pm

Opera Hong Kong and New York City Opera's co-production of Puccini's Turandot.

Music

Well sung, well played, if confusing version of Puccini’s Turandot

15 Oct 2018 - 3:00pm

The Tiffany cocktail garnished with a macaroon at Dragonfly bar in Central. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Food & Drink

Dragonfly at Tai Kwun arts centre – stunning decor, quality drinks

11 Oct 2018 - 6:55pm

Monolith by Jonathan Spigner. Dancers: Shen Jie (left) and Dong Ruixue.

Arts & Culture

Dancers collaborate with local artists in Hong Kong Cool

17 Sep 2018 - 5:47pm

A key card gets you into a dimly lit retro looking bar, where transparent cocktails can be ordered from an invisible menu. However, the staff are young and inexperienced and some of the drinks could be larger

Food & Drink

Mixology king Antonio Lai’s Room 309: invisible drinks in a hidden room

17 Sep 2018 - 1:16pm

The Pacharan Manhattan cocktail at The Wise King in SoHo. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Food & Drink

The Wise King in SoHo – a long reign predicted for this labour of love

30 Aug 2018 - 6:43pm

Septime Webre pulls out all the stops in this entertaining production packed with spectacular effects and full of energy

Culture

Hong Kong Ballet’s magically inventive Alice is great entertainment

21 Aug 2018 - 7:24pm

The IPA and Blond craft beers available at The Artist House in Causeway Bay. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Food & Drink

Craft beer menu disappointing, but The Artist House has potential

16 Aug 2018 - 7:28pm

The competition for dancers aged 15-19 and organised by Britain’s famous Royal Academy of Dance, was held in Hong Kong and 16-year-old local dancer Jordan Chan took home the award. Gold medals went to Australian Joshua Green and New Zealander Monet Hewitt

Culture

Hongkonger wins prestigious Margot Fonteyn ballet award

13 Aug 2018 - 5:46pm

The ping pong ball drinking game at Pong is drawing the crowds eager to let down their hair after work, the signature cocktails look impressive, and there’s a striking neon feel to the place when the sun goes down. This bar’s a keeper

Food & Drink

Beer pong comes to ritzy Hong Kong mall, and it’s a smash hit

2 Aug 2018 - 7:10pm

Take a small detour from Central’s popular drinking holes to find this chilled bar at the new Murray Hotel on Cotton Tree Drive. Whether you’re after a place for business or after-work drinks, this venue will suit your needs

Food & Drink

Five-star cocktails with witty names, stellar service at Murray Lane

19 Jul 2018 - 8:45pm

The Grimm Brothers’ tale performed in Hong Kong has been given a few twists and a Scottish flavour by choreographer Christopher Hampson, and benefits from stunning visuals and simple comedy that children will identify with

Culture

Kids are sure to enjoy Scottish Ballet’s production of Hansel & Gretel

9 Jul 2018 - 1:02pm

First soloist Crystal Costa (centre) in Akram Khan’s Giselle by the English National Ballet. Photo: English National Ballet

Culture

Giselle review: Akram Khan, English National Ballet shine in first act

2 Jul 2018 - 3:17pm

Hong Kong Ballet dancers Naomi Yuzawa (left) and Shen Jie in Alexei Ratmansky’s Le Carnaval des Animaux, performed as part of the company’s recent triple bill programme. Photo: Conrad Dy-Liacco / Hong Kong Ballet

Culture

Hong Kong Ballet triple bill well danced, but pieces lack ‘wow’ factor

4 Jun 2018 - 1:01pm

Varduhi Abrahamyan in Opera Hong Kong’s production of Bizet's Carmen.

Music

Review: opera’s dark, primal side on show in Carmen production

21 May 2018 - 1:48pm

The interior of Dear Lilly, fantasy bar creator Ashley Sutton’s latest opening on the roof terrace of the IFC Mall in Hong Kong’s Central district – a space formerly occupied by Isola Bar. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Food & Drink

Dear Lilly in Central review: floral cocktails are well-made and attractive

3 Apr 2018 - 11:02pm

A scene from Whipped Cream, performed by American Ballet Theatre at the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Photo: Gene Schiavone

Culture

American Ballet Theatre’s Whipped Cream proves unsatisfying

23 Mar 2018 - 7:39pm

Ship Street in Wan Chai is home to a number of funky bars. Photo: James Wendlinger

Food & Drink

Five Wan Chai bars: Thai-Chinese, local, Brazilian and Japanese

23 Mar 2018 - 12:31pm

More sung drama than traditional opera, Pelléas et Mélisande can ask a lot of audiences, but Welsh National Opera pulls it off with realistic production, perfect French diction, and stand-out performances from cast and orchestra

Culture

Debussy opera delivered with sensuous power on Hong Kong stage

16 Mar 2018 - 6:37pm

Wyndham Street in Central.

Food & Drink

Wyndham Street bars: three great options, and two harder to rate

14 Mar 2018 - 6:03pm

A scene from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts in Wan Chai. Photo: Hong Kong Arts Festival

Culture

Theatre review: The Curious Incident – dazzling, but not moving

12 Mar 2018 - 12:48pm

Jim Meehan, founder of PDT shakes up a storm in the new Hong Kong bar.

Food & Drink

PDT in Central review: one of world’s best bars opens in Hong Kong

6 Mar 2018 - 6:16pm

Ballerina Svetlana Zakharova performs Revelation, from her show Pas de deux for Toes and Fingers with her violinist husband, Vadm Repin, at the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Photo: Hong Kong Arts Festival

Culture

Svetlana Zakharova and Vadim Repin show their dazzling virtuosity

1 Mar 2018 - 5:50pm

Svetlana Zakharova will perform two shows of Pas de deux for Toes and Fingers at the 2018 Hong Kong Arts Festival on February 27 and 28. Photo: Alamy

Culture

Ballet superstar on Arts Festival shows and juggling motherhood

27 Feb 2018 - 6:20pm

The big selling point for Strokes in Causeway Bay is that you can drink while playing crazy golf. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Food & Drink

Buy your friends a round – of crazy golf – at this Hong Kong bar

1 Mar 2018 - 7:09pm

Theatre of Nations’ Shukshin's Stories was a big hit at the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Photo: Hong Kong Arts Festival

Culture

Russian literary classic brought brilliantly to life on a Hong Kong stage

27 Feb 2018 - 12:33pm

Emma Ryott’s costumes were one of the stand-outs in the Zurich Ballet’s adaptation of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina performed at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Photo: Hong Kong Arts Festival

Culture

Zurich Ballet’s Anna Karenina for Hong Kong Arts Festival: review

27 Feb 2018 - 11:31am

The bar at Le Boudoir in Central after its revamp by street artist Szabotage. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Food & Drink

Le Boudoir in Central reviewed – what’s with that revamp?

22 Feb 2018 - 7:23pm 1

Inside Coa bar on Shin Hing Street in Central. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Food & Drink

Bar review: Coa in Central – great selection of tequila and mezcal

1 Feb 2018 - 7:48pm

Interior of Porterhouse in Lan Kwai Fong. Photo: Edward Wong

Food & Drink

Bar review: Porterhouse, Lan Kwai Fong – cocktails for carnivores

25 Jan 2018 - 7:14pm

Cloaks and Daggers is a signature cocktail at J’s Bar Bistro in Tsim Sha Tsui East. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Food & Drink

Bar review: J’s Bar Bistro, Tsim Sha Tsui – Casablanca flashbacks

4 Jan 2018 - 1:16pm

Wei Wei and Chen Zhiyao perform during Hong Kong Ballet’s popular production of Le Corsaire. Photo: Conrad Dy-Liacco

Culture

Hong Kong dance productions in 2017 – from dazzling to dreadful

29 Dec 2017 - 4:41pm

You book a 90-minute sampling session via a website that asks your drinking experience, and it pays to know what you like as your knowledgeable host pours examples of vodka, gin, agave rum and brandy to appraise and compare

Food & Drink

Bar review: The Woods Annex, SoHo – for serious spirit aficionados

22 Dec 2017 - 12:31pm

Interior of Ying Jee Club in Central. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Food & Drink

Bar review: Ying Jee Club Bar in Central – a true luxury experience

14 Dec 2017 - 6:51pm

The interior of Second Street Comfort Food & Bar. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Food & Drink

Bar review: Second Street Comfort Food & Bar – good value

7 Dec 2017 - 8:11pm

Lawry’s The Prime Rib offers customers a relaxed, cosy drinking hole in the heart of Central. Photo: Nora Tam

Food & Drink

Bar review: Lawry’s in Central – a tucked-away gem

30 Nov 2017 - 7:13pm

Despite a fine performance from Tang Ya in the title role, Lady White of West Lake is slow and bleak, with a weak narrative and mundane score, it making for an unsatisfying experience

Culture

Hong Kong Dance Company fails to bring to life Chinese love story

29 Dec 2017 - 4:44pm

Helen Lai’s choreography has stood the test of time, and work’s second half had the power and beauty of City Contemporary Dance Company’s original 2006 performances, but changes to its opening made little sense

Culture

Review: Testimony – Hong Kong dancers retell story of Shostakovich

29 Dec 2017 - 4:43pm

A Negroni cocktail at Paper Moon in Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Food & Drink

Bar review: Paper Moon, Tsim Sha Tsui – excellent happy hour

16 Nov 2017 - 7:17pm

Nederlands Dans Theater’s primary troupe, NDT1, perform Woke Up Blind at Kwai Tsing Theatre. Photo: Rahi Rezvani

Culture

Review: Nederlands Dans Theater dazzles Hong Kong with mixed bill

29 Dec 2017 - 4:45pm

Jin Yao (left) and Matthew Golding (right) perform alongside each other during the November 5 matinee of Hong Kong Ballet’s new production of Le Corsaire. Photo: Conrad Dy-Liacco

Culture

Review: Hong Kong Ballet’s Le Corsaire leaves you walking on air

29 Dec 2017 - 4:40pm

Great harbour views from ANA Ten, at Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Food & Drink

Bar review: ANA Ten, Tsim Sha Tsui – classy Japanese-style drinks

2 Nov 2017 - 7:08pm 1

Canadian former ballerina whose affair with Le Corsaire has lasted a lifetime is polishing dancers’ style ahead of performances next month and says audiences can look forward to an evening of bravura ballet

Culture

Choreographer preps Hong Kong Ballet for piratical romp Le Corsaire

29 Dec 2017 - 4:42pm