Nestled along the busy Hennessy Road in Wan Chai, the Foo Tak Building may just look like a regular Chinese tenement block from the outside. But behind this unassuming exterior is actually a vibrant hub for Hong Kong artists. Foo Tak Building in yellow on the right. Photo: Peace ChiuFoo Tak Building. Photo: Peace Chiu Built in 1968, the 14-storey tenement block was originally home to residential and commercial units. But in 2003, the landlord of 20 of the total 28 units approached veteran art worker May Fung about helping artists after learning how many were having difficulties finding sp ..read more

There is a saying that Hong Kong is a cultural desert, but these five artists prove that the city’s art scene is still blooming and diverse. Be inspired, have a laugh or feel the love from these artists’ work, which range from quirky and self-deprecating pieces commenting on Hong Kong society to intricate and surrealist artwork. Cuson Lo A name familiar to many Hongkongers, Cuson Lo’s work has been featured at the Hong Kong Book Fair as well as in commercials. The artist, who is known for his caricature of himself, is loved for taking inspiration from down-to-earth topics such as the social si ..read more

On a day off with good weather, there’s nothing we at Coconuts love to do more than escaping from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong’s city life. For the public holiday that recently passed, we decided to head north to Nam Sang Wai, which is located near Yuen Long. Long popular among locals for a day out with family or friends, or birdwatching with fellow hobbyists, the wetland area has, in the past decade, been subject to repeated fires deemed suspicious by authorities. Some have alleged the fires were set off by arsonists attempting to reduce the environmental value of the area to reduce opp ..read more

Pop punk queen Avril Lavigne has canceled the Hong Kong stop of her world tour, which had been scheduled to take place on Nov, 1, due to issues with “travel and scheduling logistics”. The Canadian singer-songwriter has rescheduled the shows in the city several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions. “To my fans in Hong Kong and Manila, I am writing to you with some unfortunate news. Due to travel and scheduling logistics, I am unable to make these shows happen. I am heartbroken about not being able to make it as I know these shows have been sold out for some time ..read more

Hong Kong’s TV scene is back in the international spotlight with actors Gigi Leung, Ling Man-lung and Sham Ka-ki, and writer Benny Lau earning nominations at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asia Contents Awards. Leung and Lau have been nominated for best actress and best writer, respectively, for “The Parents League”, which is produced by MakerVille. The TV series, which was shown on ViuTV, tells the story of Nora (played by Leung) quitting her job as a journalist to be a full-time mother to her daughter who is struggling in Hong Kong’s pressure cooker education system. Together with o ..read more

With the weather getting (relatively) cooler in Hong Kong, people will increasingly be looking for fun ways to take in some fresh air and enjoy the city’s beautiful skyline. Next month, The Grounds will give you ample opportunities to do just that. Back for a second season starting Oct. 13 at the AIA Vitality Park at Central Harbourfront, The Grounds, which describes itself as “Hong Kong’s ultimate socially distanced entertainment experience”, is offering a fun-filled series of activities, including movie nights under the stars, food, kids entertainment, wellness and fitness sessions, and more ..read more

Remember Ah Yi, the atypical Miss Asia Pageant 2021 contestant who won over the internet with her deadpan expressions and unusual demeanor? After dropping out of the pageant and getting embroiled in more recent controversies — including being sentenced to two weeks in jail in March for kicking her neighbor after being reprimanded for not wearing a mask and being arrested for driving without a license — you would be forgiven for thinking that her 15-minutes of fame had passed.  But it seems like the reason why the internet sensation has been relatively quiet in Hong Kong recently is becaus ..read more

Hong Kong jazz bar Peel Fresco Music Lounge has shuttered its doors due to Covid-19 restrictions. The owners of the music and drinks venue in Central said in a Facebook post on Friday that it made “the tough decision” to close its doors permanently after 16 years of operations. “The past three years have made it impossible to run a live music business in Hong Kong,” they said. “This [Hong Kong government’s] continuous illogical and unsubsidized live performances ban simply made it impossible for us to go on and match a Soho commercial rent and related expenses. Holding on to the hope — every t ..read more

Five Miss Hong Kong contestants have caught Covid-19, resulting in next Sunday’s semi-final being postponed till further notice. Broadcaster TVB, which hosts the yearly competition, said in a notice on Tuesday that it has arranged for the remaining 14 contestants to undergo PCR tests.  It also said it has put on hold remaining promotions and rehearsals in order to protect the contestants and other cast and crew.  The broadcaster added that the semi-final will be rescheduled till further notice.  It said this was to give enough time for those who contracted the virus to recover ..read more

It’s been two months since Jumbo Floating Restaurant departed Hong Kong and capsized in the South China Sea. To commemorate the icon and its legacy, five local illustrators have come together to present the “Our ‘Jumbo’ Story” exhibition, which will run from Sep. 3 to Oct. 4 at Aberdeen Centre. The featured artists are Chocolate Rain, Felix Ip, Messy Desk, Pen So and No Paper Studio, who will share their memories of the floating restaurant through their artwork. Among the highlights is No Paper Studio’s play on an old-school movie poster, which features the main characters of “God of Cookery ..read more