23 December, 2011

WEEKENDER: NYE Parties & The Best Spot for Fireworks

23 December, 2011

We’re off on our Christmas hols soon and can’t wait to put our feet up… but not before we’ve delivered one last action-packed bumper Weekender! We’ve got all the hottest New Year’s Eve parties, the best places to check out the fireworks, plus a few more activities to keep you busy over the next fortnight… if you’re not all Christmassed out that is. See you in 2012! 

Bang Bang!
No one does fireworks quite like Hong Kong! This year’s Countdown to 2012 also includes multi-coloured ‘shooting stars’ fireworks launching every 15 minutes from 11-11.45pm from ten different rooftop buildings, a ‘golden dragon’ dancing around Two ifc to accompany the specially-composed theme song ‘Soaring Dragons With A Happy Heart’ and the words ‘Happy New Year’ appearing above Victoria Harbour… plus there’ll be the usual pyrotechnics spectacular to set the night on fire at midnight itself!

Best viewing points: Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront (between Avenue of Stars and HKCC); West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade; Golden Bauhinia Square promenade, Wan Chai; Central Piers

Hed Kandi presents Disco’s Revenge at The W Hotel
Last year’s Hed Kandi NYE Ball is still being talked about now… so make sure you don’t miss out on this year’s Hed Kandi Disco’s Revenge extravaganza! There will be disco grooves, funky house tunes, DJs galore, a special guest appearance from Aimee Jay on the saxophone, crazy costumes, and feel-good fun all-night long – plus an open bar of standard drinks from 11pm until 3am, with a few light nibbles to keep the party going at 2am too. Start digging out your flares and sequins!

Where: The Great Room, The W Hotel, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon Station, Kowloon, Hong Kong
When:  31 December, 10pm till late
How Much:  Advanced tickets $1480, $1880 on the door; buy tickets here or at W Hotel, or phone 8201 1027

Boardwalk Carnival at Lily & Bloom
Take a trip back to the Roaring 20s with Lily & Bloom’s Boardwalk Carnival! Enjoy a five-course slap-up meal at Bloom (with open bar from 11pm onwards) or just head straight to the open bar and canapés at Lily – both include one glass of Veuve Clicquot for the countdown, plus entertainment from a magician, stilt walker, clown, caricaturist and a balloon drop at midnight! Just make sure you come kitted out in all your best twenties gear – feather boas standard!

Where: Lily & Bloom, 5/F & 6/F LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong
When: 31 December, 7pm-3am
How Much: Bloom dinner $1500 (plus 10% service charge); Lily open bar $550 until 30 December ($650 on the door); RSVP to [email protected] or call 2810 6166

Black Tie(d) Up at Soiree
Get dressed up for a slinky NYE cocktail do at Soiree, which includes a welcoming glass of bubbly, canapés and London duo DJ Pop Fugitives spinning the decks. Oh… and did we mention it’s free?! No, we can’t quite believe it either!

 

Where: Soiree, 19 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong
When: 31 December, 6pm onwards
How Much: Free; RSVP to [email protected] or call Tomi on 6417 1177 by 23 December

Perrier Jouët Champagne & Entourage present Black & Gold
Free flow Perrier Jouët champers – need we say more?! Black & Gold at Entourage will play host to two floors of festivities, top DJs, a delicious selection of canapés from Executive Chef Frank Lebiez and a live NYE countdown… plus the unlimited bubbly we spoke of at a dedicated Perrier Jouët bar! There’s also complimentary hotel stay packages, table bookings and other goodies available for group purchases – so round up a gang and party ‘til the cows come home!

Where: Entourage, 5 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong.
When: 31 December, 10pm-3am
How Much: $1088 in advance ($1288 on the door); RSVP to [email protected] or phone Chris (6016 3220), Avey (5129 7324) or Sharon (9519 3996)
And to keep you entertained the rest of the fortnight…

Elementary, my dear Watson
We loved the recent Sherlock Holmes film – Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law kicking ass through Victorian London (and looking rather easy on the eye too!) – so what better festive treat than the release of the sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows! This time round, the world’s most famous detective does battle with evil criminal mastermind Moriarty… so expect thrills, spills and a wise cracks galore!

Where: Cinemas everywhere
When: Out now!

I Don’t Feel Like Dancing!
Have a boogie, clap your hands and sing-along with Jake Shears, Ana Matronic, Baby Daddy et al… yes, the disco-loving Scissor Sistersare in town and they’re certain to make their mark on HK! Expect colourful costumes, crazy sets and songs you just can’t help tapping your toes too… come on, you know you want to!
Where: Hall 10, AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong
When:  5 January, 8pm
How Much:  $680 ($580 if you book groups of 5 tickets or more), www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288

Amazing acrobatics
We’ve heard awe-inspiring things about Chinese circus troupes… so we can’t wait to see the Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe of Chinawork their acrobatic magic here! Expect plenty of death-defying stunts and breath-taking aerial gymnastics, plus some traditional acts too – but whatever you do, don’t try this at home!
Where: Tuen Mun Town Hall, 3 Tuen Hi Road; Sha Tin Town Hall, 1 Yuen Wo Road; Yuen Long Theatre, 9 Yuen Long Tai Yuk Road
When: 24-26 December, 7.30pm; 27 December, 3pm
How Much: $100-220, www.urbtix.hk, 2111 5999

Skating under the stars
Enjoy Hong Kong’s first open-air ice-rink and soak up the festive atmosphere at Ice Wonderland – after all, it’s probably the closest thing we’re going to get to real snow this season!

 

Where: UC Centenary Garden, East Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
When: 25 November-1 January, see opening hours here
How Much: Skate rental $15 afternoon session, $30 evening session

Dragon & Lion Dance Extravaganza
If you’re not nursing a major case of the ‘morning after the night before’, this is a fantastic way to celebrate the start of 2012. The Dragon & Lion Dance is an age-old traditional parade that features 88 dragons and 50 lions dancing their way their way through Central and Wan Chai; it’s the perfect chance to see in 2012 with a ROAR!

Where: Parade starts from Chater Road, Central and finishes at Southorn Playground, Wan Chai (where the dragon/lion dance is performed)
When: 1 January, 2-5pm
How Much: Free

Got an event you’d like us to feature in The Weekender, or have a top tip for us? Email us the deets at [email protected]!

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