California Girls we’re unforgettable, Daisy Dukes, Bikinis on top, sun-kissed skin, so hot, we’ll melt your popsicle…From the West Coast to West Kowloon, summer’s just heating up. And at the W Hong Kong, that can only mean one thing, the launch of the W’s legendary Summer Series pool parties.

Bikinis, Tankinis, Martinis
Slip into your most seductive swimwear and get ready to get wetter and wilder than ever for the W’s hottest pool party series to date. Riding the two-year wave of unprecedented poolside fun, the 2012 Series is set to hit our shores on Saturday, May 26 with an epic Launch Event. One unforgettable pool party per month will follow through September.
Mark your calendar for summer’s most sought-after Saturdays:
May 26
June 16
July 21
August 25
September 15

There Must Be Something in the Water
Ready to make a splash? The W’s stunning 76th floor infinity pool and WET Deck will be transformed into a jaw-dropping party space in the sky.  A cocktail of fashion, auto, music and spirits partners from Absolut to Alfa Romeo and La Perla to Perrier-Jouët will shake things up each month with fashion shows, ice bars, international DJs, decadent dance performances and more.

Fine, Fresh, Fierce
Electrifying beats will raise the roof at the Launch Event on May 26, when a group of Hong Kong DJs will showcase their talents to vie for a spot in the globally renowned W Hotels and burn studios DJ LAB. Even the DJs will be glammed up to poolside perfection in ensembles by THE SWANK / Just Cavalli.

It’s Undeniable
These are the summer’s hottest tickets.  Whether you’re flying solo or have your entire entourage in tow, there are plenty of ways to play.
Single Shot – HK$300 (includes1 drink voucher each for the pool party and after-party)
WIP Zone – HK$850 (includes free-flowing Perrier-Jouët champagne, wine, cocktails, beer and soft drinks at the pool party and a drink voucher for the after-party)
Table to Rock – HK$5,000 (includes a magnum of Perrier-Jouët champagne, a bottle of Absolut vodka, and 6 drink vouchers for the after-party)

Sipping Gin and Juice
Summer Sundays filled with champagne brunches and luxe lounging? Welcome to WET Sunday Session. Every Sunday starting from June 3, W Hong Kong will open their exclusive pool and stunning deck. Kick back with sultry cocktails and sublime DJ grooves for an afternoon poolside party from 3pm to 8pm, like only the W can put on. Entry is HK$280 per person, including access to the pool deck and one complimentary welcome cocktail on arrival. But come a bit earlier for the W’s famous Kitchen Sunday Brunch and you will receive 50% off the pool entry price.

For the Saturday night parties, tickets can be booked through HK Ticketing / +852 3188 2888 or Tom Lee Music Stores.  For Tables or Sunday Session, contact wetparties.hk@whotels.com / +852 3717 2783

West Kowloon, represent, now put your hands up! The W Summer Series is about to begin…

Summer wardrobe in need of a little pick me up? Check out Sale in the City, this Thursday, May 17th, from 4:30 – 9:00pm at The Fringe Club Rooftop. Enjoy an afternoon of cool cocktails and shopping in the sunshine, with a chance to pick up some of your favourite HK designers including linens from Makaron Home, natural and organic cosmetics from Natur’elle, engraved charm bracelets from Tai Tai Folies, eco-friendly fashions by Lulu Hong Kong, cool clutches from Valentine & Co., vintage coin cufflinks from Patinova, and adorable children’s wear from Zolima, Marleen Molenaar and Juliet and the Band, plus the latest Tom Ford eyewear at special Summer Clearance prices, and much more.

See you on Thursday at the Fringe Club!

Next week, 16-20 May, ART HK 12 is set to light up the city, revealing some of the most prominent personalities and most celebrated galleries from around the world. A four-day frenzy of parties, festivities, talks and tipples awaits, not to mention art, and lots of it.  But before your head starts to spin, let us give you the lowdown on who’s who, what’s what, and what’s not to be missed…

Hot Tickets
Having put Hong Kong on the map as one of the world’s major art hubs and now in it’s 5th year, ART HK brings together international power players and Asia stars, showcasing the best of Contemporary Art from around the globe. This year will be the largest yet with 266 galleries, representing 38 countries worldwide. DSTS readers can enjoy a 55% discount on Admission to ART HK (just HK$226 for two tickets!). To book, please contact HK Ticketing on +852 3128 8288 and quote “ARTHK07” and “DIMSUM” (through 14th May). Ready to paint the town red? Vernissage, the invite only VIP preview on Wednesday 16th May, is one of the biggest “see and be ‘scene’ nights” of the year. There are very limited tickets on sale to the public, but we have secured an exclusive block of Vernissage Tickets to give away to lucky DSTS readers.  To enter to win, please click here and let us know: What’s your favourite art gallery in Hong Kong and why? Plus, If you need a private spot to entertain your entourage during the week, we’ve got the hook-up for tables at the Club Lounge, created by Hong Kong’s iconic designer Douglas Young of G.O.D., contact Diveesha at +852 3127 5525 or diveesha@hongkongartfair.com.

Cool Galleries
Get ready to walk the walk and talk the talk! Must see galleries include:
+ Tornabuoni Art, Paris
+ Lin & Lin Gallery, Taipei
+ McCaffrey Fine Art, New York
+ STARKWHITE, Auckland
+ AANDO FINE ART, Berlin
+ Nature Morte, New Delhi
+ Casa Triangulo, Sao Paulo
+ Stevenson Gallery, Capetown
+ ShanghART, Shanghai

Inspiring Exhibitions
Visit ASIA ONE, showcasing the latest developments in Contemporary Art from the Middle East to Australasia. Head to ART FUTURES for works by emerging artists. Be inspired by ART HK Projects, dedicated to presenting large scale sculpture and installation works by the world’s leading artists. Or check out the first ever Art Flat, a unique collection of art objects, housed in a apartment-like pop-up space.

After Hours Hangouts
Need a little pick me up? Enjoy sips and casual British bites at The Pawn (+852 2866 3444) or cocktails and dinner in sumptuous surrounds at Café Gray (+852 3968 1106). Now that you’re revved up, hit the dance floor at KEE Club, for their famous Club Clicquot night on Friday 18th May featuring DJ and Live performer Joris Voorn (+852 2810 9000). Ready to recoup?  The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, the official hotel of ART HK 12, is ready to welcome you with artful arms, with special accommodation packages, an ART Exhibition and beautifully designed cakes to match in the Clipper Lounge, art cocktails at M Bar, plus a sensory ART menu in the Michelin-starred Mandarin Grill + Bar where each dish is literally a work of art culminating in a mesmerizing dessert created right before your very eyes (+852 2522 0111).

Great Debate
On Friday 18th May, Intelligence Squared Asia will present leading art world experts to argue the motion: “Contemporary Art Excludes the 99 Percent” tackling issues including: What is the role of contemporary art museums today? Have collectors become the new curators? And are private and corporate interests in culture at odds with the public good? (Rm N101, HKCEC, drinks 5:30pm, debate: 6:30pm, HK$300, www.hkticketing.com)

Get ready to see some of the world’s most powerful and transformative pieces of contemporary art… as well as almost anyone you’ve ever met in HK.

ART HK 12
16 May 2011 (Wed) at 5pm – 9pm (Vernissage – Opening Night)
17 May 2011 (Thu) at 12noon – 7pm
18 May 2011 (Fri) at 12noon – 7pm
19 May 2011 (Sat) at 12noon – 7pm
20 May 2011 (Sun) at 12noon – 5pm
http://www.hongkongartfair.com / http://www.hkticketing.com

Ready to paint the town red? Vernissage, the invite only VIP preview on Wednesday 16th May, is one of the biggest “see and be ‘scene’ nights” of the year. There are very limited tickets on sale to the public, but we have secured an exclusive block of Vernissage Tickets to give away to lucky DSTS readers.

To enter to win a pair of tickets, please let us know: What’s your favourite art gallery in Hong Kong and why?

cforms contact form by delicious:days

After Shanghai Tang’s much-adored Pedder Street store shut their doors last fall, and created the amazing Mongolian Village Pop-Up Shop at Central Ferry Pier during winter, the arrival of spring brings the highly anticipated opening of the stunning new Shanghai Tang Mansion on history-filled Duddell Street in the heart of Central.  A modern interpretation of an opulent Chinese Art Deco mansion, the new flagship officially opened with a star-studded bash on Thursday, April 26^th, and is now the brand’s largest store in the world covering three-stories and spanning over 15,000 square feet.  Inside, a glamorous journey awaits, starting from the Ground Floor which is home to Women’s Ready-to-Wear & Accessories, weaving up the grand staircase to the Mezzanine featuring the Imperial Tailoring Atelier, Fragrance Bar, and Children & Baby Collections, and up to the top floor, which showcases Men’s Ready-to-Wear, the Imperial Collection, Polo Collection, and the Home Collection.

Up next? We hear a Shanghai Tang dining and nightlife concept is on the horizon for the building’s rooftop, bringing the modern Chinese chic concept to life on a whole new level.

Your opulent new home away from home awaits!

The Shanghai Tang Mansion
1 Duddell Street
Central, Hong Kong
+852 2525 7333
www.shanghaitang.com

We all know we are what we eat (a delightful sugar plum, thank you).  But what if we are what’s on our bathroom shelf? Surely not, a colourful array of toxic chaos?

It’s time to make amends and we have found the perfect products to help detoxify yourself (and your bathroom).  Introducing, The Organic Pharmacy, now exclusively available at the Spa at The Four Seasons.  Founded in London by Husband and Wife team Margo and Francesco Marrone, the brand stemmed from studies in pharmacy and homeopathy, and identified a gap in the market for truly natural, all-organic products that were free from toxins but delivered promised results.  10 years on and it has developed at cult following across the globe (Kylie and the Kardashian sisters included!) and their products have been picking up awards year after year.  Specialising in urban wellbeing and the connection between inner health and outer beauty, The Organic Pharmacy together with the Spa the Four Seasons bring you a series of treatments and products that are active and performance driven while being kind to your body and the environment.  Not to be missed treatments include the Organic Pharmacy Facial, a luxurious lifting and firming treatment which uses acupressure massage to stimulate the lymphatic system. Massage is followed by application of The Organic Pharmacy’s sumptuous products including rose crystals and antioxidant serums (90mins, from HK$2100). The Seaweed Cleansing Cocoon is another top performer designed to rid the skin and body of pollution and toxins using highly active ingredients including seaweed, eucalyptus, juniper and fennel (120mins, from HK$2600) leaving you detoxified and uber relaxed.  All the nurturing can be continued at home with their fabulous range of products now available at the Spa at the Four Seasons.

An organic, radiant, vision of health?  You and your bathroom shelf may have a lot in common after all!

The Organic Pharmacy at the Spa at The Four Seasons
3196 8900
www.fourseasons.com/hongkong
www.theorganicpharmacy.com

BA from Oxford, MBA from Harvard, CFA, Honorary Doctorate. No one would argue that your education wasn’t first rate. But when was the last time you had a private caviar tasting led by a world renowned chef, experienced a day of shopping in HK’s most sought after spots with your own expert personal stylist, or traveled by helicopter to a one-on-one golf Master Class with the pros? Welcome to The Peninsula Lifestyle Academy, launching this month with a highly targeted “curriculum” to help you delve even further into the best of this city, and featuring a group of the world’s most distinctive experts to keep everything from your taste buds to your golf swing polished to perfection.

Having a dinner party? Learn to make your own stunning centerpieces or how to coordinate a full table setting from flowers to candles to linens, with a private class led by The Peninsula’s resident floral designer (HK$3,888). Sweet tooth? Get a sneak preview of the back-of-house kitchens, where all the magic happens, before entering The Peninsula’s brand new, “Chocolate Room” where Maitre Chocolatier Marijn Coertjens will spill the beans with his insight into cocoa history and chocolate creation, while giving you an exclusive private chocolate tasting (HK$2,888). Prefer something savoury? Go for a palate-pleasing, perhaps life-changing caviar and champagne journey with the hotel’s head chef (HK$5,888). Tea and history? Immerse yourself in a few sips of HK culture with a tea appreciation class led by Spring Moon’s Chinese Tea Master.  Special event coming up? Get red carpet ready with a tailor-made style journey and VIP shopping experience including a chauffer driven Rolls-Royce limo, and access to bespoke consultations, private collection viewings, and limited edition pieces, all accompanied by your very own personal stylist (from HK$11,888). Working on your swing? Suit up for an exclusive “MAT-T Fitting Session” at HK’s only TaylorMade Performance Lab to assess your handicap, while their resident golf pro offers advice and insight to ensure you stay on top of your game (HK$2,388) or take to the skies with a round-trip helicopter transfer to a private lesson and day of golfing at the award winning Kau Sai Chau (HK$8,888).

Watch out Harvard, there’s a new school in town…

The Peninsula Lifestyle Academy
Currently reserved for The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel guests only
Hotel Reservations: +852 2920 2888
Lifestyle Academy Enquiries: guestrelationsphk@peninsula.com

Linguini Fini has been making headlines since it opened, with its decidedly fresh, fun vibe, mouthwatering innovative dishes, farm to table ethos and even a Michelin recognition.  This winter, they transformed the ground floor of L Place into the hip and happening The Bar at Linguini Fini, serving their delectable pizzas, savoury snacks and unbelievable desserts, including homemade ice cream sandwiches and giant American-style cookies, all day long. Now, Chef Vinny Lauria and his team are set to wow us again, this time even before we’ve had our morning coffee.   Say Buongiorno to Breakfast at Linguini Fini, hitting the grills from 7am daily! Choose from a selection of freshly baked pastries including Lemon & Ricotta Pound Cake, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Sour Cherry & Cream Cheese Danishes, and Cinnamon Buns served hot out of the oven.  Go healthy with a fruit and yogurt cup made with seasonal fruits from the Homegrown Foods local farms. Or dig into the LF version of New York’s favourite hangover cure “a bacon, egg and cheese” sandwich made with the company’s locally sourced farm fresh eggs, homemade crispy pancetta and provolone, or the Big Boy Breakfast, a fry-up featuring homemade garlic and parsley pork sausage, 2 eggs any style, charred semolina cannellini beans, pancetta and roasted tomatoes. Complimentary unlimited cups of LF’s signature La Colombe coffee, tea and fresh juices will give your morning a kickstart, while wi-fi and the latest newspapers ensure you’re ready for the day ahead.

Mornings may never be the same again.

Breakfast at Linguini Fini
Served 7 Days a Week, 7:00AM – 11:00AM
G/F, The L Place
139 Queen’s Road
Central, Hong Kong
+852 2857 1333
www.linguinifini.com

Saturday, March 31, 2012 – Dim Sum & Then Some rolled out the red carpet to celebrate five fun-filled and fabulous years in the world’s most exciting city with a talk-of-the-town 5th Anniversary Party at KEE Club and the reveal of their first ever Film Production, created in collaboration with Celebrity and Fashion Photographer / Filmmaker Sean Lee Davies.

Shaking Things Up
Glowing red lanterns, oriental umbrellas and giant glittering birdcages set the scene for a night of partying like only HK-ers can. To kick off the cocktail-fueled fun, guests stepped up to “shake their own” SKYYline Martinis with a little help from SKYY Vodka‘s expert mixologists, whetting their palates for a feast of KEE’s delectable dim sum. Were your stars aligned that night? Local fortune-tellers were on hand to tell us what was in the cards, while a photo booth from HK Photobox captured the night’s silver screen sirens and leading men. Candles were lit and wishes were made on a stunning and delectable VERO Chocolate birthday cake before turning up the heat on the dance floor with Cabaret performances and rocking DJ sounds, courtesy of Dragon-i resident DJ Doze.

Simply The Best
Five was the lucky number of the night with a Lucky Draw featuring Five Exclusive “Only in Hong Kong Experience Prizes” from HK’s Best Brands, created especially for Dim Sum & Then Some’s Anniversary Event.  Whether you wanted to win A multi-sensory shopping experience at the brand new Shanghai Tang Mansion on Duddell Street including a “summer wardrobe” valued at HK$10,000; A Mandarin Shave at The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong‘s The Mandarin Barber, a signature John Lobb Shoe Shine butler service, and a sumptuous Lunch for two at Michelin-starred Pierre; A VIP experience of personal shopping in the exclusive Platinum Suite with Lane Crawford’s Fashion Director, Sarah Rutson and a goody bag filled with this season’s latest must-have beauty products from the Cosmetic Concierge; A one night stay in a magnificent suite at historic Hullett House including a complimentary bottle of champagne; or A 12-minute flight-seeing tour for two in The Peninsula Hong Kong’s twin-engine Aerospatiale Squirrel Helicopter, plus a “Time Together” Experience at The Peninsula Spa for two, a Dining Experience for two with Wine-Pairing at Felix, and Cocktails for two at Salon de Ning, the city was your oyster!

Stars Were Aligned
The lights went up, the big screen rolled down and a preview of Dim Sum & Then Some’s first ever film production “Only in Hong Kong” took centre stage. Created in collaboration with Celebrity and Fashion Photographer / Filmmaker Sean Lee Davies, the film is a tribute to the best of Hong Kong featuring candid commentary and insider insight from Hong Kong’s most celebrated movers and shakers.

Wish you were there? Check out the Photos on our Gallery, catch a glimpse of the highlights on our Event Video, or be among the first to see the “Only in Hong Kong” film.

In a night celebrating five fun-filled and fabulous years, one thing was clear…the party’s only just getting started at Dim Sum & Then Some!

Dim Sum & Then Some rolls out the red carpet for their 5th Anniversary in a fun and fabulous party to remember at KEE Club.

View on Vimeo