For Your Diary: What’s On In Hong Kong For June

With Art Basel and Le French May over, the artiest month in Hong Kong’s cultural calendar might be coming to an end. But we think it should be extended, since there’s plenty more to explore this month! Celebrate the start of summer with a host of fun activities – and if the weather holds up, hopefully we can get outdoors too…

Row, row, row your boat
We love us some outdoor fun, and we’re so excited about the annual Dragon Boat Races and Carnival. The focus is the 49 teams racing, but we love any excuse to head over to one of our favourite outlying islands for a day out. There’ll be market booths for a spot of shopping, fire dances, cheerleaders and beer. It promises to be a fun event that will make you proud to be a Hongkonger!

When: 1-2 June, races will be from 8am-4.45pm on 1 June and the carnival is on both days from 10.30am-6pm
Where: The races will be held at Tai Pak Beach and the carnival is at DB Plaza in Discovery Bay, Lantau, Hong Kong
How much: Free to watch and enter; bring some cash for drinks and nibbles!

Back to the future
The French artists have come and gone (mostly!), so we’re going back to celebrate some local talent. Visions to the Future is an exhibition showcasing the artworks of five emerging local artists, smack in the heart of Central. Sassy Girls who love a sophisticated soirée can head over to the opening reception on 3 June to mingle with the crème de la crème!

When: 3-18 June
Where: Rotunda Space, Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong
How much: Free

Don Yuan
We love a good comedy show, especially one that’s been spiced up with a dash of Hong Kong. Don Yuan is a story about Donald Yuan, a fast-living playboy whose life catches up with him. In court, he realises he’s in trouble when three women who he knows are witnesses for the prosecution. Don may be in the dog house…

When: 4-7 June
Where: Fringe Underground, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $180 for Fringe Club members, $220 for non-members. Tickets available here. 

Don’t be a bridezilla!
For brides-t0-be, the 75^th Summer Wedding Service Banquet Expo and Beauty Fiesta is the place to be! It’ll be great for researching dresses, venues, cakes and more for your upcoming special day. There will be 7 zones, each with a different theme to cater to all your wedding needs. It’ll have the trendiest and most up-to-date wedding-related news, products and services so you can make the most out of the weekend. At the expo, you’ve also got a chance to win some grand prizes including return air tickets to Brunei and some shiny bling for your ring finger. For the newly-engaged (who may want to bring along their fiancé!), it’s the place to be!

When: 6-8 June
Where: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
How much: $20 entry fee

To market, to market…
To buy some scrummy Italian food! That’s what’s on at the Italian Market, hosted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce. The Italians are not just known for their food (and wine!), but also their cars and even silicone kitchenware. There’ll be performances from artists and musicians alike. Sounds like a fun weekend out…

When: 7-8 June
Where: The Arcade, Ocean View Court, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
How much: $100, tickets available here

No wings, but we need chocolate
We love us some street art, and Hong Kong’s welcomed some real talented artists, including French graffiti artist CEET. On the tail end of Le French May, he’s exhibiting his show No Wings, No Chocolate. He’s got a penchant for drawing chickens, which he started drawing to show to restaurants in Asia when they struggled to understand him. It’s definitely a quirky one for the diary!

When: 7-26 June, the opening reception is on 7 June from 6.30-8.30pm, the gallery is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11am-11pm
Where: toof [ contemporary ], 3/F, Harbour Industrial Centre, 10 Lee Hing Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry from 6.30-8.30pm, $100 for the rest of the opening night

Craving vino?
Daytime drinking just got a whole lot cooler! Time Out Hong Kong’s Wine Walk 2014 is a lazy bar crawl along Tsim Sha Tsui’s al fresco restos. Besides wine and nibbles, you’ll need your designer sunnies and a camera for some Instagram-worthy moments of Hong Kong’s waterfront and skyline during the day. And you’ll be helping a good cause too, as all proceeds from the fun event will go to Mother’s Choice. That sounds like a bar crawl we want to get involved in…

When: 14 June
Where: Alfresco Lane, Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront, 66 Mody Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
How much: $128 before 5 June, $150 after, and there’s 20% off a group ticket purchase if you’ve got a group of 10 or more – the perfect excuse to rope the girls in! Tickets available here

Let’s get butchered
It’s back! Sassy favourite The Butcher’s Club brings back A Steak Rebellion at its new venue in Aberdeen. There’ll be butchered pigs heads, fortune tellers… and of course, food! A delicious five-course menu including oysters, salad, a handcrafted charcuterie and the main event: dry-aged rib-eye steaks. A delicious meal with a touch of theatrics – perfect for all the foodies out there!

When: 14 June
Where: The Butchers Club Deli at ED1TUS, Factory Unit A&B, 16/F, Shui Ki Industrial Building, 18 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
How much: $1,500 per person. Tickets available here.

Giddy up!
We know Chinese New Year is over, but it’s still the Year of the Horse until next January! And Hong Kong loves horse racing, so it’s only fitting that Gail Turner and Sascha Camille Howard have joined forces to celebrate the horse with a photography exhibition. There’s a series of beautiful and powerful paintings and photographs that capture the movement and spirit of the heroic animals. Sounds moving!

When: The opening reception is on 14 June, the exhibition runs from 13-21 June
Where: Sascha Camille Howard – Artist Studio, 787 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry

We’re not on Broadway
For fans of Broadway musicals, you’ll know about Ivan Rutherford. The gifted and versatile performer has played the lead in Les Miserables, and will be performing at A Taste Of Broadway with Ivan Rutherford in Hong Kong. We’ll be sure to cross over to the dark side to have a listen of his smooth tones!

When: 14 June, 8pm
Where: Academic Community Hall, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
How much: $380, $480, $680, $880. Tickets available here.

Comic central
If you’re in the mood for some comedy, check out Ari Shaffir all over town this month. He’s making his debut in the ‘Kong, and we girls love to welcome newbies with open arms! He’s known for his mildly offensive sketches and viral comedy that’s made him a household name in the States. Comedy.HK are doing a good job at bringing us some overseas talent, so don’t miss out on these up and coming comedic stars!

When: 17-21 June
Where: Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, all over town! Check out details here.
How much: Tickets are $250, more details here.

Dance, dance, baby
White is DANCE Kho’s newest movement, and it explores the simplicity and fragility of colour and the fragility that exists in all of us. A collaboration between local artist Kirsten Ho and Mexican guest artist Stephanie Janina, White is dynamic and features energetic solos, duets and group pieces. It’ll be super entertaining!

When: 19-21 June
Where: Fringe Underground, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $120 for Fringe Club members, $150 for non-members. Tickets available here.

Abracadabra
David Copperfield’s not hitting our shores anytime soon, but his protégé Lu Chen is hitting Macau this month! You’ll be left awestruck and spellbound after watching him perform at his dazzling magic show. There’ll be brand new effects, jaw-dropping illusions and seemingly impossible feats. It promises to be highly entertaining!

When: 21 June, 8pm
Where: Cotai Arena, Venetian Macao,  Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança, s/n, Taipa, Macau
How much: $280, $580, $880, $1280. Tickets available here.

Oh, what a lovely show!
A classic piece of theatre, Hong Kong Players presents Oh, What a Lovely War to the city. The West End musical satirises the madness of The Great War with its use of archival news footage, historical photographs and dialogue taken from first person accounts. It’s right on cue as well, as this year marks the centenary of the outbreak of World War One.

When: 25-28 June
Where: Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
How much: Ticket prices differ for each night, more details here.

Comedy giant
The Fringe Club is great for intimate art house theatre performances, and we love the sound of The Government Inspector. In a classic case of mistaken identity, the play, based in St. Petersburg, will have you roaring with laughter at the physical comedy. Sometimes, we need a good giggle!

When: 25-28 June
Where: Fringe Underground, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $200 for Fringe Club members, $250 for non-members. Tickets available here.

Great Sax
The powerful yet soothing sounds of the sax are truly stunning! That’s why we were excited to hear that France’s best-known classical saxophonist Claude Delangle is performing in our fair city. He’s performing in celebration of the 200^th anniversary of Adolphe Sax. And he knew what he was doing, since he invented the instrument! It promises to be a breath-taking evening, on the tail end of Le French May.

When: 28 June
Where: City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $180, $280, $380. Tickets available here at Urbtix.

Smooth operator
Bublé, move over! San Francisco groover Mitch Franco hits the stage at the exclusive Salon de Ning. Franco’s suave, sophisticated on-stage presence is a must-see as he takes on classics such as Sinatra’s My Way and Fly Me To The Moon. How sultry! It’s the perfect place to take a hot date for a drink!

When: From Tuesdays to Saturdays until 28 June, 10pm
Where: Salon de Ning, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry

Bring it on!
Looking for something a little bit different, that will certainly get you feeling cheery? Then check out Hong Kong Cheer Union‘s first ever ‘Asia Pacific Challenge’ at Asia World Expo! Hong Kong Cheer Union (HKCU) is a not for profit Hong Kong company that aims to provide cheer and dance events as well as education programmes in our city. With a number of teams attending from Australia and China, as well as some local teams, there’s sure to be some exciting performances that are full of energy and skill. Time to take out the poms poms!

When: 28 and 29 June
Where: Asia World-Expo, Asia World Summit, Lantau, Hong Kong
How much: For bookings, email [email protected] or call 3975 2726.

Ships, ahoy
For those who love everything about being at sea, Hong Kong’s Maritime Museum is definitely a place to check out. And in honour of Le French May, it’s hosting an exhibition about French ocean liners. Palaces on The Seas: The Golden Age of French Ocean Liners will have on display more than 200 objects, including posters, drawings, silver wear and photographs. Experience and imagine the luxurious lifestyle of yesteryear. It makes a change from being a pool bum on a modern cruise liner!

When: 28 May-26 August
Where: Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Ferry Pier 8, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $30