It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the city’s influential demographic of soothsayers, charlatans, svengalis, sex wizards, poseurs and all-around general mountebanks.

Johannes Pong uncovers the coolest spaces and faces in Central and Sheung Wan.

Hang Seng Bank recently refused to allow Pakistanis in Hong Kong to open bank accounts because of Pakistan’s link with terrorism. June Ng asks why the new racism law isn’t helping them.

Tony Chan lost, finally - The High Court has ruled that feng shui master Tony Chan has lost in the estate trial against the Chinachem Charitable Foundation, ending (for now) his attempt to gain ownership of late tycoon Nina Wang’s $100 billion fortune.

The police are going political - Theoretically, all civil servants should be politically objective, so it is quite upsetting to see the latest issue of the police newsletter “Off Beat,” where a new section has appeared indirectly demonizing the protesters who got into scuffles with the police during the anti-high-speed rail protests.

James Cameron, director of the science-fiction epic “Avatar,” almost inadvertently started a tribal war in China after tourism chiefs in Hunan tried to cash in on the popularity of his smash-hit blockbuster by renaming a peak in their province “Hallelujah Mountain” after the floating rocks in the movie.

Have your wicked way this Valentine’s Day with these little treats that’ll sweep her off her feet. By Sarah Fung

Find love on the menu this Valentine’s Day. By Dorothy So.

The first lesson I learned about knives was that you shouldn’t have the blade pointing directly at one hand while pushing the handle with your entire body weight using the other hand. But that’s the kind of quasi-suicidal technique I had to use to shuck an oyster.

The buzz: Gilbert Yeung’s latest baby–an upbeat, bustling, modern robatayaki—is definitely not lazy.

Yes, I love, love, love eating out. But there are those days when all I really want to do is stay at home in my PJs with zero make-up on. Of course, the perfect scenario would also entail someone making a restaurant-grade meal for me while I couch-potato in front of the TV, watching endless episodes of “Criminal Minds” or “Friends” reruns.

It’s only two hours away from Hong Kong, the weather is hot and the people are warm and welcoming. Epicureans can graze at the Saturday food market and sample delicious organic chocolate, sip locally grown coffee or taste endless artisanal breads, cheeses and cakes.

This V-Day, avoid the cheesy, coupled-up restaurants and get some serious couples’ time with these spa treatments a deux. By Sarah Fung.

Boozy Bonding

Totally Amused - Rock out with English band Muse at AsiaWorld-Arena. Have you ever seen AsiaWorld-Arena transformed into a Glam Rock Opera House? Oh. What about since 2010? Didn’t think so.

Edge of Indonesia - A group exhibition featuring eight Indonesian artists whose work varies from oil paintings to notice board art.

Yundi Li & the HKPO and Yundi Li in Recital - Chinese pianist Yundi Li, who won the Interna­tional Frederick Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 18, helps celebrate the 200th anniversary of Chopin.

Can you believe it? After columns of bitching about the completely unnecessary audience participation that happens at nearly every gig at Grappa’s Cellar I’ve been to last year, the people who went to see Andrew Bird last Wednesday actually behaved!!!! Ooooh. Em. Eff. Gee. Good job, guys! Here are some more exclamation marks for y’all!!!!!!!!!

The buzz: Mariners’ Rest is supposedly the oldest pub in Hong Kong—now part of the boutique hotel Hullett House, this drinking hole was once the pub for officers and visiting seamen as early as 1884 when the building served as the Marine Police Headquarters.

Disco 2 Disco - DJ Mr Mike from Switzerland spins an entire spectrum of electric disco and dance music. $300 (includes a drink). Fri, Feb 5, 11pm. Kee Club, 6/F, 32 Wellington St., Central, 2810-9000, www.keeclub.com.

Solos x Heavy Hong Kong presents MTR

I understand that it is a daunting task to make archaic mores resonate with a modern Chinese audience, but director Hu Mei, who’s been responsible for most of CCTV’s historical epics over the last decade, utterly confuses us with “Confucius” (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun).

There are few directors in the world who can take a premise about an inflatable sex doll that comes to life and make it a profound and moving film, rather than a facile and pornographic exercise, but Hirokazu Kore-eda is, as expected, up to the challenge.

When people receive lai see during Chinese New Year, most only pay attention to the money inside. Not Chan Hoi-ping though, because he has been a collector of the envelopes for more than 30 years. He tells June Ng about the significance of lai see culture.

Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Aarif Lee has quickly become Cantopop’s new It-Boy after appearing topless on his debut album cover last year. The 22-year-old talks to Johannes Pong about his path from model student to stripping for music.

Let’s say, theoretically, I’m a pedophile.