‘Tis the season... for jostling with harried parents and other strung-out shoppers through the jam-packed winter wonderlands we call malls. If you’re really feeling the holiday stress, take a break with our entirely misguided Christmas shopping advice! 

The government has pledged to revitalize our beleaguered industrial buildings, but will development measures help or hinder the communities that currently use them? By June Ng

The third Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biennale is coming to town. Steven Ho checks out the highlights of the festival about urban art and architecture.

Want to achieve zen in the middle of the silly season? Now’s as good a time as any to start stretching yourself in a yoga class. Caroline Ritter strikes a pose.

Check out the natural wonders of Hong Kong with a tour of our newly opened Geopark. Pictures courtesy of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Four quintessential Hong Kong streets. By Winnie Yeung

Democratic resignation plan update - After much reluctance from the Democratic Party to adopt their fellow pan-democratic legislators’ plans to resign their Legco seats on Christmas and thus trigger by-elections as a sort of referendum on democracy, the Civic Party and the League of Social Democrats (LSD) have said that they will delay the plan to resign.

Importing mainland police practices - Have you ever watched a late-night CCTV news program in which a news team follows police officers as they crack down on brothels? You might think it would be a violation of privacy and human rights if it ever happened in Hong Kong. Yet sadly, it did happen, last week.

The ever-daring Lee Kuan Yew, the father of Singapore, never lets his fans down. The Cambridge-educated veteran statesman said last week: “I don’t think the Chinese are ever interested in democracy.” If not democracy, then what? “Money” is what was left unsaid.

Dorothy So gets into the holiday spirit with the season’s sweetest little treats.

Anyone want to buy me a Christmas present? Yes? Good. Because I totally would not mind receiving one of the beautiful holiday hampers from SEVVA (BIG hint hint).

The buzz: The friendly husband-and-wife team behind Kennedy Town’s Davis wine and tapas bar have taken over another spot on the street with the opening of their new Western seafood and grill restaurant.

It’s just a short hop over to Koh Samui where you can unwind in design-conscious hotels at wallet-friendly prices. Gregoire Glachant tours the island’s resorts with an eye for design and privacy.

Yes, it’s a bit obvious, but you can’t go wrong with a bundle of beauty products as a dead cert Christmas gift. Sarah Fung rounds up the best Christmas coffrets of the season.

Deejay-talism - If Franz Ferdinand play rock for dancing, Digitalism does dance for rocking! The German DJ duo from Hamburg have been the go-to masters for indie remixes for years, and now they’re playing at Volar’s Fifth Anniversary Party.

Violin Virtuosi - Local prodigy violinist Li Chuan-yun performs with the Philharmonic Orchestra.

East Asian Games - Held once every four years, this pan-Asian sporting event is coming to Hong Kong.

Heimat - One of the rising stars on the European art scene, German designer Stefan Strumbel expresses his conception of home through his cuckoo clocks.

There couldn’t have been a gayer week. First there was our own Glam Cham at RED SoHo, which I ditched to go to the Gay and Lesbian Film Fest. But I did grab some yummy canapés first. Every time we host a Glam Cham, someone from ad sales or marketing ends up outside the venue clutching liquor bottles.

The buzz: The former TST mega-club Zaza has rebranded as Full House, serving up a mean grill during dinnertime as well.

Cozy Salsa Night  - Join the dance pool every Thursday at Lei Dou. $100 (includes a drink). Dress code: No sleeveless T-shirts or flip-flops for men. Thu, Dec 3, 9:30pm. Lei Dou, G/F, 20-22 D’Aguilar St., Central, 6752-2020.

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