BPS Goes Street Style

Kat Dennings was that unforgettable girl Jenny Brier in Sex and the City's episode of "Hot Child in the City." She was that 13 y.o. girl who, according to Carrie, dressed like they (Carrie et al.) did and who uttered the very inappropriate line "I have been giving bl*wj*bs since I was 12." I think her confidence was just admirable.

Fast forward 6 years, I rediscovered Kat Dennings as Nora in Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist, opposite Juno and Superbad cutie Michael Cera as Nick. Then, I spotted her (with Olivia Thirlby) on the cover of Nylon's May 2009 issue dabbed "the young hollywood issue" wearing a fuschia graffiti tee from the Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse collection, nonetheless.

So I picked up a copy of Nylon and discovered that it is all about eclectic street style. It featured street fashion from NY to Japan as well as a lot of t-shirts, shorts, loose pants, and colorful kicks alongside high, high heels. I loved that the fashion spreads looked relaxed and not stiff but still very stylish. Instead of advertisements, Nylon is packed with features about fashion, people, music, books, movies, places, etc.

I noticed last year that high cut kicks have made a comeback, and now most major sneaker brands have produced their own high cut versions of their sneakers. So taking inspiration from the spreads in Nylon, I decided to set out and find me some t-shirts and a pair of the most colorful or brightest sneakers I could find.

Finding the right tee was not easy. I wanted something loose but with a good fit and preferably with a band logo/name/members print. Most ladies' shirts while long were fit on the body, and I couldn't find a single band tee anywhere. So I ended up looking in the men's section in Lane Crawford and chanced upon the perfect tee from Paul Smith. Although it was not a band tee, the print looked slightly faded and the fabric, which was 100% organic cotton, was so soft that the shirt was just irresistible.

Then, also in Lane Crawford (what will I do without you?), I spotted the (again) perfect pair of high cut colorful sneakers by Puma. (After my research, I discovered that my sneakers are called Puma 917 Mid Factory Angel Blue-Flame Orange and that they are actually men's sneakers. Why do guys get all the cute shirts and sneakers?) The cut of my sneakers is actually just semi-high, which is great because I don't have the long, long legs to carry an actual high-cut pair. After numerous visits in Lane Crawford Tsim Sha Tsui (2x), Central, Admiralty, and Causeway Bay (2x), I was finally able to purchase the last pair of size 37s in HK. Whew!

The final step is to actually put my outfit together. Then I will set out and find me a pair of ripped jeans that I can roll up. teehee

MTR Fare Saver

Using your Octopus card, save Hkd 2 on your MTR ride on the same day that you tap your Octopus card on the MTR fare saver. The discount is applicable only at certain MTR stations, often the one nearest where the fare saver is located.

Ma first discovered the MTR fare saver outside McDonald's in Provident Centre at 21 Wharf Road, North Point. The discount is applicable at both the North Point and Fortress Hill stations.

I have discovered 3 more MTR fare savers in the following locations:

Wan Chai - Sun Hung Kai Centre, 30 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, outside the Vanguard grocery store; applicable at Wan Chai station

Central - along the walkway going up to SoHo, applicable at Central station

Tsim Sha Tsui - 3rd floor Gateway Harbour City along Canton Road, outside Watson's (shop GW 3302); applicable at TST station

Heads Up: Some Tidbits on H1N1

Last week, the swine flu (H1N1) virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) because it had already spread in many nations around the world. While the virus itself did not mutate into something more serious or more deadly, it spread quickly around the world within the 2 months since the first cases had been reported. For this reason, it is imperative that we be more cautious as we go about our daily activities by being more hygienic and mindful of our actions.

I am writing about this because I was surprised to find out that the number of cases in Manila had reached 311 as of today within four weeks since the first case was reported (compared to the 127 cases in Hong Kong as of today within six weeks since the first case was reported). And I was annoyed because the gravity of the situation is somehow being downplayed. (H1N1 Manila latest cases news source: http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10323569.html) While the global death percentage from H1N1 cases currently stands at approximately 0.5%, which may seem rather low, H1N1 is still a virus and its rapid spread should be a cause for vigilance among citizens. Downplaying the situation will only let citizens feel that the situation is not a cause for public concern.

When I read about the 311 cases currently reported in Manila, I talked to my parents right away to remind them about the following:

1. Always wash your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water, while remembering to rub your hands with soap for 20 seconds, every chance you get.

2. Always bring alcohol/hand sanitizer/disposable wet towels everywhere and use this every hour or half hour when outside.

3. Never touch your face. Be conscious not to touch your eyes, nose, mouth and ears when outside. If you really need to, wash your hands first or sanitize with alcohol or other substitutes.

4. Cover your mouth/nose when you cough or sneeze. And walk away quickly but subtly when someone beside you coughs/sneezes. At the very least try not to inhale when someone near you does this, even if you just hear a cough/sneeze/clearing of throat. (as advised by Queen J)

5. If you wish, wear a mask when you go out. Never mind that people look because they will.

My parents' reminders: eat healthy by eating more fruits and vegetables, avoid getting stressed out, don't workout too hard (haha!), avoid going out unnecessarily.

Some believe that catching H1N1 is a matter of luck. I believe that throwing some caution into your luck wouldn't hurt.

I wouldn't know if HK citizens fear contracting the virus because not a lot of people outside are wearing masks, but the people Queen J and I have spoken to do not seem to be all that concerned. Of course, after SARS in 2003, the government is now more alert. Most shopping malls give out masks when asked for at the information desk, advertisements on precautionary measures such as the proper way of washing one's hands are being aired on TV repeatedly, and there are hand sanitizing stations conveniently set up in most establishments, among many efforts to educate, remind and prepare the public about the H1N1 virus.

I remember when SARS broke out in HK in 2003 and I was still in Manila, Mom would not allow me to watch movies in theaters. It was crazy, yes, but I guess it's just my mom's way of being cautious. And now I know to be cautious too and to remind her about being cautious.

In closing, I believe that the WHO declared H1N1 as a pandemic so that the world will sit up and listen and then to become more alert and to take steps to be more careful.

Lounging Around

In fast-paced Hong Kong, where every hour is rush hour and no one seems to have the time to prepare their own meals, diners even have to eat in shifts. This is especially true during peak hours in popular restaurants, and the shifts normally run from 6 to 8pm and 8 to 10pm.

So I have great appreciation for restaurants where I can dine without having to check my watch. I think that no meal is better than a meal in a restaurant where I can sit, read and/or chat for as long as I wish without being hinted at by servers that there are other patrons waiting to be accommodated.

After window shopping, hanging out is our (Queen J and me) next favorite activity. And when we get too tired of hanging out in our flat, we visit some of our favorite spots where we can sit back and read while sipping refillable brewed coffee.

Fusion meal times are the best time to hang, think brunch and tea-time. Because we will be dining for 2 to 3 hours, it is best to just turn 2 meals into 1.

Tea-time (ha ng cha [pronounced as ha-mm-cha] in Cantonese), which usually runs from 2.30 to 6pm, is very popular in Hong Kong and is a great way to gain business from citizens who are not in the workforce, i.e. students and senior citizens. Most restaurants, both upscale and fast-food places, have tea-time set meals. Normally, tea-time sets are cheaper than but just as filling as lunch sets. Hotel cafes offer tea-time during weekends and public holidays.

So here are some of the spots Queen J and I love to lounge around in:

Cafe on the 1st, Excelsior Hotel, Causeway Bay (CWB) - This is the best place to escape the CWB shopping crowd on a Saturday afternoon for a nice cup of iced coffee. It is often impossible to find a seat in Starbucks at this time of the day during the weekend, and even if there were any seats, the place is too crowded and noisy for us to be able to relax. We have dined here for lunch, brunch and tea-time, and the food is so-so at best. But Cafe on the 1st always offers a nice refuge for a couple of tired souls, or more appropriately, soles.

(This is the mushroom omelette I ordered when we had brunch there a couple of weeks ago. I remember telling the server that I wanted the English muffin but would gladly have the toast if they already ran out of muffin. Funnily, I was served muffin AND toast.)

Dickens Bar, Excelsior Hotel, CWB - Located at the basement of Excelsior Hotel, Dickens Bar offers some feel-good but guilt-filled Western staples such as onion rings, fish and chips, and club sandwich. We go there when we want a different ambience from Cafe on the 1st. The food is surprisingly better, but the seats are less comfortable.

Landmark Cafe, Landmark, Central - This is the perfect place to lounge around in. We often buy a couple of trashy tabloids and go there to sit for hours. Situated in the middle of the second floor of Landmark, the cafe offers a good view of the posh shops at the center of Landmark. The open space is worlds away from the cramped environments of many HK restos. The seats are very comfortable, particularly the booths, and the food is just great.

We have tried the tea-time set for 2, which includes 3 layers of bite-size pieces of pastries, cakes, sandwiches and dim sums along with 2 drinks. We have also tried lunch entrees such as the sea bass, the beef stroganoff, and the mushroom risotto and other tea-time dishes such as the mini burger and the berry and waffles. And I can say I have never been disappointed with the food there yet.

(From top: beef stroganoff; foamed sea bass; our fruit smoothies; me with the berry and waffles, mushroom risotto, and very cute mini burgers with Queen J reflected on the mirror while taking the shot)

Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill, Pacific Place, Admiralty - A new discovery, Dan Ryan's may be the latest addition to our hang out locations. I had tried their steak and pasta before and was very satisfied. During lunch and dinner, their bread basket contains hot muffins, which I just love. For tea-time, I ordered a huge plate of onion rings with a decaf iced coffee for only HKD 52 plus 10% service charge. Because Dan Ryan's is more famous for its steak, the resto is pretty quiet during tea-time, which is a plus, but the place is too dim to read a book or magazine.

(Wow ancient pics! From top: me when I was still a brunette with the said hot muffin, broccoli fettucini, steak)

Note: No, I did not relapse, I am still a vegetarian. All shots of meat dishes were taken before I became a vegetarian.

Other locations we have tried:

Garden Cafe, City Garden, Fortress Hill - The tea-time here is cheaper compared to other hotel cafe tea-time buffets. But at HKD 133, not many good food must be expected to be served here. Most of the selection consists of instant food such as honey sausages and star-shaped nuggets. But on the bright side, there is refillable coffee, fondue, and ice cream.

(A not so ancient one from last year: me with my fondue dipped bread stick, ice cream, a cup of coffee, and some questionable dessert)

Marriott Cafe, JW Marriott Hotel, Admiralty - I have tried their breakfast, lunch and tea-time buffets and find their food selection for each meal very good and the price agreeable. The ambience in Marriott Cafe is relaxed and not at all intimidating. Everyday is seafood buffet here for lunch and dinner, and the weekday lunch buffet costs HKD 265 per head plus service charge. Breakfast and tea-time are great too but cost almost the same as a weekday lunch buffet.

(Just as ancient as my Dan Ryan pics: me at a bustling Marriott Cafe during lunchtime on a Monday)

I think nothing inspires me more to write such a lengthy entry than food. Just remember, the next time you're in HK, try to go to ha ng cha to get special discounts on dimsums and set meals and feel like a real HK-er. And also, don't forget to invite me.