Celebrity Gossip
On assignment, Michael Taylor heads to Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island to check out Fashion Walk Shine & Dine, a Hang Lung Properties initiative to promote the zone as a shopping and dining out destination.
Paterson Street has undergone an amazing transformation in recent years. The former Daimaru Department Store is now Fashion Walk, which houses an impressive collection of high end fashion boutiques.
Shops selling high end fashion labels have also started spilling over onto neighboring Kingstone and Cleveland streets.
Signing Up for Backstage Passes
There is also a smattering of food and beverage outlets, including the Pacific Coast Emporium, the popular upscale coffee chain’s massive flagship outlet at the corner of Kingstone Street and Gloucester Road.
To promote the precinct as a shopping and dining destination, Hang Lung Properties staged Walk Shine & Dine 2013 from 2 to 6 pm on Saturday 24 August 2013.
Invitees were given backstage passes which allowed them to sample products and take advantage of special promotions at participating venues.
Lola’s Ice Pops
There were fashion models and paparazzi, venders peddling their wares at pop-up stores, topless beekcakes obligingly posing for photos with passers-by, and a human jukebox playing tunes that none of us had ever heard of.
Beyond Dessert
A handful of venders set up pop-ups to promote their products. Included were purveyors of popsicles, sparkling beverages, and sweets.
Restaurants on Food Street also offered samples, and vinters offered small glasses of wine.
When asked about business, one server joked, “The free stuff is going fast!”
Somersby
There were workshops, lucky draws, and prizes. And most important, lots of photo opps for the fashion bloggers, photo journalists, and celebrity groupies that were spotted roaming the streets and alleys.
There was also an outdoor fashion show followed by a contest. Partipicants were allowed to don stylish duds and have their photos taken by a professional photographer.
Winners received valuble prizes.
Hong Kong Entertainer Jason Chan
I got a chance to chat briefly with Hong Kong entertainer Jason Chan, who was stylishly turned out in basic black with white accents.
Representing fashion label i.t, Jason appeared calm, cool, and collected – despite the 35 degree heat and 98% humidity.
“It’s good to be doing an event like this in summer,” Jason told me.
“Fortunately we’re not in the sun.”
Chinese Super Model Anna Kay
Following the photo opps on the outdoor catwalk, I also got a rare private audience with Chinese Super Model Anna Kay. Like Jason, she seemed to enjoy being in the spotlight – despite the torrid weather.
I asked Anna how she could look so cool on that outdoor catwalk.
“The moment I was on the runway, I forgot all about the heat,” Anna told me during an exclusive – and hastily arranged – interview at the Tout a Coup fashion boutique on Paterson Street.
“It’s so much fun to be at an outdoor event in the middle of summer.”
Media Coup at Tout a Coup
And for those that want to know, Anna is every bit as glamorous – and sweet – in person as she appears to be in front of the camera!
And what about that rumour that she is having an affair with Canto Pop Super Star Aaron Kwok? You’ll have to check out the Chinese media for that. I was too polite to ask.
Anna Chau Opens 40th Outlet
Restaurant tycoon Anna Chau, whose 40th F&B outlet is located in the zone, ran into me on Kingston Street and invited me for an icey Arcobrau at King Ludwig, a German themed restaurant, which will have its grand opening tomorrow night (Monday 26 August 2013).Â
King Ludwig is Anna’s fifth German restaurant, and she expects it to do well.
Of all the many themed restaurants in her group, Anna says the German outlets are proving the most popular. So it was a no brainer to open yet another at this high traffic site facing Victoria Park.
“People like casual dining these days, and German restaurants are casual,” Anna told me. “They provide the perfect spot for celebrations and birthday parties.”
Socialite Angelique Yeh Dressed to the Nines
I also ran into my old buddy Angelique Yeh on Food Street. We lost touch with each other after I wrote up one of her restaurants several years ago.
I couldn’t believe that she would remember me after all this time!
Angelique was stylishly turned out in orange, black, and gold lamé for the event. It was great catching up with her over a glass of wine.
Cruel Proof
I can’t finish without mentioning Emily, a marketing executive who didn’t want her last name mentioned or her picture taken.
Emily had learned about the event on Facebook and “wanted to see what it was all about”. She was both enthusiastic and helpful, encouraging me to get closer and showing me where the best angles were.
To be honest, I was a bit out of element. I had never covered an event like this before. I’m more used to sit down interviews in a board room or on a sofa.Â
All I can way is, without Emily’s gracious help and encouragement, I wouldn’t have gotten those soundbites from Jason … or that exclusive interview with Anna at the boutique … or the shot of me with the two beefcakes.
Thanks Emily!