Sassy Addresses: Vanilla

Since coming to Hong Kong I definitely don't cook nearly as much as I did when I was living in Switzerland. I use the excuse of having a tiny kitchen bla bla, but the truth is probably that a big part of it is just laziness! One of the most exciting discoveries I made after about six months of trekking past the blackboard above on the mid-levels escalator and not really noticing it, was to turn right onto Mosque Street and find Vanilla.

Vanilla is a little shop and bakery that sells a wonderful selection of cakes, and also quiches, salads, sandwiches and ready-made lasagne, fish pie, shepherd's pie etc. It also has what I am sure are the best brownies in Hong Kong, with a firm, crumbly outside, and fudgy gooey deliciousness inside. I often run down to pick up a last-minute dinner when I have had one of those busy days where you suddenly realize it's 7pm and haven't even thought about what to cook. You can also eat in the shop at a counter with high stools against the window.

Vanilla can be found at 33 Mosque Street, Mid-Levels. Tel: 2530 4828

Hong Kong Sevens

We went to our first Hong Kong Rugby Sevens yesterday, not quite sure what to expect. When we first arrived we made our way to the East side, and spent a very sedate half an hour watching the rugby sipping our soft drinks, before deciding we had to experience the South Stands craziness we had heard so much about just once. We spent about half an hour queuing to get in underneath the stands, sadly missing Hong Kong's victory against Tonga... When we finally emerged out of the queue onto the stands, the scene was almost apocalyptic, and I quickly took a big slosh of beer on the back of my head. Yuk! 

Once we had had a couple of cups of Pimms though we stopped noticing quite so much of the carnage and started enjoying ourselves, all the time making sure to keep one eye out for flying plastic pint glasses filled with beer (and other suspicious liquids) which were being lobbed down from the top of the stands (and back again from the bottom). There were also some really fun costumes to see, a lot of which deteriorated into various states of almost nakedness throughout the day. Smurfs, Tetris shapes, Japanese school girls and lots more. We stayed to see the final France match before making our way with all the crowds along into Causeway Bay to try to find a taxi. When we got home all our clothes went straight into the washing machine and we went straight to have hot showers! I can't quite face cleaning my shoes yet though so they're still sitting outside the front door. 

Will have to see if there are any pictures we could actually post on here! The quite civilized image above is via South China Morning Post. 

Celestina at Lane Crawford

Me, Tina Marsileta-Ocampo (Celestina ), my lovely friend Liv

Last night I went to the Celestina trunk show at Lane Crawford. Celestina is the full name of the accessories and handbag designer Tina Marsitela-Ocampo. Tina is a native (and former model) from Manila, and she uses her heritage as inspirations for her pieces. Actually, Tina combines her vision with the talents and craftsmanship of artisans from the Philippines to take her visions to reality. Tina is most recognized for her incredible box like clutches-Minaudieres, which were in fashion in the 1960s, are tiny jeweled cases that can hold a woman’s lipstick, powder and a little cash for an evening affair, these do not have straps and are hand-held. They are created out of some of the worlds most precious metals, gems, stingray (rawhide), jade, crocodile, and much more.

I had the chance to meet and chat with Tina last night. She filled me in on a little secret....some of her inspirations come from things that she finds around the house. Tina picked up the most beautiful clutch, of course handmade with incredible precision, she explained to me that the design of the shape came from her sons pencil case from school! I thought that was really neat!!

You can pick up your own Celestina clutch from places like Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, and Lane Crawford here in Hong Kong. Interestingly though, they are not sold in the Philippines!

Natural Mother of Pearl and Brass Clasp


Padded Shagreen with Carved Animal Clasp





Cracked Mirror Clutch

Viva La Vida, Coldplay March 25

The crowd was overtaken by the energy that exuded from the stage.

Gigantic yellow confetti filled balloons were tossed throughout the crowd during the performance of Yellow.


Words can not even begin to describe how amazing the Coldplay concert was. Chris Martin has energy that is so strong each of the 11,000 people who attended the concert could feel--undeniable stage presence. I spent the entire 2 hours out of my seat, dancing with all the people around me, singing my head off! Chris played the piano, the guitar, even the harmonica, and still sang each and every song with pure perfection and from his heart. This concert was such a euphoric experience. I am officially in love with Chris Martin, and the entire Coldplay band!!!!

Manic Cure Monday!!

We LOVE the new location on Wyndham!




Coby (left) was the winner of our free pedicure give-away!

Our first Manicure Monday was the perfect way to start the week. Rather than another manic Monday, we ended the day with manicures, wine, new friends, old friends, and a smile! We decided to do a drawing for a free pedicure, and Coby was the lucky winner. The Feel Good Factor was perfect for unwinding from a long day, and we love the new location. Thank you to all the girls who were able to attend. If you couldn't make it this time, we hope to see you at the next Manicure Monday (the 3rd Monday of every month at The Feel Good Factor). Also, you can view the rest of our photos here.

Photo Shoot for Time Out

Yesterday before heading to our first Manicure Monday, we did a quick photo shoot at Varga Lounge to accompany the article that will be appearing about Sassy in the next issue of Time Out *blush*. We did our best to act natural and pretend to just be chatting amongst ourselves, and mostly failed, but our lovely photographer Calvin was extremely patient with us as we discussed at length who got to sit on the bar stool, and tried to "influence" which photos will end up being used! We definitely felt more relaxed as we started sipping the pink drinks given to us as props...

We're excited to see how it turns out - the issue of Time Out we're in will be out on April 1st (and we don't think there's any connection with April fool's)... 

There is no place like home, but having a piece of it come to you is the next best thing!

Dorothy said there is no place like home but when living as an expat so far away from family and friends sometimes you need a little bit of home to come to you. My brother is currently in the air enduring the long flight from Pennsylvania to Hong Kong and I can't wait to pick him up at the airport tonight. He will be the first family member to visit us and I am so looking forward to showing him our new life and this amazing city that I have fallen in love with over the past year. The nice things about having visitors is that you get to see Hong Kong through a fresh pair of eyes again. Now that I am settled into my own routine here I often find myself racing from one thing to the next and I forget to slow down and really appreciate all the wonderful things Hong Kong has to offer. This week I plan to slow down and take everything in as if it were my first time seeing it. Then on the weekend I can speed up my life again as we get ready for the Rugby Sevens. With my brother being a rugby fan, I am still wondering if the purpose of this trip is to visit me or just to party it up at the Sevens! Oh well, I will take a piece of home however I can get it these days!

Dinner party inspiration!

My dear friend Jaimee Rose is one of the most talented girls I know. This Domestic Goddess lives in Scottsdale, Arizona....and wish daily she was here in Hong Kong. Jaimee knows how to throw an incredible dinner party for any occasion. Most recently she had some friends over to her apartment this past Wed. for a BBQ dinner. I had to share the pics, as I am sure it will inspire all of you to have friends over asap!

Jaimee used the balcony of her apartment as the venue for the party. She "borrowed" palm leaves from a palm tree that landscapes her building for the decor and arrangements.



Long strands of grass were used for the napkin rings.



Because day quickly turned into night, Jaimee placed candles all over the table for lighting.



For some fun, Jaimee put together mini milkshakes (you can do this easily by getting milkshakes from McDonalds and putting them into your own glasses, this is a great trick).



Of course Jaimee still managed to find the time to cook all the delicious food herself!



And by the end of the night, after all her hard work, she is still smiling! That is when you know it was all worth the effort!



You can read more about Jaimee, and her fabulous ideas here!

MY Louis Vuitton

We all know that Louis Vuitton has been allowing customers to personalize their luggage and wallets for years. Well, recently Vuitton announced that they will now be offering personalized monogramming services on the Speedy 30 and the Bandoulière 55 handbags. Considering all the knock-off bags in Hong Kong, this will be a great way to prove yours is real, LOL!

Havana Night

Luckily the weather has felt more like Spring the past week. Let's hope it stays this way! Time to invite your friends over for a BBQ , lounge by the pool, and yes, time to start wearing a swimsuit. If you are like me, choosing a suit isn't the easiest task. Don't worry, I will spare you the details! Just in time for the swimsuit season, Sabina Swims Swimwear will be hosting a fashion show and open bar--Havana Night, at M1NT. Sabina Swims Swimwear is known for their understated splashes of color and retro prints. The tropical theme, the swimwear, and the venue are the perfect excuse to have a mojito. See you Wed. the 25th at M1NT!

Help! I need to get better.

I have been so sick over the past two days. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be all better by tomorrow. My husband and I have tickets to see Beatlemania Live at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I LOVE The Beatles. Obviously I will never get to see the real Beatles, so the show tomorrow is the next best thing for me! My faves are In My Life, The Long and Winding Road, Something, and All You Need Is Love. Actually, that's just the beginning of my list! As for today, I will be in bed all day trying to get better by tomorrow.

Chill-Out Day

Happy Friday Eve! 

It feels like the weekend is almost here, the weather is beautiful and we've been having a relaxing day with a little less Sassy business than the rest of this week - we've been moving so fast with everything: planning events, meeting new people, bouncing emails back and forth between the three of us... it's nice to take a bit of time to breathe and focus on other areas of our lives. Even the mundane tasks like cleaning out our disgusting fridge (ick) and buying cat food have taken on a bit of a zen like quality for me today. 

My husband is in Shanghai tonight, so I'm planning myself a girly evening in with a face mask and the new episode of The Real Housewives of New York City... bliss! 

Don't forget Sassy is going to the movies tomorrow, so let us know if you'd like to join for the 5pm showing of He's Just Not That Into You at IFC by emailing sassy@sassyhongkong.com. 

(Images from Irene Suchocki and Caitlin Shearer)

Sassy is going to the movies to see He's Just Not That Into You! Wanna Join us?

Sassy is heading to the IFC this Friday (March 20th) to see the 5PM showing of He's Just Not That Into You. We have been waiting for this movie to make its way to Hong Kong and are so excited it's finally here! If you want to see it with us email us at sassy@sassyhongkong.com and we will let you know where our seats are. After the movie we will be taking advantage of this beautiful weather by heading up to Red Bar to grab a drink and discuss the movie! Hope to see you on Friday!

Bubbles, Boys, and Bling (oh, and the HK 7's)!

Okay ladies, we are all aware that next week begins the Hong Kong Sevens. This means costumes, crazy crowds, and lots of carefree (or careless!) fun. We at Sassy found out about another little event taking place next week that is also featuring the Rugby players, only this one is just for the girls! Bubbles, Boys, and Bling will be happening on Wed., the 25th of March, at the W Hotel. The international rugby players will be putting on a fashion show, champagne will be flowing, and someone will win a free diamond! Tickets are selling fast, so if you are interested in attending, you really need to purchase your tickets ASAP! (Click on the image above to enlarge it for all the details).

He's Just Not That Into You

We were pretty disappointed by Shopaholic, and not all that wowed by Bride Wars, so our Chick Flick hopes for 2009 are all pinned on He's Just Not That Into You, opening Thursday 19th in Hong Kong. Based on the book inspired by that classic Sex and the City scene where Miranda finds herself curiously liberated by the understanding that sometimes guys are just not that into you, this film has an all-star cast. Featuring such Romcom stalwarts as Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore, this is definitely one for the girls!

We'd love to know what you think of it...

Ferragamo Fashion T Today

It's that time again. Seems like the weeks go by so quickly! Today is the Mandarin's Fashion T, showcasing Ferragamo's Spring/Summer Collection. Visit our main site for all the details. Hope to see you there! Also, remember that next Tuesday is the last of the Fashion T's. So be sure to make a reservation if you haven't been to any of the shows. They truly are so much fun.....and a great way to see the upcoming styles for spring and summer!

Jewelry by ellisrocks

Sassy had a great day at the Pokfulam Open Air Market yesterday. We met so many nice girls and are looking forward to seeing them at future Sassy events. We also had the opportunity to meet a very fun jewelry designer here in Hong Kong. His company is called ellisrocks and we particularly liked the blue necklace that is featured above. We were lucky enough to be able to bring it home with us and already have the perfect outfits planned for it (now, we just need to make sure we don't wear it on the same day!) If you like this necklace then there is a lot more for you to see. You can get more information on ellisrocks by emailing him at: ellisrocks@gmail.com

Pokfulam Open-Air Market - This Sunday

Sassy will have a stall at the Pokfulam Open Air Market (At Cyberport) this Sunday. We'll be there all day, so if you see us, please come up and say hello! We're hoping that today's beautiful weather will last, and that it will be a fun day out. 

Restaurant Review: Uno Mas

We were lucky enough to attend a press tasting at the newly opened restaurant uno mas (54-62 Lockhart Road), which is a yummy tapas bar in Wanchai. We heard someone saying that if you want to get dressed up in Wanchai this is the place to go and we definitely agree! The restaurant itself is clean, simple and modern and has a great open kitchen, with an amazing chef straight from Valencia, Spain. In addition to their indoor seating they also have two balconies, which overlook Lockhart Road, and it is a great space to munch on tapas or just enjoy some well-deserved drinks with friends.

Tapas are a great socializing food and that is what we loved about the food at uno mas. We tasted a little of this and a little of that and some of our favorite dishes included the Chorizo Frito, Tortilla De Patatas and the Tabla Decharcuteria, which was a selection of various cold cuts and cheese. We also highly recommend their white Sangria. We were drinking the rose Sangria earlier in the evening until someone ordered the white version for us and it was amazing. We loved it so much we nicknamed it the Sassy Sangria!

Get over to Wanchai and check out uno mas for youself. We are sure you won't be disappointed!

The Man Literary Festival 2009 - This Weekend's Events

There's just one more week left of the Man Hong Kong Literary Festival, but luckily for us that week is absolutely packed with events. Tonight at the Fringe Theater you can enjoy an entertaining evening of contemporary poetry from John O'Sullivan, Sally Dellow, Michelle Cahill and Martin Alexander, and attendees are also invited to bring their own poetry to share. 

Then tomorrow there's a literary lunch at M at the Fringe for $288 per person, followed by a talk by Min Jin Lee, the author of Free Food for Millionaires. I picked up my copy at Dymmock's last week, and couldn't put down this gripping novel about a family of Korean immigrants in the US - I strongly recommend it! 

Find further details of the above events, and much more at the Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival website. 

LC Love

We've been pouring over Lane Crawford's new website, full of the most gorgeous images shot by Tommy Ton, the photographer they most recently used for their "The Insider" campaign. The Lane Crawford site features images of what's new instore, lists of the brands they stock, upcoming events instore and much more. The only things missing are online shopping (yes, I'm that lazy), or any of their home wares, which is sad for me as I'd love to be able to have my wedding list there. My fingers are crossed that this is just the beginning for LC's online presence, and that more great features will be coming soon. 

In the meantime we can all drool over Tommy Ton's amazing shoe pics! 

Melaine Boutique Grand Reopening Today

Today is the official re-opening of Melaine Boutique. Melaine was located on Lyndhurst Terrace, but has moved to Cochrane Street (near Pizza Express). 

Melaine Boutique has amazing little ad hoc gifts, unusual vases, gorgeous jewellery, table mats and coasters, pretty gifts for newborns, photo frames, one off clutch bags, objects etc - it's hard to walk out of the store without something!

Sassy at the Shanghai Tang Fashion Tea

Sassy attended the Mandarin Orientals second fashion afternoon tea yesterday, and loved the new Shanghai Tang "Inside Out" collection, as well as all the beautiful fashion-influenced cakes and chocolates... Sassy girls love their cakes, and many were devoured - despite watching all the very stick-thin models on the catwalk! 

You can take a look at the rest of our photos from the tea here. 

The next tea is on Tuesday 17th - send us an email if you'd like to come along with us. 

Duffy plays Hong Kong AsiaWorld Arena March 20th

Duffy, the big-voiced Welsh popstar whose hits include "Mercy" and "Rockferry" will be playing the AsiaWorld Arena in Hong Kong on Friday March 20th. Tickets are on sale on hkticketing.com, ranging from $450 to $850 depending on seat position, and you can get there either by Airport Express or using a free shuttle bus that leaves from TST (details on the website). So often I only seem to find out about concerts in Hong Kong at the last minute, so we'll be posting them as we hear about them on Sassy. The Duffy concert looks like a fun night out!

Shanghai Tang Fashion Tea

Today Sassy Hong Kong will be at the Mandarin Oriental for the Fashion T and Fashion Show featuring Shanghai Tang's new Inside Out Collection. There are two shows, the first at 3:00PM and the second at 4:45PM. You can read more about Shanghai Tang's collection at Butterboom. You can also see the photos from last week's Versace show here. 

Hope to see you at the Mandarin this afternoon!

Hong Kong Art Walk

You might have seen these rather sweet little posters around town with a woman and her cute little bagged dog - it actually took me a little while to figure out what they're actually for, which is the annual Hong Kong Art Walk on Wednesday 11th March. You can buy a ticket from selected galleries for $420, and the price includes finger food and wine/beer/water while you browse. Proceeds go to SoCO, the Society for Community Organization.

There's a list of participating galleries to be found here, which aren't just in the Hollywood Road/Soho art district, but range across Sheung Wan, Wanchai, Tin Hau and even Aberdeen, which you can get to on Hong Kong Art Walk's free shuttle bus.

Last year all the tickets were sold out, so it would be worth buying as soon as possible if you'd like to take part. It begins from 5pm, ending at midnight... so you'll have plenty of time to make it round them all!

Kate Plus 8, No Jon?

I am a huge Jon and Kate Plus 8 fan. So when I read about the rumor that Jon may have strayed from the Gosselin clan, my jaw dropped. This was a sad moment for me, as I absolutely adore that family of ten. You can read about this troubling scandal here .

Mac & Hello Kitty at Seibu

The new Mac and Hello Kitty collaboration products have just launched at Seibu Langham Place, and the promotional images shot by Nick Knight are a world away from the usual Hello Kitty image - very dark and mysterious. Love them!

The super-collectible collection is divided up into the Hello Kitty Colour Collection, and the higher-end Hello Kitty Kouture. The products show a new black and pink kitty on them, and sparkle with Swarovski crystals. As well as cosmetics, they have a line of special make-up bags and totes in the black, white and pink colour palette.

So what do we think about the kitten famous for having no mouth selling us lipsticks? Will you be heading to Seibu to take a look?