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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70309 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jenna_Ortega_wallpaper_rgb-e1678850671697.jpg" alt="Jenna Ortega" width="495" height="640" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jenna_Ortega_wallpaper_rgb-e1678850671697.jpg 495w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jenna_Ortega_wallpaper_rgb-e1678850671697-450x582.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jenna_Ortega_wallpaper_rgb-e1678850671697-217x280.jpg 217w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jenna_Ortega_wallpaper_rgb-e1678850671697-120x155.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jenna_Ortega_wallpaper_rgb-e1678850671697-200x259.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jenna_Ortega_wallpaper_rgb-e1678850671697-400x517.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" />
Instantly transforming what Wednesday means to many of us, a recently-debuted Netflix series going by that very name broke the streaming service’s all-time record for the most hours viewed in a week. Its success has also transformed the life of the star taking the title role – Jenna Ortega – as shown by her Instagram account alone, which registered an extra 10 million followers within 10 days of the series premiere.&nbsp;
It would be unfair, however, to bill the 20-year-old star as an overnight success. Even before her casting in the series, a spin-off of the much-loved Adams Family franchise, she had a resumé longer than that of many performers twice her age. There is no doubt, though, that it is her performance as the unblinking, seemingly emotionless, misanthrope at the heart of the series that has seen her now assume A-lister status.&nbsp;
In honour of ‘W’ being the initial of her breakthrough role, here are six other ‘W’s you really need to know about Ortega, undoubtedly one of 2023’s first new superstars.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70311 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/netflix-wednesday-jenna-ortega-sheer-lace-dress-in_rgb-e1678850714587.jpg" alt="Jenna Ortega" width="500" height="750" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/netflix-wednesday-jenna-ortega-sheer-lace-dress-in_rgb-e1678850714587.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/netflix-wednesday-jenna-ortega-sheer-lace-dress-in_rgb-e1678850714587-450x675.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
WHERE is she from?&nbsp;
With her striking looks, signature brunette locks and petite build, it is clear that Ortega is far from just another graduate of Hollywood’s cookie-cutter production line. Sharing joint Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, she grew up in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, with her diverse heritage later becoming a common line of enquiry during her many chat show appearances.&nbsp;
Explaining how embracing her identity was one of the many reasons she was able to make the Wednesday role her own, she says: “A big part of why I said yes comes down to representation. Growing up, I got to know how it felt never to see people who looked like me on screen only too well. For me, with Wednesday, it was really important that her history as a young Latina was shown for the first time.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70306 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/chrome_Zs54F0liEx_rgb-e1678850758286.jpg" alt="Jenna Ortega" width="500" height="751" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/chrome_Zs54F0liEx_rgb-e1678850758286.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/chrome_Zs54F0liEx_rgb-e1678850758286-450x676.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
WHAT has she appeared in before?&nbsp;
According to <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4911194/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her IMDB website</a>, Ortega had notched up some 40 credits prior to taking on the lead in Wednesday, with her roles ranging from voice acting to major parts and guest appearances. As a sure sign that her talents had not gone unnoticed even before Wednesday’s seismic impact, she is believed to have quite a full slate of future roles all signed up and agreed upon.&nbsp;
While she first found fame providing voiceovers for children’s programs, including Elena of Avalor and the Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle, her career appears to be heading in a different direction, with two of her upcoming projects said to be very much in the horror genre.&nbsp;
Declaring she has a particular affinity with the scarier end of the cinema spectrum, she says: “There’s some invisible string that connects monsters and me. It’s a genre that’s held a particular appeal for me for as long as I can remember.
For those keen not to miss out on any of her future appearances, her currently confirmed forthcoming projects include Finestkind, Scream 6 and Miller’s Girl.&nbsp;
<h5>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/gal-power/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gal Power: Gal Gadot shatters superhero glass ceiling with Wonder Woman debut</a></h5>
<figure id="attachment_70308" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70308" style="width: 768px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70308 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image_1_rgb-e1678850835510.jpg" alt="Jenna Ortega" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image_1_rgb-e1678850835510.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image_1_rgb-e1678850835510-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image_1_rgb-e1678850835510-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70308" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for Creative Artists Agency)</figcaption></figure>
WHY did she not blink while working on Wednesday?&nbsp;
Although her blink-free performance in Wednesday wasn’t initially scripted, Director Tim Burton was so taken with the results of an unintentional take that he urged her to fully incorporate the conceit into her portrayal of the character. Ortega, of course, is fully committed to it, with the quirky characteristic going on to almost define the role for critics and viewers alike.&nbsp;
As the character of Wednesday was conceived as singularly strange from the outset, it more than made sense that not blinking was just one of the many things that distinguished her from more everyday mortals. In combination with the character’s full-on, unflinching gaze, it also made the one moment in the series when the character actually smiles genuinely unsettling.&nbsp;
Clearly proud of the way her performance has been received, as well as its significance for others, she says with her tongue firmly in her cheek: “Freak representation is crucial. I think that it’s really nice for such people to be seen in a positive – if disturbing – light.”&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70310 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/jenna-ortega-1206-b7d86fd4b5d440589f7379407dc96c75_rgb-e1678850890944.jpg" alt="Jenna Ortega" width="500" height="691" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/jenna-ortega-1206-b7d86fd4b5d440589f7379407dc96c75_rgb-e1678850890944.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/jenna-ortega-1206-b7d86fd4b5d440589f7379407dc96c75_rgb-e1678850890944-450x622.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
WHO is her fashion icon?&nbsp;
Well, it just happens to be Wednesday Addams, the full name of her on-screen character. This is perhaps just as well seeing that, in her latest incarnation, Wednesday is seen as having clearly fully embraced her goth persona, and Ortega is a firm believer that her all-black wardrobe played a crucial role in creating the show’s slightly creepy, slightly cooky feel.&nbsp;
Clearly identifying more with this role than perhaps with some of the other characters she has brought to life, Ortega says: “I feel like Wednesday and I like similar things. I’ve always loved button-ups and white collars, for instance, and, of course, I’ve always gravitated towards dark colours – including black nail polish, which has now become very much part of my everyday look.”&nbsp;
Case in point: Ortega has recently been stepping out in looks that seem like homages to her TV character, donning black à la Versace and Valentino at events.&nbsp;
(Text: Joseff Musa)
Read the full article in the March 2023 issue (pg: 110). Available on the Gafencu app on Android and Apple.

WS of Wednesday: We explore the Ws and How of Jenna Ortega’s success like any projects investigated in depth

<figure id="attachment_70294" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70294" style="width: 768px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70294 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/95_TC_0700-e1678768659793.jpg" alt="95th academy awards" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/95_TC_0700-e1678768659793.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/95_TC_0700-e1678768659793-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/95_TC_0700-e1678768659793-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70294" class="wp-caption-text">Blaine Ohigashi / ©A.M.P.A.S.</figcaption></figure>
Having just dominated the SAG awards two weeks ago with four wins, it clearly came as no surprise that Everything Everywhere All at Once swept the most awards at the Oscars too.
The <a href="https://a24films.com/films/everything-everywhere-all-at-once" target="_blank" rel="noopener">movie</a> was directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert and follows the life of Chinese immigrant Evelyn Wang, played by Michelle Yeoh, who has quite a lot of things going on in her life – Her laundromat is being audited by the IRS; her husband Waymond Wang, played by Ke Huy Quan, is on the verge of divorcing her; she is having her pernickety father for a Lunar New Year Party; and she is unable to come to terms with her daughter (played by Stephanie Hsu) Joy Wang’s relationship with a non-Chinese girlfriend.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70299" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-e1678769663434.jpeg" alt="95th Academy Awards" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-e1678769663434.jpeg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-e1678769663434-450x253.jpeg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-e1678769663434-600x338.jpeg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
With all that is happening, Evelyn’s life is anything but dull, that is until she is sucked into a multiverse where there are different possible versions of her that would have resulted from a particular decision she took. As a protagonist, Evelyn has to use her verse-jumping abilities to save the multiverse from her daughter who has formed an everything-bagel sort of phenomenon that can suck the different universes and destroy all of them.
There are quite a lot of movies that deal with the multiverse genre. There is The Matrix from the top of our heads. However, the Daniels-directed movie goes for a completely unique representation of the multiverse genre with its exhilarating plot packed with action and quirky humour that is so absurd. For instance, Evelyn has sausage fingers in one universe.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70292 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/eeo6.0-e1678768592647.jpg" alt="95th academy awards" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/eeo6.0-e1678768592647.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/eeo6.0-e1678768592647-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/eeo6.0-e1678768592647-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
The queer science-fiction movie perfectly touches on the topic of existential crisis as it explores the what-ifs of Evelyn’s life, and also deals with nihilism, absurdism and other philosophical concepts that add more layers to the already-overwhelming storyline.
With an IMDB score of 8 and a 95 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, Everything Everywhere All at Once shined at the Oscars by taking home the most trophies. The movie won the following awards at the 95th Annual Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role – Michelle Yeoh, Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Ke Huy Quan, Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Jamie Lee Curtis, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director – Daniel Kwan &amp; Daniel Scheinert, and Best Film Editing – Paul Rogers.
<figure id="attachment_70295" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70295" style="width: 8256px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70295 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/95_TC_0689.jpg" alt="95th academy awards" width="8256" height="5504"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70295" class="wp-caption-text">Blaine Ohigashi / ©A.M.P.A.S.</figcaption></figure>
Michelle Yeoh’s win was historic as she became the first Asian actress in 95 years to win an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. It was a more prideful moment for Hong Kongers as she said in her acceptance speech, “&#8230;and to my extended family in Hong Kong, where I started my career. Thank you for letting me stand on your shoulders, giving me a leg up so that I can be here today.”
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/celebrity-entertainment-michelle-yeoh-asian-actress/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Five things you need to know about the widely talented Michelle Yeoh</a>

Everything Everywhere All at Once Shines at the 95th Academy Awards, and makes Oscars history.

If you want to groove to the best beats, there is Clockenflap, and if admiring some mesmerising art pieces is your idea of an awesome day, then, there are Art Basel and Art Central.&nbsp;Simply put, art, music, and endless entertainment are taking over March with so many exciting, and eagerly-awaited events lined up for the month. Find out about all the fun March 2023 events scheduled to happen.
Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70110" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1024-kusama_photo-by-yusuke-miyazaki-discover-hong-kong-1-e1677641593164.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="768" height="508" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1024-kusama_photo-by-yusuke-miyazaki-discover-hong-kong-1-e1677641593164.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1024-kusama_photo-by-yusuke-miyazaki-discover-hong-kong-1-e1677641593164-450x298.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1024-kusama_photo-by-yusuke-miyazaki-discover-hong-kong-1-e1677641593164-600x397.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
Contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is known for her avant-garde paintings and sculptures, and her choice of bright and colourful palette attributes that M+ will no doubt be highlighting in its coming showcase of more than two hundred of the artist’s works. Among these, are many of her more recent works, including Pumpkin, Death of Nerves, and Dots Obsession &#8211; Aspiring to Haven’s Love.&nbsp;
When: Ongoing
Price: From HK$240
Location: West Gallery, The Studio, Main Hall, Lightwell, and Found Space, M+ Building, West Kowloon.
For more information: <a href="https://www.mplus.org.hk/en/exhibitions/yayoi-kusama-1945-to-now/">mplus.org.hk</a>
Eternal Enlightenment: the Virtual World of Jiajing Emperor
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70111" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Eternal-Enlightenment-the-Virtual-World-of-Jiajing-Emperor-discover-hk-e1677641679161.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Eternal-Enlightenment-the-Virtual-World-of-Jiajing-Emperor-discover-hk-e1677641679161.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Eternal-Enlightenment-the-Virtual-World-of-Jiajing-Emperor-discover-hk-e1677641679161-450x338.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Eternal-Enlightenment-the-Virtual-World-of-Jiajing-Emperor-discover-hk-e1677641679161-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
Some 500 years ago, the Jiajing Emperor wished to become immortal. To be fair, he has kind of got what he sought courtesy of the Hong Kong Museum of Arts, with the venerable institution having organised a Jiajing Emperor-themed exhibition that brings to life the history of his dynasty through 240 intricately designed ceramics, portraits, and other art forms. Among the highlights of the exhibition is, undoubtedly, a blue porcelain collection set out on a 14-metre-long table by Angel Hui Hoi-kiu.
When: Ongoing
Price: Free entry
Location: Hong Kong Museum of Art
For more information: <a href="https://hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/eternal-enlightenment-the-virtual-world-of-jiajing-emperor.html">hk.art.museum</a>
Clockenflap
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70104" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Clockenflap-Arctic-Monkeys-FB-page-e1677641715285.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="500" height="667" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Clockenflap-Arctic-Monkeys-FB-page-e1677641715285.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Clockenflap-Arctic-Monkeys-FB-page-e1677641715285-450x600.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
Never failing to bring together an ensemble of truly exceptional acts from all around the world over an outdoor weekend of bewitching music and outstanding art is the three-day trilithon that is Clockenflap. The event, which prides itself on featuring a wide range of different musical genres, including rock, hip-hop, rap, and indie, is set to feature Ginger Root, Men I Trust, YoungQueenz, and many, many more in its participation lineup for 2023 Clockenflap. Already announced to headline on Friday night is the English rock band Arctic Monkeys in their much-anticipated performance in Hong Kong.
When: (3 &#8211; 5 Mar)
Price: From HK$1620
Location: Central Harbourfront Event Space
For more information: <a href="https://www.clockenflap.com/">clockenflap.com</a>
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/music-therapy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Music Therapy: What is music therapy and who exactly does it benefit?</a>
Homemade Sushi Making Class with Shima Shimizu
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70107" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Homemade-Sushi-Making-Class-with-Shima-Shimizu-e1677641763966.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Homemade-Sushi-Making-Class-with-Shima-Shimizu-e1677641763966.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Homemade-Sushi-Making-Class-with-Shima-Shimizu-e1677641763966-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Homemade-Sushi-Making-Class-with-Shima-Shimizu-e1677641763966-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
If a new skill is what you are looking to acquire this month, then why not try your hand at preparing your own sushi? Attend a session armed with only a pen and an apron and go back home fully equipped to make Gunkan-maki and Nigiri-sushi. Under the expert tutelage of Chef Shima Shimizu, the class will prepare you to make perfectly delicious sushi by teaching you all the important steps in the process – most notably cooking the rice and seasoning the fish correctly. Also, don’t forget to skip lunch beforehand as you will certainly have a lot of sushi sampling to get through.&nbsp;
When: 4 Mar
Price: From H$880
Location: Food Craft
For more information: <a href="https://www.foodcraft.hk/products/homemade-sushi-making-class-with-shima-shimizu?_pos=4&amp;_sid=c6f88c650&amp;_ss=r">foodcraft.hk</a>
Hong Kong Food Walk with Chef ArChan Chan
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70108" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Hong-Kong-Food-Walk-with-Chef-ArChan-Chan-e1677641820199.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Hong-Kong-Food-Walk-with-Chef-ArChan-Chan-e1677641820199.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Hong-Kong-Food-Walk-with-Chef-ArChan-Chan-e1677641820199-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Hong-Kong-Food-Walk-with-Chef-ArChan-Chan-e1677641820199-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
If you are a foodie or a cultural enthusiast, then you are definitely going to want to sign up for this food walk in the company of Archan Chan, head chef of renowned Cantonese eatery Ho Lee Fook. A four-hour stroll forms part of the annual Hong Kong International Literary Festival and brings to life the chef’s book &#8212;Hong Kong Local: Cult Recipes From The Streets That Make The City.
When: 7 Mar
Price: From HK$965
Location: Sai Ying Pun
For more information: <a href="https://www.festival.org.hk/">festival.org.hk</a>
Dance-Opera–Love Streams
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70106" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dance-Opera-Love-Streams_p-e1677641856490.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="768" height="420" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dance-Opera-Love-Streams_p-e1677641856490.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dance-Opera-Love-Streams_p-e1677641856490-450x246.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dance-Opera-Love-Streams_p-e1677641856490-600x328.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
Those on the lookout for a truly immersive and riveting opera performance should probably check out Hong Kong Arts Festival Society’s Dance-Opera–Love Streams. This stunning concert will showcase the skills of a group of talented dancers from the Hong Kong Dance Company, as well as 12 acclaimed opera singers and musicians. Directed and choreographed by Yang Yuntao, the show comprises the two much-loved pieces &#8211;Heart of Coral and Women Like Us.
When: 17 &#8211; 19 Mar
Price: From HK$200
Location: The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
For more information: <a href="https://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/">hk.artsfestival.org</a>
The Stage Doors on Mars
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70109" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Stage-Doors-on-March-e1677641944525.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Stage-Doors-on-March-e1677641944525.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Stage-Doors-on-March-e1677641944525-450x253.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Stage-Doors-on-March-e1677641944525-600x338.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra is promising to take you on a journey to Mars in 2057. Pre-commemorating this admittedly distant magnificent Martian event will be a scintillating array of Cantonese opera as the perfect sci-fi soundtrack. While part of the event will catapult you to the far future, another will take you on a trip to the past as you revisit many important musical events from the last century.
When: 17 &#8211; 18 Mar
Price:&nbsp; From HK$250
Location: Hong Kong City Hall
For more information: <a href="https://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/">hk.artsfestival.org</a>
Art Central
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70103" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Art-Central-art-central-fb-page-e1677641989475.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="500" height="625" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Art-Central-art-central-fb-page-e1677641989475.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Art-Central-art-central-fb-page-e1677641989475-450x563.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
March is surely a compelling month for connoisseurs of creativity given all the art events set to take place in the weeks ahead. Among the most intriguing is the eighth edition of Art Central, which will be taking place as part of Hong Kong Art Week. Featuring works of both established and upcoming artists from all over the world, you should be most excited about Hong Kong’s very own Sammi Mak and Korean painter Han Choong Seok.&nbsp;
When: 22 &#8211; 25 Mar
Price: From HK$125
Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
For more information: <a href="http://artcentralhongkong.com/">artcentralhongkong.com</a>
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/vibrant-city-hong-kong-growing-art-scene/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vibrant City: Hong Kong’s growing art scene</a>
Art Basel
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-70102" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Art-Basel-art-basel-fb-page-e1677642029349.jpg" alt="best things to do in March 2023" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Art-Basel-art-basel-fb-page-e1677642029349.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Art-Basel-art-basel-fb-page-e1677642029349-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Art-Basel-art-basel-fb-page-e1677642029349-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
When it comes to going big, Art Basel is doing exactly that for its 2023 event, a move down to Hong Kong having lifted all of its travel restrictions, allowing more local and international art lovers than ever to participate in this high-profile annual extravaganza. This year, the show is set to welcome more than 150 exhibitors from all over the world, while also seeing the return of Encounters, the dedicated zone for big art installations, which had been on a Covid-mandated hiatus.&nbsp;
When: 23 &#8211; 25 Mar
Price: From H$280
Location: Hong Kong Convention &amp; Exhibition Centre
For more information<a href="https://www.artbasel.com/">: artbasel.com</a>
Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon
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Undoubtedly French designer Coco Chanel revolutionised women’s fashion as indicated by the fact that her fame has endured more than 50 years after her death. Commemorating this inimitable icon, Hong Kong Ballet is celebrating her life through an exquisitely conceived and executed ballet routine courtesy of award-winning choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. The dance performance is memorably soundtracked by Peter Salem’s sensational score, while Jerome Kaplan provides the eye-catching costumes.&nbsp;
When: 24 &#8211; 26 Mar
Price: From HK$180
Location: The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
For more information: <a href="https://www.hkballet.com/en/">hkballet.com</a>

What’s On? Things to do this March in Hong Kong

As soon as he donned the iconic suit of Superman in Man of Steel (2013), British actor Henry Cavill wasn’t a bird, wasn’t a plane, he was a superstar. Up until then, he’d enjoyed only moderate success, having appeared in relatively low-profile supporting roles in a handful of movies, including The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) and Stardust (2007), while also having a recurring role in The Tudors, a TV historical drama. With one bound, though, his take on Krypton’s favourite son saw his standing go stratospheric, while many subsequent roles – most notably his starring role in The Witcher, the smash hit Netflix series &#8211; only added to his legend.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-69895" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC_rgb-e1676253540193.jpg" alt="Henry Cavill" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC_rgb-e1676253540193.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC_rgb-e1676253540193-450x253.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC_rgb-e1676253540193-600x338.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
As of October last year, it looked all but certain that he was about to resume his Superman&nbsp;duties, when he unexpectedly cameoed at the end&nbsp;of Black Adam (2022), his first appearance in&nbsp;the famous red and blue costume for five years.&nbsp;Although at the time, Warner Brothers, the company behind the DC movie slate appeared to&nbsp;confirm he was to return in all-new adventures for&nbsp;the hero, all such hopes were dashed in December.&nbsp;This followed the news that new creative heads&nbsp;would be steering the DC superheroes stable of&nbsp;future cinematic and TV appearances. As Cavill&nbsp;had just quit his $1 million-an-episode role in The&nbsp;Witcher, apparently in favour of his Superman&nbsp;duties, this must have been something of a blow.&nbsp;
Speaking just after it was confirmed DC was&nbsp;looking to recast the caped comic-strip hero,&nbsp;Cavill said: “This news isn’t the easiest, but that’s&nbsp;life. The changing of the guard is something that&nbsp;happens and I respect that.”&nbsp;
There is, however, way more to Cavill than just&nbsp;either wowing audiences in The Witcher or being&nbsp;Clark Kent’s alter ego. Here are eight unknown&nbsp;facts you probably never knew about Mr C.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69900 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC07_rgb-e1676253654530.jpg" alt="Henry Cavill" width="500" height="807" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC07_rgb-e1676253654530.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC07_rgb-e1676253654530-450x726.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
<h2>1. The Real Deal</h2>
He’s unusually honest about what drives his career, saying: “I’m slightly wary of saying this, because it can be frowned upon, certainly by members of my community and people outside my community. Money is fantastic and that’s something which I deem&nbsp;– and again, it is frowned upon – very important. I’m spending it on nice stuff. Whether that be lavish holidays for me and my friends or just seeing something and going in a shop and saying, ‘Yeah, I want that for the house, I’m buying it.’”
<h2>2. An Animal Lover</h2>
More altruistically, however, Cavill serves as the spokesperson for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey, as well as managing Cavill Conservation, a personal project dedicated to preventing the extinction of endangered species.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/gal-power/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gal Power: Gal Gadot Shatters Superhero Glass Ceiling With Wonder Woman Debut</a>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69901 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC010_rgb-e1676253604337.jpg" alt="Henry Cavill" width="768" height="404" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC010_rgb-e1676253604337.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC010_rgb-e1676253604337-450x237.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC010_rgb-e1676253604337-600x316.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
<h2>3. The First Brit Superman</h2>
The typical take on Superman as an all-American alien took something of a knock when Cavill landed the role in 2013. Despite having an accent that sounds straight out of the Midwest, Cavill was actually born in Jersey, the largest of the UK’s Channel Islands. Sharing his secret of sounding genuinely US-born, he said: “Doing an American accent is about working the muscles in your neck and your lips.”
<h2>4. Hollywood’s Unluckiest Lad</h2>
Before securing his big break, Cavill was known as the Unluckiest Man in Hollywood, largely on account of his habit of narrowly missing out on high-profile roles. Most famously, he was pipped to being James Bond by Daniel Craig and to make matters worse, he also failed to secure the starring role in an earlier take on Superman, with that particular honour falling to Brandon Routh. Most egregiously, he was overlooked for the role of Edward Cullen in the series of movies based on Twilight, Stephanie Meyer’s Young Adult vampire series. This was despite the fact that the author actually had him in mind for the part while she was writing the books. Ultimately though, he was deemed to look too old, with Robert Pattinson actually taking on the starring mantle. Adding insult to injury, Pattison is three years older than Cavill.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/robert-pattinson-the-batman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robert Pattinson – From Child Actor To Hollywood Heavyweight</a>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69902 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC014_rgb-e1676253583850.jpg" alt="Henry Cavill" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC014_rgb-e1676253583850.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC014_rgb-e1676253583850-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC014_rgb-e1676253583850-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
<h2>5. A man of many languages</h2>
In addition to English, Cavill can reputedly speak French, Spanish, Italian, German and Czech. Asked why he was so linguistically proficient, he said: “In school, I had an interest in languages, ancient history and Egyptology in particular. There was a historical fiction writer named Christian Jacq who wrote a series of books, sort of Egyptology-based, and I really enjoyed them.”
<h2>6. Grease was the word</h2>
When he first began acting in high school, he played the character of Sonny in the beloved musical Grease. He’s featured in the centre of the picture, wearing a white jacket, and is easily recognisable by his jet-black hair.&nbsp;
<figure id="attachment_69897" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69897" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-69897 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC03_rgb-e1676253727476.jpg" alt="Henry Cavill" width="500" height="728" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC03_rgb-e1676253727476.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HC03_rgb-e1676253727476-450x655.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-69897" class="wp-caption-text">Mandatory Credit: Photo by John Salangsang/Shutterstock (13661895ga) Henry Cavill and Natalie Viscuso &#8216;Avatar: The Way of Water&#8217; film premiere, Los Angeles, California, USA &#8211; 12 Dec 2022</figcaption></figure>
<h2>7. Superfat</h2>
Despite now being renowned for his Adonislike looks and stature, Cavill wasn’t always the herculean figure he is today. Due to his puppy fat, while attending boarding school, he was rather derogatorily known as “Fat Cavill”. Recalling those days, he says: “I bawled on the phone to my mom four times a day and I became an easy target for bullies.” He put his fat days behind him after winning his role in The Count of Monte Cristo, promptly losing 21 pounds and becoming more – or, rather, less – the man we know today.
<h2>8. Man of the future</h2>
Not content with a life in front of the camera, Cavill also has ambitions to get behind the lens. To that end, he formed Promethean Productions in 2014 in collaboration with his brother Charlie and British producer Rex Glensy. At one time, Stratton, an action-packed thriller based on the Duncan Falconer book series, was set to be the company’s cinematic debut offering. Unfortunately, this fell through, with both Cavill and Promethean ultimately exiting the project. Despite that disappointment and his enforced bowing out of any future Superman project, things are far from downbeat for Mr Cavill. His next outing is tipped to be Warhammer 40,000, an Amazon series based on the miniature wargame of the same title. While he may be Krypton’s Last Son no more, it seems certain that we haven’t seen the end of his on-screen heroics.
(Text: Joseff Musa)

Henry Cavill – A Man of Many Substances

There is something for everyone to enjoy this February. From concerts for music lovers and marathons for fitness buffs to Russell Peters’ stand-up comedy and many more events in line, here are all the fun-filled things to do in Hong Kong this month.
The Hong Kong Arts Festival
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The Hong Kong Arts Festival returns for its 51st iteration this month. Each and every year the festival manages to cram in an astonishing array of performances, typically ranging from much-loved classical favourites to more outré, experimental productions. In addition to its active programme of international&nbsp;features, the Festival also commissions and produces theatre, chamber opera and contemporary dance performances by Hong Kong’s own creative talents. The festival also offers a diverse range of supporting and educational activities.
When: 17 Feb 
Price: Prices vary 
Location: Various locations
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://hk.artsfestival.org">hk.artsfestival.org</a>
AOMG Concert &#8211; Follow The Movement 

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Following the Hong Kong appearances of two of the world’s most popular girl groups last month, it’s once again a treat for the city&#8217;s K-Pop fans with confirmation that six of the musicians signed up to Korea’s record label, AOMG, will be appearing in Hong Kong. Soulful songs from Lee Hi and Yugyueom, high-energy rap performances from Simon Dominic and Loco, moody and mellow tunes from Gray and Woo Won Jae and collaborative performances from the whole pantheon are all on offer for just one night at KITEC.
When: 3 Feb 
Price: From HK$988 
Location: Star Hall, KITEC
Spin Expo Hong Kong
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The Spin Expo is the leading industry-sourcing exhibition dedicated to innovation in the yarns, fibre and knitwear sectors. Attracting international exhibitors, the show welcomes a diverse range of businesses, including many of the market leaders in the ready-to-wear, knitwear, hosiery, activewear, and homeware sectors. The show has long been a fixture on the calendar of the fashion world’s key decision-makers, sourcing professionals, designers and buyers.
When: 8-9 Feb 
Price: Free entry 
Location: The Space, Lai Chi Kok
Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon
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The 2022 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon will actually – and slightly confusingly &#8211; take place this month. A signature event on the city’s sporting calendar, the Marathon never fails to attract racers from Hong Kong and across the world, making it one of Asia’s most popular running events. There are a number of categories,with the family run, the full marathon (42km long), the half-marathon (21km) and the 3km wheelchair race proving the most popular.
When: 12 Feb 
Price: Prices vary 
Location: Different locations
For more information: <a href="http://sc.com">sc.com</a>
Westlife Concert
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69716" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3.jpg 1507w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-450x253.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-120x68.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-400x225.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-800x450.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/westlife_p3-1200x675.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
Get ready to enjoy a vintage Westlife performance, one that will make your Valentine’s evening a truly unforgettable one. The band &#8211; Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne – is finally able to bring The Wild Dreams Tour to Hong Kong. As part of what is to be a special night, the band will not only be treating fans to stunning renditions of many of their greatest hits but will also be playing their acclaimed new single, Starlight, for the very first time in Hong Kong.
When: 14 Feb 
Price: From $699 
Location: AsiaWorld-Expo&nbsp;
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://hkticketing.com">hkticketing.com</a>
Russell Peters &#8211; Act Your Age
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If you haven’t yet encountered Russell Peters, then you’ve missed out on one of the true highlights of the comedy scene. This extraordinarily talented and hilarious man has been performing since the 80s and has played to standingroom- only audiences in countless countries around the world, as well as appearing in several high-profile TV shows and big-budget movies. As part of his Act Your Age world tour, the Canadian comedian will be performing at Kitec Hall in EMax on February 15.
When: 15 Feb 
Price: From $599 
Location:Discovery Bay Main Plaza&nbsp;
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.handmadehongkong.com/">handmadehongkong.com</a>
Vegetarian Food Asia<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69710" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_5748-s.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="512">
As Hong Kong&#8217;s most comprehensive vegetarian and green lifestyle exhibition, VFA prides itself on showcasing a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan products from around the world. The three day event is said to be larger than ever with more than 600 vegetarian, vegan, green living, natural and organic product brands participating, while 5,000 different foods, products and services will all be on offer. 50 onsite activities will also be provided for attendees.
When: 17-19 Feb 
Price: From $25 
Location: HKCEC&nbsp;
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://egfoodasia.com">egfoodasia.com</a>
One Republic
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69711" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="574" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-450x336.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-600x449.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-375x280.jpg 375w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-768x574.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-120x90.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-500x374.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-200x150.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-400x299.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-800x598.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/one-republic_p-1200x897.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
The American pop rock band OneRepublic is best known for such all-time chart-toppers as Apologize and Counting Stars, while, more recently, I Ain’t Worried, proved one of the highlights of the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack. You’d be advised to secure tickets as soon as possible if you want to enjoy the band’s notoriously high energy on-stage performance as part of this critically-acclaimed world tour.
When: 21 Feb 
Price: From $599 
Location: AsiaWorld-Expo
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://hkticketing.com">hkticketing.com</a>
Oxfam Trailwalker
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The Oxfam Trailwalker is now one of the largest fundraising sporting events in Hong Kong. More than 100,000 participants have raised some HK$600 million in support of Oxfam’s many poverty alleviation and emergency relief projects across Africa and Asia (including Hong Kong and mainland China). The event will start at the Pak Tam Chung Snack Stand in Sai Kung and then proceed across sections one to nine of the Maclehose Trail.
When: 24-26 Feb 
Price: From $1600 per team 
Location: Different locations
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk">oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk</a>

What’s On? Things to do this February in Hong Kong

At the tender age of just 19, you might be forgiven for thinking Olivia Rodrigo would be just getting to grips with widespread fame and international recognition. The American-Filipina songstress exudes such confidence and poise, however, that she inevitably comes across as a seasoned veteran, one quite au fait with global renown. Indeed, Rodrigo has embraced her celebrity status with a maturity that truly belies her age and the rapidity of her rise to&nbsp; worldwide acclaim.
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The 2022 Billboard Woman of the Year’s trajectory to pop stardom is very much the stuff dreams are made of, an outcome she describes as “overwhelming! And exciting…and lucky”. A truly talented singer and songwriter, she has taken the world by storm with her emotionally charged songs of heartbreak, jealousy and the traumas of growing up. As her music is every bit as catchy as her lyrics are accessible, her fan base now straddles every border and every age group.
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Born on 20th February 2003 in the city of Murrieta in Southern California, she got her first real taste of fame in 2019 when she starred in High School Musical: The Series, a major hit for Disney+. This was a big break for the then 16-year-old, the only child to her Filipino therapist father and her German-Irish mother.
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Although making her a familiar name to millions, High School Musical was far from her TV debut. In 2015, she played the all-singing lead in the Grace Stirs Up Success, one of the American Girl series of family movies. The next year she was cast as Paige Olvera in Disney’s Bizaardvark TV comedy series. It was really High School Musical, though, that saw everything change for her. Looking to follow the success of the movie of the same name, the series followed a group of high-school drama club members&nbsp;as they stage various musical performances. In 2019, the series showcased All I Want, Rodrigo’s own composition, which she followed with a second self-penned track in 2020, Just for a Moment, a duet she performed with co-star Joshua Bassett.
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Keen to continue writing and performing songs, she released Driver’s License as a single in 2021, a teenage heartbreak ballad that went to number one on the Billboard chart, making her the youngest person ever to achieve such a feat. The song went on to break Spotify records for the most streams of any non-holiday tune in a day (17 million) and in a week (66 million).
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A few months later she followed up with Déjà Vu, a co-written song that went straight in at number eight on the Billboard chart, making the first singer to have both of their first singles debut in the top ten. She followed this up later&nbsp;that year with Sour, her first album, a blend of pop, folk and alternative rock that bought her album both critical acclaim and commercial success.
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Her hard work and perseverance paid off again in 2022 when she won Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance (Driver’s License) and Best Pop Vocal Album (Sour) at that year’s Grammy Awards. Keen listeners will have little trouble in identifying the overarching theme running through Sour, as it is basically a clearly personal treatise on heartbreak, emotionally documenting the sweet and sour drama of teenage relationships while lamenting their almost inevitable painful endings. On Driving Home 2 U, for instance, she laments “The heartbreak that kept on giving,” While she has never named the ex-partner in question, she has not been afraid to elaborate on other details, such as how she cried in a parking lot when she felt “like my world was ending every day”.
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Eminently relatable, another of Sour’s most memorable tracks, Jealousy, Jealousy deals with the feelings of anxiety triggered by social media, whilst Hope Ur OK is an unashamed message of support for those coming to terms with their sexuality. Brutal, meanwhile, is an up-tempo pop-punk-esque track penned in response to public interest and speculation about her private life, her music and the loneliness she has not been afraid to discuss. Recalling that time, she says: “It was very strange. I remember feeling lonely and I remember wanting a boyfriend really bad.”
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Where many musical artists release films merely as a means of showcasing their favourite live performances “Driving Home 2 U”, a film covering the making of Sour, feels infinitely more 
personal and provides unique insight into not only Rodrigo’s life but her artistic process. It is also a true testament to her undeniable talent as both a singer and songwriter.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69533" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="461" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers.jpg 1194w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-450x270.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-600x360.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-467x280.jpg 467w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-768x461.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-1024x614.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-120x72.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-500x300.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-200x120.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-400x240.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp9876918-olivia-rodrigo-desktop-wallpapers-800x480.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
Outlining just why she felt she had to make it, she says: “I really wanted to make this film for my fans, especially those fans who maybe couldn’t see me on tour. I thought it’d be really cool if they got to&nbsp;see new arrangements of the songs, kind of as if it’s a whole new concert.
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I had a lot of fun playing with different sonics and different ways that you could kind of position these songs that I’ve gotten comfortable with over the past year. It was kind of like stretching a new creative muscle.”
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While it may appear that Rodrigo’s talent allows her to flex those creative muscles with almost effortless ease, the truth is an incredible amount of hard work seems to go into her every single song, with Rodrigo maintaining she is her own harshest critic. Expanding on this she says: “I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself all the time, There were bits of that in the film where I talked about how I was like: ‘Oh, I don’t like this song. It can be better and sometimes that can be hard…I’m way too hard on myself, sometimes past the point of being truly productive.”
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While she may be hard on herself, the famously prolific songwriter has not let that stop her from churning out hit after hit, an impressive run that looks set to continue as she returns to the studio with collaborator Dan Nigro to work on a follow-up to her smash hit debut album. In fact, Rodrigo already has a name for the new album and more than a few songs in the pipeline.
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Offering a tempting glimpse of what lies in store for fans, she says: “It’s really exciting to think about what’s coming up from me next. While I just love writing songs, I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself and just sort of explore and have fun right now.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69544" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="707" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier.jpg 1414w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-450x636.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-600x849.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-198x280.jpg 198w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-768x1086.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-724x1024.jpg 724w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-120x170.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-500x707.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-200x283.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-400x566.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-800x1132.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OLIVIA01_sour_Grant-Spanier-1200x1697.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
If her success and ever-growing fan-base are any indicators, Rodrigo’s love for music and incredible talent is as infectious as it is universally appealing. For this particular 19-yearold the future looks bright, something she herself acknowledges, saying: “I’m so excited to make my next record and explore more colours and textures and feelings, while I continue to grow as both a person and an artist.”
&nbsp;
(Text: Hans Schlsikier)

From a Disney newbie to a Grammy winner, Olivia Rodrigo is now a bona fide superstar

Get off to an exciting start of the new year as Hong Kong gets back on track to being a bustling city with multiple concerts, sport events, exhibitions and fairs.
 
K-pop Sensation Mamamoo 

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With many longstanding Covid-related restrictions having now been lifted, Hong Kong’s entertainment calendar is set to team with live music events, with concertgoers now having a lot to look forward to. Indeed, many of the city’s favourite international artists are soon to put in an appearance, with one of the first set to be K-pop&nbsp;girl group Mamamoo. This will see its four members &#8211; Hwasa, Solar, Moonbyul and Wheein &#8211; hit the stage as part of their pan-Asia My Con tour. Unsurprisingly, tickets are selling fast, so act quick or expect to be disappointed.
When: 7 Jan&nbsp; 
Price: From HK$900-1600&nbsp; 
Location: Asia-world Expo
HK International Stationery Fair
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A&nbsp;regular joint venture between Messe Frankfurt and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, this is one of the major sourcing events in the Asia-Pacific region for gift stationery, art and craft supplies, office supply products and writing instruments sectors. Exhibitors from a multitude of different countries will be bringing many of their finest products to the city as part of this one-stop showcase of the latest and greatest stationary items from around the world. Running in parallel with the expo proper is a series of related educational seminars, master classes and creative workshops.
When: 9-11 Jan 
Price: Free entry 
Location: HKCEC, Wanchai
Hong Kong Toys and Games
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The much-awaited return of the HKTDC Toys and Games Fair to its in-person format sees an extensive array of the ultimate entertainment experiences for younger consumers all on offer. With dedicated zones for Toys, Baby Toys, Dolls, Educational Toys, Electronic Games, Sports Equipment, Video Games and Board Games, this is one fun expo that has something for pretty much every taste. Also in the mix are special displays for innovative and smart tech toys from all around the world, making the show almost as educational and recreational.
When: 9-12 Jan 
Price: Free entry 
Location: HKCEC, Wanchai
Black Pink Concert
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The new year in Hong Kong is clearly going to start with a bang thanks to the long-awaited arrival of record-breaking South Korean girl band BlackPink. The K-pop sensation quartet are stopping over as part of a World Tour in support of Born Pink, their huge-selling comeback album. The ‘Blinks’, will no doubt be spellbound as they perform their many mega-hits, including Kill This Love and, of course, Boombayah and Ddu-du Ddu-du. Secure your tickets because they are sure to sell out fast.
When: 13-15 Jan 
Price: HK$1000-3000 
Location: Asia-world expo
Chinese New year Flower Market
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Chinese New Year Flower Market is the place to be if you really want to properly get in the mood for the coming festivities. As well as getting your pick of the finest fresh flowers, fruits and confectionery, there is also the opportunity to enjoy breath-taking performances from traditional Chinese magicians, acrobats, folk dancers and opera, all while breathing in the fragrance of spring. The festival is a paradise for the bloombesotted.
When: 14-15 Jan 
Price: Free entry 
Location: Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
Chinese New Year Market
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69330" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market.jpg 1600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chinese-new-year-market-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
With a guarantee of dozens of vendors and local artisans all proudly selling handmade products, the Sunday market is holding a special shopping festival as part of its celebrations of the new lunar year. Perfect for a shopping spree to start off your new year, the market has everything you need. Promising to be a truly memorable occasion, the market will feature a variety of products and crafts all embodying authentic Chinese culture, giving people an unmissable opportunity to pick up special gifts for their loved ones.
When: 15 Jan 
Price: Free entry&nbsp; 
Location:Discovery Bay Main Plaza&nbsp;
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.handmadehongkong.com/">handmadehongkong.com</a>
The Golden Earth
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Black Box Chinese Opera Festival features four innovative productions. Among the highlights are two original and daringly experimental Cantonese operas. Asura Judgement, has been trailed as a uniquely demanding one man adaptation of Law Ka-ying’s Rashomon-inspired ensemble work. No less intriguing is The Imperial Decree, a thought-provoking meditation featuring the talented duo of Keith Lai and Janet Wong.
When: Until 2 Jan 
Price: Free entry 
Location: Rossi &amp; Rossi Gallery, Wong Chuk Hang
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://rossirossi.com">rossirossi.com</a>
Chasing an Elusive Nature
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Highly skilled in the esoteric arts of calligraphy, Jaffa Lam is rightly feted in this iconic exhibition, which brings life to an artistic and personal landscape which is very relatable to the viewers. 
An avowed alchemist, the artist famously plays with our established notions of reality, frequently upending and presenting a world characterised by transformation, illusion and revelation.
When: Until 7 Jan 
Price: Free entry 
Location: Axel Vervoordt Gallery
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://ocula.com">ocula.com</a>
The Love of Couture
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The first-ever exhibition in Asia to dig deep into more than 200 years of regional fashion development &#8211; The Love of Couture: Artisanship in Fashion Beyond Time is said to offer an unprecedented evaluation of the impact of fashion, developed by K11 in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum, while being designed by William Chang. The exhibition also brings the works of emerging fashion designers from Japan, South Korea, China and Hong Kong.
When: Until 29 Jan&nbsp; 
Price: Prices vary 
Location: K11 Musea
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://k11musea.com">k11musea.com</a>

What’s On? Things to do this January in Hong Kong

His once upon a time started when he was born on 20th February 1986 in South Africa which was finally beginning to wake up from the long nightmare of apartheid. Few would have thought that Trevor Noah would one day go on to host one of the highest-rated satirical shows in the US. Nor could many have foreseen that his recently announced departure from that programme – The Daily Show – would fuel a slew of rumours and incite seemingly endless media speculation as to what he – and the show he left behind – would do next.
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Much of his success has been down to a singular approach to interviewing, which typically sees him having measured conversations with subjects who hold conflicting viewpoints. This has seen him truly stand out during an era when political views have become ever more polarised and debate has frequently been stifled by attempts to ‘cancel’ those with opposing beliefs from both ends of the political and cultural spectrums.
A Knight in Shining Narratives<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69184" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/01____featured_image_____Website-2.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="405">
Typically, the 36-year-old host has wittily reflected on his past life experiences. These have ranged from the relatively trivial, such as subsisting on caterpillars during months of extreme poverty and making comically hapless teenage passes at clearly disinterested girls, to his experiences in jail and his encounters with various murderous gangsters.&nbsp;One recurring theme in his many monologues is his singular take on racism. Having been raised by his Xhosa mother and his Swiss-German father, Noah was always viewed as coloured, with this identity having shaped many of his beliefs and values.
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When not busy in Hollywood, travel is one of his go-to pastimes, with this, too, having been incorporated into his comic routines. Famously, this saw him reflect: “I find that what rich people want to do on vacation is what poor people are trying to escape. My friends said let’s go camping. There’ll be no water and no electricity. It’ll just be us and the great outdoors. “For my part, I’d be like: ‘Yeah, that was my life. Do you know how hard I worked to never go camping again? Every day I wake up in my bed and I’m like: “Thank God I’m not camping!”
The American Dream
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At one point, he was named both one of The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media and one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People in the World. Amid all this, several examples of his rare blend of quirkiness and media savviness emerged. Arguably, one of the best instances of this saw him lead the Daily Show staff in a bid to help out a homeless white man who has been living outside their studios for four years in a bunker built from just blankets.
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In a monologue that typified his brand of humour,&nbsp;Noah told viewers: “This guy’s homeless, but he’s racist and sexist to black employees and women, but never says anything to the white guys. So, he’s got this weird power dynamic where he goes: “So I’m homeless, but, yeah, I’m still white.’ Then, I’m like: ‘But you’re homeless.’ It’s a really interesting dynamic. In terms of accordance with the rules of wokeness, I don’t know how it works. I don’t know what the rules are.”
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Such encounters are all very Trevor Noah &#8211; relentlessly kind and infuriatingly earnest, the kind of person who asks questions and then pays attention to the responses. He’s also the kind of person who, though offended by racism, remains analytical about it.&nbsp;“I don’t want to be the hardest-working man in Hollywood. I don’t want to be on the Forbes list. Forbes Happiest List—put me there if there’s such a thing.” he says.
The Rainbow after the Rain
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When it was revealed that Noah would take over as host of The Daily Show, things initially got off to a rocky start. At the time, the then-31-year-old relative Hollywood newbie was not a well-known name State-side, and many were stunned that Comedy Central had not opted to go with a bigger domestic star as the anchor of its flagship show.
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Controversy then broke out on account of a series of unearthed tweets that some branded as decidedly misogynistic. Together, these negative rumblings saw the show initially lose more than 700,000 viewers per night compared to the figures sustained during Jon Stewart’s final year. The ratings eventually rebounded, partly helped by the show expanding its online reach. To his credit, once he settled in, few people saw him as a little-known black kid permanently filling in for Jon Stewart.
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He was open and honest about dealing with depression and anxiety, and he discussed how&nbsp;running The Daily Show, with its rigid schedule, helped him. He also discussed how it can be challenging to maintain your mental health when working as a traveling comedian. “Because you don’t work a 9-to-5 job, stand-up comedians often fail to recognize the symptoms of depression.
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So, you assume this is just the life of a comic when some days you wake up at 4 p.m. and sleep all day and other days you can’t get to sleep till 4 a.m.,” he remarked. “Then you understand that it’s not normal and that it has power over you.”
The Rest Is Still Unwritten
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After seven years of hosting The Daily Show through a period characterised by both political unrest and the upending of the TV industry, Noah announced his intention to leave the satirical program, with his last episode scheduled to air on 8th December. When he was asked why he is leaving, he responded with a simple “Why not?” Expanding on this, he said: “It’s better to leave when people ask why you’re leaving than leaving when the reaction is ‘good-riddance’.”
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Between 2015 and 2022, both Noah and the show went through huge challenges, while also enjoying equally huge successes. The question now, of course, is how does he follow that?&nbsp;Well, his next project is said to be a docuseries, The Tipping Point, which is to have focus on a variety of highly emotive topics, including voter suppression, political polarisation and the tensions surrounding the ever-prickly issue of immigration.
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Along with a series of scheduled performances in South Africa next year, he is also reportedly to spend more time with Dua Lipa, with his budding romantic relationship with the British-born disco diva having been celebrated in any number of online memes.
Whatever the future holds, Trevor Noah is just beginning, with his saga ending unplanned.
&nbsp;
(Text:Joseff Musa)

Happily Trevor After – From a nobody to the most talked-about TV host in the US

The Generals mumbled in the tunnels and couldn’t quite catch the eye of anyone passing by. Frown met frown half a kilometre down and a sense of deserved gloom swept from room to room. With a note of clear regret, “There really is no sign yet…” said a junior radar tracker. And the mood got even blacker.
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Fists thumped desks of metal, but the question stayed unsettled. And no one quite believed that this late on Christmas Eve there’d yet to be a sign, no flicker along the Rhine, no jubilant Argentine long-awaited confirmation that some distant listening station had finally got to hear an airborne reindeer and a trail of festive fairies touch down in Buenos Aires.
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“This is quite beyond precedent. What shall we tell the President?” a chap aghast gasped at last. No one replied though somebody tried to stifle a sigh as everyone gathered wondered quite why there was no sleigh to be seen on any tracking screen as they continued to wait as the day grew late…
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Up above, throughout the town, little did they know of the panic down below. Could it really now be true that for Christmas two thousand and 22 Santa would not be appearing, wouldn’t his deer-pulled sleigh be steering to each every and family home from downtown Rio and to Rome, from Rangoon to old Kowloon? Certainly, it was well beyond debate, he’d never left a delivery quite so late.
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The grown-ups shuffled, all ashamed, ashenfaced lest they got blamed. The innocent looks of girls and boys, sadly deprived of any new toys saw them sore upbraided, left bereft and distinctly jaded. They could not meet the downbeat gaze of those who’d waited many days for the sleigh-borne gifts crafted during the many shifts of Santa’s crew of keen toy makers and extraordinarily able Christmas cake bakers.
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Shivering, cold and clearly, then spoke up one young lad: “Alas, alas, alas, how has this now come to pass? While in every preceding, Santa’s been sure to visit here. Dispensing joy, toy by toy, to children far and children near.
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“Never before has he seen fit to let us down, no not one bit. How has every girl and every boy somehow managed to annoy the kindest man to ever live, the kind of man to give and give, the kind who must be sorely riled to break the heart of every child? We must have done something awful something fantastically unlawful, something mean and something cruel, maybe at home, maybe at school, something wicked and something bad, something we wish we never had…”
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In every home in every place, a tear ran down nearly every face as girls with curls and boys with no toys took the news with such good grace, blaming themselves for not being good, not behaving as they should, shamefaced that it was their generation that prompted this aberration most shocking of Santa filling not a stocking. Indeed, beneath the boughs of every festive tree, the space was empty, the space was free, where presents should have been, nothing at all could be seen.
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The hopes were forlorn, their little hearts battered and the luckless children sat and chattered.
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And at last, there came a relieved cheer, a confirmed sighting of both sleigh and deer. Using some magical Santa tricks, however, some enchanted means so clever, the sleigh flying high crossed the sky above every town and every place, delighting every upturned face. Indeed, as the world gazed up that night, all could see the exact same sight – Santa and his sleigh so brightly.
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Then, suddenly, it began to write… 
What could be behind Santa’s decision to etch with laser-like precision a message written in letters so tall, a message clearly meant for one and all? Up above the world so high, words sparkled in the darkening sky, words of import for those below, words that were far from “Ho, ho, ho…”
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Spelled boldly out across the night, a series of words came into sight, each letter carved out with great deliberation as Santa reached out to every nation:&nbsp;
“SORRY FOLKS TO BRING BAD CHEER TO ONE AND ALL FOR ONCE THIS YEAR… 
“WHILE ALL THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN GOOD, KIND AND POLITE, THAT’S UNDERSTOOD… 
“…THERE WILL BE NO PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE, NO FESTIVE GIFTS LEFT BY ME. 
“NO CHIMNEY VISITS WILL I BE MAKING, A MOVE I KNOW IS QUITE HEARTBREAKING. 
“FOR EVEN THOUGH YOU KIDS HAVE BEEN GREAT, THE WORLD IS IN A TERRIBLE STATE. 
MUMS AND DADS AND UNCLES TOO ARE FIGHTING WARS, DESTROYING THE CLIMATE AND SETTLING SCORES. LYING TO ONE ANOTHER, FALLING OUT WITH SISTER AND WITH BROTHER. 
“THE PLANET IS IN A TERRIBLE MESS AND I REALLY MUST CONFESS, NO MORE GIFTS SHALL I BE LEAVING ON THIS OR ANY OTHER EVENING. 
“CHILDREN OF THE WORLD, IT IS THE ADULTS YOU MUST BLAME, FOR TERRIBLE DEEDS, SOME TOO BAD TO NAME, FOR WICKEDNESS WITH LITTLE SHAME. THIS IS WHY YOU PAY THIS THIS PRICE, FOR GROWN-UPS WHO ARE NAUGHTY AND NEVER EVER NICE…”
WHO ARE NAUGHTY AND NEVER EVER NICE…”
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And with that final flourish, Santa was gone, though his words still glowed and lingered on. And all the children everywhere fixed the adults with a deadly stare. Their look said it all, showed they felt sore and deprived of festive gifts that never arrived.
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And the grown-ups were shamefaced one and all, as every unworthy deed did they did recall. “Listen,” they said to every child, who paid attention quite beguiled, “we’ll do better, yes we will, our promise to you we will fulfill. No more cheating, no more lying, we’ll build a better world and keep on trying to make you happy and bring Santa back, with gifts for all within his sack.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-69173" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5.jpg 2560w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-450x253.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-120x68.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-400x225.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-800x450.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper-5-1200x675.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
And maybe they’ll succeed and maybe they’ll fail, maybe they’ll be a sequel to this tale.
In the meantime, Happy Christmas from us to you, and Happy Christmas from all here at Gafencu!

The return of the traditional Gafencu Christmas story on why Santa went missing

As Hong Kong relaxes its covid restrictions, there is a lot to look forward to in the city for this festive season, with cultural events, shopping fests for Christmas and Sports competitions.&nbsp; 
 
The Nutcracker
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Hong Kong Ballet is proudly presenting The Nutcracker, with this production of the perennial favourite coming courtesy of long-time creative director Septime Webre and his ever-innovative team. This particular interpretation sees Hong Kong’s history and traditions provide the backdrop for this truly classic ballet with the Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower, rickshaws, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival and shadow puppet theatre all added into the mix. With Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s much-loved compositions, lavish costumes and extraordinary production values, this promises to be a truly magical spectacle.
When: 16-31 Dec 
Price: From HK$180 to HK$1200 
Location: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
HK Brands and Products Expo
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68777" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-....jpg" alt="" width="700" height="373" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-....jpg 1000w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-450x240.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-600x320.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-525x280.jpg 525w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-768x409.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-120x64.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-500x267.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-200x107.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-400x213.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hk-brands-and-...-800x426.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
For those looking to purchase a fine array of last minute gifts, the superb selection at this outsized outdoor fair could be just about the perfect shopportunity. Boasting more than 860 stands, the expo organisers promise a myriad of high-quality products, great prices and even better discounts. Among the themed zones tipped to be particularly popular this year are several hardy perennials, most notably food and drink, groceries, noodles, beauty and healthcare, fashion and style and household. There’s everything you need to be a self-made Santa.
When: 7-24 Dec 
Price: From HK$10 
Location: Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://hkbpe.com.hk">hkbpe.com.hk</a>
African Culinary &amp; Drink Making
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For those whose culinary curiosity stretches beyond Cantonese dishes, this diversion allows you to explore an appetising fare traditionally prepared in a host of African nations. The event promises dance displays and the opportunity to experience authentic renditions of African tales. Participants will have the chance to make egusi stew, pound yams and mix pineapple ginger drinks. The half-day event will conclude with an exquisite luncheon buffet.
When: 10 Dec 
Price: $400 
Location: Africa Centre Hong Kong, 21 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://africacenterhk.com">africacenterhk.com</a>
Hong Kong Cyclothon
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Backed by the peerlessly philanthropic Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong Cyclothon is set to see a selection of cyclists from across the world compete to prove their pedalling prowess in and around Asia’s World City. With just 3,000 premier professional cyclists permitted to participate, all of the event’s categories &#8211; 50 km, 30 km, CEO charity, celebrity, men’s open, women’s open and team time trial – are expected to be fiercely contended. This is an epic event for spectators and sportsmen alike.
When: 18 Dec 
Price: Free for spectators 
Location: Tsim Sha Tsui
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://sportsforcharity.com">sportsforcharity.com</a>
Christmas Fantasia
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68774" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia.jpg 2362w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-450x450.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-100x100.jpg 100w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-600x600.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-120x120.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-500x500.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-66x66.jpg 66w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-400x400.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-fantasia-1200x1200.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
Nothing says Christmas like the trademark effervescence of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus. These talented tunesmiths have teamed up with the Hong Kong Children’s choir and legendary conductor Apollo Wong for an evening that promises a fine selection of classic carolling and a selection of memorable melodies from Handel’s Messiah and Tchaikovsky’s works. There’s no finer way to tune into the Christmas spirit than by securing a ticket.
When: 23-24 Dec 
Price: From $220 
Location: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://hkphil.org">hkphil.org</a>
Home Furnishing Trends Expo
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68778" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex.jpg 2316w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-450x338.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-600x450.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-373x280.jpg 373w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-120x90.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-500x375.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-200x150.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-400x300.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-800x600.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/homex-1200x900.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Homex is likely to prove the one-stop destination for any and all required residential reinvention inspiration. A dedicated showcase for all things home furnishing, it brings together the latest fads in furniture, décor, smart home systems, household equipment and appliances all in one fairly capacious space. Showcasing the finest homeware from across the world, it’s a must-visit event for aspiring space explorers.
When: 24-27 Dec 
Price: From $20 
Location:Hall 1, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://home-expo.com.hk">home-expo.com.hk</a>
Chinese Opera Festival
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Black Box Chinese Opera Festival features four innovative productions. Among the highlights are two original and daringly experimental Cantonese operas. Asura Judgement, has been trailed as a uniquely demanding one man adaptation of Law Ka-ying’s Rashomon-inspired ensemble work. No less intriguing is The Imperial Decree, a thought-provoking meditation featuring the talented duo of Keith Lai and Janet Wong.
When: Until 3 Dec 
Price: From $230 
Location: Cultural District, West Kowloon
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://westkowloon.hk">westkowloon.hk</a>
DeTour Design Festival
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68776" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="394" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a.jpg 928w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-450x253.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-120x68.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-400x225.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/detour2020_11a-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
One of the most feted annual festivals for the design and creative communities bounces back into the city this month. Organised by PMQ, the event promises to be an immersive design experience, with attendees engaging both physically and virtually. The programme also includes 40 workshop sessions, 12 designer dialogues, several film screenings and a series of guided tours.
When: Until 4 Dec 
Price: Free entry 
Location: PMQ, Central
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://detour.hk">detour.hk</a>
Longines Hong Kong International Races
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This year’s edition of the Longines Hong Kong International Races promises a truly distinguished ensemble of 127 elite equine entrants. The event will comprise four international G1 races – the Hong Kong Cup, the Hong Kong Mile, the Hong Kong Vase and the Hong Kong Sprint – with a total of HK$110 million of prize money. It is sure to prove a highlight of the international horse racing calendar.
When: Until 11 Dec 
Price: Prices vary 
Location: Sha Tin Racecourse
For more information:&nbsp;<a href="http://campaigns.hkjc.com">campaigns.hkjc.com</a>

What’s On? Things to do this December in Hong Kong

Rewind to some 10 years back and Anya Taylor-Joy was just another aspiring actress looking for a big break. Today, though, she’s widely acknowledged as one of the hottest leading ladies in Tinseltown, with an impressive CV that covers everything from horror films (2015’s The Witch, and M Night Shyamalan’s Split a year later), to the eponymous leading role in Jane Austen’s Emma.
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More recently, her note-perfect portrayal of troubled chess prodigy Bess Harmon in Netflix’s multi-award-winning The Queen’s Gambit saw her lap up yet more limelight. Offscreen, her undoubted talent has seen her notch up a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award, while she has also been nominated for an Emmy. Amid all this, it’s sometimes hard to remember she’s just 26 years old.
It’s also fair to say that her career trajectory continues to be stratospheric. She did, after all, kickoff 2022 with the release of The Northman, a hugely multiplex-friendly Viking epic starring Alexander Skarsgard and Nicole Kidman. Then, just last month, she could be found heading up Amsterdam, a period comedy thriller that saw her sharing the top billing with such Hollywood luminaries as Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68611" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/anya-taylor-joy-critics-choice-awards-2021-portraits-more-photos-4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="668" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/anya-taylor-joy-critics-choice-awards-2021-portraits-more-photos-4_thumbnail.jpg 558w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/anya-taylor-joy-critics-choice-awards-2021-portraits-more-photos-4_thumbnail-450x645.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/anya-taylor-joy-critics-choice-awards-2021-portraits-more-photos-4_thumbnail-195x280.jpg 195w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/anya-taylor-joy-critics-choice-awards-2021-portraits-more-photos-4_thumbnail-120x172.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/anya-taylor-joy-critics-choice-awards-2021-portraits-more-photos-4_thumbnail-500x717.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/anya-taylor-joy-critics-choice-awards-2021-portraits-more-photos-4_thumbnail-200x287.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/anya-taylor-joy-critics-choice-awards-2021-portraits-more-photos-4_thumbnail-400x573.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
This month, her busy year continues with the release of The Menu, a black comedy featuring such renowned knockabout A-listers as Ralph Fiennes and Nicholas Hoult. It seems like her name is getting better known by the minute, however, there’s probably still quite a lot you don’t actually know about Ms. Taylor-Joy.
Citizen of the World
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68614" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wallpaperflare.com_wallpaper.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="394"> Anya-Josephine Marie Taylor-Joy, to give her full name, has something of a multicultural background. Her father, retired banker Dennis Alan Taylor, is Argentinean of English / Scottish descent, while her psychologist mother, Jennifer Marina Joy was born in Zambia but has both English and Spanish heritage. For her part, Anya, the couple’s youngest child, was born in Miami on 16 April 1996. It was not, however, her home for long.
Globetrotting Childhood
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68612" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Emma-The-Movie-Anya-Taylor-Joy-Costume-Analysis-Tom-Lorenzo-Site-28.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="392"> Although this undoubtedly glamorous leading lady may be a US citizen, she actually spent many of her early years in Buenos Aires, with her family having decamped there soon after her birth. As a result, Taylor-Joy’s first language is actually Spanish. After six years, much to her apparent dismay, her parents then decided to relocate to London – a move she objected to so strongly that refused to learn English for two years in the hope this would ensure her swift return to Argentina. It didn’t.
School Struggles
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68616" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/585b4c4ba63d8e4d6450305328a73906.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="667"> Her unhappiness was compounded by the vicious bullying she was subject to by her British classmates (she attended the prestigious Kensington-based prep school Hill House, the alma mater of such luminaries as songstress Lily Allen and newlycrowned King Charles III).
Recalling this turbulent time, she says: “Argentina was all green and I had horses and animals everywhere. Then, all of a sudden, I was in a big city and couldn’t speak the language. I didn’t really feel like I fitted in anywhere. I was too English to be Argentine, too Argentine to be English and too American to be anything.
“The other kids just didn’t understand me in any shape or form. I used to get locked in lockers. I spent a lot of time in school crying in bathrooms. When I was 16, I then dropped out to pursue acting.”
Road to Stardom
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68615" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/未标题-1.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="582"> Although acting was undeniably her passion, she initially began work in the fashion industry after her potential as a model quickly became apparent. As fate would have it, one of her first shoots took place on the set of Downton Abbey, the award-winning UK period soap opera. Here a chance encounter with actor Allen Leech (more popularly known as “Tom Branson”, the show’s Irish chauffeur) led him to introduce her to his agent.
Recalling this particularly lucky break, she says: “I’m still so amazed he did that as he had no reason to and there was no benefit for him. Cat, the agent in question, said that he really pushed me and kept asking her if she’d contacted me, telling her: ‘You really need to call this girl!’”&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68618" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="349" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514.jpg 1200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-450x225.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-600x300.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-561x280.jpg 561w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-768x383.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-1024x511.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-120x60.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-500x250.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-200x100.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-400x200.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/elle-uk-2-1581073514-800x399.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Unbeknownst to all concerned, this kindhearted gesture would transform Taylor-Joy’s life. The apparently reluctant agent went on to send her script for The Witch, the 2015 award-winning horror movie that saw her make her big-screen debut.
Seminal Year
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68620" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download.jpg 2000w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-450x300.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/download-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />In 2019, when many of her peers were just really setting out on their careers, Taylor-Joy was already&nbsp;starting to gravitate towards the big league.
Indeed, it was over these 12 months that she undertook three gruelling back-to-back projects – director Autumn de Wilde’s 2020 interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma, horror film Last Night in Soho and The Queen’s Gambit ¬– with just a day’s break between each. Recalling this exhausting period, she says: “While I survived on Diet Coke, cigarettes and coffee, by the end of it, I was like: ‘I need to eat a vegetable.’”
Golden Globe Gaffe
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68621" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SHOT_007_0452.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="604">The immense success of The Queen’s Gambit saw Taylor-Joy lauded by critics and the general public alike. Among the many accolades she received for her portrayal of chess prodigy Beth Harmon, was the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie. Given her Argentinean heritage, this technically made her the first Latina star to win the award.
When certain New York-headquartered magazine dubbed her “the first woman of colour to win the category since Queen Latifah in 2008 and only the fifth woman of colour to win overall since 1982, when the category was introduced,” the article went viral and the internet exploded at this apparent racial misrepresentation. Soon thereafter, the publication removed the offending sentence and publicly acknowledged the actress as a “white Latina”.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68623" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="394" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1.jpg 1280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-450x253.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-120x68.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-400x225.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
What’s Next 
At present, the actress shows no signs that she’s likely to slow down any time soon. She’s already been signed up to voice Princess Peach in the upcoming The Super Mario Bros Movie, while she is also wrapping production on Furiosa, the prequel to post-apocalyptic cult classic Mad Max: Fury Road, which sees her take over from Charlize Theron as a younger take on the title character.
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(Text: Tenzing Thondup)

Anya Taylor-Joy’s stratospheric rise to stardom

We all need a little humour to make life a little bit more tolerable sometimes. As the old adage goes, “laughter is the best medicine”. Indeed we have scientific research to back that up. Especially in trying times and difficult situations, it helps to let your hair down and have a good old belly laugh.
Or even a gentle chortle. As comedian and political satirist Jon Steward once said, “Comedy is in the middle of a traffic jam, getting everybody moving again.” This time around, though, we’re turning the attention from ourselves and on to some of the most laughable events to have made headlines this year…
<h4>Musk be a Mistake</h4>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68340" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="479" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-450x308.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-600x410.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-410x280.jpg 410w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-768x525.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-1024x700.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-120x82.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-500x342.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-200x137.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-400x273.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-800x547.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elon-Musk-Twitter-sues-Elon-Musk-2-1200x820.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
At one point or another, especially after a few too many pints, many of us have had the experience of tweeting something we’d later regret. Except, in most occasions, it doesn’t result in a billion-dollar lawsuit. The same can’t be said about Tesla CEO Elon Musk however.
After months of buzz around Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s claims to buy Twitter, the quirky SpaceX founder has finally declared that he will not be pursuing ownership of Twitter after attempting to terminate a signed merger agreement in April. As a result, Twitter has sued the business magnate for backing out of a US$44 billion acquisition.
Sniping back at the social media platform, Musk has accused the company of misleading him with inaccurate data, obfuscating facts, not notifying him of layoffs and executive changes, as well as refusing to hand over “useable” user data – all of which allegedly constitute a “breach” of the agreement, according to Musk’s lawyers. As the case goes on, if found liable, Musk will be obliged to pay a US$1 billion break-up fee according to the agreement.
<h4>Bagel Wars</h4>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-68342 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="496" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM.jpg 2125w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-450x319.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-600x425.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-395x280.jpg 395w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-768x544.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-1024x726.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-120x85.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-500x354.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-300x214.jpg 300w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-200x142.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-400x283.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-800x567.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-06-16-at-2.27.51-PM-1200x850.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Money, muscles and bagels. Hong Kong is known to be one of the safest cities in the world, with murder and theft cases being comparatively lower than other cities. However, a recent scuffle between two establishments has turned sour and you bet social media was quick to catch on.&nbsp;
In June, the infamous Bagel War was the talk of Kennedy Town and almost every English media in the city. Mendel’s, a New York bagel shop went viral on social media for a video they posted to their Instagram page in which men in black shirts were seen blocking entry to the store and telling customers that they were not allowed in, while employees can be heard yelling from inside to customers that the deli was in fact open.
The establishment had accused rival Schragel’s founder Rebecca Schragel of having hired security to harass customers and employees. In the video, customers can be seen struggling to pass through – dodging and pushing their way past the burly men. While many customers and supporters of the eatery were enraged, some found amusement in the turn of events.
It was cleared that Rebecca Schrage, a majority shareholder of Mendel’s was suing her partners for financial disputes.
<h4>It&#8217;s Not Over Until It&#8217;s Over</h4>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68343" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sri-Lankan-Preside-nt1400x-1.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466">
Nobody wants to be broken up with on text or over the phone. However, that didn’t stop the head of state of Sri Lanka to pack up and flee the country in the wake of anti-government protests in July.
It was confirmed By Mahinda Yapa Abeywardenena, the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had sent over his resignation through e-mail and fled to Singapore on a flight from the Maldives.
Abeywardenena has told media that “we cannot accept such an email at face value” and that the legality of such a declaration needs to be legally verified, ascertained and officially confirmed. The state is expecting a paper copy of the letter but is expecting the letter to come through at a later time as it would be sent from Singapore.
<h4>It’s Türkiye, not Turkey</h4>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68344" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia.jpg 1656w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-450x450.jpg 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-100x100.jpg 100w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-600x600.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-120x120.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-500x500.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-66x66.jpg 66w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-400x400.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/resized_cc95c-c5b68fffmotiongraphicstemplatemedia-1200x1200.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
When you think of Turkey, what springs to mind? If you say a large gobbling bird, you’re not alone. Most of us have all been guilty of associating “Turkey” with the thanksgiving dinner table rather than paying any mind to the actual country. In fact, if you type it into Google, you’re quite likely to see pages worth of the large game bird.
As such, the government of Turkey had formally advocated to officially change the country’s name to Türkiye (pronounced tur-key-yay), even producing a video commercial of the movement. It doesn’t help that the word is also alternatively defined as “a stupid or inept person”.
The name was changed to reframe the country’s image and connect it to its cultural roots. The process of the country’s renaming had began in December 2021 when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement saying, “The word ‘Turkiye’ represents and expresses the culture, civilisation, and values of the Turkish nation in the best way.” In June, The United Nations officially recognised Turkey as Türkiye and had implemented the change shortly after receipt of the request.
<h4>Behind Every Dream is Cartier</h4>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68347" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier.png" alt="" width="700" height="408" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier.png 898w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-450x263.png 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-600x350.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-480x280.png 480w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-768x448.png 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-120x70.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-500x292.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-200x117.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-400x233.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany-vs-Cartier-Cartier-800x467.png 800w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68348" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tiffany.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="453">
Contrary to high end jeweller Tiffany &amp; Co.’s tagline: Behind every dream is a dreamer, a recent legal battle between the high-end brand and competitor Cartier has pit the two luxury brands against each other.
In march Cartier accused Tiffany &amp; Co. of stealing trade secrets of the brand’s bespoke jewellery collection. According to a complaint filed in a New York state court in Manhattan, Tiffany had hired an under qualified junior manager to learn more about Cartier’s High Jewelry collection, in which pieces cost from US$50,000 to US$10 million.
The manager also happened to be a former executive worker for Cartier and was hired despite her six-month non-compete agreement. She was then fired after five weeks. Tiffany had since denied all allegations Cartier has made thus far. Although this isn’t the first legal battle between the two, it’s still a saucy affair to see two major league brands go head to head.&nbsp;
<h4>Metabirkins? Nadabirkins!</h4>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68349" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/metabirking-1.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="393">
As vague as the lines are between reality and the metaverse, to luxury conglomerate Hermès, the boundaries of copyright is clear.
In January, Hermès sent artist Mason Rothschild a cease and desist letter and filed a lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of New York for alleged trademark infringement, false designation of origin, trademark dilution, and cyber-squatting.
This lawsuit followed a sale by the artist of reinterpreted Berkin NFTs, coined the word “Metabirkins”, within the metaverse. The NFT features furry renderings of Hermes’s iconic Birkin handbag.&nbsp;Artist Mason Rothschild has since claimed his First Amendment right and right to artistic expression, stating that the Metabirkins are not explicitly misleading.
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<h4>Much Ado About Nothing</h4>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68352" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kim-Kardashian-kkm-k.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="508">
If there is one thing the infamous reality TV family The Kardashians is known for, it’s controversy – and there is a lot – enough propel the family into global fame. For what exactly? Absolutely nothing, allegedly.
Which is ironic since the most famous of the Kardashian-Jenner clan Kim Kardashian has been criticised for an interview in which she advised women who want to make a successful career in business with this statement: “I have the best advice for women in business,” she says. “Get your f&#8212;&#8211;g a&#8211; up and work. It seems like nobody wants to work these days.
The punch line here is that the family has been called out several times in the past, including by Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters for having no talent or any particular expertise or professional background. Yet, for two decades they have become a household name across the globe and cashed on millions for their Keeping Up with the Kardashians reality show in which they do, well…nothing…
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Text: Staff Writer

lifestyle / entertainment