Despite a few popular bars and restaurants like Guru and Sahara, Lower Elgin Street in Soho has never attracted the “cool crowd”.

I don’t mean those wannabe “dudes” and dudettes, but the type of crowd that’s made up of interesting and a very international crowd.

Right now, it’s largely the local teen or early twenties crowd almost educating themselves about different kinds of cuisine and then shisha-ing themselves into oblivion. But things are changing. And it could be fast.

(Source: Alternative Egypt)

New restaurants have opened though what was Liquid Lounge remains a remnant of the past with no new takers. Perhaps what locals say that the venue is haunted is true. No business that has started there has lasted.

(Source: Open Rice)

What could REALLY change the vibe and clientele of this street is Amika scheduled to open in a few weeks.

Described as a Hairdo Bar, the venue combines hairstyling with a bar and music.

Money has been no object, it’s owner is from NY and having looked around the place, it is very VERY cool and, finally something original in Hong Kong and sure to bring a new crowd to this area of Soho.

The post AMIKA TO WAKE UP LOWER ELGIN STREET! appeared first on Fast Track.

(Source: Photo Bucket)

I walked by Ebeneezer’s in Wyndham Street- the former popular kebab place- and noticed their big sign: CRAZY PRICES! But the place was as empty as the Titanic after it hit that iceberg.

(Source: Frugal Cafe)

Huh? CRAZY PRICES on FOOD??? Fuck me, what short-cuts were they taking to have these wild and crazy prices???

Anyway, typical of Hong Kong tit for tat, Ebenezeer’s have been waging a six month war on the establishment started by one of their former employees- yes, the one called The Kebab House in Cochrane Street and down from the ubiquitous Nigerian coke dealers. (Why a white plain-clothes copper can’t nab these blokes after all this time is another gory Hong Kong story)

(Source: Hungry HK)

I hear that Ebeneezer’s has deployed the absolutely ineffective cheapo cheapo Groupon strategy to gain or regain- as in hair loss- customers. Apart from Groupon, the place has also deployed a Hong Kong version of Groupon called Buy Crazy. None are working.

(Source: Tom Fish Burne)

The Kebab House is making minced meat of its competition despite the jealous talk from their competitors who had the same opportunities and failed miserably.

(Source: Fix 4 Fix)

It’s standing room only and is the most successful club without being a club and serving the best kebabs, bryani and curries in town,

The post GREEN WITH KEBABS AND JEALOUSY appeared first on Fast Track.

This track and video has been around for about eight years and many still refuse to believe me when I tell them that, yes, the almost iconic Mr Sharma who is the co-owner of Lebanese late night restaurant and bar Marouche and a Partner of New Orleans-inspired restaurant Restoration actually made a record for EMI Music.

(Source: Open Bar)

How this recording and video came about remains a mystery, but let’s just say that EMI screwed up on not even trying to make this and its follow-up called Hooray For Hollywood bona fide novelty hits.

It also hurt when Bobby McFerrin refused to grant permission for Mr Sharma to record his hit Don’t Worry Be Happy with the lyrics changed to Don’t Worry, Eat Curry.

The post INSTANT SHARMA REVISITED appeared first on Fast Track.

(Source: HKJC)

The mighty French swordsman aka The Parrot- and you know what they say about men with big noses- is part and parcel of Hong Kong racing and has won every International Group 1 race worth winning.

(Source: Abc.net.au)

Known to dismiss some of his more low-class rides as “goats”, he is one of the best Big Race jockeys around and where he always wakes up and puts aside any plans to nod off, take his mount four and five wide and head off to the nearest McDonald’s for some pomme frites- French Fries.

Having said this, his ride last Sunday on Red Cadeaux in the Group1 KrisFlyer International Cup was a goat of a ride. Sometimes, even Mosse gets it wrong even on a horse on which he has done so well and ridden brilliantly.

(Source: Apple Daily)

When trainer Tony Cruz books him for one of his entries in a Group 1 race, leave him out at your peril. Cruz, himself a champion jockey many times, knows the innate talents of his bon ami.

(Source: Horse Racing About)

Mosse, also a man of great style and tres charmant with the ladies but now happily monogamous, rides Willie Cazals for Cruz on Sunday in the Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup and we give it a HUGE chance- and if the track has any give- an even bigger bon chance.

(Source: HKJC)

Always to be followed when on rides for Tony Cruz and Caspar Fownes and, for some reason, the horses The Only One and Leo’s Pride- goats in our books but which go very well for The Parrot.

The post GERARD MOSSE: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR JOCKEYS appeared first on Fast Track.

(Source: Class Actp)

Watching the fascinating video below, It’s been a long, dark, dank and dangerous music like a Beastie Boys anthem and a need to fight for their rights to party.

Today, we take the steel drum and steel drum music as one of the key instruments that gave Paul Simon’s brilliant Graceland album its backbeat.

It’s the joyous sound heard around the world during cricket matches in the Caribbean just as tablas are beaten in India plus artists like Peter Gabriel, David Byrne, Damon Albarn and others like the new generation of DJs, especially from Europe, who have experimented with steel drums and continue to create Rainbow music.

(Source: DNA Info)

Imagine what kinda Bitches Brew Miles Davis could have created with steel drums…or music from the wonderful Joni Mitchell with Jaco Pastorius.

(Source: DC 4 Cor)

So often, as in reggae needing Bob Marley and the visionary that is Chris Blackwell to give this music a voice and an outlet, it’s sad to think of ignorance silencing sounds that makes this world a better place- and brings people together.

(Source: Stoner Days)

(Source: Zikodiko)

Want to end racism?

That starts with ending ignorance.

Want a song of Peace?

(Source: S6 Img)

(Source: End Ignorance)

Let there be one day where for one hour, different musicians of the world and everyone who creates music through sounds come together and stay true to what Lennon sang about: Imagine all the people/living life in PEACE- and through the power and magic and tolerance of music.

(Source: The Strology Place)

Ms Ono, what do you think?

(Source: Noliers Radio)

The post END RACISM WITH MUSIC (AND STEEL DRUMS) appeared first on Fast Track.

Last Sunday, Zac Purton and John Moore launched their Military Attack at the Kranji Racecourse in Singapore, paddled their rivals and jogged away with the KrisFlyer International Cup.

(Source: SIA Cup)

On Sunday, the jockey-trainer combination that’s looking more and Moore like a permanent team, combine again with Dominant in the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chaters Cup.

With the odds on Dominant bound to be cramped, watch out for the Tony Cruz entries led by California Memory and ridden by Matthew Chadwick who returns to the saddle after a somewhat lengthy suspension.

This was when the horse suddenly veered in and stopped Ambitious Dragon in its track in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup won by Military Attack which gave Tommy Berry his first win in Hong Kong.

The other Cruz runners- Willie Cazales is an interesting runner. Willie Cazales ran a mighty race and just failed to beat Dominant. This is an exciting young horse only now hitting its straps.

The post WILL IT BE MOORE ZAC BE DOMINANT AGAIN? appeared first on Fast Track.

Race 1: FLYING KEEPER (2) Good Smile (5) Highland Dragon (1) Par Excellence (11)

Race 2: SAMADHI (4) Splendid Guy (11) Jade Christy (8) Surfer Boy (1)

Race 3: MAN AND MING (12) Flying In (1) Little Rainforest (8) Heart Wood (4)

Race 4: AMBITIOUS (8) Diligent III (9) Master Gunner (4) Fluke (1)

Race 5 (Q1): GOLD EDITION (1) Croesus (11) Super Fresh (5) B Choice (8)

Race 6 (Q2): GRIMMY (4) Multivictory (8) Joyful The Great (7) Supreme Falcon (2)

Race 7 (Q3): HAPPY CHAMPION (11) Winning Apex (6) Noble Boy (2) Galaxy Prancer (1)

Race 8 (Q4): CHATER WAY (4) Beauty Lead (1) Wah May Star (3) Perfect Cheers (6)

Best Bet
Race 2: SAMADHI (4)

Next Best
Race 6: GRIMMY (4)

Value Bet
Race 5: GOLD EDITION (1)

Quaddie $100 gets you 52%)
1,5,8,11
4,7,8
1,2,8,11
1,3,4,6

The post TONIGHT’S SELECTION 22.5.13 (FROM @thirddividend) appeared first on Fast Track.

The latest Baz Luhrman epic, The Great Gatsby, has already started a fashion trend to make everything old new again.

It’s made us think that Old Hollywood Style will soon be with us headed by the incredible style of the classical beauty of Actress Audrey Hepburn.

(Source: Doctor Macro)

Also, let’s not forget the style of Actresses like Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall and Katherine Heburn and Actors such as the always dapper Cary Grant and Clark Gable.

(Source: Wallpaper Sam)

(Source: Beatinik Bazaar)

(Source: Brother Soft)

(Source: Verdoux)

(Source: Gif Gratis)

In Hong Kong, we hope to see the comeback of the cheongsam- a new and ultra-chic cheongsam.

(Source: Diva Lavie)

The post BRING BACK OLD HOLLYWOOD STYLE TO THE RACES appeared first on Fast Track.

The post THE WORST SCOOTER DRIVER IN CHINA? appeared first on Fast Track.

If there is anyone who can get things done in Hong Kong, it’s Alan Zeman. Look what he did with an area of Hong Kong that was a big rubbish area: He had a vision to turn it into something Hong Kong needed and which became Lan Kwai Fong.

(Source: Discover Hong Kong)

One of the nicest and most humble people you could hope to meet, AZ has interests in everything from A to Z. Sure, he’s a business and yes, he’s a landlord, but he’s not a greedy bloodsucker.

Far from it and knowing he has thrown his support behind Go Green campaigns in Hong Kong means that these have a chance to grow and a strong ally behind them.

Oh, if only he would look into how utterly useless CreateHK is and make the necessary changes!

(Source: Twitter)

Looking ahead, having revoked his Canadian citizenship for that of being Chinese and seeing the LKF brand doing so well in China, Allan Zeman, entrepreneur, film producer, philanthropist, former horse trainer, horse owner, head of Ocean Park, become the Chief Executive of Hong Kong is something we might see sooner than many think.

We hope so, anyway.

(source: Sina)

The post ALLAN ZEMAN AND THE GREENING OF HONG KONG appeared first on Fast Track.