Various venues

We’re sure bookworms everywhere are already compiling their TBR lists for 2025, so in the spirit of spreading the joy of reading, why not donate some of your old books or tomes from last year’s ‘did not finish’ pile? Swire Properties’ beloved annual charity sale Books for Love @ $10 is coming up later in the year, and they’ve just kicked off the month-long book collection drive. Until January 31, you can drop off pre-loved books at 44 collection points across Hong Kong – just make sure they’re in a good enough condition for sale. Books that are marked, with missing pages, mouldy, or stained will not be accepted, nor will textbooks, magazines, guidebooks, computing books, or fortune-telling books. High-quality children’s books will be available on their online pre-sale from March 25 to April 15, while the eight-day main book sale will take place from May 8 to 18. As always, all proceeds from the Books for Love @ $10 event will go to the Treasure Trove project by The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong, as well as the Agency for Volunteer Service to develop sustainable volunteerism. Keep an eye on our website for more information when it gets closer to the actual book sale, but for now, start weeding out your personal libraries.

Running from December 12, 2024, to February 14, 2025, this year’s #ddHK is a vibrant celebration of creativity, showcasing seven must-see installations that breathe life into the neighbourhoods of Tsuen Wan and Sha Tau Kok. Each installation offers a unique artistic expression that intertwines with local culture and history. Pay a visit to Tsuen Wan’s Sai Lau Kok Garden, where Coolman Coffeedan’s Coolman x Tsuen Wan takes visitors on a journey through the stories of the area. Another highlight is ENESS’s Cupid’s Koi Garden, an interactive fountain that delights passersby with playful jets of water. Kiki Ji’s Flowing Natural beautifully merges traditional bamboo artistry with nature in Shing Mun Country Park, while Zoe Siu’s Woven Dreams reinterprets Hakka culture with intricate weaving techniques at the historic Sam Tung Uk Museum. Over in Sha Tau Kok, En Iwamura’s Interwoven Horizon floats gracefully in the sea, connecting art and nature, while Louis To Wun’s The Auspicious Dance transforms Sha Tau Kok Square into a dynamic stage for dancing fish. Finally, Vivian Ho’s Stories on Wheels captures the narratives of community life through vibrant illustrations. In addition to these installations, visitors can join themed tours, workshops, markets, and more to complete their experience, making #ddHK a journey of discovery, exploration, and inspiration. Don’t miss out on this creative adventure!

This January, Shake Shack is celebrating its seventh anniversary by making a splash and launching its first-ever fish burger in Hong Kong! Exclusively available from January 23 to March 16, this brand-new menu item sees an irresistibly crispy beer-battered hoki fillet sandwiched between fluffy potato buns, and topped with crunchy pickles, zesty tartar sauce –sounds like heaven to us.  What’s more, the first 100 customers at Shake Shack’s ifc location will get to snag a free set of lucky red packets as well as an artisanal handmade fishnet pouch made from Tai O fishermen. Plus, for every Fish Shack sold on January 23, $5 goes to supporting local residents through eco-friendly initiatives.

Everyone’s favourite week-long celebration of storytelling returns to town, gathering emerging and established writers, as well as literature lovers everywhere, for a week of everything bookish. There will be 68 events in total, including fireside chats, literary lunches with authors, workshops, and family events. Some highlights of this year’s HKILF include Alka Joshi’s marquee event on her acclaimed Jaipur trilogy; a talk with Bernadine Evaristo, the Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other; a session with Asako Yuzuki on her thrilling novel Butter; and a writing workshop by Hong Kong author Sonia Leung. Writer and comedian Jennifer Wong will join Ho Lee Fook’s executive chef ArChan Chan in a discussion on food, culture, and their respective works Chopsticks or Fork? and The Cantonese Cookbook. Meanwhile, Michelle Bang will present her debut book Sun & Ssukgat – The Korean Art of Self-Care, Wellness & Longevity, which draws on ancient Korean wellness traditions.