Melissa Mazlan

The King of Fruits may not be everyone’s favourite, but those who love it can get a little too enthusiastic over the intensely pungent and bittersweet fruit, especially when peak durian season hits. When that time comes, head to these places to get your durian fix – just make sure you’ve stocked up enough mouthwash at home.  RECOMMENDED: Find out how to pick the best fruit in our guide to durian

It started in 2016 when six women joined forces and came up with a story of five teenage girls growing up in a society where masculinity is glorified, femininity scorned, and sexual discrimination and harassment rampant. Writers Angela M Kuga Thas and Serene Lim of EMPOWER (a non-profit women’s rights organisation), Huda, Mischa Selamat, poet activist Illya Sumanto, Juana Jaafar (observer of media and politics) and illustrator Amelie P M P worked tirelessly to bring their idea to life, and the result is ‘REVOLUSIS: Pencetusan’. What’s ‘REVOLUSIS: Pencetusan’ all about?Angela: ‘REVOLUSIS: Pencetusan’ is about five teenage girls, best friends, who begin to see their world through each other's eyes and experiences when they enter the most prestigious school in their township. The girls live in a society where being strong, athletic, and not showing your emotions are valued above all else, but all that didn’t matter much to the girls as long as they could remain BFFs.Juana: More importantly, it’s also a story about teens with a conscience and using their agency to act on it. How did the idea come about?Serene: ‘REVOLUSIS: Pencetusan’ is about stories we all have wanted to read and find in a bookstore for a long, long time. You know, stories about young girls who are different and unlike the stereotypical depiction of what and how a young girl should be. Especially not as a mere love interest or a complementary character to the protagonist. Instead of waiting, we thought why not m

Ah, dating – good or bad, you’re bound to get a story out of it. That’s where ‘Story Party’ leaps into the picture; originating from San Francisco, ‘Story Party’ is an award-winning live storytelling show where professional storytellers Rachman Blake, Captain Khalid and Elena Gabrielle share true (and truly hilarious) dating tales. During the show, you'll also get the chance to tell your own dating stories (whether fairy tale or nightmare) by writing on an anonymous slip and letting Rachman and co read them on stage. ‘Story Party’ returns to KL this weekend from Jan 19-20 for a two-day run at PJ Live Arts, so we caught up with founder and professional storyteller Rachman Blake to tell us more about the show. Photo: Story Party How did the idea for ‘Story Party’ come about?Back in 2013 in San Francisco, ‘Story Party’ was born out of a bad break up. One night, a friend and I were on stage complaining about our recent break ups, and the audience was laughing like crazy. We instantly felt better. So we decided to create a storytelling show about dating, and because it’s cheaper than therapy. Five years later, we’ve been to five continents, more than 20 countries and have done over 1,000 shows. In the end, we learnt that if you think your dating life is bad, think again; you’re definitely not alone. There's been a ‘Story Party’ in Helsinki, Singapore, Istanbul, Serbia and more. How does bringing the show to an international audience feel?After doing ‘Story Party’ in over 20 coun

When plain old ice cream by itself doesn't work its magic anymore, have it sandwiched between cookies, macarons or bread at these cafés and ice cream parlours for a cool (and chewy) ice cream sandwich treat. RECOMMENDED: Best soft serve ice creams in KL

From nasi lemak roll with grilled chicken thigh to Borneo laksa made with almond mylk, join the healthy cheaters' club with these healthy alternatives to Malaysian dishes.

'Notes from the Future' is the theme of the fifth instalment of The Cooler Lumpur Festival, which challenges urban KLites to reflect or contemplate how our current social, political, technological and cultural ideas tell the story of our collective futures, who we are, and most importantly, where we're going. Festival-goers will be treated to a well-edited selection of lectures, panel discussions, screenings, workshops as well as the highly anticipated Journalism Campus. We spoke to Hardesh Singh, the Executive Creative Director of The Cooler Lumpur Festival to find out how far the festival has come since its debut in 2013, as well as his plans on getting festival-goers to apply the ideas from the many talks to their daily lives. How would you sum up this year's ‘Notes from the Future’ theme, and how does it differ from last year’s ‘RE: Independence’?‘RE: Independence’ was a generic term by design, because we wanted the flexibility to programme a variety of discourse. ‘Notes from the Future’ is a bit more specific in terms of curation – for example: we have futurists coming down from various countries, and a fair bit of the programming is looking at new ideas that will shape our world to come, rather than discussing present day concerns. The Cooler Lumpur Festival debuted in 2013 and this year marks the fifth instalment. How far has the festival come in the last five years?The festival has evolved, and will continue to evolve. It began as a literary festival, and in the thir

Whether you're a lover of dogs or cats, the opening of pet cafés in town has got local animal lovers into a bit of a frenzy (both the good and bad kind). Not to be confused with pet-friendly cafés (ie, restaurants which allow pets but don't house any of their own), a pet café is a themed establishment with animals as its main attraction; you generally pay an entry or drink fee to hang out with the resident pets within the given time – much like a petting zoo with free-roaming domesticated animals. We decided to pay these places a visit to better help you decide which places are worth your time and money. 

If you want to get in on the running craze this year (and get in shape while you're at it), kickstart your lifestyle change at these runs in KL. Whether you're a serious speedster, casual cruiser or a fun runner, there's definitely a run for you in our list. 

No time to plan your New Year's Eve? We did all the work for you. Here's your 24-hour NYE itinerary to serve you from the afternoon of Dec 31 to Jan 1. RECOMMENDED: The ultimate guide to New Year's Eve in KL.

How did the idea of telling the story of Joseph with steampunk elements come about?The vision was to create something that the Malaysian audience had not seen before. During the time of writing the script, our playwright Jason Ding was fascinated with steampunk as a concept and took on the challenge to use that as a visual template for this story. You were assistant director and played the character of The Tailor for the 2013 production. As director for this year's show, will you be bringing anything new to the play?For this year's production, I have set out to further define the steampunk theme. This will clearly be seen in the makeup, costume and music. I've also enhanced the story so the audience can better understand the characters and how it relates to us in reality. Joseph believes in his dreams and eventually realises them. How do you think dreams power a person?Dreams give people hope - to take a leap of faith, to do the impossible. It's powerful because in that process, you're also allowing your character and attitude to be moulded and this prepares you to be that person who is able to truly handle the dream when it comes to pass. Managing a team of mostly first-timers must have been a challenge – especially for a restaging of an award-winning play. How did you go about this?Our first production gave us insights into the kind of challenges we would expect in a re-stage. For both cast and crew, we used a kind of mentor-mentee approach to build skill and confidence. Ac

Note: Hoppers Kuala Lumpur is now closed. For atas appam in a stylised café setting, the new Hoppers in Pudu, by sisters Sugania and Nishalni Naidu, is putting an inventive, distinctively Malaysian spin on the breakfast staple. While it’s located in a former lawyers’ office, you won’t see the mundane furnishings. Instead, Hoppers (with the help of creative agency POW Ideas) has brightened up the place with vibrant colour blocks in a palette of pinks and blues. Leafy pots of tropical greens further accentuate the laidback vibe, and if you’re seated in the alfresco area, look up to see vintage Tamil movie posters. If you’re wondering why the restaurant is called Hoppers, it’s because the sisters went for the appam’s anglicised name: hoppers. It’s also how appam is commonly referred to in Sri Lanka. There’s a slight difference between hoppers and appam though: the former is more bowl-shaped and deeper while the latter is slightly flatter. But both have the flavours of fermented rice batter and coconut milk, crisp lacy edges and a pillowy centre. At Hoppers, you’ll get the bowl-shaped ones; the sisters have taken their mother’s appam recipe and put their own spin on the South Indian dish. Choose between sweet and savoury; you also get to pick an egg hopper or a plain one when you order the savoury version. We say start with the nasi lemak-inspired hopper topped with chicken rendang, sambal, anchovies, groundnuts and cucumber. Then, move on to the sweet hopper with coconut milk. I

Note: Colony KL is on hiatus. The new kid on the old Pudu block is Colony, a restaurant founded by the same people behind atas appam restaurant Hoppers. Serving up a menu spanning Burmese, Sri Lankan, Indian and Malaysian cuisine, Colony occupies the same space that used to be the bar H. by Hoppers. The same pots of leafy tropical greens, rattan chairs and brightly coloured seats from the bar’s days are still there, so you’ll get the same laidback vibe, but now paired with the new offerings from Colony. Start with The Old Delhi – house-made atta bread served with creamy bone marrow butter and spiced apple chutney. Pair this comforting appetiser with the sure-fire crowd pleaser, The Rompin; it’s calamari dressed with calamansi, garlic, cili padi, vinegar, basil and ulam raja. Once you’ve had your fill of warm bread and squid, a piece or two of The Madras – tender and juicy brined fried chicken marinated with tandoori spices, served with mint aioli – will pave the way nicely for Colony’s meatier mains. The stars at Colony are The Sri Pada – 48-hour-braised lamb ribs glazed in New Zealand’s Karma Cola soda, with sprinkles of nuts, pomegranate and mint – and The Salem, well-portioned slow-cooked duck in biryani with roasted carrots and onions, served with raita on the side. For dessert, go for the lemongrass-infused watalappam tart if you’re a fan of serai. The coconut custard pudding commonly found in Tamil Nadu, India is given a lemongrass twist here, which introduces a sharp t

While it’s nice that malls have gift shops convenient for last-minute buys (sorry for the well-meaning but generic gift, birthday person), it’s nicer when you get to choose from a well-curated (and localised) range of products and designs. Meet Naiise, KL’s best bet for unique, fun, under-the-radar items. Founded in Singapore in 2013 by Dennis Tay as an online sales site that curates locally made products and supports local artisans, Naiise now has six outlets across Singapore and London, with the KL outpost in The Zhongshan Building their latest and the first in Malaysia. Designed to fit into the overall aesthetics of Zhongshan with tiled black and white floors reminiscent of old kopitiams, exposed concrete and white walls, the outlet is a calming space. The main idea for Naiise KL is to provide a communal space where Malaysians can be exposed to local brands and artisans, as well as to create a retail channel for local artisans. There are about 800-1,000 items in store, from notebooks by Mossery, candles by Hush, plenty of tea brands (look for Ette Tea’s nasi lemak and chicken rice flavoured tea!) to home furnishing products. Look out for Malaysian cookbooks by Lee Sook Ching, Rita Zahara and Chef Zan, as well as an overwhelming selection of decadent salted egg yolk chips stacked near the books. Accessories-wise, pick up Alfie de Meow necklaces, rings and brooches; ten percent of their revenue goes to their adopted cat charity to benefit the local cat community. There’s als

‘Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Imbi anymore.’ You’ll echo that sentiment upon stepping into the sleek Wizards at Tribeca with its well-designed light-filled space accented with marble counters and jet black fittings, and bustling with prim waitstaff dishing out fancier-than-usual brunch food – a far cry from down-to-earth kopitiam-filled Imbi. Led by the team behind Jalan Batai’s Yellow Brick Road and Publika mainstay The Red Beanbag, Wizards isn’t here with lofty ambitions of breaking new culinary ground; they’re content serving what café-hoppers want, and that is crowd-pleasers the likes of buttermilk fried chicken burgers (RM28), tataki salmon rice bowls (RM32) and pulled beef tagliatelle (RM30). Not the most exciting of dishes, but familiarity proves to be Wizards’ lucky charm. That commitment to sticking to tried-and-tested items and working to make them better pays off handsomely in a menu of old favourites done right – the buttermilk fried chicken burger with a chunky piece of fried chicken sandwiched between buttery brioche buns, paired with sour kimchi cabbage and refreshing mango relish is a best seller. So is the Sally Bowles, a comforting rice bowl with tataki salmon, avocado slices, pickled coins of cucumber and an onsen egg, generously topped with seaweed. Pair your meal with a flat white (RM12); coffee comes by way of Artisan Roastery and Singaporean brand 2 Degrees North Co. We hear the hot chocolate that’s made in collaboration with KL’s Chocolate Concier

The first thing you notice about Vantador is its sophisticated premises spanning multiple levels; think winding matte black stairs, copper light hangings emitting a warm glow, mahogany and deep olive walls, and industrial and vintage furnishings from the dry-aged steak boutique founders' own personal collection. As you walk into the place and are greeted by affable waitstaff, you won’t be able to miss massive German-made coolers stocked with dry-aged beef near the entrance. Dry-aged steak is a serious matter here, with a carefully curated selection from Argentinian chef Ramiro Moya that includes Spain's Rubia Gallega (Vantador’s pride and joy), Margaret River Wagyu, Tasmanian Angus and Victoria Hereford. Best to beef up on your dry-aged steak knowledge before you make your way to Vantador for a better appreciation of your meal: Dry-aged beef is hung in near-freezing temperatures (for at least 30 days in Vantador’s case) during which fungi will cling to the meat’s surface to form a dry, hard crust. Of course, this is discarded before cooking. This ‘breathing’ process allows the natural juices and flavours to be sealed into the meat and works especially well with fatty cuts. Hence, cooked dry-aged beef doesn’t release blood or juice when cut; instead, you get a syrupy sweetness when biting into the meat, with a tenderness and more concentrated flavour than wet-aged beef. Cuts for the dry-aged range here include tomahawk, rib eye, striploin and T-bone; the wet-aged selection has

KL’s latest gym is where the city’s #trends combine. Located on the rooftop of Menara Ken in TTDI, Babel Fit blurs the line between being a fitness centre, a garden rooftop lounge with outdoor infinity pool, and a juice-and-salad-bar café. From the luxurious-looking Babylonian entrance to the sauna and changing rooms that put those in five-star hotels to shame, there’s hardly a spot in the 25,000-sqft gym where you’re not tempted to capture the place on Instagram. But they’re serious about fitness too: think the latest Rogue, Powerplate and Technogym equipment (Netflix and cardio, anyone?), spin class bikes and suspension ropes invented by a former Navy Seal that allow for a variety of multi-planar, compound movements. Looking to improve your strength? Sign up for the full-body Circuit and Sandbag classes. If it’s better stamina you’re eyeing, the popular HIIT, Motion and Peloton sessions should be your go-to. Or if you prefer to have fun and get fit at the same time, join intense dance classes, Pilates, various forms of yoga and Budokon – a unique mixed martial arts training system which integrates said mixed martial arts, yoga, calisthenics and locomotion. There’s also the highly anticipated pool workouts like Aqua Fit and Boga Fit, where you balance on top of Boga’s Fit Mat in Babel Fit’s pool, with an emphasis on balancing and challenging your core. Think up any fitness trend, Babel Fit probably has it. Refuel after your workout at the café with sandwiches and juice and a

So the idea of a no-frills weekend getaway – we’re talking about one without the pressure of posting envy-inducing social media updates so you can actually relax during your stay – is one you'd like to try. We wanted a slice of that pie too, which is why we checked in to Sunway Putra Hotel when we were invited for a stay-in review. Comfort is the operative word here: the hotel's Chow Kit postcode doesn't scream 'swanky' and the ochre-beige colour palette with old-school décor and swirly motifs aren’t the trendiest (you probably won’t bother whipping out your phone for the ‘gram). But the 650-unit property with friendly staff, impressive suites, contemporary club rooms and cosy deluxe rooms are warm and welcoming, making for very pleasant, almost homey stays. It doesn't hurt that the hotel is within easy reach of the Twin Towers and directly linked to Sunway Putra Mall, with the PWTC LRT and Putra KTM stations just a few minutes' walk away for seamless commutes. We stayed in the sprawling 114 sqm two-bedroom classic suite, which incorporates both a master bedroom, a second bedroom as well as a separate living room area with access to an external balcony. From this balcony, we had a smashing view of both the KL Tower and Twin Towers piercing the sky – pretty neat, we must say. Add the suite’s plush beds, en-suite bathrooms, three(!) 42-inch flat screen TVs and well-prepared amenities to the equation, we knew we were in for the relaxing stay we wanted. Okay, so the suite was adm

Telawi’s new kid on the block is a promising one. Opened by Jaslyn Rangson right next to her namesake bakery/café, this new patisserie/florist marks how far Bangsar’s favourite baker has come since Jaslyn Cakes opened in 2014. While the neighbouring cake shop exudes a homely vibe with a counter packed with honest-to-goodness cakes and pastries, Dew is shiny, elegant and pretty in more ways than one. The charm starts at the entrance, which is dotted with vases in shades of robin egg blue housing pretty flowers and verdant plants for sale by O Flwr, a well-known florist among KL’s socialites. Stop and smell the roses, and maybe bring back a box of flowers for a loved one. Once you’re done admiring the crimson petals, step into the patisserie and you’ll see a glass-topped counter filled with rows of enticing, shiny tarts. Two distinctive speckle-tiled tables in the small space comfortably seat a group of three each, while an emerald-hued table in the corner (a popular spot that gets nabbed fast) accommodates slightly more. There’s no need to be crestfallen if you can’t spot empty tables inside – Dew’s florist section at the entrance also doubles as outdoor seating. Pretty tarts amidst pretty florals, what’s not to like? Tart-wise, it’s hard not to go for the whole lot and have a happy tart party, but we say go for the Basil-Lime Tart and 100% Chocolate Cake. Each pastry is lovely and is delicately plated with an obvious sense of craft by Jaslyn and co. Priced in the RM17-24 rang

This is the time to say that stress is second nature to me, and that I’ve tried all methods of relaxation to no avail (I feel tranquil and #blessed for an hour after each attempt, but return to my twitching stressed self in no time). So when I was asked to check out sensory deprivation where I would float inside a dark tank filled with high salinity water infused with 500kg of Epsom salt for an hour, in silence and with none of the usual stimuli, I said yes. Opened just last April, ZeroGravity at Plaza Damas is the first float centre in the Klang Valley. Owner Melissa Ng – who embodies calm, warmth and friendliness all in one – offers flotation therapy (which can be tweaked to become sensory deprivation) to deeply relax the body, mind and senses. In terms of physical health, the magnesium and sulphate in the Epsom salt solution help regulate body functions and promote detoxification. Plus, floatation therapy helps aid muscle recovery. Melissa currently has two flotation tanks placed in separate rooms; called Dreampods, they’re large spiffy-looking pods that wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi film. Next to the rooms is a space with hair dryers and mirrors to spruce yourself up after your session, as well as a lounge where you’ll be served Pukka organic tea. As you may not feel the results immediately, Melissa recommends going for at least three one-hour sessions to get the full experience. For my first session, I went for the full sensory deprivation experience: no lights,

From the outside, Tujoh gives off the impression of a small quaint café, but pull the door open and you’ll be greeted by black-and-white wall murals of pop icons, old television sets, bright posters of motorsport racing as well as plenty of tables and chairs. In addition to all that, what brings the crowds here is the leafy courtyard with rays of light streaming in from the skylight (prepare to up your Instagram game). Go for the all-day brunches such as Moroccan baked eggs and the Full Aussie if you’re in the mood for the usual late breakfast suspects, or get the wild mushroom and vegetable ragout bowl to tide you over while you decide on your main meal. The creamy and slightly spicy soft-shell crab fettuccine or the Wafu Hambagu – a chicken patty stuffed with an egg yolk, topped with garlic mashed potatoes and drizzled with sweet shoyu – should fill you up. End your meal with a hojicha latte and a slice of cake (ask the friendly staff for the day’s selections or check the cake display at the front).

You might miss The Good Co if you aren’t in the know; the healthy eating café is tucked inside Bon Estates Gallery opposite Bangsar Shopping Centre. Once you get there, scan the meatless menu that includes salad pots, sandwiches, dessert jars and cold-pressed juices. Mentions of meat pop up in the menu, but just know that they’re plant-based meat substitute instead of actual meat; for instance, ‘pulled beef’ that's made from shredded oyster mushrooms. For a leafy meal that fills you up, go for the salad pots. Ingredients range from grilled eryngii mushrooms, pesto quinoa, cauliflower rice, tempeh and more, but we like the Scallop dee-kap salad that contains grilled lemongrass ‘scallops’ (made from mushrooms), mango, glass noodles, mixed leaves and passion fruit Thai dressing. If you’re hankering for bread, The Good Co whips up thick sandwiches with bread made from organic ingredients. Try The Hulk — rye bread stuffed with avocado mash, arugula, cream cheese and pepper relish. For sandwiches with a bit more bite, the Daging Tarik comes with pulled shredded oyster mushrooms and Batavia lettuce. Once you’re done with your #cleaneating meal, wash it down with the café’s cold-pressed juices. The Go Away Doc (passion fruit, orange, apple, carrot and chia seeds) or the Skinny Dip (lotus root, green apple, jicama, lemon, wild honey and mint) should do the trick. For those on the go looking for an energy boost, get the aptly named Energy Jar filled with carob (a healthier substitute f

It’s been a while since we last saw crowds of Pokémon trainers walking about the city looking for Pikachu or Dragonite after the Pokémon GO craze in July, and chatter about Poké Stops and nest migrations have definitely dwindled. All’s not lost for Pokémon fans though, as the new Pokémon Café pop-up in Mid Valley should revive interest in all things pocket monsters. Anista Tokyo (responsible for the apocalypse of cute that was the pop-up Alpacasso Café) has launched the first Pokémon Café in Malaysia, taking over the alpacas with Pokémon Sun and Moon merchandise and plushies. The café serves up a Pikachu-centric menu. What to expect: a rice omelette dish in the shape of Pikachu's face; sweet pancakes imprinted with the electric Pokémon's likeness; a Pikachu cream puff, cotton candy and crêpe dish served with a choco pen (which you can use to write your name on the crêpe); soda inspired by Pikachu’s Volt Tackle move, and more Pikachu-designed food and drinks. The café has collaborated with O’Briens Café, whose team mans the kitchen. While you wait for your table, you’ll see staff sporting neon Pikachu-ear headbands and dangling lightning bolt-shaped tails whizzing about, occasionally stopping for a selfie with fans. Once you’re seated at your table, take a snapshot of the placemats (printed with images of Pokémon Sun and Moon starters Popplio, Litten and Rowlet) designed exclusively for the Pokémon Café, and the two fluffy mini Pikachu plushies acting as a centerpiece. Come ea

Nadodi has brought a new dimension to KL’s fine dining scene. There’s no shortage of ambition here; when it first opened in March 2017, the restaurant offered diners a choice of 11- or 15-course tasting menus. This year, in conjunction with its one-year anniversary, executive chef Johnson Ebenezer, chef de cuisine Sricharan Venkatesh, principal mixologist and operations manager Akshar Chalwadi and brand director Kartik Kumar present – with a flourish – Nadodi’s new menu, impeccably executed and stunningly plated, as expected of the consistently stellar restaurant. The new 11-Mile Journey tasting menu begins with Nadodi’s version of banana leaf rice, miniature in size but a Goliath in flavour; think a crisp chlorophyll-based false meringue resembling a banana leaf, atop of which sits morsels of tamarind and ginger, dhal, papadum and mango pachadi. It’s accompanied by vada bursting with lentils and coconut chutney, and a cylindrical-shaped kiri bath made with rice and piped with anchovy sambar that evokes flavours of nasi lemak. This introductory dish sets the bar high for what’s to come.   A rabbit dish – cooked in Nadodi's signature 18-spice blend until tender, then shredded and encased in a pomegranate and radish-filled samosa tart – is served next with smoked prawns (sourced from the hallowed halls of the Tsukiji Fish Market) seasoned with an avalose rub; the crustacean skewers remind us of satay. The meaty duo gives way to a surprising trio of beetroot curry, beetroot s

You need to impress your family with snazzy yee sang this Chinese New Year, but the usual limp salmon sashimi and standard vegetables just won’t cut it. What do you do? Let Uber Eats deliver prosperity to you and your fam in the form of an exclusive 23K Golden Coin Yee Sang from RUYI & LYN (and potentially save you from matriarchal ‘tsks’ and frowns from your pop). From Feb 1-5 2018, Uber Eats will reward the daily top eaters (based on highest daily number of trips) with the exclusive, very fancy, sure to inspire envy, 23K Golden Coin Yee Sang created by RUYI & LYN. And five lucky Uber Eats eaters will get to score the yee sang! All you have to do is order as many meals as you can from Feb 1-5 for a higher chance to win, and if Lady Luck smiles on you, the yee sang will be delivered to you on Feb 8 by Uber Eats. So what’s so spiffy about the 23K Golden Coin Yee Sang? This RUYI & LYN-exclusive is only available on Uber Eats, and it’s crafted meticulously in the shape of an auspicious Chinese gold coin which contains real edible 23K gold, accompanied with golden salted egg yolk chicken skin and salmon skin. A range of carefully curated 16 premium ingredients complete the yee sang – we said it was fancy.  Uber Eats delivers to KL and most parts of PJ daily from 9am to 12 midnight. Download Uber Eats from the App Store and Google Play. New users can enjoy unlimited free delivery on Uber Eats with no minimum order with promo code EATSCNY from February 1 to 28. Find out more detai

So you’re drumming your fingers thinking of memorable date night ideas, but the clichéd romantic dinner at a swanky venue is firmly crossed off your list. Go for Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Hotel’s mesmerising ‘Find Your Lucky star’ pop-up restaurant instead, where you and your beau will be seated inside a black gold-embossed box brimming with a swirling constellation of stars. Conceptualised by award-winning interior designer Emma Maxwell, 'Find Your Lucky Star' is an exclusive experience, seating only 12 guests at a time. Looking seemingly simple at first with its dark interior, the box transforms into a shimmering galaxy once you enter and the door is slid shut, with the room then glittering with candle-lit glass bubbles hanging from above. The twinkling effect is accentuated with a mirror table reflecting shooting stars and artfully-cast shadows of clouds and treetops all around you. Melding perfectly with the ambience is a dreamy curated playlist streaming Nicolas Jaar, Beach House, Air, Tame Impala and others; we’re sure you and your date should be all a-glow at this point. Food-wise, the menu (divided into two parts: one from Dec 12-16, another from Dec 17-29) befits the dancing lights and silhouettes of the pop-up restaurant. Chef Francois Mermilliod of Singapore's Bar-A-Thym’s menu from Dec 12-16 boasts contemporary French dishes that include milk-fed veal tenderloin with foie gras foam, heirloom baby carrot and buckwheat paired with Capel Vale Margaret River Cab

It’s that time of year again, when every Malaysian bookworm makes their annual pilgrimage to MIECC, Seri Kembangan for the 24-hour book party that is the Big Bad Wolf (BBW) sale (ends Mon Dec 18 11.59pm) and boy, do these book lovers know how to have a good time (4am browsing, anyone?). While this year’s BBW sees a significantly bigger children’s book area and a much reduced literature section (only one corner squeezed in between the crime and sci-fi sections), it’s still worth the trip for ridiculously cheap books with prices your favourite bookstore will never have. While everyone’s taste obviously differs, here’s a list of books we say deserve a spot in your BBW trolley this year. 1. ‘The Sound of Waves’ by Yukio Mishima – RM10 In Mishima's 1954 novel, boy (Shinji) meets girl (Hatsue), they fall in love, their family and the villagers say ‘hell no’ because they’re from starkly different backgrounds, and things may or may not take a turn for the worse. Get it if you're looking to complete your Mishima collection or know someone who likes 'The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea', a must-read. Where to get it at BBW: Literature section 2. ‘The Great Showdowns’ and ‘Great Showdowns: The Return’ by Scott C – RM10 each There’s no text at all in these books; what you get instead are whimsical watercolours of the greatest showdowns in film history: from 'Donnie Darko's Donnie and Frank to 'Zoolander's male models and a petrol pump (orange mocha frappuccino!). Bring it to yo

Update: Tiffin Food Court has been postponed until further notice. Read the full press statement here. Taking over a 30,000 sq ft disused warehouse in PJ’s Sungei Way Free Trade Industrial Zone and decking it out in neon and bold colour blocks, Tiffin Food Court immediately scores points for cool (no fancy postcode needed for this multi-layered food festival). For three weekends in December (8-10; 15-17; 22-24), there'll be more than 30 vendors at this pop-up food court serving hawker fare, casual interpretations of haute cuisine (seriously, take advantage of this) and cocktails with a creative spin; all while Paras Bunyi DJs provide the thumping soundtrack for the whole do. We got an invite to the preview of Tiffin Food Court, and here’s what we learnt after checking it out.   Dewakan x Sitka Studio   1. It's obviously spiffier than your average medan selera and wai sek kai, with Dewakan's Darren Teoh and Sitka Studio's Christian Recomio joining forces to serve simpler (but still as good) versions of their brand of innovative culinary flair at no more than RM25 a plate on the weekend of Dec 15-17 (we stress again, go for this). Malcolm Goh of Define:food and creative dining Pop Up Dining KL will also be hosting a weekend (Dec 8-10), so mark your calendars. What else to expect from Tiffin Food Court: KGB - Killer Gourmet Burgers, Singapore's Tanuki Raw, ramen from Sumo Bar Happy, Kayra’s Keralan cuisine, Softsrve's ice cream and more.   Toridoki   2. Hold it right there w

It’s not every day that you can casually say ‘Hey, I just breathed the same air as Brad Pitt in Japan, how was your day?’ We were in Tokyo last week for the Japan premiere of Netflix original film ‘War Machine’, a satirical war film directed by David Michôd based on the non-fiction book 'The Operators' by Michael Hastings. ‘War Machine’ sees Brad Pitt playing General Glen McMahon, a fictional character based on the real-life Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan who was sacked by President Obama in the months following a Rolling Stone profile piece in which he slammed his own bosses. Here are five things we learnt from almost meeting the movie star in Tokyo. Photo: Netflix 1. We heard plenty of people at the red carpet premiere of ‘War Machine’ at Roppongi Hills Arena shrieking ‘Buraddo Pitto!’ the moment Brad Pitt (all in white, channeling some serious ’90s vibes) got out of his limo. Why ‘Buraddo Pitto’? Here’s why: in Japanese, every word ends in either ‘n’ or a vowel – the letter itself represents a syllable (ha, hi, hu, ka, ki, ku, etc), which means any foreign word written in Japanese requires a vowel sound added to the end (interestingly, there’s an entire separate alphabet for imported words). So yes, they can pronounce it as ‘Brad’, but as there’s no written equivalent in Japanese, the closest is ‘Buraddo’. Now you know what to say when you’re telling a newfound friend in Japan that your favourite actor is Brad Pitt. Photo: Netflix 2. If you tho

Not to waffle on about strange food combinations, but after creations like sushi doughnuts and nasi lemak cakes, KLites can now add the bizarre banana leaf waffle (yes, you read that right) to the list. Online pastry shop Forêt Blanc Pâtisserie recently opened a brick-and-mortar store in Petaling Utama, offering creative customised cakes and new dessert items. For one sweet treat on the menu, they took a leaf from a Malaysian staple, banana leaf rice, and turned an ordinary waffle set into something that's bound to make café-hoppers (and BLR purists) go bananas. Here's what you’ll get from the pâtisserie’s banana leaf waffle creation: slightly chewy waffles fragrant with chai spices, house-made coconut ice cream on a small mound of toasted coconut, and mango jelly with chopped chilli. Adding to the unlikely ensemble are smooth mango curry chantilly and balsamic rice vinegar crackers. And to make things a bit more ‘authentic’, everything is laid out on a banana leaf. Think of it as a sweet version of your regular banana leaf rice (but hopefully not as food coma-inducing), but if you prefer burying your fingers in proper rice and curry, here are the best banana leaf restaurants in KL. Forêt Blanc Pâtisserie serve the banana leaf waffle at RM24.90. For more info, visit their Facebook.

We saw the trend of colourful sushi doughnuts in the US blow up on Instagram a few months ago, and now, KLites can finally have a taste of the holey creation at Mont Kiara’s The Fat Fish. Before you start imagining slices of sashimi on a ring of deep-fried dough, donut worry about that bizarre-sounding combination. Instead, sushi doughnuts are essentially traditional rolls of sushi with the usual ingredients, save for its more fun doughnut shape. The Fat Fish’s creation consists of sushi rice filled with a small amount of tuna mayo, and is then topped with three types of sashimi (salmon, butterfish and tuna), slivers of cucumber and pickled daikon radish. Liberal sprinkles of sesame seeds, seaweed and ebiko pull everything together, and voila! You have a sushi doughnut. Since you can’t eat this the same way you do with a regular doughnut (it would end up a mess, what with rice and sashimi escaping your grasp), use chopsticks or a fork for a neater meal. However you eat it, you’ll still adough these rings of rice. The Fat Fish serves two sushi doughnuts at RM22. For more info and to reserve your sushi doughnuts, visit their Facebook or Instagram.

Good news, commuters! The first phase of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line is now open. This translates to 12 fully operational stations: Sungai Buloh, Kampung Selamat, Kwasa Damansara, Kwasa Sentral, Kota Damansara, Surian, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Phileo Damansara, Pusat Bandar Damansara and Semantan. If you're expecting crowds of shoppers heading to the Bandar Utama station for 1 Utama or café-hoppers stopping at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail station, there's a possibility of a small turn out. According to The Star, this is because the only connection to the line under Phase 1 is the KTM Komuter at Sungai Buloh. The line also does not connect to other rail-based services and will not go into the city centre. Sad fact aside, you'll cheer up soon as all rides on the MRT as well as feeder bus services will be free of charge for the public until January 16, according to New Straits Times. With the completion of Phase 2 - which stretches for another 19 stations to Kajang - the line will hopefully decrease the number of cars on the road for residents in areas such as Sungai Buloh, Kota Damansara, Bandar Utama, Cheras and Kajang, which will mean good news for all. A recap: the first phase of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line covers 12 stations while the whole 51km line will include 31 stations in total. The second phase from Semantan station to Kajang station is scheduled to be completed and ready for service by July 2017, with an expected 400,000 passengers

In public transport news, Rapid KL has confirmed on its Facebook page that the Klang Valley MRT Project – the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line – will begin its first phase on December 16. According to a report by The Star Online, the first phase will see 12 fully operational stations (Sungai Buloh, Kampung Selamat, Kwasa Damansara, Kwasa Sentral, Kota Damansara, Surian, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Phileo Damansara, Pusat Bandar Damansara and Semantan) from its starting point at Sungai Buloh up until Semantan. For the second phase, expect the complete first line of the project with the other 19 stations connecting Semantan to Kajang, scheduled to start operations by July 2017. In total, look forward to 31 stations from this 51km line. For more info, visit mymrt.com.my.

It’s been a while since we last saw crowds of Pokémon trainers walking about the city looking for Pikachu or Dragonite after the Pokémon GO craze in July, and chatter about Poké Stops and nest migrations have definitely dwindled. All’s not lost for Pokémon fans though, as the new Pokémon Café pop-up in Mid Valley should revive interest in all things pocket monsters.  Photo: Nathelie Tay       Anista Tokyo (responsible for the apocalypse of cute that was the pop-up Alpacasso Café) has launched the first Pokémon Café in Malaysia, taking over the alpacas with Pokémon Sun and Moon merchandise and plushies. Photo: Nathelie Tay       The café serves up a Pikachu-centric menu. What to expect: a rice omelette dish in the shape of Pikachu's face; sweet pancakes imprinted with the electric Pokémon's likeness; a Pikachu cream puff, cotton candy and crêpe dish served with a choco pen (which you can use to write your name on the crêpe); soda inspired by Pikachu’s Volt Tackle move, and more Pikachu-designed food and drinks. The café has collaborated with O’Briens Café, whose team mans the kitchen. Photo: Nathelie Tay       While you wait for your table, you’ll see staff sporting neon Pikachu-ear headbands and dangling lightning bolt-shaped tails whizzing about, occasionally stopping for a selfie with fans. Once you’re seated at your table, take a snapshot of the placemats (printed with images of Pokémon Sun and Moon starters Popplio, Litten and Rowlet) designed exclusively for the Po

If it's been some time since you caught a Pikachu or joined the hunt for a Dragonite, the Halloween update for Pokémon Go should lure you back into the game. From Oct 26 to Nov 1, celebrate Halloween Pokémon-style: There will be more sightings of Gengar, Haunter, Gastly, Hypno and Drowzee, so your Pokédex should see an increase. You'll also see more Golbat and Zubat flying about, but ignore those common bats and toss your Poké Balls at the elusive Gengar. There's also a two-fold increase in candy (six candies instead of three when you catch a Pokémon; two candies instead of one when you transfer a Pokémon). Have fun trick-or-treating! And if you stuck around long enough to get the Buddy feature, the Halloween update means whichever buddy Pokémon you select will earn four times as many candies. Good news if you have a Magikarp for a buddy: you usually need to walk with it for 1km to get one candy, but you only need to walk 0.25km now to get the candy. You'll get a Gyarados in no time. Still need clarification? Watch this video:   Not keen on walking about town on Halloween catching Gengar? Here are the best things to do this Halloween weekend.