10.28.08
Posted in Food, Hong Kong and Macau at 21:00 by Mul
First Bear Stearns going out of business. Then Lehman Brothers going bankrupt. AIG is teetering. Even Iceland is in trouble. I’m not going to lie to you – those hurt. But this news from today is end-of-days-book-of-Revelations hurt.
Hong Kong’s Krispy Kreme franchisee announced plans to enter liquidation and immediately close five of their seven stores. The two remaining locations at the airport will remain open for the time being, at least until creditors meet on November 12. After that, it’s not looking good.
Does this situation not scream for government intervention?
I know that Nator and I will hold close the memories of eating several Original Glazed while sipping some surprisingly decent coffee at the Mong Kok location.
It’s not all bleak for Krispy Kreme in Greater China. Earlier this month, the mothership in America announced plans to open 35 stores in mainland China over the next five years. Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin are first with, hopefully, others cities to follow (Wuhan?). Fortunately, Krispy Kreme awarded the franchise to Korea’s Lotte Group (the franchisee in Korea and Japan), rather than the bozos that ran Krispy Kreme Hong Kong into the ground.
Permalink
10.26.08
Posted in Food, Hong Kong and Macau at 19:14 by Mul
Two new exciting developments at the hopefully soon-to-be-opened Wan Chai Fatburger. As shown above, they are finally trying to hire staff. This being their first Hong Kong shop, who knows how far in advance they are hiring employees, but it can’t be long. The second equally encouraging sign is they are finally taking the front facade off the building. See the action shot below and before you complain about the bluriness please stop to consider the madd photo skillz it took to get a semi-focused picture as my cab flew by on Queen’s Road East. It won’t be long now.
UPDATE: Here’s another photo at night showing the front street-facing side of the restaurant and demonstrating just how tantalizingly close we are to the end of Fatwatch™.
Permalink
10.25.08
Posted in Awesome, Internet and Media, Law and Order at 10:10 by ODB
As reported by Ars Technica:
Those who are using pirated versions of Windows—particularly those in China—are getting riled up over Microsoft’s latest tactic to “encourage” them to purchase legit copies. The software giant recently began issuing an update that changes users’ desktop backgrounds to a black wallpaper with a reminder to switch to a legal copy of Windows as part of the Windows Office Genuine Advantage program. Now, Chinese users in particular are getting up in arms over the tactic, saying that Microsoft is violating their rights and isn’t thinking of its users.
How dare they! Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
10.02.08
Posted in Awesome, Beijing, Music at 22:07 by Little Herschel
Useless ID, an Israeli punk band from Haifa, put on a great show last night along with No Opinion, a German band, and local talents SKO and Recycle.
The show was scheduled to take place at the MAO Livehouse in Jiaodaokou but a suspicious last minute safety inspection deemed the venue unfit for rocking. Supposedly, there were very high levels of “hydrogen” in the building and the show was forced to move elsewhere. Apparently the local constabulary were worried that the show would disturb the coffee-sippers across the street at Nanluoguxiang.
Despite the temporary setback, the bands/organizers called an audible and the show was moved across town to the Get Lucky Bar. And what a show it was!
Shame MUL couldn’t make it; I guess he’s too busy Fatwatching in Hong Kong.
October 8th update.
Here is a picture from the actual show:
Permalink
