Urmila Menon is an urban sketcher and artist living in Kennedy town. In this section, Urmila takes us through different parts of the central & western district - our hood - and shares her very personal take on it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "The beautiful sights at the pier. I love how the locals unwind with some good old fishing at the pier. The leisurely wait for a catch while the city bustles around is a very soothing sight. I find this ability to wind down amidst chaos a very alluring sight. . So I perched myself behind them on a stray bench. Praying that no creepy crawlies attack me😬. Since it was pitch dark where I sat. I wanted to catch

Walking up to Victoria Peak during the weekend has been part of my fitness routine for some years. As a creature of habit, I tend to use the same trail, i.e. via Old Peak Road. Over the years I have noticed people from all walks of life including an elderly in his 80s and an unprepared tourist in heels (obviously did not do enough research) attempting that cardiac arrest trail. One of the regulars was a fit looking dad, huffing and puffing while he pushes his toddlers in their twin strollers. It’s a great way to workout while one spends quality time with his/her kids but it’s not for everyone. If you want to get your hearbeat up to 180 bpm, Old Peak Road trail is for you. During one o

Nov 2018. Republished Oct '19 Back home in England, Kirsten Mitchell grew up watching her mother always carrying a shopping basket with dog and cat food, making sure no strays she came upon, ever went hungry. When Kirsten moved to Hong Kong the sorry plight of cats and dogs in the poorly managed and unhygienic ‘prison-like’ animal shelters in the city, made her set out on a mission to ensure, that every abandoned cat and dog in the city, found a loving and comfortable home. Kirsten was a school teacher but her busy schedule did not prevent her from starting-off this initiative 18 years ago, to ensure the welfare of abandoned animals. Finally, in 2008, Kirsten’s Zoo Limited became a non-profi

In our own busy lives many of us forget that we don't need a specific date to thank the lord/ the supreme being, universe, destiny or whatever it is that you believe in for the privileges that we have. There are many out there, for whom life is not a celebration but a succession of struggles. Thankfully, there are various big and small charitable institutions that work tirelessly to make life better for them. With the World Poverty Eradication day upon us and the Thanksgiving season around the corner, lets all resolve to share a slice of our good fortune by supporting one of the many small lessor known neighborhood charities we have listed below, most of which are on HK Island. You can donat

LOVE YOUR 'HOOD ❤❤?? SHARE YOUR FAV PICTURE of your neighbourhood AND ENJOY FREE DINNER IN A TOP NOTCH HK RESTAURANT. Join Local Hood Official, connecting HK neighbourhoods social venture's, "FAV Photo of MY Hood" contest on Social Media to win $3000 to spend at the trendy Tapas n Bar restaurant VIVA LA VIDA, in LKF 🤩🤩!! Winners will be announced on Monday 11th Nov. Those three photo(s) with most likes. 3 prizes each on FB and IG 🥰🥰 : The 1st prize is a dinner for 2 worth 1500 HKD; 2nd prize is a dinner worth 1000 HKD; 3rd prize is a dinner for 500 HKD. To participate its SUPER SIMPLE!! Simply: 1.UPLOAD YOUR FAV photo of your HK neighbourhood with a caption preceeded by 'I am participa

Upcoming Events LocalHood Thanksgiving Brunch (Sat) DATE: Sat Nov 16th, 2019 BY INVITATION ONLY Time: 12pm-3pm Special Thanks to our FnB sponsors: Siam Cafe, Kennedy Town Pizzeria Italia, Sai Ying Pun

Hiking season is here!! Stay healthy with Health Coach Sze Yeen and Join LocalHood hiking trip to the scenic Mount High West on Sat, 9 Nov 2019. Trail: Mount High West Difficulty: Intermediate. Uphill with some steps. Tarmac and dirt trail. Date & Time: Sat, 9th of Nov Meeting point: 9 am HKU Station 7-11 near Exit C Estimate: 3 -4 hours Suggested donation :20 HKD Registration Mandatory: https://tinyurl.com/y5vec7ma

Yeah its FINANLLLY that time of the year that kids and adults still kids are heart absolutely LOVE. “Trick or treat” season is right around the corner! Team @LocalHood Official volunteer team has some crazy Halloween die-hard fans and we have some good addresses to share!! Here are some ideas but not all,..because there are countless. Let us know if you know more spooky things to do and things to get! WHAT TO DO & WHERE TO GO: 1. Spend a bloody Sunday with kids and indulge with European foods and beers. Frites Central the Belgian beer house will transform into a scary party on 27th October. While bringing out the kids and meeting up friends, you can enjoy some mussels and knuckle. Frites ser

There was a Bubonic plague outbreak in Hong Kong in 1894. The colonial government wanted to stop spreading the disease and hence free bathhouses were provided to the local population to improve hygiene levels and providing a desirable public health environment. Under the British in the late 19th century, the urbanised area that included present-day Sai Wan, Sheung Wan, Central and Wan Chai was named “City of Victoria”. It was not until 1925 public bathhouses were built beyond the Hong Kong Island. As of today, there are over 25 public bath houses still in use in Hong Kong of which 6 on the HK island. You can have a look at the list of public baths on the HK island here: https://www.fehd.go

On a rainy day with umbrellas in full bloom, I set out along the Sun Yat Sen Trail as a remembrance of the founder of the Chinese nation in the month of the Chinese National Day. How would Dr. Sun Yat Sen, a figure well-loved among Chinese in the world and a master negotiator able to bridge differences, view the recent protests in Hong Kong? How would he set out to resolve the crisis in the birthplace of his revolutionary ideals? From a walk along the Sun Yat Sen Trail with most shops closed in anticipation of protests, I believe he would bridge differences through thought and understanding, for he once famously said: “To understand is difficult, to act is easy.”. And on that note, here are

Hong Kong continues to experience social unrest as we move into the 5th month of protests. We watch our beloved city engulfed in violence and uncertainty while ourselves trying to make sense of it all and what to do next. Irrespective of the neighborhood we live in, this is taking a toll on the lives of the common (wo)man, with the palpable morosity and confusion that reigns outside giving way to anxiety and stress within us. For this mental health awareness month, Tim Hoffman, discusses some tips for reducing these general negative feelings that bring us down. ----------------- Many clients come to see me because they’re feeling stressed or anxious or sad — often all three. And a common