Beef Black Burger (B97)

Sounds pretty standard when Casper Burger grills ko khun beef with tomato sauce and Dijon mustard, but what will blow you away are the buns: they’re black. The color is from squid ink, which gives the bap a briny flavor. Or if you’re on strict diet, they also have a pork veggie burger where they substitute the buns with lettuce.
Casper Burger, Mansion 7, 14 Ratchada Rd., 02-275-0952 (delivery is available). Open Sun-Thu 11:30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11:30-1:30am

Numero Uno Foie Gras Burger (B570)

Keeping in line with their New American cuisine concept, The Garret, boasts an array of burgers, including a foie gras one. In order to maintain their fine-dining reputation, all of their specialty burgers’ signature ingredients are homemade just like their berry salsa that is put together with caramelized onions, balsamic and rocket.
The Garret, Rooftop, Mini Showroom, 99/99 Ekkamai Soi 7, 02-711-6999. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm and 6pm-midnight

Collagen Burger (from B75)

Burgers have a “bad for you” reputation, so this Japanese franchise wanted to give the guilty pleasure a positive spin—changing the baked buns to steamed, fluffy buns (like Chinese salapao) and mixing in their 5-million-year-old salt imported from Japan with different meat choices. Not nuanced enough for you yet? One of the buns’ ingredients is marine collagen, meant to improve your skin, and they pride themselves on being the first to add it into a burger. Um, congrats?
R Burger, Siam Square, Rama 1 Rd., 02-654-6242. Open daily 10am-11pm

Laab Lamb Burger (B150)

It’s rare to find a spot that’s solely devoted to Thai-inspired burgers. Here, they have types like masaman and green curry. They’ll even give you the seasoned sauce on the side, too, so that you can spice your burger the way you like. The ingredients are also healthier—they use whole-wheat buns—and the patties vary from pork to lamb.
Heawen For Burger Devils, Room Zone A, 2/F, K Village, Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-661-5052. Open Tue-Sun 11am-10pm

Mean Bean Burger (B225)

This honest American-style diner serving solid burgers has a wide menu selection including some unusual ones. We think their rarest is their veggie burger—a patty made with a mix of spicy black beans and vegetables. Another option a little out of the ordinary but more comforting is their Carbonara Burger (B255), offering a tender beef patty topped with carbonara sauce and cheddar cheese.
Bangkok Burger Company, Unit 103, G/F Opus Bld., 139 Thonglor Soi 10, 02-715-9407. Open daily 11am-11pm

Pork Burger with Namtok Sauce (B250)

Feeling like a burger and namtok? Problem solved. Now you have the all-in-one burger from this new wine bistro. Here, they replace regular buns with their homemade French bread. Moreover, the pork is fermented with Moroccan spices and topped with namtok (Thai herbal spicy salad) sauce.
X Wine Z, A1, 1/F Manor Complex, 32/1 Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-662-5427, 087-675-7779. Open daily 10-1am

RESTAURANT OVERSEA

Unit 35, LG-1-1, Palm Square, Jaya One
72A, Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7956 9911
E-mail: [email protected]
www.oversea.com.my

When it comes to good Chinese food, you will hear the name of this restaurant being mentioned many times. That doesn’t surprise us, what with its Jalan Imbi branch being set up in 1977. Today, there are seven branches – five in Klang Valley and two in Ipoh.

What the restaurant is known for is its contemporary Chinese cuisine with a special emphasis on the Cantonese style of cooking. What we can’t get enough of is its special stewed pork, so soft and tender that it literally melts in your mouth. Other signature dishes include steamed bamboo fish in soya sauce, braised homemade bean curd with petola, braised sliced pork belly with salted fish in claypot and everyone’s favourite – char siew (barbecue pork). Oh, and do ask for chef recommendations. You and your taste buds will be pleasantly surprised.

Another well-known fact is that one of Klang Valley’s most delicious moon cakes comes from Restaurant Overseas’ kitchens. You’ve been informed.

EXTRA SUPER TANKER RESTAURANT

48, Jalan SS20/10, Damansara Kim
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7726 7768
www.estrestaurant.com

The packed car park and tables are a sure indication of what one can expect from Extra Super Tanker Restaurant. Known for its seafood dishes and exquisite Chinese cuisine, the restaurant tops the list for good and unique Chinese dishes in town. So much so that you better make a reservation and book your menu if you want to dine on favorites like the braised pork knuckle with preserved vegetable served with man tau (which runs out nightly), pan-fried fresh tiger prawn with corn flakes, homemade tofu, crispy suckling piglet ribs and more. Even a simple dish like fried rice tastes heavenly here.

Perhaps, it has something to do with the fact that the head chef is also the owner of the restaurant. Whatever the case, Extra Super Tanker restaurant gets our vote for consistently good Chinese food cooked with the freshest ingredients. Book in advance.

JIN XUAN HONG KONG

63G and 65G, Jalan SS21/60
Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7729 8881
www.jinxuan.com.my

You can’t talk about Chinese food and not mention dim sum, which is why we’ve picked this little gem of a dim sum restaurant for its delectable trays of delicious goodies. The restaurant is packed on weekend mornings, so if you really want to get in there, we suggest going first thing in morning or wait in line like the rest of the late comers.

Its menu is similar to those you will see in Hong Kong dim sum restaurants, with a few localised versions. But nevertheless, you will surely delight in usual favourites like its bouncy steamed fish balls, country style shrimp dumpling, har-gaw and the more unique ones like bamboo fungus shrimp dumpling, scallop shrimp dumpling, Teochew siu-mai, fried crab date balls and more. Didn’t we mention that there is a wide variety for you to choose from?

Here’s a tip: Its weekend menu seems to vary with a few creative dim sum dishes making rounds in the restaurant. So if you are up for something other than your usual dim sum choices, then we say check it out this weekend.

LI YEN

The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur
168, Jalan Imbi
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2142 8000
www.ritzcarlton.com

If a swanky dining experience is what you are after, well then Li Yen – Ritz Carlton’s award-winning Chinese restaurant – is the place to be. Featuring Cantonese specialties in a luxe Oriental ambience, it is Chinese dining at its very finest. Even traditional Yangqing music is performed live every evening for an authentic feel.

As for the food, you can be sure that it won’t be anything less than ordinary. We suggest the abalone cubes and sliced cucumber marinated with minced garlic for starters, roasted chicken with nam yee sauce (must order 24 hours in advanced), its signature golden prawns deep fried with thousand island dressing and coated with shredded yam, signature bean curd with Honshimeji mushroom and spinach and for dessert, the Li Yen special durian pudding. One thing is for sure – you won’t go hungry with its wide array of dishes, each one cooked to perfection.

REUNION

Lot 2F-17 & 18, Level 2
Bangsar Village II
Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-03-2287 3770
www.reunion-restaurant.com

From the guys who brought you Delicious comes this simple yet elegant Chinese restaurant. Expect authentic Chinese cuisine but served with an innovative twist. The decor is modern with a wooden interior, giving it a rather moody, imperial chamber feel.

Dinners are quite busy here, so reservations are advised. To get the best out of your dining experience here, we suggest blanched sliced pork in spicy sauce, roast meat combination, stir-friend scallops with chef special sauce, pan-seared Wagyu steak with sesame sauce, signature Hokkien noodles and for dessert, coffee pudding with black cherries. Craving for some Chinese soup? Then, we suggest the Mid-Sea Treasure – a bowlful of goodness you won’t regret (your wallet won’t let you at RM53.80 per bowl).

more Chinese restaurants in Kuala Lumpur

1.) Powder blushes can be too matte for this look—unless you have oily skin—so try the liquid Cha Cha Tint from Benefit to get that post-workout glow on both cheeks and lips. B1,480
2.) More dramatic tails—think Nike swoosh—are making the cat-eye look even stronger this year. The fun part is more and more brands are now offering unique shades for eyeliners. Stila’s indigo liquid liner is a rare jewel to find here, but you can also get the bright gold-yellow Pure Show Superslick Liquid Eyeliner from M.A.C, B1,000.
3.)The smoky-eyes trend returns with a twist. Play it up with shimmery shades like metallic silver, purple or even coral. Dare to mix some contrasting colors together like pink and green, for example. Smoky Palette from Make Up For Ever has up to eight shades, including a matte black, yellow beige, deep plum, peacock green, metallic navy blue, copper and taupe. B2,655.
4.)Red remains the most popular lip color this year. Try Flamenco Sheer lipstick from Nars, B950 or try one of Revlon’s red hues from Boots, B239.
5.)Urban Decay’s Feminine, Dangerous and Fun eye-shadow palettes have the bold shades to make your eyes pop, B1,650 each from www.sisterway.com.
6.)  Having flawless skin without looking like you’re wearing makeup is always hard to achieve, but not impossible. Apart from skin-care products, make sure you opt for a lightweight foundation—like our all-time favorite, the oil-free tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier, B1,700.
7.) Extra bold and thick brows are in, so don’t get too wax-happy. Get inspiration for this retro look from the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. A complete brow set with a few shaping stencils from Beautilicious costs B690, but you also can achieve bold brows at B400 from Kate.
8.) “Thick” and “long” aren’t the only descriptions for perfect lashes anymore. Looks that include color and feathers are trends hot off the runways. Instaglam Technicolor false lashes from Urban Decay come with four colors in a box—mix and match as you see fit, B270 on ebay. For the feathery ones, try Black Velvet Feather false lashes from Shu Uemura, about B800.

Essentials

Beautilicious. www.iambeautilicious.com, 084-0999807.
Benefit. M/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000. www.benefitcosmetics.com
Kate. Watsons, Siam Square Soi 1, 02-658-3955. www.katethailand.com
Laura Mercier. 1/F, Central Chidlom, 02-254-9130. www.lauramercier.com
M.A.C. 2/F, Siam Discovery, 02-658-0282. www.maccosmetics.com
Make Up For Ever. 1/F, Central Chidlom, 02-254-6009. www.makeupforever.com
Nars. M/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000. www.narscosmetics.com
Revlon. Watsons, Siam Square Soi 1, 02-658-3955. www.revlon.com
Shu Uemura. 2/F, Siam Discovery, 02-658-0262. www.shuuemura.com
Urban Decay. Try www.sisterway.com, 081-602-9294. or www.urbandecay.com

1.) Jade Dragon

Price: B72 for 15 pieces (250g)
Prep Time: 3 mins (water added)
The taste: Being made by a Chinese restaurant clearly didn’t help. The freezer burn in their shumai is unmistakable. The stuffing tastes a bit unnatural and odd, too. The only reason you’ll buy it is to let it sit and savor the sesame aroma.
Verdict: Pretty nasty. Save your baht; shumai from street stalls is much better.

2.) S&P

Price: B72 for 10 pieces (150g)
Prep Time: 3.5 mins (water added)
The taste: Don’t let this trusted family brand fool you. Their shumai is a mix of shrimp and pork. Result: a putrid, fishy dish, kind of like seafood that’s been sitting in a market too long. And the sauce that comes in the package is way too sour.
Verdict: Sour fish meatballs in the form of shumai.

3.) Surapon Foods

Price: B89 for 12 pieces (192g)
Prep Time: 4 mins
The taste: A pretty appetizing shrimp flavor, and the stuffing melts in your mouth. However, we’re not satisfied with their dough—very mushy and soggy. Their sauce, too, is so sour that the shumai tastes better off without it.
Verdict: Slightly better than average.

4.) Tops

Price: B109 for 12 pieces (192g)
Prep time: 4 mins
The taste: This one has a great creamy texture and the actual taste of shrimp. It even has a peppery touch to it—just the way we like it. Surprisingly, the company making these for Tops is Surapon Foods (our runner up), so we guess the extra B20 makes all the difference.
Verdict: Our favorite.

5.) Jiro

Price: B64 for 5 pieces (150g)
Prep Time: 4.5 mins
The taste: These big, chunky shumai look awesome, but there’s nothing special about the flavor. The dough is too hard and has a weird, undercooked taste. The stuffing is lumpy and has no taste of shrimp: think mystery meat with some frozen, crunchy veggies tossed in for good measure.
Verdict: Looks aint’ everything. Skip it.

Training for a marathon? No, neither are we. But we did wonder whether these instant exercise boosters would make a difference to our once-a-week slog around the Botanic Gardens.

GU Energy Gel

Various flavors including lemon sublime, tri berry, mandarin orange. 32g / $3.95 from GNC.
The first one we tried (and the most widely available), and boy was it an intense introduction. With a taste like kid’s candy, it put a spring in our step almost instantly. Trouble is, the spring kept going and 30 minutes later our heart-rate was as high as a hummingbird’s, and we ground to a halt.

Power Bar Gel

Various flavors including green apple, vanilla, raspberry cream. 41g / $3.21 from GNC.
Ugh. The non-caffeinated vanilla version tastes pretty horrendous; though we guess after three hours on the road you’re not missing the subtle hint of umami in what you eat. And it did at least seem like a slower and more steady release: Half an hour in—the same point at which the GU gel had done its worst—our legs felt encouragingly light and ready for more. We didn’t give it to them, of course.

2nd Surge Ultra Energy Gel

Chocolate flavor. 29g / $4 from 2XU.
Basically an espresso shot in a packet, this is one for serious athletes (and perhaps extremely tired amateurs) only. It’s based around a blend of superfoods, including goji berries, mangosteen and cranberries, and even contains protein, making it easy to kid yourself that it’s good for you. Although it’s the best tasting of the three, it’s also the most expensive and, with a serious caffeine kick (100mg per packet), is probably better suited to ultramarathoning, not 20 minutes on the treadmill.

Essentials
GNC
2XU KPI Store
You can also buy in bulk from locally-based web store Energy Gel Addict

How Do Energy Gels Work?

The carbohydrate combo provides both quick (fructose) and slow release (maltodextrin) energy to your muscles. The manufacturers reckon it kicks in within 5-10 minutes of ingestion. Based on our non-randomised, non-blind, entirely unscientific trial, that’s more or less on the money.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, credited with all kinds of powers, including neutralizing lactic acid and aiding in recovery. Sounds great, huh? Trouble is, there’s almost no evidence for this. Even hardcore bodybuilding websites admit the jury’s still out on whether they have any benefit at all.

The caffeine helps your body convert fat to energy more efficiently, improving endurance, reducing fatigue and helping you focus. This is actually proven science; which can’t be said for most other supplements. It’s a mild diuretic though, so don’t take in too much before you head out.

Jan

40th Hong Kong Arts Festival
An extravaganza featuring 44 main events, from opera to dance, music and theater, spread over 41 days. The festival features workshops, masterclasses, talks, screenings and behind the scenes tours. Highlights from this year’s festival include Grzegorz Jarzyna’s production of the late Sarah Kane’s final play 4.48 Psychosis (Feb 22-25), Poon Wai-sum’s look into the Hong Kong property market Show Flat (Feb 16-28) and an all-Handel concert from The Sixteen and Harry Christophers (Feb 24-25).
January 28-March 8. Hong Kong. HK$60-680. www.hk.artsfestival.org

Feb

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Whenever the Asia Pacific region’s biggest gay festival comes around, you know it’s going to be nothing short of fabulous. Mardi Gras is a celebration of all aspects of LGBT culture from theater productions, to concerts, a film festival, academic talks and discussions as well as that legendary parade.
Feb 12-Mar 4. Sydney. Free and ticketed events. www.mardigras.org.au

Mar

Java Jazz Festival
It might be sponsored by a cigarette company, but that takes nothing away from the quality of the performers on show at this weekend of jazz. The Al Jarreau & George Duke Trio, Bobby McFerrin, The Manhattan Transfer, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Erykah Badu and Laura Fygi are just some of the names who’ll take to the stage at the Jakarta International Expo.
Mar 2-4. Jakarta. Daily passes available from Rp385,000, single show tickets from Rp110,000. www.javajazzfestival.com

Fashion Week Tokyo 2012-13 A/W
After its cancellation in 2011 following the devastating earthquake and tsunami, Japan Fashion Week returned with its Spring 2012 edition in October 2012. The line-up for the Autumn/Winter week in March hasn’t been announced yet, but you can expect to see the likes of Araisara, Fur Fur, Yukiko Hansai, Motonari Ono, SOMARTA and Johan Ku.
March 18-23. Tokyo. Price TBC. www.jfw.jp

36th Hong Kong International Film Festival
This year’s HKIFF will feature 330 films from 50 countries screened to a combined audience of around 600,000 with a focus on Asian (and in particular, Chinese) cinema and talent. The full line-up will be announced at a later date and you can keep tabs on the event via its Facebook page.
March 21-April 5. Hong Kong. Price TBC. www.hkiff.org.hk

Malaysian Grand Prix
Can anyone catch Sebastian Vettel in 2012? The young German has already established himself as this generation’s Michael Schumacher, winning his second consecutive World Championship hands down in 2011. Malaysia gets front row seats with one of the first few races of the season.
March 23-25. Kuala Lumpur. RM63-1,763. www.malaysiangp.com.my

Hong Kong Sevens
While famed for the bonecrushing tackles and fleet-footed runs on the pitch, the carnival atmosphere it brings is the real reason to go. Start planning your costume now.
March 23-25. Hong Kong. HK$1,500 for a three-day pass. www.hksevens.com

Apr

Songkran Festival
Attending Songkran, the week-long water war that rings in Thai New Year, is definitely one of the things to add to your bucket list. In Bangkok, the action is concentrated around Khaosan (for backpackers) and Silom (for locals) but Chiang Mai is where the insanity reaches its peak, particularly along the northern capital’s main canal. If you’ve seen it all, try Khon Kaen’s Khao Niaw road for a change. If you just can’t get enough, the action tends to travel east of Bangkok after Apr 15, towards Bang Saen and Pattaya.
April 13-16. Thailand. Free. www.songkran.net

Buyan Russian Haute Cuisine & Caviar Bar

A perennial newsmaker for its astonishing wine museum valued at over $5 million, Buyan is also known for its unrivalled selection of over 50 vodkas and the best Russian cuisine in town.

District 10 Bar & Restaurant

Their range of cocktails is pretty comprehensive, with everything from classics (from $14) to passion fruit daiquiris ($15), alongside yummy Italian pastas (from $18) which can be enjoyed at its spacious alfresco area.

Pasha

With a well-lit, elegant restaurant on the ground floor and an attractive bar to chill out at on the second, Pasha serves up Moroccan classics, signature cocktails with Middle Eastern influences and wines from exotic locales like Lebanon and India.

Plan a day at full day at the spa: Damai's Valentine's Day Promotion (includes their signature Orchid Massage as well as free champs and chocs), and the Royal Love Story at Ayuthaya package (comes with a complimentary Thai love songs CD) are some ideas to get your started.

Ride the ferris wheel: For four days in February, enjoy a full butler service, special menus and even a souvenir on the Singapore Flyer at Sky Dining Valentine's Day 2012.

Catch a movie in the "heavens": During The Jewel Box Starry Valentine season, you can (and should) indulge in a private cable car ride, after which you can watch a classic film over cocktails at Moonstone Bar. 

Whip up your own bouquet: This Chinese New Year & Valentine's Day Special: Introduction to Flower Arrangement class should help you impress your girl (and her mom too, probably).

Gift a handmade puppy: Or anything else you learn how to make at this For Your Valentine: Balloon Sculpture Workshop.

Impress with your humor: Singapore's newest standup comedy show Comedy Masala also has an open mic segment—time to get your act together.

Watch a local production: If you're both feeling frustrated with life (and aren't we all?), you should watch the award-winning Spring Awakening musical for its self-discovery theme.

Appreciate local art: A new artist is in town and she's holding a special showcase, Beautiful Love 2012 this Valentine's Day, with 50% of the sales proceeds going to charity.

Want something more?

Here are Singapore's top staycation & dining deals for Valentine's Day.

February

40th Hong Kong Arts Festival

Through Mar 8. Hong Kong. Prices vary. www.hk.artsfestival.org
45 days, 17 venues and 166 performances, covering music, dance and theater, make the 40th edition of the Hong Kong Arts Festival the largest ever. The 2012 lineup is headlined by Mozart’s Cozi Fan Tutte by the Bavarian State Opera, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, John Neumier by the Hamburg Ballet, Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis by Grzegorz Jarzyna, and World of Wearable Arts, which is the first time the extravagant clothes from the famous wearable arts competition travel out of their hometown in New Zealand.

Jeju Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival

Feb 2-4. South Korea www.buriburi.go.kr
Not only a favorite resort island for Koreans, Jeju is also a great place to enjoy some folk traditions. Every year, almost 350,000 people participate in a fire ceremony to pray for good health and a good harvest in the coming spring. There are also a number of hands-on events tourists can participate in throughout the three-day festival, the highlight being the setting ablaze of old grass on the hill, which everyone does together, in order to banish harmful insects and bad luck and to prepare the land for the new cultivating season.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Feb 6-12. Sapporo, Japan. www.snowfes.com
That we never get snow is reason enough to travel to see Asia’s large snow event. Started as a high school student showcase in 1950, Sapporo Snow Festival is now in its 63rd year and is one of Japan’s largest winter events. The Snow Festival, or Yuki Matsuri, attracts more than two million people each year with an array of ice and snow sculptures at three main sites: Odori Park at Sapporo’s downtown, the grounds at Tsudome and the main street on Susukino.

St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival

Feb 12. Fort Canning, Singapore. S$138. singapore.lanewayfestival.com.au
Starting out as an indie music festival back in 2004 in Melbourne, Australia, Laneway has grown rapidly since then, thanks to its lineup of cutting-edge bands and artists from all over the world. Its second year in Singapore sees if expand with a bill that includes The Drums, Cults, Yuck, Feist and The Horrors.

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

Feb 12-Mar 4. Sydney, Australia. www.mardigras.org.au
When the Asia-Pacific gay headquarters organizes a festival, you can rest assured it won’t be small: the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is the region’s largest and most famous LBGT festival. The 12th edition of the two-week long event is packed with a lineup of highlights like town, beach and poolside parties; art events; stage performances; a film festival organized by Queerscreen (www.mardigrasfilmfestival.com.au); a sports festival; and a grand parade involving thousands of LBGT and non-LGBT citizens dressed up in some outrageous costumes roaming Oxford and Flinders streets on Mar 3.

Taiwan Lantern Festival

Feb 17-28. Lugang, Taiwan. www.taiwan.net.tw/2012taiwanlantern
The township of Lugang will be lit up with hundreds of lanterns in various shapes and colors to celebrate the first month in the Chinese calendar. For its 23rd time, and to mark the Year of the Dragon, the theme is Soaring Dragon in Radiant Skies.­ That means tourists will be able to see lots of dragon lanterns throughout its nine exhibition areas.

Hadaka Matsuri at Saidai-Ji Temple

Feb 18. Okayama, Japan. http://tiny.cc/fcxyx
Hadaka means naked, so you know what to expect from this annual festival that takes place every third Saturday of February. Nearly 10,000 Japanese men roam the streets in their traditional fundoshi underwear in search of the one fully naked man hidden among them. The one to find and touch the naked man first will have good luck throughout the year. After a winner is declared, the mass of unclothed bodies moves to the Saidai-Ji Temple, where monks have a blessing for good luck at midnight. Sound fun enough for you?

MARCH

Holi Festival

Mar 8. Pune, India.
Probably one of the best-known festivals in India, Holi (aka the Festival of Colors) is a celebration to worship Vishnu at the beginning of Spring, asking for a fruitful harvest. Just imagine our Songkran Festival but replace the water with colored paints. The celebration takes place throughout the country, especially in Northern India, but you might see the largest festivals at places connected to Lord Krishna, like Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana. You know you need a change of clothes, right?

Mosaic Music Festival

Mar 9-18. Singapore. Prices vary. www.mosiacmusicfestival.com
Started in 2005, this is one of the region’s largest music festivals for world and indie. The 10-day lineup covers everything from folk and R&B to hip hop and electronic rock. This year’s lineup is headlined by Elbow from UK (Mar 18), Stacey Kent from USA (Mar 9), Architecture in Helsinki from Australia (Mar 9) and Toe from Japan (Mar 15-16).

Jue Festival

Mar 9-25. Beijing and Shanghai. Free. www.juefestival.com
China’s best arts and music festival returns, after the biggest edition yet (91 events and 32,000 attendees in 2011), with work by local talent and creative communities from Beijing and Shanghai. Each event is independently organized, and all proceeds go to the artists and performers.

Design Days Dubai

Mar 18-21. Dubai, UAE. www.designdaysdubai.ae
Not only acting as a playground for “starchitects” and celebrity designers, Dubai’s design scene is also flourishing. Unlike the other contemporary art fairs in Asia, the inaugural Design Days Dubai focuses on collectible and limited edition items from galleries and art studios around the world, including R20th Century from New York, Nilufar from Milan and Gallery Seomi from Seoul.

Japan Fashion Week

Autumn/Winter Mar 18-23. Tokyo, Japan. www.jfw.jp/en
After its cancellation in 2011 following the devastating earthquake and tsunami, Japan Fashion Week returned with Mercedes Benz as a title sponsor (just like New York) and a series of Spring 2012 collections last Oct. The autumn/winter lineups haven’t been unveiled as of press time, but we’re expecting creative works from renowned Japanese brands like araisara, fur fur and Somarta.

Hong Kong International Film Festival

Mar 21-Apr 5. Hong Kong. Prices vary. www.hkiff.org.hk
One of Asia’s oldest film festivals is now in its 36th year and is featuring 330 films from 50 countries. The shortlisted lineup is not yet confirmed, but the organizers promise to focus on Asian (or Chinese, in particular) films and stars. The 2012 festival also celebrates the achievement of Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Cahn Ho-sun by showing his 12 famed works, including Perhaps Love, The Warlords and Bodyguards And Assassins.

Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

Mar 23-25. Hong Kong. HK$1,550 for a three-day pass. www.hksevens.com
No matter whom you’re supporting—All Blacks, Springboks, Wallabies, Lions, or Dragons­­—one of the world’s premier rugby events is returning to the Hong Kong stadium. Tickets run out fast, so make sure to grab the early-bird promotion or watch out for the air ticket-plus-rugby ticket promotion from Cathay Pacific (www.cathaypacific.com/th) that starts from B17,000.

Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix

Mar 23-25. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. RM63-1,763. www.malaysiangp.com.my
Can anyone catch Sebastian Vettel in 2012? The young German has already established himself as this generation’s Michael Schumacher (even as Schumi continues to race), winning his second consecutive World Championship with ease in 2011. Asia gets front row seats with the first four races of the season in Australia (Mar 18), Malaysia, China (Apr 15) and Bahrain (Apr 22).

Hanami Festival

Late March through early May. Japan. www.jnto.go.jp
When sakura flowers blossom in late March, Japanese people will rush out for the Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, as the delicate flowers last no longer than a week. According to last year’s predictions, the yearly spectacle should begin in Kyushu prefecture in late March, then travel up north to Tokyo, Kyoto and end in Hokkaido in early May. Plan your trip in advance because packages and deals will be a little pricier during this period. You’ll be in Tokyo? Ueno Park is a can’t-miss.

April

Wicked the Musical

Through Apr 1. Tickets S$55-250. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. www.wickedthemusical.com.sg
Apr 1 is the last chance to see the award-winning Broadway musical Wicked during its world tour in Asia. Wicked re-tells the story of The Wizard of Oz through the eyes of the wicked witch, Elphaba, and her love-hate relationship with the good witch, Glinda.

Pii Mai Lao

Apr 14-16. Laos. www.tourismlaos.org
While we’re celebrating Songkran, Laotians also are celebrating their traditional new year. Like Thailand, expect religious ceremonies at temples and water-splashing revelry on the streets. Tourists will see more traditional rituals at Luang Prabang, while things get crazier (even more so than in Bangkok) in Vientiane.

Arrowtown Autumn Festival

Apr 20-29. Arrowtown, New Zealand. www.arrowtownautumnfestival.org.nz
Originally a 19th century gold-mining town, Arrowtown is blessed with stunning natural setting and a tranquil historic-looking township, especially in the fall, when peaceful lanes are coated in a carpet of red and yellow leaves. Every fall, the town hosts the annual Arrow Autumn Festival, featuring a variety of program, from musical shows to biking trails around the old town, so you can soak up the vintage feel of the place.

1. Drunken Dragon CNY Pub Crawl (19th January)

The Drunken Dragons really come into their own as the Year of teh Dragon rolls around. Join them on one of their legendary crawls for fireworks, cheap drinks, and plenty of fun. Dress code: red. 150 RMB with reservation. 180 RMB at the door. Meet at O'Malley's @ 9:30pm.

2. Mod Dance Party @ Lune (21st January)

See in the New Year at Lune with tunes from the '50s and '60s, including mod, motwon, punk, garage and more. No cover. 

3. Sweatshop pres. Dragon's Den @ Shelter (21st January)

Catch DJ Siesta's three-hour set, plus appearances from DJ Roo, plus Sweatshop residents Viceroy and MC Stride. 30 RMB on the door. It's going to be a 龙 night...

4. Enter The Dragon @ The Geisha (21st January)

Ever stylish, The Geisha is bringing DJ Sonic in to spin, and offering cool giveaways throughout the night. Grab a spot on the terrace to watch the fireworks.

5. Wonderland @ Zeal (21st January)

Zeal's monthly Shanghai No Limit party takes on a special New Year vibe this weekend. Free entry before 11pm, and 100 RMB after with one drink.

6. CNY @ Bar Rouge (22nd January)

It's a classic. Bar Rouge's terrace comes into its own for one wintry night only, offering the best view in town. 100 RMB, or free until midnight with the password "Dragon". Dress code: red.

7. 1Love Year of The Dragon @ The Apartment (22nd January)

It's free entry at The Apartment on CNY eve this year, so dress up in red and get ready for a great night.

8. Chinese New Year's Eve @ Mural (22nd January)

A live band and a posse of fire-breathers welcomes the Dragon at Mural, with free shooters for an hour after midnight.  50 RMB on the door. Free entry for people born in Dragon Years (1988, 1976, 1964).