Theater
1587: A Year of No Significance (萬曆十五年) by Zuni Icosahedron (進念二十面體) is part of the program for Hong Kong Week 2012 (香港週 2012). The performance is an adaptation of a historical novel by Ray Huang that focuses on the various personal and political factors that led to the collapse of the Ming dynasty.
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
Photo courtesy of the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation
■ Cement Hall of Taiwan Cement Building (台泥大樓士敏廳), 3F, 113, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市中山北路二段113號3樓)
■ Tickets are NT$800; available through NTCH tickeing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
I Have A Date With Autumn (我和秋天有個約會), also part of a program for Hong Kong Week 2012 (香港週 2012), brings together some of the biggest stars of the Hong Kong stage in a drama set against the background of Hong Kong’s vibrant Canto-pop scene of the 1990s.
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Novel Hall (新舞台), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
■ Tickets are NT$699 to NT$2,500; available through NTCH tickeing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
New Havoc in the Dragon Palace (新.鬧龍宮), part of a production in the Contemporary Legend Theater’s (當代傳奇劇場) Legendary Classic Drama Series. A dramatization of one of the incidents from the Chinese classic Journey to the West (西遊記).
■ Today at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
■ Auditorium of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, 21 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21號)
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,500; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Event
New York Times columnist and environmental activist Andrew Revkin will be in Taipei next week to give a lecture, The Invisible Ax: Global Corporations Slaughter the Amazon, as part of the Taipei Salon (台北沙龍), a series of talks hosted by the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation (龍應台文化基金會). Kurtis Pei (裴家騏), a professor at the Institute of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, will moderate the lecture. Revkin, who has written extensively on sustainability issues and climate change, will discuss the global impact of rainforest destruction.
■ Dec. 1, from 2pm to 4pm
■ Yue-han Hall (月涵堂), 110 Jinhua St, Taipei City (台北市金華街110號). The lecture is in English. Admission is free, but pre-registration is required. Call (02) 3322-4907, or register online at www.civictaipei.org.
Taipei Discussion and Learning meets every Sunday at Wisteria Tea House (紫藤廬) to hear lectures and discuss topics such as philosophy, science, anthropology, globalization and alternative medicine. All discussions and lectures are conducted in English. This weekend’s lecture is titled Permaculture: An old idea for a better future.
■ Wisteria Tea House (紫藤廬), 1, Ln 16, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段16巷1號)
■ Every Sunday at 8pm
■ Entrance is free. For more information visit www.taipeidiscussionandlearning.blogspot.com
Classical music
Celebrated American pianist Gary Graffman and Australian conductor Nicholas Milton will lead the National Symphony Orchestra through a program that includes Sergei Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, Op. 25, as well as Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. The Ravel piece was commissioned in the late 1920s by an Austrian pianist who lost his right arm during World War I.
■ Saturday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Tonight and tomorrow, Hong Kong jazz fusion group SIU2 and HKCO4U play at Legacy Taipei. Both groups are here as part of Hong Kong Week, featuring prominent artists from the former British colony. On Monday and Tuesday, Legacy hosts popular Hong Kong pop and rock artists as part of the event. Monday’s program features Ellen Loo (盧凱彤), Ketchup and Sugar Club (糖兄妹). Tuesday’s roster includes Paul Wong (黃貫中) and The Postman, Yoyo Sham (岑寧兒), Vicky Fung (馮穎琪) and Chet Lam (林一峰).
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start 8pm
■ NT$600 tonight and tomorrow and NT$800 on Monday and Tuesday. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw, www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Local ska group Mary Bites Kerry (瑪莉咬凱利) and indie rock band Zenkwun (神棍樂團) play tonight at The Wall (這牆). Tomorrow, the venue hosts a party by Japanese label Zankyo Records, which features rock bands from that country: 9mm Parabellum Bullet, People In The Box, te’ and Cinema Staff.
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, aipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ NT$500 tonight, NT$2,400 tomorrow. Tickets for all shows, with discounts on advance tickets, can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店) hosts Fingerstyle guitarist Sujer (舒吉吉) and indie rock group Pink Haze take the stage. Aboriginal rock band Lansing (嵐馨) appears on Saturday. On Thursday, it’s rock-jazz duo #AGG# and solo pianist and singer-songwriter Chen Tsung-wei (陳誇張).
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號), tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Shows start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300
Human Beings (人) and Skip Skip Ben Ben perform tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow it’s indie band Frusciante (佛香甜) and Orangegrass (澄草), a post-rock-like band with an emo-punk singer. On Wednesday, the venue hosts indie upstarts Ego-Fugue (自我意識神遊) and Love Me In Tears (愛上我只會讓你傷心難過)
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1), tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Shows run from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts DJs Kile Inn and Freeman as part of Angst Asia’s “The Black Series No.1 Dark Beat.” Tomorrow, it’s Taichung-based reggae band Wailin’ Soul, followed by a drum ‘n’ bass party with DJs Jubba, Robi Roka and MC Stoppa.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow. Admission includes one free drink
Bobwundaye hosts an open mic every Wednesday. On Saturday, The Muddy Basin Ramblers play jug band, blues and swing.
■ 77, Hoping E Rd, Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市和平東路三段77號)
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ Free on Wednesdays, NT$200 on Saturday
Indie folk-rock bands Lisa and Yinfenzi (隱分子) and Lemon Whirl (檸檬味兒) play tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow, it’s pop-rock bands Huiyaodays (火曜日樂團) and Fangzhang (方丈樂團). On Sunday, Penguin Cat and Friends (企鵝貓&朋友們) and We (我們) take the stage.
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓), tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9pm
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow and NT$350 Sunday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Korean jazz composer and pianist Biora Kim performs tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow Ash and Friends play modern jazz standards. Tim Pan Alley Cats, a duo of two guitarists playing classic American songbook tunes, are on Monday.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1), tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Shows start at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and NT$200 tomorrow, free on other nights.
Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs every Thursday at EZ5 Live House, which hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Other highlights include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) on Tuesdays.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號), tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
On Fridays at Italian restaurant Capone’s, Taipei Swing holds dance socials with live music from electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). On Saturday, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. Iris sings “romantic chansons” Sunday nights and on Wednesdays, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas. Duo Blurrs Bros perform blues and American songbook tunes on Thursdays.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300.
Tonight, Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區) hosts metal bands Morals Abyss (道德深淵), Losing Art (漂浮者) and Blasting Brain. On Saturday, Taiwan’s long-running post-rock band Sugar Plum Ferry takes the stage.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pierer-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ NT$1,200 tonight, NT$600 tomorrow. Tickets for all shows, with discounts on advance tickets, can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
The Mercury (水星酒館) hosts live music every Saturday. This weekend features Spade14 (黑桃十四樂團) and Heart Lock (心銷).
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, includes one drink
Sept.16 to Sept. 22 The “anti-communist train” with then-president Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) face plastered on the engine puffed along the “sugar railway” (糖業鐵路) in May 1955, drawing enthusiastic crowds at 103 stops covering nearly 1,200km. An estimated 1.58 million spectators were treated to propaganda films, plays and received free sugar products. By this time, the state-run Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖, Taisugar) had managed to connect the previously separate east-west lines established by Japanese-era sugar factories, allowing the anti-communist train to travel easily from Taichung to Pingtung’s Donggang Township (東港). Last Sunday’s feature (Taiwan in Time: The sugar express) covered the inauguration of the
The corruption cases surrounding former Taipei Mayor and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) head Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) are just one item in the endless cycle of noise and fuss obscuring Taiwan’s deep and urgent structural and social problems. Even the case itself, as James Baron observed in an excellent piece at the Diplomat last week, is only one manifestation of the greater problem of deep-rooted corruption in land development. Last week the government announced a program to permit 25,000 foreign university students, primarily from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, to work in Taiwan after graduation for 2-4 years. That number is a
This year’s Michelin Gourmand Bib sported 16 new entries in the 126-strong Taiwan directory. The fight for the best braised pork rice and the crispiest scallion pancake painstakingly continued, but what stood out in the lineup this year? Pang Taqueria (胖塔可利亞); Taiwan’s first Michelin-recommended Mexican restaurant. Chef Charles Chen (陳治宇) is a self-confessed Americophile, earning his chef whites at a fine-dining Latin-American fusion restaurant. But what makes this Xinyi (信義) spot stand head and shoulders above Taipei’s existing Mexican offerings? The authenticity. The produce. The care. AUTHENTIC EATS In my time on the island, I have caved too many times to
In the aftermath of the 2020 general elections the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was demoralized. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had crushed them in a second landslide in a row, with their presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) winning more votes than any in Taiwan’s history. The KMT did pick up three legislative seats, but the DPP retained an outright majority. To take responsibility for that catastrophic loss, as is customary, party chairman Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) resigned. This would mark the end of an era of how the party operated and the beginning of a new effort at reform, first under