CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Veteran Mando-pop crooner Tsai Chin (蔡琴), who is known for her sultry rendition of classics such as A Tenderness Like Yours (恰似你的溫柔) and The Last Night (最後一夜), performs the Tsai Chin 2010 Great Evening on the Sea Concert (蔡琴2010海上良宵演唱會) tonight and Sunday at the Taipei International Convention Center (台北國際會議中心). Tsai, with more than 70 albums under her belt, started out as a folk singer and veered into pop before focusing on golden Mandarin oldies for the past decade. Also a gifted theater actress, Tsai is acclaimed for her elegant presence and witty onstage repartee. Tsai is known to younger generations for her delivery of The Forgotten Time (被遺忘的時光), the theme song to Andy Lau’s (劉德華) acclaimed thriller Infernal Affairs (無間道). For this concert, Tsai will put her golden touch on various Mandarin oldies.
Photo: Bloomberg
■ Tonight and Sunday at 7:45pm
■ 1, Xinyi Rd, Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市信義路五段1號). On the Net: www.tsai-chin.com
■ Tickets are NT$1,000 to NT$4,200, available through ERA ticketing outlets or online through www.ticket.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Photo courtesy of Warner Music
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Photo: Alita Rickards
To mark its first its first anniversary, Legacy Taipei (傳音樂展演空間) will host a concert of remixed Mando-pop oldies tonight. Legacy Taipei One Year Anniversary (Legacy台北音樂傳記一週年) starts with an hour-long video about Mando-pop’s golden age and then takes the form of a non-stop dance mix by DJs Lim Giong (林強), Ciacia (何欣穗), Ah-kai (阿凱, vocalist of indie outfit 1976), Hao Er (好二) and finally a face-off between the venue’s resident DJ Ah She (阿舌) and indie band Sticky Rice’s (糯米團) former drummer Hung Chih-li (洪峙立).
■ Tonight from 9pm to 3am
■ 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). On the Net: www.legacy.com.tw
Photo courtesy of Circle Creative
■ Admission is NT$600 in advance or NT$800 at the door. Tickets are available through ERA ticketing outlets or online through www.ticket.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
— Andrew C.C. Huang
PHOTO COURTESY OF Academy of Taiwan Strings
Jolin Tsai (蔡依林), Mando-pop’s dancing diva, starts off her first world tour in four years with two concerts at the Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋). Tsai has pushed her trademark dance tunes to a new height with her electronica outing Myself 2010 Concept Album (Myself 2010概念專輯), which was released this August.
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm
Photo courtesy of Spark
■ 2, Nanjing E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市南京東路四段2號). On the Net: jolin.info
■ Tickets are NT$800 to NT$4,200, available through ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Photo courtesy of Jackal Yu
Singer/songwriter Peggy Hsu (許哲珮) leads her band The Circus in a performance at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) tonight. Hsu is acclaimed for her blend of folk and pop and is a hotly pursued songwriter who has collaborated with heavyweights such as Sandy Lam (林憶蓮). Trained in jazz vocals at Berklee College, Hsu is a magnetic live performer who regularly plays to full houses.
Photo courtesy of the The Loop
■ Tonight at 8:30pm
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). On the Net: www.peggyhsu.com
■ Tickets are NT$450 in advance, available from www.riverside.com.tw or www.tickets.books.com.tw, or NT$500 at the door
Photo courtesy of Joe Russo
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Photo courtesy of Jackal Yu
Tonight, Riverside Music Cafe (河岸留言) hosts its annual A Jazzy X’mas Eve (經典爵士聖誕夜) party. Japanese pianist Kaoru Uno will share the stage with Riverside founder Geddy Lin (林正如), a professional guitarist who has played on albums for pop superstars such as Chang Hui-mei (張惠妹, better known as A-mei) and Sammi Cheng (鄭秀文). Uno graduated from Berklee College and is the resident pianist at Taipei jazz venue Blue Note. Uno’s 2006 studio album Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby was short-listed by Eslite Bookstore as one of the best jazz albums of that year. Bassist Kinya and drummer Toshi will join the two to perform Christmas classics by Oscar Peterson and Nils Landjren.
■ Tonight at 9:30pm
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Admission is NT$500 with one drink, or NT$600 with two drinks. Tickets are available from www.riverside.com.tw or www.tickets.books.com.tw
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Electro rock stars Go Chic (back from a tour of Canada, China, and Japan) and The White Eyes (白目樂隊) team up at The Wall (這牆) for tonight’s Secret Christmas Party. Go Chic will play, to quote the girls’ event listing, “the most fierce, most crazy electronic garage punk rock” with the “wanton youth of China and evil!”
■ B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1), tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.the-wall.com.tw
■ Doors open at 7:30pm tonight, music starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$500 at door, or NT$400 in advance. Tickets are available at White Wabbit Records (小白兔唱片) (at venue)
— Alita Rickards
Christmas is a time to go back for seconds, so if Go Chic’s tongue-in-cheek sexy outfits and raunchy vocals tickle your taste buds you can catch the band again tomorrow in Taichung at 89K. Go Chic’s performance will be followed by hip-hop, funk and soul-electro by DJs Marcus Aurelius and Arctic Wolf.
■ 89K, 21 Daguan Rd, Nantun Dist, Taichung City (台中市南屯區大觀路21號)
■ Tomorrow from 10pm to Sunday at 5am
■ Entrance is NT$400, of which NT$100 will be donated to charity. The Admission price includes one raffle ticket and one drink
— Alita Rickards
Singer-songwriters Zulin (志寧) and Huang Jie (黃玠) team up as Kings of Converse tonight at Witch House (女巫店).
■ 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
■ Show starts at 9:30pm tonight
■ Admission is NT$300
— David Chen
Underworld (地下社會), a regular basement haunt for local indie rock fans, is holding Girly Xmas Eve Party tonight, which features electronica dance band No Money No Honey, and an A-list of DJs: Former Ladybug member Man Yen-fen (滿延芬), Floaty, Jing Jing Lin (林品均), Dolcevita Zheng (璞璞), Ku Chiao-tu (庫巧兔).
■ 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
■ Tonight from 9:30pm to 11:30pm
■ Admission is NT$300, which includes one drink
— David Chen
Sam’s Quartet performs tonight at Sappho de Base.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is free tonight
— David Chen
Happy-go-lucky indie rock band Relax One (輕鬆玩) performs a concert entitled One More X-Mas Night at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區) tonight.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Show starts at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$300
— David Chen
The 2010 19th Chiayi City International Band Festival (2010第19屆嘉義市國際管樂節) is the latest edition of what has become an established annual event on the band music calendar and earned Chiayi City the title of “the city of band music.” The event will involve bands from around the world and feature both concerts and parades. While predominantly focusing on school bands from around the country, bands will be coming from as far away as Germany to participate. There are also extensive fringe activities including handicraft markets, exhibitions and workshops. The event opens today and runs until Jan. 2. For detailed schedule information, visit the festival site at www.chiayicity2010.com.tw.
■ Today until Jan. 2
■ Venues around Chiayi City
■ Tickets for concerts by foreign bands are NT$100, available at the door. All other performances are free
— Ian Bartholomew
Soul jazz singer Djavan performs tonight at Italian restaurant Capone’s, which is serving its Christmas dinner tonight and tomorrow.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號)
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm
■ Call (02)-2773-3782 for prices and to make reservations, which are recommended for dinner tonight and tomorrow
— David Chen
Taipei Artist Village is having a laid-back Christmas with Peacefest. The Red Cliff goes on at 7pm sharp, followed by Dark Eyes Gypsy Band at 8pm. The latter’s big band sound features accordion, clarinet, violin and double bass. The night continues with DJs Mixter T, James Ho, and Hooker. The cover charge includes one beer, a gift for kids, and a turkey/BBQ dinner.
■ Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377
■ Doors open at 7pm tomorrow
■ Admission is NT$500
— Alita Rickards
Taiwanese rapper Soft Lipa (蛋堡) joins Japanese jazz quintet Jabber Loop to present Sextet Under the Moonlight: Soft Lipa and Jabber Loop (月光下的六重奏:蛋堡and Jabber Loop夢幻共演), an evening of hip hop/jazz fusion at Legacy Taipei (傳音樂展演空間) tomorrow. Soft Lipa, who redefined Taiwan’s hip-hop scene with his albums Lotion (收斂水) and Winter Sweet, took his fusion style to a new level when he collaborated with jazz group Jabber Loop on Moonlight (月光), which was released this October.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ 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). On the Net: tw.streetvoice.com/profile/home.asp?sd=388179
■ Tickets are NT$800 in advance or NT$1,000 at the door, available through ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Indie rock band Echo (回聲樂團) performs the Taipei leg of its nationwide tour tomorrow at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Echo, acclaimed for its blend of neo-psychodelia and electro-rock, released its latest album, Virgin Air (處女空氣), earlier this month. The release is the final chapter to its Quest, Revolution, Rebirth trilogy, which includes Driving the Senses (感官駕馭) from 2002 and the 24-song opus Days Under the Bus (巴士底之日) from 2007. With its blend of Euro-rock and vocalist/songwriter Pochang Wu’s (吳柏蒼) lyrics that verge on neo-romantic poetry, this group’s refreshing sound will appeal to concertgoers who otherwise shun middle-of-the-road rock.
■ Starts at 7:30pm
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). On the Net: www.echoband.com
■ Tickets are NT$450 in advance, available at www.riverside.com.tw or www.tickets.books.com.tw, or NT$550 at the door
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Riverside Music Cafe (河岸留言) presents a double bill tomorrow combining musicians from Aboriginal music label Wild Fire Music (野火樂集) and folk-pop duo JS. Wild Fire Music’s roster of Aboriginal singers — including Chen Yon-lon (陳永龍), Gelresai (陳世川), Chen Hong-hao (陳宏豪) and Deebuse (笛布斯) — will perform folk tunes set to dance grooves. For the second half of the evening, JS, which is comprised of Justin, aka Chen Chung-yi (陳忠義), and his younger sister Sophia, aka Chen Chi-hsuan (陳綺萱), will perform a mini concert covering their best-known songs from albums such as 2004’s Meeting the Future (遇見未來) and 2008’s The Most Beautiful Landscape in This Life (此生最美的風景).
■ Tomorrow at 9pm
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). On the Net: www.wild-fire-music.com and www.wretch.cc/blog/JSSOPHIA
■ Tickets are NT$400, available from www.riverside.com.tw or at www.tickets.books.com.tw
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Witch House (女巫店) celebrates Christmas Day with folk-rock singer Europa Huang (黃建為) and Pumpkin Li (李南瓜).
■ 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
■ Show starts at 9:30pm
■ Admission is NT$300
— David Chen
Underworld (地下社會) plays Christmas Day out with punk band Inhuman Species (非人物種) and metal outfit Ashen.
■ 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
■ From 9:30pm to 11:30pm
■ Admission is NT$300
— David Chen
Sappho de Base celebrates Christmas Day with London Shamisen Club (倫敦三味線俱樂部), which plays ballads from Turkey and the Balkans with an Asian twist.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 10pm
■ Admission is NT$200
— David Chen
Aspiring R ‘n’ B pop temptress Sukie Chung (鍾舒祺) takes to the stage at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區) on Christmas Day.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Show starts at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400
— David Chen
Tomorrow at Capone’s, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號)
■ Live music from 8pm to 11:30pm
■ Call (02)-2773-3782 for prices and to make reservations
— David Chen
In Tainan, The Checkered Record Club tomorrow hosts indie bands Linz and The Hoyo and post-rock group Bugs of Phonon (聲子蟲).
■ B1, 314, Simen Rd, Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市西門路二段314號B1) Tel: (06) 222-3238
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$250
— David Chen
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts pop punk group KoOk tomorrow for its Rock and Roll Christmas celebration.
■ 6 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Show starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$150, which includes one drink
— David Chen
Tomorrow, popular reggae band Wailin’ Soul, led by Trinidadian expat Sherwyne Pereira, performs at The Brickyard in Kaohsiung.
■ B1, 507, Jhongshan 2nd Rd, Cianjin Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市前金區中山二路507號B1)
■ Starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 for men, NT$150 for women
— David Chen
Taiwan black metal band Chthonic (閃靈) performs at The Wall (這牆) tomorrow in a concert that commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Wushe Incident (霧社事件), an Aboriginal uprising against Japanese colonial rule. Arguably the most active Taiwan indie band on the international scene, Chthonic is known for its symphonic metal sound that incorporates the erhu, classical Chinese prose and Taiwanese mythology. Vocalist Freddy Lim (林昶佐) is an outspoken advocate for Taiwan independence. This Christmas night concert, titled Undying Warrior Spirit (不滅鬥魂), ties in with the theme of the group’s 2005 studio album Seediq Bale (賽德克巴萊), which recounts in opulent metal sounds the Seediq tribe’s resistance against Japanese oppression.
■ Tomorrow at 8pm
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). On the Net: chthonic.tw
■ Tickets are NT$500 in advance or NT$600 at the door, available by calling (02) 2930-0162 or online at www.the-wall.com.tw
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Miss Stocking (絲襪小姐) holds its festive concert on Sunday at Riverside Live House. The band’s pristine album Ain’t Enough (就等故事都經過) makes a nice last-minute gift for fans of Taiwanese indie pop.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號), tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ 8:30pm Sunday
■ Entrance is NT$400. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
— David Chen
For a darker take on the festive season, head to The Wall (這牆) on Sunday for a concert by My Skin Against Your Skin, which will play newly released singles Jealous Lover and Dirty Babe, post-punk band Psycho, and noise-pop group Black Faith With Sonic Pace.
■ B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1), tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.the-wall.com.tw
■ Sunday from 8pm to 10:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 in advance from White Wabbit Records (at the venue) or NT$500 at the door
— Alita Rickards
American soul superstar Michael Bolton, best known for his flowing, golden locks (now cropped) and award-winning covers of soul classics such as Georgia on My Mind and When a Man Loves a Woman, will perform his 2010 Romantic Michael Bolton Asia concert at Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋) on Wednesday. After achieving stardom with his breakthrough album Soul Provider in 1989, the pop icon ventured into other genres with My Secret Passion: The Arias and Bolton Swings Sinatra. “I want to be perceived as someone who is not limited to one type of music,” Bolton told the Taipei Times in an e-mail interview. “Our show consists of not only my hits but also the music that inspired me as a young artist. I will perform R ‘n’ B, pop, classical, blues and rock and roll in the course of an evening.”
■ Wednesday at 7:30pm
■ 2, Nanjing E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市南京東路四段2號). On the Net: www.michaelbolton.com
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$6,000, available through ERA ticketing outlets, online at www.ticket.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
— Andrew C.C. Huang
Psychedelic indie rockers Macbeth (馬克白) and post-rock group Lily et Coco (哩扣) take to the stage at Underworld (地下社會) on New Year’s Eve, followed by DJs Floaty, Dizzy, Chema, Randy and Fish.
■ 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
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Admission is NT$400
— David Chen
For New Year’s Eve at Sappho de Base, South African expat Dawid Vorster performs a farewell show with his trio.
■ 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
■ Show start at 10pm
■ Admission is NT$800
— David Chen
Also on New Year’s Eve, the bands performing at Tainan’s The Checkered Record Club include Mr Dirty, The Deposers, Ion Fission (離子分裂), The Hand Knife Club (手刀樂隊), and Eyeball Killer (眼球殺手).
■ B1, 314, Simen Rd, Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市西門路二段314號B1), tel: (06) 222-3238
■ Show starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$200
— David Chen
Tizzy Bac, Staycool, 1976 and other rock groups will perform at the Encourage With Love New Year’s Eve Concert at CMP Block in Taichung City to ring in 2011.
■ CMP Block, 257-2 Jhonggang Rd Sec 1, West District, Taichung City (台中市西區中港路一段257之2號). On the Net: tw.beta.streetvoice.com/writing/parklane
■ Concert starts at 7:30pm
■ Admission is free
For New Year’s Eve, Witch House (女巫店) is taking reservations for its popular game night, when patrons can choose from an extensive selection of German board games.
■ 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
■ From 10:30pm to 3am
■ Admission is NT$450
— David Chen
CLASSICAL MUSIC
The International Chopin Festival 2010 (20X10蕭邦CHOPIN國際音樂節) continues over the festive season with a concert by Taiwan-born prodigy Yen Chun-chieh (嚴俊傑), who will play a selection of Chopin etudes and polonaises in concerts in Kaohsiung, Yilan and Taipei.
■ Tonight at 7:30pm (Kaohsiung), Sunday at 2:30pm (Yilan) and Tuesday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chih-teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂) at 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號), Yilan Performing Arts Center (宜蘭縣政府文化局演藝廳), 101, Fusing Rd Sec 2, Yilan City, Yilan County (宜蘭縣宜蘭市復興路二段101號) and National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$1,000 (Kaohsiung), NT$200 to NT$700 (Yilan), and NT$400 to NT$1,000 (Taipei), available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw. Also available through ibon, FamiPort and Life-ET locations around the country
— Ian Bartholomew and Bradley Winterton
Christmas Capriccio: Chang Chia-lun Recital (聖誕夜奇想 — 張嘉倫鋼琴獨奏會) sees the multi-talented pianist present a program of Christmas-themed music that includes Egon Petri’s arrangement of Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze, Schubert’s Fantasie in C Major, D.760 (Wanderer Fantasy), Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23, Liszt's Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas Tree), S.186 and William Bolcom’s The Serpent’s Kiss (from Garden of Eden Suite).
■ Tonight at 7:30pm
■ Forum Auditorium (十方樂集音樂劇場演奏廳), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd, Taipei City (台北市民族西路187巷4號)
■ Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
NSO Special Menu for X’mas (NSO實驗音場 — 聖誕饗宴) is the first time that the NSO 3+1 String Quartet will present its music in a theatrical fashion. In cooperation with VM Theatre (耀演劇團), the Quartet will not only adapt classic Christmas music, but will take part in a dramatic performance that accompanies the music, telling a story of two people who were born on Christmas Eve and who meet by chance and discover they share the same sense of loneliness. Accompanying the action is a musical selection ranging from Tchaikovsky to Shostakovich, and which includes the Christmas Suite (聖誕組曲) by Chen Yi-ting (陳怡婷), one of the two violinists in the quartet.
■ Tonight at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500; available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
TSO Taipei Christmas Concert — Ding Dong, Where Are the Bells Ringing? (TSO台北城的耶誕禮讚 — 叮叮噹，鈴聲在哪裡響) has the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) performing with the Guangren Catholic Elementary School Chorus (光仁小學合唱團), the Rongshing Children’s Choir (榮星兒童合唱團) and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra Chorus (台北市立交響樂團附設合唱團) under the baton of conductor Wu Shou-ling (吳琇玲), with a program that includes Christmas favorites such as a selection taken from Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.
■ Tonight at 7:30pm
■ Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
Utopia — Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra 16th Season Winter Solstice Family Concert (台北愛樂室內樂坊第十六期冬至理想 — 絃琴藝緻音樂逍遙遊) presents favorites that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The program includes works by Strauss, Verdi, Mozart and Tchaikovsky, among many others. Also on the musical menu is a selection of Christmas classics such as Silent Night and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. A program of classics adapted for a jazz quartet, also under the title Utopia and performed by members of the Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, is already sold out.
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm
■ Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Henry Mazer Music and Culture Center (台北愛樂暨梅哲音樂文化館), B1, 7 Jinan Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市濟南路一段7號B1)
■ Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
Christophe Boulier Recital (法國小提琴家浦利葉獨奏會) is one in a series of concerts that celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Academy of Taiwan Strings as a professional group. The concert features violinist Christophe Boulier, and the program comprises Franck’s Sonata for violin and piano, Saint-Saens Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, and Ravel’s Tzigane and Sonata in G Major for Violin and Piano. Boulier will be accompanied on piano by Chen Chih-yu (陳芝羽).
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chih-teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂) at 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200; available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
Taipei National University of the Arts 2010 Autumn/Winter Concert — Finlandia (國立臺北藝術大學2010秋冬系列音樂會 — 芬蘭驚艷) presents pianists Liu Hui-ying (劉慧瑛), Erik Tawaststjerna and Juho Pohjonen, violinists Tsung Hsu-hsian (宗緒嫻) and Su Hsien-ta (蘇顯達), viola performer Ho Chun-heng (何君恆) and cellist Cheng Yi-ching (鄭伊晴) performing a program that includes Sibelius’ Finlandia Op. 26 (arrangement by the composer), Sonatina in E Major, Op. 80, Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47 and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring for Two Pianos.
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm
■ Taipei National University of the Arts Theater (國立臺北藝術大學展演藝術中心), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市學園路1號)
■ Tickets are NT$100, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
Music Forum Weekend Concert Series — Chen Chung-ching “Keep Cool” Liuqin Recital (十方樂集週末音樂會系列) Keep Cool — 陳崇青2010年柳琴獨奏會) presents liuqin (柳琴) virtuoso Chen Chung-ching (陳崇青) in a recital that straddles classical Chinese and contemporary Western music. The program ranges from arrangements of tango works by Piazzolla for liuqin and piano to Nimus Dilasso’s suite of Taiwan folk songs for liuqin, piano and double bass.
■ Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Forum Auditorium (十方樂集音樂劇場演奏廳), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd, Taipei City (台北市民族西路187巷4號)
■ Tickets are NT$250; available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
Viennese New Year Concert — The 10th Anniversary of PAOT (維也納跨年音樂會 — 普羅藝術家樂團十週年經典系列) celebrates the arrival of 2011 and the 10th anniversary of the Taiwan Pro Arte Orchestra (普羅藝術家樂團) with a concert that has the orchestra performing under the baton of Liao Chia-hung (廖嘉弘). The program includes Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture, D. 644 and a selection of polkas and mazurkas by Johann Strauss, as well as his Die Fledermaus Overture.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$2,000; available though NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
Taiwan Element Concert — 25th Anniversary of the Taiwan Philharmonic Orchestra (台灣元素系列音樂會 — 台北愛樂管弦樂團25周年) introduces conductor Jorma Panula, pianist Juho Pohjonen, and violinist Su Hsien-ta (蘇顯達) to perform with the Taiwan Philharmonic Orchestra in a program that includes Sibelius’ Finlandia Op. 26 and Symphony No. 5 and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
■ Monday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000; available though NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
64th Charity Concert “Messiah” (第64屆彌賽亞慈善演唱會) sees the YMCA Oratorio Choir (台北YMCA聖樂合唱團) performing a production of Handel’s Messiah under the artistic direction of Sun Ai-kuang (孫愛光).
■ New Year’s Eve at 7:30pm
■ Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000; available though NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Ian Bartholomew
NSO 2010 New Year’s Eve Concert (NSO 2010跨新年音樂會) is a series of two concerts spanning the New Year. The National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) will be joined by the Vienna State Opera Concert Society and the Taiwan Philharmonic Chorus (台北愛樂合唱團) to present a program that includes Bizet’s Carmen Suite (3 pieces), Ravel’s Tzigane, Rapsodie de Concert, for Violin and Orchestra, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnole, Op. 34 and Oroff’s Camina Burana. Soloists include violinist Tseng Yu-chien (曾宇謙), soprano Lo Ming-fang (羅明芳), tenor Fernando Wang (王典) and baritone Lee Chia-wei (李佳蔚). The conductor is Lu Shao-chia (呂紹嘉).
■ Dec. 31 at 10pm and Jan. 1 at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,500, available though NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com
— Ian Bartholomew
DANCE MUSIC
With the French house ambassador Dimitri From Paris headlining tonight, Barcode is definitely the spot to be for fans of funky/disco house. Also on the bill is Xuan (aka Shiuan Liu (劉軒)).
■ 5F, 22, Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路22號5F). On the Net: www.room18.com.tw
■ DJs play from 9pm to 3am
■ Admission is NT$1,000, which includes two drinks and admission to Room 18
— Queen Bee
Luxy’s Christmas treat is a trance party tonight with top DJs Ferry Corsten from the Netherlands and Christopher Lawrence from the US. Note: hip-hop will be (temporarily) out of the picture.
■ 5F, 197, Sec 4, Zhongxiao E Rd, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段201號5樓). On the Net: www.luxy-taipei.com
■ From 10pm to 4am
■ Admission is NT$1,200.
— Queen Bee
After RokandRave and Tranquility Bass finished the ill.Gates’ show last Friday, they decided that the present they would bring for their I Love Drum and Bass Christmas Special at The Source would be a sleigh full of extra subwoofers. Expect the walls to be rattling to the sounds of Robi Roka, Lai and friends late into the morning.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號)
■ Tonight from 10pm to 5am
■ Entrance is $350 with two drinks
— Marcus Aurelius
Royal Chiou, one-third of Liquid Lifestyle Promotions, doesn’t really resemble the stereotypical Kris Kringle with his six-pack abs, expensive sunglasses and “How ya like me now” attitude, but Chiou will be decked out in Santa gear handing out risque presents to all the sexy ladies at Spark’s Naughty NOT Nice XXX-mas Eve Party.
■ B1, 45, Shifu Rd, Taipei City (台北市市府路45號B1), tel: (02) 8101-8662.
On the Net: www.spark101.com.tw
■ Tonight from 10pm to 4:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$1,000
— Marcus Aurelius
Do kitties and Christmas go together like bunnies and Easter? Who knows, but three cool cats, BB, Al Burro, and Soundsquash, will be making sugarplums dance to their Miaow Mix of minimal techno sounds tonight at The Villa Herbs.
■ 32, Ln 11, Leli Rd, Taipei City (台北市樂利路11巷32號), tel: (02)2732-3255
■ Tonight from 10pm to 3am
■ Entrance is NT$800
— Marcus Aurelius
If gyrating to pop music on a bar like in the movie Coyote Ugly gets your stockings twisted up in a bunch (in a good way), Carnegie’s Red and Green party is the place to be on Christmas Eve. A Sexy Santa contest will be held with the winner receiving NT$5,000 — enough to buy a lot of candy canes.
■ Tonight from 8pm to 5am
■ 100, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段100號), tel: (02) 2325-4433
■ Entrance is NT$1,000 with two drinks (free admission for members). Women wearing red or green get in for free
— Marcus Aurelius
The Brickyard in Kaohsiung tonight hosts a pair of Canadian drum and bass DJs: Capital J and Keith Myers.
■ B1, 507, Jhongshan 2nd Rd, Cianjin Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市前金區中山二路507號B1)
■ Starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 for men, NT$150 for women
— David Chen
At The Mansion (瀾灣) in Kaohsiung tonight, local DJs Leo Smith, Hows, Peter Burke, Satan, Amati, and Paul Nice present a night of techno, trance and “Xmas love.” If you enjoyed the previous Technophobia Halloween parties, this is just your cup of tea.
■ 203 Jhongyan Rd, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區忠言路203號)
■ From 10pm to 4am
■ Admission is NT$500
— Queen Bee
Tonight is RED hip-hop night at In House with DJs David S and BaoBao.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). On the Net: www.inhouse19.com
■ DJs play from 10pm to 3am
■ Admission is free
— Queen Bee
DJ Marcus Aurelius is providing the music for The Brass Monkey’s Christmas Eve party. Today and tomorrow the bar serves Christmas dinner from 5pm to 10pm, but call first to make a reservation as spaces are limited.
■ 166 Fuxing N Rd, Taipei City (台北市復興北路166號), tel: (02) 2547-5050
■ DJ starts at 10pm tonight
■ Entrance tonight is NT$300 for men (includes two drinks), free for women
— David Chen
Organized by the League of Spiritual Discovery, the Buddha Festival’s third instalment takes place at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall tomorrow. There will be installation art and DJs include EZ, Fion, Cougar, Barfly, Kerlivin and Theendtone, who will be spinning house, break beats and psychedelic trance.
■ The Little Forest Music Stage, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (國立中正紀念堂兩廳院小森林樂台戶外展演區)
■ From 4pm to 10pm
■ Admission is free
— Queen Bee
Spark is playing the naughty but nice angle by booking DJ Sassy Pandez (Saskia Porter) for Christmas. Pandez has been called “the sexiest DJ in the world” by Maxim magazine, and she is as at home on the catwalk as she is behind the decks playing hip-hop and R ’n’ B.
■ B1, 45, Shifu Rd, Taipei City (台北市市府路45號B1), tel: (02)8101-8662. On the Net: www.spark101.com.tw
■ Tomorrow from 10:30pm to 4:30am
■ Entrance is NT$1,000, which includes two drinks
— Marcus Aurelius
For deep house music, head to In House tomorrow night for the venue’s specialty sound brought to you by Nina and David S.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). On the Net: www.inhouse19.com
■ DJs play from 10pm to 3am
■ Admission is free
— Queen Bee
Listeners got their first taste of Eve (Eve Jihan Jeffers) on The Root’s breakout single You Got Me, even though many people thought it was Eryka Badu rapping because Badu was in the video. Soon after, she became the first lady of the hard-core rap group Ruff Ryders. Eve went on to score a platinum album (Scorpion) and win three Grammys and is building an acting career. She headlines at Luxy’s New Year’s Eve Casino Royale party. While getting Eve makes headlines for Luxy, the club isn’t just relying on star power. The party features four rooms of music with lots of local deejays getting the chance to shine on the biggest night of the year. In The Loft, Saucey returns to recreate Citrus with old pals Xuan and Hooker and new friends Cookie and Mr Uppity. In the Pulse room, rechristened the Electronic Ballroom for this night, DJs Ray Ray and Doris, Bigg’z, Reaz:on, Deeplay and Genetically Modified Beats will keep the electro sounds pounding all night long. Luxy has made an extra room that will feature drum and bass with Mixter-T, Chin, Lai, Rich, Robi Roka and MC Stoppa. And that’s not all. Blackjack and other casino games will be rolled out for the party. Winners will be able to redeem chips for drinks.
■ 5F, 201, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段201號5樓). Call (02) 2772-1000 or 0955-904-600 for reservations (English service available). On the Net: www.luxy-taipei.com.
■ Dec. 31 from 9pm to 4am
■ Advance tickets (available until tomorrow) are NT$1,000 and can be picked up at Luxy. Tickets at the door are NT$1,200 before 11pm and NT$1,500 after. All tickets include open bar until midnight. Arrive early if you don’t have a ticket
Frog in a Sock has held four very successful New Year’s parties at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel’s (王朝大酒店) penthouse suite, but this year, the group decided to upgrade. Angus Yeates, part of Frog in a Sock, said, “Due to growth we have changed to a bigger venue inside the Taipei Country Club. New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest nights of the year so why go to a place you can go to every other week?” The DJ lineup includes Yoshi, miniJay, Mike Lambert, Jerry Aseret, Charles, Lucy and Marcus Aurelius.
■ Taipei Country Club (台北鄉村俱樂部), 1 Qingyun St, Taipei City (台北市青雲街1號), tel: 0988-421-990. On the Net: www.taipeicountry.com.tw
■ Dec. 31 from 9pm to 4am
■ Advance tickets are NT$800, available at both Toasteria Zhongxiao (吐司利亞), 2, Ln 248, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段248巷2號) and Toasteria Shida, 1, Alley 72, Yunhe St (地址:台北市雲和街72巷1號). Admission is $1,000 at the door
— Marcus Aurelius
At the Taiwanfest in Toronto earlier this year, Go Chic met up with LEO37 (Leo Shia) and they hit it off. LEO37 spends half the year in Taiwan and he’s back and putting on A Good Fu@#ing NYE Party at The Source with Go Chic and DJs Sonia and H2SO4.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號)
■ Dec. 31 from 10pm to 6am
■ Entrance is NT$300 before 11pm and NT$500 after. Both prices include two drinks— Marcus Aurelius
ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES
Spend Christmas checking out hot wheels and hotter booth babes at the 2011 Taipei Automobile Show (台北新車大展). Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and other manufacturers will show off their latest models at the Taipei World Trade Center (台北世界貿易中心).
■ Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1, 3 Songlian Rd, Taipei City (台北市松廉路3號). On the Net: www.top-link.com.tw/web
■ Today through Monday from 10am to 6pm
■ Entrance is NT$200
— Catherine Shu
Left your holiday shopping until the last minute or want to indulge yourself? Then head along to Huashan 1914 Creative Park’s Christmas Gift Party, which is billing itself as “Taipei City’s largest Christmas and New Years gift market.”
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號). On the Net: www.huashan1914.com
■ Daily from 1pm to 8pm. Until Jan. 2
■ Entrance is free
— Catherine Shu
Get rid of stress with a massage at the spacious Six Star Villa Spa (六星集), which is open 24 hours a day, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. A 10-minute foot and shoulder massage costs NT$200, while a 100-minute foot and body massage is NT$1,600.
■ Six Star Villa Spa, 76, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市南京東路五段76號). For more locations, visit footmassage.web66.com.tw
■ Open 24 hours a day
■ Massages range in price from NT$200 to NT$1,600
— Catherine Shu
The Kang Ching Lung Travelers’ Winter Life Festival (康青龍冬至旅人生活節) is a series of events in the areas surrounding Yongkang Street and Shida Street that introduce the neighborhoods’ history and culture. For the Christmas weekend, there is a guided walking tour of Yongkang Street (永康街), Qingtian Street (青田街) and Longquan Street (龍泉街) that takes in interesting shops, art galleries and bookstores. There are also tea-appreciation workshops and guided tours of the Formosa Vintage Museum Cafe, which stocks a large collection of antiques and curios. The festival ends with a jazz concert at Blue Note on New Year’s Eve.
■ Venues include Traveler Tea Cafe (旅人茶房), 10, Ln 80 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路80巷10號), Hui Liu (回留), 9, Ln 31 Yongkang St, Taipei City (台北市永康街31巷9號), Formosa Vintage Museum Cafe (秋惠文庫), 3F, 178, Xinyi Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市信義路二段178號3樓), Yeh Tang (冶堂), 20-2, Ln 31 Yongkang St, Taipei City (台北市永康街31巷20-2號) and Blue Note (藍調) 4F, 171, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段171號4樓)
■ For more information, visit www.tteacafe.tw/?cat=68
■ All the festival’s activities are free. Call (02) 8369-2963 to make reservations
— Ho Yi
FILM
In89 Digital Cinema’s Three Pictures X’mas Party (3P聖誕All夜) includes late night screenings of three Hong Kong independent films in a row. The titles are Innocent (只愛陌生人), End of Love (愛到盡) and The People I’ve Slept With (姣妹日記).
■ In89 Digital Cinema, 89, Wuchang St, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段89號). On the Net: www.in89.com.tw
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 12:30am
■ Tickets are NT$499 and available online at www.in89.com.tw
— Catherine Shu
Frederick Wiseman’s 2009 film La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet (舞動芭黎) will be shown twice nightly from tonight until Jan. 7 at the Wonderful Theater (真善美戲院) and Blossom Digital Cinema (梅花數位影院). The film follows the productions of seven ballets at the famed Opera House in Paris, giving viewers an inside look at the dancers, the choreographers, the rehearsals and performances, as well as the costumers and other backstage crew members. Among the ballets included are those by modern-dance choreographers Wayne McGregor and Emmanuel Gat, who both have appeared in Taipei as part of the Novel Hall Dance series and Angelin Preljocaj, whose company has appeared at the National Theater. The film is in French, with Chinese and English subtitles.
■ Wonderful Cinema (真善美戲院), 7F, 116, Hanzhong St, Taipei (台北市漢中街116號7樓) and at the Blossom Digital Cinema (梅花數位影院), 3F, 63, Heping E. Rd, Sec. 3, Taipei (台北市和平東路三段63號2樓)
■ Two showings daily at 6pm and at midnight from tonight to Jan. 7
■ Tickets are NT$270, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw or at cinema box office— Diane Baker
The Norwegian film Home for Christmas (Hmen til jul) will be shown twice nightly from tonight until Jan. 7 at the Ambassador Theatre (國賓影城) Spring Center (長春廣場). The movie by Bent Hamer is based on the short story collection Only Soft Presents Under the Tree by Levi Henriksen. The movie is a modern updating of The Christmas Carol set in the fictional town of Skogli and tells the stories of several characters whose lives intersect around Christmas. In Norwegian, with Chinese subtitles.
■ At 6pm and midnight from tonight to Jan. 7
■ The Ambassador Theatre (國賓影城) at Spring Center (長春廣場), 176 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路176號
■ Tickets are NT$270, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw or at the cinema box office
— Diane Baker
THEATHER AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE
The National Theater Concert Hall’s Christmas Concert tonight and tomorrow at the National Concert Hall is Cole Porter’s 1932 classic Anything Goes. Brook Hall directs Jeremy Benton, eVonne Hsu (許慧欣), Mandy Gaines, Chen Chia-kuei (陳家逵) and 33 others, complete with a tap-dancing chorus line. The show runs 2 hours and 20 minutes with intermission and is in English, with Chinese subtitles.
■ National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號).
■ 7:30pm tonight and tomorrow
■ Tickets from NT$800 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Diane Baker
The Party Theatre Group (同黨劇團) presents It, a performance piece about hidden emotions and fears directed by theater artists Beck Lim (林耀華), at Crown Theater (皇冠小劇場).
■ Crown Theater, 50, Ln 120, Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City (台北市敦化北路120巷50號). On the Net: www.wretch.cc
/blog/partytheatre
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Catherine Shu
Children will enjoy a Christmas outing to One More Day With You (走向春天的下午), a musical fantasy based on books by popular illustrator and writer Jimmy Liao (幾米) that opens tonight at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914). Directed by Golden Melody Award-winner Liu Chi-ling (劉季陵), the show mixes singing, dancing and circus tricks.
■ Plum Wine Factory (烏梅酒廠), Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號). On the Net: www.huashan1914.com
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 10:30am and 7:30pm, Sunday at 10:30am, 2:30pm and 5:30pm. The show runs through Feb. 28.
■ Tickets are NT$600, available online at www.artsticket.com.tw or by calling Huashan 1914 Creative Park at (02) 2358-1914 X532
— Catherine Shu
Dance Works’ (舞工廠舞團) Daydreamer (異響) will be performed tomorrow night at the Hsinchu Municipal Auditorium (新竹市文化局演藝廳). The show combines the worlds of tap dancing and new media technologies. With the help of LED-enchanced costumes and laser-diode tap shoes, the dancers, musicians and tech team — including percussion musician Wu Cheng-chun (吳政君) and multimedia artist Shih Wei-chieh (施惟捷) — produce an explosion of color and sound.
■ Tomorrow night at 7:30pm
■ Hsinchu Municipal Auditorium (新竹市文化局演藝廳), 17 Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
■ NT$300 and 600; available through Hi-Life (萊爾富) Life-ET and 7-Eleven ibon kiosks and NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw— Diane Baker
Famed octegenarian Lee Tsai-er (李彩娥) has a retrospective of her life and work and that of her teacher, the famed Japanese master Baku Ishii, on Sunday at Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chih-teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂). After Lee returned to Taiwan, she began to meld Western ballet with Taiwanese folk dancing and modern dance, as well as founding a dance dynasty of her own. The Desert Dance Company of Poets Ishii (華麗經典日本現代舞先驅—舞踊詩人石井漠) presents Desert Classic (石井漠).
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chih-teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd , Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ NT$150 to NT$400; available online at www.artsticket.com.tw
— Diane Baker
CHURCH
Attend Christmas mass at the Holy Family Catholic Church (大安聖家堂). The church’s English-language mass is at 10am on Christmas Day.
■ Holy Family Catholic Church at 50, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市新生南路二段50號). On the Net: www facebook.com/pages
/da-an-sheng-jia-tang
■ English-language Christmas mass is at 10am
■ Admission is free
DINNING
The Tavern has a Christmas dinner buffet available tonight and tomorrow, along with live music from a local cover band. Reservations are recommended for the sports bar’s New Year’s Eve buffet, which includes US prime rib, grilled salmon and pork tenderloin with creamy eggplant and tomato sauce.
■ 415, Xinyi Rd, Sec 4, Taipei (台北市信義路四段415號), tel: (02) 8789 0892. On the Net: www.tavern.com.tw
■ NT$900 for Christmas buffet and NT$1,000 for New Year eve’s buffet. Reservations recommended
— David Chen
Hotel Eclat, known for its eclectic decor, will host Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners at its restaurant Ming Yuen (明園). Enjoy Cantonese cuisine while surrounded by the hotel’s collection of contemporary Chinese art. For a more traditional Christmas meal, check out Eclat Lounge. Call (02) 2784-8338 (Ming Yuen) or (02) 2754-8011 (Eclat Lounge) for reservations.
■ Hotel Eclat, 370, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路370號). On the Net: www.eclathotels.com/taipei
■ Ming Yuen is open for dinner from 5:30pm to 11:30pm (kitchen closes at 9:30pm); Eclat Lounge’s dinner is from 7pm to 9pm. The Christmas promotion is tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
■ Ming Yuen and Eclat Lounge’s Christmas set menus are NT$1,980 per person with a 10 percent service charge, Ming Yuen’s New Years Eve menu is NT$1,800 per person with 10 percent service charge
— Catherine Shu
Yvan Rodic, the photographer behind popular street style blog Facehunter, will sign copies of his new book at VVG Something (好樣本事) tonight. Wear your favorite outfit and — who knows? — you might be featured on his Web site.
■ VVG Something, 13, Alley 40, Ln 181, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段181巷40弄13號). On the Net: vvgvvg.blogspot.com and facehunter.blogspot.com
■ Tonight at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$1,200 (includes a copy of Face Hunter — The Book, drinks and dessert) or NT$350 without the book — Catherine Shu
EXHIBITIONS
Lose yourself in How to Own a Corner (幾米世界的角落特展), a maze-like installation that is also based on the works of Jimmy Liao (幾米) at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914).
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), East Second Hall (東二館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號). On the Net: www.huashan1914.com
■ Open daily from 10am to 10pm. Until March 27
■ Entrance is NT$250 per person, NT$450 for two and NT$880 for four. Tickets are available online at www.tickets.books.com.tw
— Catherine Shu
The Little, Little Eyes (一閃一閃小眼睛) exhibit at Ecole Cafe (學校咖啡館) features photographs taken by schoolchildren in Hualien and Okinawa.
■ Ecole Cafe, 6, Ln 1, Qingtian St, Taipei City (台北市青田街1巷6號). On the Net: ecole-cafe.blogspot.com
■ Exhibit runs through Jan. 2. Cafe opening hours are 1pm to 11pm, closes at 1am on Saturdays
■ Entrance is free
— Catherine Shu
Memory Funlab @ Taipei 2010 is a quirky exhibition showing the work of interior designers, architects, illustrators and photographers, among various artists, whose creations are loosely on the theme of “memories of Taipei.” Exhibits include a life-sized onion made of wood, vintage video games featuring the images of prominent Taiwanese politicians and street photography by TC Lin (林道明). The exhibition runs until Jan. 2 and is being held at a restored three-story house in the heart of Dihua Street (迪化街).
■ 127, Dihua St Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市迪化街一段127號). On the Net: www.tientiencircle.org
■ Open Sundays through Fridays from 10am to 5pm. Closed on Jan. 1 and ends Jan. 2
■ Admission is free
— David Chen
Artist and fashion designer Huang Li-ting (黃莉婷) explores the sculptural possibilities of paper by knitting, molding and weaving the material into wall-hangings, clothing and jewelry in her exhibit Archi-te(x)ture at Suho Paper Museum (樹火紀念紙博物館).
■ Suho Paper Museum at 68, Changan E Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市長安東路二段68號). On the Net: www.suhopaper.org.tw/architexture
■ Runs through Dec. 31. The museum is open Mondays to Saturdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm
■ General admission is NT$100
— Catherine Shu
SHORT BREAKS
Celebrate the festive season 2,000m above sea level in Lishan (梨山). The lighting of the Christmas tree at Lishan Guesthouse (梨山賓館), billed as the country’s tallest, takes place on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, performers from the Atayal Aboriginal tribe will sing their own renditions of Christmas carols and hand out gifts.
■ Lishan Visitor Center (梨山遊客中心), 95 Jhongjheng Rd, Lishan Village, Heping Township, Taichung County (台中縣和平鄉梨山村中正路95號), tel: (04) 2331-2678 X130
■ On the Net: www.trimt-nsa.gov.tw
— Ho Yi
Enjoy a romantic night for two at RSL Hot & Cold Spring Hotel (瓏山林蘇澳冷熱泉渡假飯店) in Suao Township, Yilan County. The resort’s anniversary celebration special includes a one-night stay, breakfast, dinner and a bottle of sparkling wine. New Year’s Eve revelers will be treated to blackjack, tarot card readings and fireworks.
■ RSL Hot & Cold Spring Hotel, 301 Jhongyuan Rd, Suao Township, Ilan County (宜蘭縣蘇澳鎮中原路301號). On the Net: www.rslhotel.com
■ The anniversary celebration package runs until June 30. RSL’s New Year’s Eve celebration starts at 8pm
■ The anniversary celebration package’s weekday rate (Sunday to Thursday) is NT$10,999 and the weekend rate is NT$13,999. Regular weekday rates for Japanese-style room start at NT$6,800
— Catherine Shu
Book a family holiday getaway to Evergreen Resort Hotel in Jiaosi (長榮鳳凰酒店礁溪) and enjoy nearby attractions like the Snow Mountain Range (雪山山脈) and hot springs. Holiday activities at the hotel include storytelling evenings for children and New Year’s sunrise watching on the rooftop.
■ Evergreen Resort Hotel in Jiaosi, 77 Jiankang Rd, Jiaosi Township, Yilan County (宜蘭縣礁溪鄉健康路77號).
On the Net: www.evergreen-hotels.com/branch/Jiaosi
■ Christmas activities run through Jan. 1. New Year’s sunrise watching starts at 6am
■ Rates start from NT$8,400 for a room with a double bed
— Catherine Shu
Go camping and enjoy breathtaking views and fresh air at Fushoushan Farm (福壽山農場) in Taichung County. Recommended activities for New Year’s Eve include sunrise watching.
■ Fushou Shan Farm, 29, Fushou Rd, Heping Township, Taichung County (台中縣和平鄉梨山村福壽路29號). On the Net: www.fushoushan.com.tw
■ Rooms start at NT$2,090
— Catherine Shu
Watch the first sunrise of 2011 on Orchid Island (蘭嶼). Festivities start the night before with a concert. Headliners include singers Pau-dull (陳建年) and Tai Li-wei (戴立威) and violinist Annie Lin (林宜融).
■ Taitung Dong-chin Elementary School, 1 Dongcing Village, Lanyu Township, Taitung County (台東縣蘭嶼鄉東清村一號). On the Net: lanyutaitung.blogspot.com
■ Concert starts at 7pm. Sunrise watching activities start at 6am
■ Entrance is free
— Catherine Shu
Watch the new year’s first sunrise from yet another perspective at Kenting National Park’s (墾丁國家公園) Guanshan sunset scenic spot (關山夕照景點). Bid good-bye to 2010 with a party in front of the archway entrance to Kenting National Forest Recreation Area (墾丁國家森林遊樂區).
■ Kenting National Forest Recreation Area entrance, 201, Gongyuan Rd, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County (屏東縣恆春鎮公園路201號). On the Net: www.ktnp.gov.tw
■ The party in front of the archway entrance starts at 8:30pm on Dec. 31
■ Entrance to the recreation area is NT$100
— Catherine Shu
Nantou County’s Cingjing Farm (清境農場) will host a New Year’s Eve party with a fireworks show, music performances and a celebration to mark the 100th founding of the Republic of China.
■ Cingjing Farm, 170, Renhe Rd, Tatong Village, Renai Township, Nantou County (南投縣仁愛鄉大同村仁和路170號). On the Net: www.cingjing.gov.tw
■ The New Year’s Eve party starts at 7:30pm
■ Entrance to the farm is NT$100
— Catherine Shu
GOVERNMENT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENTS
Kaohsiung City is giving Christmas celebrations a nostalgic twist with a concert of Mandarin folk oldies, known as minge (民歌), performed by artists including Lee Chien-fu (李建復), Tseng Shu-chin (曾淑勤) and Waa Wei (魏如萱, better known as Wawa, 娃娃). The event takes place at the plaza near the Dream Mall (夢時代廣場). Not to be outdone by Taipei, Kaohsiung City is planning a 199-second fireworks spectacle to welcome in 2011. Some 18,000 rounds of kaleidoscopic explosions will light up the sky while a legion of pop stars and entertainers including Mark Chao (趙又廷), Ethan Ruan (阮經天) and Tiger Huang (黃小琥) will welcome the New Year at the countdown party. The activities run from 7:30pm to 1:30am, but the party continues until 3am with performances by Crowd Lu (盧廣仲), rock outfit Tizzy Bac, Matzka, Totem (圖騰) as well as hip-hop acts Tripoets (參劈) and MJ116 (頑童). The New Year Eve’s party takes place on the boulevard near the Dream Mall.
■ Dream Mall (夢時代廣場), 789, Jhonghua 5th Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市中華五路789號). On the net: ks2010.streetvoice.com
■ From 7pm to 9:30pm
■ Admission is free
— Ho Yi
Television personality Hu Gua (胡瓜) will host Taoyuan County’s official New Years Eve celebration at Taoyuan Multipurpose Culture Park (桃園縣多功能藝文園區). Headliners at the event include Wu Bai (伍佰) and Alan Luo (羅志祥).
■ Taoyuan Multipurpose Culture Park, the corner of Jhongjheng Road (中正路) and Tongde 6th Road (同德六街). On the Net: www.tycg.gov.tw
■ Party starts at 7pm on Dec. 31
■ Entrance is free
— Catherine Shu
Television personalities Nono and Makiyo host Tainan City’s official New Year’s Eve party at the Tainan City government building’s western plaza (台南市政府西側廣場). Guests include Van Fan (范逸臣) and Joseph Cheng (鄭元暢).
■ Tainan City government building, 6 Yonghua Rd Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市永華路二段6號). On the Net: www.tncg.gov.tw
■ Concert starts at 7pm
■ Entrance is free
— Catherine Shu
Taichung City’s official celebration at the National Taiwan College of Physical Education (國立台灣體育大學體育館) features fireworks and appearances by Eddie Peng (彭于晏) and Aska Yang (楊宗緯), among other acts.
■ National Taiwan College of Physical Education, 16 Shuangshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市雙十路一段16號). On the Net: azio.im.tv
■ Party starts at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is free
— Catherine Shu
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