Altira

Avenida de Kwong Tung, Taipa, Macau
+853 2886 8888

Along with the opening of crown Towers hotel at the city of Dreams, the orginal crown Macau has rebranded itself as the altira, but will continue to serve high-roller guests with highly personalised services and facilities, including the award-winning altira spa, Michelin-starred restaurant Ying, as well as the infinity edge swimming pool which was listed as one of the 10 best hotel swimming pools in the world by uS magazine Forbes Traveler.

City of Dreams

Likely to be the only large-scale integrated entertainment complex opening in the next two to three years, city of Dreams is undoubtedly the main focus of visitors this summer. The first phase comprises the contemporary crown Towers Hotel, the fun and edgy Hard Rock Hotel, 85,000 square feet of retail space operated by DFS, and more than 20 food and beverage venues. and don’t miss the 10-minute multimedia production Dragon’s Treasure showcased in The Bubble, a dome-shaped theatre which provides a 360-degree visual extravaganza.

Fashion Headlines

Omega

Shop 2003A, The Shoppes at The Venetian Macau
+853 2882 8588
www.omegawatches.com

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first manned lunar landing, Omega has launched the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch apollo 11 “40th anniversary” Limited Edition watches. Powered by Omega’s calibre 1861, each watch displays the legend “02:56 GMT” – the exact time that neil armstrong took his first “small step” onto the moon – with an Eagle mission patch stamped on the case back along with “July21,1969”. available in stainless steel and sterling silver (7,969 pieces) and platinum and 18-carat yellow gold (69 pieces, only available in new York), bagging a Moonwatch looks set to be “a mission” for collectors.

Bulgari

Shop 3, Wynn Macau
+853 2875 8986
www.bulgari.com

Popular at 1950s and ’60s american high society parties, the cocktail ring was a showy piece set with large coloured stones and worn to kill. Paying tribute to the good old days, Bulgari’s new Parentesi cocktail collection features striking cocktail rings set with a 20mm coloured gem. For a more low-key look, choose from pendants and necklaces, plus earrings and bracelets from the same collection.

David Yurman

Shop 2801, The Shoppes at Four Seasons
+853 2899 9901
www.davidyurman.com

Jewellery brand David Yurman utilises its signature sterling silver and 18-carat gold adornments, diamonds and gemstones such as onyx, topaz, amethyst and citrine for its first eyewear collection. The choice of supermodel Kate Moss, the Waverly Sunglasses are surely a luxury treat this summer.

Showcase holiday spirit

Summer time is vacation time!

1. Agnès b. Panama Classic Straw Hat MOP890 Shop2615, The Grand Canal Shoppes, The Venetian Macao

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Multi Strand Necklace MOP2,390 Shop2831, The Shoppes at Four Seasons

3. Louis Vuitton Monogram Suitcase MOP29,500 Shop3&4, Mandarin Oriental Macau

4.Tod’s Chambery Wedge Sandals MOP3,100 Shop2510, The Grand Canal Shoppes, The Venetian Macao

5. Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Nappa Belt MOP4,550 Shop2845, The Shoppes at Four Seasons

6. Ermenegildo Zegna Men’s Sunglasses MOP4,200 Shop17, Wynn Macau

food & Drink

Local Flavour

Excellent home-style Portuguese fare that’s dished up at even better prices

By Rebecca Lo, Translation by Peng Hsiao-fen

True to its reputation, Taipa’s Rua de cunha – more lovingly known as food street – is home to a rabbit warren of unpretentious restaurants where great eats are the main attraction. a Wednesday night vsiit to one of these, a Petisqueira, reveals a surprising number of checkered cloth-covered tables occupied by local Portuguese and chinese patrons. a recommendation by the Michelin Guide may have helped put the restaurant on the Taipa map, but the warm and kitschy atmosphere still remains – adding to the charm of this popular neighbourhood hangout. More importantly, the accolade has not adversely affected a Petisqueira’s prices; a quick glance at the menu indicates that everything is refreshingly affordable.

The complimentary crusty rolls served warm with melting butter were more than enough carbs for one evening, and an ideal accompaniment for an appetiser of roasted chorizo – a must here. The Portuguese sausage was savoury, with a slightly crisp finish. Off to a good start, the mixed salad and fish soup were up next. The greens were doused with just enough olive oil and fragrant vinegar to prevent them from being boring; its crunch formed the perfect complement to the creamy soup with its bite-size chunks of cod.

Mains were garlic prawns and grilled sea bream, highly recommended for sharing by the waitress. The prawns were finger-lickingly good. Tiny red chillis provided a comfortable heat to offset the richness of the sauce, which was greedily mopped up with the remaining bread. Firm and flaky on the inside, the sea bream’s skin added a nice contrast to the fish, though overall it was a little bony. With fruity sangria to sip, the evening ended on a sweet note with fresh pineapple in a port sauce. Home cooking couldn’t be better.

The Bill

Roasted chorizo 38
Mixed salad (large) 60
Fish soup 32
Garlic prawns 85
Grilled sea bream 98
Pineapple with port 35
Total 348

Rating: #####

A Petisqueira: Rua S. Joao, 15 C/D, Taipa, Macau
Reservations: +853 2882 5354

Macau interview

Artist Gigi Lee Yee-kee talks about her entry for this year’s 53rd Venice Biennale

By Rebecca Lo, Translation by Peng Hsiao-fen

What inspired you to create Timeless Tunnel?

I was a naughty kid. i loved playing at Guia Hill and climbing to the top despite my parents’ warnings. There’s an air raid shelter there and its tunnel was kind of scary but also compelling. There’s the sense that it’s a never-ending trap. When i was in Taiwan, i came across similar tunnels on an outlying island and decided to make a film about it. it has a lot of memories for me.

How does it represent Macau at the Venice Biennale?

I think it matches the theme of divergence well. it’s about not going forward or backward, which is kind of like what’s happening in Macau today. at the same time, it’s endlessly repeating cycles. The film gives a very strong impression of this sense of contradiction and being lost. i want people to see themselves as actually being inside the tunnel with the mirror, to feel what i felt.

What was your reaction at being selected?

I was thrilled – this is the most prestigious international exhibition i have ever shown at. i shot the footage about three years ago and the idea was in my head for a long time. Since i have a full-time job, i worked on it a bit and then set it aside. When this competition came up, it gave me the push to finally get the film completed.

Why art?

I’ve loved art ever since i was a kid. One of my uncles is a painter and art was all around me when i was growing up. That was why i studied art. When i first started working, there were no commercial galleries in Macau. So my day job is what i live on and my art is purely for enjoyment.

Who inspires you?

I admire the work of John Osler and Mark Rothko. i also love avant-garde films.

Profile

Gigi Lee Yee-kee:

Born and raised in Macau, Lee works at St Paul’s Fine Art gallery during the day. Along with Bonnie Leong Mou-cheng, Kitty Leong Mou-kit and Joao O Bruno Soares, Lee’s haunting black and white film Timeless Tunnel has been selected to represent Macau and exhibit in the Venice Biennale from 7 June to 22 November 2009, following an exhibition at the Macau Museum of Art until 21 June.