We are happy to report that her album Don’t Explain is held is such high regard that it was recently nominated for a South African Music Award (SAMA) in the “Best Contemporary Jazz Album” category.

Said an ecstatic Brigitte: “I am thrilled and honoured to have been nominated in this prestigious event. Thank you All for your support.”

We’re thrilled at your achievement too Brigitte and wish you well.

Just in case you forgot, here’s Brigitte performing on RTHK:

Ricado and a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) colleague were in transit to Sanya on the Chinese island/Province of Hainan where South Africa was to attend their first meeting of the BRIC (now BRICS) countries.  BRICS is now made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and now also South Africa.

The government officials were obviously tired after the long flight from the Kolonie and departed for their hotel rooms after watching the rugby with me at the Canny Man in WanChai.

Leaving WanChai at 1am is NOT in my nature so I made for Carnegie’s next door.

This is some of what went down on the night/early morning:

(stock picture below by JohnChow.com)

Carnegie’s WanChai

From Hip Hong Kong:

Since 1994, Carnegies has been one of the most popular hangouts in Wanchai. This American style pub is exactly the kind of place you would hang out in if you were in a fraternity or sorority at Uni. Carnegies has cozy unpretentious atmosphere with framed photos, music posters and rock and roll memorabilia covering the walls.

Address:

G/F, 53-55 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Her website recently announced:

An overwhelming amount of fans submitted suggestions to www.janetjackson.com to select the first announced site of her new tour.

The winning city is Hong Kong.

This is how she did it:

Janet Jackson “Number Ones, Live in Hong Kong”

Valentines Day: Monday, 14 Feb 2011 at 8pm

HKCEC – Hall 5BC (Expo Drive Entrance)

Tickets: $1480, $1080, $880, $580, $480

Tickets available for HKTicketing

Mine is BullDogs Bar & Grill in the Tsim Sha Tsui East alfresco dining area next to the Kowloon Shangrila Hotel.

Not only is it within walking distance of our apartment in Hung Hom, but I’ve come to know the staff over the past few years, so much so that the barman pours my drink as I walk into the place! (don’t tell me Mom!)

We joined the hundreds of party-goers who crammed into BullDogs, La Villa, McLovin’s Tavern and Wooloomooloo on the strip to usher in 2011.

Needless to say… a great time was had by all!

Here are some more images from last night:

Meanwhile, over the world-famous Hong Kong (Central) skyline, this is what happened:

Click here to see how to get to the TST East alfresco dining strip.

As we prepare to celebrate our second birthday as a Blog, we would like to wish all of our readers a:

Very Happy New Year!

May the best of 2010 be the worst of 2011 and may you and yours have a fantastic 2011!

Tonight we usher in the new year with yet another grand fire-works display over Victoria Harbour (outside my window).

We have posted so many pictures from previous displays so here is a video-clip we found on You-Tube of last year’s celebrations:

From me to you, 新年快乐, Let’s make 2011: The Perfect Year…

Hong Kong Disneyland (Chinese: 香港迪士尼樂園) is the first theme park inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort that also includes 2 hotels and vast public parks.

Hong Kong Disneyland is located on reclaimed land in Penny’s Bay, Lantau Island and opened to visitors on 12 September 2005.

With the daily fireworks show lasting around 10 minutes each, imagine the money that gets spent by die company on a yearly basis?!

Upon making the list, I noticed that February-March 2011 will be quite a hectic period on this side of the noodle-curtain.

This is only the Feb-March part of my list:

Eric Clapton Live, AsiaWorld Arena February 18, 2011

Taylor Swift Live, AsiaWorld Arena February 21, 2011

Elvis Costello, Cultural Centre, TST March 5, 2011

Marianne Faithfull, Cultural Centre, TST March 7-8, 2011

Michael Buble Live, HKCEC, Wan Chai, March 11, 2011

The Eagles Live, HKCEC,March 18, 2011

Slash Live, HITEC, Kowloon Bay, March 22, 2011

HK Sevens/Rugby Week March 25-27, 2011

As Seth Rotherham likes to say: Hectique!

Eric Clapton will perform live in HK on Friday February 18, 2011

The band – Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit – will perform songs from their most recent No.1 album, Long Road Out of Eden, as well as classic hits such as Hotel California, Desperado, Take It Easy, One of These Nights, Heartache Tonight and Take It To The Limit. Fans will also be treated to solo hits from band members such as Boys Of Summer, Life In The Fast Lane and Dirty Laundry.

The Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, earning five #1 U.S. singles and six GRAMMY® Awards. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is the best-selling album of all time, exceeding sales of 29 million units. The band’s Hotel California and Their Greatest Hits Volume 2 have sold more than 16 and 11 million albums respectively. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Eagles last performed in Hong Kong in 2004.

Venue: Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre – Hall 5BC

Date: Friday 18 March 2011

It’s taking place a week before The Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens so get your tickets now.

Wednesday December 8 see the Happy Valley racecourse hosting the 2010 Cathay Pacific International Jockeys’ Championship while the world-famous Cathay Pacific International Races takes place at the Shatin course on Sunday December 12.

Wednesday also see the Southern African Association of Hong Kong (SAAHK) holding their Imbizo (social get together) at the Happy Valley racecourse.  With all the excitement of the big racing event that evening, the final Imbizo for 2010 should be a enjoyable one.

Bruce Fowler would like to remind those who are thinking of attending that they will be meeting close to the fence, inside the public enclosure forecourt. Walk past McDonalds on your left, past the beer tent on your right. Please look out for the group at the railing. Call Bruce’s mobile 9418-9758 if you cannot find them.

Meanwhile, if your join the 2010 Cathay Pacific International Jockeys’ Championship FaceBook page, you can come away with free pint nogal!

See you at the Races!

We use the title “former Capetonian” with the utmost of care because we are so well aware of the Cape Town saying:

“You can take the Capetonian out of Cape Town… but you can never take Cape Town out of the Capetonian.”

As an expat for some 10 years, experience speaks for itself.

Brigitte recently released her debut album titled Don’t Explain right here in Hong Kong and it has since also been released back home in South Africa.

While Howzit-HongKong.com has been actively supporting South African bands, musicians and artists resident here in the SAR, Brigitte Mitchell has captured our special support as she has managed to transcend the industry obstacles and released her debut album on a scale not yet seen in the South African musicians’ community locally.  For this we salute Brigitte as well as Gary Da Silva from Silva Records.

The Sunday Morning Post on Sunday November 28, 2010 featured the following review in their Blue Notes feature: