Chen Sa joins celebrations

Hong Kong's Philharmonic celebrates 40 years in the city at their historic home in the Hong Kong City Hall. Chen Sa returns to perform with former music director David Atherton in a very special birthday composition, which will reflect four decades of Hong Kong's orchestral masters.

8 pm, Jan 10-11. HK$160-480. Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall. 852-2721-2332. hkphil.org.

James Blunt one-night return rendezvous

The English singer-songwriter is starting 2014 with a tour of China to promote the release of his newest album Moon Landing. Blunt first shot to fame back in 2005 with his hit You're Beautiful and will be rounding out the last of five China gigs in Hong Kong after concerts in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Shenzhen.

8 pm, Jan 12. HK$580-980. AsiaWorld Expo Arena, Chek Lap Kok. 852-3128-8288. Jamesblunt.com.

Hong Kong art bomber's exhibit run ends

Local sculptor Kevin Fung is best known for art-bombing Exchange Square with tiny, faceless suit-and-tied characters in quixotic scenarios against wooden mountains, bronze webs and stone islands. It was his satirical take on the financial sector's past few years and his latest show, Hong Kong - Rumor City, comes to a close this week. Fung's vocation was originally engineering but he shifted toward, the more creative after studying woodwork with renowned sculptor Tong King-sum. His eye-catching, simplistic metaphors capture strained social interactions concisely in a sometimes lighthearted look at Hong Kong's natives.

11 am-7 pm, until Jan 7. Grotto Fine Art, 2/F, 31C-D, Wyndham Street, Central. 852-2121-2270.

-TIMO CHUI

Become a jewelry designer in a day

Community Center China invites creative types and businesspeople to sign up for this practical and fun jewelry making and Chinese knot-tying class at its Minhang branch. Equally useful for those looking for a fun hobby and budding entrepreneurs, this free seminar will show how to source and buy supplies at the cheapest cost in Shanghai while also providing opportunities to try jewelry designing and building in practice. It is also a great opportunity to become better acquainted with popular gems and semiprecious stones and metals. Teacher Samantha Lim is a celebrated designer whose works sell in Shanghai, Dalian and New York.

10-11:30 am, Jan 8. Community Center China, 360 Xingle Lu (Road), 2F, Huacao Town, Minhang district, Shanghai.

Dreamlike Japanese art

Yayoi Kusama's solo exhibition at MoCa Shanghai is running under the theme "A dream I dreamed." The Nagano native's first Asia tour is worth taking in as it incorporates both classic and more modern pieces from a woman who is considered one of the world's foremost contemporary artists. Kusama made her name working in a variety of media, from collages to performance art, and is known for her love of psychedelic colors, conceptual art and live "happenings", featuring painted naked bodies. She is said to have inspired Andy Warhol and has famously spent the latter part of her life in a psychiatric institution after admitting herself there.

10 am-6 pm (Sun-Thurs), 9 am-9 pm (Fri-Sat), until March 30. Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCa Shanghai), People's Park, 231 Nanjing Xilu (West Road). 021-6327-9900.

Standup comedians welcome

Ever watch Saturday Night Live and think to yourself: that could be me? Take the first baby steps to launching your career as a standup comedian or simply sit back and learn from others who have decided to take the plunge at this popular burger joint downtown on Thursday evenings. Those who participate in the workshops can also get cheap deals on food and beverages, with free flows of beer available all night for 50 yuan as well as free kegs for lucky winners.

7:30 pm, Thursdays. Cali Burger, 1788 Nanjing Xilu (West Road). curt@zmack.net.

-MATT HODGES

Winter artistic camps

The Latin American and Caribbean Center will host weeklong winter artistic camps for kids 5 to 8 years old, featuring a mix of cultural experiences taught by Spanish- and English-speaking teachers in an interactive way. From modern dance and painting to cooking yummies and preparing drama performances, the LAC promises its winter camp will provide hours of learning and laughs for kids. Register by Jan 10 at 010-5785-3051.

1-5 pm daily, Jan 13-20 and Jan 21-28. Latin American and Caribbean Center, 8 Gongti Lu (Road), Sanlitun Soho, Level B1, Beijing.

Burns' night

Want to show off your ability to recite the poetry of Scotland's icon Robert Burns? Fancy a taste of haggis? Or maybe you just want a jolly good night? The Beijing Caledonian Society invites you to an evening of dance, drinks, a dinner buffet and live music by the John Stewart Band from Scotland.

6:30 pm until late, Jan 25. 800 yuan. China World Hotel, 1 Jianwai Dajie (Street), Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-6505-2266.

Star Wars times three

Fans of the original sci-fi trilogy can gather with like minds for three Monday nights of Obi wisdom and light-sword waving with a big screen and free popcorn.

9 pm, Jan 6, 13, 20. Free. Dada, Unit 101, Bldg B, 206 Gulou Dongdajie (East Street), Dongcheng district, Beijing. 1831108-0818.

Cultural lectures

The Beijing International Society was established in 1981 by a group of foreigners who shared an interest in exploring and understanding China's rich and varied culture. The nonprofit organization is open to foreign passport holders only. BIS provides an opportunity for Beijing's foreign residents and visitors to hear about China from professionals, scholars and leaders on a wide range of subjects, including culture, history, fine arts, literature, religion, economics, science, archaeology, the environment and other compelling topics of the day. BIS organizes two to three lectures per month on Thursdays, beginning at 7:30 pm, at various embassies. David Mahon, publisher of China Watch, kicks off the new year on Jan 16. See www.beijinginternationalsociety.com for program details and updates.

-MIKE PETERS

(China Daily 01/05/2014 page5)