Is the enigmatic subculture of hipsterdom past prime? A valid query, surely, when the likes of Forbes see fit to run manipulative, search-engine-happy, multi-page articles on the most hipster-dense places in America (hint: Portland and Austin made the cut). But such is the nature of a cross-cultural juggernaut (virus?) like hipsterism, which lives on with … More

It’s rare that architecture’s top prize generates a lot of controversy but, by the same token, it’s also rare that the prize generates the kind of joyful unanimity of opinion that sprang out of Toyo Ito’s win last week. The Tokyo-based architect has left innovative imprints all over Japan since the late 1970s and, slowly … More

In the food and drink department, Japan comes correct. No other country gets so niche when it comes to specific types of bars and restaurants. In a lot of other places you go for grub at one spot and go for drinks at another. Not so in the colossal capital of Japan, where the izakaya … More

Our contenders for top global festival month were, at one point in time and for a variety of reasons, July, December and February. But then, in conducting research for this post, we started to dig up some choice events in the month of March. Turns out the third month of the year is a pretty … More

Saint Valentine, or, as his mates called him, Valentinus, expired way back in the year 269 (ish) but we’re willing to bet he would’ve given these spectacularly romantic and splurge-worthy restaurants in Asia Pacific a hefty stamp of approval. Because word has it ol’ Val seldom saw a prix fixe menu he didn’t like. Now … More

Other than at the height of the Mughal Empire perhaps, there has never been a better time to party in Asia. From Makati to Mumbai, nightclubs are swankier and more sophisticated than ever and are starting to approach, if not eclipse, counterparts in the likes of New York City, Miami and London. With that, here … More