10 Of The Most Exclusive Private Members’ Clubs In Hong Kong

Posted on May 24, 2019 by unionclub

Because you’re not really one of the “who’s who” in Hong Kong unless you’re a member of a private club. In no particular order, here are 10 clubs in the city where membership is the most coveted:

1/10: The American Club

You don’t have to be American to join this club, but it sure does help. Think burgers and apple pie, Thanksgiving and sports bars–whatever it is you’re missing from the good ol’ US of A, you’ll find it at the club’s two locations.

The Town Club, right in the heart of Central, is the perfect place to indulge in some adult time with top-class restaurants and a fitness centre, while the country club in Tai Tam has something for everyone including a spa, swimming pool, basketball court, tennis and squash courts.

The American connection: The club prides itself on its close relationship with other American organisations such as the American Chamber of Commerce, American Women’s Associationand the United States Consulate General.

Wine and dine: The Town Club boasts five venues including elegant restaurant The Clipper, a steakhouse and a sports bar. Private dining rooms are also available on request. The Country Club offers relaxed venues including a café, wine bar, terrace dining and a poolside grill.

For the family: Make use of the sports bar with family zone and den at the Town Club or the “Eagle’s Nest” at the Country Club, a 10,000 square-foot play space. The Country Club is also home to Chill & Joe’s teen hangout with big screen TVs, game systems, pool tables and more. There are also plenty of family events including an Independence Day picnic, Superbowl breakfast and Halloween haunted house to name a few.

Joining & Membership Fee: The waiting list is around one and a half years and applicants must be proposed and seconded by two active voting members of 12 months standing. A number of different memberships are available. If you’re an American citizen, an American Individual Membership is HK$438,000, with monthly fees of HK$2,570.

A Transferable American Individual Membership is HK$250,000 with monthly fees of HK$1,950. Finally, there’s also a One-Year Temporary Membership at HK$45,600 with monthly fees of HK$1,950, and a Debenture Membership is also available via an agent.

No. of Members: Around 2,800

Photo: Courtesy of The Aberdeen Marina Club

2/10: The Aberdeen Marina Club

If you’re looking for that “wow” factor, you’ll find it here at one of Hong Kong’s most well-equipped clubs. AMC boasts seven restaurants, separate kids’ play zones, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a bowling alley, fitness centre, a hair and beauty salon and an ice rink, to name a few.

Managed by the Shangri-La group, you’ll find the same attention detail as you would in their hotels, keeping you in the lap of luxury throughout. And, as if that wasn’t enough, there’s also fully serviced marina to park your superyacht.

Wine and dine: Feast on signature dry-aged and wet-aged meat cuts at the Marina Grill before heading to the adjacent bar, where mixologist Matthew Lau will prepare a cocktail tailored to your tastes. There’s also The Deck with views over the marina, The Horizon Chinese restaurant, Caffe Luna Italian restaurant and LaCave wine bar.

For the family: Take the little ones up to “Kids on 8!” for an interactive area of mini-worlds, and keep the older ones busy in the two-level indoor playroom with climbing challenges and vertical drop slides. Teenagers have their own Chill Zone and a special graffiti-sprayed lounge area, The Yard.

Joining & Membership Fee: While there’s no waiting list and hopeful applicants can submit a letter of application, membership is strictly by invitation only. You’ll be paying upwards of HK$3,000,000 on the second-hand market.

No. of Members: Around 3,600

Photo: Courtesy of The Hong Kong Country Club

3/10: The Hong Kong Country Club

If you haven’t walked barefoot across the Country Club’s manicured lawn, you’re missing out on a quintessential Hong Kong experience. Founded in the 1960s, this club makes the most of its Southside location with stunning views over Deep Water Bay.

It has plenty of facilities to keep you and your little rascals busy, including tennis and squash courts, a bowling alley, health centre, swimming pool and some truly divine restaurants.

Fun fact: This is the club where former French consul general, Marc Fonbaustier, was expelled in 2010 for stealing two bottles of wine.

Wine and dine: The club has both a Chinese and French-inspired restaurant as well as outdoor Italian dining on the Foreshore Deck and the Garden Room, which serves international cuisine.

For the family: The club has an adventure playground with wooden climbing frames set right next to the lawn, where they can run to their heart’s desire. There’s also an indoor playroom with a full-time supervisor. The littlest members are catered for with events including “Funtastic Sunday,” featuring bouncy castles on the lawn.

Joining & Membership Fee: The waiting list is upwards of 10 years, and applications are assessed according to a strict nationality quota to ensure the organisation’s diversity. Expect an individual membership to set you back HK$460,000, while a corporate membership is HK$5,000,000. Monthly fees are HK$2,500.

No. of Members: 2,000

Photo: Courtesy of The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club Hong Kong

4/10: The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club

If you can bear to leave the city for a day, you won’t regret it once you see this charming and relaxed club set at the tip of the Clearwater Bay peninsula. If you want to get your golf on, head to the golf club’s spectacular 18-hole course.

Wine and dine: Work up an appetite with squash, tennis or a workout in the gym (followed by a steam, sauna and massage, of course). Then sip on champagne at the Oasis café as you look out over the enormous pool with uninterrupted views of picturesque coastlines.

There are two dining options available at the country club—Ocean View for Chinese cuisine and dim sum, and Oasis Café for international fare. Horizons at the golf club serves breakfast, lunch and snacks.

For the family: The country club has a great indoor playroom and two outdoor playgrounds. There are also various family activities arranged throughout the year, including a camping trip on the property and a pool party every summer.

Joining & Membership Fee: Members must be recommended by a proposer and a seconder, attend an interview and be approved by the committee. The waiting list is around two years.

Individual fees for the Country Club are HK$880,000 while corporate fees are HK$1,320,000, each with monthly fees of HK$1,600. Individual fees for the Golf and Country Club are HK$4,200,000, while corporate fees are HK$6,300,000 and monthly fees are HK$2,600.

No. of Members: Over 3,000

Photo: Courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

5/10: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Forget watching the races from the public stands. Once you’re a member here, you’ll have access to plenty of exclusive venues from which to bet, including restaurants, bars and even a rocking lounge with its own private terrace.

Take advantage of the three fully-equipped clubhouses with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sports complexes, children’s play areas and more.

Wine and dine: Between the three clubhouses and the two racecourses, you won’t run out of dining options. There are 10 restaurants serving an array of cuisines, plus bars, buffet dining halls and outdoor dining venues. If you’ve still got the energy, head over to Adrenaline bar and lounge in Happy Valley, which is open until midnight.

For the family: All three clubhouses boast fantastic amenities including swimming pools, outdoor areas and playrooms. There are also plenty of horsey activities including riding lessons and the opportunity to adopt and care for the ponies as part of the newly introduced “Fun with Ponies” programme.

Joining & Membership Fee: Anyone can apply to be a member, but corporate membership is by invitation only. Racing members must be voted in and seconded by a resident honorary steward, honorary voting member or voting member of the club. A second resident of the same plus three other members must support your application.

Racing members pay HK$125,000 with monthly fees of HK$650, while full memberships are $HK500,000. Corporate memberships range from HK$2,200,000 to HK$4,400,000 with monthly fees of HK$2,200.

No. of Members: 13,300

Photo: Courtesy of The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

6/10: The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

Slip on your Sperry’s and sling your jacket over your shoulder—this is the place to be for yachties and rowers alike. At each of the club’s three waterfront locations, you can enhance your skills with a variety of courses or rent the club’s dinghies at your leisure.

Once you are back on dry land, schmooze with like-minded individuals as you sip on specially curated and subsidised wines. There are plenty of other facilities for landlubbers too, including restaurants, a bowling alley, gym, pool and squash courts.

Wine and dine: There are an array of dining establishments, including fine dining at the Compass Room, casual coffee shop fare, a bar and deck, and BBQ and a-la-carte dining at Middle Island and Shelter Cove.

For the family: This is a great place to encourage your mini-me’s love of the water with fantastic courses starting from the age of 6. Little non-sailors have been kept in mind throughout each location too, with playrooms, playgrounds, pool parties, board games and other fun things for them to do.

Joining and Membership Fee: For the cheapest fees, you’ll need to prove your experience in sailing or rowing and show your willingness to participate in activities with the club. For ordinary membership, you’ll need a proposer from the club. Expect to wait between two to six weeks.

Anordinary single membership is HK$91,800 while an ordinary married couple membership is HK$137,700. There’s also an individual debenture membership at HK$1,875,000 and corporate nominee membership at HK2,250,000. Monthly fees range from HK$2,000 to HK $4,260.

No. of Members: 13,300 (5,800 active members, 7,500 absent members worldwide)

Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Football Club

7/10: Hong Kong Football Club

If you’re not at home in sports gear, this probably isn’t the club for you. Most members are here to take advantage of the fantastic collection of indoor and outdoor facilities first and socialize later.

Set in the heart of Happy Valley, this club has Hong Kong’s largest collection of pitches and grounds including football, rugby, netball and hockey, as well as a swimming pool, bowling alley, snooker room, golf simulator and fitness centre.

Wine and dine: With sport being at the forefront here, there are adult and family bars showing a range of games on television. The Sportsman’s bar is the place for beer drinkers with 12 taps of draught and pub-style meals served inside or on the terrace, while the Chairman’s bar provides a more formal setting.

There’s also a coffee shop for casual meals and a fine dining restaurant with a weekly set menu and a comprehensive wine list.

For the family: There’s a lot going on here for even the littlest sportsman, with classes and teams running for all ages, as well as a ten-pin bowling complex and two children’s playrooms. The Christmas fete has seasonal arts and crafts and games for the kids, with music and entertainment and a bar for parents.

Joining & Membership Fee: Sports members are popular here. If you can pass trials and prove your commitment you could be in within a few weeks. Membership is open to all Hong Kong residents.

Non-sports preferred members can expect to pay HK$400,000, while sports preferred members pay HK$25,000. Corporate fees are HK$2,400,000, while monthly fees are HK$1,525.

No. of Members: 3,300

Photo: Courtesy of The China Club, Hong Kong

8/10: The China Club, Hong Kong

If it’s classic elegance you’re after, look no further than The China Club. Opened in 1991 by the inimitable late David Tang, the décor is pure 1930s Shanghai, filled with art and antiquities from the era.

The attention to detail here is striking—from the art-deco sweeping staircase to the Bosendorfer grand piano in the corner of the dining room, you’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re in the middle of one of the world’s most bustling cities.

Culture club: The club boasts a mahjong room and a library with an extensive collection of books on China and the Chinese people, not to mention striking views over our great city.

Wine and dine: The main dining room on the 13th floor prides itself on its authentic Chinese cuisine, or you can simply while away your evening drinking at the ultra-luxe Long Bar. There are also plenty of rooms dedicated to private dining with banqueting menus available to suit every taste.

While little ones are welcome at this club, we suggest you leave them at home to avoid any unwanted accidents with the expensive artworks.

Joining & Membership Fee: To join, simply fill in the entry form from the club and you’re good to go. Membership fees range from HK$120,000-$150,000.

No. of Members: Around 3,000

Photo: Courtesy of The Hong Kong Golf Club

9/10: The Hong Kong Golf Club

This is a must for any golfer worth his salt in Hong Kong. Set on the south side of the island across from Deep Water Bay, the stunning nine-hole par 56 course takes up a large piece of prime real estate and has the price tag to match. The club prides itself on nurturing local talent, and has many high-profile members including the up-and-coming Tuen-Mun born Tiffany Chan.

If you fancy a bit of a time out, get hit the gym for a Body Torque Asia personal training session or relax in the secluded walled-in swimming pool. Be sure to head to the sauna to ease those muscles afterwards. The club’s other site in Fanling boasts three additional 18-hole courses.

Wine and dine: Enjoy Cantonese BBQ and dim sum at The Pavilion, or sample international delights at The Fairway Grill. For more laidback dining head to the verandah and bar or, at the other end of the scale, hold a banquet for up to 115 guests at The Orchid Room overlooking the golf course.

For the family: Promotions for Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are popular, as is the Family BBQ by the pool, which includes inflatables for the little ones.

Joining & Membership Fee: There’s been no opportunity to join this club for a while now. Don’t give up though, as they do occasionally issue a limited number of new memberships. A second-hand membership will set you back around HK$17 million.

No. of Members: Around 2,500

10/10: The Hong Kong Club

You’ll know you’ve made it if you get to call this your home away from home. Founded in 1846 and full of old world charm and elegant colonial décor, it harks back to an era when only men would meet to quaff whiskey and discuss business. Thankfully, it has moved on from the days when women weren’t allowed, but exclusivity is still key.

Known simply as “The Club” to its members, its current Central location houses 25 floors of incredible leisure and fitness facilities including restaurants, squash courts, a bowling alley, a billiards room, a fantastic library and even its own barber.

Wine and dine: Two restaurants and three bars serving everything from light lunch and snacks to Chinese and Western fine dining. There’s also a selection of private function rooms and a garden lounge. You wouldn’t want to look out of place here, so make sure you check the website for the club’s extensive dress codes.

No photos: Memories of your days here are for your eyes only, as no photography is allowed anywhere in the club.

Joining & Membership Fee: Shhh—we don’t talk money here, darling.

No. of Members: 1,550

Sixteen of the World’s Best Luxury Hotels for Design Lovers

Posted on May 21, 2019 by unionclub

If exquisite artistry gives you goosebumps, these ventures may prove irresistible.

The Warehouse Hotel, Singapore

Before opening as a boutique 37-room bolthole early this year, The Warehouse Hotel enjoyed a storied – albeit muddled – past as part of the Straits of Malacca trade route. Originally built as a spice ‘godown’ (warehouse) in 1895, the building was at the epicentre of underground activity and illegal distilleries – and was even a popular disco in the 1980s. The task of giving this heritage building a much needed new lease of life fell to acclaimed Singaporean hospitality company The Lo & Behold Group, who enlisted the expertise of local architects Zarch Collaboratives and design studio Asylum. The team pledged to keep the entire scheme local, and a focus on homegrown talent is seen throughout – right down to the in-room cups and saucers made by a local ceramic studio. The hotel has character in spades, with a unique design that offers a ‘fresh perspective on the term “industrial”‘, according to Asylum. Large vault ceilings, exposed brickwork and earthy tones nod to its industrial past, as does the statement custom-made lighting fixture made up of wheels and pulleys in the main foyer.

Bisate Lodge, Rwanda

The beautiful Bisate Lodge sets a new standard in luxury accommodation in northern Rwanda, and it’s not just the hotel’s design and multiple five-star amenities that are impressive. The eight-bedroom rooftop resort is a nature lover’s paradise, with the hotel itself nestled within a natural amphitheatre formed by a long-extinct volcanic cone. The Volcanoes National Park is just a stone’s throw away, and each room looks out across the majestic Virunga Mountains, home to the iconic mountain gorilla. A guided tour to explore the area and catch a glimpse of these magnificent, critically-endangered primates in their natural habitat is a must and can be organised through the hotel. Bisate Lodge has sustainability at its heart, with plans to introduce indigenous plants to the immediate surrounding area among other initiatives. Inside, the lodge’s thatched pods take inspiration from traditional Rwandan design, with domed roofs and natural materials such as wood and volcanic stone balanced by thoroughly modern touches and bright colours.

Park Hyatt, Bangkok

Originally scheduled to open back in 2014, the striking new Park Hyatt Bangkok is finally open for business. The five-star hotel is Park Hyatt’s first venture in Thailand, and no expense was spared to create a truly original feat of contemporary architecture. The hotel occupies the top floors of the luxury new Central Embassy shopping mall, and its facade is clad in extruded aluminum tiles to create a shimmering pattern that draws on traditional Thai architecture. Inside, the ambience is a lot more restrained, with an elegant, neutral palette of creams and silver providing a calming contrast to the bustling city outside. Because of the building’s distinctive curved shape, nearly all of the 222 rooms and suites have different layouts, and all are fitted with luxurious rain showers and deep soak baths that look out across Bangkok’s beautiful skyline.

Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Opened in 2004, Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo is an elegant hotel with a pool area designed by none other than Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld. The “haute couture” pool setting, known as Odyssey, features a fresco-style installation made up of 15 glass panels portraying Ulysses’ journey. The hotel also boasts Michelin starred dining by chef Joel Robuchon, as well as beautifully curated gardens. “Behind the monumental Belle Epoque facade, the place has both pin-sharp classical elegance – and melodious modern rhythm,” says the Daily Telegraph. Designer Jacques Garcia is the person you bring in “when you want to achieve this mix of the gracefully traditional and the contemporary.”

Alila Fort Bishangarh, Jaipur, Rajasthan

The newly opened Alila Fort is a hotel that’s truly fit for royalty. The 230-year old warrior fortress, located in the picturesque village of Bishangarh, is steeped in character and history and is a prime example of Jaipur Gharana architecture. Following a seven-year restoration project, the fort has reopened as a grand resort, the latest opening from luxury hotel group Alila. The imposing fortress structure has been left intact with its towering turrets, arched windows, even a granite dungeon, now a luxury spa. It’s a spectacular sight to behold and full to the brim with five-star amenities including a library, pool veranda and terrace, cigar lounge and regal banquet hall. The surrounding views of the Aravalli Mountain range only add to its majesty and mystique.

Four Seasons Miami, The Surf Club

When American businessman Harvey Firestone founded his private members’ club on a stretch of pristine Miami beach, it became one of the city’s most prestigious addresses, attracting everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra and even Winston Churchill. Following its eventual demise in 2013, the iconic club was purchased by local developer, Nadim Ashi, who teamed up with hotel group Four Seasons to transform it into a luxury 77-bed bolthole. Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier was tasked with reimagining the club while maintaining its original charm, with French designer Joseph Dirand masterminding the chic, minimalist interiors. The hotel now features a beachfront spa with traditional hammam, three pools, champagne bar and – launched in early 2018 – a concept restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller.

The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, Dubai

Just half an hour’s drive from Dubai International Airport, the Al Zorah Nature Reserve in northern Ajman is a verdant paradise replete with lush mangroves, crystal-clear lagoons and white-sand beaches. Located just across from a new 18-hole golf course in the heart of the reserve is the latest opening from the award-winning Oberoi Hotels & Resorts group. The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah is a luxury, eco-friendly wellness resort with a striking, minimalist design made up of interconnecting buildings surrounded by shallow water pools with panoramic sea views from every angle. Light-filled suites and villas – some with temperature-controlled plunge pools – exude the kind of natural, pared-back luxury that runs throughout the entire resort, which also includes two restaurants, a poolside health bar with lounge and a spa with Turkish baths.

Artist Residence, Oxfordshire

The Artist Residence hotel group, which operates boutique boltholes in Brighton, Pimlico and Penzance, has added a fourth property to its portfolio in the Oxfordshire countryside. Artist Residence, Oxfordshire, a converted thatched farmhouse in South Leigh, reopened in May as a cosy pub and restaurant with five rooms. A further seven rooms in the adjoining cottage and stables will open later in the year. Original features, such as dark-oak panelling, exposed beams and brickwork, are teamed with William Morris wallpaper and a pop of signature contemporary colour, courtesy of trendy artist duo, the Connor Brothers.

Le Nolinski, Paris

Luxury French hospitality group Evok have pulled out all the stops for their first hotel launch in the capital. Le Nolinski is a triumph of Art-Deco glamour with contemporary flourishes, located on the prestigious Avenue de l’Opera in Paris’s 1st arrondissement. Housed in former office spaces in a historic Haussmannian building, Le Nolinski’s renovation was masterminded by local architect and interior designer Jean-Louis Deniot, who was briefed to design the scheme as if designing the home of a wealthy fictional traveller. The result is rather special. Undeniable luxurious with a touch of Belle Epoque glamour in the magnificent Carrara marble reception and spacious suites named after the likes of Josephine Baker and Ernest Hemingway, the design also has a sense of playfulness in unexpected bursts of colour and quirky accessories such as vintage radios, cosy fabrics, statement sculptures and light fixtures. The candlelit subterranean spa by La Colline is arguably the highlight of the hotel, featuring a 16-metre pool with mirrored ceilings and stonewalls in a masterstroke of striking, minimalist design.

L’Hotel Marrakech by Jasper Conran

Speaking of interior maestros, few designers carry quite such industry prestige as the Conran clan. Jasper, who made his first creative forays in fashion, has recently branched into hospitality with the launch of a luxury hotel, an ambition he’s harboured since the age of eight. L’Hotel Marrakech is a converted 19th-century palace with just five spacious suites (each with a private balcony) surrounding a large courtyard complete with tiled fountain and swimming pool. Conran’s evident good taste underlies everything, (the designer had a hands-on role in all aspects of the renovation and design). Traditional local crafts sit alongside antique furniture, original artwork and paintings from Conran’s personal collection, giving the riad a relaxed yet authentic aesthetic with a touch of 1930s elegance. Up on the terracotta roof terrace, the stunning views across the Atlas Mountains are the only visual stimulation necessary.

The Silo, Cape Town

The latest opening from The Royal Portfolio group is so much more than just a new hotel. The Silo is an ambitious five-star retreat set to transform Cape Town’s cultural scene, with hopes it will become as synonymous with the city skyline as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. The Grain Silo building opened back in 1924 and was, at the time, the tallest building in sub-Saharan Africa. When The Royal Portfolio owner Liz Biden secured it for her next venture, maintaining the building’s history and industrial roots was integral to its renovation. Thomas Heatherwick was brought in for his architectural expertise, and his 18ft ‘pillowed’ windows in a unique inflated dome shape are nothing short of works of art. At night, the effect is of a lantern protruding from the V&A waterfront. Biden has decorated each of the 28 suites (including a penthouse) individually with curated artwork and pared-back luxury finishes in keeping with the original design. The lower half of the Silo building is now home to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), a new cultural institution, which is aiming to rival the likes of London’s Tate Modern and NYC’s MoMA.

Soho House, Barcelona

Trust the effortlessly cool Soho House group to make its mark on Spain’s coolest city. The 18th branch of the ever-expanding Soho House portfolio is housed in a grand 19th century apartment block on the edge of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. Spread across six floors, the new hotel (which is open to non-members) employs the tried-and-tested Soho House interior design formula of earthy colours and country-house chic mixed with local finds; think Mediterranean tiles, patterned rugs, textiles and exposed red brick. There’s also the ubiquitous rooftop pool, flanked on one side by striped daybeds overlooking the picturesque Port Vell marina, and features Soho House’s only indoor pool inside the vast Cowshed Spa.

Haymarket by Scandic, Stockholm

Sweden is one of the world’s undisputed design capitals, famous for its minimalist architecture and style. Minimalism, however, is the last word that comes to mind when stepping into the new Haymarket by Scandic hotel. This imposing 405-bedroom bolthole is located within the former Paul Urbanus Bergström (PUB) department store, where Greta Garbo worked in the millinery department in the 1920s. A decadent Art Deco theme runs throughout the interior scheme, which was masterminded by local design studio Koncept. Geometric shapes, brass finishes, rich jewel tones and heavy furniture fitted with Hollywood-style spotlight bulbs creates a bold aesthetic with a hint of Miami glamour, while still managing to feel like a boutique hotel in spite of its impressive size.

The Whitby, New York

The Whitby is the second New York opening from the award-winning Firmdale Hotels group, and the 10th worldwide. Located just two blocks from Central Park, The Whitby is spread across 16 floors with floor-to-ceiling windows on every level. The task of designing the 87 guestrooms naturally fell to Kit Kemp, Firmdale co-founder and Design Director. Renowned for her use of bold colour, pattern and textiles, as well as having a keen eye for contemporary art, Kemp’s signature style permeates every room and space. Her influence can also be seen in the book-lined drawing room, private outdoor terrace, orangery and 130-seat cinema room.

San Luis, South Tyrol

This modern fairy-tale retreat in Italy’s rugged South Tyrol region is a bastion of peace and luxury, comprising beautiful treehouses and gorgeous lakeside chalets built from local wood.

All chalets come with their own hot tubs and saunas and are full of exquisite homemade furniture that combine the historical and contemporary. The treehouses are set up high in the forest, while a remarkable communal spa features floor-to-ceiling windows, open fireplaces, an inside-outside pool and hot tubs in the middle of the lake.

As the hotel’s website says, this amazing little retreat is truly the realisation of the original South Tyrolean “summer freshness”.

Borgo Egnazia, Puglia

This unique and stunning hotel, created in the mould of a traditional Puglian village, was designed by local architect Pino Brescia under the vision of the Melpignano family.

Just a stone’s throw from the Adriatic Coast, Borgo Egnazia is a spacious yet private compilation of 63 luxurious suites, 92 mini houses and 29 villas, perfect for families.

Another world-class spa takes the edge off a tough day of sunbathing and wine tasting, complete with an Aroma Lab, private infrared sauna, a cryotherapy cabin and a meditation room.

Light Sprang Forth: Celebrating Light Through the Eyes of an Artist

Posted on May 16, 2019 by unionclub

“Light Sprang Forth”, Henri van Bentum, 1964, acrylic on canvas

The International Day of Light (#IDL2019) is an annual event, a global initiative held on May 16th, providing an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy.

The broad theme of light allows many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace.

Why May 16th?
May 16th is the anniversary of the first successful operation of a laser in 1960. The laser is a perfect example of how a scientific discovery can yield revolutionary benefits to society in communications, healthcare and many other fields. The International Day of Light however is not just about science – the themes cover all areas of light in its general sense including art, culture, and development.

Light Sprang Forth 2
Celebrating the work of Netherlands-born artist and colorist Henri van Bentum, and to mark the International Day of Light 2019.

https://vanbentum.wixsite.com/lightsprangforth

“Perhaps his background as a diamond-faceter’s son is responsible for the almost crystalline aspect of van Bentum’s work. His paintings have a luminosity, a radiance, that emanates from within.” By clicking the link above, you will be taken to a rotating gallery of some 21 “micro-macro” paintings, all created in the years before microphotography or images from space were available — all inspired from an inner vision. (For the title and year of each painting, hover your mouse over the bottom of the image.)

About Henri van Bentum

“The art of Henri van Bentum reminds us of organic processes on the cosmic and microcosmic levels. There are many organic processes embodied in the work; they help me sense the vastness, complexity and beauty of the cosmos.” Leslie Mezei

Artist Henri van Bentum was born in the Lowlands. His work is represented worldwide. He has travelled extensively, including three circumnavigations by ship as lecturer and art instructor, and also has made several snorkel expeditions to coral reefs. He is a member of the international Circumnavigators Club. Henri collaborated with NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory on a project called “Coloring Space”, juxtaposing images from space with his “Organiverse” Starry Night edition.

Raymond James’ Father’s Day Walk / Run for Prostate Cancer

Posted on May 14, 2019 by unionclub

The Father’s Day Walk Run is an annual event held in several communities across B.C. This year’s Walk / Run will take place on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 10:00am.

The Run offers an opportunity to honour the prostate cancer survivors in your life, promote awareness of the number one cancer for men, and raise money to help find a cure. In 2018 alone, $150,000 was awarded to 3 recipients in Vancouver to continue to fund research.

The Union Club will be putting together a team for this special event! To register yourself to be a part of the team, please contact Danielle Scott at 250.384.1151 (ext. 320) or via email.

It’s a Family Affair!

Join us on Father’s Day for this great event for the whole family!.

Bring your dad, brother or son or just come to help support all the men in your life.

5 K Walk or Run – 3 K Walk – Dash for Dad

YOU can make the difference!

JOIN US by walking or running with your whole family to raise awareness, raise money and show support for a disease that affects so many of us!

For more information, please visit https://doingitfordad.org/

Edie DaPonte Quintet: Under Paris Skies | The Music of Edith Piaf

Posted on May 8, 2019 by unionclub

Following the amazing performance at the Club on March 30, many members were curious to know about future Edie DaPonte performances. The Club is pleased to share the following information:

Date And Time:

Fri, 10 May 2019 at 7:30PM

Location:

Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, 2121 Cadboro Bay Road, Victoria, BC V8R 5G4

Music lovers will have the chance to see the incomparable Edie Daponte again as she performers her show “Under Paris Skies: The Music of Edith Piaf!” Last year’s concert was a huge sold out success, so don’t wait to get tickets, they will sell out!

Edie promises to make people smile, laugh and cry … though mostly smile! In 2017, Edie’s song, “Island Rain” was awarded song of the year in the Jazz category by Vancouver Island Music Awards. In 2016, she was nominated vocalist of the year and her song “Ride the Wind” was nominated as song of the year in the Traditional Category at the International Portuguese Music Awards.

Under Paris Skies – La Musique de Edith Piaf is a unique show combining music and entertainment inspired by Paris. With a live four-piece band Edie will perform many of the French cabaret singer’s soulful and emotional numbers. Non Je Ne Regrette Rien; La Vie en Rose; Hymne a L’Amour; songs of enduring popularity, interwoven with Edie’s engaging style of audience-interaction, and interpretation of the French lyrics. She’ll also be mixing in some songs and stories that fit alongside Piaf’s oeuvre – inspired by a recent trip to Paris and meandering the city’s streets.

Channelling Piaf, with her rich timbre and captivating stage presence, Edie aims for a completely authentic experience and her experienced band will help create the atmosphere of an intimate Parisian theatre. Joining Edie are long-time collaborator Joey Smith on bass, and local favourites Karel Roessingh on piano, Jonathan Eng on drums and filling the important role of accordionist, Aaron Watson. All these talented musicians have long careers in the Vancouver Island jazz scene. You might not see Edie wearing the characteristic ‘little black dress’ that Piaf was known for – she prefers a little more flare – but she promises to deliver Piaf’s music as it was originally intended, with emotion and love.

Growing up in Quebec in a Portuguese family, Edie (named Edith at birth) feels Piaf has always had a role in her life, listening to scratchy vinyl recordings through her early years, despite not understanding the words in their French originals. As an adult singer Edie has witnessed again and again the strong emotional pull Piaf’s songs have on an audience. After a recent Courtenay show, a fan left the comment: “My French is rather limited but that did not stop me from being fully transported, getting completely lost in your sweet and powerful Edith Piaf renditions.”

Joseph Plaskett: Still Life in a Hectic World

Posted on May 2, 2019 by unionclub

“Remains of a Breakfast” Joseph Plaskett

Winchester Galleries is delighted to have been invited by the Union Club to present:

JOSEPH PLASKETT: Still Life in a Hectic World, May 3 until the end of July in the Renaissance Room.

The still lifes of Joseph Plaskett always bring joy into a room and somehow quietens the hectic world beyond that room.

And so we are delighted to fill the Club’s Renaissance Room with the joy of Plaskett’s iconic still lifes and tablescapes. Here is a table vacated after breakfast, the serviette laid purposefully, the café presse drained, the butter dish left uncovered. And here is a generous bowl of oranges, an hospitable pineapple, an amaryllis in vibrant red bud; and then we encounter the artist himself – a self portrait, looking directly at the viewer, but nestled into his own still life with antique surrounds and a vase of wispy flowers.

Each time Plaskett documented the mundane, everyday life, he extended himself and somehow made the subject sing and made the objects significant.

Joseph Plaskett received a BA in history and a teaching certificate from the University of British Columbia in 1939. He went on to study with Jack Shadbolt and B.C. Binning at the Vancouver School of Art and with A.Y. Jackson at the Banff Summer School. In 1946 he was awarded the first Emily Carr Scholarship which he used to study at the California School of Fine Art, San Francisco. Canada’s most beloved painter later established his own foundation which continues to award similar scholarships to emerging artists.

Known for his figurative and still life paintings, Plaskett has long been highly collectable. Prior to the artist’s death in 2014, he was still painting, exhibiting on two continents, and collecting awards including Officer of the Order of Canada and several honourary doctorates. Plaskett exhibited extensively in Canada as well as in London and Paris. His work is included in every major museum collection in Canada from Victoria to Charlottetown.

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, May 9 – 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

The Union Club of British Columbia

Monthly Archives: May 2019