Vancouverites Priced Out of Oakridge Park

Oakridge Park is bright an airy, but also very expensive

Oakridge Park has partially opened in Vancouver, and after years of watching it being built, many residents were curious to see how the old shopping mall was replaced.

Gone was the large street level parking lot and in its place is a huge upscale mall, parking in the basement, and luxury condos in the towers above. The prices for these units were apparently so expensive that only the uber rich could afford them, and even then there were stories going around that there was valet parking which deterred some prospective buyers.

Lots of luxury brands and a champagne bar

In a bid to showcase Oakridge Park and get some customers in, a section of the mall featuring Time Out Market, the gourmet food hall was opened first in late May.

There was a lot of hype about Time Out Market, and in the first few days there were mobs of people trying to get to this area on the second floor; one report was that it was an hour wait just to get in, and almost as long to get food.

People were enticed to come thanks to a huge social media push that invited influencers to film themselves trying the food. For example, there's Iron Chef winner and celebrity chef Rob Feenie come and offer his Feenie burgers, Lunch Lady has a condensed version of its pho offerings, Top Chef Canada winner Chanthy Yen presenting Mee, a Cambodian menu of rice or noodle bowls, and Beaucoup Bakery and Mello with their pastries and doughnuts respectively.

Nevertheless, the food court is popular because there's a giant screen showing the World Cup games, like when we went the other day.

Cambodian noodles from Mee Bar

I ordered a bowl of noodles from Mee Bar, with slices of braised pork, rice noodles, two prawns, half a soft-boiled egg and bean sprouts with a slightly sour and spicy sauce for $26. Sadly it did not fill me up, and I wasn't about to buy something else in the food hall.

Security also seems overly hyper vigilant. We walked in with a cup of water and a security guard told us no outside drinks allowed. We explained it was just water and at first she refused to let us bring it into the food hall and suggested we use the water dispenser which made no sense -- we already had water! She finally let us go. It was a bit much.

As one can surmise, most of the food offerings are Asian, to target a certain crowd, as evidenced by the retail stores.

The shopping mall itself looks like one that could be found in China or Hong Kong, though Oakridge Park seems to be even grander with the stores all spread out thanks to the wide berth between them.

And yes all the shops are on the high end: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Alexander Wang, Chow Tai Fook, Rolex, Prada and Dior to name a few.

The mix of stores is very high end and empty

Meanwhile the only cheapest option is Sephora to buy lipstick or a Korean beauty mask until supermarket Safeway opens. There are no toy stores or bookstores, or a range of stores offering various price points.

Some people who have visited Oakridge Park describe it as soulless, similar to an airport mall, full of greed and excess, and makes them feel poor. 

I have to agree... Oakridge Park was planned when there seemed to be a never-ending tap of Chinese money flowing to Vancouver, but the spigot has been turned off and now there are too many condos and not enough buyers to afford them.

Unfortunately we're left with what could soon become a white elephant...

Parading Your Best Easter Bonnet in New York

The Easter Bunny and a fancy dress made of balloons

New York City celebrates Easter in a DIY way. Every Easter Sunday residents show off their creative chapeaus. It starts from 10am to 4pm, and there isn't a particular place where it starts, but apparently St. Patrick's Cathedral is where you have to be to catch the action.

Two women channelling Audrey Hepburn

Many wear hats covered in flowers, bunny rabbits, Easter eggs and complete the look with matching outfits, like colourful suits, dresses, or this year in balloons.

One brought his ragdoll cats and he himself wore a cat mask, one woman had a black hat that had a brim that revolved with yellow taxis on it, two women inspired by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady with over-the-top floral bonnets, a woman with a red and white mushroom on her head, and her small dog had one too.

What I love about these bonnets and outfits is how fantastic they are, bold with colour and fantastical in how they turned out! These New Yorkers really go all out, and are willing to step out and show off their artistic side.

A ragdoll man feeding his ragdoll cat

I saw a picture of a woman with a giant blue emerald with a diamond-crusted bird on top -- of course! It's the Jean Schlumberger brooch called Bird on a Rock. He was a famous jewellery designer who worked with Tiffany & Co. A variation of the brooch was recently worn by Heated Rivalry actor Connor Storrie at the Golden Globes.

She is Emily Hupp, a jewellery box historian who explained that Schlumberger made the brooch for socialite Bunny Mellon, which is why she had a small bunny pin on her dress; she wore a yellow rose dress because Mellon was a gardener. So what better way to pay tribute to New York than with this bejewelled creation on her head?

Hupp and her Bird on a Rock hat

I love Schlumberger's glittering pieces, and appreciate Hupp's homage to the designer! 

Some day I hope to make it to the Big Apple's Easter bonnet parade with a fun creation of my own. If anything just to take part and enjoy sharing the fun with others.

Dire Straits for Luxury Brands

Hong Kong's luxury malls are looking pretty empty these days

The projections are that big spenders from the mainland won't be splashing the cash in Hong Kong, Paris, Milan and London anytime soon, as China's economy continues on its downward spiral.

Analysts say this year is not good, and aren't even holding their breath for next year either and it's hurting luxury brands in their stock value.

Tiffany & Co's Shanghai shop to halve its space

Burberry Group had its market value plunge 70 percent from the past year, causing the brand to lose its inclusion in London's FTSE 100 stock list. 

Gucci and Hugo Boss have also been hit hard, both losing half their value over the past year. Gucci is owned by Kering, which owns Moet Hennessy and Louis Vuitton, which was Europe's largest company by market cap a year ago, has fallen to second place.

To that end, Tiffany & Co owned by LVMH is looking to halve the size of its Shanghai flagship store, while high-end malls in Hong Kong are practically empty. 

Hermes is sitting pretty with Brunello Cucinelli

The only brands doing well are the ones catering to the uber rich -- Hermes International selling Kelly and Birkin bags, and Brunello Cucinelli with its cashmere sweaters. 

May they live long and prosper!