This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on October 27, 2017

4 horrifying halloween haunts

Halloween at Citta Mall

Bring the family to Citta Mall this weekend for Halloween. Children up to age 12 stand a chance to win attractive prizes when they join the costume competition, and of course, there is the ever-highly anticipated trick-or-treat. There will also be a Halloween arts and crafts workshop on both days of the weekend. However, the main attraction at the mall’s Halloween event is What Happened to Amelia? — unravel the chilling mystery of the fate of a family under the control of a sociopathic physician in a spooky haunted house. The costume competition and trick-or-treat will be held from 8pm onwards tomorrow, whereas the arts and crafts workshop will run from noon to 8pm both tomorrow and on Sunday. The haunted house is open from noon to 9pm daily until Oct 31. For more information, visit citta.com.my.

My Bloody Halloween 2.0

This pre-Halloween weekend, bleed for a good cause — and no, Dracula is not a good cause. Instead, save lives with the Region 6 Selangor Leo Clubs by giving blood at their Halloween blood drive, returning this year after a successful campaign last year. Donors aged 18 and above as of Oct 25 this year are welcome to donate. There will also be other activities for the public, including a colouring contest for children, face painting, trick-or-treat, and a Halloween bazaar. My Bloody Halloween 2.0 will be held from 11am to 6pm tomorrow and on Sunday, at The School by Jaya One. The School is on Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. For more information, or to register as a donor or for the colouring contest, look for the event listing on the venue’s Facebook page, The [email protected].

Halloween Chinatown Kuala Lumpur

Halloween isn’t just for young children seeking to hoard up on free candy. Head over to PS150, said to be the first cocktail bar in Chinatown, which has garnered positive reviews for its unique setting and original drinks menu inspired by flavours native to Southeast Asia. This weekend, PS150 puts an Oriental twist on the popular Western festival, Halloween, so show up to the bar in costume matching the Chinatown theme. Be the early bird to get the worm — the first 20 costumed customers through the door will be rewarded with complimentary cocktails. The Halloween party at PS150 starts at 6pm tomorrow. PS150 is located at 150 Ground Floor, Jalan Petaling, City Center, Kuala Lumpur. For inquiries, call (03) 2022 2888.

Halloween Parties at Havana Kuala Lumpur

Dance away the weekend with not one, but two Halloween parties at Havana in Kuala Lumpur. The Saturday party, Day of the Dead, begins at the door, where partygoers will receive a token for a free cocktail at the bar. The Sunday party takes a different style, celebrating both Halloween and Latin music and dance. Kicking off while the night is young are several Latin dance classes, with a free beginner’s salsa class at 7pm, and intermediate salsa and kizomba lessons at 8pm for RM28. Later in the night, at 10pm, the dance floor will be taken over by Latin beats and moves to kick off Halloween: The Latin Party. On both days, dress in your wildest, most creative costumes for the Best Dressed Contest and stand a chance to win bottles of Sierra Nevada (tomorrow) or a cash prize (on Sunday). Havana Kuala Lumpur is located on Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. For bookings or inquiries, call (017) 812 7775 or (03) 2142 7170.

2 promising pink parties

Women Fest Malaysia

The first ever Women Fest Malaysia, in conjunction with Pink October — Breast Cancer Awareness Month — is here to celebrate women while spreading awareness for the most common form of feminine cancer. The shopping and lifestyle festival features over 100 brands and workshops in the industry of beauty and fashion, as well as a best dressed contest and a lucky draw with prizes worth up to RM100,000. There will also be talks on breast cancer, where survivors will share their stories with the public, and free breast cancer screening. Combining a great day out with increasing understanding of feminine health makes this event the perfect destination for this weekend’s girls’ outing. Women Fest Malaysia will be held tomorrow and on Sunday, at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre in Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuala Lumpur.

Beauty Café at The Dollhouse by PinkBoxCereal

Started by local make-up and beauty personality Nurul Shafiqah Shafie, PinkBoxCereal’s Dollhouse is a one-of-a-kind beauty café, where patrons can enjoy access to a generous spread of cosmetics and skincare products for just RM25. Previously based in Empire Damansara, the beauty café has now been relocated to Pelangi Square just this week. In celebration of their new location, the Dollhouse will be hosting an opening party over the weekend. All visitors will receive free goodies, and with any purchase, and patrons stand a chance of winning attractive prizes in a lucky draw. There will also be free gifts for purchases of RM150 and above. The opening party will be held from 2pm to 8pm tomorrow and on Sunday. The new Dollhouse is located at B-3-22 Pelangi Square, Persiaran Surian, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. For inquiries, call (016) 812 5240 or email [email protected].

2 colourful cultures to contemplate

Aspiring New Zealand

International Photography Awards (IPA) winner Jeffry Lim presents his winning project, Aspiring New Zealand, in an exclusive exhibition for the first anniversary of Isetan The Japan Store in Kuala Lumpur. Endorsed by the New Zealand High Commission in Kuala Lumpur in tribute to 60 years of friendship between the two countries, the photo series is a compilation of stunning aerial shots of New Zealand in the winter. The photographer will also host a Travel Photography Talk and an iPhone Photography Workshop for the public. In addition, the event will also be graced by a members of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute performing their traditional haka dance, bringing something refreshing and different to our shores. The anniversary celebrations and dance performance will take place at 5.30pm today, with the Travel Photography Talk at 7.30pm. The iPhone workshops take place at 2.30pm tomorrow and on Sunday. For inquiries or registration, call (03) 2141 7777.

Commune Bunkasai, Sunway Velocity

Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most unique cultures at the Japanese Cultural Festival at Commune in Sunway Velocity. The bunkasai (Japanese for “cultural festival”) brings the atmosphere of the Land of the Rising Sun to our doorstep through cultural performances, workshops, and an artisan market. Anime fans should look out for the animation merchandise booth, where products ranging from phone accessories to water bottles feature characters from their favourite Japanese cartoons. The festival also has booths for health and beauty, and there is even an opportunity to experience wearing the traditional yukata, which is the kimono’s casual counterpart. The bunkasai will be held from noon to 7pm, tomorrow and on Sunday. Admission is free. Commune is located on Level 5 of Sunway Velocity Mall, which is on Lingkaran SV, Sunway Velocity, Kuala Lumpur.

2special snacks for your afternoon appetite

Amazin’ Graze

Drop the cakes and cookies for the healthier and equally appealing options at Amazin’ Graze. Amazin’ Graze was founded with the goal to promote nutritional snacking and a healthy lifestyle. Their products include granolas, nut butters and nut mixes, all freshly made in small batches and free of additives, preservatives, colourings and chemicals. To mark their second anniversary, Amazin’ Graze is offering a 22% discount on their Amazin’ Bundles, which are food packages made up of several of their products to make preparing your next snack a breeze. Among the many attractive bundles are a salad kit, a yogurt parfait kit, and a chia pudding kit. The promotion is on now until Tuesday, but you can shop online at www.amazingraze.co or at their retail store in D7, Jalan Sentul, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

Nobu Premium High Tea

Pamper your palate with class when you sit down to a premium high tea at Nobu Kuala Lumpur. Famed worldwide for its contemporary Japanese cuisine, innovatively married with the tastes of South America, Nobu Kuala Lumpur rose to popularity last year with their signature high tea menu of sweet delicacies, namely canapés and pastries. Now, their all-new Premium High Tea aims to outdo even that, indulging diners with the fine tastes of Lamb Tacos, Wagyu Gyoza and Soft Shell Crab, just to name a few. The restaurant’s a la carte menu is also available now during high tea hours, further spoiling guests for choice with their most notable dishes. Nobu’s Premium High Tea is priced at RM138 per person, and is available on Saturdays and Sundays, from 1pm to 4pm. Nobu is located on Level 56, Menara 3 Petronas, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre. For bookings or inquiries, visit www.noburestaurants.com or call (03) 2164 5084.