The importance of positioning.  I am a firm believer in perpetual movement - in any event, any venue.  Bars are an older crowd favorite because it typically relieves older (at heart) drinkers the secret shame of being just that - old at heart.  It's either that, or they really don't feel comfortable around crazy hot young co-eds on summer vacation; that's what they tell me, and I suspect they're gay.  (Having said that, I'll probably get to that point one day when I start binging on congnac and Bugles.)  But for the rest of us, it's important we keep moving.  Otherwise, we get stale, conversations start repeating themselves sounding like exasperated scripts from highschool, "what do you wanna do?"
"I dunno, what do YOU wanna do?"
"I dunno, wanna shoot some pool? Streetfighter?"
*sigh* "Mmmk. Fine."

I don't particularly like anchoring myself to one end of the bar or on the dancefloor for too long, but I must admit that there are certain parcels of venue I consider prime real estate.  It's not at all unlike picking good Koh Samui real estate; beach front, sea view, main road access, and close to the airport.  In clubs, it's usually bar front, a decent dancefloor view, not too crowded, and close to the washroom or exit. 
At Prive, this would be the at the very end of the long bar facing the dancefloor.  I notice we naturlly stay clear from the corners because they brush up against the heavy bottleneck traffic on both lengths of the bar. After 1am, unless you've already rooted yourself against the marble, you're pretty much left crowd surfing and armpit sniffing atleast until they've finished the 8th rotation of Rob Sinclair's "World. Hold on." 

I actually really like the upper deck bar. It has a great view and very personal service.  Unfortunately, it's just too small, and the flow is so bad, they usually assign a traffic cop (ie bouncer) just to keep the stairway clear.  He even get his own flash like, "Xcuse me, sir. Keep moving please. ok la." *flash flash flash.*  The front of the long bar, just as you come through the door, is actually not bad - full view of the other patrons, and quick access to the exit.  The problem is that it's a trek to get to the washroom from 1am to 3am.  Moreover, since it really is AT the entrance, I actually feel like I'm stuck in the lobby - just like those 2006 China Ipo cocktails - I have fight the uncomfortable urge to mingle with the other newcomers, squinting into the light every time the door opens like I'm trying to make out their name card. "Hi, my name is..." 

I've only recently started visiting Billion, but I have a better impression of the club than I did my first visit a few months ago.  In this case, there are two bars: an Eastern bar nestled by the entrance next to the veranda, and there's a second bar lodged in the Western Corner.  The first 5 minutes of entering a club, most people do a 'look-see.'  After checking their coats and bags, they do a full walk around the club pretending they're looking for someone, but really they're checking out the meat and building an initial crowd sense.  It's like the first hand in poker - alot of sniffing going on.  After that, 9 out of 10 kids end up BACK at the Easter bar.  It's like there's a sense of closure, and they feel comfortable coming back to that bar.  There's actually plenty of space througout the club, especially on the west side.  But the bottleneck always builds up along the Eastern bar.  I did the same thing on my first visit, and found it difficult to anchor - simply because the dancefloor traffic was rubbing up against too close to the bar traffic.  If you've ever been to Beijing club, think back to the 1st floor main bar, that spot that bar space that joins the dance floor? Same thing.  You can't breathe.  (The second floor is a writeoff, since there's rarely any traffic; the over-the-danceloor balcony is a waste, since the right angle gives you a great view of their scalp, but you can forget about facial recognition).

At Bilion, the Western bar with the frontal exposure to the dance floor.  That's a very special area and it's quickly becoming a personal favorite.  Unlike the Eastern front, there's alot of space to dance, order drinks, and a full view of the dance floor.  You have your choice of opening a set either by the bar or on the floor.  Very accessible.  There's still booth property readily available if you wanna splash, but you generally get very high value for your buck hanging around the bar.  And there's less temptation to wander back to the eastern bar, because EVERYONE does the look-see.  They come to you.  Just like Genki-sushi (sushi on a conveyor belt).  The best part?  There's a secret door beside that opens up to the main corridor RIGHT beside the coat check.  Score. 
 

I've never done a review of my Xmas presents, because for the most part they've either met expectations or I've been too enamoured by them to even remember reporting. But this year is a bit different, simply because of the sheer volume of great presents I've received. These are not over the top expensive like my recent obsession with the Louis-Vitton Poker chip and leather case set, but rather more 'quality of life' products that contribute small doses of happy buzz that make coming home or waking up in the morning all the more... well, not bearable, in fact, quite - happy. yes, very happy.

Take for example the replacement sweater I got from Mom this year. I have an old one that has holes in the elbows, and I think I accidentally threw it in the garbage with my old tennis bag. Black, crew neck, soft, supple, and very very warm - cashmere. Unbranded, understated, and very affordable. I think it was about HK$650 at this import store on Luard rd and Johnston road in Wanchai. Right across the street from the park. Can't miss it.

I've been working out pretty consistently for about 5 months now, but after last week's parasite hit, I've lost substantial weight. I've been set back easily a month. I've been back to the gym 3 times since I recovered and only after tonight's session do I feel close to where i left off. I might have had some help from my new work out gloves the boys picked up for me at Nike. I actually already have a pair, but these were just too stylin to pack away. The zipper on leather strapped in with the red tones remind me of some of the Ultimate X-Men comics I read back in Toronto. Badass. Gambit styles, yo. I'm embarassed to say, I used to practice throwing cards at stuffed animals when I was kid. I'd later find out after some experimentation, that chicks don't dig long-haired emo geeks who throw playing cards, read comics, and live near Jane & Finch. But yes, these gloves do make me feel like the Incredible Lim pumping anything north of 40kg. :p

Egyptian cotton and microfiber ultra thick towels. "Gets fluffier with every wash" kinda kick ass.  Best fucking presents. Period. Between my sister and saku, I hauled in two sets. We're talking Lane Crawford, heaven out of the dryer, plush towels. Sick. This prompted a debate over the viability of cashmere throw blankets which are now 50% off. I'm all for the credit crunch sales, but I simply can't justify spending 6 to 10k on a cashmere throw, money which could otherwise buy me alot of happiness at the Wynn 10/20 no limits table in macau. Still though, if you've got cash, this is a great time to pick up a ferrari with cashmere bucket seats. Go nuts.

Along the same vein, it's obvious now well into our yuppy age, past quarterlife and creeping into full, what I like to call, the "uncle" years do we discover new ways to indulge in retail therapy. My most recent birthday present, again from mr. vagino, stuck a cord - remarking how I've become both old and more willing to slot myself into demographic cookie cutters. Ruehl is something entirely new to me. I am now the proud owner of a pair of exceptionally comfortable jogging pants and a navy blue poloshirt whose inconspicuous bulldog logo could very easily be take as very good A&F shenzhen special. In a way it is, but according to the Reuhl marketing spiel, it's demographic is the A&F crowd who have now graduated and moved on well into their adulthood career lives. "The brand is designed for post-collegiate individuals aged 22 through 35, retaining consumer basis past collegiate consumers for the A&F Co." The cutting is very similiar, the collar's less dramatic, but overall still muscular. I suspect though, after a few more years of dwelling in this "uncle age," I may very well gravitate towards lower end fashions - maybe the next step is A&F's low end, Holister.  As uncles get older, they're supposed to, in some way, start developing stingy traits.  I have a few of them - Uncle Jimmy comes to mind.  For my grandpa's funeral, we asked guests to contribute money towards charitable donations and we even gave instructions to fill in a simple form so that we could issue them a charitable tax receipt, since it's deductable.  When we were tallying up the donations, his packet was the only one crumpled up at the bottom with the tax form filled in.  I bet he doesn't even wear anything close to Holister. I bet he just wears t-shirts he gets for free when he buys classic DVDs for sale at HMV.  Clearance sale on copies of Hancock DVDs - free t-shirt!  Yeah, I'm heading down that route.