Happenings & Events: Stuff To Know In June!

DISCOUNTS FOR ADB READERS AT HK YOGA Maxim Gagarin at HK Yoga in DB North Plaza is offering a 10% discount to Around DB readers who sign up for a 500-hour Teacher Training Course by August 31. The course starts on September 8 and finishes at the end of December. It is held in two groups: weekday group (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 11am to 3pm) and weekend group (Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3pm). Daily yoga classes and packages are also available. To enrol with a 10% discount, scan the QR code. PLAY PÉTANQUE The DB Sport-A-Thon – your opportunity to experience fun, trending sports – continues this month at DB North Plaza Pitch for residents aged six years and up. On June 7, you can try your hand at Pétanque, a French game that involves throwing boules closer to the target boule (called a cochonnet) than your opponents. To find out more and enrol, call 5469 1748 or visit FB @DynamicDBers. HARMONICA CLASS FOR BEGINNERS Dickson Cheung of Adventure Harmonica Music Centre is giving harmonica lessons for beginners on June 21 at the Multipurpose Hall, DB Office Centre. All ages are welcome: HK$100 per person, HK$50 for children aged 12 or below. Free harmonicas are provided and you can look forward to mastering a few simple songs in just 40 minutes. To find out more and enrol, head to https://forms.gle/H437dJeTM3Rvbhpt7INTERNATIONAL PROVERSE PRIZES Founded by long-term DB residents, the late Dr Verner Bickley, MBE and his wife, Dr Gillian Bickley, the International Proverse Prizes for writing submitted and previously unpublished in English (may be in translation) are open for entry through June 30. They are the Proverse Prize for single-author book-length fiction, nonfiction, or poetry (founded 2008) and the Proverse Poetry Prize for single poems (founded 2016). You need to be at least 18 years old to enter, but otherwise there is no restriction and everyone is eligible, whatever their place of birth, residence, nationality or citizenship. New and experienced writers are all welcome to send in their work. You can enter directly through proversehongkong.submittable.com/submit. Entry documents and full details about each prize are available from the Proverse website, with special arrangements, if needed, for Hong Kong entrants: www.proversepublishing.com. You can email any general enquiries to proverse@netvigator.com. The inaugural Proverse Prize (2008) and the 2022 Prize were each won by a DB resident, Rebecca Tomasis and Flora Qian, each sharing with one other writer. Rebecca's book, Mishpacha – Family, is a moving and passionate account of four women living together in Israel as the ‘wives’ of one man. Flora's book, South of the Yangtze, is a coming-of-age story set on the mainland. Neither Rebecca nor Flora remain in DB but they retain their connections here. In memoriam: polymath, pioneer of English-language education and co-founder of Proverse Prizes Dr Verner Bickley, MBE, a DB resident of 22 years, died on February 9, aged 98. A memorial service was held on May 7 at St John's Cathedral. Verner's remarkable achievements and kind spirit will be remembered and cherished by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. DANISH CORD WEAVING WORKSHOP Former DB resident Emmy Sandt is hosting a Danish cord weaving workshop at A Collective Space in Mui Wo on June 22. The class is open to 15 participants and is perfect for beginners. Join a community of creatives, share laughs and swap stories while you learn! To enrol (purchase two tickets for a 15% discount), head to FB /IG @collective.space or visit www.acollective.space. SMOKEY JOE’S IN DB NORTH Don’t be misled by the old Buraq at Osman Bey signage, Smokey Joe’s soft-opened in February in DB North and is your go-to for juicy, handcrafted burgers; perfectly aged steaks; hearty sandwiches and – our top pick – Cajun prawn pasta. Chef Joey Daze hails from New York City and has worked in kitchens since he was 13. This time he’s at the helm. To book a table, call 5784 7101 or visit smokeyjoesdb.comPLASTIC FILM RECYCLING Residents have been making good use of the government-funded Green@Community collection point, open on Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm at the Green Icon@DB. It’s the place to get hard-to-recycle items like plastic film and polyfoam recycled, along with liquid cartons (Tetra Paks), disposable coffee cups and fibre food containers, rechargeable batteries, energy saving light bulbs and waste electronics. For more information, visit FB @Islands Recycling Station. IGYM GYMNASTICS ACADEMY To mark its 12th anniversary, iGym launched a Gymnastics Academy in DB North Plaza on May 22. This fully-equipped junior gymnastics centre boasts uneven bars, tumbling mats, rings, a trampoline, high beam, foam pit, vault, Junior Parkour Course and Ninja Zone, and is an ideal training space for children aged 18 months to nine years. Kim Doherty and her team will continue to coach iGym seniors (9 years and above) out of DBIS. To find out more, email igymhk@icloud.com or visit www.igymhk.com. CLIMATE FRESK CHALLENGE Climate Fresk – the global non-profit, gamified education tool for climate change – has arrived in DB. In each threehour workshop, seven to 15 players (adults or teens) create a Fresk (fresco), using 42 cards to link the causes and effects of climate change. The aim of the game is to teach participants the fundamental science behind climate change and empower them to take action. To find out more, visit climate-fresk-hong-kong on LinkedIn or email Hong Kong coordinator and long-time DB resident Sophie Bonnin-Rocher at climatefreskhk@gmail.com. FOOTBALL QUIZ AT THE CHIPPY As a way to celebrate Ampcontrol DB’s Masters Cup win at the 2025 HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens, The Chippy is hosting a Football Quiz Night on June 18 at 7.30pm. Teams of four can book to test their football knowledge and win prizes, while enjoying classic British fish and chips, beer, cider and soft drinks. The Chippy sponsored Ampcontrol DB at the Soccer Sevens in May, alongside Ampcontrol, Marvelsoft, Tanner de Witt, CLA, CTC and Kelme. Call 2987 8688 to book a table for quiz night. HARRY WRIGHT 50TH CELEBRATIONS: SWIM WITH THE BEST This year marks an extraordinary milestone for Harry Wright Swim School – 50 years of shaping confident swimmers and fostering a love of the water across generations. In order to give back to the community, HWI is offering a special opportunity for one local swimmer: a free place at HWI’s Competitive Swim Camp, running from August 4 to 8 at the South China Athletic Association. The camp is overseen by Olympic swim coach David Lush, alongside HWI coaches. Open to current HWI swimmers (minimum Silver level), this is a rare chance to train under one of the sport’s most respected coaches. David has guided athletes to podium finishes at the Olympics, World Championships and Asian Games, including coaching Minna Atherton to a world record and working with Hong Kong’s own Stephanie Au through multiple international meets. To apply by June 21, simply head to https://forms.gle/ EzXUV1JTuq4xj9Ca9?hl=en and fill out the Competitive Swim Camp sign-up form. As part of its ongoing 50th celebrations, HWI is hosting a celebratory Anniversary Dinner on June 21 at the Hong Kong Football Club, bringing together past and present swimmers, coaches, families and supporters. The evening will feature guest speakers, including prominent swimmers from the local community, who will share inspiring stories, memories and reflections on how HWI has helped shape the swimming landscape in Hong Kong. HWI provides swimming lessons across Hong Kong and at Club Siena, with a structured progression system, small group sizes and international-standard coaching. Visit www.harrywright.com.hk.