Citylife Garden Fair will be helping these great projects
Since 2005, when Citylife joined the Charity Rooftop Parties organised by Steve Yarnold to raise funds for the victims of Thailand’s tsunami, we have held annual or biannual Citylife Garden Fair events raising millions of baht for local charity. This year, our Citylife Garden Fair has once again asked a team of dedicated independent volunteers, led by Dr. Joanne Robinson, who have received applica … Continued
Boy Blues Bar – Smooth Music and Cold Drinks
A singer croons over the mic, singing soulfully. His fingers move nimbly across a shiny electric guitar. Bass notes bump smoothly in the background. The bassist nods his head to the music, glancing over at the drummer. The squealing lead guitar rises above the blend of sounds. It quickly builds to a crescendo, then wanes back down again.
Creativity Beyond the Page: The 2nd International Children’s Content Rights Fair
ICCRF is the only trade fair in ASEAN for children’s content rights which offers business opportunities to creators, writers and publishers to promote and showcase their works along with encouraging knowledge sharing and networking, while visitors can enjoy a bewildering variety of books from international publishers at special prices.
A Life of Art
Down a quiet leafy soi in the Wat Umong area of Chiang Mai lies an extraordinary private art museum. Long term resident of Chiang Mai and artist Wattna Wattanapun, who has spent his life dedicated to art in its many forms, moved to Chiang Mai after spending years in the United States and Canada, building himself a studio in 2011 amongst Wat Umong’s vibrant community of artists while painting and teaching art at Chiang Mai University.
Toot Yung: A Beautiful New Art Space
The current exhibition is by up and coming Montri Toemsombat, whose exhibition ‘Plateau Rouge’ combines paintings, photography and installations, an ongoing narrative as he attempts to find balance between his hometown of rural Chayaphum and his artistic life in France.
The Sop Moei Mission: Weaving a Community’s Future
Taciturn Kent Gregory, the man behind one of Chiang Mai’s most well-known luxury brands Sop Moei Arts, is impossible to pigeon-hole; his life-story (so far) reads like a an extraordinary swashbuckling tale from the 19th century yet he helms a non-profit enterprise which has been lauded world-wide for its high quality ethnic textile and basket weaving which have graced runways and magazine covers.
African-American Theatre Comes to Life in Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Back Gate Group performed James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner in front of a full house of multicultural theater lovers on Friday, August 31st. Housed in Chiang Mai’s AUA Language Center, the Gate Theater is northern Thailand’s first English-language theatre company.
Citylife’s Greatest Hits
Over the past fifteen years (180 issues), a number of writers have contributed regular columns to Citylife (formerly Chiang Mai Newsletter) ranging in subject from the informative such as Gary Ilines’s Teacher Talk, Nienke Parma’s A Dog’s Life, Ed Rose’s Out and About, John Hobday’s Weather Report, to humour columns such as Seymour Cummings from Andrew Bond, Auntie Myrtle’s attempts at helping those agonised and Oliver Benjamin’s Rabbinic efforts.
Meet the Northern MasterChef Winners
Over the past few months, Thai food fans have been on the edge of their seats as the twenty eager contestants of this year’s MasterChef Thailand competition were whittled down to just one. The show (an international sensation, now spanning 57 countries) which originated in the UK way back in 1990, is more than just a competitive TV show but a quest to find the best amateur cooks in each nation. The winners of the competitions often end up running their own restaurants, some working in Michelin starred restaurants, or even eventually becoming Michelin starred chefs, while many others have forged careers as successful authors and critics. Basically winning provides a great career leapfrog for any aspiring chef and is a huge deal.
A Norwa Story
Paranin Kummata has always been passionate about jewellery. From a young age, she’s been fascinated by her family business which is among Thailand’s largest manufacturers and exporters of jewellery for many local and international brands. Today, she is the founder of two jewellery brands of her own, employing hundreds of women from underprivileged communities, including several ethnic minority hilltribe villages in Northern Thailand and even sex workers in Bangkok, for whom Paranin has set up alternative vocational training in the art of silver jewellery-making.
Become an Elephant Parade Superstar!
One of the joys of visiting Elephant Parade Land or seeing some of Chiang Mai’s most well-known elephant statues pop up in cities around the world is to discover new designs, often created by world famous artists and celebrities. In Chiang Mai, the newest designs are hand painted onto elephants of all sizes, and the best are selected for sale in any one of their stores found in Chiang Mai and overseas.
Chiang Mai’s Startup F**kups
When I first heard the word startup, I rolled my eyes thinking it was another digital nomad buzzword used to seek investment to fund their entitled nomadic lifestyle. My theory was that, like bitcoin (which I’m probably wrong about too), these startup bubbles would soon burst, leaving the big businesses to mop up the money, as usual. I had given into ‘the man’ and I was happy he was paying my wages. But in recent months, I’ve been witnessing a growing community brimming with exciting new ideas, innovative business models and intriguing opportunities that could, with the right community and the right investment, become the next leaders of the business world.
The Slow Birth of Thailand’s Alternative Films
Chiang Mai is just like most other cities when it comes to cinema, with a few large chains dominating the scene, often found on the top floor of shopping malls. Their mobile apps pings us to attention when the next Hollywood blockbuster hits the screens and people book tickets, almost like drones, eager to see the poorly produced twelfth instalment of a franchise still trying to make a profit.
Capturing the Authenticity of Chiang Mai: A Photography Workshop with Kevin and Pansa
Art comes in many forms, a beautiful painting, a well made sculpture, a harrowing film that grips the imagination. All these art forms share the same quality, a need to visually express something to convey an emotional impact.
KAYAN: BEYOND THE RINGS (2018) a Marko Randelovic film
Documentary film maker Marko Randelovic has recently spent time in Thailand, spending time with a number of hill tribes in the Chiang Mai and northern Thailand area. This is his press release that partners a small documentary short he made during his time here.
Our Most Read Articles of 2017 and a Few of Our Favourites Too
Now that we are in 2018, we thought we’d bring you six of our most read articles last year according to Google Analytics…and a few of our favourites for good measure. This year was packed full of debates, whether its about digital nomads or the future of elephant tourism. We also touched on a bit of history, some pot smoking and some local culture – we love the diversity of interests you have an … Continued
Here are our Favourite Places to See Creative Chiang Mai First Hand
The north of Thailand has a rich history of artisanal traditions that have developed over hundreds of years. Today these traditions using local materials and indigenous craftsmanship are utilising modern technology and knowledge of world trends to bridge the gap between old and new. Now with our fancy new UNESCO Creative City recognition, things are only going to get better.
Jai Thep Festival 2018: Chiang Mai’s First Three Day Art, Music, Magic and Love Fest
About to enter its third year, Jai Thep art and music festival will be stretching to three full days and expanding to feature bands from across the world, amazing art instillations, fascinating workshops for adults and children, and a genuine festival vibe inspired by some of the world’s greatest festivals.
Your Essential Christmas Checklist for Chiang Mai
Christmas in the tropics can be an odd experience for many people used to snowy window ledges, steaming mulled wine, last minute Christmas shopping in the cold and constant in-your-face Christmas songs and décor. So this year we help you to get into the Christmas spirit with all things Christmassy in Chiang Mai so that you are not rushing around on Christmas morning begging for spare crackers from your friends. Whether it’s where to find the perfectly festive wrapping paper, ideas for stocking fillers, where to get a turkey, who makes the best chestnut puree or where to get a Christmas tree…we’ve got you.