Jakarta

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” Universe @ The Forum

In celebration of the much-anticipated release of The Last Jedi, a massive Star Wars fest is being set up at The Forum and throughout the ground floor of Jakarta’s Kelapa Gading Mall, where hardcore fans are granted a free entrance to a galaxy far, far away with all the selfie areas, mini exhibits, and merchandises available for their enjoyment. Be a part of the action and get ready to jet off to the Star Wars universe once again! Be sure to catch the film as well. Photographic highlights from the event are displayed below.

Hey there, BB-8!

Battlefront II demo corner.

Welcome to the Star Wars merch shop! 🙂

Assorted notebooks.

December 16, 2017 0

Bakerzin’s Tales of Valrhona Schokolade: Christmas 2017

Bakerzin offers foodies like you tons of adventures in a single menu book that’s full of delicious photography. The actual foods themselves are even tastier with just the right amount of herbs. Whatever you crave, you can count on Bakerzin for great meals and desserts. My top picks include the black olive salmon fried rice, roasted chicken, oxtail soup (their oxtail soup is really top notch), Bali rice, the millefeuille, souffle, tiramisu and many other dishes. I’d like to know yours.

This holiday season, Bakerzin presents “the Tales of Valrhona Schokolade” as their Christmas desserts series that you oughta try. For the sweet tooth, there’s the White Castle cake that magically blends almond and caramel with white chocolate. Dark chocolate lovers can have it with fruity delights lined on the top. And then the sizzling chocolate lava cake enters, filled with warm peanut butter. That makes a fine choice too. I have yet to try the hot chocolate but that sure looks amazing in the promo picture.

What I enjoy about Bakerzin at Christmastime is the lovely jazz standards that continue to entertain us amidst the whimsical interiors. Such a jazzy setting. Add it to your holiday list and have a delightful meal!

December 7, 2017 0

Starbucks Christmas Drinks in Jakarta 2017

It’s always a delicious holiday season at Starbucks, for their starry Christmas drinks make super festive treats. Over in Jakarta, Starbucks presents four toasty beverages to jazz up your Christmas, and they can be enjoyed as both a latte and a frappuccino.

Toffee Nut Crunch
Fans of toffee nut and caramel can delight in this nutty holiday drink. It’s not too sugary so it tastes just right.

Vanilla Nougat
I did not have high expectations prior to trying out this beverage – mainly ’cause nougats aren’t really my thing – but the vanilla nougat latte got me addicted. The warm vanilla tone and aroma can instantly transport you to Winter Wonderland.

Mocha Praline
Perfect for mocha and chocolate lovers. A cup of mocha spiraled with chocolate sauce on the top is bound to entertain your tongue. While the toffee nut crunch and vanilla nougat are only available at a select number of Starbucks now, the mocha praline is here to stay.

Holiday Tree Dark Mocha
Inspired by a classic Christmas tree, this is one unique dark mocha. It’s designed as a mocha drink with a fresh green tea whipped cream. Such a whimsical look!

So what’s your Starbucks Christmas vibe for today? Are you feeling a little latte or frappe?

NOTE: The Starbucks logo is owned by Starbucks Corporation.

December 6, 2017 0

Studio Ghibli Exhibition @ the Ritz Carlton

Welcome to the wonderful world of Ghibli, inspired by Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki and his collection of artsy animated films! The whimsical magic of Studio Ghibli is now within reach of Jakarta fans in the form of an exhibition at the Ritz Carlton – Pacific Place.

Iconic settings, pieces and characters from classics such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky are brought to life, ready for Instagram-worthy selfies. The 3D installations may still be in the works, but Ghibliland is looking marvelous at the moment. If you’re a lover of any of Mr. Miyazaki’s works, the Rp.300.000-Rp. 350.000 entrance fee is worth spending. Immerse yourself in the animated, fantastical realms like the ones captured in the following photos and “be a part of the scene”.

A merchandise store will greet you at the exit, boasting a variety of items like mini Totoro plush toys, notebooks, lunchboxes and folders featuring stills from your favorite Studio Ghibli movie. The only downside to these whimsical merch is the price tag. Most are overpriced, which is understandable given they’re original imports from the Ghibli Studio in Japan, but make sure you really love whichever product you decide on getting.

So what’s your favorite Ghibli movie? Sound off below. Mine is Kiki’s Delivery Service, ’cause witches and bakeries brew up a delicious plot. But I will always adore My Neighbor Totoro.

The bakery from “Kiki’s Delivery Service”.

Look who greets us at the ticket desk.

Somehow I’m reminded of the opening scene in “Great Expectations”. PS. You can sit on the boat.

From the iconic “Spirited Away”.

Gotta own this folder. I heart bread and croissants.

August 22, 2017 2

Pop Con 2017: Photographic Highlights

New comics. Cosplays. Westero-inspired artworks. Anime merchandises. Fantastical delights. Here are pictures from Jakarta’s two-day Pop Con event at the Jakarta Convention Center that featured notable guests like Power Rangers star Walter Jones to groundbreaking stunt actors. As a ‘prelude’ to the upcoming Comic Con in October, Pop Con attracted a large number of visitors in fantasy fans and cosplay lovers from all over the city that it was a surefire success.

The official Pop Con banner.

“Children of Westeros” is a fanzine created for all die-hard “Game of Thrones” addicts. It sold out really fast.

A cosplayer showed off his costume as a Transformer. He was a crowd favorite.

This whimsical”La La Land” greeting card was a best seller. Glad I bought it before it sold out.

Presenting a brand new medieval game called “Celestian Tales”. I purchased the soundtrack and character art to get inside the world of the story.

August 15, 2017 0

Me and My “West Side Story” Broadway Debut

Boy, boy, crazy boy, stay cool boy…
Got a rocket in your pocket…
Keep coolly cool, boy!

If you told me many moons ago that I was going to be part of a Broadway production, I would’ve laughed at that humor. Never in a million years have I dreamed of seeing my name and picture inside a Playbill. But then West Side Story came along.

Having been a fan of both the Broadway show and Academy Award-winning film, it was a privilege to be able to join the Jakarta Performing Arts Community on its West Side Story adventure (its 8th AND biggest production to date after the success of their previous shows like Burlesque, Fame and The Nightmare Before Christmas). With a global message about acceptance and tolerance, the timing couldn’t have been more right for this timeless musical to be introduced (and reintroduced) to different generations. And so we all made our debut on May 12th at one of Jakarta’s oldest theaters Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), followed by 4 more shows until closing night on Sunday the 14th.

My time as one of the vocal coaches for the West Side Story cast has impacted my life and opened up a unique path in my music career to always strive to tell stories for the betterment of society through music and lyrics. Thanks Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents for being the ones to start it all and to all the cast and crews who I was honored to embark on this journey with.

For my international friends who didn’t get to see this, I have copies of the exclusive West Side Story program book for the first 3 names who contacted me to request one. 🙂 Shoot me an e-mail or tweet me to get yours. Or simply comment below. You might be one of the lucky ones. “Could be… Who knows…” 😉

E-mail: julesalveria@gmail.com
TWITTER: @JulesOfficial_

To learn more about JPAC, go check out http://www.jpacwestsidestory.com!

June 4, 2017 3

Indonesia Comic Con 2016

It’s here. It’s now. It’s Comic Con! All fandoms and pop culture lovers in Indonesia shall rejoice! In collaboration with the New York Comic Con and supported by the XM Studios, this fantasy and action-packed event is finally returning.

From Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts to Suicide Squad, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Arrow, almost every merchandise related to all the big superheroes and action film/TV characters we all enjoy are put on display, ready to be taken home to be added to our collection. And we’re not only talking about American favorites but also a lot of stuff from popular comic books and shows in Japan. Think Sailor Moon, Final Fantasy, the Gundam series and Death Note. Even Disney exclusives are available.

Meet and greet sessions with notable stars like Deadpool actress Brianna Hildebrand, The Legendary Kamen Rider Ichigou creator Hiroshi Fujioka, Indonesia’s very own Ardian Syaf who’s signed with Marvel and DC Comics and Alex Milne (Transformers comic artist) are also part of the 2-day con. In addition to all those, local and international illustrators, comic creators, graphic designers and special effects teams are setting up their own stands to showcase and sell their drawings, digital art, sketchbooks and other works.

Thanks to my friends Tifany and Michelle, we got to attend the Saturday Comic Con’s opening day at a Rp 90.000 presale price (on-the-spot tickets cost Rp 120.000). For all die-hard Comic Con fans in Jakarta, today is your final chance to experience this exciting event, so be sure not to miss it.

Below is a list of some of the stands we got to visit throughout our Comic Con adventure, complete with photos of stuff that stood out:

Star Wars-verse ~ The shop has popular merchandises that cover The Force Awakens, the earlier movies and the upcoming Rogue One film (the Rogue One promo is all ablaze, and I definitely approve). Also, visitors are given that opportunity to own the “limited edition” Star Wars medallions – the first in Indonesia. Sphero’s newest Force Band is also available to purchase – a Jedi essential.
Comics ~ Presented by Books Kinokuniya, various graphic novels, mangas and books are on sale: Supergirl, Fantastic Four, Suicide Squad, Gotham, Batman, Superman, Batgirl, Spiderman, Attack on Titans, Sailor Moon, The Legend of Zelda, you name it. My goal was to find Agent Carter, DuckTales and Darkwing Duck comics but unlike in NY and San Diego, they weren’t in stock so I’ll just look them up on Amazon/eBay.
Lego’s Spooktacular Shop ~ All sorts of Halloween-themed Legos can be spotted, including Scooby Doo, Ghostbusters and one with the main Disney characters.
Cosplay Area ~ Where all the cosplayers get to mingle. Cosplayers can be found all over the venue though. During my time there, I got to walk past Harley Quinn, Captain America, King Geoffrey, stormtroopers, Hermione Granger and Daenerys Targaryen. Plus some Walking Dead zombies.
Pops ~ Pretty much every toy shop has one. Pops are definitely in demand these days. Collectors’ favorites. What you can get: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Newt Scamander, Harley Quinn, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Daenerys Targaryen, the Starks (including Jon Snow), Alice in Wonderland, Cheshire Cat, Red Queen, Mirana the White Queen, Toy Story characters, most Star Wars characters, etc.
Sephora ~ This international make-up brand has a mini studio dedicated to helping visitors transform into the character of their choice with their magical make-up products – I saw one in the process of becoming a monster with blood all over his face

Artsy Harley Quinn and Superman tees.

Rogue One.

Stunning Elsa from Disney on Ice.

Hey there, Chewbacca!

Spotted a poster for this fantastical update of Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried.

Hermione Pops.

The Star Wars medallions that hold so much power.

My Comic Con program guide and a Game of Thrones pouch – the only merch I bought which I’m now super proud of owning. Lovely, whimsical illustration of the characters!

October 2, 2016 3

Annie on Broadway in Jakarta

You’re never fully dressed without a smile…

And so Annie delighted viewers in Jakarta during the Broadway production’s international tour this past summer.

What started out as a 1924 comic strip called Little Orphan Annie has finally evolved into a phenomenon with the story existing in various forms, including radio shows and three motion pictures – the original 1982 version, a made-for-TV movie in 1999 by Walt Disney Productions (Academy Award winner Kathy Bates played the infamous Miss Hannigan while Alan Cumming and pre-Wicked Kristin Chenoweth took on the roles of Rooster and Lily St Regis) and the latest modernized version with the great Jamie Foxx as big-hearted millionaire Oliver Warbucks. On theater, Annie is now a Tony-winning show with a worldwide appeal, and I had the privilege of seeing its Jakarta debut on August 6^that the Ciputra Artpreneur Theater & Gallery, home to all the Broadway shows that have made their way to Jakarta (beginning with Beauty and the Beast last year, followed by The Sound of Music and Shrek).

Set in 1930’s New York, the plot revolves around Annie as she ventures the city in search of her parents, not knowing Mr. Warbucks is her key to everything. The rags to riches theme couldn’t have been more majestically delivered. Promising starlet Heidi Grey’s portrayal of Annie was fantastic, making her worthy to root for. The girl’s got spunk and charm. All the tunes I’m sure we’re all familiar with also added to my enjoyment. From the timeless classic “Tomorrow” and the glorious “NYC” to Miss Hannigan’s personal anthem about her persistence in finding that “Easy Street” and “Something Was Missing” that emphasizes the bond between Annie and Mr. Warbucks, these songs intertwine with the classic story that still remains relevant today with its ongoing message about bravery and staying optimistic through hard times as it paints a portrait of humanity in Great Depression-era New York.

A number of merchandises were sold at the venue, including a program book, an exclusive T-shirt with the Annie logo on it and a tumbler.

September 30, 2016 0

Coffee on Fifth in Jakarta

Craving a cozy little space to spend away your afternoon in Jakarta? Look no further than Coffee on Fifth, a brand new cafe that’s truly welcoming with modern yet homey interiors. Millions of cafes have added to this vibrant city’s increasing coffee culture, so what makes Coffee on Fifth stand out?

Having visited this charming cafe shortly after its soft opening, I found the menu to be original with a variety of desserts and beverages that not many other places offer. The Nutella cappuccino that I ordered honestly had that magical taste it should be named one of the cafe’s specialty drinks. I heard more have been added to the list now, such as fresh almond milk, delicious frappes, and something that’s a bit off the grid yet unique when it comes to coffeehouses… Beer! Fear not, all beer lovers, Coffee on Fifth hearts you (Heineken, anyone?)! Fun fact: one of the owners of this place happens to be my bestie Lydia Sheridan, so here’s to her and her cafe dreams!

All in all, Coffee on Fifth will delight you with each and every visit. It’s a little Brooklyn in the heart of the city!

Location
Jl. Pluit Samudra 2 No.9, 2nd Floor Pantai Mutiara

Opening Hours
Mon – Thur : 10am – 11pm; Fri – Sun : 10am – Midnight

Social Media
Instagram

July 24, 2016 2

Cappuccino with Jules

Lifestyle. Music. Film. TV. Freshly brewed.

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