Rat Pack

As Francisca pointed out in my DQ ice cream cake post, Halloween is gaining a foothold in Metro Manila. Especially in the South, villages decorate for the holiday and kids go trick-or-treating. And what's driving it? Commercialism, of course. Hotels have parties for both children and adults to increase room and banquet sales, and malls are decorated to the rafters, have special shows and even allow children to go trick-or-treating among their stores. This trio—born of a marriage between a ghost and a pumpkin, apparently—was greeting shoppers at SM City North EDSA mall's Sky Garden. Somehow, they reminded me of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra.

Encircled

The lovely landscaped gardens and fountains of Greenbelt Park at the center of several malls which are, in turn, surrounded by the high-rise commercial and condominium buildings of the Makati Central Business District. The only building I recognize in this cluster is the tallest one on the right: the BSA Tower, a condotel.

Natural or man-made, take a refreshing dip in Watery Wednesday.

Green means yes

I feel like such a hick for posting this because I'm sure they're common in more developed countries, but I just had to because I was actually delighted when I realized what they were. I noticed them on the ceiling of the parking building when we last went to an SM Supermall, and it took me several seconds before I understood what they were for. A green light means that the parking space is free and a red light means that a car's parked there. Now, drivers don't have to crawl through all the lanes looking for a free slot; just one look at the lights and they'll know whether they can park on that level or move on to the next. Isn't that so clever? I doubt if they'll help ease the awful traffic around Manila's humongous malls during weekends though.

A roc's wingspan

Persia Grill is one of many restaurants on the Sky Garden of SM City North EDSA mall. I must say that my husband and I weren't impressed with the food we ordered, but I do like their sign and lanterns. If someone can tell me what this creature is supposed to be, I'd really appreciate it.

Bloom where you are planted

Of all the colorful sculptures of Joel Ferraris at the Sky Garden of SM City North EDSA mall, Bloom is the only one with a practical application. I've seen people sitting on them, although mostly just to pose for photos. Wouldn't it be fun to have garden chairs like these?

Fast and cheap

Greenhills Shopping Center has a restaurant row at the Promenade. Behind one of the buildings which leads to the supermarket, it also has a row of food stalls along the sidewalk. Needless to say, the food and drinks here are much, much less expensive than those at the Promenade.

God and mammon

The Philippines is the only country I know where Sunday Masses are celebrated in shopping malls. They are usually held in big, open areas where performances and other special events also take place. Some shopping centers that have many buildings sprawled over a large space even have their own chapels. I showed the one in Greenbelt last year. This one is the Chapel of the Holy Family in the Greenhills Shopping Center in the City of San Juan.

Strapped

A new kiosk that I recently discovered in some malls here, Asprey (which has nothing to do with the British luxury goods store) has nothing except watch straps. They have straps in leatherette, rubber, plastic and real leather, all the colors of the rainbow, and a wide range of widths. Even if the way the strap is attached is unusual, they will accommodate the replacement request, spending time carefully slicing tiny portions out of the tough leather.

Steampunk details

I was so curious about these things when I noticed them at SM City North EDSA mall that I just had to come up to them to find out what they were. And yes, take pictures. I like how they look, peeling paint and all.

An air conditioner vent at the Sky Dome amphitheater.



This looked like it could have been a WWII bomb or a telescope.


But it's just an exhaust fan in the parking building.

Child magnet

Kentucky-based Dippin' Dots has been available in Manila for several years now. I have yet to meet a child who doesn't like their ice cream.




But really, how can one resist such fun ice cream dots?

Touché

We had lunch with my husband's family at The Podium mall yesterday, where a fencing competition was going on. Sponsored by the mall and the Philippine Fencing Association, the competition was also meant to raise awareness about the sport, promote the association and, hopefully, excite enough interest from young mall-goers so they will take up fencing. The little girl in the pink shirt was watching the competition with complete attention (though her older sister wasn't)—think she'll ask her parents for epee, foil or sabre lessons some time soon?

A river runs through it

Another of TriNoma mall's numerous water features, which I've already featured several times, including a regular fountain, leaping jets and a pond which surrounds a Starbucks branch. This one mimics a river which ends in a cascade, with the added bonus of small leaping water jets. As the Ayala Malls' tag line says: "Lov'emall!"

Natural or man-made, take a refreshing dip in Watery Wednesday.

Half and half

The performance of Wadaiko Yamato that we watched last Saturday (see Tuesday's post) was held in the Sky Dome of SM City North EDSA mall. Half of the dome looks like it is swathed in nylon fabric and the other half stuffed with carpeting. I'm sure it has something to do with acoustics.

The war of the malls

When I first wrote about SM City North EDSA mall's Sky Garden, I mentioned that it was a response to the challenge of the more beautiful TriNoma mall, with its lush plants and numerous water features, which opened right across the street. The Sky Garden has some ponds too, and Starbucks opened a branch right beside one, like it did in TriNoma.

Natural or man-made, take a refreshing dip in Watery Wednesday.

Westward Ho!

The Sky Garden of SM City North EDSA has a covered walkway which links all of the mall's buildings. I've never seen one, but it reminds me of historical American West covered wagons.

Angelic bovine

If I didn't see yesterday's sticker in the taxi, this is what I would have used for the June CDP theme day. I was reluctant to use it though, for fear of offending dear ol' Louis la Vache. With his Holy Cow Coffee Company, these cows are probably close kin of his, even if they live halfway around the world. Poor Louis might still get hurt, but at least it isn't on a theme day.




The Chophouse is a restaurant in TriNoma mall that specializes in charcoal grilled steaks. Aside from the smiling cow with a halo in its logo, it also has a winged cow standing guard beside its front doors.




My husband and I have never eaten at The Chophouse, and I doubt if we ever will. We find the name quite unappetizing and besides, what hard-hearted person would be willing to eat such sweet, angelic cows?

On being a woman

"Pistils" by Joel Ferraris in the Sky Garden of SM City North EDSA mall.

Funhouse mirror

This is one of the huge, mirrored supporting pillars inside The Podium mall in Ortigas Center. They make for such crazily fun reflections, young children immediately run to them when they enter the mall.

See what's reflecting what at James' Weekend Reflections.

It's a jungle out there

SM City North EDSA has a fun and educational exhibit going on until the middle of the month. Titled "Safari Adventure" and running the entire length of the mall's Sky Garden, the exhibit features animals found in an African savanna ecosystem. Some displays have animatronics and audio narration, and all have informative banners. This is definitely not my clearest photo of the various set-ups, but I love how the display contrasts with the lights, billboards, buildings and Metro Rail Transit System in the background that I just had to use it.

Curvilinear

The roof detail of the curved facade of TriNoma mall in Quezon City against a clear blue mid-morning summer sky.

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page and tour the skies of our beautiful world.