The Sky Garden at SM City North Edsa is an oasis in the heart of suburbia.I was invited on two occasions to tour ,this new addition to the SM City compound.

Situated on the second floor of the former parking lot fronting the main building and The Block, the long curvilinear park offers much needed greenery not only to the mall, but to the whole city as a whole.

The Sky Garden’s different attractions include the Sky Dome, the Roof Garden, Water Features, and a string of restaurants, cafes, and retail shops.

A canopied walk way that meanders through the entire garden brigns you from one point to the other.

The Roof Garden has about fifty five species of plants, including shrubs, trees and grass.

These include gingers, white angels, peanut plants and several bonsai trees. Modern sculptures dot the area amidst undulating lawns and borders of river stones.

The Sky Dome is the latest event and performance area of the mall, where one can hold concerts, shows and other events.

It has a seating capacity of more thatn 1,000, and also features a movable stage and a huge sky light.

Near one end of the Sky Garden is a waterfall on the edge of the second floor.

This waterfall is fed by a simulated stream that flows through the garden and also acts a huge screen onto which montages can be projected. Other water features are fountains on either end of the garden.

Completing the experience will be food and retail outlets that will give customers an al fresco dining and shopping experience. Starbucks, Coffee Experience, Coffee Works and Churasco Express are some of the outdoor cafes on the garden. Marina, La mesa Grill, Ineng’s BBQ and Padi’s Point are some of the restaurants that make up the diverse choices one has. Cello’s Donuts & Dips, Tita Lyn’s Suman, Art’s Bibingka, Blushing Cupcakes are some of the fun, specialty food stores in the area.

The Sky Garden also serves as a connection to all three buildings in the SM City compound. It also serves as a roof for the parking lot, and public transportation terminal, where customers and pedestrians alike can access the Sky Garden via escalators and stairs.

There’s also an elevator nearby for the disabled. Soon, the entire development will be connected to the combined LRT 1, MRT 1 and MRT 7 Grand Terminal.

Enough of me babbling. Why don’t you go see for yourself what new things await you at this new oasis in the heart of suburbia- the SM City Sky Garden.

Ibang-iba na ngayon ang SM City North Edsa. May, nabawas; may nadagdag. Gaya ng The Block at ang bagong Sky Garden.

Marami akong masasayang alaala sa SM City North Edsa. Nariyan nag mga oras na patambay-tambay kasama ng aking mga kaibigan. Pag tiantamad pumasok sa paaralan doon din ang aming puntahan. O di kaya pagkagaling sa school o kaya pag half-day, diyan siguro ang aming punta.

Tatambay kami sa food court at magkwekwentuhan habang kumakain ng chichiriya at french fries. O di kaya ay pupunta kami ng aking mga kaibigan at ang kakain sa Cafe’ Elysee’. Minsan kasi feeling “soysal” kami. Oorder kami ng iced tea at isang bandehado ng nacho salad– okay na kami dun. Dati itong nasa second floor ng main building, sa pwesto ngayon ng shakeys. Naalala ko pa nga may escalator pa ito sa gilid, na sa ilalim nun ay ang gallery ni Peck Pinon. Isa pang tambayan namin ang A&W at Wendy’s sa dating Annex.

At pagkatapos kumain ay maglalaro na kami ng Tekken at Street Fighter II sa may video arcade. Air hockey, yung basketball game, maski ang DANCE DANCE Revolution ay aming nilalalaro. Pag nagasawa na kami ay nagiikot-ikot kami sa boung mall.

Kapag bored sa bahay at walang magawa, dito din ako pumupunta. Nagwi-window shopping sa Giordano, Guess at Benetton. Nagkakape o di kaya kumakain ng takoyaki sa Samurai Express sa may Super Sale Club. Pupunta sa BookSale para maghanap at bumili ng murang pocket book at magazine. Isa pang paboritiong kong pinupuntahan noon ay ang Nova Fontana sa Carpark.Mura at maganda kasi ang mga laruan doon. Lagi silang may naka-sale at doon ako nakabili ng mga G.I. Joe na tig-50 pesos lamang.

Ang aking mga kapatid ay may ilang beses na din nagcelebrate ng kanilang kaarawan sa Jollibee sa lumang Annex. Masaya mag-party dun kasi may mascots, may games at syempre may Chicken Joy!

Isa ito sa mga kinasasabikan kong pangyayari nung ako’y bata pa–ang aming bonding session ng aking ama– sa maikling panahong kami’y magkapiling. Bihira kaming magkasama. Bihira kasi sya umuwi. Minsan sa isang taon lamang. Nariyan din ang pagkakakataong minsan sa 2 taon. Lumagaligi sya dito ng isang buwan hanggang 2 buwan. Ito ang kanyang bakasyon mula sa kanyang pinagtatrabahuang kumpanya sa Saudi. Kadalasang itinataon nya ang kanyang bakasyon tuwing Marso, kasabay ng aking bakasyon sa paaralan.

Naalala ko tuwing bakasyon at nandito ang aking ama, isa sa mga gawain namin ay ang magpunta sa SM City North Edsa.

Pag siya’y dumarating, kami ay umuuwi sa bahay nila sa Candaba. Dun kami namamalagi hanggang sa huling araw ng kanyang bakasyon. Paminsan-minsan kami’y lumuluwas at nagpupunta sa SM City. Wala namang kasing pasyalang katulad nito nung panahon na iyon probinsya namin.

Mamimili kami ng damit, sapatos, mga gamit sa aking pag-aaral. Natatandaan ko pa ang unang Bench t-shirt na binili namin. Kulay puti ito at may nakasulat dun na “Bench Brats” sa harap. Pero ang a pinakapaborito ko ay ang aming pagpunta sa ToyLand para bumili ng aking laruan. Siyempre, hindi pwedeng hindi kami bumili ng laruan. Pagkatapos naming mamimili kami nama’y kumakain sa Jollibee. Minsan nanunood din kami ng pelikula. Madalas inaabot kami ng gabi kaya’t malimit kaming duamting sa bahay ng malalim na ang gabi.

Ito ay ilan lamang sa mga alaalang nabuo ko na kasama ang SM City North Edsa. Ang mga alaalang aking binabalik-balikan sa tuwing ako’y pumapasok sa kanyang pintuan. parte na ito ng aking buhay. At kahit ibang-iba na ngayon ang hitsura nito, ito pa rin ang aking SM City na kinalakihan.

Urban Time, an emerging fashion watch boutique, recently opened their flagship store at The Annex, SM North Edsa. The event coincided with the unveiling of Urban Times’ Brand Ambassadors.

Five young women from participating schools and universities, were selected to represent the young, chic urbanite that is Urban Time’s target clientele’. The Brand Ambassadors are : Miki Hahn from La Salle College International; Rachel Rustia and Stephanie Sol from University of Asia and the Pacific; Portia Silva from Ateneo De Manila University; and Anna Monica Villaverde from Trinity University of Asia.

Urban Time carries the fashionable and chic European watch brands such as Lulu Castagnette, MC Marie Claire, and Cherie Paris. All are available at SM Department Stores nationwide and at the newly opened Urban Time Flagship Store at the 3/F The Annex, SM City North Edsa.

For more information about the Urban Time Icons, or to see their catalogue, visit: www.urbantimeicon.com