Talking Pints: Suzie Wong's 8th Birthday, Great Wall Beach Party and Afrokoko Roots

If World Cup fatigue is setting in at just the wrong time, at least there are some cool events this weekend. And pretty much all of them will involve the World Cup being screened in some way or another. First up, Suzie Wong's celebrates their 8th birthday on Saturday night. There's an invite-only VIP reception at 8pm, but for everyone else it's RMB 200 to get in, and the fun kicks off at 10.30pm. There'll be beautiful people, fast cars and a display of projection art, which we think will probably involve large-scale images being projected onto walls - should be loads of fun. Maradona can't do that.

If you'd rather escape Beijing for Saturday night, get on the bus with DJ El-Mar for the Great Wall Beach Party. There'll be a beach, girls in bikinis, guys in Speedos and the greatest pile of bricks on the planet - and you can watch Germany and Argentina face up too. Maradona would probably rather be on the beach than watching the game. RMB 250 and buses leaving from Wudaokou (5pm) and Chaoyang Park (2pm and 5.30pm). Call 136 8126 3981 for more info.

Sunny Dada and his Afrokoko Roots, along with rapper Korelement, blow up Mako Live House tomorrow night with a concert and costume party from 7pm. The party launches Mi-2, an new "online video magazine," and there's an iPad waiting for the most creative costume. Entry is RMB 100 on the door or RMB 75 if you call 139 3983 5414. Maradona would come dressed as Che Guevara.

Or if you want to, just watch the World Cup. It's on pretty much everywhere you go, except Fubar, where Chad is the sole defender of a World Cup-free lifestyle. I could be doing with some of that. Latest bars to tell us that they're showing the games include Q Bar and Mao Mao Chong. Maradona would like Q Bar's mojitos.

Of course, this weekend sees every Brit's favorite renegade province stick the fingers up at us once again. July 4th parties happening all around town. Click here for more of that.