Talking Pints: Grand Openings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Deaths

Starting off with some - if it's true - morbid news, we wanted to comment on the rumored “murder in Sanlitun.” In early June, several eyewitnesses claimed to have seen a local Chinese woman brutally murdered on Sanlitun bar street. This Global Times’ article reports on the incident, but seems to cast some doubt as to whether the attack truly took place. If it did indeed happen in and around Bar Street, it seems likely no matter what time of day it took place that there would have been enough witnesses around to make sure we'd have heard a lot more gossip on the subject. If the incident took place away from the main bar strips, it may just have been possible to keep chatter to a minimum, but it's all really just speculation so long as the police continue to deny that any such incident took place. However, there does seem to have been an increase in violence - albeit mostly petty - around Sanlitun Houjie in recent months. Maybe it's just the summer heat bringing bigger crowds outside, maybe it's people getting tanked on ten-kuai drinks full of suspect alcohol, but it's a while since we've heard of fights going on with such regularity. Stay cool, people.

Present

Now onto lighter and happier things – with their soft opening just a few weeks ago, ChinaDoll is having their Grand Opening Party tonight with the alluring theme “Bite the Forbidden Fruit” and will be officially unveiling their new 5th floor lounge and rooftop Sky Bar. Party is open to VIP guests at 9pm and to the public at 10pm. Owner Ai Wan promises a free “Forbidden Fruit” cocktail to guests dressed in a stewardess uniform so time to pull out those old Halloween costumes.

Also tonight is Weng Weng’s Birthday Party at Lantern. He’s been DJing in Beijing for at least ten years and we wish him a very Happy Birthday. Get out there and show this electronic veteran some love as he spins a ten hour long set in honor of a decade of great memories.

DJ Nu-Mark will be playing at Yugong Yishan tomorrow. See our interview with the former Jurassic 5 DJ/producer here. In addition, Punk X Beijing Zoo is celebrating their 1st Year Anniversary at Punk presenting Kid Fresh and Miss Yellow.

Future

Members' only club The Apartment, located on the third floor of Tongli Studio, is now closed to its members and is apparently reopening as a martini bar, presumably open to everyone. Terrible news for those of us who were members ... oh wait, we weren't.

Xiu has introduced a RMB 100 cover charge for guys on Thursday and Friday nights, but not all is lost – a glass of champagne will be included.

Fubar is going to be remodeled in the near future with expenses said to be footed by Hendrick’s Gin. Or so Beijing Boyce has been telling us. No surprise since Fubar has tirelessly promoted the Hendrick’s gin and tonic from day one. Hopefully the people from Hendrick's like secret doors and RMB 1 mojitos.

With White Rabbit’s closing last month, fans will be glad to know that its bosses Thomas Gaestadius and Yang Bing will be having an Open Air Festival on September 11. The party will be held out of town with a view of the Great Wall and organizers say it’ll have a proper rave vibe.

Past

Dimitri From Paris played ROOMbeijing Wednesday night. Things got very busy around midnight, with Playboy bunnies, long lines for drinks and Dimitri playing all sorts of upbeat tracks - everything from Bob Sinclar to Blur, but cooled down around 1.30am as the white-collar crowd started going home to get ready for work the next day. We saw some big names there, such as former NBA star Ma Jian, Hatsune boss Alan Wong, local DJs Patrick Yu, Suki, Thomas Gaestadius, Bitesize Buddha and others.