Guinness and Green Beer: St. Patrick's in Beijing
The St. Patrick's Day parades might have been canceled in Shanghai and Beijing, but that won't stop the Irish from coming out in greater force than normal for a week of Guinness, Irish music and daft hats. To get you in the mood, have a listen to the current Irish national anthem here. Now, what's going on the rest of the week?
The party's already in full swing at Paddy O'Shea's and The Stumble Inn. Paddy's yesterday celebrated the arrival of Murphy's stout, which is on draft at RMB 50. Tonight, the regular Wednesday night quiz at Paddy's will have a definite Irish flavor, with a Paddy's Day theme and guest appearances from various members of co-owner Karl Long's extended family. The quiz starts around 8pm.
Over at The Stumble Inn, Guinness is on special offer at RMB 50 until March 20 - tonight Blackwater supply traditional Irish tunes to get you in the mood. That's free and things should get started at 7.30pm. And IFW at the Park Hyatt has just relaunched with a Chinese-only menu. Nothing to do with St. Patrick's Day? Think again - they're doing a buy-one-get-one-free deal on Guinness and Kilkenny until Friday (March 18). Once that's finished, they still have a Monday to Friday happy hour on all beers - Guinness included - which gives you buy-one-get-one-free drinks from 9-10.30pm. One of the best deals around at the moment.
Things will hit fever pitch tomorrow, with Paddy O'Shea's sure to be packed from floor to ceiling. Kamat's Indian Restaurant on the second floor will also be reclaimed to make more room for revelers. There's live acoustic tunes at The Stumble Inn from 7.30pm, and out at The Green Cap they're doing a RMB 100 offer that gets you an Irish stew, pint of Guinness and a shot of Jameson's. Out of Control will be playing live music at The Green Cap from 6pm on Thursday. More live music at Eudora Station, where house band Bump City are celebrating their one-year anniversary at the venue to coincide with the Irish festivities. Eudora also seems to be the only place in town doing it the American way and doing the whole green beer thing. Bump City are on from 9.30pm. The Hutong has a Paddy's Day party, with homemade beer courtesy of Great Leap Brewery - there'll also be Irish-themed competitions and loads of prizes to be won. The party goes from 7-10pm and entry is free. Finally, Great Leap Brewery is offering three types of stout specially made for St. Patrick's Day at their Doujiao Hutong bar.
On Friday, Bump City continue in the same vein as the night before with another live set, DJ Tipsy plays Irish rock at The Stumble Inn, and Paddy's hosts a live Irish band from 9pm.
Saturday is the highlight of the social calendar for Beijing's Irish community - the St. Patrick's Day Ball. It's always a huge event, and picked up a Beijinger Reader Bar & Club Award last year as one of the year's outstanding events - e-mail 2011ball@gmail.com to see if you can still grab a ticket. The event takes place at the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel, and the tickets cost RMB 1,000, which includes dinner and a free bar which remains open until very, very, very late.
If anyone is still going by Sunday - and some no doubt will be - the Westin Chaoyang is getting in on the action with a St. Patrick's edition of their award-winning Bubbalicious brunch. There'll be various twists on the usual spread, including Irish dancers and the like. The champagne-inclusive brunch costs RMB 428+15% service charge, and brunch is from 11.30am-3pm.
Can't be bothered going out for St. Patrick's Day? Java+ at the Marriott Northeast Hotel is offering a selection of Paddy's Day-themed baked goods - Green Tea and Green Apple cakes, mousse and macaroons, all decorated with leprechaun and shamrock designs. Cakes cost from RMB 150 per pound, and they're available only until the end of day tomorrow (March 17).
On top of all that, rumors abound that the poseur's cider of choice, Magners, may be on its way to Beijing in the not-too-distant future. No more on that just now - enjoy St. Patrick's Day and don't do anything I wouldn't do.
