Talking Pints: Plans Afoot For B and a Potential New Year's Resolution

Belated Happy New Year wishes to you all. Here's to another fine and fulfilling year in Beijing boozing. It's good to be back after a brief rest over the holidays. How was your festive period, then? Many Beijing expats took the opportunity to flee the bitter BJ chill and headed for sunnier climes, while others toughed it out here in Beijing – Lord knows there was plenty to keep the hardy entertained.

This weekend saw a lot of the escapees returning home to a lousy working weekend. Still, if you're up for it, there's plenty enough going on around town to make it worth stepping out.

But first to some breaking news: Shuangjing hangout Plan B could be about to get even more popular as manager Trevor Metz reveals they've negotiated to take over the identically-sized space next door to extend Plan B (Plan B.0?). Early plans are for the new area to include a pool table, two dart boards and more seating as Metz wants to get involved in the highly competitive Beijing Darts League. They take a sledgehammer to the partition on January 10 and hope to be re-open by the 14th in good time for the upcoming Spring Festivities.

However, we've just heard that Plan B is closed tonight due to some plumbing problems!

It's never too early to start planning what to do with your special someone for Valentine's Day. Well, the first week in January may be a tad early, but some venues in town have already been in touch about their Valentine's specials. We'll provide a detailed breakdown of Valentine's options are closer to the date. Gents, forget to book a table somewhere nice at your peril. I'll be sure to provide a timely reminder here for you.

London DJ Kiran Patel is next up to preside over Migas's popular Detroit Series tonight. He sets to spinning from 10pm. Still with Migas, popular party crew Funk Fever celebrate their Four-Year Anniversary party on February 22 and are promising prizes and a "very special guest DJ" that night.

You could be forgiven for thinking Jianguomen superclub GT Banana had had its day. When was the last time you stopped by? My interest tailed upon hearing the signature bouncy dance floor had gone. Perhaps it's time for a reboot. GT Banana is now under new management and the new charges are promising "a lot of fresh events [this] year, and not just PVD or his top 100 dj mag friends."

We were pleased to hear that Union Bar & Grille gaffer Andy Bright is back in action following a lengthy injury lay-off.

What's your New Year's resolution? If you don't have one, you could make it to find the time to visit all the newest bars in town, and your January would be instantly taken care of. There's Janes & Hooch, Bourbon and Manifesto around Sanlitun (each of which we're hoping to get along to imminently), and Slow Boat Brewery Taproom a little further along on Dongsi Batiao, to name but four. Let's hope 2013 matches last year for sheer volume of new openings.

Don't forget to check our ever increasing number of events listings if you're looking for something to do this weekend.

Wherever you get to this weekend, don't let work stop you from having a great time!