Talking Pints: Merry Christmas, Keep Drinking

I can imagine it's a pretty familiar scene in workplaces across the city right now – colleagues packing up for a Christmas dash home. But for the rest of us who are going to brave the Beijing Christmas, there's plenty to keep us occupied.

As usual, before we get to what's coming up in the Christmas week, there are a few snippets you should be aware of.

Mas has said on it's Facebook account that it will be closed between December 16 and January 6. That's one way to avoid the hassle of all the festive party season, I suppose.

The all new Drive-Thru bar opens tonight (Dec 20) in its new China View Building home, and it seems like it's going to be called Trouble Bar. They'll continue to do a line in limited availability beers. They'll have six beers on tap, a coin-operated jukebox straight from the US, and a stage are for live music performances. They're christening their new spot tonight (Dec 20) with an opening party where they'll be giving away free PBR and Bock Damm from 8pm.

Planning to go out dancing this Christmas week? Jessica Rapp wrote this piece about a new smartphone app that allows you to preview the DJ in a selection of night clubs across town. Check it out.

The new Sanlitun Home Plate is stepping up operations, and they were in touch earlier this week to tell us about their new cocktail list, which they called in Leon Lee to help them develop. The announcement in full:

Quote:

"...We’re delighted to announce that we’re now serving over 20 cocktails crafted specially by the extremely capable Leon Lee (of Apothecary and Janes & Hooch renown) to complement Home Plate Bar-B-Que’s Southern fare." Our full-time bartenders have been working hard with Leon to get these drinks just the way we want them, and we’ve been sampling the results all the way to make sure they’re up to scratch. Naturally, we like all of them, but to get you started, why not try a Smoky Maple Old Fashioned, Fig Sazerac, Triple Crown Julep, Devil’s Julep or Kentucky Rose. (Or all of the above.)"

Jeff Mai (of Mai Bar) is preparing to launch a new bar in the booming Xingfu Ercun neighbourhood. Parlor Bar will be soft open on December 31. Good timing.

Highlights coming up:

• RELEASE 2013 is tonight (Dec 20). A stellar cast of international DJs - largely from Netherlands – are in town for the UCCA event.
• Don't forget about Jingle Bells featuring Goldie at Dada tonight (Dec 20). This is what he said to us last week.
• There'll be a party for all students headed home for the Christmas period at Elements Club tongiht (Dec 20).
• The Brick launches it's winter menu tomorrow (Dec 21). Another reason to stop by? How about a FIRE DANCER!
• Ninetoes at Lantern tomorrow night (Dec 21) is supposed to be great, too.

We'll have a blog about what to do around Christmas Day (provided you get the day off) next week.

Merry Christmas one and all! Enjoy a wonderful festive period.

Photo: data.motor-talk.de