Community Matters: Figure Eight Out, New Year on Ice

Here at The Beijinger, our January issue is hot off the press, and it is about everything icy you can do in Beijing during the winter months. We went to some of the prime ice skating spots and grabbed some photos of clumsy fun on the ice. Hopefully this will motivate you to get out there and let your figure skating fantasy come alive. So go pick up an issue or check it out at Issuu.com.

If you are eager to impress your friends and family this coming New Year, try your hand at learning how to cook a typical northern feast consisting of four happiness meatballs, fried celery, and braised chicken with mushrooms. I am of the opinion that you can never truly understand a culture if you have not explored their culinary traditions, and you can be rest assured that the folks at The Hutong will leave you pleasantly satisfied. 

This class will be every Saturday throughout the month, the first beginning on Jan 4th. Each week will focus on a different region and their specialty dishes. Other recipes on the menu will be  steamed river bass, soy chicken, and an essential recipe for dumplings. It isn't a New Year's party without those steamy mounds of deliciousness. The cost is RMB 1000 for four classes. Register here. 

In other community news, it is that time of month again for another Book Swap & Board Games Meeting. Try your luck over at The Local with the earliest form of commerce. Who knows, maybe you’ll stumble on that rare copy of the Necronomicon, or the even more elusive complete copy of Mousetrap. 

Here are some more community events this week:

• Colorful Picture Book Series at UCCA
• Sunday Storytime With Emily
• Foreigners and Chinese Networking Event

Photos： Nick Richards