Curated, Opinionated Shanghai Living

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- The Moganshan Lu Graffiti Wall Is Back (For Six Months). See It Here.
  
  Where there's art, there's life. And life is back at the section of Moganshan Lu where, historically, street artists have been covering (legally and freely) a brick wall with layers of murals. They had to stop about a year ago when the wall was torn down for the construction of Heatherwick Studio's 1000 Trees building. But now it's back! Read on
- New Moka Bros (and More) Opening Soon Near Jing'an Temple
  
  Fans of mid-tempo house music, black bean dip and beanbag pillowchairs will find reason to rejoice: Moka Bros is expanding to Jing'an. I will concede they have nice lemon iced tea and outdoor seating at the original location. It's all part of the total revamp of 1788 Plaza's basement food court and first floor retail tenant mix, which was much needed. It's still in progress — Moka Bros 2 will likely open this month — but a few options are open in the basement (a decent Neapolitan pizza place; a Changsha black stinky tofu and street snacks shop; tonkatsu; Xiao Yang's) and the hoarding is up for a new Baker & Spice and, intriguingly, a restaurant named Botanica. This is the building just across Nanjing Xi Lu from Wheelock Square and what used to be 10 Corso Como. Put it on your radar.
- This Little Bookstore Near Xintiandi Champions Young Chinese Illustrators
  
  Hey, here’s a cool off-the-beaten path shop. Zzcetistar Bookstore first opened in 2016 in a traditional shikumen house and made a name for its collection of illustrated books by emerging Chinese artists. A few months ago, they relocated to Zizhong Lu, on the second floor of an old red-brick house, a stone’s throw from the Xintiandi Metro station. We went down to have a look. Read on
- Shanghai Marathon Happening This Sunday, Expect Some Morning Road Closures
  
  People with more toenails than sense are running an inordinately long distance this Sunday, based on some arcane, ancient messaging system. That's right, it's... The Marathon! And it's happening this weekend, starting at 7am on Sunday at the Bund Bull. You know, the one whose... are shiny and polished from all the handling. That one. The Wall Street one. It's way too late to sign up but if you'd like to cheer those leg muscles and chafed male nipples on, or just want to avoid the road closures that will happen as the course heads down to the Xupu Bridge, have a look at this high resolution map of the route. Toenails — who needs them!
- Mandopop Superstar JJ Lin Opens A Coffee Shop, Attracts Flowers and Scalpers
  
  Celebrity-owned shops seem to be the rise than ever before, since the opening of Jay Chou’s overhyped bubble tea shop in late September this year. This time, it’s JJ Lin, the mandopop singer and songwriter, who has opened his Miracle Coffee shop in Shanghai, the first in mainland China. Naturally, it’s upstairs from his fashion store, Smudge. Read on
- Generation AAAAAAAXE: Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt, Tosin Abasi and Yngwie Malmsteen On One Stage
  
  Sweet merciful fretboards. The word "supergroup" needs to be retired after this. Generation Axe is coming to Shanghai on Dec 1. Formed in 2016 by Steve Vai, Generation Axe is comprised of five of the greatest axe shredders that ever shredded an axe in history, coming together to melt back-to-back faces. Whitesnake's Steve Vai, Ozzy Osbourne's Zakk Wylde, Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt, Animal As Leaders' Tosin Abasi and Yngwie Malmsteen's Yngwie Malmsteen, on a single stage. They'll be taking it in turns, together and in various configurations to perform some of their own work and new compositions, with a backing band. That's a lot of guitar music. They're in Asia following their 2018 US Tour, with a stop in Shanghai in the soaring halls of the National Exhibition and Convention Center, possibly the only place that could safely contain that much leather and hairspray. Bound to be a monumental, monumental show. Generation Axe tickets are available over on SmartTicket, starting at 480rmb.
- Shack Attack: Shake Shack Opens in Lujiazui Today
  
  The potato buns have found the ferry. That's right, Shake Shack has expanded to Pudong, with their salt-beef-umami bomb burgers and crinkly crinkly crinkle-cuts. Shake Shack Lujiazui opened this morning next to the iconic Apple store right there across from the Pearl Tower, in the sunken circle. As they do, they have introduced two new Concretes (ice creams): the Pudong Pick-Me-Up (iced coffee, mascarpone, cocoa powder, chocolate chunks and lady fingers) and the East Bank Blueberry (blueberry jam, fresh strawberries, butter biscuits). That makes three Shacks in the city — but still no delivery. Still waiting, Shack Masters, still waiting...
- You Should Go See Rear Windows, The Art Show On Now At Prada Rong Zhai
  
  Sometimes, art gives you goosebumps. That's the case with Li Qing's solo exhibition, Rear Windows, at Prada Rong Zhai, which was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's film, Rear Window. With a subject matter that lies somewhere between fiction and reality, the show gives you that eerie feeling of being observed while observing. Read on
- Singles Day, Every Day: Japanese BBQ Introduces Individual Grills
  
  Eating alone gets a bad rap. But it doesn’t have to be lonely, or sad, or shameful. And now you can enjoy your own company while eating Japanese BBQ. Yakiniku King has introduced the idea of an individual grill and sets for one all at once, opening three stores this month alone. Two are in Jing’an. One, which we went to, is in Minhang. Read on
- Popular Night Market at Jing'an Kerry Center Returns This Weekend
  
  Nature-themed night market Green Escape is back, starting this Saturday. It will take up the entire 300-meter stretch of Anyi Lu, which runs east-west between Jing’an Kerry Center, with 50+ stalls selling food and drinks, crafts, fresh flowers, jewelry, and other knick-knacks. A few of the names you can expect: DODU, the French rotisserie chicken chain; Rou Rou, the crayfish roll shop; healthy eats from Hunter Gatherer; and boooooze from The Odd Couple. First opened on October 26, the market went on hiatus for the Import Expo but now returns until January 19, 2020. Click here for details.
- Children's Book Fair Is On This Weekend, With More Than 60k New Books
  
  The 7th Shanghai International Children's Book Fair is on this weekend, with more than 60,000 new books, including 20,000 books not in Chinese, presented at the fair. As ever, it’s both a meeting and deal-making place for authors, illustrators and book companies, as well as a big marketplace for books for kids up to 16 years old. Last year drew more than 10,000 people per day. One of the highlights is the Golden Pinwheel Illustration Exhibition. Among the attendees are 100+ children’s authors and illustrators. Pop by and you might bump into the Austrian artist Lizbeth Zwerger, one of the finest contemporary illustrators of children’s literature. Click here for event details.
- Unravel's First Podcast Season Ends With an Encore and a Q&A
  
  Anytime someone gets up in front of a group of people in Shanghai, they're either trying to sell something or they're about to say something probably just a little racist. It's nice that Unravel has managed an entire season without doing either. The home-grown, all-organic Shanghai story-telling platform has just concluded a successful first season of podcasting, and they're getting together to celebrate. Like a public wrap party, or a curtain call. The 79-year old star of the final episode is even flying in from the US for a Q&A with the story-tellers and the three sleep-deprived producers of the show. That's happening this Thursday at Camel. Go ask them how they actually managed to pull it together. Read on
- OPETH Coming to MAO Livehouse in December for Clean, Growl-Free Prog Rock
  
  It's impressive that the Swedish band that's basically synonymous with prog metal is still putting out albums (and band line ups) after 30 years. Starting out as "the world's most evil band" on the death metal scene of some bumfuck village in southern Sweden, OPETH have determinedly shifted towards prog rock, creating their own distinctly genre-bending mix of clean and dirty. They've released 13 albums, culminating in the 2019 release of In Cauda Venenum. That's what this tour is all about. I understand it means "the sting is in the tail" or like, "an unwanted surprise at the end." So progressive. What could that possibly mean? What if it was just Mikael Akerfeldt telling everyone, for the umpteenth time, that he thinks growling is boring? He's mastered it. He's nodding off at the microphone, guys. Where's the challenge? Where's the art. If you want to go take it up with him in person, they're playing at MAO Livehouse on December 2. Tickets to Opeth China Tour 2019 start at 480rmb over on SmartTicket.
- Super Popular Online Makeup Brand Opens Real Store in Putuo
  
  Wanghong comes in many guises. It isn't limited to artsy cafes with unfathomable modern art and overpriced flat whites. Its insidious feelers have spread into every industry. Here's another one: three-year-old cosmetics brand Perfect Diary, with 10.3 million followers on Tmall and sales of 100 million rmb last Single's Day. The brand opened its first store in Shanghai at the end of October, crawling off the internet like wild weeds. How is it? Read on
  
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- Ramen Boy Gets His Own Place Behind Jing'An Temple
  
  Big life changes for Ramen Boy! The instant noodle bible is back, and this time it has its own place to live. Ramen Boy used to just be this stocked shelf of instant ramen packets in Taiwanese eatery Bistro Bonbon, operating during the day. Run by an insatiable ramen fan, who has allegedly tried 300 different kinds when last we checked, and at one point ate instant noodles every day for two years, it seems the ramen venture has become promising enough to spin off into its own thing on Xikang Lu. Read on
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Asian Vibes pres. Tunnel

Chicago based avant-garde techno artist Tunnel. As curator of Webuildmachines, he's going to make his debut hybrid set in China with a collection of brutal tracks from th...

Nightlife | FALLOUT

Bar Rouge Anniversary: Opening Part...

Opening night of Bar Rouge's birthday week, with the usual DJ antics, Champagne antics, and late night dancing. 100rmb pre-sale, 200rmb on the door.

Nightlife | Bar Rouge

Lee Ritenour and Friends

Lee Ritenour has recorded more than 40 albums that have yielded 35 chart songs. As a young guitarist, he put his combination of diverse musical styles and brilliant techn...

Nightlife | Blue Note Jazz Club
Green Escape Night Market

The Anyi Lu nature-themed night market is back! After launching in late October, and taking a break for the Import Expo, it returns with more than 50 vendors. Expect stal...

Community | Jing'an Kerry Center

Viking Night

The night of feared raiders is coming back to pillage your liver and whatever measly brain cells you possess. That’s right, after the devastatingly booze plundering Vik...

Nightlife | Inferno (United Valley)

44KW Presents Redshape

Receiving inspiration from a deep interest for any kind of music, with a special affinity for the early sounds of Detroit and Chicago, Redshape has released his music on ...

Nightlife | 44KW
DKNSTRKT Drag Workshop: Comedy in D...

A free introductory workshop with Shanghai drag performer, Lady N. Gentlemen plus very special guest. This workshop invites all artists to explore the art of campy drag. ...

Community | The Pearl

HIIT & Yoga

For those who think that HIIT is too intense and yoga is not enough, you may be surprised to see how they complement one another. 88rmb per class or five classes for 398...

Sports & Recreation | Mind Over Body Fitness (Xinzha Lu)

Andrew Manze, Mengla Huang and NDR ...

Founded in 1950, with a history of nearly 70 years, NDR Radiophilharmonie is the top orchestra in the "radio symphony orchestra system" of Germany. Andrew Manze has been ...

Arts | Grand Theatre
Britten Sinfonia: Goldberg Variatio...

Britten Sinfonia is a chamber orchestra ensemble based in Cambridge, UK. It was created in 1992, following an initiative from Eastern Arts and a number of key figures inc...

Arts | Grand Theatre

365°

The first China show for Spanish photographer Eugenio Recuenco blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Nearly half of his 366 works in this series, which took eight y...

Arts | Zhonghai Huanyuhui

Cabinet of Curiosities: An Exhibiti...

Cabinet of Curiosities exhibition, a serial project curated by Da Shi, takes its inspiration from the earliest museums, dating back to the Renaissance. In this case, it's...

Arts | Duo Yun Xuan Art Center
From Shanghai with Love: Another Ki...

“From Shanghai with Love” is a full week of concerts hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center, featuring the best of Shanghai’s Jazz and Blues. From Nov 19 to Nov 24, each ...

Nightlife | Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai

Mi Casa Es Su Casa

A big Latin party with salsa dance classes, live percussionist Thomas Dyani, and Latin music all night long. Mojitos are BOGO until 11pm too.

Nightlife | Revolucion Cocktail
Turkey To Go

Thanksgiving Turkey To Go for the festive season. Hampers include whole fire-roasted turkey, honey-roasted ham, Australian rib-eye, and more. 1,238rmb for hampers or 998r...

Dining | Kerry Hotel

Thanksgiving Turkey Promotion

Have this American BBQ restaurant do your turkey (998rmb) or honey glazed ham (1199rmb) for you for the holidays.

Dining | Chuckville

A Season of Thanksgiving

A hearty dinner buffet for people looking for that traditional family celebration, which includes traditional roast turkey, pumpkin, cranberry compote and a selection of ...

Dining | Portman's

ALL EVENTS

GALLERIES

- November 3, 2019
  
  Halloween Party
  
  @ 83BANDS Club
- November 8, 2019
  
  DJ Kryder
  
  @ Bar Rouge
- November 9, 2019
  
  Eyes Whide Shut
  
  @ Don Club
- November 2, 2019
  
  Halloween Ball
  
  @ Bar Rouge
- October 26, 2019
  
  Celebrity Resurrection
  
  @ UP Shanghai
- October 23, 2019
  
  Shanghai United Family Hospital
  
  @ Shanghai United Family Hospital (Hongqiao)
- October 23, 2019
  
  Shanghai United Family Hospital- Babies & Children
  
  @ Shanghai United Family Hospital (Hongqiao)
- May 30, 2019
  
  SCIS Events
  
  @ Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) Hongqiao Campus
- May 30, 2019
  
  SCIS Campus
  
  @ Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) Hongqiao Campus
- May 28, 2019
  
  BISS
  
  @ British International School Shanghai (Puxi)

SMARTREVIEWS

15 Nov 2019

Sophisticated small plates for imperfect dates

suzyd_ on Bird

Oh, Bird. You’ve been on my to do list since you opened. I was really looking forward to trying your stylish small plates in your trendy little space. You’re so near my apartment that I hoped you might become a regular treat venue. Bird – we need to talk. Flavours, Bird. ... Read more
15 Nov 2019

Cheap and tasty all-you-can-eat Japanese hot pot

MichaelRussam on A Jiu

A Jiu is an all-you-can eat Japanese hot pot and sukiyaki restaurant, nestled in an alley just off of Wuyi Lu. For RMB 159 per person, you get a pot of one of eight or so flavors of hotpot OR either sweet or salty sukiyaki, a Japanese broth that arrives with a select few vegetables already stewi... Read more
14 Nov 2019

Fries done right

Sally Hsiao on Royal Patat

Coming out from West Nangjing metro station and you’ll see people lining up in front of Royal Patat. I was intrigued by the crowd and I was constantly craving for fries after coming back from Amsterdam, so I gave it a try. It’s fascinating to see how they come up with all the vari... Read more