Curated, Opinionated Shanghai Living

News, updates, everything we've got...
- Thread Design Giving Free F&B Branding Workshop
  
  People who want to open restaurants, listen up! Thread Design, an F&B design and branding agency that is behind many of the city’s well-known Western restaurants (Boxing Cat Brewery, Saigon Mama, Shanghai Brewery, etc.), is giving a free workshop on F&B branding next month. (Read about them here.) In this saturated F&B market, every little bit you know helps. Learn you somethin’! Read on
- This Week's Tickets: Why Don't We, STREET NOISE and Tom Rhodes
  
  It's a new week, with a mercifully short list of ticketable events and happenings around town. It's the quiet before the storm that is September, when just about everything seems to be landing. Still, couple of note-worthy things; modern-day boyband Why Don't We is in town tomorrow, STREET NOISE is throwing down some hip-hop, and professional funny-man Tom Rhodes is plying his trade at Cages later this week. Read on
- La Social Opens Its Heathen Doors in Shanghai
  
  The very South American bar from the same people behind Moka Bros held a little pre-opening-opening party on Thursday, after teasing their arrival pretty much from the moment Moka Bros opened. A Sanlitun transplant, La Social occupies a second-floor spot on Wuding Lu, decked out in reds, yellows and South American paraphernalia of every kind. It's built on arepas, Latin dance and offending people's religious sensibilities. There's an illuminated bust of Mao with a peacock fan of ping pong paddles like a shrine to... Zaniness? Iconoclasm? The menu is dedicated to fruity rum-and-tequila-ish cocktails in the 70-90rmb range, with "zomg no way" names like "Baby Jesus Crush" and "Ginger Blasphemy." They serve mojitos in a soup bowl. All pretty tasty, as are the arepas. It's open now. No three-month soft opening phase? Blasphemy.
- [Friday Five]: DUCK FIGHT GOOSE, Ginger Kwan, Monxx and Non-Music Events this Weekend
  
  It's Qixi Festival, which means if you haven't gotten a reservation yet at that place you were supposed to get a reservation at, it's probably been reserved by someone else. Here're all the non-Chinese Valentine's (also non-trance, non-craft beer and non-Dada) related things are left that we haven't written about yet. Read on
- Singapore's Dessert Boutique Sunday Folks Pops Up in Jing'an
  
  Sunday Folks is a Singaporean ice cream and dessert cafe that's drawn a following in the Lion City for their indie ethos, their cakes and their ice creams. They've now shipped their team over to Shanghai, including the co-founder and the executive chef, for a two-month pop-up at the Jing’an Kerry Center every day of the week, the brand’s first overseas trip. In total, they'll be doing 10 types of freshly churned ice cream over the two months, three flavors at a time. We went down to sample the three on offer today: Kaya, Mango and Coconut with Coconut Cream, and Earl Grey Tea. A little sweet, a bit on the expensive side, but a welcome change of pace in Shanghai's melty ice cream scene. Thanks, Sunday Folks.
- Brawl on the Bund is Looking For Fighters
  
  It's your Cinderella Man moment. Brawl on the Bund is now recruiting fighters for its big November boxing event. Boxers with all levels of experience are welcome. The sign up is for a training camp once a week for twelve weeks with an introduction to new skills and exercises with professional coaches at Golden Gloves. Boxers are then selected to fight in matches for Brawl on the Bund, which is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this fall. More details and pricing here.
- [Report From The Ground]: Shanghai Book Fair
  
  Book lovers unite! The annual feast of cheap books -- 20% off, at least! – has arrived: the Shanghai Book Fair kicked off on Wednesday at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. Beat the crowds; go at night. Read on
- Scarpetta Gets Fresh Blood In The Kitchen, Menu Revamp
  
  Italian restaurant Scarpetta hired a new chef back at the beginning of the year, and the results are starting to come in. Patrick Leano and owner John Liu have been on a ruthless quest to pare back their menu since teaming up in January. Not to pare back the number of dishes, mind you. No, what they are doing is a radical stripping back of their dishes to their core elements, trying to intensify flavors, and make every dish a showstopper. Are they successful? Read on
- Last Call: We Are Hiring a Photographer
  
  Last call for photographers who want to work at SmartShanghai, the galaxy's best English language website and events directory. WE ARE HIRING. We want a Junior Photographer to help out our Art Department by shooting wonderful, glorious, visually captivating and entrancing shots of this city and the people who live in it. We will supply the city and the people. You turn them into nice photos. The requirements are here. Deadline for applications is this Sunday, August 19th at midnight. We will be sorting out applications on Monday morning. Join us!
  
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- Chunghwa Makes Beer. Does It Taste Like An Ashtray?
  
  The important questions. Zhonghua (Chunghwa, by the label) cigarettes, favorite of the nouveau riche, government officials and foreigners who try too hard, has launched a beer. Well, no. It’s a rip-off. A brass-balls, exuberant, blatant rip-off. But it looks real enough for KTV. So how does it taste? Read on
- First Round of Concrete & Grass Lineup Announced: Jillionaire, Suchmos, Jun Togawa, Emiliana Torrini & The Colorist and More, More, More
  
  Indie music festival Concrete & Grass has announced the first wave of its lineup, and, man, it’s a tsunami. The homegrown event is going to have 60+ artists for the 2018 festival, which will run on September 15 & 16 at the familiar Shanghai Rugby Club field. Among the first 30 acts announced for this year: legendary Japanese singer Jun Togawa, the ‘Japanese Jamiroquai’ SUCHMOS, Major Lazer ingredient The Jillionaire, indie emo kids Chinese Football, indie pop singer Zee Avi, Britpop band DYGL, Mallrat, Iceland's Emiliana Torrini & The Colorist, And So I Watch You From Afar, Mongolian rock from Rid Band, and electronica duo Shanghai Restoration Project. SmartTicket has tickets on NOW. Get those right here. Hit the jump for the full line-up, released today. Read on
  
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- Don’t Screw Up Chinese Valentine’s Day This Friday
  
  This Friday brings Qixi Festival and like a 6-week anniversary, it might not make sense to celebrate -- but bonus points if you do and a light slap on the wrist if you forget. To help you not screw this up, we called around town to see what nice restaurants still have space. As of 3pm on Wednesday, the ones below have seats! Celebrate! Spend! Celebrate! Read on
  
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- Malaysian Streetfood & Durian Ice Kacang at BOIBOI
  
  Take heed, durian fans. Fan? Jet Lo, previously at Ginger, has opened up an off-shoot brand of Malaysia's Fook Yuen, called BOIBOI, a roadside (alley-side) stall in an otherwise nondescript food court that replaced chintzy "bathhouse" Orient Rome. It's slinging a concise menu of affordable Malaysian streetfood, like honey BBQ wings, claypot and coconut rice and Sarawak laksa. Also, Durian Ice Kacang! Read on
- Dada Reaches Puberty, Turns Nine This Weekend with Big Party
  
  Nine is a tricky age. Children are more distant from Mother and Father; they're more independent and rely on friends for companionship, or they have a tendency to spend time alone. Some are entering college. Others are already 4-time ninja world champions. All are beginning to get hair in weird places. Such is the newest life stage that messy club Dada enters this weekend. To celebrate their maturation, and the emergence of DJs in weird places, they are hosting a blow-out party with a lovely mix of DJs: PUZZY STACK (coming down from Beijing), sticker king DJ Cavia, energizer-DJ Gouachi, and party man Heatwolves, alongside VJ Niv. Go down, wish Ohlsson good luck with the next nine years (only nine more until the club can drink), and get sloppy.
  
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- Active Shanghai
  
  By Sarah Boorboor
  
  Fitness News: The Deal with Classroom Soho and V-Day Discounts
  
  A lot going on in fitness land this week including a few workshops at Zenergy and a chance to "run away" with Runnershai. Also, Qixi Festival discounts and a look at Classroom Soho, a place for fitness instructors to rent studio space on the cheap. Read on
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Ladies Night

Every Tuesday at Barraco, they're hosting a noite das garotas (ladies night). Happy hour prices all night for girls, and other cocktails are half price. (25rmb beers; 35...

Nightlife | Barraco

Alice’s Adventures Underground (C...

The large-scale immersive drama “Alice’s Adventures Underground” originated in London, and officially launches its Chinese version in Asia. The production brings to...

Arts | Daning Little Manor
Wonderful Wednesdays

Classy and hip Bund cocktail lounge (and pool) Wet Bar indulges every Wednesday night from 7pm-9pm. Head down for "The David Hervé Oyster Experience". Buy six and get s...

Dining, Nightlife | WET BAR

No Man's Land

A Coen brothers-style Chinese picaresque directed by Ning Hao about man’s instincts toward predation and self-protection. “This is a story about animals,” announces...

Community | Agora Space

La Vida Loca

Qué hermosa noche! Every Wednesday night, La Vida Loca brings you the hottest Latin beats. Authentic Puerto de Indias gin & tonic, free salsa and bachata lessons, and an...

Nightlife | Bar Rouge
Heatwave!

Shake and Redic present an eclectic night of live rock, R&B, & more, along with the always-on-fire SHAKE Band. Dinner, drinks, and curated playlists from 6pm, live music ...

Nightlife | Shake

What The Health: Green Drinks Augus...

Green Drinks film screening this month: "What the Health" examines the link between diet and disease, and the billions of dollars at stake in the healthcare, pharmaceutic...

Community | New Haworth Space

Summer Social: Sangria & Tapas

DeVere Shanghai is hosting a networking event with free-flow sangria & tapas. Scan QR code to RSVP, tickets are 250rmb at the door. Starts at 7pm.

Community, Nightlife | Mercado 505
Wonky Kong pres. T.Williams

Wonky Kong presents grime, bass and house artists T.Williams' first and only China appearance, going through the UK Funky, Grime & soulful house grooves. With DJs Siesta,...

Nightlife | Elevator

Unchained Recordings Launch Party

After two years of bass music events around China, Unchained are taking things to the next level with the launch of their record label. Featuring Subp Yao and Fractale

Nightlife | Dada

The Pearl's Cabaret Soiree: 'Fantas...

The Pearl’s Cabaret Soiree shows are back, bigger and better then ever before. First on the line-up is Cabaret Soiree: Fantasy. With a brand new host, Jeremy (The Pengu...

Arts, Nightlife | The Pearl
Summer Splash Pool Party Vol. 2

Nova Events, GRL & Earthman present "Summer Splash" an outdoor pool party with pool side shisha, "ambience to remember" and lots of food for purchase. Tickets are 188rmb...

Nightlife | SmSh Territory

Nushu x Bambii

Beginning as an inclusive workshop space for femme, femme-identifying, queer, LGBTQI and non-binary to learn DJing basics, NÜSHÙ ?? presents its first club night wi...

Nightlife | Dada

Lose Your Face

LYF is back at The Parrot for more chunky house beats with a UK twist. Jode & Beardslap at the helm as usual, (and props again to UK based artist Asboluv for the flier im...

Nightlife | The Parrot
Summer Splash Pool Party Vol. 2

Nova Events, GRL & Earthman present "Summer Splash" an outdoor pool party with pool side shisha, "ambience to remember" and lots of food for purchase. Tickets are 188rmb...

Nightlife | SmSh Territory

MVP Rooftop Pool Party

MVP Events hosts you summer pool party every weekend (sometimes Saturday, sometimes Sunday) from 12pm to 6pm at Pudong Shangri-La. The event is on he terrace and poolside...

Nightlife | Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai

ALL EVENTS

GALLERIES

- August 18, 2018
  
  Mansion Pool Party #2
  
  @ Hellas House
- August 18, 2018
  
  Mansion Pool Party
  
  @ Hellas House
- August 5, 2018
  
  MVP Rooftop Pool Party
  
  @ Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai
- July 28, 2018
  
  Nobody wants to dance
  
  @ Arkham
- August 25, 2018
  
  Cabaret Fantasy
  
  @ The Pearl
- May 31, 2018
  
  SUIS Jazz Evening
  
  @ Shanghai United International School (Gubei Campus)
- May 21, 2018
  
  WISS PYP Exhibition
  
  @ Western International School of Shanghai
- April 26, 2018
  
  SUIS Production of Zhuolu
  
  @ Shanghai United International School (Gubei Campus)
- April 20, 2018
  
  WISS International Day
  
  @ Western International School of Shanghai
- March 9, 2018
  
  SUIS Art Show @M50
  
  @ Shanghai United International School (Gubei Campus)