[My Weekender] with Casey Whale

High and low culture with Casey Whale - Jun 06, 08

Casey Whale is the managing editor of Talk Magazines, including la grande dame, Shanghai Talk. She tells us that like many in her profession, she enjoys free stuff, bossing people around, and long walks on the beach at sunset.

It's a long weekend again -- is it just me or are these now monthly events? -- and all the smart people have skipped town or been banished to their home country for an inconvenient visa run so I guess I'll be making my own fun this weekend.

Tonight, as on many Friday nights, I would love to say that I am heading somewhere achingly hip and exclusive, were only VIP media people get in without lining up, but instead I'll probably be at The Spot on Tongren Lu. Before you judge me too harshly, I would like to say in my defense that it's ladies night and I will be drinking for free -- and free is a pretty good deal.

If the "ladies" (term used broadly) wish to kick on after a belly-full of fruity martinis then I imagine we'll end up at The Shelter. All roads lead to The Shelter after all.



On Saturday, when I should be doing something productive, my psychic abilities tell me that I will either be hungover and lying on a couch watching DVDs and getting pizza delivered, or channeling Austin Powers movies whilst shopping for the mod dance party at the new Windows Underground on Nanjing Lu next Thursday.

What I would like to do is head to 140sqm gallery on Fuxing Lu to check out their new exhibition, Naked, which apparently is all about presenting works from Chinese artists about sex and sexuality. But any expedition to an exhibition will hinge on whether my tummy feels up to close encounters with artistic renderings of pink-bits.

After a day of recovery / shopping / arty-farty rudey nudeys, I'll head out to Windows Underground – which is so cool I feel comfortable enough to mention it twice in my plans for one (long) weekend – and "Get in the Van II" to Anar. I hate to go to a gig with high expectations for fear of being disappointed, so Joyside had better be awesome, because everyone has been talking the Beijingers up so much I can't help but be a leedel bit excited.

The organizers also better make good on their promise of never ending rivers of free REEB. Ahh, good old REEB, it may be cheap and nasty, but with such a clever name, you gotta love it.

Which brings us to Sunday, the day before a holiday Monday, which means Cotton's all you can eat BBQ and drinking vodka, copiously and early in the afternoon until unintentionally -- but probably wisely -- heading for an early night.

Happy long weekend to all, and to all a happy long weekend!

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