Qian Qian owns the newly-opened Hamilton House brasserie on Fuzhou Lu.

All day today I've been preparing for our first party at Hamilton House this Saturday – "The Fascinator," an event designed to bring you back to the 'Roaring 20's'! We're trying to evoke the spirit of Shanghai in the 1920's, with all the glitz and glamour, and all day today my team and I have been running around sourcing for jazz musicians, and a DJ who can get today's crowd up and dancing.

So we've been planning how to best pull off the theme, costumes and decorations, all while running the restaurant. And, of course, the restaurant has been my life for the past while. It's only been three weeks since we've opened but every night we are close to, if not at, capacity. It's hectic but rewarding, although I haven't been able to do or think of anything else really. Anyways, it's a good thing that I live in the penthouse right above Hamilton House, so taking a break and getting away from work isn't a far journey.



And so, in my spare time -- what little I have of it -- I like to also like relax in my penthouse, reading, having friends over for dinner and drinks, or just watching DVDs. The weekends and weekdays are mostly all the same when you’re in the F&B industry so I take every day as it comes and try not to make too many iron-clad plans. When I do have a little time to spare away from my restaurant and I want to get out, I enjoy spending time around the Bund, which is just two blocks down Fuzhou Lu. The area is undergoing lots of changes and developments, and it's exciting to see all the new renovations and openings. It's such a beautiful, historic area of Shanghai, so it's interesting to see how quickly the entire neighborhood is being revamped to its former glory – I feel honored to contribute and be part of it.

Also, I might not end up there this weekend, but in my spare time I also like to spend a few hours shopping at the antique market on Dongtai Lu, looking for interesting antiques, pottery and kitchenware. Although it takes some searching, often I get lucky and find a good piece to take home. Hunting for antiques is a hobby of mine, and Shanghai is a good city for it; this town has a lot of hidden stores and markets specializing in interesting and unique items.

In terms of hitting the town, when I need a change of scene or to be looked after, I go to Jean Georges or to the D&G Bar for a loungy escape. When I want to let loose a bit I go with my PR Director Jess to the new hip hop club Bling for some dancing. So now if you ever want to find me, its very easy -there's basically three places to look. But this Saturday for sure I will be here at Hamilton House in my pearls and furs looking fabulous at our swingin' shindig. Hope to see you all there!

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