SmartShanghai.com Wire

Raw Chocolate Workshop

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:20:50 +0700

Just in time for Valentine's Day next week, the people at the Wellness Works are organizing a raw chocolate workshop this Sunday.

They claim to have devised a way to make dairy-free, sugar-free, preservative-free chocolate that's packed with antioxidants. Great Caesar's ghost! It's the Holy Grail of treats -- it's guilt-free chocolate.

The class runs from 2-4pm on sunday and you'll learn to make two types of chocolate truffles, plus bonbons and superfood-packed chocolate bars. Everyone gets to take away a box of truffles from the class, and we're guessing those would be a pretty hot little gift item come Valentine's Day.

The class costs 300rmb. Places are limited so email Kimberly@the-wellness-works.com for your spot. Full details right here. A space at the class itself might make a nice early Valentine's gift, too, if you're that way inclined.

Tonight: Ladies Drive for Free at Stampede

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:44:43 +0700

This evening, Stampede Karting invites all lead-footed ladies in Shanghai to drive Asia's largest indoor go-kart track. Sure, it's a bit out of the way, but how often do you get to flout DUI laws. And besides, it's absolutely free, provided you've been blessed with two X chromosomes. It all starts 9pm onward, and if you're fast enough, they'll post your times on their "Top 25" leader board and there will even be a few "special prizes" involved too. For more details, click right here.

Sven Väth Tickets Now Available

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:38:14 +0700

Boom! You heard right, Sven Väth tickets are now available. The Frankfurt swooshy techno pioneer is playing the opening party of Shanghai’s latest big clubbing venture, Boom Shanghai.

Väth has been elevating armies of clubbers into euphoric states of consciousness for more than 20 years, but his return to Shanghai (five years after his last date) is extra-special because it’s your chance to see the dawn (possibly) of a new clubbing giant in Shanghai. Boom is a partnership between an existing Hong Kong club (also called Boom) and Beijing-based DJ promoters “the Cool DJ Agency,” who have brought top-100 stalwarts such as Paul Van Dyk, Tiesto, Fatboy Slim, Deep Dish, Digweed and Sasha to China over the past few years.

If Boom gets all its ducks in a row, it could turn into the go-to place for the daddies of the DJ world when they blow through Shanghai, so tickets to the opening night will go fast. They're 200rmb presale through SmartTicket, or 300rmb if you want to take your chances on the door. Order now and we'll have them for delivery by Monday.

Pendulum (DJ Set) @ Club Boom in March

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:56:10 +0700

If you read this month's "The Agenda" article, you'll recall us blah, blah'ing about this new Club called Boom, opening up in February under the aegis of the Cool DJ Agency promotions agency. Boom is opening on February 18 with minimal techno innovator Sven Vath performing -- still waiting on those tickets -- but more information is starting to surface on the webs with who they're following that up with.

To wit: Pendulum. Somewhat absurd Australian drum n bass / hard rock group in on March 9, in for a DJ set at the club. Pendulum emerged on the world stage in the mid '00s for their skronking blend of nu metal and drum n bass -- breaking big with this remix of The Prodigy, among other delightful things. ... read on

First Bite: Amici's

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:18:39 +0700

Amici's is an American "east coast" pizzeria that's actually on the country's west coast--San Francisco--and now has a branch in the Far East. It's all a bit confusing, but hey, that's the global economy for you. Be that as it may, apparently, the restaurant is a Bay Area institution.

"Institution," incidentally, is a great word to describe how this place looks. It is consummately corporate, generic, complete with formica and faux vines creeping up a trellis on a pinkish-orange wall. Strangely, whoever decorated the place decided to follow the steakhouse tradition of hanging black and white glossies of 20th century icons everywhere. Some have an obvious connection to NYC--Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gherig for instance. Others, just seem tenuous and arbitrary at best: Muhammad Ali knocking out Sonny Liston, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Albert Einstein. I don't know. Maybe they're all famous for liking pizza.

... read on

SRT Returns in March with Much Ado About Nothing

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:16:34 +0700

Kicking off their 2012 season after a really active 2011, local theatre troupe, Shanghai Repertory Theater, has Shakespeare's classic, Much Ado About Nothing planned for a run in March -- March 8 to March 18, specifically, at the Ke Center.

The last Shakespeare the troupe put on was Twelfth Night, almost exactly a year ago at the same venue is 2011. It was quite good.

Keep an eye out for that, fans of intrinsically silly and gleefully energetic theatre.

SmartShanghai Loves Interns

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:48:00 +0700

SmartShanghai is on the lookout for new interns to join our crack commando unit of elite investigative journalists.

If you’re a native English speaker who has been in Shanghai long enough to know the difference between CUIVRE and CVRVE, if you’re bursting with ideas and thrilled by the notion of sharing them with the rest of the city, then we want to hear from you.

Web and writing experience would be a plus, as would a working knowledge of the local language, but commitment and enthusiasm are the key. We need a minimum of three days a week from you, and a commitment to stick around for at least a couple of months. ... read on

New Dining Deals: That's Amore and Bocado

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:11:25 +0700

If you feel like braving the weather, a couple of sweet sounding deals kick off tonight. First off, we've got That's Amore. The Italian eatery on Taikang Lu hosts the first of its weekly pizza nights. 108rmb gets you all the wood fired pizza you care to eat, and they'll throw in a beer as well. I gotcha details right here, buddy!

Also, Bocado's doing a new set meal deal. 188rmb gets you a set dinner of Spanish classics like Iberian ham & chicken croquettes, potato tortilla and Iberian ham on toast, seafood paella, and for dessert, Catalan cream cake. That's available from 5 to 7.30pm every Monday through Thursday. Click here for more info.

SmartShanghai's Valentine's Competition

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:16:41 +0700

This year is just one big skid-mark of holidays and celebrations. Hot on the heels of CNY, we have Valentine's Day next Tuesday and, to celebrate the contribution that our dating section has made to ~~your salacious sex life~~ your search for true love, we’re asking you to send us your most memorable SmartShanghai dating tales.

Did you find love on our forum? Did you discover the woman of your dreams on our site? Did you discover the woman of your dreams, only to discover she was in fact the man of your nightmares? Did anyone – gasp! – settle down happily with someone they met on our site? If so, we want to know.

... read on

Restaurant Review of the Week

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:46:03 +0700

Okay. Our first order of business this morning: Cali Burger. Four out of five Shanghai dinners are none too pleased with the prices. Can't say we blame them. 104 kuai for a double burger, fries and a milkshake of this caliber is a bit rich for our blood too. If it's any consolation, however, it appears that they've read all the reviews and have instituted a new meal deal.

In other news, user Ander3km advises that we "ignore the hype" surrounding Mr. Pancake House. We weren't aware there was any, but duly noted all the same. And it looks like Azul is falling from grace. Just ask sarahombz and mwen, 'mkay?

But we're awarding user MikeH84 for cramming an eight-syllable word into his scathing review of Tairyo. "Magnetohydrodynamics"? Really, dude? Whatever happened to "rocket science" or "brain surgery"? Anyway, your Everwines voucher is on its way. Kill some brain cells. Knock a few sesquipedalian (BAM!) words out of your vocabulary.

This Sunday: Bikes & Friends' Bicycle Flea Market

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:12:38 +0700

Looking to trade up on your two-wheeled transportation? Maybe trick out your fixie, or whatever it is you hipster types like to do on your spare time? Well, Bikes & Friends is bringing back its monthly Bicycle Flea Market this Sunday. Shanghai cycling enthusiasts are invited to bring their bikes, their gear or their apparel to buy, sell or trade. If you arrive empty-handed, you're welcome to chat up fellow bikers as well. Goes from 1-6pm. For more details, click here.

Now Closing: Two Exhibitions for Thought

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:49:01 +0700

Taking a look at the arts calendar, two exhibitions are closing -- slot these in to you weekend if you don't want to miss out.

Over at Leo Xu Projects is Cui Jie, Li Shurui, Zhang Jungang & Li Ji -- rop-art and more from Beijing and Harbin-based artists. "Photographic essays and stories that celebrate youth and love." Closes February 5.

Meanwhile, at MOCA is MAN: Chen Man Visual Arts Exhibition -- Chen Man's mixture of mainstream ideas and idiosyncratic aesthetic impulse to "sometimes surreal and highly engaging contemporary fashion photography". Closes on February 7

Have at it, culcha vulchas.

This Weekend: el Willy Closes, Glamour Re-Opens

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:34:30 +0700

End of an era, people. Tonight is the final dinner that el Willy will be serving at 20 Donghu Lu. If you've got any nostalgic attachments to the place, best book your table there now. Service will resume in around two weeks at the new Bund 22 location. 20 Donghu will remain shuttered until the fall, when Elefante opens.

But as one door closes, another door opens. After several weeks of remodeling. Glamour Bar unveils its new face to Shanghai tomorrow night.

The Spot is Back

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:27:31 +0700

If you were walking around out there with a hole in your heart about the same size and shape Jing'an bar / restaurant The Spot, good news for you: they're back open tonight.

After shutting down for several weeks for extensive renovations, they're back open -- new look, new direction, new drinks menu, new food menu. Manager, Paolo says it's a bit "trendier" in design, and they're now hosting a three-piece house band playing from Wednesday to Saturday every week (rock and more). Compeletly new cocktail menu, as well, and new Italian additions to their menu, reflecting the nationality of their new Italian chef.

There you go. The Spot back open for business tonight, and then look towards February 17, which is their grand re-opening party.

This Monday: Super Bowl XLVI Live

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:45:51 +0700

Get ready. Monday is game day. At 7.30am the New England Patriots and the New York Giants go head to head on the grid-iron. There are loads of options around town to watch the game. Here's a rundown...

If you have nowhere be after the game and you don't mind a little trek out to Gubei, Wings is your best bet. Chef Eric "Big E" Brown is grilling up sliders, breakfast tacos, steamed clams and more. 200rmb gets you all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink on select beers and booze. Get there early for a seat near the big screen. The deal lasts until 30 minutes after the game. After that, you can go start a drunken riot through the streets like a Raiders fan. Details here.

The usual suspects, of course, are hosting the game too. ... read on

What's Going On at Fennel?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:37:37 +0700

You ask?

Fennel Lounge -- the new Zhenning Lu classy drinks lounge and restaurant brought to you by the makers of Anar -- has acquired the services of Daniel Weinberg (ex-manger at Shiva and el Patio, current promoter of the popular "Panorama" nights at Lola), and they're launching some new weekly nights you might be interested in.

On Wednesdays is "Ima-GIN-ation", which is their mixologist Ivan Sun preparing classy fusion gin drinks in balloon glasses, with live music from iamalamb -- Ableton beats and loops plus live instrumentation. The two musicians in this group are from Song Dynasty, local expanded jazz act.

And then on Sundays is their jazz-themed night, "Jazz & Whiskey" in which they pick a different jazz era to sort out on the stereo. Click here to see the planned line-up.

So Wednesdays and Sundays -- good nights to go. Or any other time...

Click here to read the SmSh Radar article about Fennel.

Justin Quek Back in Shanghai... Sort of...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:19:50 +0700

The recent rumors of a possible return of celeb chef Justin Quek are confirmed. He's back, or at least his name and his food are. The Singaporean chef best known in Shanghai for his former association with Fountain and Le Platane has taken up a consultancy gig with a company called Food Junction. In Singapore, they're best known for several food courts and a Mediterranean concept called Medzs.

You're probably quite familiar with their work here as well. They own Malone's.

... read on

Are They Not Men? IL DIVO, Roxette, and More on SmartTicket

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:26:55 +0700

Lots of hot action over at the SmartTicket these days. Newly added shows are gazillion album-selling Italian classical crossover vocal group, Il Divo. They're back in town, shirts billowing, in the midst of a world tour behind their fifth album, "Wicked Game", which, yes absolutely, sees the group covering Chris Isaak. And you're welcome.

Il Divo at the Shanghai Grand is November 28. Click for tix.

And whoa, look at this: another group that's moved a few units in their day -- Roxette!

She's got the look! Na, na, na, na, etc. Yes, Swedish, '80s hit machine, Roxette are playing a show in Shanghai as part of their first China tour in 17 years. Which is... I dunno. Something! Hey everybody, it's Roxette!

Roxette at the Shanghai Grand is March 14. Join the joyride.

Matt Groening and More at the 2012 Shanghai Literary Festival

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:03:15 +0700

Bookworms, take note: the Shanghai International Literary Festival 2012 is coming to town, poised to unleash its bookish awesomeness from February 29 through March 18. Organizers M on the Bund are putting the final touches to the speaker list right now, so be sure to check their site for updates.

Now in its tenth edition, this year's lineup is typically and fittingly impressive. There's even royalty in the form of HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, who, when she's not, erm, reigning is the author of children's book series Mr. Finney.

Elsewhere on the already sizable list, award-winning Simpsons and Futurama cartoonist Matt Groening stands out as a highlight, as does acclaimed Israeli novelist A.B. Yehoshua. Add to that a host of photographers, journalists, curators and other luminaries and you've got the makings of a very promising festival indeed.

More details on that here.

First Bite: Yikki

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:24:51 +0700

If there is one thing that brand new Japanese resto on Yanping Lu, Yikki understands, it's the value of a first impression. It's a pretty space and acts the part to a tee: walls of blond timber, cloth partitions hanging between tables, Japanese greetings in unison the second you enter. Defintely a strong start. Unfortunately, beyond that, there isn't much to distinguish this yakitori and noodle bar from any where else downtown. It's solidly average.

Yakitori is the bulk of the menu with a focus on chicken and seafood. Chicken cuts are pretty typical. They skewer and grill everything from the "buttocks," which I generally avoid, to the liver, which is best avoided here, and then all of the white meat and wings in between. I recommend the skin, which they toast to the crispy consistency of a pork rind.

Mollusks like squid, scallops, oysters and abalone seem to be a specialty in the seafood section and there are the requisite small whole fish like smelt and saury as well. Meat has a minority status on the menu, with half a panel of pork and beef options. A drab, dry helping of pork neck was enough to turn me away from the rest of the section.
... read on

Yes, Formula 1 Grand Prix Tickets Are Here At Last

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:53:12 +0700

Jesus built my hot-rod, it's a love affair...

"From April 13-15, the F1 Grand Prix returns to Shanghai with all your favorite racing teams and celebrity drivers doing 56 laps on a circuit length of about 5.5kms. Head on down to check out the fastest cars on earth, exceeding speeds of 370 kph."

Rock those F1 tickets right here.

Act quickly. Cheap seats sell out quick.

Vroom, vroom!

New Eats: Pizzas, Burgers, Noodles

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:07:36 +0700

If I were to make projections on food trends right now, I'd say junk food is in for the Year of the Dragon. Here's a rundown on the most recent openings...

For starters, expat enclave Yanping Lu is now two restaurants richer with the much-hyped In-N-Out clone Cali Burger opening last Friday (Jan 27). Next door to that, a Japanese noodle and yakitori joint called Yikki tempers the diet a little. It opened its doors just a few days before CNY. A few doors down from that, a chocolatier by the name of Village du Chocolate has the windows under branded wraps. That usually signifies an imminent opening, so watch that spot.

Then, over on Yongjia Lu, Pizza Marzano's Surpass Court branch appears to up and running. Meanwhile, a few blocks to the north, there is Amici's, the Chinese outpost of a San Francisco-based, New York-style pizza joint.

Then, to wash it all down, Shanghai Brewery has opened its sophomore effort at the corner of Hengshan and Dongping Lu.

Dig in...

Closing: Bar Rouge... Only Temporarily... This Weekend

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:34:05 +0700

Celebration generation, this weekend my favorite club and yours Bar Rouge is hosting one last weekend of parties before they shut down for about a month to redesign the place.

From the horse's mouth: "There will be a new layout in terms of space and set ups, new technology and more luxury elements will be applied to the new interior design as well."

Mmmyes.

Friday night is Mattia's I Love the '80s party -- expect (young) Madonna, (straight) George Michael, (good) Duran Duran, and more -- and then the Saturday is a general, all-purpose closing party night.

Bar Rouge is scheduled to be closed until early March -- a couple weeks, then, for the renovations and then it emerges again on the Shanghai skyline like some fabulous, bar-flaming, champagne-besotted butterfly. Huzzah!

Dada Closed for the Week

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:14:34 +0700

Popular-ish-during-week Shanghai lounge, Dada will be shuttered during this week for holidays. Yeah, I don't know. They're taking them now for some reason.

So they're opening up on Friday night but the Monday abstract beats night, the Tuesday cinema night, the Wednesday festival of bad decisions, and the Thursday Acid Pony Boys night -- that's all off.

Want a suggestion for a similar thing in that area? Quenchers -- not a bad bar. Cheap. Pool table. There you go.

And when's the last time you went to C's?

SmartShanghai: Resume Transmission

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:03:24 +0700

Oh, hi you guys, welcome back, hope you had an awesome holiday.

SmartShanghai is back at the office, eyes on the prize, finger on the trigger, totally pumped for an auspicious year of the dragon. Come on back around for riveting editorial content, wire posts galore, and yes: events listings, events listings, events listings!

SmartTicket is also back online accepting orders for all sorts of things -- just look at them all. Check on back later today for new additions to that page. Come on, join the joyride!

Happy everything, everyone.

Restaurant Review of the Week

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:51:15 +0700

This week, Mr & Mrs Bund gets a prompt redemption. User tabc melts for the fondue at Chalet Suisse. Also, according to CasperXX, Cui's Sushi is way too "mushi."

The winner this week, though, is a screed about Haya's 65 kuai falafel by The Central Scrutinizer. Choice username, man. As a fellow fan of Frank Zappa, I'm giving you the voucher solely because of your taste in music.

Happy CNY, Shanghai!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:31:48 +0700

Happy Chinese New Year, everybody. From the staff here at SmartShanghai, we wish you all the best whether you're spending the holiday with friends and family, traveling, or staying home and playing XBox in your underwear all week long. It's all good, friends.

SmartShanghai is taking a bit of a break from editorial content for CNY, but we'll be updating the events listings fairly regularly, so check back if you're looking for nightlife stuff to do.

If you're looking to put together a real bender, Satan-loving bar and pool hall Inferno is celebrating their re-opening this Monday night. Monday is pretty dead, especially on CNY, so there's a good option to never say die. Details here. Congrats to Inferno.

David Garrett Tickets Now Available

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:14:44 +0700

Fans of really fast violin playing, German violin phenom David Garrett is scheduled for a Shanghai performance and here's where you can order tickets. Garrett makes his Shanghai debut on February 27 at the Shanghai Concert Hall.

One of the world’s most famous and acclaimed contemporary violinists, David Garrett is know for his combining of classical and contemporary influences -- his playlist for the Shanghai show includes songs from Metallica, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Guns 'n' Roses. He's also known for his virtuosic technical ability and amongst his many accolades, Garrett holds the Guinness World Record for "fastest violin performance". He can play "Flight of the Bumblebee" in just a minute and a half -- 13 notes per second.

Check it out. Pretty incredible.

So there you go. One of the worlds most famous violinists David Garrett in Shanghai on February 27. Tickets here.

RIP: Le Saleya Gourmet

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:44:06 +0700

If you've passed by Le Saleya on Changle Lu, you've probably wondered what's become of its neighboring gourmet shop. It's been boarded up for the past week or so, and we can confirm that it is not coming back. Due to details that Saleya management prefered not to get into, the building is being destroyed.

In the grand scheme of things, it's probably for the best. They never seemed to find a concept for that space that would stick. In the last four years it's had three different brands. 570, Grafitti and, finally, Le Saleya Gourmet. The one constant in the equation has been Bistro Le Saleya itself, so they've decided to stick with that and expand its popular patio into the empty space. That will be completed this summer, when one might actually want to dine al fresco.
... read on

New Year Deal at The PuLi

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:31:31 +0700

For anyone staying in Shanghai over the New Year break, The PuLi Hotel is offering a sweet deal on its rooms. From tonight until Jan. 30, you can get a room for 1500rmb, including breakfast, a soft-drink mini bar, internet and access to the health club. That includes the 15% service charge.

The only thing is, you need to have a Chinese ID card, a temporary resident card or a working visa. So no rabble-rousing students and no tourists, it's just for the lifers. For more info and to make sure you apply, call them on 3203 9999 or email reservations@thepuli.com. Suites are also available, starting at 4000rmb.