[My Weekender] with Kim Leitzes

Kim Leitzes is the CEO of ParkLU.com, a Chinese-language newsletter and shopping news website.

It’s 8:02pm on Friday and I’m already late on starting my weekend. First stop: Lost Heaven… Out-of-towners to entertain, topped off with a night at Cashbox. Note to self: if karoake’ing with mixed company, limit Chinese love songs to a maximum of 3. And, always get proof of payment (hello, fapiao) to avoid run-ins with security and the police at 2:00am. BU HAO.

I’m a morning person, and my new favorite activity is ordering groceries. This is a very new hobby -- I’ve gone from eating out every day to cooking at home at least 3 times a week, all thanks to Fields. You must try their organic green seedless grapes. I’m afraid to even share this tidbit with anyone, lest it jeopardize my grape supply for bacchanalian affairs.

After a delicious brunch at Mr. Willis, I’m off to “work”. A little bird told me about a hard-to-find jewelry shop near Huaihai Lu and Fuxing Lu that’s only open on weekends. After walking all four points of the intersection, I finally find an unmarked alley -- talk about playing hard to get. Was also pleasantly surprised to find a lovely independent designer from Hong Kong keeping shop in the same location as well… I LOVE finding these discoveries for ParkLU, which is a Chinese-language newsletter and website that I recently started. We cover women’s fashion, shopping and lifestyle in Shanghai and China. Subscribe here. You can thank me and Google Translate later.

Cruising down Julu Lu, I spot another new jewelry store. So new it’s still waiting for store fixtures and furniture. Really cool jade jewelry -- not the old school style, but contemporary and wearable. Alas, no price tags, will have to come back.

My work never really ends… I get afternoon tea with shopbop.com, which is now available in China. Free international shipping for some of my most favorite brands? Pinch me. Still haven’t subscribed to ParkLU yet? Sign up before 9/16 and enter a lucky draw for a 3,000rmb shopbop gift card! Refer your friends, especially your style-loving Chinese girl friends, to get more chances to win. I know, I never stop pimping.

I finally get to kick back with friends at an amazing yakitori place in Gubei. Never one for tripe, I am now a convert for grilled tripe at 鸟安！I keep referring to the restaurant as “wu1 an1”, only to be corrected and told the name is “niao3 an1”. I am vindicated when my Chinese girlfriend makes the same mistake. My semester at Jiao Tong University was not a complete waste.

Despite all urges, I ignore the text messages for drinks at Craft. I have an early Sunday morning… My husband Adam and I have been taking golf lessons for the last month at 9:30am. Rain or shine, hungover or sober, I’m there. I really enjoy learning golf because it helps me clear my head. For an hour, I can practice my swings and just focus on beating Adam at a game of “Around the World”. I love how he doesn’t let me win, ever. Our instructor Gary is great, and the video clips he analyzes for us have made such a big difference. Why does my body twist in weird ways,why? Note to self: ParkLU editorial needs to find stylish golf gear, pronto!

Hungry from practice, we head to lunch at Purple Onion in our sweaty and not-so-swanky golf attire. Despite the strong and mixed opinions about this place (yes, I’m referring to you, Lisa), I am a fan of the Purple Onion breakfast pizza, roasted carrot salad and grilled sardines. Delish. I take pictures of my food for my Weibo (@ParkLu_Kim)… if my iPhone could gain weight, it would be 3 sizes bigger from all the food photos. Plans for dessert are dashed when we find the Avocado Lady is sold out of chocolate chip cookies. “Strictly” disappointing!

Sunday afternoons are one of my favorites times to get nails done at Helen’s on Nanchang Lu because it’s not so busy, and its perfect for catching up with close girlfriends. My manicurist tells me that the Chinese customers tend to come on Saturdays because Sundays are typically spent with family. Well, since my family is over 7,000 miles away in the U.S., my friends here are my family in Shanghai! Nothing like a gab fest with girlfriends about work and vacation plans to brighten up a rainy Sunday afternoon. Ninety-minutes later, I’m feeling refreshed and excited about plans to reinstate mah jong nights… it’s only been 3 months since our last game! Joy Luck Club, we are not.

Time to prepare dinner. I mostly cook Tex-Mex or Vietnamese, and tonight banh xeo is on the menu, which is a crispy Vietnamese crepe filled with pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and onions, served with fresh greens and herbs. I Skype with my mom to get play-by-plays on making fish sauce – nuoc mam can go so wrong! I take some more photos for my Weibo, knowing deep down these photos probably won’t get posted… and finally, dinner is served. 晚安!

XxKim