New party pixxx have been uploaded of last Friday's "Secret Party" down at the Barbie Emporium. Click here for those. Congratulations everyone!

Check back later today for snappies of the St. Vincent thing and the Vadim thing.

Looking good, Shanghai. Looking real good.

This band called Handsome Furs played in Shanghai a while ago and now they're doing some video tour diary thing on CNN about their experiences in China. Episode 4 is now up, and that's about them in Shanghai among other things. A highlight of the series is the drama in the comments section, so it's worth a click if you're into The Great Debate.

Highlight of the comments in this episode is this little piece of insight from "horrorcameo":

"Isn't every perspective intrinsically unique. What you said is like when people say stuff like "The most unique" or "The most original" do you really need the modifier "most" there to know something is unique or interesting?"

*strokes beard*

So true... so true...

ATL-based, So Sweet signed, Le Castle Vania, slated to be performing at Not Me tonight has been canceled. Or postponed, rather, to a later date. Promoters are citing nebulous "visa issues" and are working on a rescheduling for this summer. Most likely, the visa people took one look at Le Castle Vania and said, "No, BRO. Your swoopy hairstyle is too dangerous for China. You'd start a riot with that cut."

Alas, cover at Not Me is now free, drinks are cheaper, and: "With a stack of great DJs, VJs and drink specials, come join us tonight and we'll quickly turn that sour frown upside down. Free hugs and kisses if you wear stripes and straighten your hair."

There you go. Next, next Friday (March 26) they've got Killa Kela's DJ in, Conrank -- as in "Kela & Conrack" -- and its 30 beans to get in.

Anyways, Le Castle Vania... anyone remember ElfQuest? Dude looks like ElfQuest. That's a good thing.

Pavillon Costes is closing this Saturday. For ever. Until it becomes "eatertainment."

Dress code for the final party:

"More Parisian Than Ever Or Never"

Here's your SmSh listing, complete with devastated models on the flyer.

Is there anything David Laris can't, or won't, do?

No.

He is developing a concept for an upcoming downtown golf club, opening another Fat Olive, debuting The Pie Hole, polishing the details for his new Downstairs restaurant, and, I hear, the dude is in talks to re-do all the tea eggs, in ALL the convenience stores, so that the cracked shells form a svelte portrait of him in chef whites. That is magical.

Let's blow some smoke, shall we?

Urban 18: some private investors are setting up a state-of-the-art golf club in a building near People's Square. Six ultra-modern golf simulators, membership packages, and a sports lounge designed by Laris. Holy hi-life. Opening in June.

The Fat Olive and The Pie Hole: Fat Olive #3 (#2 is at Expo Village) will open in mid-April at.... the Hongqiao airport/transportation hub. Apparently this hub is going to be like the Central Station in Hong Kong, which integrates transportation into shopping, or shopping into transportation, or whatever, at the new Hongqiao terminal. It'll be the first Pie Hole open to the public (first one, also in Expo Village). The two concepts will share a 140 sq meter space, which means no terrace for the Fat Olive. Also, seeing as its at the airport -- eh, "transportation hub" -- wines are gonna primarily by the glass. They will both open in mid-April.

Lots of stuff happening in Shanghai this year. Tough to stay on top of it all. Here's a few more items to confuse things for you. On April 16, awesomeness DJ Kentaro returns to Shanghai, playing at The Shelter. He's got it etched in stone on his MySpace. Kentaro's been in town a few times now, always playing to a throng of the devoted.

On the same night over at MAO Livehouse, they're hosting a big show with big time Brit band Puressence, along with DJ support from Gary "Mani" Mounfield, of Stone Roses and Primal Scream fame. Interesting.

This profusion of big name foreign bands and musicians... is it only a matter of time before the SmSh wire rings out with the words I've been waiting five long years to type?

"Butthole Surfers. Confirmed."

Just a little reminder that there are two interesting events coming up in the near future for all you "adults" out there.

The first one is this one right here: "Made in China - Return of the Soul". It's the new piece from one of China's most revered choreographers, Jin Xing. It's two shows, with the Sunday show already sold out. The Saturday show is still HOT SELLING so head off to the ordering page. Don't dawdle.

The second one is the "Soul of Shaolin" performance, running this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, featuring the famous Shaolin Monks. Friday show is sold out, but Saturday and Sunday seats are still available.

I could be wrong about this, but I would think that "Soul of Shaolin" is Rza-approved. Click here to order.

Charles from events agency Kiken Prod has kindly alerted us to the fact that new club Lotus is indeed now open for business. We've been paying attention to this one because the dude(s) behind this one are the dude(s) at house club Mint, oh so many moons ago. Remember? Goddamn, we're old.

We surmise they are easing back on to the club scene tentatively, and in earnest to "work out the kinks" before blasting into it with all due pomp and frill that such an occasion demands.

Anyways, if you'd like an early look, here's the address information. Open Sunday to Monday 7pm until late.

And hey what the hell, here's their self-description:

"A two stories heritage house located in Ludi park, 5 minutes walking distance from Hong Kong Plaza. Two floors and three outdoor terraces, serving lounge to edgy house and mash up music combined with ambient lighting and wooden floors to create an atmosphere that is equally suited for "a relaxed after work cocktail session" or a "party hard rendezvous point" every night of the week."

Shanghai -- a city of ancient and mysterious beauty, wondrous and powerful as the night, as aged as time immemorial, yet hyper-modernized, as if an H.G. Wells novel had sprung into life...

East meets West in Shanghai in this month's issue of National Geographic. Check out the article, "Shanghai Dreams", here, and the photo gallery here.

It's in their March issue -- the one will the cover story entitled, "Wolf Wars". Wolf wars!!!

Thanks to Pat for the link. For some reason my grandmother let my Christmas subscription to National Geographic lapse like 20 years ago.

What up with that, nana! What happened to fostering my sense of wonder with the world?

So there it is. Pavillon Costes = kaput. Who saw that one coming?

Just got off the phone with the Costes people. They are soon going to become the Buddha Bar people, as the int'l chain, purveyor of sultry Asian exoticism, arrives to install their trademark blend of "eatertainment." The money and the management behind the space -- Harold Levillair, who also brought PAUL to Shanghai -- remains the same.

Is releasing a series of lounge exotica mix CDs a new requirement for Xintiandi tenancy these days?

The space is going to be re-jigged into a first-floor lounge, and a second floor restaurant -- not a complete renovation. The original decor was expensive.

Costes: "Costes is not working that well for Shanghai... [Buddha Bar] will be more like Asian food/club/lounge than just a restaurant."

This week, or maybe next, will be it for Pavillon Costes before they close and re-group. Buddha Bar should be open end of April, or beginning of May.