Lots of stuff going into the blanks slots along Xindong Lu these days. Xindong Lu -- that's the one with Heaven Supermarket, the Lamborghini place, and 9 million tailors. You know those grey apartment building things -- that's what we're talking about here. Some new stuff in there. Meh? Snuh? Huh? Yeah. Construction is still ongoing for that new Tex Mex place and the new Brauhaus we told you about a while back, but here's a couple new points of interest that just recently opened for you to check out if you want: a humble, new bar-slash-restaurant called XL and Canada's finest ice cream purveyors, Cows Creamery. We'll start with the later first.

Cows Creamery

Hey, Canadians, a little slice (scoop) of home just opened up in that rich people's mall right across from Heaven -- P.E.I. success story, Cows Creamery. The news of the opening has, of course, made the national news in Canada, and the opening ceremony for the Beijing branch last week was a star-studded gala of Canadian celebrity, including appearances by P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz, media pundit and talk show host George Stroumboulopoulos, and Olympic rower Silken Laumann! Not really but imagine! (But no, but yeah P.E.I.'s premier made it out, foreal.) Anyway, it's a really big store. 5,000 square meters (they say) spread out in two floors. As is the Cows' modus operandi since their business took off in the '80s and '90s, their Beijing branch (their first international branch after at least 10 or so spread out across Canada) is an ice cream and merchandise ripple sundae. A huge swatch of Cows' sorta clever, sorta cute retail gear is on the block along with that glorious ice cream that won a bunch of prestigious awards along the way. Stuff! Pink golf bag, anyone? Here's up on the second floor, which is like a kids-friendly lounge of comfy chairs and books. And if you follow that the whole way back, there's a private-ish room filled with beanbag chairs! That's pretty fresh. So, if you've never been, part of Cows' thing is their image and branding, and their cow icon, which they've puckishly inserted into basically every single pop culture piece of detritus there is. This gives the place a certain look and feel, and then also factors into their retail. Want one of these on a shirt? Hahaha, "Lost", I remember that show. Nice riffage. The whole thing kind of reminds me of a Pixar kind of move, in that it's fun for kids but the humor also aims for adults a bit, and tries to include them in all this joyous referential tomfoolery. But, through all the superfluous stuff though, you're going for basically one reason: the ice cream is goddamn delicious. This one's always been my fav' since I was a wee lad: bubblegum, man! Single scoop in the cup, easy peasy. With lil' chunks of bubble gum guys in there. Super sweet. Oh SHIT. There's a bit of localization going on with the flavors. But they've got the main ones Cows is known for: the Gooey Mooey, the Wowie Cowie, and the Moo Crunch. Prices are thus: It's nice and simple, without all that confusing stuff. Cups, waffle cones, single or double scoops. Prices might be a bit oooof, but they are indeed importing all this stuff from their very own ice cream factory, which is run by elves in the clouds. Doubling down here with a Moo Crunch in the waffle cone! Big Poppa's gettin' crazy tonight! There you have it. Cows is open in Beijing! Just in time for winter! But yeah, who cares how cold it is. This is some delicious ice cream, trust me on this. * Cows Creamery is at 1-103 Shimao Gongsan, (across the street from Heaven Supermarket). ***

XL

Not three minutes away by foot, back across the street and threading through the grey buildings is a new bar and restaurant called XL. It's not really "XL". More like an "M", maybe an "L". This one's about as bar as a bar can be. It's like it came in the mail in a starter kit in a box that said "BAR" on the front and you assembled it yourself. It's a one-roomer, with wood tables and chairs, with the option of sitting at an elongated surface (also known as "the bar"), behind which someone mixes you drinks or opens your bottled beer. Decor is vintage beer ads and some contemporary beer ads, and other things that are decoration. They're working on their bulletin board of Polaroids of previous customers and parties. Even the name "XL" should be easy to comprehend no matter what language you speak, save for maybe ancient Aramaic, which, surely, must be a pretty small demographic in Beijing. For food, they just do burgers. Big ones with price tags to match. It's a flip book of about six or seven. Here's some examples. Here's what a Bacon Cheese Burger looks like. It's a monster. Pwar. The burger pedigree comes from a former chef at Burger Counter, who then moved to Temple. His other partner went on to open Katchup in Gulou. As such, the burgers at XL share a similar vibe to the ones at Temple, Burger Counter, and Katchup. It's like the same ineffable Platonic ideal hamburger is standing before the creation of all these burgers, bequeathing them similar but different but similar traits. Anyway, it's definitely a fine burger. It's damn big. More bread, more veggies. Tastes fresh. Eh. I don't know though. Feels a bit expensive... 70-80rmb for a hamburger, goddamn. Especially with other decent options within walking distance. Here's an Old Fashioned. It was really good. And 35rmb. They ding you on the burgers maybe, but the drinks are alright. And fairly priced. And the drinks (and drink prices) might be where XL starts to make a bit of sense. It's a nice and friendly place. Kind of a throw-back to Sanlitun Bar Street bars circa 2007 or something, like before everyone went apeshit with the speakeasys and themed bars and stuff. The happy hour is a good deal: 4pm to 9pm, pints at 30rmb, mixes at 20rmb, and 10rmb Tsingtsaos. And as I say, they're super friendly in there. I'd thumbs it up if you're live or work in the area and are looking to take advantage of a decent (and cheap) happy hour... * XL is at 1-022, 1/F, Bldg 4, 12 Xindong Lu.