Shanghai's favorite cocktail man has gone from critical darling (Speak Low) to critical darling (Sober Company), and he's just revealed his latest project. According to DRiNK Magazine, it's called "The Odd Couple," in reference to the long and complicated relationship he shares with partner-in-mixology, Steve Schneider (Singapore / NYC's "Employees Only", Panama's Strangers Club). The theme? Eighties. Oh boy.

*** Steve Schneider and Shingo Gokan have some stuff in common; both born in 1983, both opened bars in Asia within days of each other, both have been wanting to work with each other as they crossed and re-crossed paths over the years. The bar they've concocted together will reportedly be an ode to 80's retro: colorful, loud, neon-lit, video gamey, limited seating. Schneider is known for his high-speed but personal bartending, while Gokan's a slower, more meticulous type. Bit of a contrast, these two. Together, they'll be aiming for a "paired drink" cocktail menu. Sober Company wasn't a dramatic departure from Gokan's classically-inspired oeuvre, so it'll be interesting to see how this admittedly wacky-sounding idea pans out. Subtle, the 80s were not. The Odd Couple, occupying the Xintiandi space that used to hold Devil's Share, is set for a mid-November opening.