Agent Red Wolf and I stopped into the new Maggie’s last Saturday. The Maggie’s of old was popularly known as a place where members of the male species engaged with what we’ll call female ambassadors from a state north of us, but also had an excellent layout and DJ, decent food (including the best hotdogs in town), spotless bathrooms and unparalleled people watching opportunities. The new one, just across from Zing by Doodoo‘s and on the fringe of Ritan Park, offers much of this – including the hotdog cart out front – although the narrow layout and slicker atmosphere has less charm.

Once inside, and with a hotdog (figuratively) under her belt, Red Wolf became annoyed at her inability to procure a drink. Somehow, I managed to get one in about 4.2 seconds. We parked near the dance floor to watch men who were apparently unaware of the nature of the place. The guy wearing a cowboy hat and doing the “you stole my heart” dance, complete with hand motions, was the best. I also liked the guy dancing alone – how that happens when women outnumber men two to one, I do not know. In any case, we had to leave after 20 minutes before the trickle of bids for Red Wolf’s carnal treasure turned into a flood. Qingdao: RMB20; hotdogs: RMB20.

(From Beijing Boyce V, first emailed on December 1, 2005)