Beijing Boyce

According to two bar managers in Tongli Studio, all of the drinking holes in the building were shut down by the authorities last night. I went to Cheers, on the second floor, at 9 PM and it was business as usual, though China Doll next door was closed due to — said a sign on the door — fire code issues. Apparently, all of the other bars, including Taniwha and Bar Blu,  were closed by the authorities by midnight. I called the managers at Cheers and China Doll, and they said they are unsure when their bars will open. Watch this space for updates.

Tongli Studio’s three-floor lounge and club, China Doll, is an early candidate for bar of the year. The decent service, layout, design, ambience and prices add up to a winning formula, though the erotic pictures and video are over the top and the upstairs and downstairs bars need foot rails. / Next door, Cheers is thriving with its live Xinjiang music on weekends. Saturday night was so busy you could feel the humidity at the door. The night before, the bass player jumped onstage to improvise with the singer and drummer, popping his axe so deftly it sounded like a dozen croaking frogs (in a good way). / Next door, Taniwha is rousing to life. Two recent spot checks found populations of 25 and 15, the first double-digit patronage this humble correspondent has witnessed in a month. / The owner of both Cox and Saddle will open a new establishment in the two-story building housing Midnight and Grappa (and a public toilet), near Bookworm. / Ten-kuai drinks recently tried at Shooters include Monkey Brains (Baileys, banana liqueur, vodka), ET (melon liqueur, Bailey’s, vodka) and Baby Ruth (amaretto, peanuts, vodka). Free entertainment included a 70-year-old gentleman boogying at the bar and a young lady making molten lava moves on the dance floor (that is, until “Mom” called to pick her up in “the van.” Uh oh). / Speaking of drinks, the Ai Wan Jamaica invented by China Doll manager Joop Shen is a large and refreshing cocktail that includes vodka, Malibu, midori, creme de banana, and sweet and sour mix. / Jackey Kong, the original supervisor of Browns, who left that spot in December, is now at Suzie Wong. Meanwhile, Browns is hosting the Australian Chamber’s Thursday night Kookaburra Pub. AustCham guy Simon Cousins says the 30-kuai entrance fee gets Aussies and non-Aussies alike 2-for-1 drinks for 3 hours (Coopers included), Australian music, TV shows and sports coverage, giveaways, and snacks such as homemade sausage rolls (where!? where were the sausage rolls last night!?). / Over in the Gongti area, The Pavillion has glassed in the patio to the east, giving the bar more depth. Those huge chairs by the faux fireplace are a nice place to enjoy a glass of Sherry. / The Bank, a lounge and bar located on the site of the old Maggies, is on the verge of opening. / And 80s night at Alfa couldn’t be touched last Friday as me-decade lovers of all ages danced to the classics and a hopped up version of Like a Virgin.

(Note: This is from the newsletter I sent out yesterday. Last night, China Doll was closed as apparently all Tongli Studio establishments were checked to make sure they were up to fire code. I imagine this situation will be quickly rectified.)