Beijing Boyce

Renovations were apparently done with super speed as China Doll is open again (see Tongli in Trouble). They had just enough time to change some light bulbs and buy new bottle openers for the bar.

Meanwhile, in Lido, The Cellar is now Cave or, to be less cryptic, the wine bar called the Cellar that was part of Trio,  which includes Frank’s Place and Park Grill, has been sold to a Korean company that is re-launching it as Cave. Tonight’s opening party drew a sizeable crowd and I’ll have more on this soon.

For now, it’s time for Halloween fun…

On those nights I am not traversing the town in my burgundy cashmere smoking jacket to attend events in support of charitable causes, I am occasionally found roughing it in places such as, say, The Rickshaw. Last Saturday eve was such an occasion. Any who spotted me no doubt noticed my table surrounded by six of the lovelier members of the fairer sex.

I would love to think that like moths to a flame they were drawn by my wit and charm, or by the shadows playing upon my face from the smog-filtered moonlight that made my profile particularly rugged. But given the scarcity of tables, perhaps the real attraction was the real estate (which included numerous chairs). Then again, it might have been the peaty Whisky I concocted earlier that night at The Dewar’s Academy of Whisky, and willingly allowed to be sampled.

I call that Whisky the Boyce Blend’r - it’s heavy on the Islay and drew praise as often as it was drawn from the flask by these connoisseurs. I believe there might be a market for it. Interested investors may inquire at beijingboyce@yahoo.com (note: smoking jackets are not cheap, thus nor are my services).

The bigger message is that if you haven’t attended Dewar’s Academy, I suggest trying to hitch onto one of the groups that will take the dozens of master classes yet to be held. This is a top-notch experience, and a free and educational one at that. Here’s the poster that the company sent me:

“Due to reasons beyond our control we will be closed tonight. We hope to be open again tomorrow. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

This is becoming a mantra for Bar Blu, which saw its windows darkened yet again last night.

Two floors down, Tanewha appears to be have bitten the dust after an identity crisis - there was a brief stint as Wonder Bar - and will become Golden something or other.

Meanwhile, on the other stairwell, China Doll is locked. “Sorry that China Doll will be closed for renovations these days. We will be open soon. Thanks for your cooperation.”

According to two industry insiders, China Doll’s problem is another kind of layout - one involving unpaid bills. Peeking through the windows, I spotted stickers on the wall that seem suspiciously like those on Browns‘ doors when that spot shut up shop. I could be wrong - does anyone have the inside scoop on this?

Cheers (with about a dozen people) and Kokomo (about half of that) remained open.

The Cellar Rat and I gave up on Tongli and headed around the corner to Mingle. This spot, run by ex-China Doll, ex-Bank guy Joop Shen, is tightly designed and held this night four small groups of people. A quick Bloody Mary and we called it a night…