Beijing Boyce

Shanghai’s antipodean paragon of pub proclamations, Winopete, is up and writing again after a multi-month absence. Denizens of our sister city to the south are well-advised to subscribe to said scribbler’s e-newsletter (email winopetechina@yahoo.com with “a dingo stole my baby” in the subject line).

From his most recent newsletter:

• “[Check out] Sasha’s (corner of Hengshan and Dongping Roads), which holds a wine buffet every Friday, when it’s an all-you-can drink deal from a selection of about a dozen wines from 6.30pm-9.00pm for just RMB148. A lot of the wines are drinkable lower end labels, with one or two nasty Nelly’s, but most weeks there are a few roses among the thorns to keep the pickier plonkheads happy (e.g. Pedroncelli 2002 Merlot, Jim Barry 2004 Shiraz). Note, the wine selection changes each week.”
• “Forget Beyonce and listen to some proper music instead. The Blarney Brothers, an Irish band based in Hong Kong, will perform traditional Celtic music with a modern twang at O’Malley’s this Tuesday and Wednesday (November 6th and 7th) about 8.30pm. Come and check it out, while downing a pint or two of the black stuff.”
• “Every Friday the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (”AustCham”) holds a drinks function at the Le Royal Meriden Hotel’s 789 Bar from 6.30-9pm approx. Yep, fair dinkum, the Poms, Yanks and everyone else hold their sundowners once a month, but we Aussies need an excuse for a business drink at least once a week. Don’t get me wrong, all are invited, just don’t talk about the rugby, George Bush or Johnnie Howard. Put the ayi on overtime to mind the ankle-biters and other half, then come down for RMB15 Coopers beers, RMB30 wines and join the throng where everyone’s flappin’ their gums. You’ve got kangaroos in the top paddock if you miss this!”