Beijing Boyce

Eight is a lucky number in China, so for each of the 88 days until the 2008 Olympics, I will strip-mine my brain to unearth a thought related to Beijing and The Games. That’s one thought per brain cell. It’s called teamwork, people!

Thought 4 of 88

I did a double-take when I entered The Bookworm earlier this week. I usually hope for a seat at the long tall table near the front and, barring that, a space on one of the sofas out back.

This time? Plenty of choices: there was hardly a soul in the place.

It’s not just The Bookworm - numerous spots I visited this past week had unusually light traffic. Which puts a dent in my theory that Beijing would be awash in customers ahead of the Olympics, with technicians, journalists, team support staff, and so on piling on top of the regular patrons. But instead of fighting for space in some of my favorite places, I’m finding them fairly deserted.

Is everyone too busy to go out? Are people leaving China in droves ahead of the Olympics? Is everyone saving money for Fuwa souvenirs? Or was this just a fluke week?

Note: Two readers added that patronage might be low due to the Sichuan earthquake. That’s possible, but I would think places featuring wireless would see a lot of customers in search of news and being with friends and acquaintances. Also, I should have noted that several owners told me that business has been off at their places for some time, including prior to the earthquake. This was my fifteenth post of the week and I ran out of gas.

Returning to The Bookworm, as I type, I can see a half-dozen DHL vehicles parked out front there to pick up earthquake relief supplies (Jenny Niven says items may be dropped off until 4 PM today (Saturday). See here for a list of what is needed). Kudos to The Bookworm and to Yin Bar, The Wine Republic, Mao Live House (I’ll soon have a write-up about the charity concert there) and others who raised funds.

Boxing up at The Bookworm

Previously

Thought 1: If they build it, we may come
Thought 2: “Whether or not” in Sanlitun
Thought 3: Living the lowlife on Lotus Lane

The Emperor Hotel’s rooftop Yin Bar is donating all revenue from May 13 to May 16 to the earthquake relief effort in Sichuan, so I popped by last night to check out the scene. When I left around midnight, I would guess about 30 to 40 patrons were still there enjoying drinks and music by Acupuncture.

Yin includes a bar, a goldfish pond, and seating on its main level, and table seating (and a hot tub) on two elevated areas that offer excellent views of The Forbidden City and environs. Expect a decor heavy on wood and illuminated with Chinese lanterns and fixed lighting, some of the latter being a bit too bright.

I stuck to Samuel Adams at RMB47 a bottle, a reasonable price given the surroundings (I’d put this place in the same category as Face).

The service gets mixed reviews: while the drinks came quickly, the food took ages (I didn’t eat, but others at my table were unhappy with their order). Overall, though, the staff did a decent job (and special thanks to Stephanie for helping me get a taxi).

Tonight is the last night of the charity fund-raiser and Acupuncture will be on hand again. To get directions to the hotel, call 6526-5566

After five months of renovations, China World Hotel’s Summer Palace restaurant will re-open for business on May 23 26 says Communications Director Diane Fermin.

Classic Cantonese dishes still feature on a menu that now includes Huaiyang cuisine (from southern China). The dim sum lunch also returns - from 11 AM on weekdays and 9 AM on weekends.

Fermin says that while Summer Palace will have “New World” and “Old World” wines, the emphasis will be on French Bordeaux.

The restaurant will hold a “Road to Beijing” wine dinner and charity auction on May 22 (RMB2008), with part of the proceeds going to Care for Children.

The eight-course dinner is a clever pairing of wine with foods associated with cities that have hosted the Olympics. The “2000” course, for example, includes “Sydney rock lobster medallion with black truffle and sea urchin sauce, while the “2008“, not surprisingly, is “Peking duck with crispy skin and 2008-year-old marinade.”

That’s some mighty old marinade!

For more information about the wine dinner, or to book space, call 6505-5838.

Voting is underway for the that’s Beijing 2008 Reader Bar & Club Awards. This year’s ballot includes 24 categories ranging from best happy hour to best cocktails to bar of the year. To vote, go here.