Beijing Boyce

A quick update, with more to come!

Lv Yan - 798 Nike

Cindy Crawford - China Club

Evander Holyfield - Bud House

(Almost) Curt Schilling - Wukesong baseball stadium (well, it *looked* like him)

Sellapan Rama Nathan - Fraser Apartments

Qu Ying - Klubb Rouge

Yang Er - Klubb Rouge

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See also:
Beijing Olympics Celebrity Watch: August 7, August 10, August 11, August 12, and Jared Leto special edition.

(Hat tips to Meow, Fletch, Badr, m-dawg)

A few notes, on the fly, from last night…

The plan: Grab a beer or two at Bud House around 11 PM, call it a night, and be fresh for baseball in the morning. The reality: Packing it in at about 4 AM at Room 101 with the quotes, “Those Chinese gymnasts have the collective of 60″ and “the free world needs more gold medals” scribbled in my notebook. The details…

Bud House
This is a huge temporary party zone near the China Agricultural Exhibition grounds, with a lounge, a patio and pool area, and a dance floor, though the latter revealed far more people sipping booze than busting moves (I saw about five). Overall, fairly busy with a laid-back feel and, best of all, the land of the free beer (draft Budweiser and bottled Corona). The catch: you need a ticket to get in (thanks to MZ for mine).

Heineken House
Rather than go home like a good boy, I headed down the street to Heineken House in the Agricultural Exhibition Hall. This place is spacious, with retail, displays, and, off to the right, a bustling area with plenty of food, drink and people, a handful of ping pong tables, and a nice vibe. From the garden paths to the local but spic-and-span toilet facilities, this place offers more character than Bud House. Unlike Bud House, the beer costs money (you need to get a pre-paid card near the door), though entry is free (I suggest taking your passport and to expect a Dutch-first policy at the door if it is busy).

Room 101
But why come to Beijing for the Games just to patronize temporary bars? Again avoiding sleep, I headed with MH and KA (I met them at Heineken House) to Room 101. As they sipped Mojitos, I worked on a few pints of Stella, and we watched the women’s (girls’?) gymnastics final. First visit impressions: a good neighborhood bar feel, friendly management, and a nice curving staircase leading to the second floor terrace and lounge, which also has several screens. I’ll be back and I’ll also soon have more on this place.