Beijing Boyce

While there is lots of action in the bar and restaurant scenes in Sanlitun, Workers Stadium is no slouch. Among other developments:

• A massive Thai Restaurant is being built just north of Banana Babyface and across the street from Pavillion (I would include a photo but my system crashes every time I try to upload one).
• More than a half-dozen places – from a Shaanxi noodle shop to a hotpot restaurant to a hot dog stand / cocktail joint called Fubar – will open along the eastern base of the stadium.
• The boat-like structure built on the “lake” just prior to the Olympics will apparently become a summer bar.
• A club is being erected on the northeast corner of the stadium’s grounds.

And look for the newest offering from Kiosk, with a menu that includes those same value burgers, to open in an alley across  from the north gate.

In Sanlitun south, Juliette’s French restaurant will soon launch in the former Le Bistrot Parisien, while the ex-Cafe de Niro space, on the ground floor of Tongli Studio, is under renovation and, according to the rather tight-lipped construction crew yesterday, will become “a bar.”

On the north side,The Village Grouch reports that the former W Sports and Music Bar and Restaurant is now a grocery store.

And it appears Super Bar Street will die a slower death than expected. About a dozen joints, including most of the Japanese ones, remained open until late last night and it seems some, including Tim’s Texas Roadhouse, will try to continue to do business for as long as possible. Also, the owner of Bite-a-Pitta said he had been told yesterday – and this defines ambiguity – that he could remain open for a week or two.

Thanks to The Village Grouch for this wrap on the 2 Kolegas fourth anniversary party held Saturday night.

The 2 Kolegas fourth anniversary party was essentially an extreme version of any other weekend at the place: ridiculous quantities of low-priced drinks, served promptly by two guys behind the bar; more annoying twenty-something expats than you could beat to a bloody pulp with a stick; and some absolutely blistering performances by bands that have made an otherwise bad club a must-go music venue.

Perhaps the surprise of the night was the Sea Band DH & Chinese Hellcats, a Chinese six-piece band dressed in sailor costumes that does 50s big band songs in English. The lead singer has one of the most terrifying tattoos I’ve ever seen, and looks like she was down at the wharf last night and won a fist fight — barely. That said, the band is as tight as (insert your favorite anatomical tightness simile here), and they’re totally into it, something that rubbed off on the crowd and kicked off the rest of the night. I would go so far as to say they called out Black Cat Bone with their set.

When they sailed off, they were followed by Ziyo. A note to singer Helen Feng: We love you baby, and you are a smoldering molten cauldron of rock and roll sexuality. But please, no more lycra tights. And while you’re at it, leave the keyboard at home. We want more of the rock goddess we came to know in your early performances.

They were followed by a four-piece band called SUBS. Very interesting goth-ish chick singer in a Flintstones-style leather miniskirt. Helen from Ziyo should fire her band and convince these guys to lose Betty Rubble. That would be an absolutely wicked musical combination. Guitarist was awesome, and another super-tight performance from a Beijing quartet.

And speaking of tight: the elder statesmen of Beijing’s small-scale live music scene, Black Cat Bone, reminded everyone what a great live performance is, and that is on a night where great performances were the rule. The suits, the glasses and the tunes — they are still the band to beat.

Two Bone notes: Would love to see these guys regularly double-bill with the Sea Band (AmCham 4th of July organizers — are you reading?). And speaking of exceptional musical events, it’s time to have Spring and Autumn’s Kaiser and Black Cat Bone’s Jamie face off in a guitar war. Wouldn’t matter so much who wins — the audience would be slayed in the process. Good times would be had. Who will step forward and host this mighty event?