Beijing Boyce

Some items pulled from my inbox. All events are slated for this Saturday…

12sqm (map), a bar that consistently punches above its weight, will mark its second anniversary with RMB15 Coopers and other drink deals from 5 PM to midnight.

Aussino will hold its first “World Wine Festival” at the JW Marriott (map). The flyer states that more than 1000 wines from 200 wineries in 12 countries will be available for tasting, from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. A good deal given the fee is RMB150. Wine lectures are available for RMB200, while those attending the gala dinner – for RMB1080 – get the tasting and lectures included. RSVP at 6461-2072, x123.

Zeta Bar (map) at the Hilton Hotel is holding a 007-themed night titled “For Your Eyes Only.” Dress as your favorite James Bond character, sip martinis, and save the world dance the night away. Fifty percent discount on drinks before 10:30 PM.

Spirit It will hold its 21st cocktail class, this one focused on Chinese Valentine’s Day, at 6 PM in Kokomo (map). The cocktails include the Bee’s Kiss, with raspberry puree and and cherry liquor, and one the organizer say ice cream fans will love. Twenty spaces available; RMB150. RSVP with Bob at bobariels@gmail.com / 15010-352-077 (English) or Ariel Tang at 13811-787-292 (Chinese).

For those looking to get out of the city, The Schoolhouse (map) will host a folk song performance by members of the Pumi group, visiting from Yunnan, this Saturday from 2:30 PM.

China Wines & Spirits will team up with Aria (map) in China World Hotel for a five-course, five-wine dinner with wine maker Joseph Cattin from Alsace, France. From 7:30 PM; RMB498 per person. RSVP with fbreservations.cwh@shangri-la.com / 6505-3318.

Luga’s Villa (map) celebrates its first anniversary for three hours, from midnight on Saturday.

Cafe Europa (map) will have a Spanish tapas and wines event from 6 PM. The restaurant will offer 12 different tapas at RMB10 each as well as house wine at RMB25 per glass. Deals include five tapas and a glass of wine for RMB65. Attendees will receive a free aperitif – Tio Pepe sherry and tonic water. From 6 PM…

Juggling in Sanlitun Village...

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Many people I know had doubts Sanlitun Village would succeed in Beijing, but the spot has done well. Many restaurants on the third floor – from Blue Frog to Union to Herbal Cafe - have drawn more patrons than the cynics expected and overall foot traffic is substantial. Sanlitun Village has done well to go beyond being simply a shop and eat spot. Instead, during a given visit, you might find grafitti artists or dancers or product launches, not to mention dozens of children weaving in and out of the water fountains.

This is not to discount the negative sides of this project largely driven by the Swire Group. This includes  long delays in finishing it and the ensuing disruption this caused (a case of the “village” hurting the neighborhood), poor due diligence (numerous places, including Element Fresh, Blue Frog, and Union, inherited leaky roofs), and the presence of drug dealers in the square and the occasional hooker in McDonald’s. There is also the likelihood that Sanlitun Village will drive increasing rent hikes on neighboring bars and retail shops, and thus the area might lose its current full flavor, given the visitor can currently skip between high-end meals and cheap drinks, fancy cocktails, and street food.

In any case, the “creative” and “media” efforts of both the Sanlitun Village as well as the northern section of the project, which is expected to open by year’s end, will by handled by Euro RSCG Beijing and MPG, according to this story on Brand Republic:

Swire Properties has awarded Euro RSCG Beijing, along with Havas sister media agency MPG, the creative and media duties respectively for the expansion of retail and hotel development The Village at Sanlitun after a pitch against several independent agencies. The win comes at a time of expansion, as the second of its two sites – the Village North – is to be opened later in 2009. The Village North will house an array of creative luxury brands.

See the full post here.

(Hat tip to DJ Chunky)