Beijing Boyce

Ignace Lecleir will leave as general manager of Maison Boulud, widely considered to be Beijing’s best western restaurant, at the end of June. He says he plans to stay in Beijing and is looking into new opportunities.

GM since Boulud opened about two years ago, Lecleir has overseen an operation that has racked up dozens of awards for its food, wine, service, and decor. It has been the bright spot at the Legation Quarter / Chienmen 23 complex, which saw the Aqua Group (Agua, Shiro Matsu, Hex, Fez) and Meat & Wine Company close during the past six months and sees Italian restaurant Sadler as the only other Western eatery left. Both Maison Boulud and Lecleir are highly regarded among readers of this blog, if the emails and comments I receive are any indication, and we can expect plenty of talk that the move portends something darker for the restaurant. Frankly, when you see surrounding businesses fail and top staff leave, it doesn’t imbue confidence.

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New Zealand native Jo Greene moved to Beijing just over a year ago and has acquired a fondness for the drinking holes of Nanluoguxiang and its surrounding hutongs. Here are her five favorite spots to get a drink.

“Some people wonder why I choose to live in Gongti, considering I spend most of my time in Nanluoguxiang. Well, if I could pick up my apartment and put it down in Ju’er Hutong, I would! It’s probably a better question to ask why I spend so much time in the NLGX area. Well, here’s the answer:

“12SQM: This place is like sitting in my living room drinking with friends. The southernmost bar of NLGX (and formerly the smallest) was the first place I had a drink at when I arrived in Beijing just over a year ago. The owner Joseph is an ex-colleague and actually it’s the unofficial hangout for most of my old travel buddies who either live in or just pass through Beijing. I love the unpretentiousness of this place and that I can pick the music using my iPhone. You’ll find me most nights sitting in the window seat people watching over a pint of Yanjing or a nip of one of their long list of whiskeys.

“Mao Mao Chong: When it’s time for food I head down Banchang utong to Mao Mao. Stephen is another ex-colleague and I love what he’s done with this place since moving it down from Wudaoying Hutong. The pizzas are some of my favourite bar food in the city and he has an impressive cocktail list that changes with the seasons, not to mention a great selection of Australian wines by the glass. If you’re in need of a present for friends overseas try one of Mao Mao’s own designer t-Shirts.

“Amilal: I wont tell you exactly where this little gem is because I’d like it to stay a secret! Amilal is a great chill-out spot at the end of the night. Alc is a excellent host, along with the cats, fish, and the occasional canine visitor. The music collection is impressive, it’s the only place in this city I’ve heard both Tom Waits and Johnny Cash on the play-list. Amilal also has a fine whiskey selection and sometimes live Mongolian folk music on the weekend.

“Jianghu Jiu Ba: This Dongmianhua Hutong hideaway would have to be one of my favourite live music venues in Beijing. I’m here usually at least once a week for gigs. The small stage and cosy back room give it an intimate feel, like you’re almost on stage with the musicians. I’ve seen everything from the full lineup of Girls Are Waiting To Meet You crammed onto the tiny corner for a full plugged-in show, to Michael Dallin from Bad Apples singing with just his acoustic guitar, and almost everything in between! The owner Tianxiao is a great saxophonist, and his friends will frequently pop by for jazz jam sessions. The atmosphere is so chilled you’ll often find the bands sharing beer and chatting with fans after the shows. They also have their own beers, both yellow and black draft.

“Salud: The perfect place to end the night. When everything else in the area is closing, this place will still be pumping. Well known amongst the French crowd, Salud has some great Wednesday night gigs as well, from Chinese folk, to French reggae, to Irish fiddles, there’s always a lot of variety, sometimes all in the same night. I can’t pick the music with my iPhone here, but when it gets late the French bartenders are always open to music suggestions. Behind the bar there’s a great selection of homemade flavoured rums, however I prefer their sangria in the summer and mulled wine in the winter.

Just a quick note of some happenings this weekend…

Parkside Bar & Grill, across from The Rosedale Hotel in Lido, is holding its opening party tonight. The place will serve free cocktails, wine, and draft Stella and Carlsberg from 7:30 PM to 10 PM. It will be open from tomorrow though the food menu will not be available until next week. Glenn Phelan, of Pavillion, Browns, Frank’s Place, Paddy O’Shea’s, Stumble Inn, Danger Doyle’s, and Souk, designed and managed the construction of Parkside.

Also tonight, 2 Kolegas celebrates the first of a two-day celebration to mark its fifth year. The lineup features two of my favorite bands, although on separate days. Tonight, it includes blues band Black Cat Bone, while tomorrow it includes DH and the Hellcats.

And Xiu Bar in the Yantai Centre is also apparently holding an anniversary party tomorrow night, though this one seems to require tickets. I’ll post more info if I can get any.

Finally, for those who believe in quantity, Phil’s Pub, just across from the north entrance of Ritan Park, has a RMB50 all-you-can-drink deal on spirits and mixers from 9 PM to 12:30 AM tonight.

How many people would like to exercise more but are too busy going out or would like to go out more but are too busy in the gym? Tonight is a chance to multitask as Tun Bar is mixing sports and suds with its Thursday beer pong event. I went a few weeks ago, strictly as an observer, and Tun did a good job with the layout–I liked the rotating lights–and in drawing a diverse crowd. For those who want further workouts, Tun also has pool, darts, foosball, and ping pong. Beer pong starts at 9:30 PM and the night includes beer specials. It is also a good chance to check out Tun’s new deck.

I figured the hot dog craze had leveled or even tailed off but it appears that lips and assholes packaged in tubular form are again gaining momentum. Luga’s Basement advertised hot dogs for its recent opening party and Paddy O’Shea’s is doing the same for the upcoming World Cup. And a place called Hot Dog has opened across from Workers Stadium North to join local area wiener joints No More Bunz, Stadium Dog, and the carts in front of Vics and Shooters, among others. For some reason, Hot Dog is using the traditional wiener roller to heat noodles and instead cooking theirs in a toaster oven: Mine came slightly raw in the center, was in a prepackaged bun, and cost RMB15. Not the best dog, but if you’re drunk or hungry enough, it’ll do. And this place has added value for those who want to make photocopies or buy a stuffed animal while they eat (that bear on the top shelf is RMB90, in case you are wondering).

For what it’s worth, I like the grilled dog at No More Bunz and the toppings at Stadium Dog, with the chili dog at Hooters getting serious consideration.

- See also:

Make me one with everything: The hot dog scene in Beijing

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I figured the hot dog craze had leveled or even tailed off but it appears that lips and assholes packaged in tubular form are again gaining momentum. Luga’s Basement advertised hot dogs for its recent opening party and Paddy O’Shea’s is doing the same for the upcoming World Cup. And a place called Hot Dog has opened across from Workers Stadium North to join local area wiener joints No More Bunz, Stadium Dog, and the carts in front of Vics and Shooters, among others. For some reason, Hot Dog is using the traditional wiener roller to heat noodles and instead cooking theirs in a toaster oven: Mine came slightly raw in the center, was in a prepackaged bun, and cost RMB15. Not the best dog, but if you’re drunk or hungry enough, it’ll do. And this place has added value for those who want to make photocopies or buy a stuffed animal while they eat (that bear on the top shelf is RMB90, in case you are wondering).

For what it’s worth, I like the grilled dog at No More Bunz and the toppings at Stadium Dog, with the chili dog at Hooters getting serious consideration.

- See also:

Make me one with everything: The hot dog scene in Beijing

Florida native Natasha McKenzie has been exploring the bar and restaurant scene since moving to Beijing a decade ago. (And of late, has developed a fondness for Strongbow Cider.) I asked her to list her all-time top-five watering holes. Here they are:

“1. The Big Easy for Blue Mondays, but only when [owner] Doug was still sitting at the end of the bar.

“2. The Hidden Tree, before the expansion and renovations, when you had to go through a labyrinth of cases of Tsingtao just to squat.

“3. Jam House, one of my first and favorite rooftop bars.

“4. Drum & Bell, because of the decent pizza and happy hour on lazy Sunday afternoons.

“5. Fubar, an understated hole in the wall within walking distance of my house.

Chicago: Do it for Tony O. (art.com)

National Hockey League (NHL) fans can again look to The Irish Volunteer (map) to show each and every game of the finals, with the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers facing off this year. (The Goose and Duck and Paddy O’Shea’s have also shown games in the past and I will update this post if I find out they are doing so again.) The schedule below, provided by Ray Plummer — check the site www.beijinghockey.com if you are interested in hitting the ice — uses Beijing times. The usual RMB35 breakfast combo is in effect.

• Game 1 – Sunday, May 30, 8 AM
• Game 2 – Tuesday, June 1, 8 AM
• Game 3 – Thursday, June 3, 8 AM
• Game 4 – Saturday, June 5, 8 AM
• Game 5 – Monday, June 7, 8 AM (if needed)
• Game 6 – Thursday, June 10, 8 AM (if needed)
• Game 7 – Saturday, June 12, 8 AM (if needed)

As a Tony Esposito fan, I’m inclined to cheer for Chicago along with Brandon Chemers — see his very personal post on the NHL finals here and a post about a program to teach hockey to the blind in China here, on his A Modern Lei Feng blog.

Sometimes I have trouble understanding the whole wacky DJ thing. Miao Wong at Accupuncture has tried to give me insights, as has Blackie at The Syndicate, but I still don’t get it. I guess the best idea is to get behind the decks and give it a go. And a club has actually–and one might say naively–agreed to let it happen. I’m not saying I will necessarily play twenty-minute Major Tom-Mr Robot0 mashups, but…

More on this soon.

And more to the point, I met DJ El-Mar, who is also a co-owner of Kokomo, a couple of weeks ago and he’s again organizing an aircraft party in Tianjin, on that very ship in the photo above. (See this post about last year’s party on the good ship Kiev.) The party is June 5, you can pre-buy tickets, there are buses going from Beijing to Tianjin and back, and there are 16 DJs in the lineup.

Click the flyers below for more details…

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Alfa held a “glitterati” party last Friday to mark its official reopening after its annual renovations. A few observations on the newest version of one of Beijing’s veteran party spots…

Good: The air conditioners in the club downstairs were powerful and will keep the sweat factor down during busy times.

Bad: The air in the lounge upstairs was too warm and stuffy.

Good: The toilets, which for years were pretty gross, have been spruced up.

Bad: The raised dance floor has dropoffs on all four sides, which means you need to be careful to not twist an ankle while doing the twist.

Good: The covered deck out front is better organized, with a nice island of sofas, and maintains the theme of running water that people have come to associate with Alfa.

Good or bad, depending on your taste: That theme extends to the club area, which has a long fish tank and a dance floor with a glass section through which patrons can see water. To me, it comes off as a bit cheesy in a Le Baie des Anges sort of way. Plus, I don’t think it’s such a great idea to put fish in a loud club.

Bad: Apparently, some drinks were free, but I couldn’t figure out which, so I ordered a Gin Tonic (RMB45) and it offered everything I would expect from, well, one of those crappy bars on the Sanlitun North strip. Half-ass mixology and not enough ice meant a sharp lukewarm first sip and a pretty poor drink overall.

Incidentally, cocktails start at RMB45 for martinis and the like, while beer, including Tsingtao, starts at RMB30. I forgot to check the bar snack menu: Alfa has traditionally had tasty eats.

Finally, the theme of the night: “Glitterati… [which] promises to the Sexiest Party of the Year… Come party with Beijing’s Beautiful Elite…”

I understand the idea of launching with a splash, though I wonder if a Beautiful People angle is sustainable given that places such as Xiu, Suzie Wong, Bling, and D Lounge attract such a crowd and have much to offer in terms of decor and drinks. Perhaps members of The Apartment, the Tongli Studio-based private club that has some crossover ownership with Alfa, can bring their beautiful buddies, or perhaps there is an untapped market of hotness out there.

In any case, during my time in Beijing I have come to see Alfa as a spot to get away from pretentiousness, to cut loose and dance to eighties music, and to enjoy a bunch of drinks. I hope it remembers its roots as well as that the Pleasantly Attractive, Cute in Certain Lighting, and Downright Ugly also have money to spend.

Anyway, the design is fine, even if done on a tight budget–=the bubbles in the ‘woodwork”, thin cushions, and so on–and the deck seems an especially nice place to have a few drinks and chill out. I’ll reserve judgment on the drinks and vibe until I have a few more visits under my belt…

The Rickshaw is under construction and there is a whodoinit vibe surrounding the project: No one seems to know who has scooped up this space, which apparently has a rent of RMB800,000 per year and is nicely located across from the new Soho and at the crossroads of Sanlitun north and south. According to one person on the site, the space will be split in two, with at least one part opening as a bar. In any case, with the Salt, Constellation, and Pyro / Lush teams, among others, all stating they plan to open in Sanlitun, there is no shortage of speculation….

See also:

RMB800,000: The most expensive Rickshaw ride in Beijing

Cinco de Drinko: Hello Saddle, bye Rickshaw

The Rickshaw closes: And the reality TV show continues…

Went to a friend’s place last night to help eat four kilos of ham just imported from Italy – not to mention guzzle lots of bruschetta, pasta, wine, and grappa — and saw this rooftop club from the apartment window. It is between Fortune Plaza and the new China World Tower Three, and is apparently a private joint. Anyone know more about this place?

Sick of sitting on the street collecting coins in a can to buy a bunch of baozi when you could be leveraging your computer and culinary knowledge to eat for free?* Then check out this help wanted ad from The Beijinger for a dining editor. The powers that be there seek a native English speaker with writing, editing and, I assume, eating experience to handle the dining sections of the magazine and website. Your odds of employment increase if you have Chinese language and/or photograpy and/or layout skills. Send CV and a trio of writing samples to editor@thebeijinger.com. The magazine is also looking for a music editor and a freelance art writer. See this ad for more details.

* I realize the average beggar does not have the skills for this position. I just liked the alliteration in that sentence.

On my way to Phil’s Pub last night, I passed a massive glowing red facade that could be only one of two things: 1) The Ritan Park portal to the depths of Hell or 2) the entrance to a 260-room subterranean KTV. Then again, some people might consider these one and the same.

Anyway, the words Music Box gave away that it was a KTV. I rode the escalator down to find a treasure trove of cheesy chandeliers, illuminated fountains, floors of marble, and excited patrons. There were also numerous buffet stations, though none in use that night, as well as a four-sided bar that looked like it could be used for singing competitions. The rooms ranged from tiny units suitable for those going solo or a friend to those capable of handling dozens. All told, two staff members told me the place had 260 rooms! More than enough choices when you get the urge to sing The Greatest Love of All…

You'll need a road map...

If you have walked between Karaiya Spice House and Ganges Indian Restaurant on the third floor of Sanlitun Village, you have likely seen a yet-to-open spot called Queen’s Konditorei. I popped my head in earlier this week to find what looked like a nearly finished coffee shop with a staircase to a second floor. The workers wouldn’t let me go up but suggested I return in 90 minutes when the boss would be there. I did and met Susanna Tang, who gave me a tour of the huge Russian restaurant she plans to open. By huge, I mean we ascended that staircase and walked through the second floor cafe area, the part that constitutes the konditorei. Then we entered the bigger section, the restaurant area, first going through a series of private rooms, then a medium sized dining room, then a larger dining area with a cut-out floor that looked down on yet another dining area, then the deck, then the wine and cocktail areas downstairs. The combination of sturdy furniture, dark wood and light paint, and airy rooms is attractive, though filling the place will of course require attracting hundreds of customers.

Tang says her family has been in the restaurant business since 1952 in Hong Kong and has been at work on the Beijing site for about six months. She is unimpressed with the Russian food available in Beijing and says she plans to offer a higher standard. She says Queen’s Konditorei will have a bakery with a particular focus on wedding cakes. Look for Queen’s to open next month.

The main dining areas at Queen's.

The konditorei will specialize in wedding cakes.

After an unusually lengthy winter, decks all over the city have been opening the past few weeks, from Q Bar to Kokomo, from Saddle to Frank’s Place, from Blue Frog to The Beach, from Nanjie to 1F. Not to mention Zhongyu Hanging Garden (see The Secret Garden of Sanlitun), which is being re-branded as Miss Saigon and has quite a bit of work to do if a visit last weekend is any indication (more soon). Here are some photos I took of a few of the newer places.

The new deck at Salt opened last night and offers seating for about 40, views of the park next door, and a food and drink menu created by manager Gaby Alves and chef Ana Esteves. I tried one of four house cocktails on the menu, the Slim Green (RMB58),  a combination of Hendrick’s gin, cucumber and grapefruit juice, and basil and basil syrup.  A refreshing tipple.

Gaby Alves at the bar

View from Salt's new deck

When Tun announced it would add a patio, I envisioned a half-dozen round plastic tables topped by plastic umbrellas and surrounded by plastic chairs. A nice surprise to find a deck complete with waist-high brick walls embedded with lights, an outdoor bar with Hoegaarden and Stella on tap, and a combination of wood and plush seating. Tun also has a few hookahs for those not getting enough particles in their lungs from the Beijing air.

The new deck at Tun

Hookahs and Hoegaarden available

Meanwhile, new heights in Japanese cuisine-American mass market beer relations have been reached with the opening of a Budweiser beer garden at Uama Teppanyaki at China View. The menu is not limited to Bud, which is listed at RMB20 per pint if memory serves. The former video shop next to the beer garden has been refurbished as a serving area for the beer garden.

Remember when W Sports and Music Bar and Restaurant sat on the corner across from Q Bar, had that sign of ping pong player / co-owner Jan-Ove Waldner that announced the place “probably” had the best Swedish food in town, offered a mish-mash of design styles that made it hard to peg (see: A Bar with Personalities), and often saw its beautiful deck lightly populated or even empty? The venue has since become a supermarket and that deck is now getting more foot traffic… as a place to grab mala tang and chuar.

Finally, look for a new addition the Lido outdoor dining scene as Parkside Bar & Grill is slated to open in about a week.

I always list my bar picks just before The Beijinger announces the results of its annual readers awards. Because I consider myself an expert? Nope. Because I can predict the future? Nope. Because I need to pay back all of the bar owners who gave me hongbao this past year and supported my seven-Ferrari, supermodel-dating, jet-setter lifestyle? Nice try, but nope. It’s because I’m about 400,000 words away from a full-blown case of carpal tunnel syndrome and a massive health insurance payout, and these lengthy posts get me that much closer.

Anyway, last Thursday my computer crashed harder than the Kro’s Nest partnership, so I decided to wait and am posting my picks today. Since readers could pick up to three bars per category, I did the same. Also, I’m not covering every category, I haven’t been to every bar in Beijing so I have probably missed some worthy choices, and this list is dependent on my memory so, again, I have probably missed some worthy choices.

Cocktails

Twilight gets my vote for superb cocktails, attention to detail, a twenty-kuai discount during happy hour, and an unpretentious vibe: I would be there thrice weekly if I lived in Jianwai Soho. Runners up: Mao Mao Chong for its creative approach and reasonable prices, and especially for its excellent winter menu of warm drinks, and Q Bar for consistent quality and starting two-for-one martini Wednesdays

Individual cocktail

If I had to choose three drinks on, let’s say, a Tuesday night, I’m starting at Q Bar with an Alfonso Special (gin, Grand Marnier, dry and sweet vermouth, and bitters), moving to Twilight for a Smoky Martini (Laphroaig single malt, Tanqueray gin, and absinthe, plus an olive stuffed with sauteed and then marinated sausage, anchovy, onion, and spice), and finishing at Tryst with an Old-Fashioned (the bourbon is eased into the drink in three stages). (Then having another Old-Fashioned.) Tough category, since I like drinks at Fubar, Mao Mao Chong, Ichikura, and Xiu (that huang jiu Long Island), among others, but those are my three.

Cheap drinks

Hard to beat those twenty-kuai rum shots at Salud for a mix of price, potency, and uniqueness. Runners-up: Tun, which has some kind of special every night, including one with two Stella drafts for RMB35, and 2F for its twenty-kuai Moscow Mules.

Whiskey

Nashville, with its blend of a daily two-for-one special and a shelf with about 100 whiskeys, is an excellent though highly underrated spot; Ichikura for continuing to deliver good choice and atmosphere; Glen for what I would argue is the best single malt selection in the city. (Special mention to The Bookworm for those who like to drink and read.)

Wine

This place does not have the biggest menu but does offer above-average and arguably the best value-for-money wines in Beijing along with a pleasant courtyard and good food: my pick is Palette Vino at Dongsisitiao. Runners up: Maison Boulud for the scope of its list, Mosto for that enomatic machine and the availability of half-pours of lesser-known varieties, and Cafe Europa for constantly rotating its by-the-glass and by-the-bottle menus.

Bartender

A tough category as the number of bartenders with profiles is increasing in Beijing — when I moved here, Bruce Li at Centro ranked among the few “name” mixologists. My picks are Daisuke Onishi at Twilight (I know he also tends bar at Apothecary but I rarely run into him there), Pat DeWillis at Tryst on Tuesdays, and Ah Jian at 2F for consistently improving at his craft and taking a shot at baijiu cocktails. Special mention: George Zhou, who was at Q Bar until recently and is about to open his own place.

Happy hour

The Den continues to deliver with its daily happy “hours” from 5 PM to 10 PM, which include half-price drinks and pizza and RMB30 Guinness pints, though it would be nice to see an end to the hard sell and no free water practices; Union Bar & Grille, which has a not-quite-a-pint RMB30 Guinness draft and comfy seating; and Fubar, where the happy hour is extended depending on the number of patrons and includes lethal RMB30 Long Islands. I also like the happy hours at Twilight and Nashville, as mentioned, and really need to try Blue Frog more since some of my acquaintances are big fans of its happy hour.

Events

Chronologically, Burger Burger Monday at Blue Frog, Tuesday night at Tryst, and two-for-one martini Wednesday at Q Bar.

Best service

Fubar, which has a personable and efficient team; Q Bar, which generally offers professional service; Tun, where I rarely have to wait more than two minutes for a drink; and The Den, where the staff sometimes can be curt but do a good job considering they have to deal with more than a few yahoos. I already have four so let me add a fifth: Maggie’s. Love it or hate it, this place maintains a high standard from the bar to the coat check to the hot dog stand.

Hotel bar

I’m not much of a hotel guy, but I’ll go with Centro in the Kerry Centre (for many people, it is a place where they can almost always run into someone they know), Scarlett in Hotel G (I like the layout and the wine list is pretty good), and Xiu in the Park Hyatt building (this place has had a significant impact on the bar scene).

Sports

The Den for being open round-the-clock, having a staff that knows how to work the TVs, and offering good pub grub; Paddy O’Shea’s for having a friendly vibe, Indian food from upstairs, and plenty of booze choices; The Irish Volunteer for going above and beyond to fill niches, such as for NCAA basketball and the NHL playoffs.

Hidden gems

Twilight, Mao Mao Chong, and, even thought it has been open for more than five years, Ichikura. (I would include Amilal but its fans want to *keep* it hidden.) I have only been once, but sake bar G-Zou is on the “needs further research” list.

Bar/club of the year

The five I consider as contenders, in chronological order (I’m thinking more about their impact on the scene over the past year rather than whether or not I like them):

• D Lounge: It opened with a stunning design and then upped the ante with an equally stunning extension, both the lounge and bar areas are fairly comfortable, it attracts a fair share of the “see and be seen” crowd for those into such scenes, the drinks and service have improved of late, and it tends to impress guests. The downsides include complaints about management and staff arrogance, the door policy, and–early on–drink quality.
• Fubar: Works due to a combo of gimmicks (sliding door, Buddha glasses), a good happy hour (mixed drinks from RMB25), a focus on big pours and quality spirits (how many people have tried Hendrick’s gin because of this place?), a personable staff, and strong media coverage. On the other hand, it has been open less than a year, only started to reach its potential when that third floor opened, can be a bit gloomy at times, and has tended to be “guy heavy.”
• Q Bar: Offers a superb deck, good service, tasty cocktails, and the fun of seeing first-timers surprised to find such a bar on top of the Eastern Inn. It has endured in providing quality year after year in what can be a fickle scene. The downsides: the crowds have thinned somewhat, the place doesn’t seem to be doing much to address nearby Sanlitun competition, and the departure of a co-owner this year was not pretty.
• Salud (NLGX): Continues to deliver with its homemade rums, diverse crowd (everyone from backpackers to long-term expatriates), earthy vibe, friendly staff, and potential for fun every night–all reasons I picked it as my favorite bar in last year’s post. On the other hand, this place gets its fair share of the “drunk and sloppy” crowd, the toilets can get a bit dodgy, and the mixed drinks get mixed reviews.
• Xiu Bar: Not my cup of Long Island Iced Tea, but it has has shaken up the scene, particularly with that “see and be seen” crowd, and had an impact on traditional strongholds such as Centro and Suzie Wong. The four-sided bar offers good people-watching opportunities, there are plenty of lounge areas as well as a gorgeous terrace, the drinks are reasonably good, and the ladies night has been a hit. The downsides have included annoyances at the door (security, line-ups), a crowd that often includes too many jackasses and “ladies of the night”, and spotty service.

Which one is the bar of the year? Hmm, can we have a five-way tie?

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See also:

• Beijinger bar awards: Mixed emotions, deja vu, and body Czechs (2010)
• Blogging live: The Beijinger Bars and Clubs awards (2009)
• My two kuai: Favorites for tonight’s The Beijinger Bars and Clubs Awards (2009)
• Pub picks: The Beijinger bars and clubs awards (2008)
• TBJ Awards: D-22, pole dancers, reality TV, and more (2007)
• It’s a bar, it’s a club, it’s a blub, part 1 (2007)
• It’s a bar, it’s a club, it’s a blub, part 2 (2007)
• My two kuai: Pre-TBJ awards bar picks (2006)

OK, that post title might be a little misleading, but the thing is that Olaf Kristoffer Bauer aka “Kro” of Kro’s Nest fame says he wants to meet with the man with whom he started this chain of pizza joints, Yuan Jie, and with whom relations have been somewhat less than amicable of late. Bauer says he has tried to contact Yuan Jie, even to the point of calling his family and acquaintances, but has had no luck reaching him. “Basically, I want him to come out and talk,” says Bauer. So, if Yuan Jie or his acquaintances read this blog, Kro says give him a call.

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See also:

As the Kro flies? Partner troubles at Kro’s Nest Pizza

Note: Click here for a map of The Pomegranate.

A couple of weeks ago when people asked if I planned to go to the Strawberry Festival or the Midi Festival or the Blueberry Festival or the Chaoyang Park Festival or whatever music festival, I had a stock answer: I’d rather have a yard of barbed wire pulled through my backend. Translation: I generally find going to such festivals to be a chore and would rather sit on a patio at a nearby bar or restaurant, sip some beer, and listen to recorded music — perhaps an extended version of Major Tom. To be fair, I haven’t been to a MIDI Festival, so perhaps I should not pre-judge; then again, I haven’t had intimate relations with barbed wire and have no plans to entertain the don’t-knock-it-til-you-try-it school.

Anyway, one festival I did enjoy last year was Rhinostock at The Pomegranate in Shunyi, mainly due to massive quantities of cold beer and blues courtesy of Black Cat Bone. This year’s festival — the fifth annual — is this Saturday and includes an all-day barbecue — William Bolton aka Chef Billy of Chef Too is now teamed up with The Pomegranate — and the door fee — attendees are asked to give a minimum of RMB20 — goes to Care for Children.

Here is the current lineup for the outdoor stage:

2 PM – Maggie Who
4 PM – Ryan Kester & Co
5 PM – Berlin Mummies
6 PM – Zou Gao Su
7 PM – Out of Control
8 PM – Boy Number Six
9 PM – No Name Trio
10 PM – End of the World

I’ll update this post as more details on the event become available…

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See also:

Rynostock photos: Black Cat Bone and more at The Pomegranate

A source at Obiwan says an announcement will be made in a few days about the sale of all or part of the three-floor Xihai-based establishment. Word is that the backers of one of the city’s key music venues will take over. This comes on top of an announcement earlier today by Q Bar that it no longer has an interest in Obiwan. It reads in part (my highlights):

“The owners of Q Bar have decided to concentrate on their core business, and have returned their shares in Obiwan to the club’s founder Ed Schmidt, who will continue to operate the venue. Q Bar’s owners are intent on maximizing the potential of their roof space, widely regarded as one of the best such spaces in Beijing, and on continuing to develop their prize-winning cocktail offering; as such they felt that it would be impossible to continue to commit to the ongoing redevelopment at Obiwan. The split from Obiwan is entirely amicable, and the owners of Q Bar wish all the best to Ed and his team.”

Returned their shares? I’m not sure if means they sold their stake or gave Schmidt an early Christmas gift. Anyway, this is the second Q Bar announcement in two months to describe a parting of the ways as “amicable“, though the buyout of co-founder George Zhou sure didn’t feel that way, not given this definition of the word.

Speaking of which, work on Zhou’s new bar in the base of Workers Stadium is steadily progressing, though it won’t open at the end of this month as hoped. Look for a June opening.

(Big hat tip to MSB)

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See also:

• Q Bar deal done: Echo Sun, Ralph Ziegenhorn buy George Zhou’s share

• Q Bar closed (For one night) ((So far))

• May the force be with them: Obiwan, Q Bar team up

Ask this man for a Pousse Cafe (photo: The Beijinger)

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I’ll make you a Bloody Mary [for your hangover]. As soon as I learn how. — SMS from Karl Long this morning

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Karl Long of Paddy O’Shea’s won as bartender of the year last night as The Beijinger magazine held its annual readers bars and clubs awards. The thing is, Long is not a bartender — neither is Chad Lager of Fubar, one of the runners up — and he joked that he “can’t even make a glass of water.” I heard two trains of thought after this happened.

1.This shows that the awards as a whole are bullshit. They should just get rid of them.

2. Most people don’t know the names of any bartenders so they chose someone familiar. They should get rid of this category.

Those espousing party pooping view number one should take a chill pill. If the Beijinger had called the category “bar personality” instead of “bartender”, no one would have complained because Lager and Long are two of our best. Well, except maybe Luga, because arguably he should have landed in the top three. It certainly doesn’t mean the rest of the awards are flawed.

Anyway, the awards are always controversial because what is “best” is a matter of opinion. And because there are many factors, besides whether the place is good or not, that can affect the voting: endurance (this helps perennial candidates like Q Bar, Suzie Wong, and Centro), name recognition (due to everything from paid advertising to word of mouth: If people are unsure about a pick, they might lean toward a bar they heard is good, even if they haven’t been there), willingness to vote (I would guess it is higher for fans of Fubar than for those of China Bar), split votes (I think this is why D22 won as best bar/club a few years ago over all of the Sanlitun-Chaoyang Park places), and PR by bars (such as through email and Facebook campaigns), among others.

Also, in the case of The Beijinger awards, to win you only need to get the most votes, not the majority of votes. In other words, you could get only 10 percent of the votes and still have more than anyone else.

Even so, The Beijinger bars and clubs awards, and its restaurant awards, are the ones that matter most to me among those given out by the city’s free English-language magazines. The Time Out awards are fine, but stick to restaurants and, except for a single category, are “expert” picks. (Kudos to this year’s editorial team which, unlike last year’s, did not hold the ceremony in a venue that was among the winners.) The City Weekend awards are, well, check here for my live blogging session during last year’s event.

The Beijinger picks nominees by surveying nearly 200 people in the Beijing scene, provides both reader and “expert” picks, and has Anal Retentive General Manager Mike Wester checking votes to make sure they are no shenanigans. Most importantly, the results ring true. I look at the winners and think, “Yeah, those might not be my favorites, but I can see why people would pick them.”

Anyway, a few things about this year’s event…

• The Mixed Emotions Award: Q Bar. This place walked away with seven awards, though not the coveted bar of the year one, but all I could think about was the absence of George Zhou, the guy who found the space, believed it could work despite reservations from others, and sold his share in less than happy circumstances earlier this year. At least for me, this place now has a bit of a weird vibe. By the way, bartender Wendy is among Beijing”s most underrated mixologists.

• The We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby, or Have We? Award: Fubar, for winning as bar of the year. This is a reasonable choice, as it offers a lot in terms of friendly staff, stiff drinks, and a decent happy hour, but I heard quite a few people wondering if this is really the best our city can do. My answer: Fubar captures the zeitgeist for a certain niche–one I would guess reads The Beijinger–that is finding times tougher in Beijing and is not only looking for value for money, but also a place to get obliterated. Plus, people find it fun to show their friends that sliding door and the Buddha glasses.

• The Deja Vu Award: To Fubar co-owners Chad Lager, Kevin Zhang, and Ashley Howlett. When I saw them on stage after Fubar won, it made me think of seeing Lager, Kris Ryan, and Luga on stage when The Rickshaw racked up awards three years ago. Yeah, I know the situations are not the same, but that’s the first thing that popped into my head. And I still think someone should have started a reality TV show about this three years ago.

• The I-Almost-Pulled-My-Groin-Just-Watching-That Award: The two guys who did that dancing / flair bartending act on stage.

• The Belgian (Stomach) Bulge Lifetime Achievement Award: To Fred, Bert, and the team at Vandergeeten for their continued presence at these kinds of events. And while they usually pour free Stella, this time they also had Hoegaadren.

• The Body Czech Award: Tie between the official rep of Czech booze maker Becherovka, who decided near the event’s end it was time for a few quick shots, and bartender Pat D, who then procured a bottle and passed it around in the parking lot (all we needed was to wrap it in a paper bag). All hope of escaping a hangover disappeared at that point.

• The Halloween Comes Early Award: To Mike Wester and The Beijinger team for handing out yet another fun grab bag. This year it included a beer stein, a bottle of Stella, a package of Capitano Coffee, a bag of Bonbon Bins candy, a fan, a Black Cat Bone Plays Club Gaga Live CD, a China Odyssey Tours photo album, a wrist band, and a lollipop.

Enough for now.

By the way, for the past four years, I have listed my picks just before The Beijinger announces the results (see a list of last night’s winners here), but unfortunately my computer screen went blank yesterday and I couldn’t get to the file. I’ll post my picks on Monday. Don’t expect Long and Lager to repeat in the best bartenders category…