Beijing Boyce

What’s next for the former Terra / Rickshaw / Midnight / Grappa’s?

Renovations are under way at Terra and word on the street is the previous tenants — who still run Salt and Zest — are out. Not sure who is taking over but the building was gutted last week and full of scaffolding this week, with that staircase just inside the door sealed to increase floor space upstairs. Of the bars and restaurants previously operating here, The Rickshaw worked best, if only because I trust eating deep-fried pub grub over raw seafood in a venue with public toilets. Plus, a pint of Stella was something like rmb58 at Terra.

UPDATE: I received a text message from Jen Eden, who handles PR and marketing for Terra. She states that 1) some people might think the write-up above suggests Terra closed due to high prices but 2) it closed because the tenants were forced out by the landlord, with the case now before the courts. Honestly, I don’t think my write-up implies prices were to blame, and it certainly wasn’t my intention: my point was that I preferred when this place was The Rickshaw, with pub grub and with Stella at far less than rmb58 per pint. But consider this updated. (I wonder if the landlord will now contact and say I implied she forced out Terra, because I didn’t, I just posted the position of Terra. Might be time for a 24-hour foot massage.)

Budget-conscious regulars at George’s Bar should soon be sipping martinis and reminiscing about how the place used to popular with nouveau riche who have since moved on to the owner’s new fancy project. (Unless Zhou then sells George’s to someone else who attracts nouveau riche, in which case I might go the “if you can’t beat them, join them” route and start arriving in one of the seven Ferraris — one per night of the week — I have bought and stored with proceeds from this blog*. Decisions, decisions.) Anyway, Zhou’s new project is in the Sanlitun area, measures ~400 square meters and, I’m guessing, will include the rmb320 Long Island on the current menu. Perhaps he could add a rmb8,888,888 Long Island that includes a Pacific property and a pop-up version of George’s. That would be one way to get money offshore.

The Stumble Inn will team with charity Migrant Children’s Foundation for a “Christmas kisses” bash this Saturday from 9 PM. Step beneath the mistletoe to raise funds for MCF. Stumble will also have rmb20 martinis all night, says manager Charlie. I recommend kissing Charlie while holding a martini. Just let him know if you’d like to be shaken or (have your innermost feelings) stirred.

Slow Boat Brewery Taproom will “soft open” in the Dongsishitao area on December 15, then close for a few days for last-minute renovations — specifically to finish the heated floor: crank that up, add water and you can have a sauna party — before officially reopening for good on December 22. The venue will have 20 taps.

Speaking of brew, look for Great Leap Brewery to soon open its second location in Beijing.

* I would, of course, have a driver. Clean Ferraris and dirty martinis don’t mix.