Beijing Boyce

Update: I just received more details about Black Sun Bar. Here are some planned events and specials:

• Mondays: Free draft (Carlsberg or Beijing) with any burger or sandwich
•  Tuesdays: Quiz night (first one is August 23)
• Wednesdays: Ladies night with two-for-one cocktails for ladies, 30 percent of bottled and canned beer for gents
• Thursdays: Sports night, including football, darts, caber tossing and pool
• Friday: Double the pour in your mixed drink for rmb10 more; six shots for rmb100
• Saturdays:  Late happy hour, with two-for-one house drinks from 11 PM to 1 AM
• Sundays: House wine at rmb120 per bottle
• Daily: Pole dancing by Major Tom aka Master of the Unicorn at 1, 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7, 7:17, 7;32, 9 and 11:59 PM

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Look for longstanding watering hole Black Sun Bar, near the west gate of Chaoyang Park, to do a re-launch of sorts this Friday. The party will start at 7 PM with a few kegs of free beer and see complimentary shooters and drink specials throughout the night. Don’t expect any major changes right away: a source close to the new investors says the decor and design are a work in progress although the toilets have already gone through a significant upgrade. (The source has tested them numerous times and gives his endorsement). I’ll have more details on Black Sun soon, including word the new manager expects patrons to refer to him at “Major Tom“.

(Photo: freakingnews.com)

Part five of a series on where Beijing residents enjoy a beverage (or two). This round is with music and nightlife lovers Elisabeth Tchoudjinoff and Katrina Arndt.
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(1)

Black Sun Bar
This is our neighborhood bar and a good place to start the night. The cocktails are standard but cheap. This is the only bar we know in Beijing where the foosball players’ feet are not too high above the field. It doesn’t meet professional EU standards, which is probably why we are used to it. We enjoy kicking sets of men off the table and we do so often. We are not cocky, just confident.

(2)

Liang 30 Bar
Elisabeth: This is my reason to visit Houhai. The young (read: uncomplicated) Xinjiang musicians listen to our requests and the service is friendly. We also get to plug in our iPod during music breaks, us being the music snobs we are. Plus: Live music can still be heard from the upstairs, which offers a view of the rooftops of Houhai. Major plus: The flattering mirror in the bathroom helps you turn into Narcissus for a few hours or to see the rings in your eyes Downside: The bartender can only be trusted to make Gin Tonics. And open beer bottles.

Katrina: I only come for the music and the mirror.

(3)

Salsa Caribe
If we don’t dilly dally too much, we might try to catch the end set of the salsa band, since they play with explosive energy. We don’t know how many bands play in this venue, but they recently had a singer from the Middle East. A sweaty salsa band + Amr Diab’s ‘Habibi‘ live = very happy moment. Afterwards, we dance to salsa and Arabic and African music until the wee hours. Sure, this place can be a bit of a meat market, but at least the women are playing games as well as the men.

(4)

Le Petit Gourmand
The terrace seating is comfortable (when the weather is not too hot), the food is consistently good, and it is a good place to bring a laptop and concentrate on work. We once ordered food and told them we didn’t think the wine list was sufficient, so we were allowed to bring two bottles of our own. They provided the ice bucket and glasses. However, now this place has a new wine selection, so we might not be able to do that anymore. Still, it’s a fond memory.

(5)

Ichikura / 12SQM
Katrina: Ichikura is a one-of-a-kind bar with a very nice intimate setting and a bartender who takes great care in all the details that go into making a cocktail. Each drink is like a piece of performance art. It is nice to see someone in Beijing who puts so much passion into his work. To be honest, I don’t really want to mention this bar because it doesn’t have a lot of space.

Elisabeth: 12SQM has a nice cozy setting and offers Grey Goose vodka and lychee liquor on the beautiful back wall full of liquor. The lighting is soft and the conversation is low. It is nice to sit on the cushioned window sill and watch Nanluoguxiang life pass by.

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Previously:
Paul Adkins, Entrepreneur
Chandler Jurinka, Local Noodles
Kevin Shen, T3 Terminal
Steven Schwankert, SinoScuba

See also:
Beijing Olympics picks: Wine bars
Beijing Olympics picks: Sports bars