Beijing Boyce

Austin “groovy, baby!” Powers featured in Week 6 of the Celebrity Pub Crawl, with contestants recommending Alfa, Treasure Island, Bed, Camp, Swing, Suzie Wong’s, China Doll, Le Freak, Centro and LAN as drinking holes for this psychedelic wonder. As is usual, the names of those making recommendations were put in a draw and I asked Alain Leroux of Taillan to pick the winner. The winner gets:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

This week’s winner: Alex.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated.

The Celebrity Pub Crawl is in the stretch run — this week is the last — with special agent Austin Powers. Make your Beijing bar recommendations here and you’ll be entered into the weekly draw for:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday at noon.

I’ll ask an esteemed member of the Beijing community - it was Bjørn Stabell of Exoweb last week - to do the draw, with the winner being announced on Wednesday. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please. To spread the wealth for this six-week contest, only one prize per person.)

Oh behave! ((c) New Line)

((c) New Line Cinema)

Since we featured Britain’s second-most famous spy - James Bond - in Celebrity Pub Crawl IV, let’s wrap up our final week with that nation’s premier agent of espionage - Austin Powers. Made your Beijing bar recommendations for this free-wheeling and flamboyant playboy, and you’ll be entered into the weekly draw for:

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres.

The deadline for entering the draw is Tuesday at noon. The winner will be announced the next day. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please. To spread the wealth for this six-week contest, only one prize per person.) To get those brains spinning, here’s the scene from the Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Swinger’s Club:

Week 5 of the Celebrity Pub Crawl contest saw readers recommend bars for Jack “I was born ready” Burton. Bus Bar, Sunset, The Den and Alfa all were suggested as drinking holes for the man behind “The Pork Chop Express.”

As is usual, the names of those making recommendations were included in a draw and I asked Bjørn Stabell of Exoweb to pick the winner. The winner gets:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

This week’s winner: froog.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated. The last edition of Celebrity Pub Crawl starts tomorrow.

Let’s get all third conditional here - if Jack “Pork Chop Express” Burton were in Beijing, where would you take him drinking?

Post your bar recommendations in the comment sections here and you’ll be entered into the weekly Celebrity Pub Crawl draw. So far, the itinerary for the Jack “It’s all in the reflexes” Burton covers Abella, Kro’s Nest, The Den, Sunset and Alfa.

The winner will receive:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

The deadline for entries is tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon.

I’ll ask an esteemed member of the Beijing community - it was Sequoia Ronald last week - to do the draw, with the winner being announced on Wednesday. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please. To spread the wealth for this six-week contest, only one prize per person.)

Go here for the movie trailer. Here’s another video that strings together clips of Burton.

How did this guy ever get through immigration?

I obviously didn’t learn my lesson from Celebrity Pub Crawl I, which featured Miami Vice’s Crockett and Tubbs, because I’m going “old school” again - this time with Jack “It’s all in the reflexes” Burton from 1980s cult movie Big Trouble in Little China.

Before you close the window, give me a chance. This movie has it all. It’s funny and so are all of you. It includes “China” in the name and that’s where we live. Burton, played by Kurt Russell, is a durable, weathered vet who could handle a heavy night out in Beijing. And his love interest is a very young Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City). Here’s the trailer: the last bit, with the beer bottle, gives an idea of the kind of places Burton would patronize (and here’s the link in case the video doesn’t appear below):

As always, post a comment about where in Beijing you would take Jack “Pork Chop Express” Burton, and you’ll be entered in the weekly draw. The prizes:- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

The deadline for entering the draw is Tuesday at noon. The winner will be announced the next day. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please. To spread the wealth for this six-week contest, only one prize per person.)

Here’s another video that strings together clips of Burton.

Too bad the old Goose n’ Duck isn’t still open…

James Bond was out guest imbiber for Celebrity Pub Crawl IV. Readers were asked to recommend where in our fair city they would take 007 for a drink or two. The name of everyone with a legitimate bar pick was entered in a draw. Ronald of Sequoia Cafe picked the winner, who will get:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

And the winner is: Kat.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated. Celebrity Pub Crawl V - the second last in the series - starts tomorrow.

Where would you take James Bond drinking in Beijing?

Post your bar recommendations in the comment section here and you’ll be entered into the weekly Celebrity Pub Crawl draw. So far, the itinerary includes Centro, Red Capital Club, Q Bar, Lugar, The Westin, and more.

The winner will receive:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

The deadline for entries is tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon.

I’ll ask an esteemed member of the Beijing community - it was Palette’s Stefan Fleischer last week - to do the draw, with the winner being announced on Wednesday. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please. To spread the wealth for this six-week contest, only one prize per person.)

So many Bonds, so many bars…

Martinis are nice, but nothing beats proper chilling with Bollingers…

We’ve done Crockett and Tubbs, The Desperate Wives and Homer Simpson. Let’s skip across the pond and get British spy - and martini and Bollinger lover - James Bond in on the action.

Post a comment about where in Beijing you would take 007 and you’ll be entered in the weekly draw. The prizes:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

The deadline for entering the draw is Tuesday at noon. The winner will be announced the next day. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please. To spread the wealth for this six-week contest, only one prize per person.)

Connery, Moore, Brosnan… pick a Bond, pick a bar. ((c) KCI Library)

For Celebrity Pub Crawl III, readers were asked to recommend their Beijing bar picks for Homer Simpson. The name of everyone with a legitimate bar pick was written on a piece of paper and entered in a draw. Stefan Fleischer picked the winner, who gets:

- Four pitchers of Stella at The Saddle Cantina, the new venue by the guys behind The Rickshaw

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

And the winner is: 8 Songs.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated. Celebrity Pub Crawl IV starts tomorrow.

Where would you take Homer Simpson drinking in Beijing?

Post your bar recommendations in the comment section here and you’ll be entered into the weekly Celebrity Pub Crawl draw. So far, the itinerary includes Sunset Grill, Phil’s Pub, Goose & Duck, LAN, Beer Mania and Maggies.

The Rickshaw - no doubt inspired by this picture - is throwing in as prizes four pitchers of Stella at spin-off venue, The Saddle Cantina, slated to open on Thursday.

The winner will also receive:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

The deadline for entering is Tuesday at noon. I’ll ask an esteemed member of the Beijing community - it was Neo’s Shan Lee last week - to conduct the draw, with the winner being announced on Wednesday.

The Springfield brew crew ((c) art.com)

An obvious brew lover ((c) poster.net)

We’ve done Crockett and Tubbs, we’ve done The Desperate Wives. Now it’s time for someone more associated with night life, or at least beer - Homer Simpson.

Post a comment about where in Beijing you would take this Duff-loving visitor from Springfield and you’ll be entered in the weekly draw. He seems like a Phil’s Pub type of guy. Or maybe The Rickshaw. After all, he and Marge stopped in over Halloween.

The stars come out at night at The Rickshaw.

The prizes:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

The deadline for entering the draw is Tuesday at noon. The winner will be announced the next day. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please.)

For Celebrity Pub Crawl II, readers were asked to recommend their Beijing bar picks for Desperate Housewives. The name of everyone with a legitimate bar pick was written on a card and entered in a draw. Shan Lee, marketing director of Neo Fine Foods, which imports wine and food from Australia, picked the winner (note: Neo will soon launch its new site - www.beijingfanz.com). The winner gets:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

And the winner is: Elisabeth T.

Congratulations to Elisabeth and thanks to everyone who participated. Celebrity Pub Crawl III starts tomorrow.

Where would you take the Desperate Housewives drinking in Beijing?

Post your bar recommendations in the comments section here and you’ll be entered into the weekly Celebrity Pub Crawl draw. So far, the possible itinerary includes Aria, Block 8 and my pick Suzie Wong (this assumes my apartment isn’t a valid choice).

The deadline for entering is Tuesday at noon. I’ll ask an esteemed member of the Beijing community - it was CRI’s Mark Rybchuk last week - to conduct the draw, with the winner being announced on Wednesday.

The prizes:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

Ready for a hot night on the town? ((c) ABC)

Coming to your neighborhood ((c) ABC)

Last week, about as many people contacted me to ask “Who are Crockett and Tubbs?” as entered the contest, so this week we’ll go with some current TV characters: Desperate Housewives.

Leave a comment about where you would take the wives - or an individual “wife”, if you like - and you’ll be entered in the weekly draw. (Frankly, I’m thinking Suzie Wong. No one would blink an eye if we sipped tequila from each other’s navels, plus imagine the cat fight potential. Then again, there’s Treasure Island. Choices, choices….)

The prizes:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

The deadline for entering the draw is Tuesday at noon. The winner will be announced the next day. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please.)

Hmmm, they seem to like wine. A good sign… ((c) ABC)

For the inaugural Celebrity Pub Crawl, players recommended Beijing bars for the dynamic crime-fighting, pastel-wearing, Spyder-driving duo of Crockett and Tubbs from the TV show Miami Vice. The picks included Bar Blu, Alfa, Q Bar and Bus Bar, among others.

Alack and alas, there is only one winner. The name of everyone with a legitimate bar recommendation was written on a card and entered in a draw. Mark ‘The Dapper Dude’ Rybchuk from China Radio International’s China Drive show witnessed the process and pulled the winning card. The winner gets:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

And the winner is: Badr B.

Congratulations to Badr and thanks to everyone who participated. Celebrity Pub Crawl II starts tomorrow.

Coming hard on the heels of The Haiku Challenge, my new contest - The Celebrity Pub Crawl - is off to a roaring start with… uh… one participant (thanks m-dawg).

I don’t know what is more depressing: 1) the lack of participation or 2) that five people told me via the Internet that they draw a blank when they see Miami Vice’s Crocket and Tubbs, the focus of this week’s contest.

Talk about making a guy feel dated.

Then again, I’m glad I didn’t use The Golden Girls, The A-Team, The Brady Bunch or Australia soap Neighbours (check out Kylie Minogue in this clip. Who’da thunk she’d go on to remake The Locomotion).

Really, it’s not that hard. The original contest post has a link to the show’s opening credits (probably the only one in history to include a clip of jai alai) and a pivotal scene (with Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight).

Simply post a comment about where you would take Crockett and Tubbs for drinks in our city. At this point, your odds of winning are extremely high. (My sponsors must be proud.)

If that sounds too difficult, I can make it even easier…

The show features two cops who wear pastel clothing and three-day shadows, drive around Miami in fancy cars, and bust drug dealers. Maybe they’d be good in a place that has Latin music… maybe like that place near The Bookworm. Its name consists of two words - the first is a condiment used with tortilla chips, the second sounds very close to the word “caribou“… hint, hint…

The deadline for entries is tomorrow at noon.

The prizes:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

UPDATE: This week’s contest is closed! The winner will be announced tomorrow - I will get meet with two trustworthy members of the public. I will ask one to write the names of the entrants on pieces of paper and stick them in the hat. The other will pick the winner. Look for a new contest on Thursday and thanks to everyone who participated in this one.

Hot on the heels of The Haiku Challenge, I’m kicking off this blog’s second contest: Celebrity Pub Crawl. The idea: each week I post a photo of a movie character or two and readers propose which bar (or bars) they’d take him, her, or them to.

List your bar recommendation in the comments section of this post and you’ll be entered into a weekly draw for:

- A bottle of Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Torres

- A package of four books - Insider’s Guide to Beijing 2008, Mandarin Phrasebook, Healthy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide, and Spicy Chinese Cuisine: A Restaurant Ordering Guide - from Immersion Guides.

I will put up a new celebrity photo every Thursday. The deadline for entering the draw is Tuesday at noon. The winner will be announced the next day. (Note: I can only ship prizes to addresses in Beijing. One entry per week per person, please.)

Here we go…

Week 1: Celebrity Pub Crawl

Crockett and Tubbs from Miami Vice (the TV show, not the movie)

(c) NBC Universal

Frankly, I’m taking Crockett and Tubbs to BabyFace and somehow we are getting their Ferrari Daytona Spider inside so they can smash it through the glass facade, do a 360 on Gongti West, tear up the Pavillion’s patio, and then race off, all while Tubbs casually reclines in the front seat with a bottle of Chivas in one hand and a bottle of green tea in the other. And later we’ll cruise down Sanlitun North so they can rough up some “lady bar” touts.

Anyway, check the opening credits of the show and a clip that I think of every time I hear Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”, the latter covered in this Wikipedia entry:

While the show didn’t invent pastels it made them popular. The other aspects of Miami Vice considered revolutionary lay in its music, cinematography, and imagery, which made large segments of each episode resemble a protracted music video. Perhaps the best example of combining these three aspects is found in the pilot episode “Brother’s Keeper” when Crockett and Tubbs are in the Ferrari Daytona Spyder, driving through a damp, nighttime Miami downtown heading to a somber showdown with a sinister, murdering drug lord as “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins surrealistically plays along.

Think I’ll get out the pastel shirt this weekend. In the meantime, post your itinerary and you’ll have a chance to win wine and books - do any two things go better together?