Sleeping Beauty

I must confess:  I did not go to Kid Koala as planned last night.

Instead, for the first time in months, I went to bed before midnight.

At dinner last night, I got a a serious lecture from Mama LumDimSum about the long-term consequences of my nightlife lifestyle.

According to her, every body has its own ticking clock and between the hours of midnight and 4am are the body’s most precious hours of sleep…the exact hours when my brain is most alert and functional and I feel I am most productive at work.

It may sound odd to you, but I am incredibly on-point at night. During the day, my phone is non-stop ringing, e-mails are constantly incoming, and I’m always running off to the next meeting.  And in the evenings (precisely between the hours of midnight and 4am), when everyone else is sleeping, when all the distractions finally stop, I can begin to write.  Only in the wee hours can I concentrate and find the time to get work done, so that I can have the peace of mind to get my beauty sleep.

And I’ve never been a morning person.  Even in high school when I was waking up for zero period at 6am, I was pretty much a walking zombie.  So to me, working nightlife is ideal.  I get to go out, I get to party, I get my work done quickly and efficiently, and most of all, I get to sleep in.

But alas, as the old proverb goes, “the early bird catcheth the worm.” But what if I caught the worm before the early bird even rises?  Does that count?

According to Mama LumDimSum, she’s more concerned with my health and the long-term effects my lifestyle will be on my skin, my heart, my body.

So I did a little research and found that getting enough sleep is obviously important, but so is when you sleep.

Quote of the Day:

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise” – Ben Franklin

Mr. Franklin believed we were meant to get up with the light of dawn and to go to sleep at nightfall, our hormone levels adjusting to the rise and fall of daylight around us.  Now, in our modern world we can fool our hormonal system with artificial light, which has a big impact on our health.

We cannot change our genetics, but there is much that is within our control that can have an impact on whether we are healthy or whether we suffer with pain and disease.  Considering my job, it’s impossible for me to go to bed early every night but I wanted to share this message with you in an effort to look after our own health more, something which we should never take for granted.

I believe we should do what we can do to make ourselves as healthy as possible…starting with our beauty sleep.

Ghosts, Goblins..& Michael Jackson, Oh My!

It’s that time of year – HALLOWIZZLE!!

I guess the big question is: what to wear? who to be? (I anticipate a lot of Michael Jackson impersonators) …but most importantly: WHERE to go?

Coming from UCSB, the school most famous for its massive Halloween parties with over 10,000 out-of-town visitors each year, I was pleasantly surprised to find Beijingers to be just as festive in celebrating this holiday filled with mischief, imagination, creative costumes, darkness and  sinfully good treats. (who doesn’t love mini candy Halloween treats?)

So what’s good this year?  We’ve got a pretty hefty line-up of events for whatever kind of mischief you plan to get yourself into whether you’re into winning some big bucks or you like the idea of theme parks and haunted houses or freaky fetishes, you’ve got your fair share of places to choose from.

Bling's Cash Money Halloween Bash

Top 6 Haunting Hot Spots for Halloween 2009:

1.  Bling’s Cash Money Halloween Bash: RMB 5,000 Cold, Hard CASH goes to the most innovative, creative costume. Bring your friends to increase your chances of winning!  Free Entrance.

2. Yen Fetish 2009 – In an all white warehouse space in 798, the annual YEN Fetish is at it again. Featuring DJ Blackie, DJ Micky Zhang, & Yang Bing.  For those with freaky fetishes! (first year in Beijing, I went to YEN Fetish and never saw so many head to toe leather suits – think gimp suit from movie Pulp Fiction)

3. Time Out Halloween Party @ Happy Valley Amusement Park 7pm-Midnight, RMB 60 with 6RMB beers and free rides until 10pm…+ DJ’s (Blackie, El-Mar & Simon Adams). Beer + Roller Coasters + DJ’s = Random Fun

4. Spooky Scarlett – Win a complimentary night’s stay at Hotel G and enjoy 10RMB shooters.

5. Xiu-loween – With Party Hosts Riviera, Xiu is hosting a “gothic chic” party. Free admission for those dressed, RMB 260 entrance for those who are not partaking in costume fun.

6. Halloween Ghost Hunting Jam Set @ Starlive – Pet Conspiracy, Y.A.C.H.T., LiMan, DJ Wordy. RMB 70

Happy Halloween!!

From GOSSIP to Ghosts: Weekend Breakdown

Here’s the Weekend Breakdown for this week (starts on Wednesday, Oct. 28-Saturday, Oct. 31):

Wednesday, October 28:

GOSSIP @ [Touch] The Westin Beijing Chaoyang:

Every Wednesday GOSSIP continues to make it’s mark in Beijing as the party with beautiful people. (I love that Suzie’s ladies night is finally being replaced!)

Free drinks for ladies between 9pm and midnight, plus special GOSSIP menu and bottle prices for all table bookings.

Gossip’s resident DJs Simon Adams and Azat Sagirov continue to bring a fresh new sound to the capital, dropping a mix of the most up-front soul-drenched house music, with live percussion.

BLING’s Cash Money Dance-Off FINALIST’S Round:

The last Wednesday of every month, BLING brings together the round of the finalists from the previous weeks for a FINALIST dance-off for their chance to win RMB 5,000 cash! A real battle dance-off between the best of the best. Holla.

Scottie Pippen as Bling's Official Dance-Off Judge!

Thursday, October 29, 2009:

Kid Koala @ Yugong Yishan – Since joining UK label Ninja Tune in 1997, Eric San aka KID KOALA has been leading a one-man-and-many-turntables revolution mixing traditional jazz, hip hop, blues, funk and ska with mind-blowing sound collages.  Will be great to check this turntabilist/scratch-artist in action!

Friday, October 30, 2009:

David & Sumeet’s Housewarming Party from 8-11pm @ Peal Harbor Apartments (xinhualianligang)

Chi-jia’s Going Away Party @ d. lounge from 9:30pm-onwards

Saturday, October 31, 2009:

Halloween is just around the corner!  Time to brainstorm and find the perfect costume.  Whether you’re scary or sexy, better be dressed to impress as there are parties galore and hefty entrance fees for those who are not feeling the Halloween spirit.

Clearly my top pick will be BLING’s Cash Money Halloween Bash.  (See details listed here):

Bling’s Second Annual “Cash Money Bash” Halloween Party

Dress to Impress in the most creative, innovative, and exciting Halloween costume for your chance to win 5,000 RMB!

Contestants will be selected to participate in a contest that will be determined by none other than the Halloween revelers who attend the event. So bring out all your friends to increase your chances of winning! Strut your stuff on-stage in front of the crowd and if you can win over the crowd, then you can win the grand prize!

First place will received cold hard cash totaling 5,000 RMB! The runner-up will receive one complimentary bottle of Grey Goose Vodka. So think hard now, get your costume ready, and come out for a night of craziness on Saturday, October 31, 2009, exclusively at Bling.

Time/时间: 9pm-late

NO COVER

Dress: Best Halloween Costume gets 5,000 RMB!!

King of Ducks

If there is a visitor in Beijing, regardless if they are here on business or pleasure, their priority for dining should always be BEIJING DUCK.  End of discussion.

Here’s a list of my top 5 picks for Beijing Roast Duck (北京烤鸭):

1.  Made in China – Hands down my favorite duck restaurant. Best duck to ever touch my palette, great overall menu, and beautiful interior design.  Only down-side is that it’s located in a hotel and you need to make a reservation to get a table a few days in advance. A bit on the pricier side, but worth every penny.

2. Xiao Wang Fu 小王府 - If I’m not trying to impress any out-of-town guests and the priority is good value, then I opt for Xiao Wang Fu, a popular chain of duck restaurants with a good selection of classic Chinese dishes for a very reasonable price.

3. Duck de Chine - A place to impress visitors or business clients, the interior is exquisite and I’m sold by their special duck sauce (plum sauce with swirls of peanut and sesame sauce topped with roasted garlic). My mouth waters just thinking about it.  Great food, even better ambiance, so-so service, and expect to pay a pretty penny.

4. Da Dong大董烤鸭店- Often referred to as the Best Duck in Town, I think their duck does not even touch Made in China’s melt-in-your-mouth Beijing Duck.  They claim their duck is more lean and they have a few chain restaurants in town, and have also recently expanded upon their already extensive menu.

5. Li Qun 利群烤鸭店 - Tucked away and difficult to find, but a great destination for the more adventurous tourists on a budget.  Great duck for good value and a very authentic Chinese restaurant in terms of good food served in a poorly maintained establishment and lack of service.

In the past 3 years, I’ve been to many of the city’s top duck restaurants, but when a friend of a friend from high school came into town for only one day, I was eager to impress them with one of the city’s newest additions to the list of top duck restaurants: I introduced them to Duck de Chine, located in the factory-chic setting of 1949.

The setting was elegant, refined and upscale and the menu brings together recipes from both Chinese and French cuisine.  Within the restaurant, you feel like you could be anywhere in the world. The menu was extensive, the food was delicious and beautifully presented, and the duck was superb with the highlight of the experience being the special duck plum sauce with swirls of sesame and peanut sauce topped with roasted garlic. Brilliant. Another highlight of the evening was the Australian Lobster with E-Fu noodles and the Pan-Fried Beef Tenderloin.

Review of Duck de Chine: At 1949- The Hidden City: Courtyard 4, Gong Ti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, Sanlitun. Opposite Pacific Century Place South gate. 北京朝阳区工体北路太平洋百货南门对面

Best Part:

• Their secret lies in their duck’s unique and innovative plum sauce, which combines sesame and peanut sauce together with roasted garlic. A heavenly combination and a perfect compliment for the Beijing Duck.
• The interior of the restaurant is exquisite and upscale, perfecting for impressing visitors
• The location of the restaurant within 1949 – The Hidden City makes it a great destination for dinner and drinks (just across the way from both Club Decollete & Club Glen).
• The menu is extensive with a lot of variety. Every dish was flavorful, delicious, and beautifully presented

Comments:

• It’s definitely on the pricier end of the list. Our table of 7 including wine and cocktails was over 3,000 RMB.
• Service was not up-to-par with the restaurant’s ambiance and product. There were quite a few mix-ups with our order and the waiter could not get a single drink right the entire night (kept bringing drinks to the wrong people/re-filling the wrong glasses).
• Bathrooms are down a flight of stairs.
• Definitely a place for impressing visitors/clients rather than a destination for locals.

If She Only Knew

Look who made theBeijinger’s classifieds!! haha

Apparently, I’m going to help her sell her left over whiskey bottle @ BLING.

Classified Ad Posted on theBeijinger Website

She may not know who I am, but in any case, whoever ends up with this bottle of whiskey won’t be disappointed as this ad is ironically and inadvertently accurate considering I am ALWAYS at BLING.  haha.

I encourage you all to help the girl out and make an offer.  At least if you do, you know I’ll be there to drink it with you!

Link to the classified ad: http://www.thebeijinger.com/classifieds/2009/10/26/Ticket-for-Bottle-of-Wisky-Table-in-Bling

*Shout Out to Tyler Zacharia (aka Ty Ty) for sending me this link, this is hilarious and so so awesome!

The Month of November

To Americans, the month of November rings fond memories of Thanksgiving holiday, family reunions, and turkey.

For the guys at Mellowparks.cn, the month of November is now being rebranded Movember (For the slower people out there: Moustache + November…Movember!)  Guys, I encourage you to join together in an effort to raise money for prostate cancer research – all while growing incredibly good looking/ridiculous looking mo’s.  Check it out:  www.movember.com for styling tips, donation info, and more.

For me, November means a month of gluttony (as an American who loves turkey feasts and I am probably the #1 Fan of all time of CityWeekend’s Gourmet Month!!)

For those of you who don’t know, CW holds two annual Gourmet Months (April & November) where about 40 of Beijing’s top restaurants are selected and placed into 3 categories (RMB 99, 150, and 250) and each restaurant provides a set menu available for the entire month that is worth more than double the set menu price they offer.

It’s brilliant!  Restaurants are happy from all the extra publicity and customers are all happy to get such amazing value for their money and the opportunity to try many restaurants they normally would not think to try out.

Back in April, I believe I went to about 18 restaurants (a new restaurant almost every day) and I was definitely, definitely guilty of gluttony to say the least.  And now that it’s getting close to November, I’m get pumped up again for FOODIE INDULGENCE!!

Join me on my quest to conquer this month’s Gourmet Month!  I plan to set up a schedule for the month of November to try as many restaurants as possible. Basically, I’ll have a schedule and if you are free, if you are interested in coming along, feel free to come along and invite others!! As always, the more the merrier.

If you are interested in joining me, please shoot me an e-mail: kristen@lumdimsum.com and I’ll keep you posted on this coming month’s dining adventure schedule!  :)

Sasha Fierce

After going to “Beyonce’s I AM… Tour 2009″ last night, I believe the general consensus was that Beyonce deserves WAY more cred for her talent.  I have a new-found respect for this woman and so much that I was inspired enough to feel the need to share on LumDimSum.

Granted, Beyonce is already a super famous pop star and her name is known all over the world.  From her days as part of Destiny’s Child to going solo, she’s had a ton of hit singles that’s earned her a lot fame.

But even with all that under her belt, I also naturally assumed that a lot of her talent is exaggerated by the media and I think that most people think of pop stars as being famous for their talent as entertainers rather than their singing or musical talent…like Britney Spears – amazing entertainer, not such an amazing singer.

But Beyonce is not just a pop star, she’s an artist and a goddess with the voice of a siren.  Yeah, that was a little cheesy, sorry, but Beyonce truly is an amazing entertainer, she’s incredibly beautiful and omg, that woman can belt and her voice is as beautiful as it is powerful.

In the past two years I’ve been to quite a few concerts in Beijing – from Kanye West to Kylie Minogue and I’ve even been to the Turandot Opera in the bird’s nest a few weeks back. At these other concerts, people complained about the sound quality, the lack of stage effects, or that it’s awkward to attend concerts in China where no one stands up or dances. A lot of people told me they didn’t even want to go to Beyonce’s concert after being so disappointed from the others.  And I’m sure those people are kicking themselves now.

Beyonce’s concert was hand’s down the best concert I have EVER been to (Beijing and abroad), it really blew me away.

Granted, I was also lucky to score box seats with Hatsune empire owner, Alan Wong’s box where 8 of us consumed 9 bottles of champagne, but everyone in the audience was getting loose, dancing, screaming, there was so much more energy and excitement this time around!

And it was definitely Beyonce herself that brought it out of everyone…or should I say it was Sasha Fierce?

From Chocolate to Hot Dogs, Here is this Weekend’s Breakdown

Looking for this weekend’s hot spots?  Here is this Weekend’s Breakdown (weekend for me starts on Thursday):

Thursday:  October, 22, 2009

It’s almost started to become routine to go to Xiu EVERY Thursday Night as all ladies are served free vodka cocktails until 1am, but I’m quite happy to have a great event to drive the crowds away from Xiu this week.

theBeijinger is throwing their 8-Year Anniversary Party @ Chocolate

RMB 90 All-You-Can-Drink from 8:30pm-Midnight.

Dress Code: Garish and Glam & Free champagne for the most flamboyantly dressed. (Seeing how crazy people come dressed is reason alone to go. If you don’t care for gaudy dress, then at least go for the 90rmb drink deal)

Friday: October 23, 2009:

Dinner @ Hatsune (Guanghua Lu), then Beyonce Concert & Beyonce’s After Concert Party” @ BLING

Alan’s got himself a box at the Beyonce Concert and has decided to extend his gratitude to a new crowd of Hatsune lovers by granting 4 people box seat tickets along with a complimentary dinner at Hatsune, transportation to the concert and countless bottles of champagne throughout the night.  How to pick these 4 people?

This week, I’ve started a project.  Every night at Hatsune & Karaiya, Will Miller (Alan’s intern) and I have started a raffle with people who dined in the Sanlitun restaurants this week, where we’ve gotten an overwhelmingly positive response for this generous offer from Alan.

Winners:  Mabel Wong & Regina Honorable, Congrats!

And of course after the Beyonce Concert, BLING’s got the Official After-Concert Party!

Saturday, October 24:

Hot Dog Eating Contest & Candy’s Birthday!!

All-Star’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: ROUND 2

All-Star will be hosting its 2nd Hot Dog Eating Contest on October 24th. Ten contestants will be selected to compete in a 3-minute hot dog eating contest for their chance to win a grand prize of 1,000 RMB CASH. Six time world champion Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi could down 59 dogs in 10 minutes. Are you up for All Star’s Challenge?

Date: Saturay, October 24, 2009

Time: 8pm

To Sign Up, Call David: 138 1055 7239 or Me: 132 4011 4868

Then it’s my Best Friend, Candy’s Birthday Party!!  Pre-drinks @ d lounge, then party @ BLING!!  Come Celebrate with us!

If You Like It Hot

With Beijing’s sudden drop in temperature, what’s better than a spicy meal to warm your winter blues?

If you’re like me and you crave meals filled with flavor and spice, here’s a breakdown of some of my top picks for different styles of cuisine, known to make you sweat:

1. Best Sichuan – known for its liberal use of garlic, chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns which produces a “tingly-numbing (Ma La)” sensation, unique to Sichuan cuisine.

• Chuan Ban
• Yu Xin
• The Sichuan Restaurant in Solana by Tsingtao Brewery (forgot name)
• Black Sesame Kitchen
  

  Karaiya's Spicy Pepper Diced Rib Eye

2. Best Hunan – As spicy as Sichuan, but without the numbing sensation. Hunan’s spice is much more flavorful

• Karaiya Spice House

4. Best Hot Pot – An interactive, dining experience- you get to cook raw food in a boiling stew (opt for the spicy one)

• Hai Di Lao
• Hot Pot on Gui Jie
• Xiabu Xiabu – a reliable chain of hot pot restaurants

5. Best Yunan – Spices are not as dominant or as intense as Sichuan or Hunan, but many dishes are quite spicy and diverse.

• Middle 8th 中8楼 – nice decor and good food with low prices.  I’m quite addicted to their rice wine, and I love that it comes in a big bamboo container.   Always a good option for guests or a casual lunch with friends.

6. Best Indian – One of the most popular cuisines around the globe, known for its abundance use of spices and herbs, with signature curry dishes.

• Mughal’s (Indian/Pakistani)
• Ganges
• Punjabi
• Hazara (in Face Bar)

7. Best Thai – Known for being spicy and hot, the heat is also combined with flavors that are sour, sweet or bitter.  I particularly like the combination of coconut milk in Thai soups and curries.

• Aroy-D (Shuangjing/Fulicheng Area) – where I was first introduced to Thai cuisine
• Purple Haze
• Lantung Thai Bar & Bistro
• Very Siam

Wedding Fever

I love weddings.  I love attending them, I love planning them, I love everything from the wedding dress to the wedding cake to the beautiful floral arrangements to the music to the dancing and the all-around overwhelming amount of happiness that consumes all weddings.

And there’s something about 2009 that’s giving everyone wedding fever. I’ve personally been to 3 weddings this year and I know of over 10 weddings that took place this summer.

A fun fact that not too many people know about me: Earlier this year, I was a wedding planner and together with my wedding team, we put together an entire wedding in just under one month. Not only did we do a wedding in a month, we did a kick-ass wedding in a month.  With limited high-end wedding stores/resources in China, we decided to just do everything ourselves – our own design, our own production and presentation.  From the wedding invitations to thewedding dress & tuxedos to the guestbook to the wedding programs and wine labels and everything in between, we created it all from scratch.

During the month up to the wedding date, I was a crazy woman.  I was super stressed, I barely slept and when I did sleep, I was dreaming wedding stuff. But in retrospect, as much work and time-constraining this project was, I learned a lot, it was a great experience and it was a lot of fun too. It’s fun to spend countless hours researching for the perfect wedding dress for Hannah, finding the most elegant floral patterns, and pulling all nighters with my wedding team finishing up last minute designs, etc.

One of my proudest days of my life was Alan & Hannah’s wedding day – an extravagant, beautiful, perfect wedding day that I was proud to have planned.

And it’s a great feeling to have been a part of such a special celebration for people that I love on a day they will always cherish and remember.

Here’s the BIG NEWS:

Most recently, I have learned of a few new happy couples.

Congratulations to Kat Don & Dan Touff, Fashionista’s ‘IT’ Couple!

Founder of Riviera PR company and PR socialite, Benoit Thebaut,  just got married in LA!

And just two days ago, I was asked to be a part of the planning for another big Beijing wedding day:

Love Birds Ken Li (owner of Bling & All-Star) & his beautiful bride-to-be, Julia Li have decided to tie the knot!  Tentative wedding date: May 2010! (Thank goodness I have more than a month this time around)

Love Birds Julia & Ken

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL YOU LOVE BIRDS!!  I wish you a lifetime of happiness and love.

Ladies First: Club Décolleté

Tonight, Beijing just got a little more class with the unofficial, soft-opening of Club Décolleté in 1949 – The Hidden City.

A dazzling and glamorous champagne bar with a look of timeless elegance and class, Club Décolleté is destined to shine as the ultimate champagne bar for Beijing’s beautiful elite.

As explained by owner & creator, Wilfred Kwok (also owner of Glen Boutique Bar), Club Décolleté’s interior design was simulated to mirror the exquisite and gracious design of the prestigious cuvée Perrier-Jouët Champagne bottle. Décolleté’s canvas-textured walls were hand-painted with floral patterns lined with gold and its bold color combination of green and orange emulate the Art Deco style of Cartier’s 1920’s collection design style of sleek, streamlined forms to convey elegance and sophistication.  Dressed in velvet with plush sofa seating combined with the playful touch of French café style seating featuring Kartell’s modern and innovative Italian furniture, the intimate proportions and plush décor create an environment of comfortable luxury.

Located within the brick walls of 1949-The Hidden City, Club Décolleté is a jewel box within this entertainment courtyard oasis of dining, art and culture.  From its hand-painted walls to the sensual curves along the luminous gold bar, Club Décolleté upholds a sense of heritage and aesthetics, creativity, expertise, and a blend of art and innovation.

With its captivating femininity and sensuality, this deliciously decadent champagne bar is designed with women in mind and irresistible for champagne lovers alike with its suave, sophisticated, distinguished and classic yet contemporary nature.

This haven of style is an ideal venue for a romantic rendezvous, a girls’ night out, or an exclusive celebration. Club Décolleté boasts a fine selection of champagne cocktails, fresh fruit daiquiris, and champagne by the bottle.  In time, Décolleté will also serve a delectable assortment of tapas, fresh oysters, caviar, cheeses and desserts.

The seamless fusion of elegance and luxury and a passion for uncompromising service and quality makes Club Décolleté an experience that is indulgent and truly unforgettable.

Club Décolleté is a place to celebrate and be celebrated.

Club Décolleté: First floor bar in 1949-The Hidden City, Attached to 1/5 Taverna and directly across from Sugar Bar. Gongti Bei lu, behind Pacific Century Mall.

Best Part:

• It’s a venue designed for elegant, classy women (men will not be allowed in unless they are accompanied by women)
• It’s all about the bubbly.
• With Wilfred Kwok behind Décolleté, you can rest assured that every cocktail will be made to perfection
• From Thursday-Saturday nights the music features a DJ with a live instrument (tonight had the sax)
• It’s small & intimate
• It’s still a secret – as it literally JUST opened its doors to the public tonight

Comments:

• Club Décolleté has not officially opened yet, they are still using a temporary menu and have yet to start serving off their food menu, which is unavailable at this stage.  *I’m anxious to try chocolate covered strawberries with my champagne cocktail.
• Unless you know 1949, it’s quite difficult to explain to people how to get here. I just don’t get how people living in Beijing have never been to 1949 until now.
• Will be interesting to see how the dynamics of Décolleté will change once Club Glen opens just upstairs (member’s only lounge specializing in premium whiskeys and cigars).

Quintessentially Chic candy&caviar

If you don’t know Candy Lin and you’ve never heard of candy&caviar, I’m about to give you the inside scoop.

A fellow Fashionista and my very best friend, Candy (founder & designer of candy&caviar fashion label) is someone I can relate to in a lot of ways – she’s also from California, she’s super positive, bubbly and she’s always excited…all the time.  And she’s got a lot to be excited about with the release of her 2010 lookbook and the launch of her new webstore on candy&caviar‘s website.

will.i.am sporting candy&caviar Oliver vest

candy&caviar is Candy’s fashion label and what she likes to call her ‘labor of love.’ Thoroughly attached to every aspect of design and production, from picking out the menswear tweed for a signature hooded vest, to defining the particular fit of a cropped swing coat, Candy spends countless hours poring over lush fabrics, glossy buttons, and colored thread in a never-ending quest for the perfect combination. Her unique design sensibility leads to the fusion of classic pearls and retro bow ties with take-notice bold leggings and heavy-duty metal zippers, for looks that are contemporary and free-spirited, yet luxurious and always gracefully pulled together.  An entrepreneurial USC communications major with a creative streak, Candy’s love for the fine arts, media, and all things fashion-related led to the creation of her clothing line, candy & caviar, in January 2008. Within just two years, candy&caviar is a fashion label already recognized by distinguished publications and international celebrities with Will.I.Am hooked on candy&caviar’s signature hoodie vests.

Will.I.Am wearing candy&caviar Christian vest

And just last week I was behind-the-scenes with Candy’s most recent photoshoot for the launch of her online webstore.  Utilizing the factory-chic setting of 1949 – The Hidden City, Candy featured her top picks from her 2010 Collection of candy&caviar. From the girls’ collection, we shot the trend-setting Madison – a tuxedo vest with black silk lining and double-zipper pockets, Edie – a hooded velvet blazer with front and sleeve zipper closure, and my personal favorite: the Hudson – a windbreaker with grey satin lining, thumbhole detail and cotton hood. From the men’s collection, we also featured the Hudson windbreaker along with the Preston – hooded zipper cardigan and Nathaniel – hooded double-layer blazer.  See here some behind-the-scene photos:

And for the final product, check out candy&caviar’s webstore:

candy&caviar Preston Cardigan & Hudson Windbreaker

*Shout out to my ‘assistant’ Christian, models Brandon & Monica & photographer Matthew Niederhauser

Now that you’ve got the down-low on Candy’s very own candy&caviar fashion label, I encourage you to check out the candy&caviar webstore where you can place orders online or visit the candy&caviar Beijing showroom at China Central Place. When you find yourself hooked like me, you’ll be happy to know that this is just the beginning for candy&caviar.

“I live to inspire and be inspired. What Andy Warhol has done for pop art, what Frank Gehry has done for architecture and what Run DMC have done for hip-hop is what I want to do for fashion.” – Candy Lin

Not only is this little bundle of energy a pleasure to know, Candy’s got a heart of gold, she’s brilliantly creative, incredibly hard-working, and driven by her passion for fashion and to make her mark on the world, starting with candy&caviar.

Life’s Lessons

My Auntie forwarded this list to me today and I thought I’d share with all my beloved LumDimSum readers.

It’s cheesy, but I love stuff like this.  It’s sweet, it sends a positive message and it’s something we should all take a few minutes to reflect upon.

I particularly like #8, 10, 23, 29, 32, 34, 40.  Which is your favorite?

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. True Happiness is Greatest When Shared.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it…

15. LIFE IS NOT HOW YOU SURVIVE THE STORM, BUT HOW YOU DANCE IN THE RAIN

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.  Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare and then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26.. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Staying positive is not only contagious, it is the key to making any situation better.

28. Forgive everyone for everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.

35. Don’t audit life.. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come….

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Ok, I’m going to confess-  I deleted a few of the listed “life lessons” and swapped a few with my own ‘personal philosophies’ if you will.

Can you guess which ones?

Guinea Pig for the Park Plaza

A big perk about working in PR: You get so hooked up like how I just got so hooked up with an invitation to spend the night in the new Park Plaza Beijing West Hotel before it’s even officially opened!  Lucky for me, the Park Plaza’s Executive Chef, Matthew Van Der Zwan is one of my favorite people and extended a personal and very generous invitation to me alongside some big name VIPs and influential individuals in Beijing.

Standard Park Plaza Hotel Room

Last night, I was wined and dined and wined again before I slept like a baby at the new Park Plaza Beijing West Hotel (near the Wukesong National Basketball Stadium) for their soft-opening trial period.

As a participant in their pre-opening simulations, I was requested by the hotel to try out and sample everything the hotel had to offer – from their dining outlets (SOLID Dining Lounge & RED), drinking outlets (LIQUID Bar & Flame Lounge), and do something I’ve never dared do: take from my room’s minibar!

It was such a pleasurable experience from the get-go.  From the welcoming and friendly check-in to enter a beautifully sophisticated room with an enormous bed and high-tech comfort controls to get you what you really need most from a hotel: a night of beauty sleep.

And the second best thing only hotels can offer: Ridiculous Buffet Meals.  As much as I would have liked to dine in their in-house Chinese restaurant RED, I just pigged out at SOLID’s buffet dinner AND breakfast buffet.  Food overload is an understatement.

While I was there, the dinner buffet only featured a portion of what they will serve when they are officially open, but it already included a wide range of fresh seafood including sashimi, snow crab, Australian oysters, scallops, along with other shellfish, pates, delicatessen, fresh baked breads, fresh oven-cooked pizza, soups, noodle/pasta station, a wide range of Western & Chinese hot dishes, and a delicious assortment of desserts including everything from cherry clafoutis, cakes, tartlets, dessert shooters and other sweet treats.

Highlighted favorites: Range of fine Australian wines, fresh snow crab, chicken & corn soup, lamb dish, garlic mashed potatoes,

Review of Park Plaza Beijing West Hotel: Between Wanshoulu and Wukesong, on XiCuiLu (just beside the Natinal Basketball Stadium.) Targeting business and leisure travelers

Best Part:

• The glorious bed that awaits you in your room
• SOLID’s Dinner & Breakfast Buffet (fresh seafood, hearty soups, fresh pizza, breakfast selection, BOMB dessert spread)
• Diverse event spaces
• Matthew Van Der Zwan, the Park Plaza’s Executive Chef, is the most talented, motivated, personable professional in town
• Their prices for rooms, for dining and drinking is much more affordable than your expected hotel prices (a standard room per night will start at around 400-500rmb) – they have 263 rooms & suites
• All rooms come equipped with complimentary high-speed broadband internet access
• Equipped gym & locker rooms with sauna, jacuzzi and steam room
• Their Club Lounge on the top floor has a great view and food available 24/7

Comments:

• Instead of a spa, they have installed a larger business center with meeting rooms built for privacy and conference calls
• The Park Plaza’s location in the west side of Beijing will be targeting a market unknown to me (my knowledge of the west side is slim to zip).

Overall ‘guinea pig’ experience summed up in 1 phrase:  Trial Without The Error

PR Hot Tip: Always try to be among the first to see and check out new venues.

Best for Last

Since the opening of Capital M mid-September, I’ve been dying to go back and I just found the perfect opportunity – Sophia’s last night in Beijing, I saved the best for last: dinner at Capital M (which was such a girl-date) followed by a tour of the Legation Quarter inclusive of a drink at Fez, Saul’s birthday bash at Punk (dance madness), topping the night off with my love, BLING.

Sophia's Last Night in Beijing

When I was planning this dinner at Capital M, everyone and their mother said they were down to come along with all the good word-of-mouth praising the food and drinks, but with the changing weather and everyone feeling ill and bailing out, the dinner party went from a party of 8 to me and Sophia’s ‘girl date’ (and Candy joining us for dessert).

At last month’s opening, everyone had good things to say about Capital M.  It was warm enough still to hang out on the beautiful terrace with a spectacular view, and there was a LOT of free food and drinks.  The freebies aside, what really sold me before was actually the venue design.  I love Capital M’s colorful, hand-painted artwork along the walls and the cozy boxed fireplaces throughout the venue.  What a perfect place for a date…even though in this case, it was just a girl-date. haha.

And this time around, I really got to the true Capital M dining experience, which was such a treat. The service was fantastic, the wines were lovely, and the food was beyond remarkable.

Sophia and I shared a starter – the Audacious Aubergines, a refreshing, cold appetizer with 3 different types of aubergines. For mains, Sophia ordered their Fesengjan – Iranian duck leg with spiced duck breast, walnuts & pomegranates, which was such a flavorful combination and we loved the cucumber & dill salad on the side.  Also a meat lover, I ordered the Leg of Lamb, which came with smashed yams, sauteed spinach and glazed shallots. The lamb was so tender, it melted in my mouth.

The portions were generous and we were stuffed, but with Candy coming to join us, we decided to indulge in gluttony and go for their Grand Dessert Platter  that included a tasting of their entire dessert menu – 3 various sorbets/ice cream, raspberry souffle, creme brulee, orange and cardamom canaloni and our favorites: the baked bananas and M’s famous Pavlova (meringue with passionfruit ice cream and topped with fruit).  Best dessert platter ever – it was so good it practically put us in a coma. Their pavlova alone is reason enough to go back.

After dinner, we were given a grand tour of the venue – it’s a shame the weather is getting cold so fast, but I was happy to see that they have transformed the lounge area with the cool rooftop is now being used as a dining section as well.

Once again, two thumbs up!

Thanks again to our perfect host, restaurant manager Fabian Ernst for making the evening such a delightful experience and for introducing me to Michelle, the owner and creator of all three M restaurants: M on the Bund, M on the Fringe, and now in Beijing – Capital M.  *Interesting fact: Michelle has no investors, business partners, nada.  Australian bred, Michelle is a one woman show in all three of her restaurants.  What an accomplished, talented woman – very, very  impressive.