Lane Change: Take the ‘Winter B-Icicle Challenge’

I am a true Beijing biker and damn proud of it.  Some call me crazy, some call me a nutter, some call me a biking Mary Poppins (when it’s raining I often bike while holding an umbrella in one hand), you call me whatever you want, I won’t have it any other way.  I am that stubborn, but for good reason!

Rain or shine, I am biking every day – to work, to meetings and even out to bars/clubs on the weekends.  Fashion doesn’t even hold me back – I bike in miniskirts, in high heels, I’ve done it all.

Bicycling in Beijing really is the only trusted mode of transportation in this manic, traffic-ridden city and it is by far the most efficient way to get around.  You can never hail down a taxi when you’re most in a hurry and of course the same goes for the levels of traffic leaving you in a habit of road rage when you’re not even behind the wheels!

But more important than being punctual, biking is just one more way I can be more green. With both the traffic and pollution become more and more unbearable, I wish more people went back to riding bikes in Beijing…which leads me to Lane Change’s Winter B-Icicle Challenge!

Starting December 1, Lane Change is starting an initiative to encourage everyone in the Northern hemisphere to keep peddling through the winter months

“It’s not difficult to wax lyrical about the joy of cycling. It’s fun, good for your health, better than being stuck in traffic, and gives you an entirely new relationship to a city. And on a larger scale, it’s a much more environmentally friendly option than gas guzzling cars. Something to think about with climate change breathing down our necks.”

Take The Winter B-icicle Challenge!

Why are we doing it?

• To see if we can put our money where our mouth is in regards to living a greener life, and not just when weather permits

• A good time to reflect about those people without homes during winter

• We love riding our bikes and don’t want to go three months without it

• We hate Beijing traffic jams!

Rules. We will ride to work or school everyday unless:

• The road is so icy we’ll most probably break our necks 

• We have a meeting or activity that is more than an hour bike ride away

• We’re so sick with the flu we can’t even be bothered to watch The Wire

To join this global bike gang, sign up here.

Wishing All a Winter of Safe & Happy Biking in Beijing!

SALT Celebrates 4 Years with UNICEF

Beijing’s beloved SALT Restaurant is about to celebrate their 4 year anniversary this Thursday, December 1. Crazy how fast time flies, I remember attending their pre-opening party way back when!  Guaranteed to have plenty of their legendary cheese balls and other signature savory snacks, guests are sure to be spoiled for choice!

Featuring free-flow drinks and pass-around snacks, the event’s proceeds will go to UNICEF.  Tickets are RMB 250 (pre-event) or RMB 300 (at door).

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011
• Time: 7PM
• Tickets: RMB 250 (pre-event), RMB 300 (at the door) 
• Location: SALT
• Address: West of Rosedale Hotel in Lido across from Japanese school, 9 Jiangtai Xilu, 将台西路
• Contact: 6437 8457
• RSVP: info@saltrestaurantbeijing.com

The Vineyard’s Weekend Lunch Deal & The Vine Leaf

Vineyard’s Roasted Peppers and Hummus with Side Salad & Drink (RMB 55)

The Vineyard is famous for their great value weekend brunches (Try their “Full English Breakfast”), but they also serve up a great weekday lunch deal. For prices ranging from RMB 45-65, you can enjoy some great mains + side salad or side of fries + drink. Highlights include giant pizzas deals (RMB 60-65), sandwich combos (RMB 55), and even Baked Potato (RMB 65), Quiche Lorraine (RMB 58), Omelette (RMB 55) and Muesli (RMB 45).

The Vineyard’s Weekday Lunch Deals: 

LumDimSum Snapshots of Vineyard’s Weekday Lunch Deals:

Premium Pizza (Roasted Chicken & Bacon) + Side Salad + Drink = RMB 65

French Ham & Gruyere Sandwich + Side Fries + Drink = RMB 55

Roasted Peppers and Hummus Sandwich + Side Salad + OJ = RMB 55

The Vineyard Cafe Contact Details:

• Address: In the Hutong Street just west of YongheGong temple, 31 Wudaoying Hutong, 五道营胡同31号
• Tel: 6402-7961
• Website: www.vineyardcafe.cn
• *Note: The Vineyard is not open on Mondays! 

…Stay Tuned for The Vine Leaf!

Great news for all Vineyard fans, owner Will Yorke will be opening up his new venture called The Vine Leaf on Jianchang Hutong, just around the corner from The Vineyard Cafe.

Featuring home-brewed beers and British favorites like “steak and ale pie, Cornish pasties, scotch eggs, watercress and stilton soup, fish and chips, a smoked-haddock fish pie and English breakfasts.” I’m not even sure what scotch eggs are and I’ve never had a smoked-haddock fish pie, but I can’t wait to try it. I’m most excited for Will personally cooking a giant leg of lamb for Sunday Roast.  

Click here for more info: theBeijinger’s First Look at The Vine Leaf.

LumDimSummary: Call her DJ Little Boots

Little Boots DJ Shake Tour at Beijing’s Yugongyishan

I rarely leave the comfort of my home on Sundays.  Even more rarely do I miss a chance to join in a BJ FOoDiEs dinner like the one they just hosted at Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar (where they raised RMB 3,028 for Little Flower Project).

But I am a big fan of UK electro-pop star Little Boots as you can see from my pre-event post here.  Her tracks are catchy and from the first time I heard her perform at Beijing’s China Music Valley (CMV) Festival aka Pingu Music Festival, I couldn’t stop listening to Meddle, Stuck on Repeat and Remedy.  

And maybe I’m just an idiot, but I did not realize that her worldwide “Shake DJ Tour” covering Paris, Berlin, New York, SF, LA, Beijing, Tokyo and London would not actually be Little Boots herself performing, but rather her standing behind the decks as a DJ. She opened with a J.Lo remix and at one point, she played some of her music, but it was just not what I expected.  

This is more along the lines of what I was hoping to witness:

This video is proof of just how talented she is. She’s got all her gadgets, she’s clapping, playing the piano and singing all at the same time, it’s incredible!  To see her go from a performance like this to just standing behind DJ decks seems like such a downgrade. I‘d love to hear other people’s opinions from either her fans or others who came out to Yugongyishanon Sunday night to see Little Boots on stage.  Like I said, maybe it was just me not getting my facts straight, but I was seriously disappointed!!

At least I got to see a rare DJ performance by one of my all-time favorite Beijing DJ’s - Bobby Dropper.  That’s all I’m saying (if only I got a photo of him too!). 

Luckily, I got some cool LDS Snapshots of Little Boots’ DJ Set at Yugongyishan:

Operation Smile: Celebrate 20 Years with 2,000 Smiles

Join Operation Smile in celebrating their 20th successful year in China where they’ve already brought 20,000 new smiles to faces across the country.  The event hopes to raise enough to complete another 2,000 new smiles for children in need.

Hosted at JW Marriott’s Loong Bar, the event requests a RMB 150 donation at the door that includes two drinks, light refreshments and a raffle ticket for your chance to win prizes valued at up to RMB 15,000!

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011
• Time: 7PM
• Location: Loong Bar (JW Marriott hotel)
• Address: 2nd Floor of JW Marriott, 83 Jian Guo Lu, China Central Place, 建国路83号华贸中心二层
• Website: Click here.

The Beijing Guild: A Knitting & Crafts Community

Knitting is a great winter activity.  It’s a wonderful way to pass time indoors, sheltered from the bitter outside cold.  I like to imagine that as I get older, perhaps even myself as a grandma knitting scarves and mittens on a comfy rocking chair next to a blazing fireplace.  I say imagine because I’ve never had anyone in my family knit anything and I’d like to break that trend and be the first.  Last winter, I was determined to learn how to knit and The Beijing Guild group welcomed me with open arms and showed me the art of knitting.

Whether you are a killer knitter or someone who has ever wanted to develop your skills as a quality knitter, the Beijing Guild does some seriously impressive knitting and many of the little socks, caps and blankets they create are donated to wonderful organizations including the Bethel Foundation and Blue Sky charities.

The group gets together over weekly sessions (normally on Tuesday afternoons), and within a casual environment, it’s a wonderful way to meet new people, exchange ideas and share projects and expertise.

Check out their website to sign up for The Beijing Guild and find out about their upcoming workshops.  New workshop kits start at RMB 200.

To get started with your own knitting tools, Beyond Knitting is a great solution.

They offer exquisite 100% natural fiber yarns, imported yarns, knitting tools and pattern books. And great news for all Beijingers, they offer free delivery anywhere in China. Contact details:contact@beyondknitting.com

Beijing’s First Greenland Bazaar in Greenland Garden

Introducing Beijing’s first Greenland Bazaar! Might be something worth checking out next Wednesday, November 30 from 10AM-3:30PM.

And while you’re in the Lido ‘hood, you can stop by the new GungHo! Pizza HQ for some scrumptious salads and organic wholewheat crust pizza!  If you haven’t already, try all-time favorite: their Pumpkin & Sweet Potato Pizza.  See their website here.  To vote for GungHo! in theBeijinger’s Pizza Cup, vote here.

Greenland Bazaar Event Details: 

• Date: Wednesday, November 30
• Time: 10AM-3:30PM
• Location: House 57 Greenland Garden
• Address: Jiangtai Xilu

Little Boots’ “Shake DJ Tour” Beijing Stop at Yugong

Victoria Christina Hesketh aka Little Boots

The first time I heard UK’s electro-pop starlet Little Boots was during one of Beijing’s summer music festivals – China Music Valley (CMV) Festival aka Pingu Music Festival who also hosted Avril Lavigne and in the same line-up as Ladytron, The Editors (who were AMAZING) and KT Tunstall. I liked her music so much, I got all her songs and listened to them on repeat for at least 2 days straight.

This Sunday, she’s back in Beijing (from Toyko and before that San Francisco, LA, NY, Berlin and Paris) and performing her Shake DJ Tour at Yugongyishan with the one and only Bobby Dropper opening for Little Boots (even more reason to leave the comfort of your home on a Sunday night).

Tickets are RMB 100 (presale) or RMB 150 (door charge). Get presale tickets online here.

“MTV Europe Music Award nominated British artist Little Boots topped the BBC Sound of 2009 poll ahead of the likes of White Lies, Florence and the Machine, La Roux and Lady Gaga and she also received a BRIT Critics Choice nomination. She was also listed on Esquire magazine’s list of sixty “Brilliant Brits 2009″

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, November 27, 2011
• Time: 9PM
• Tickets: RMB 100 (presale), RMB 150 (door)
• Presale: Online here.
• Location: Yugongyishan
• Address:  3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng district  东城区张自忠路3-2号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
• Website: Yugongyishan’s site

Save-the-Date: BICCO’s Christmas Charity Dinner

As soon as Thanksgiving is over, the trees, lights and holiday decorations come flooding out as everyone begins gearing up for Christmas and New Years! Hopefully by now, most of you have awoken from your turkey comas and you are in the holiday mind set to begin Christmas shopping and party planning.

There are many upcoming gala dinners, holiday balls and Christmas dinners coming up in the next few weeks, but be sure to mark your calendars and save the date for this event in particular – “Unlock the Future”, which is a Christmas Charity Dinner and Silent Auction that will take place on Saturday, December 10.

We have a goal of raising RMB 200,000 in ONE NIGHT with all funds raised on this evening to be donated to Beijing International Committee for Chinese Orphans (BICCO)‘s Shunyi Orphanage Rehabilitation Program to help support over Chinese orphans and children with disabilities.

“Without this program and the work of BICCO, many of these children would not leave their beds or even have a chance at a potential future outside of the walls of this state-run facility.” – Amy Zima, organizer of Unlock the Future Christmas Charity Dinner

Hosted at Kagen Japanese BBQ Restaurant, there will only be 200 seats available and all charitable guests will be treated to 10 dish menus created by Alan Wong and his top chefs at Kagen, a champagne toast and select wines paired with a lovely meal.

Acoustic musician David Mitchell will be performing several different instruments and there will also be other live music entertainment including some Christmas Caroling (just part of the jolly holiday spirit!).

The event will also be featuring great silent auction prizes including Apple products, a private dinner for 10 at Hatsune by owner Alan Wong paired with wines by Wine Republic (valued at RMB 13,000), a 2-night weekend stay at The Westin, a Hummingbird spa package (valued at RMB 7,000), a GungHo! pizza party, handmade necklaces from April’s Adournments, a custom Hutong Tour by Bespoke Beijing, a Punjabi Indian Feast and with many other restaurant vouchers around town.

Sign up early at either who get pre-sale price RMB 600 or you can also pay RMB 800 at the door (if there are any seats left!).  To book your seats in advance, you can either purchase tickets at Kagen Restaurant, Hatsune Sanlitun branch, or Ivy Academy at East Lake Villas.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, December 10, 2011
• Time: 6:30PM Cocktail Reception, 7:30PM Dinner
• Location: Kagen Japanese Hot Pot & BBQ Restaurant
• Address:  Located below the Original Hatsune on Guanghua Lu
  • B1/F, Bldg C, Heqiao Dasha, 8 Guanghua Donglu, Chaoyang District
  • 朝阳区光华东路8号和乔大厦C座地下1层
• Tickets: Only 200 seats available! RMB 600 (pre-sale), RMB 800 (at the door)
• Tickets are available for sale at Kagen Restaurant, Hatsune Sanlitun restaurant and Ivy School in East Lake Villas (Suite C-101 No. 35, Dongzhimenwai) Call: 8451 1381
• For more information: Call 135 2034 1984

LumDimSaying: A Toast To Tasty Turkey Feasts

“May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!” – Unknown Author

The last thing on your mind this Thanksgiving should be guilt.  All diets are thrown out the window as loved ones gather together and enjoy all the fixings of a Thanksgiving feast that really only comes once a year.  

In the thoughtful and giving spirit of Thanksgiving, here’s a toast to my LDS friends, fans and readers.  

Savor every last bite and enjoy every moment of this day and all the wonderful memories that come with it!

Thank you for being my sole motivation for continuing to post each and every day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

*What is a LumDimSaying? A quote I find worth noting. And sharing.

BJ FOoDiEs: “Flower” Charity Dinner at Starfish

Tonight is Hatsune’s OysterFest with all-you-can-eat-oysters and Hatsune sushi and tomorrow is American Thanksgiving which guarantees I’ll be in a turkey coma all Thursday night through Friday, so my stomach should be definitely warmed up for the upcoming monthly BJ FOoDiEs charity dinner this Sunday, November 27 at Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar.

My favorite BJ FOoDiEs events are the ones that introduce us to newly opened restaurants I have yet to try, or in this case, even hear about!  I had no idea W Dine & Wine had been taken over and revamped into a new space called Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar.  So, apparently the space still specializes in wine…and seafood…but it’s under new ownership (Chris Hebert and Alisha Bailey) and they are focused more specifically on fresh oysters & seafood imported from all around the world and will soon be offering more than 20 wines by the glass! Seafoodies and Wine Geeks, this is your calling.

Starfish will be offering BJ Foodies guests a 3-course dinner menu + drink (wine/beer/soft drink) for only RMB 100.  See menu below…

With a capacity of only 70 (BJ FOoDiEs event are known to book out entire restaurants of a much higher capacity), they request for all who plan to attend to take a minute and RSVP to them directly: bjfoodies@gmail.com

Starfish’s Seafood Feast

Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar Dinner Menu + Drink = RMB 100

1. ASSORTED APPETIZER SAMPLER

FRIED FRESH LIVE OYSTERS 

w/ freshly squeezed lemons

SCALLOP CEVICHE

w/ chili pepper soup & diced basil

2. MAIN COURSE

SHRIMP SCAMPI PASTA

w/ linguini al-dente & poached shrimp

DUCK CONFIT

slow poached duck w/garlic cloves & peeled shallots

3. DESSERT

Creme Brulee

Chocolate Mousse 

“Indulge for a Cause”

November Charity Theme: ‘Flowers’

The charity to receive this months proceeds will go to ‘LITTLE FLOWERS PROJECT’ – The NGO works to build a culture of life by reaching out to those who are rejected, abandoned, deemed as useless, and who have no voice. Initially providing specialized care to abandoned infants & nuturing the growth and education of older disabled orphans, ‘Little Flowers’ has since expanded the work to all over China specializing in different programs and initiatives.

For more information: http://www.littleflowerprojects.org/

Kate Downie’s “The Concrete Hour” Solo Exhibition

“No space is denied the right to be poetic. The physical experience of a city entails its own artistic language.” – Kate Downie

“The Concrete Hour” is a solo exhibition by UK’s leading artist Kate Downie who will be presenting for the first time in China at Where Where Art Space in Caochangdi.

“Returning to Beijing for the second time this autumn, the acclaimed Royal Scottish Academy artist meets a city whose fabric spans a rupture between the teeming, irregular accumulation of human life and possessions in narrow hutongs and the overarching, regular forms of skyscrapers and apartment blocks erected beside vast roadways; in this city, there is no ‘middle scale’.”

With two live drawing events on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25, anyone can witness this pictorial drama unfold as Kate Downie will be creating two large-scale drawings on the walls of the gallery.

“Its realisation marks a first-hand artistic event with which the encounter is a unique experience for both artist and audience.”

Curated by Iona Whittaker, the exhibition will also display a series of supporting works and a film of the artist’s recent performance drawing in the UK.

Works by Kate Downie

Event Details:

• Live Drawing Dates: Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 from 5-6PM
• Exhibition Opening: Saturday, November 26, 2011
• Curated by Iona Whittaker
• Location: Where Where Exhibition Space “哪里哪里” 艺术空间
• Address: No. 319-1, East End Art Zone A, Caochangdi Village, Chaoyang District 100015  北京市朝阳区草场地村319-1艺术东区A区内, 100015
• Contact: 159 1080 3790

About Kate Downie:

Over the past 20 years, Kate Downie has established herself as one of the UK’s leading artists, known equally for her drawing and printmaking as for her painting. Less well-known are her series of short performance Road Movies, initiated in Paris with ‘Child’s Play Traffic Jam’ (1989) followed by ‘Driven’ (Aberdeenshire 1999), ‘The Asphalt Sea’ (Norway 2007), and ‘Matchmaker’ in 2011. Her first major solo show was in 1982 in her native Aberdeen; since then her work has been exhibited throughout the world including in Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands, France and the USA. Downie was President of the Society of Scottish Artists from 2004-2006, and was appointed a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 2007. Her work is held in many public and private collections. Downie lives and works in Edinburgh.

Thanksgiving 2011′s Best Turkey Feast Breakdown

Beijingers are all getting amped up for Thanksgiving dinner this Thursday, November 24.

Whether you’re American or not, everyone can appreciate a massive gathering of friends and family for a full-on feast of turkey and all its fixings! A holiday focused on food and good company, everyone can celebrate Thanksgiving with a home-style meal even if they are so far away from home.

Although I prefer a traditionally home-cooked meal, many who are crammed and just too busy to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen will be happy to know that there is an abundance of amazing venues who would be more than happy to host your friends and loved ones over a massive turkey feast.

Thanksgiving Dinner Break Down: (in alphabetical order)

1. Blue Frog’s 3-course Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner -

Starting early in the afternoon (4PM), you can head to Blue Frog for a 3-course turkey dinner + beverage for RMB 200 per person or RMB 90 per child. 

RSVP: 6417-4030

2. Bread of Life Bakery -

Your savior for traditional holiday pies, cakes and breads including Carrot Cake 180, Pumpkin Roll Cake 180, Chocolate Cake 180, Pumpkin Pie 90, Pecan Pie 140, Apple Crumb Pie 100, Dinner Rolls & Breads, Cookies & Muffins & Cinnamon Rolls.

Minimum order RMB 200, they deliver to your door and deadline for delivery is min. 24 hours in advance. Call 13722622865

3. Chef Too’s Home-Style Thanksgiving Dinner

With their home-style dinner atmosphere and quality comfort food, Chef Too is a very popular destination in Beijing for Thanksgiving.  But with 3-seating times, you can’t hang out all evening and guests are constrained by time limits as the seats will be in high demand! Three seatings: 4.30-6.30pm, 6.30-8.30pm, 8.30-10.30pm. You can look forward to a full-on turkey dinner with giblet gravy, sweet potato and marshmallow casserole and apple and pumpkin pie.

RMB 248 per person, Located Opposite of West gate of Chaoyang Park, Chaoyang District; RSVP: 6591 8676

4. Filling Station’s Thanksgiving Dinner

A bit further away as Filling Station is by WAB school, but they have a nice 3-course dinner inclusive of homemade pumpkin soup, roast turkey with all the trimmings (plus a veggie option) and pecan pie. 160RMB per head, bookings only.

RSVP: 8470 3821

5. Lollipop Bakery’s ‘Turkey’ Cupcakes

Choose delicious flavors including spiced pumpkin, you can order these adorable turkey-decorated cupcakes for RMB 340 per dozen.

To order, call: 13552772683 or Email: Cupcakes@LollipopBakery.cn

6. Thanksgiving a la Maison:

An elegant Thanksgiving dinner by Executive Chef Brian Reimer. 6-10pm.

Price: RMB 488+15% per person, Located: Ch’ien Men 23, 23 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District

RSVP: 6559 9200

7. The Orchard’s Thanksgiving Buffet:

From 6PM-10PM, the Orchard will be serving their version of a Thanksgiving buffet dinner or as theBeijinger likes to call it “Beijing’s only multicultural Thanksgiving buffet, sans colonial connotations.” RMB 300 (adults), RMB 150 (kids 4-12, kids under 4 eat free).

Located: From Jingshun Lu, turn left (west) at Shunbai Lu Intersection (turn at the driveway just west of the Hegezhuang Village sign), Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang Township, Shunyi District, Beijing  北京市顺义区崔各庄乡何各庄村

RSVP: 6433 6270

8.  THANKSGIVING AT SALT:

Starting at 6pm, SALT is hosting their annual Thanksgiving dinner, this time it’s 5-courses at RMB 368. Choice of three mains: Roasted Turkey, Salmon or Scallop-Mushroom Risotto.

RSVP: 6437-8457

See menu below:

Thanksgiving Menu

Ruccula, Clementine Salad, Goat’s Cheese, Pistachios, Beetroot, Champagne Dressing

 Roast Pumpkin-Pine Nut Foam, Smoked Duck Breast Ham, Ginger, Pears, Spiced Bread 

Prawn & Chicken Ballotine, Romaine Salad, Crustacean Vinaigrette, Parmesan Foam 

MAINS

Roast Turkey, Turkey-Fig Terrine, Spiced Apple Puree, Three-Coloured Nutty Rice, Waldorf Salad

or

Salmon, Smoked Leek Emulsion, Braised Seasonal Greens, Fennel, Radish, Grapefruit Salad

or

Scallop-Red Wine-Mushroom Risotto, Truffle Scent, Prosciutto, Young Peas, Ruccula, Parmesan 

DESSERT

Chocolate Cocotte, Smooth Hazelnut Chocolate, Calamansi,

Hazelnut Crumble

or

Roast Apple Tart, Cinnamon Caramel Mou, Walnut Ice Cream

or

Passionfruit Panna Cotta

9. SWITCH! Thanksgiving Roast Turkey Feast:

SWITCH! knows the turkey is as important as the company so they have an option for a whole oven-roasted grain-fed turkey dinner package for 6 people including all sides (rich pan gravy, homemade spiced cranberry chutney, stuffing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, medley of root vegetables and pumpkin tart) for RMB 1108.  Individual turkey options are set at RMB 198 and RMB 280 per person.  Kids under 8 eat for FREE!  Dinner seating at 6PM or 8:30PM.

RSVP required: Call Jane Tan (by Monday, Nov. 21) – 5978 4918 or email: jane.tan@culinarycapers.cn

*For those with a serious sweet tooth, here’s a nice breakdown of Beijing’s best options to score some delicious Thanksgiving sweets.  

theBeijinger’s Guide: Sweet as Pie

…And that’s a wrap

Enjoy your Turkey Comas!

*Gobble Gobble*

Foodies, Arm Yourself in 2012 with the Little Gold Book

Little Gold Book is like the “Little Black Book for Charitable Foodies in Beijing”.

It’s a coupon book with crazy good discounts on Beijing’s top restaurants with 30% of proceeds going towards local community charities.

Just think about it – All those places you’ve been wanting to try out or that you wish you could go more often (if they were more affordable), you can finally begin to eat your way through Beijing’s top dining destinations armed with a little gold book filled with coupons that are up to 50% off!

Here’s a few top deals you can score with The Little Gold Book:

• 50% off Hatsune
• 2 for 1 mains at Assaggi
• 2-for-1 wine at Enoterra
• 50% off Stumble Inn
• 2-for-1 Food Items at The Bookworm
• 50% off ROOMbeijing
• 2-for-1 cooking classes at Vegan Hut
• 50% off Filling Station
• RMB 50 discount on a dozen Lollipop Cupcakes

Click for full list of deals here (there are 85 deals by 70 restaurants).

For only RMB 240 per Little Gold Book, you can cover the cost of the entire book after just one meal at one of the 70 participating restaurants.  It’s valid for the entire 2012 year so there’s plenty of time to work your way through each deal.

With the holidays quickly approaching, the Little Gold Book is a great stocking stuffer for all fellow Beijing foodies!

Little Gold Book was first released at the Chi Fan for Charity 2011 After-Party at Hatsune and will be available for sale again at Kagen’s Christmas Charity Dinner on December 10th with 30% of proceeds going towards BICCO.

Little Gold Book is currently sold at The Bookworm, April Gourmet’s and Colibri.

Easy Xmas Shopping at The Gift Charity Bazaar

I always feel so much pressure to bring back home unique, one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts that are personal, practical and something my friends and family can’t purchase in the US.  And I’m pretty sure my fellow Beijingers can relate to me when I say it’s an added pressure I try to avoid until the last possible moment each year before I go home for the holidays.

Granted the Silk Market does offer a million and one things, but the hassle of digging through all the useless crap and the hassle of haggling over prices is a huge turn-off for me, which is why I am so excited about The Gift Charity Bazaar this Sunday, November 20 at The Canadian International School.

Organized by Stage One Productions, this will be their third annual charity gift bazaar (last year brought over 1,100 visitors) and this year shoppers will be able to choose from a range of items displayed by over 50 vendors from around Beijing with vendors all donating at least 10% of all proceeds to helping to support several local charities including The Starfish Project, Care for Children, Bread of Life Bakery, Compassion for Migrant Children, Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village and Bethel.

Some goodies you can look forward to being on sale:

• Ceramics by 798’s Soul Collection
• Affordable Art
• Jewelry by The Starfish Project
• Beijing-inspired Christmas cards 
• Paper Tiger gift wrapping 

In addition to all these local vendors selling entirely unique products, the event will also be featuring live music by Avodah and Eluvia, plenty of food courtesy of Home Plate BBQ, Punjabi Indian Restaurant and sweets by Bread of Life Bakery.

Artists Stephen Gleadow and Zhang Jianbo from the artist’s movement and book TheUrbanity Project, will also be on hand to sign copies and discuss their artwork.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, November 20
• Time: 11AM-4PM
• Ticket: RMB 10 Entrance
• Location: Canadian International School
• Address: 38 Liangmaqiao Lu, Liangmaqiao, Chaoyang district  朝阳区亮马桥路38号
• Website: www.cisb.com.cn/