An Evening with Great Wall Historian William Lindesay

The “Wild Wall” by William Lindesay, Geographer & Great Wall Researcher

After running the Great Wall Half Marathon yesterday, I’ve since developed a deeper appreciation of the Great Wall as not only as a monster monument and a thing of beauty but its significance in China’s ancient history and its deeply rooted role in Chinese culture.

As one of Bespoke Beijing‘s expert guides (for the Great Wall of course!), I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about Great Wall Historian William Lindesay and I am very much looking forward to meeting him at Wild China’s “Where the Wild Things are” event on Thursday, May 31 at 6:30PM at the Great Leap Brewing.

William Lindesay is one of those extremely passionate people who focuses their energy and efforts into one devoted subject and kicks everyone else out of the ballpark in terms of expertise, knowledge and experience.

Back in 1987, this guy hiked 2,470km alone on foot along the route of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall between Jiayuguan and Shanhaiguan, a journey that took him 78 days and eventually his solo adventure resulted in a published book “Alone on the Great Wall”.  This was only the beginnings of his research, explorations and devotion to the preservation and discovery of the Great Wall of China.

In 2006, he was awarded the rank of O.B.E. (Officer, Order of the British Empire) for his international conservation of the Great Wall of China issued by H. M. the Queen Elizabeth II.

This guy is the real deal.

William Lindesay together with his beloved Great Wall

He even has a Great Wall term, “Wild Wall”, credited to his name.

“The term ‘Wild Wall’, coined by William, has been absorbed into the Chinese language to describe the ruins.” – Article by the British Embassy in Beijing

‘Wild Wall’ refers to the wilderness of the Great Wall of China, unrestored and therefore ramparts in ruins, often overgrown in the mountain areas, thus retaining authentic antiquarian and wilderness atmosphere. – [f. William Lindesay, Brit, Geographer and Great Wall Researcher, first coined 1990]

William Lindesay coined the term “Wild Wall” in 1990

This Wild China event will be RMB 250 per person which includes an intimate evening with William Lindesay along with two craft beers by Great Leap Brewing and dinner provided by Mercante, a recently opened Italian restaurant in the Gulou area. Tickets can be purchased on Yoopay here.

“Picture yourself relaxing on a balmy summer night, surrounded by interesting people, fantastic food, and locally-brewed beer with William Lindesay, one of China’s foremost experts of the Great Wall, who will discuss his recent discovery of a new portion of the Wall in Mongolia.” - Wild China Team

The Great Wall of China by William Lindesay, Geographer & Great Wall Researcher

Just last year, William Lindesay led an expedition into the Gobi dessert in search of a previously uncharted part of the Great Wall in the deserts of Mongolia. From carbon testing, Lindesay believed the “wall may have been rebuilt either by Genghis Khan’s third son, Ogedei Khan, to stop gazelles migrating into China, or by the Western Xia dynasty, which was obliterated by Genghis Khan’s armies.”  - Malcolm Moore, Article by The Telegraph

The last event brought Hollywood film producer Janet Yang who introduced her most recent film “Shanghai Calling” at In & Out Yunnan restaurant.  Click here for an LDS summary of Wild China’s hosted dinner party with Janet Yang.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, May 31, 2012

• Time: 6:30PM-9:30PM

• Tickets: RMB 250 per person

• Online Ticket Purchase: Yoopay website

• Location: Great Leap Brewing

• Address: 6 Duojiao Hutong, off of Dianmenwai Dajie 东城区豆角胡同6号院

• Website: Click here.

• Contact: wherethewildthingsare@wildchina.com

The Great Wall of China by William Lindesay, Geographer & Great Wall Researcher

To the World’s Supermoms: Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

For the first time in years, I am lucky enough to be in the same country with my dearest, lovely mommy!

A strong woman loved and admired by everyone who meets her, my mom is my Supermom.  She raised two kids while running her own business, she speaks three languages fluently and she’s still the best cook in the world in my book.

To the awesome women who nurtured us into the people we are today, it’s time for us to spoil them back!

For those who haven’t booked their mother’s day brunches and dinners, here’s a great list of options:

theBeijinger’s List of Mother’s Day Brunches and Deals

Time Out’s List of Mother’s Day Specials

CityWeekend’s “Big Badass List of Mother’s Day Brunches, Lunches and Dinners” 

Happy Mother’s Day to all the World’s Supermoms!

Early Birds Catch the World: Breakfast with 85 Broads

 85 Broads: Global Women’s Network

Rise and Shine, Sunshine!

Start your morning off right with a fresh dose of inspiration together with the wonderful women’s network 85 Broads. This Thursday, May 10, 85 Broads is hosting a Power Breakfast with guest speaker Meagan Dietz, director of international business development at Godiva, the global luxury brand of premium chocolates.

…if only Beijing had a Godiva Chocolate Factory for us chocoholics to stuff our faces with Godiva. What better way to start off your morning?

I suppose Milly’s Cakes is an acceptable second choice with a range of treats that will be served including muffins, croissants, their specialty cupcakes, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, tea, and coffee.

A bit of information about this month’s guest speaker, Meagan Dietz:

Director of International Business Development, Meagan Dietz broadly works on Godiva’s global expansion. Her China work has been focused on identifying and securing the best retail and café operators as well as launching Godiva’s e-commerce and wholesale channels. She also works on new market business expansion including franchise partner selection as well as improving our performance in existing markets.

Prior to Godiva, Meagan worked at Cushman & Wakefield leading their China consulting services, and 7 years at McKinsey & Company based in New York City and Beijing, China. 

Meagan has published three articles: 1) “How Chinese Companies Can Succeed Abroad”, McKinsey Quarterly, May 2008. 2) “Protecting Intellectual Property in China”, McKinsey Quarterly, July 2005. 3) “Getting More from Intellectual Property”, McKinsey Quarterly, November 2004.

85 Broads’ Progressive Dinners are ‘anchored’ by senior women who are leaders in their respective industries and have an interest in mentoring young talent.

85 Broads is an exclusive global women’s network inspiring, empowering, and connecting smart women worldwide.

The breakfast will take place on Thursday, May 10 from 8:00AM-9:30AM.

Act early and you pay RMB 50 less than if you wait to pay upon arrival. Pre-sale tickets are RMB 80 for members and RMB 100 for non-members. Click here to get your tickets delivered to you: sendmetickets.com

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012

• Time: 8:00AM-9:30AM

• Location: Milly’s Cakes

• Address: 3rd Floor Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district; 朝阳区三里屯那里花园C308

• Tel: 5208 6071

• Cost: RMB 80 for 85 Broads Members / RMB 100 Non-Members  Pay online and Purchase Tickets at sendmetickets.com.  Additional RMB 50 if you pay at the door.

• RSVP: Email: Beijing85Broads@gmail.com

• Website: 85Broads.com

85 Broads is an exclusive global women’s network inspiring, empowering, and connecting smart women worldwide.

A global network of 25,000 trailblazing women, the “founding members” of 85 Broads were women who worked for Goldman Sachs at 85 Broad Street, the investment banking firm’s former NYC headquarters. Over the past decade, 85 Broads expanded its membership to include women who are alumnae and students of the world’s leading colleges, universities, and graduate schools worldwide. Our members are located in 82 countries around the world and work for thousands of for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations.

Hippity, Hoppity Happy Easter Day: by Beatrix Potter

“Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin’ down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Easter’s on its way.

Bringin’ every girl and boy Baskets full of Easter joy,
Things to make your Easter bright and gay.
He’s got jelly beans for Tommy,
Colored eggs for sister Sue,
There’s an orchid for your Mommy
And an Easter bonnet, too.

Oh, here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin’ down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Happy Easter day.

Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin’ down the bunny trail,
Look at him stop,
And listen to him say:
“Try to do the things you should.”
Maybe if you’re extra good,
He’ll roll lots of Easter eggs your way.

You’ll wake up on Easter morning
And you’ll know that he was there
When you find those choc’late bunnies
That he’s hiding ev’rywhere.

Oh, here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin’ down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Happy Easter day.”

- “Peter Cottontail” by Beatrix Potter

Happy Easter Egg Hunting!

x LDS

IWD: Celebrate a World of Wonderful Women

“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.”

- Diane Mariechild  

All of us, no matter how big or how small, whether male or female — we all owe our lives to a woman so how can it be that in this modern day and age that gender discrimination and sexism still exist? How can there still be so many patriarchal societies that continue to repress and hinder the growth and potential of women? Do they really believe that women are less capable and inferior to men? How can we reach out to the millions of muffled female voices and champion their cause?

Here is a world where women have no human rights, where they have no opportunities to make choices for themselves, where they’re often married before they’re 16, where they’re not allowed an education or even to be seen outside in public with a male member of her family.  Here is a woman to beat all odds and was able to show Afghanistan in a different light, to empower girls to do something forbidden, and to be an advocate for women’s rights.

If you have 13 minutes to spare, see this Tedx video of a very inspiring woman – Shamila Kohestani.

This is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

“I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.”

- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

International Woman’s Day is a chance to celebrate the wonderful women of our world…and treat her to a spa day!

There are actually a ton of great events going on around town at various restaurants and bars, but it’s hard to beat out a hour or two of pure relaxation at a proper spa retreat. And that’s where Hummingbird comes in!

All women are treated to mega discounts on all massage services and early birds also get to pick from a basket of additional spa services. (details below)

Happy Women’s Day!

x  LDS

Whisky & Women Unite: 85 Broads at Starfish

Whisky.

Women.

Charity.

Compass Box Cocktails by Stephanie Rocard at Mao Mao Chong.

Seafood and Snacks by Starfish.

Performances by Jess Meider.  

What a wonderful way to celebrate International Women’s Day!

Hosted at Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar, this International Women’s Day event is brought to you by 85 Broads and their partners VIVA Beijing,Starfish, Oregon Oyster Farms and Compass Box Whisky Co., to bring women together to inspire and unite with Beijing’s brightest women entrepreneurs.

Contribute over RMB 100 and get a cocktail, 3 oysters and a raffle ticket.  With Mao Mao Chong actually closed until March 16, this is your only chance to taste their delicious, innovative cocktails.  All proceeds go directly to support EGRC – Educating Girls of Rural China. In 7 years, EGRC has raised funds in Canada and Hong Kong; sponsored 286 young women from impoverished rural areas of Gansu Province in Northwest China to receive university education.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, March 8, 2012
• Time: 6PM
• Location: Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar
• Address: Just west of southwest corner of Xindong Lu and Dongzhimenwai, 22-1 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, 东直门外大街22-1号
• Questions: Call 186 0120 3623

Capital M’s 2nd Annual Beijing Literary Festival 2012

Last year, Capital M was a bit cheeky in booking their first Literary Festival in Beijing at around the same time as The Bookworm’s annual Literary Festival (click here for this year’s 2012 schedule and ticket information), riding a lot of the wave and momentum of The Bookworm’s legacy for hosting Beijing’s best Literary Festival.  Capital M’s Literary Festival started in Shanghai 10 years ago and this year marks their 10th anniversary in SH and their second annual Literary Festival in Beijing. And with The Bookworm’s festival launching on Friday, March 9th, I’m glad to see that the two festivals will no longer be overlapping this time around.

Capital M’s Literary Festival 2012 will take place from this Saturday, February 25- Wednesday, March 7 with a total of 21 events, welcoming 27 internationally recognized writers and 9 moderators. Although the festival is spread across a week and a half, there are actually only events scheduled on 6 days (with most events taking place on the weekend).

See Capital M’s Literary Festival Itinerary:

A few events I have my eye on include:

• Saturday, February 25 @12:30PM with Cheryl Tan: Sex, Lies & Pineapple Tarts

• Sunday, February 26 @12:30PM with Jan Latta: Adventures in the Wild with Endangered Animals

• Thursday, March 1 @ 6PM with Jeff Fuchs: The Ancient Tea Horse Trail: Travels with the Last of the Himalayan Muleteers

• Saturday, March 3 @3:30PM with The Great Financial Times Debate: Does China’s Rise Spell America’s Decline?

• Wednesday, March 7 @12.30pm LITERARY LUNCH: Ross Garnaut: The Climate Change Review, moderated by Jonathan Watts

Click here for entire festival’s program details.  Click here for individual author’s bios.

Tickets for each of the events is RMB 65, which includes a drink. Children and students get a discounted price of RMB 20 + soft drink.

Capital Literary Festival

• Date: Saturday, February 25 – March 7, 2012

• Programme: For programme, click here or visit the Upcoming Programme section of the website.

• Authors: For author bios, visit the Literary M section of the website.

• Buying Tickets:

• In person at Capital M:  3/F No. 2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street (just south of Tian’anmen Square)

• Online / by phone at Mypiao: www.mypiao.com  or call 400 620 6006

• Shanghai International Literary Festival: For information on the Shanghai Literary Festival (March 2-18), click Shanghai Festival in the Literary M section of the website.

Valentine’s Day Confessions

I love penguins. They are by far one of the coolest animals that exist on this planet.  And to find a cartoon of a penguin professing his love to another is quite possibly the most adorable thing ever.

If it doesn’t inspire you to follow in suit (who doesn’t love a grandiose love proclamation?!?), I hope that it at least made you chuckle.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Tales of Love Live at The Bookworm by LGBT Beijing

Live Storytelling at The Bookworm is one of the most underrated events in Beijing.  Always with a designated theme per storytelling session, this month is appropriately dedicated to tales of love, romance, heartbreak and who knows? With live story telling, you never know what you’re going to get!

I would probably never have the guts to get up in front of a live experience and share a story, but I would pay good money to see others do what I wouldn’t dare to do.  Even better that this event is only RMB 30 to witness storytelling at it’s best!

Considering this event takes place the day after Valentine’s Day, I’m eagerly anticipating some brilliant stories to be springing into action!

Knowing I’m a big fan of these story telling sessions, The Bookworm’s Kadi Hughes got LDS in touch with this month’s organizer, David Shallcross from the LGBT Center of Beijing who tells us why he’s super stoked for this month’s live story telling session.

“I’m really excited about this event, firstly because Valentine’s day is a romantic festival for everyone, and it’s great that the Bookworm has given us the chance to mark it in this way; secondly, because we’ve got a whole bunch of different material, including poems, songs, short stories and one-act plays, so it promises to be diverse and diverting; and finally, because we even have a Chinese guy travelling all the way from Shanxi province just to take part and share his story!” 

- David Shallcross, LGBT Center of Beijing

Now what story is worth the trip from Shanxi province to Beijing to share?!

You’ll have to come and hear it yourself!

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
• Time: 7:30PM
• Location: The Bookworm
• Address: Sanlitun Nanjie, 三里屯南街4号楼
• Tel: 6503 2050
• Website: Click here. 

The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival 2012

“Every March, The Bookworm is transformed into a hub of literary, intellectual and creative activity as we celebrate all things books with The Bookworm International Literary Festival.”

The International Literary Festival at The Bookworm has grown exponentially each year and 2012 is not only bringing more authors, more booktalks, panel discussions and chances to meet your favorite authors, but also writing and publishing workshops, a Chinese program, a Children’s Programme, International School’s Programme, Migrant School’s Programme, and Footnotes Programme with film screenings, performances, music and special live literature events.

“We seek to showcase the modern voices of Chinese authors to the world and bring some of the world’s leading literary lights to China.” – The Bookworm

Featuring international literary sensations, brilliant debut novelists and China’s leading intellectuals, this year’s festival promises to be as diverse as ever with an eclectic range of events for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests to enjoy.

With so many events lined up, it may seem overwhelming at first to digest the action-packed 2-week festival program.  But thanks to the generous help of Festival Director Kadi Hughes, she has taken the time to explain her top 10 “must-see” events this 2012 International Literary Festival at The Bookworm.

Festival Director Kadi Hughes’s Top 10 Picks:

(listed in chronological order)

1. Sunday March 11 6pm

If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry with Gary Shteyngart & Andrei Kurkov

Gary Shteyngart and Andrei Kurkov both write novels that criticize and comment on the ills of modern society. And they are very, very funny. I am a huge fan of humor writing, which often doesn’t get the same respect that more dramatic writing receives. But comedy is something that is often much more difficult to perfect. I am incredibly excited to see these two very talented and funny men in conversation.

2. Monday, March 12 10 am

You Will Be My Friend!  with Peter Brown

Peter Brown writes and illustrates gorgeous picture books that remind me of all the books I loved to read (and read again and again) when I was a kid. His latest is about Lulu the Bear who is trying to make friends with a bevy of other animals.

3. Wednesday, March 14 6pm

Knifepoint with Mai Jia

Mai Jia writes incredibly cool spy thrillers (think a Chinese James Bond, but with more lady trouble). Agents double crossing each other for political and romantic intrigue, all in a glamorous setting of Shanghai during the Republican era.

4. Thursday, March 15 8pm

City of the Dragon with Di An

Di An is a post-80′s generation literary sensation. Only some excerpts and a few pieces of her work have been translated into English so this event will be a great chance to hear from one of China’s most exciting new writers. Like a lot of people, I don’t read a lot in Mandarin so our events with Chinese writers are a way for me to find out more about the literary scene and culture in China.

5. Saturday, March 17 4pm

Sally Kindberg Comic Workshop

Sally Kindberg is a very cool and hilarious illustrator and comic novelist. She will be instructing us how to turn our stories into graphic tales, using the comic strip as a platform. She has a great style and this workshop will be a huge hit. She will be leading a lot of events for kids but this is an adult workshop – because why should the kiddies get all the fun?

7. Sunday, March 18 12pm

Men & Monsters with Carol Birch & Albert Sánchez Piñol

Carol Birch’s Jamrach’s Menagrie was one of my favorite books of 2011, full of all the things I love: adventure on the high seas, exotic animals, Victorian ruffians and really, really dark surprises. Albert Sánchez Piñol’s Cold Skin is so unnerving that I may or may not have needed to sleep with the lights on after I finished it. A young scientist is posted to tint island in the south Atlantic, alone except for the attendant of a light house and an unending army of attacking humanoid reptilian creatures. Both of these writers tackle of the subject of ‘the heart of darkness” and what happens to humans when they are pushed to their moral and ethical breaking point.

8. Sunday, March 18 4pm

Life to the Fullest with Kjersti Skomsvold

Kjertsi Skomsvold is a debut novelist from Norway. Her book The Faster I Walk, the Smaller I Am is a heartbreaking account of an elderly woman at the end of her life. As she reflects back, she realizes that no one will know that she has ever lived, that nothing she has done has ever mattered. So yes, I cried a lot reading this one. But Skomsvold has a very dark sense of humor with hilarious commentary sprinkled throughout. I am always excited to read and hear new writers talk – it’s always exciting!

9. Monday, March 19 6pm

The Underbelly with Paul French, Chris Womersley and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (moderated by Catherine Sampson)

Criminals, thugs, gangsters and thieves, what’s not to love? This is a panel of writers from all over the world (Australia, Iceland, UK/China) who write about all the dark and scary things on the fringes of society.

10. Thursday, March 22 1pm

They Think It’s all Over… sports writing with Alan Bissett, Peter Sampson and Rowan Simons (moderated by Jonathan White)

I am not a huge sports fan but sports writers are some of the best wordsmiths. It’s a tricky task to take something that is so visual and turn it into compelling writing. This is a panel of a novelist, a sports journalist and a memoirist who all are very passionate about sports. Plus I am expecting some heated debate over which football team is best and all that barroom chatter.

A massive thanks to Kadi for sharing some of her top picks!!

A Few More….LDS Picks for The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival 2012:

• Opening Event: Super Sad True Love Story with Gary Shteyngart. Friday, March 9 at 8PM (RMB 180)

  Gary Shteyngart’s wickedly funny Super Sad True Love Story is a dystopian love story set in the not-too-distant future.

• Tiger Head, Snake Tails: China today, how it got there and where it is heading with Jonathan Fenby. Sat, March 10 at 12PM (RMB 80)

  Economists, policy makers and armchair historians alike have made popular sport debating the future role of China. Will China rule the world? Or is all just smoke and mirrors?

• “A Funny Thing Happened…” by Beijing Improv Performance. Sat., March 10 at 10PM (RMB 50)

  The oldest and largest English-language improvisational theatre organization in China, Beijing Improv’s Mainstage English Players, trained at the best improv schools from around the world, put on a side-splitting show for our festival audience.

• Unnatural Selection: The Consequences of a World Full of Men with Mara Hvistendahl. Sun., March 11 at 10AM (RMB 80)

  There are over 160 million females “missing” from Asia’s population. This gender imbalance, caused in part by sex selective abortions, has dire consequences for the entire world.

• Hot Art with Joshua Knelman and AAB’s Tom Pattinson. Thurs, March 15 at 1PM (RMB 65)

  Canadian journalist Joshua Knelman immersed himself for four years in the enigmatic high-stakes world of international art theft.

• From Banished to Screwed with Han Dong. Sat., March 17 at 12PM (RMB 65)

  Han Dong has been a major voice in Chinese literature since he burst onto the scene in the 1990s.

• The Holy Woman with Qaisra Shahraz. Sun., March 18 at 10AM (RMB 65)

  Pakistani-born British writer Qaisra Shahraz’s novels, with their strong female characters and multilayered plots, explore the complex relationship between faith and family, tradition and independence in the Muslim world.

• Putong Hua – Animal Encounters. Live storytelling with Tim Clare, Kjersti Skomsvold and Chris Womersley. Sun., March 18 at 10PM (RMB 50)

  A special live storytelling event! We’ve trawled pubs, playhouses, classrooms and street corners to find some of the Beijing’s best storytellers.

• Death Drive - Performance by Tim Clare. Mon, March 19 at 8PM (RMB 80)

  British writer and poet Time Clare performs his brutally honest stand-up show, Death Drive, told through poetry, true stories and the ukulele. 

• The Moira Monologues – a “One-Woman” Performance by Alan Bissett. Wed., March 21 at 10PM (RMB 50)

  Alan Bissett performs his “one-woman” show, based on stories and characters from his childhood in Falkirk.

For a full list of The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival Events, see here.

Last year, certain events were sold out within days of tickets being released. Hurry as tickets are going fast!

Tickets are exclusively being sold at The Bookworm (starting January 30 for Friends of the Festival and to the General Public on February 6) from 9AM-9PM daily.

What qualifies a “Friend of the Festival”?  Want to support The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival and get hooked up to early-bird tickets and VIP events?

“Our festival simply would not be possible without the invaluable support of our sponsors and friends of the festival. From international flights to marketing materials, the festival relies on the support of many. Your donations – large or small – are what keep us going and help us bring you a world-class festival.”

Friends of the Festival Benefits:

• Early-bird tickets: the ticket office opens to Friends of the Festival before opening to the public
• Invitation to a special VIP events and cocktail parties for Friends of the Festival, sponsors and authors
• Name listed on our website
• Great literary karma!

Friends of the Festival Levels

• 1st Edition – 5,000rmb
• Gold Leaf – 1,000 rmb
• Leather Bound - 500rmb

The Bookworm International Literary Festival Event Details:

• Date: Friday, March 9- Friday, March 23 (2 weeks)
• Tickets: Exclusively sold at The Bookworm starting January 30 for Friends of the Festival and to General Public on February 6
• Location: The Bookworm
• Address: Sanlitun Nanjie, 三里屯南街4号楼
• Tel: 6503 2050
• Website: http://bookwormfestival.com/

Have a Happy Lóng Chinese New Year 2012!

Like me, I’m sure many of your email boxes have been filling up the past week with Chinese New Year E-cards and thoughtful holiday messages. While I’ve received  lot of cool designs featuring dragons, the color red, symbols of good luck and fortune for the upcoming year of the dragon, I’ve got to say the most creative design for a CNY card would be by Nathan’s Famous.

This card creatively emphasizes its brand identity while simultaneously wishing Chinese New Year holiday wishes for all with a dragon head sketched out of our famous hot dogs, burgers and chicken tenders! A brand synonymous with the world’s best hot dogs, 100% beef burgers, unique golden crinkle-cut French fries, Arthur’s Treachers quality seafood products and Chicken Classics, they have branches all over the world and currently have three locations in Beijing.

Some additional good news from Nathan’s is that they have just launched a partnership with Beijing’s best delivery service – Jinshisong.com. Open throughout the Chinese New Year holiday week, you can get Nathan’s delivered straight to your door!

Wishing you and your loved ones a Lóng and Happy Chinese New Year!

* Lóng (龙) is Chinese for Dragon.

Jump Start 2012: Startup Weekend Beijing

Produced by Red Pagoda, Startup Weekend Beijing is all about giving entrepreneurs a chance to pitch to world class VC and angel investors while also a chance to meet awesomely talented developers, UI designers and product managers.

“Delivering exceptional talent to audaciously visionary startups, so far four of our entrepreneurs have been funded by investors like Blue Run Ventures, Innovation Works and Dave McClure’s 500Startups.” - Andy Mok, Organizer of Startup Weekend Beijing and Founder of Red Pagoda Resources

Coaches and judges of the event include:

• Fritz Demopoulos, co-founder and CEO of Qunar.com

• Xiaojun Li, Partner at IDG

• Robbi Jiang, Investment Director at Blue Run Ventures

The event will take place January 13-15 and will take place at the Holiday Inn Express on Dongzhimen.  Registration is RMB 500 per person and sign up is here.

Event Details: 

• Date & Times: 7 pm, Friday, Jan 13 – 9 pm, Sunday Jan 15
• Location: Holiday Inn Express Dongzhimen, 1 Chunxiu Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 
• Registration: RMB 500 per person
• Sign Up: Website here.

LumDimSaying: Welcome Each Day of 2012

“What are days for?

Days are where we live.

They come, they wake us

Time and time over.

They are to be happy in:

Where can we live but days?

Ah, solving that problem

Brings the priest and the doctor

In their long coats

Running over the fields.”

- Philip Larkin, ‘Days’

Seems only appropriate to begin the new year with the inspiration to “make each day count”.

I hope you spend this first day of 2012 with these thoughts in mind and get in the habit of making this year your happiest of all.

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

LumDimSum Christmas Cheer 2011

Merry Christmas!!!

Allow me to share a corny Christmas joke I just love:

What do you get if you cross a snowman with a vampire?

(scroll down for answer)

.

.

.

Answer:

Frostbite! 

No matter how much older I get each year, the traditions surrounding Christmas season never seem to get old.

From decorating our tall Christmas tree to baking cookies for Santa, listening to Christmas carols, visiting neighborhoods famous for their insane amount of Christmas lights and decorations, last-minute Christmas shopping and spending the day with family, this is a holiday that rightfully encourages childhood innocence, playful fun, generous giving, a renewed sense of hope and a charitable spirit.

If any of you have some fun or silly Christmas jokes, please feel free to share by posting a comment to this article (click here and scroll down to comments).

I wish you all a very merry Christmas wherever you are in the world!

Snapshots of My Very Merry LumDimSum Christmas:

A Thoughtful Discussion: Dissecting Beijing’s Soul

Beijing is a fascinating city.  It’s ever-evolving landscape and energy is something that is undeniably apparent for all who call this city home.

China’s capital is rich in history and tradition, but as it changes into a concrete jungle piled with skyscrapers, it’s become a city of contrast contradictions, a city of extreme and hypocritical dynamics and its future is arguably questionable.

Beijing’s “Renaissance man” Kaiser Kuo, author Zha Jianying (“China Pop” and “Tide Players”), sinologist David Moser and Danwei.com‘s Jeremy Goldkorn all come together for a thoughtful discussion of Beijing as a quickly changing city and where it’s future lies.

“Where is Beijing headed in the 21st century?  What sort of city is it morphing into?  Has it found a way to maintain its role as political and cultural capital while keeping its historical character and ineffable personality?  Why do we still love it so, despite it’s toxic air, its horrific traffic, its disastrous fengshui?  And is it in danger of losing its soul?”

A CET-Sinica podcast live from Capital M on Saturday, December 3 starting at 4PM, the event is RMB 65 (RMB 20 for students) and this cover fee includes a drink.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011
• Time: 4PM
• Location: Capital M
• Address: 3/F, 2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street, 前门大街2号3层
• Website: www.m-restaurantgroup.com