Cinco de Drinko: Tequila Party Round Up 2015

Are you ready for Cinco de Mayo?

A great excuse to get smashed on tequila on a Tuesday night, Cinco de Mayo sees celebrations all around town.

Whether you want to stay classy with a Margarita in hand while playing some Bingo (that’s pretty classy for Cinco de Drinko), dance salsa with a live music band, or just find the cheapest booze deal there is, it’s all about personal preference. I’m just here to help point you in the right direction.

LDS Top Picks for Cinco de Drinko 2015:

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Punjabi: 8 Year Anniversary Bollywood Bash

Let’s Raise a Glass for Punjabi’s 8th Anniversary!

(Photo from Chi Fan for Charity Dinner 2012)

This Wednesday, April 8th marks the 8th anniversary of my favorite Indian restaurant in Beijing – Punjabi! With my close proximity to Punjabi’s location at the south end of Lucky Street (the strip of restaurants just north of Chaoyang Park West Gate), this restaurant is not only my go-to place when I’m craving curries but it’s also now become my favorite delivery service when I want amazing food fast (recommended if you live in the Chaoyang Park neighborhood).

Having been open in Beijing before the Olympic mad rush that consequently led to a flurry in the capital’s F&B industries, Punjabi has flourished under the test of time, in spite of the Beijing food scene’s fickle tendencies. And what I admire and respect most about Punjabi is that they are always looking to improve and innovate with new dishes and drinks on a regular basis (which keeps me coming back time and again). Most recently, they’ve been hard at work getting ready for the upcoming launch of their upstairs modern Afghan Lounge concept called Bamiyan -another event to look forward to!

But this Wednesday, it’s time to raise a glass and celebrate all the feasts, parties and good times Punjabi has hosted over the past 8 years with a full-on Bollywood bash!

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LumDimSummary: JUE 觉’s 2015 Creative Market

 Snapshots from JUE’s Creative Market

Yesterday saw one of the most popular JUE 觉 Festival events thus far – their Creative Market featuring over 80 food and creative booths!  This family-friendly event drew in massive crowds to LANNG Art Center (just southeast of Guomao) and was a weekend highlight for many.

Running between The Bookworm’s Literary Festival events and other happenings around town, I was only able to swing by for an hour in the later part of the afternoon to check out the many creative stall, snap a few photos and grab one of the very last Nori Bagels by Migas + Traitor Zhou‘s (something I’ve been keeping my eye out for all week – see pics below).

In addition to all the creative and boutique vendors selling unique gifts and crafts, they also hosted workshops that introduce participants to: Contact Improv, Salsa dancing, Poi, NIa, along with musical performances, square dancing and body-painting. From what I saw, square dancing with the Yellow Weasels was a big hit and of course all that great food – Cuju, Rager Pie, Big Bear Baked Goods, etc. I’m actually relieved most of the food was sold out by the time I arrived as I definitely would have gone to town at each and every stall if I had the stomach space.

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Migas: Wicked Halloween “Trick or Treat” Desserts

Trick or Treat? Choose Migas’ Halloween Treats

Previously my main motivation for getting into a clumsy costume and knocking on strangers’ doors after dark, I’m all about the treats on Halloween. Who ever said “trick” over “treat” anyway?!

As you can count on Migas to get into the spooky spirit of Halloween, their crafty pastry chef Pol Anter has gone all out in putting together a Halloween dessert menu that I would have killed to have as a kid.

From a wicked pumpkin stuffed with ice cream and chocolate mousse and topped with craftily carved chili cookies to a bowl of sweet delights encased in a a delicate chocolate cobweb, these treats are as tasty as they are drop-dead adorable. Drop in for Migas’ weekday set lunch (see what’s on their daily menu below) or a la carte dinner and tack on an extra dessert because it’s Halloween and because you can.

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E-West Club: Haunted Halloween CarnEVIL Party

Don’t be fooled by these pretty ladies, E-West’s Haunted House is Not for the Fainthearted

I still remember screaming my head off as I slowly made my way through E-West Club’s Haunted House section last year.

With zombies jumping out and trying to grab you at every unexpected corner, shrill laughter echoing down the corridors and unspeakable horrors creeping in and out of the shadows, I’ll hand it to E-West Club for going all out each and every year in putting together Beijing’s most creative and frightening Haunted House party!

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LumDimSummary: Hatsune’s 13 Year Anniversary

Hatsune Celebrates its 13 Year Anniversary!

Entering a corridor lined with strings of origami cranes, guests were given a ceramic sake shot glass ring upon arrival to help themselves to our free-flow drum sake wells. Following the pathway of colorful lanterns and Hatsune’s signature school of ceramic fish led guests into the main party area where guests went crazy for our Sushi Head Photobooth and DJ Patrick Yu was playing everything from classic hip hop jams to old school rock.

Hatsune’s annual anniversary bash celebrates everything we love about Hatsune – tasty sushi rolls, great cocktails, free-flow sake and awesome sushi heads who know how to party.  It’s been an eventful year with the opening of Hatsune’s newest restaurant branch in Kerry Shopping Mall and renovations of both Hatsune Taikoo Li Sanlitun branch and Karaiya Spice House, it’s only appropriate for the Hatsune team to host an extra awesome birthday bash as they have a lot to be proud of achieving in just a year’s time!

Continuing in their tradition to innovate and impress guests with new surprises – this year’s sushi head photobooth and sake shot rings were as precious as they were adorable and the photo results below say it all!

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Hani Gejiu: Long Table Festival Banquet at Ditan Park

 Hani Gejiu Hosts a Long Table Banquet in Ditan Park

After hosting a successful Long Table Festival Celebration in their cozy little hutong Yunnan restaurant Hani Gejiu just next to the Bell Tower, they are branching out and spreading their wings to do something that, I dare say, has never been done before.

Having secured a spot in the Fangze Tan in Ditan Park, they will line up long tables for another banquet dinner in the same space where emperors once offered sacrifices to the Goddess of the Earth during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

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LumDimSummary: Hatsune @Kerry Opening Party

SHARK ATTACK! Hatsune’s Opening Party at its Newest Branch @Kerry Center

It’s been over 5 years since the Hatsune Restaurant Group opened their last restaurant in Sanlitun Taikoo Li Village and this newest opening was quite under the radar. With an invitation-only opening party, Hatsune’s most loyal Sushi Samurais were requested to attend the big bang celebration that the Hatsune team hosted over an abundance of sushi rolls, tempura bites and free-flowing sake, cocktails by Grand Marnier and 京A‘s exclusive collaboration brew with Hatsune called Blushing Geisha Koji Red Ale.

Unbeknownst to many, their newest branch at Kerry Center Shopping Mall has actually been quietly open since December 2013. But to ensure that all the new staff were well-trained, equipment tried and tested, furniture and plate ware were all delivered, service were up to their “Hatsune standards”, they wanted to make sure everything was just right before they announced their newest baby on the loud speaker.

A bit surprised to discover the location of this newest branch is just a few blocks from their Original Guanghua Lu Restaurant and in the basement of a shopping mall, but the decor is delightful and the sumo theme is as playful and charming as their ever-popular Sanlitun Taikoo Li Village branch. And the best part were the flying, remote-controlled blow-up giant sharks and clown fish swimming through the party crowd all evening.

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