3rd Annual China Women’s Film Festival (CWFF)

From the German Film “Of Girls and Horses”

Feminism has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence recently, especially with celebrities from Emma Watson to Beyoncé proclaiming their support of new gender equality initiatives. So it seems fitting that the China Women’s Film Festival (CWFF) is now returning for a third year with events kicking off this Sunday, September 19. A week of events will follow before they move on to tour six other cities in China over the following months.

“The CWFF works to increase public awareness and visibility of female directors, feminists and women in art and film and illuminate the multitude of challenges facing women in China.” The Crossroads Centre

It’s run by the wonderful Crossroads Centre, a local not-for-profit community space, and supported by the UN Women’s HeforShe project which was launched to encourage the equal participation of men and women in working towards gender equality.

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Factory Fresh: Customized Meal Plan Delivery Service

Factory Fresh: Delivery of Market-Fresh Contemporary Menus by Chef Camila Betin

A creative catering kitchen and events space in 798 Art District, FACTORY by Salt has recently introduced a daily meal plan delivery service called FACTORY Fresh. A concept in line with their wholesome kitchen philosophy, these meal plans are focused on using fresh and local produce and each of the new Summer Market Menus are catered to your own lifestyle and fitness goals.

With the original team behind the former SALT, ZAP Urban Eatery, Terra and Alameda, the triple threat behind FACTORY by Salt- Gaby Alves, Jennifer Eden and the talented Brazilian Executive Chef Camila Betin are proud to launch their FACTORY Fresh summer menus.

“Drawing inspiration from the healthy lifestyles of the world, and the one’s lead by the FACTORY team themselves, we have created Beijing’s first nutritiously-balanced, made-fresh-each-morning, meal-plan delivery service. It’s super exciting. After trialling the service with some of Beijing’s most active, interesting and experienced foodies, dieters and fitness fanatics – we are all ready to go live.” - Jennifer Eden, Marketing Director of Factory & Factory Fresh

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Timezone 8 in 798: New Super Smoothie Menu

Super Smoothies by Timezone 8 (in 798 Art District)

One of Beijing’s coolest contemporary Chinese art district neighborhoods, 798 is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike where you can browse new exhibitions in different galleries while shopping for quirky, artsy souvenirs and follow around dozens of wedding couples seeking that edgy, industrial look.

As much as I love spending the day in 798, it gets exhausting. Luckily for the thousands of people who stop by for a visit every day, there are a growing number of dining options and cafes to satiate your thirst and hunger. Glad to have more options but it’s still going to be a hit-or-miss so best to not just go into a venue at random.

One of my tried and true favorites of 798 is Timezone 8, a Western restaurant started by Texan Robert Bernell who is also one of the original founders of the 798 Art District back before it became a hotspot hub for creative artists. I was delighted when Robert teamed up with restauranteur Alan Wong of the Hatsune Restaurant Group to open up a sushi section in 2012 and now I’m very pleased to share a new development – their new smoothie/juice menu!

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Fatface Dining: Urban Buzz Honey Feast in 798

Here’s something worth spreading a buzz about: a farm to table feast by Fatface Dining using urban honey by Shangrila Farms and both craft honey iced tea by Cha He and the launch of JingA’s newest craft beer: Urban Buzz Honey Ale.

Feast on Shangrila Farms’ Urban Honey

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Traitor Zhou’s Brunch Menu with Hentai Chicken Maki

Traitor Zhou’s Kaifeng Nonkosher Delicatessen has just launched a weekend brunch with some pretty intriguing, diverse dishes on their menu that range from New Orleans Style French Toast to Hentai Maki Fried Chicken and Crazy Catalan Sausage.  Drinks are equally as unique with everything from Cafe Diablo (coffee with rum) to Retired Aitor’s Sangria (aged one year in their ham room) and The Pickled Jew (their version of a Bloody Mary with pickled okra and tomato shochu).

“There won’t be any giant frozen seafood platters or waiters in not very clever t-shirts filling empty bottles of champagne with Watson’s soda water and Dragonseal White.  What you will find: REAL FOOD, REAL COCKTAILS and an IPAD FILLED WITH ALL THE GREATEST MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS OF THE EIGHTIES.

As well as all the food being made from our great selection of house cured, organic meats and our cocktails being made from all our own pickles, bitters and syrups, we have Ocean Grounds coffee on grind and the only HENTAI CHICKEN MAKI this side of Sandy Beach.” – Max Levy, Okra Works

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Spoonful of Sugar: Petite Lifestyle Cafe + Deli in 798

Spoonful of Sugar Cafe + Deli in 798 Art District

A recently opened cafe + deli in one, Spoonful of Sugar is a new project by Jellymon and Okra Works who have joined forces to create a quaint little space in 798 Art District.

Not exactly in an easy-to-find spot, Spoonful of Sugar is really tucked inside a little compound in 798 with almost zero signage to point you in the right direction. I spent about 30 minutes trying to find it on my first venture out to check out the space and was almost a frozen icicle by the time I made it through their doors. I recommend examining the map below if you plan to head this way next time you’re in 798.

But if you make it inside pain-free, you’re in for a treat. The quirky spot is cozy and petite, but they’ve got a pretty lengthy menu of deli meats and pickled vegetables readily available to order in deli sandwich form or take in bulk to-go.

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Tour of Lido’s EAST Hotel & Indulging Dining at FEAST

Discovering All that New EAST Hotel Has to Offer

Swire’s newest hotel property, EAST Hotel in Lido is located just behind the new Indigo Shopping Mall, not far from 798 Art District.

From the outside, EAST Hotel is not quite as eye-catching as its sister hotel The Opposite House‘s intriguing emerald green glass exterior, but it’s interior is a whole other story.  Keeping in mind that EAST is a business hotel, its design is not going to be as artsy or as design-savvy as The Opposite House, but its various F&B Outlets are absolutely up to par with The Opposite House.

And I love the fact that the entire hotel has complimentary WIFI access (with a Hong Kong-based server meaning uber-fast connection and no longer needing to activate your VPN), and all the hotel’s 369 rooms offer the latest in iPod Touch technology.

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Luma Lu Creative Studio: Opening Day in Yuanfen 798

Yuanfen New Media Art Space Welcomes Luma Lu

A training school and creative studio for art and film, Luma Lu offers professional Western style training courses in the creative industries.

“Luma Lu is not a university. We don’t lecture, we train. A degree teaches you theory over a long time. We teach you one discipline in-depth over a short time to give you the practical skills, hands-on experience you need to turn your passion into a profession.” 

Luma Lu’s boutique training courses range from courses in photography, film, video, and drawing with various levels of intensity from part-time courses, accessible introductory courses or intensive classroom courses.

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