AmCham: Young Entrepreneur All-Star Panel

AmCham’s next Young Professionals event will be bringing on board an All-Star Panel of successful entrepreneurs in their respective industries. Sharing their stories, insights and words of advice, you’ll get the inside scoop and possibly the extra kick-start you need to make it on your own.

AmCham-China’s Young Professionals Committee invites you to join a panel of widely-known young professionals who have started successful businesses in Beijing and listen to their stories of how they successfully launched their businesses and overcame hurdles in the process.

AmCham’s All-Star Panel Speakers include:

Alan Wong: Restaurateur and Owner of the Hatsune Group

Sarah Keenlyside: Founder of Bespoke Beijing

Dominic Johnson-Hill: Founder of Plastered T-Shirts

Rachel Wasser: Co-founder of China Education Initiative

With a panel discussion followed by followed by Q&A and a happy hour reception, join AmCham’s Young Professionals Committee this Tuesday, March 29 at NOLA from 6:00-9:00PM.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, March 29
• Time:  6PM-9PM
• Price: AmCham Members: RMB 50/Non-Members: RMB 150
  
• Location: NOLA
• Address: 11A Xiushui Nanjie, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District  朝阳区建国门外秀水南街11A号
• Tel: 85636215
• Website: http://www.amchamchina.org/event/799

Young Prof Networking + Kro’s Nest Soft Opening

A networking event organized by AmCham-China and AustCham’s Young Professionals Committees, be among the first to check out the new Kro’s Nest!

Not only will attendees get a sneak preview of the new Kro’s Nest venue, everyone will receive a complimentary welcome drink and a “Super Happy Hour” drink specials, complimenting samples of their new gourmet pizzas and “exciting twists on old favorites”.

*Space is limited, so please RSVP with Mariel Montuori if you plan on attending: mmontuori@amchamchina.org

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, December 17
• Time: 5:30PM-9:ooPM
• Registration: RMB 100 (or RMB 50 for AmCham-China members)
• Location: Kro’s Nest
• Address: 35 Xiao Yun Lu   Between 3rd and 4th ring roads, 50m north-east of Bellagio (Across from the Renaissance Hotel)  35号霄云路 (北京国航万丽酒店对面）
• RSVP: As space is limited, pls e-mail mmontuori@amchamchina.org

About the Young Professionals:

The Young Professionals Committee is a working group within AmCham-China where young professionals can build their personal and professional networks, develop career skills, and work with other young leaders to achieve success. The goal of the committee is to help young professionals in their career development in Greater China through inspiring speaking events, opportunities for learning and collaboration, and networking events and exposure to diversified business areas.

From BBQ’s to Parties: Independence Day Weekend

There are so many reasons to love the Fourth of July, even if you’re not American.  Admittedly, I am American and I love the Fourth of July for all reasons unrelated to national pride. Scratch that, I shouldn’t have said that.  I am proud to be an American, but that’s honestly not why I love the Fourth of July.

Fourth of July is a day to BBQ, have a picnic, play in a park, chill out, have water balloon fights, more BBQ and fireworks. I’m sure people of other nationalities would find this combination of activities just as exciting…no?

Anyway, I’m happy to find that Beijing has a lot going on in terms of things to do and ways to celebrate this holiday and not just the Fourth of July, but ALL weekend!

For those who aren’t going all the way out to the Great Wall Beach Party, there’s plenty of parties to hit up right in town – like BLING’s Independence Day Party this Saturday, July 3rd to warm everyone up for Sunday!

Anyone wearing red, white and blue will be rewarded with ‘All-American’ shooters and beer/drink specials all night.

On the actual day of, there will be BBQ’s all over the city.

Breakdown of Fourth of July Festivities:

• AmCham will be celebrating at Ch’ien Men 23 – a day of family-friendly festivities. Tickets available at the AmCham website.
• All-Star Sports Bar & Grill will be hosting a BBQ Cook-out with an all-you-can-eat-BBQ including a salad bar, a variety of cold cuts, our famous baby back ribs, barbequed chicken, beef short ribs, steak kebabs, chicken kebabs, hot dogs and much more for only RMB 138!  12pm- 3pm, 6pm-11pm
• Special Set Menu at Nola: For RMB 135 per person you get: three kabobs (choose from pepper marinated pork with peach and shallot, ribeye steak with potato and mushrooms, shrimp with lime and corn, and/or chicken with tomato, olive, and panzanella), three sides (baked beans, coleslaw, red beans, sweet potato salad, green bean salad, cucumber and tomato salad, green bean casserole, and/or corn maque choux) and dessert (red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, German chocolate cake, lemon poppy cake, or cupcakes).
• The Apartment’s BBQ & Drinks: 4-10PM. Friends & Flatmates Welcome!
• 2 Kolegas’ Funky Reggae BBQ Party: Serving Funk, Soul, Reggae tunes along with Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Salad, Tamales (by Texas Tamale Junkies), Cupcakes (by Lollipop Bakery) and Pies (by Pie House).  Starts 3PM, RMB 30 at the door.

• China Doll’s Independence Day Rooftop Party: Live music, Jell-O shots & BBQ. Dress in red, white and blue and get a free drink.

And if you don’t feel up for parties and socializing at all this weekend, then at least indulge yourself in Lollipop Bakery‘s absolutely adorable Fourth of July cupcakes -

Lollipop Bakery’s Red Velvet Cupcakes capped with patriotic red, blue and white frosting – sure to add fireworks to any holiday BBQ! 220RMB per dozen

Giving Beijing An Excuse to Party

I’ve heard a lot of people make comments about this summer in Beijing. For the few of us remaining who weren’t lucky enough to get away and travel abroad, we’ve been stuck to deal with an absurd amount of rain (I swear it only rained a total of 2 times my first year in Beijing from 2006-2007) and an overall unusually quiet summer. I guess it’s only natural that the year after the epic 2008 Olympics, Beijing’s summer 2009 is bound to seem quiet in comparison without the additional hordes of tourists, athletes, events, games, hype, and Olympic parties.

While it’s no surprise when it’s empty out during Beijing’s bitter cold winter nights, I’d expect a lot more people to spend their summer evenings out dining, drinking, enjoying the summer heat. But people seem just as content going home early to watch a DVD in the summer as they do in winter.

But is it quiet because people compare this summer to last year’s Olympic madness? Or is it quiet because many people have left Beijing for summer vacation? Or is it quiet because people are just waiting for a reason to come out?

The answer is probably a combination of all three, but from what I’ve seen in the past two weeks, there are plenty of people here in Beijing who are just waiting for something worth their time to bring them out of their monotonous daily routine and give them an excuse to party.

Last week was All-Star & Bling’s 1-Year Anniversary which drew not only big crowds, but one of the best crowds I’ve seen anywhere together in one place in a long time. Of course our flashy Bling invitations helped to build up the hype. With too many VIPs to cram in one night, we split our VIPs between Friday & Saturday to be able to properly thank our loyal guests with their preferred table and drink of choice. And as it turned out, I saw almost all the same faces on Saturday from the previous night.

And now this week I have organized quite a few events. Just this evening, I coordinated and hosted AmCham’s Young Professionals Happy Hour at Lantung Thai Bar + Bistro. In previous experiences with networking events, I go with the intention to meet a lot of potential new clients, business partners, and friends, but instead, I leave with just a handful of name cards after some awkward and forced conversations. But tonight was different.

It was a warm summer night and Lantung’s rooftop terrace, the Moon Deck, was hot. It was so lively. Everyone was mingling and obviously eager to really talk to anyone and everyone and really make the effort to make the most of this event. I was quite thrilled to see such a nice turn-out during a time when other networking groups are canceling their events all around town.

Just down the street at Block 8, Haiku by Hatsune hosted its first Sake Tasting Dinner Party. After sending out a Facebook message to the Official Hatsune FB Group Members two weeks ago, I got such an overwhelming response of confirmations that Alan decided to host the event twice (again on Friday, August 14).

Both Alan & I were sorely mistaken in thinking the event would only interest about 20-30 attendees for a more intimate and personable dining and tasting experience, as I ended up with a list of 45 confirmed attendees for each Sake Tasting Dinner Party.

But then again, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to enjoy a 7-course menu highlighting Haiku’s specialty dishes together with sampling 4 different sake from Alan’s personal collection?  That is a killer deal!

But product aside (since everyone knows how good Hatsune & Haiku food is), I credit the high turn-out to the fact that we are selling more than a great-valued sake dinner, we are selling a fun and unique experience. You will find the event details below, which isn’t your typical event listing.

Details:

Become a Sake Samurai: Exclusively at Haiku by Hatsune 

Hosted by Alan Wong, the master Sushi Sake Samurai himself, Haiku by Hatsune presents its first Sake Tasting Dinner Party. Learn the culture, origins and significance behind sake and the traditional Japanese art of brewing sake from rice and water. Together with a special set menu highlighting Haiku’s signature dishes, Alan will be introducing premium bottles of sake from his own personal collection. Join us as we show you the path to become a Sake Samurai.

RMB 200 per person includes a special 7-course Haiku tasting menu along with four unique types of sake.

And on top of hosting two Sake Tasting Dinner Parties this week, this Saturday, August 15th is Hatsune’s 8 Year Anniversary Party which will include a private sit-down dinner party at the Original Hatsune on Guanghua Lu and after 10pm, Hatsune in the Village will be hosting the official party for everyone to join with all-you-can-drink and sushi appetizers for 100RMB first-come-first-serve till we pack the house.

Believe it or not, within 3 hours of sending out the e-mail for Hatsune’s 8 Year Celebration, the dinner party was booked up with over 100 confirmations and since then, I have had another 100 people asking to get a spot in the off-chance of last-minute cancellations. You snooze, you lose.  For everyone who wasn’t an early bird, the party at Hatsune Sanlitun Village will be epic.  We aim to top the opening party for a night to remember…or can’t remember. 

This goes to show that not only are there still people in Beijing this summer, they can’t seem to get enough of Hatsune.

I guess I gave Beijingers something they wanted.

If you would like to be included in future event notifications, feel free to contact me directly and I’ll hook you up.

About LumDimSum

This is me, Kristen Lum, on the Job at Bling. May 2009

About LumDimSum:

First and foremost, let me explain what LumDimSum is all about. Don’t be fooled by my name, this is not a blog about DimSum (although I am a HUGE fan) and it is not limited to discussions about dining in Beijing.
I decided to create LumDimSum to share my experiences (both personal and work related) with family & friends abroad, along with anyone interested in the life I live as a PR socialite in Beijing. as a newly graduated, ABC living in Beijing, my life has taken off on a path of its own and my goals and aspirations have morphed, grown, and leapt in ways I never expected or imagined.

Having lived in China for the past three years, my life and career goals have taken off like a roller coaster. I originally came to Beijing as a student at a private Language Program and within just two years, I’ve since planned the wedding of the year, hosted two restaurant openings, and managed the PR, Marketing and Media for Beijing’s top nightlife and dining destinations: Block8, BLING, LAN Club, the Hatsune Restaurant Group, just to name a few.
LumDimSum not only recaps some unique experiences and thoughts on my daily life in Beijing but also serves as a platform for me to discuss my personal opinions on Beijing nightlife and dining along with the inside scoop on my work and the venues I represent. Shameless self-promotion aside, I hope that LumDimSum will provide valuable insight and tips to Beijing’s hot spots and top upcoming events around town.

Contact Info:
E-mail: lum.kristen (at) gmail.com

Dantas Rock

Facebook: Kristen S. Lum
Twitter: kristenslum

My CV: Served in DimSum Portions

Kristen Stacy Lum 林斯瑶
Sierra Oaks Elementary School (1990-1996)
Arden Middle School (1996-1998)
Rio Americano High School (1998-2002)
University of California, Santa Barbara (2002-2006)

Beijing (2006-2009)
World Link Education (Sept. 2006- Feb.2007)

Eastwei PR (Feb. 2007- July 2007)

American Chamber of Commerce-China (Jan. 2008-July 2008)

Block 8 – Director of Communications & Public Relations (Jan. 2008-Oct. 2008)
Hatsune Restaurant Group – Director of Marketing & Media (Oct. 2008-Present)
Alchemy Consultancy – Director of Media, Marketing & Communications (March 2008-June 2009)
*All-Star & Bling – PR Consultant to Director of Communications (June 2008-Present)
*Domus – PR Consultant (July 2008-January 2009)
*Cabaret, Shanghai – PR Consultant (October 2008-January 2009)
*Lantung Thai Bar + Bistro – PR Consultant to Event Planner (February 2009-Present)
*LAN Club Beijing & Shanghai – PR Consultant (February 2009-April 2009)

Wedding Planner for Alan & Hannah Wong (May 2009-June 2009)

*candy&caviar – Director of Media, Marketing and Communications/Honorary Chairman (June 2009-Present)

*Glen Group – Media, PR Consultant (September 2009-Present)

*Purple Jade Country Club – Consultant (September 2009-Present)

(*) Current Projects