Time Out’s Sunday Salon: Pipa Master Zhang Hongyan

This Sunday, The Bookworm and Time Out Magazine are teaming up to host internationally renowned pipa player Zhang Hongyan (章紅艷) from Zhejiang province as a part of this month’s Sunday Salons, an interactive lecture series that takes you “behind the music” of China.

“Zhang is known for blending Western and Chinese music, her commitment to music education and her refusal to take a “set fee”, receiving anywhere from 500RMB -100,000RMB per concert. For Zhang, it’s about the music, and musicians are there to serve.” 

One of the most technically difficult of China’s traditional instruments to master, the pipa requires “great stamina and flexible fingering”.

*Don’t forget to bring in this month’s copy of Time Out Beijing and entrance ticket is reduced to only RMB 20 (which also includes a free drink courtesy of The Bookworm)!

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, May 13, 2012

• Time: 7:30PM

• Location: The Bookworm

• Address: Sanlitun Nanjie, 三里屯南街4号楼

• Tickets: 30RMB; 20RMB (if you bring in this month’s copy of Time Out Beijing)

About Zhang Hongyan:

Zhang Hongyan is a renowned pipa recitalist and educator, a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, a supervisor on the Conservatory’s Master’s degree programme, an executive member of the All China Youth Federation and the Chinese Culture Promotion Society, and formerly a visiting scholar at Columbia University in the United States.

As an outstanding recitalist among the new generation of Chinese musicians, Zhang has garnered attention on the local and international music scene. She has built an extensive repertoire, and her playing exhibits a masterful combination of sheer virtuosity and musicality. She has given numerous solo recitals and touring performances throughout cities in mainland China.

In recent years, her collaboration with the Macao Orchestra has taken her to over twenty cities domestically, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, and also overseas to the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Korea, Singapore, and to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. Zhang has appeared onstage with the China National Symphony Orchestra, the China Philharmonic Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Her performances have graced world-famous concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, etc. In a bid to amalgamate Chinese and Western music for further development, Zhang experimented with different performing formats, such as pipa with a symphony orchestra, and eclectic ensembles of Chinese plucked-string instruments. She was the first instrumentalist to give a concerto performance with a Western symphony orchestra using a Chinese instrument.

Last 2 Days to Vote: CW Readers’ Choice Awards 2012

Last month saw theBeijinger’s 9th annual Reader’s Choice Restaurant Awards results which took everyone by surprise with underdog Home Plate Bar-B-Que beating out industry big heads Maison Boulud, Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) and Hatsune and totally sweeping the ceremony in every category possible from Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese), Restaurant Personality of the Year (Seth Grossman), Best New Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese), Best American, and Outstanding for Best Value for Money. Well done to a venue that deserves massive credit for serving the world’s best BBQ pulled-pork sandwich of all time.

*Voting is underway for theBeijinger’s 2012 Reader Bar & Club Awards until May 9th.

Following theBejinger’s Restaurant Awards was Time Out’s Food Awards 2012 just last week where high-end French legend Maison Boulud dominated in all overall categories – Reader’s Choice Restaurant (the only category foodies can vote on), Best International Fine Dining, Best Service, Chef of the Year (Brian Reimer) and Restaurant of the Year.  Other honorable mentions include Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) for Best New Restaurant, Runner up for Restaurant of the Year and Best International Fine Dining, Barolo at the Ritz-Carlton for Runner up for Chef of the Year for Gianluca Visani, Best Service and Best International Fine Dining, and Migas for Best Business Lunch and Best International Casual Dining. Click here for full list of 15 restaurant awards.

That leaves the last expat magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards – CityWeekend’s 10th Annual Reader’s Choice Awards featuring 28 dining categories and 11 nightlife categories.

“The F&B scene has changed immensely in 10 years and we’ve changed along with it. We’re the only game in town that has its own proprietary voting site which makes it easier for us to identify and weed out spammers. We don’t create a million categories so that everyone gets an award. We limit the number of categories so that a win really means something. Cast your vote below and make your voice heard.” – The CityWeekend Team

CityWeekend.com.cn’s Online Voting Ballot

With only a few days left (voting closes at midnight on April 30th), this year is already looking very competitive with Cityweekend reporting that there could potentially be “a lot of upsets in the making”.

Click here for article update on Reader Awards categories.

Here’s how CW’s Categories are looking thus far:

• Best Tex Mex/Mexican: Avocado Tree is in the lead

• Best Italian: Barolo and Cepe needs to watch out for La Pizza creeping up in the votes

• Best Beijing Duck: Da Dong and Duck de Chine are going head-to-head with just one vote separating the two

• Best American: Home Plate and Element Fresh are close ties

• Best Dessert: Divina and Comptoirs are inches apart from the rest of their competition

• Best Service: GungHo! is shining through the rest of the competition

• Best Wine: Toss up between Enoterra and Modo

• Best New Restaurant: Could it be Susu or Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB)

• DJ of the Year: Could Eddie LV be stealing DJ Blackie’s title? 

• Best Nightlife Newcomer: Haze or Spark? 

• Who will take the title for Best Restaurant of the Year?  Being the only category without suggested options, everyone is fair game. Obviously you can see who I’ve entered into my ballot…

Strongly disagree with the way these categories are looking?

Here’s your chance to sway the votes in your favor – Spread the word and VOTE!  Just go to this link to CW’s 2012 Readers Choice Awards Ballot.

Happy Voting! 

 Finals Days of Voting for CW’s Readers’ Choice Awards!

Sunday Salon: Chu Yibing’s China Cello Philharmonic

This Sunday, The Bookworm and Time Out Magazine are teaming up to host one of the most influential cellists in the world, Chu Yibing and the China Cello Philharmonic (Chu and his group of 5 prodigy cellists) as part of this month’s feature Sunday Salons, an interactive lecture series that takes you “behind the music” of China.

“Chu Yibing began playing aged seven, studied in Paris aged seventeen and later became the principal cellist of the Basel Symphony Orchestra, Europe’s second highest-paid cello position. Today, as the Central Conservatory of Music’s Cello Department head, he leads China’s first and only permanent chamber ensemble, the China Cello Philharmonic.” - Time Out Beijing

Chu’s crazy talented group of six cellists regularly tour the world and they are the first Chinese chamber ensemble to play for Chinese President Hu Jintao and the US President Barack Obama.  

The chance to see this ensemble play within the intimate walls of The Bookworm is a very special privilege and a rare chance you won’t want to miss!

*Don’t forget to bring in this month’s copy of Time Out Beijing and entrance ticket is reduced to only RMB 20 (which also includes a free drink courtesy of The Bookworm)!

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, April 29

• Time: 7:30PM

• Location: The Bookworm

• Address: Sanlitun Nanjie, 三里屯南街4号楼

• Tickets: 30RMB; 20RMB (if you bring in this month’s copy of Time Out Beijing)

China Cello Philharmonic Led by Chu Yibing (far right)

Say Goodbye to D-22 this Friday, the 13th with Mohanik

After six strong years as one of Beijing’s iconic live music venues, D-22 is officially closing their doors this Friday, the 13th of January.  Over the years, this little WDK rock venue has built a tight music-loving community committed to the local music scene and they have undoubtedly helped to open doors and jump-start the fame of many of Beijing’s most well-known bands like Carsick Cars and Hedgehog.

Going off with a bang, they are hosting Mongolian garage rock/punk band Mohanik (from Ulan Bator) as their first act of their closing night.

In the middle of the 4 day China tour (from Hohhot to Beijing to Ningbo to Shanghai), this will be their second stop, but D-22′s first act of the night followed by Shanghai metalheads Moon Tyrant, Beijing surf-rock band The Flying Mantas, and a DJ set from DJ B.O. (aka Brian Offenther, Shanghai-based music promoter Trash A Go-Go).

Click here for Time Out Beijing’s recent interview with Mohanik.

Come out and bid D-22 farewell, though Michael Pettis had said in a few interviews that they plan to open a new music venue to accommodate “today’s Beijing”.

• See interview with Michael Pettis by pangbianr.com here: Michael Pettis on the End of D-22

• See interview with Michael Pettis by Andy Best on Kungfuology.com here: D22 Closing: Full Interview with founder Michael Pettis 

Event Details: 

• Date: Friday, January 13, 2012
• Time: 10PM
• Location: D-22
• Address: 242 Chengfu Lu, Haidian district 海淀区成府路242号
• Website: Click here.

LDS Discovery: Karaiya’s Hunan Spicy Broiled Fish

Karaiya’s Hunan style Spicy Broiled Fish  飘香鱼

On average, I eat at Karaiya Spice House once a week.  It’s a choice pick for my Beijing crew’s “family dinners” and most definitely a top destination for anyone who is coming or leaving Beijing and needs a “Karaiya fix”. I say “fix” as if Karaiya was an addiction and for our group of friends, it really is because as much as we all enjoy hole-in-the-wall, super local, cheap Chinese food once in awhile, it’s really not something I like to do regularly knowing how horrendous the hygiene is and the obscene amount of oil they drench their dishes with really does take a toll. On the other hand, knowing that Karaiya is a part of the Hatsune Restaurant Group, it is guaranteed to use only quality ingredients and high hygiene standards.

Considering I’m such a regular, for me to know the restaurant menu inside-out is expected.  And I thought I was pretty much a savvy Karaiya expert until I recently discovered Karaiya’s Hunan style Spicy Broiled Fish  飘香鱼 (RMB 108).

At first, I thought it was an “off-the-menu” dish since I had never even noticed it on the menu before!  They need to seriously reconsider the real estate this dish occupies on the menu because it’s definitely worth it!

Unfortunately for this fish dish, Karaiya’s Signature Fish Dish (RMB 158 for Perch Fish or RMB 258 for Mandarin Fish) is undoubtedly one of the most popular dishes on the menu and for good reason – it’s amazing!  With yellow Hunan peppers on one side and red on the other, this steamed fish is both spicy and the sauce is super addictive.  I like to dip scoop out spoonfuls of this sauce and pour it over rice and everything else for that matter.

“Traditionally in Hunan this dish is served using a steamed fish headcovered in spicy peppers and simmering in special Camellia oil collected from trees.We prepare this Hunan specialty using the whole fish, and our tree oil is shipped weekly from rural villages in Hunan.”  - Alan Wong, owner of Karaiya Spice House and the Hatsune Restaurant Group

Karaiya’s Signature Mandarin Fish with Two Types of Hunan Peppers

But the downside of this Signature fish’s popularity is that all other fish dishes are then overshadowed and very often entirely overlooked.  That is the case with Karaiya’s Hunan style Spicy Broiled Fish  飘香鱼.

Not only had I never ordered it before, I didn’t even notice it on the menu!  How that happened is beyond me, but I blame the Signature Fish Dish for being so ridiculously good, we never had the desire to try anything else.  But now that I have recently been introduced to their Spicy Broiled Fish, and I may have discovered a new favorite! It’s a giant bowl filled with tender fish pieces drenched in spicy yumminess.

If you are a general fan of 水煮鱼, then you will get hooked on Karaiya’s take on this popular Sichuan dish, but obviously it’s Hunan style.

Karaiya Spice House won Time Out’s 2011 Award for Best Regional Chinese.

Click here for LDS article.

Karaiya Spice House Details:

• Address: 3F, Building 8, The Village at Sanlitun, No. 19 Sanlitun Road, Sanlitun

  (3rd floor of the Nike Building across from Hatsune) 朝阳区三里屯路19号The Village南区8号楼

• Tel: 6415 3535

• Website: www.hatsunesushi.com (Karaiya Spice House is part of the Hatsune Restaurant Empire)

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just search tagged “LumDimSum Discovery” articles for more recommendations.

LDS Hook-Up: FREE Tix to Time Out’s Xmas Bash!

Celebrate the upcoming holidays with the Time Out Beijing team as they throw one hell of a holiday party!

Free flow booze from 8PM-11:30PM will guarantee a good start to your Friday night, but I’m most excited to try the macaroons and cakes from Amandine Bakery, Christmas fruit mince pies and gingerbread men from Red Kitchen Cabinet, savoury crêpes from Moment Gastronomy Café, lots of colourful candies from Papabubble, and signature dark chocolate and brownies from De Chocolate Coffee. Yes, I plan to try them all.

Everyone who makes it also will be automatically entered into their lucky draw featuring over 40 awesome prizes including:

• Little Gold Books

• Handbags from D-SATA

• Designer jumpers from AnyShopStyle.cn

• Cooking Classes from The Hutong

• Three-month supply of Beijing’s best freshly ground coffee from Rickshaw Roasters

• Dinner vouchers for Niajo, Vasco’s, Senses, etc.

• Five highly coveted, autographed books from Penguin: Midnight in Pekingby Paul French, When China Rules the World by Martin Jacques, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok.

Hosted at the newly opened Twilo Club (close to Haze and Spark at Guanghua Lu SOHO), they’ve got loads of Christmas treats, drinks and music for all. DJ Junjaman (NYC), Dongjun and Juliana Lima will be spinning Christmas tunes, ’80s classics and house beats.

Get the LumDimSum Hook-Up for free tickets to Time Out’s Christmas Par-tay!

This offer comes on a first come, first dibs basis so if you want to get hooked up, just email – kristen@lumdimsum.com before 12PM Noon on Thursday, December 8.

Tickets are RMB 100 person, but lucky for my LDS friends, I’ve got the hook-up for you! Be quick as these tickets are limited!

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, December 9, 2011

• Time: 7:30PM-late

• Location: Twilo

• Address: 103 A/B, Guanghua Lu SOHO, Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang district 朝阳区光华路光华路SOHO 103A/B

• Tel: 6561 9360

• Tickets: RMB 100

• Website: Click here.

  

Find X-Mas Treats at The Hutong’s Winter Fayre

“Fayre is an old English word describing a fun gathering featuring a range of locally produced goods made and sourced from, and connected to the local community.”

The Hutong’s Winter Fayre brings this concept of a traditional fayre to Beijingers next Sunday, December 11, which will also be the last Christmas Bazaar of the year ie, your last chance to stock up on Christmas gifts for friends and family!

Featuring a “warm-winter” theme, they will be serving hot cups of vin brulé (mulled wine) and have live caroling. The fayre will be selling a wide range of products from homemade jams and infused teas and cheeses to handmade handicrafts, photography to jewelry, unique cards and papers, handmade body scrubs, baked goods to chocolates to cashmere scarves.

Some popular vendors who will be selling their goods include:

• BJ Postcards
• Great Leap Brewery
• Hand Affection
• Hummingbird Therapeutic Spa Retreat
• Koko Chocolate
• Le Formager de Pekin
• Lollipop Bakery Cupcakes
• Puddington Pies
• Sassy Scrubs
• Shangrila Farms
• Starfish Jewelry
• Tai Tai
• Tea Journeys
• Time Out’s “Beijing Past and Present Design Competition” T-shirts and Tote Bags by AnyShopStyle.cn
• Viaggio Scarves

Check out BJ Postcards at The Hutong’s Winter Fayre

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, December 11
• Time: 11AM-3PM
• Location: The Hutong
• Address:#1 Jiu Dao Wan Zhong Xiang Hutong 东城区九道弯中巷1号
• Contact: info@thehutong.com
• Website: Click here

The Adventures of Tintin: Movie Release in China Today

I am beyond excited about seeing the beloved childhood character Tin Tin come alive  as an animated 3D version on the big screen with Steven Spielberg directing this animated motion picture, producer Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings trilogy) and an all-star line-up cast: Jamie Bell (as Tin Tin), Andy Serkis (Captain Haddock), Daniel Craig (Red Rackham), Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (two detectives).

And the icing on top of the cake is that China gets Tin Tin a whole month before the US (release date is December 21, 2011; ie Christmas Weekend)!

Woo-Hoo!  One of the most anticipated releases this year, we get Tin Tin FIRST!

…well, kind of.  Truth be told, Tin Tin first came out first in Belgium and the UK in October, but at least China isn’t last.

If you are unfamiliar with Tin Tin, let me give you a brief background:

Tin Tin is a young Belgian reporter aided by his faithful fox terrier dog Snowy and together, they are the heroes of the series, The Adventures of Tintin, which are 24 classic comic books created by Belgian artist Georges Rémi (1907–1983), who wrote under the pen name of Hergé. One of the most popular European comics of the 20th century, there are translations published in more than 80 languages.

“Tin Tin is an intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure.”

The Original Tin Tin & Snowy

NEW 3D Tin Tin & Snowy

The film which is written by Steven Moffat , Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, the film is based on three of the original comic books: The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn, and Red Rackham’s Treasure.

Clips from The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn:

See Movie Trailer on Youku.com here for a taste of the New Tin Tin:

Playing for one month only (November 15-December 15), you can catch The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn at the following movie theatres: UME, Wanda, Megabox and Jinyi.

See Time Out article here.

AnyShopStyle.cn: BJ Design Week’s Winning T-Shirts

During Beijing’s Design Week last month, AnyWearStyle.com and Time Out Beijing hosted a‘Past & Present’ T-shirt Design Competition.

With the winners now picked, you can buy these winning designs (see below) exclusively at AnyShopStyle.cn for only RMB 150 each.

Happy Shopping!

LDS Top Pick: The “Change on the Wheel” Tote Bag (RMB 120)

Time Out’s Sunday Salon: Operatic Tenor Fan Jingma

Time Out Beijing’s Sunday Salons are arguably some of the most well-done regular events Beijing has to offer.

Held once a month and always on Sunday evenings around 7:30PM, they host incredibly talented Classical musicians to come to The Bookworm and play extracts from their music in an intimate setting, followed by an opportunity to discuss their inspirations behind the music together with their audience.

“This is a unique opportunity to listen to the great musicians from China and ask them questions directly about their incredible talents.” – Nancy Pellegrini, Time Out BJ & SH’s Classical & Performance Editor

This Sunday, November 13, Time Out has invited one of China’s most established and respected operatic tenors Fan Jingma.

“A prize-winner in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, Fan Jingma’s colourful life includes making his own violin, selling his own pirated CDs, working with digital orchestra technology and reinventing China’s opera training. Join us for an unforgettable evening with one of China’s most fascinating musicians.” 

The best part – bring in this month’s copy of Time Out Beijing and entrance ticket is only RMB 20!

Event Details:

• Date:  Sunday, November 19, 2011
• Time:  7:30PM
• Price: RMB 30 or RMB 20 if you bring copy of the November issue of Time Out Magazine
• Location:  The Bookworm
• Address:  Sanlitun Nanjie, 三里屯南街4号楼
• Tel: 6586-9507
• Website: http://www.timeoutbeijing.com/features/Performing_Arts/12024/Sunday-Salon.html

TONIGHT: Peter Kruder DJs at Club Tango

“Peter Kruder is one of those emblematic names that lead a whole decade and inspire myriads of DJs, producers and clubbers all over the world. And as successful as he is, he never lost track of the underground.” 

TONIGHT (Saturday, November 12, 2011) Remix Maestro Peter Kruder is DJing at Club Tango. 

Whether with Kruder & Dorfmeister, Voom:Voom or his solo project Peace Orchestra, Vienna’s Peter is widely recognized for being responsible for some of the finest electronic music in the last thirteen years.

“It’s very exciting stuff, not just because of Kruder’s rock-solid abilities as a DJ, but because of his stature in the scene, being the cofounder of G-Stone Recordings and instrumental in making Vienna one of the world centres of dance music.” – Ross Goulding, Time Out’s Nightlife Editor (click here for full article)

Peter Kruder wants to give you one of his latest tracks, “Young Girl”.  Download it here: “Young Girl” by Peter Kruder

Event Details here:

• Date: Saturday, November 12, 2011
• Time: 10PM-late
• Tickets: RMB 60 (Presale); RMB 100 at the Door
• Presale Ticket Locations: Hotel G | Ciro’s Pomodoro | Crepanini | Plastered T-Shirts | Bed | Le Igosso 798 | Bridge Cafe | Pekotan | Gori
• Online Ticket Sales: ClubZone.cn
• Location: Club Tango
• Address: 79 Hepingli Xijie, Dongcheng district  东城区和平里西街79号

The Cut: 18-Hour, Slow Roasted Prime Rib Thursdays

The Cut Grill in the Fairmont Hotel serves some of the best steak in Beijing, hands-down.

Thanks to Time Out Beijing, I just found out about their Thursday night Prime Rib Dinner Special.  For RMB 260 per person, you can enjoy “18-hour, slow-roasted-on-the-bone Australian Stockyard prime rib carved tableside, served with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings”.

How much does that make your mouth water?  Lucky for us, it’s Thursday TODAY!

Happy Eating My Foodie Friends!  

The Cut Grill Restaurant Details:

• Open Tuesdays-Saturdays, 6PM-11PM
• Address: 2nd Floor of Fairmont Beijing, 8 Yongandongli, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District  
• 朝阳区建国门外大街永安东里8号华彬费尔蒙酒店内
• Tel: 8511-7777

Sept. 26-Oct.3: Beijing Design Week 2011

“To consider design is to consider the world and almost everything in it.  Designers can illuminate the soul and explore why we act the way we do.” – James Wilkinson, Time Out Beijing

During Beijing Design Week, there is a whole lot going on.  There isn’t quite a published schedule of events yet, but you can be sure to get the following:

• More than 130 different activities will be launched
• More than 30 international events
• Over 90 Chinese exhibitions
• Festival venues include about 100 design landmarks in Beijing, such as Tsinghua University, Yonghe Park, China Design Market, Dashilar, 751D•PARK, and Sanlitun Village
• More than 60 famous brands will be involved
• 800 international designers will be coming to Beijing

There are things going on all over the city, but a highlight is definitely Time Out Beijing’s Fashion Pop-up Shop.

Time Out Fashion Pop-Up Shop Features:

1. Beijing Past & Present Design Competition limited edition gift shop

2. Time Out Beijing (Chinese version) fashion photography exhibition

3. Time Out Beijing fashion expert talks at the Rickshaw Roasters Café area

4. Launch of online fashion boutique AnyShopStyle.com

5. Showroom of Dongliang Studio’s new A/W ‘11 collections

6. Exclusive China launch of UK retail giant Topshop and showcase of further Topman collections, in collaboration with FEI Space

7. Time Out Beijing Readers’ Party on Saturday 1 October

Check out Time Out Beijing for the inside scoop on what-not-to-miss this week here.

Beijing Design Week Info:

• Dates: September 26 – October 3
• Beijing Design Week Organizing Committee Contact Details:
  • Address: 13th Floor, Block A, Gehua Tower, No.1 Qinglong Hutong, Dongcheng District
  • Tel: 010-84186996
  • Email: info@bjdw.org
  • Website: www.bjdw.org

Sunday Salon: Young Violin Soloist Gao Can

Time Out Beijing’s Sunday Salons are some of the most well-done regular events Beijing has to offer.  Always on Sunday evenings around 7:30PM, they host incredibly talented Classical musicians to come to The Bookworm and play extracts from their music in an intimate setting, followed by an opportunity to discuss their inspirations behind the music together with their audience.

“This is a unique opportunity to listen to the great musicians from China and ask them questions directly about their incredible talents.” – Nancy Pellegrini, Time Out BJ & SH’s Classical & Performance Editor

This Sunday, Time Out has invited Gao Can, who is arguably China’s most respected and fastest-rising young violin soloist. Incredibly accomplished at such a young age, he has already won awards at the Michael Hill and Alberto Curci international competitions and appeared with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, recorded film soundtracks and collaborated with Lang Lang and Yuja Wang, among others. Gao Can is now a professor at Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music and he is the founder of Beijing New Music Ensemble. In September he plays the music of Belgian composer/musician and ‘King of Violin’ Eugène-Auguste Ysaye (1858-1931), who besides being the stuff of legend, is known as the world’s first modern violinist.

Listen to some of Gao Can’s magic here:
Gao Can – Concert Violinist by gaocanemperor

Event Details:

• Date:  Sunday, September 25
• Time:  7:30PM
• Price: RMB 30 or RMB 20 if you bring copy of the September issue of Time Out Magazine
• Location:  The Bookworm
• Address:  Sanlitun Nanjie, 三里屯南街4号楼
• Tel: 6586-9507
• Website: http://www.timeoutbeijing.com/features/Performing_Arts/12024/Sunday-Salon.html

Fashion Frenzy: AnyWearStyle.com has Launched!

“We’re dedicated to bringing you the hottest local fashion and design from China with an international perspective. Global fashion insiders from Paris, Milan, London and New York are also waiting to share with you the very latest news and trends.”

A new China-centric fashion website AnyWearStyle.com has just launched and it’s focus is “cutting-edge, emerging designers alongside up-to-the-minute insights into the burgeoning mainland market”.

If you are a fashion designer, boutique owner or just a fashion fanatic, you’ll want to subscribe to AnyWearStyle.com for the inside-scoop!

Follow their news on Weibo @AnyWearStyle and Twitter @AnyWearStyle.

ANYWEARSTYLE Trend Report: New York Fashion Week

AnyWearStyle.com is also launching its online boutique AnyShopStyle.com exclusively at Time Out Beijing’s fashion pop-up shop (part of Beijing Design Week) where they will be sharing a retro industrial space with the city’s best names in shopping and style.

To kick off proceedings, it has brought the latest collection from London-based surrealist designer Yang Du.

As well as ogling Yang’s zany designs, you will also have the opportunity to order a large selection of other designers’ clothes including one of my all-time favorite fashion labels - candy&caviar from the online store, AnyShopStyle.com.