Spark Nightclub: Sparking a Flame in Beijing

Spark is such a suitable name because this club is on FIRE.

Spark has totally figured out the perfect balance of catering to both the local and foreigner party animal market by offering something better than Vics and Suzies combined.  With the club lit up in bright, vibrant lighting displays all across the ceiling of the club, two girl DJs behind the DJ decks and a playlist of straight-up dance music all night, this is quickly going to become Beijing’s go-to-dance club for all party fanatics.

While Bling ruled out a big portion of the market by only playing hip-hop and the Beach limited by weather conditions, Spark has really got something going.  I’m surprised because it took over the same space that Song Music Bar was in before (below Zara in The Place Mall) and Song never took off.  But just a few weeks after it’s opening, Spark is packed every Friday night without fail and it’s the talk of the town.

Music, people and atmosphere aside, by far the best part of Spark is definitely their laser lights tunnel entrance that makes you feel like you’re walking through a scene from Mission Impossible.  I’d never seen this before and I will go back just to walk through it again.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Spark Nightclub:

And You Thought 80′s at Alfa Was Good…

Alfa is one of Beijing’s old-timers.

When I first came to Beijing, nightlife was pretty predictable considering it was once so much more limited. I can still remember the weekly breakdown – Wednesday’s Ladies Night at Suzies, Thursday’s Ladies Night at Bar Blu, Friday’s 80′s Night at Alfa followed by late night dancing at Vics or heaven-forbid Babyface or Cargo.  Yeah…I know. Times have changed.

It’s incredible how far Beijing has come since then with Sanlitun Village dominating the CBD, the Park Hyatt, Solana, etc. etc. Beijing has utterly transformed itself in only a few years.

And this weekend, Alfa re-launched itself with a soft-opening party showcasing a new look along with music stars - DJ Chozie & DJ Azat rocking the house and bringing a new vibe, a new scene, and above all, a new Alfa.

LumDimSum Photo Gallery of Alfa’s Re-Launch Party:

My Party Peeps @ Alfa:

…But just as things couldn’t get better, someone had to ruin all the fun and set off a smoke bomb, only to find out it was the fumes of a fire extinguisher! Party Foul.

Official After Party Announcement for The 8th Red Bull NanShan Open

Alright Party People: I’m sure you’re all still recovering from New Year’s Parties, but guess what?

2010 just got even better!

Beijing just dumped an insane amount of snow, which is perfect timing as MellowParks is gearing up for its 8th Red Bull NanShan Open.

The Official After-Party has just been confirmed to take place on Tuesday, January 12 @ Vics Club.

This is your chance to meet and party with 30 international & local pro snowboarders from the largest Asian snowboard competition on the Swatch Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour as they celebrate their results in style!

In conjunction with P1.cn & Red Bull, MellowParks is going all out as this year’s competition is THE biggest snowboard event in Asia!

Event Details:

Celebrate the 8th Red Bull Nanshan Open this Tuesday, January 12 at VICS, the official competition afterparty!

Date: Tuesday, January 12
Time: 10pm
Free Entry

Warm Up the Weekend with Hot Pot

It’s mid-November and it’s already snowed heaps. Blame global warming, blame China for shooting too many chemicals into the clouds, blame whoever, but we need to cope with this year’s early drop in temperature.

I find comfort in Hot Pot, which seems to be the theme for this weekend:

You gotta play your cards right on this Friday, the 13th!

• Hot Pot & BBQ dinner at Kagen
• Bachelorette Party @ the new ladies’ champagne bar: Club Décolleté
• Dance crazy @ BLING.

Saturday, November 14:

• BLING: **DJ KEZA returns to BLING for a kick-ass performance, ‘Keza’s Golden Night’ this Saturday night!!!!  (I get giddy just thinking about it!)
• Vic’s Ying Yang Twins show – known for their “Whisper Song”.  For those who want to shake it (like a salt shaker).
• Hot Pot & Happy Niu Year Snowboard Movie Premiere hosted by Mellowparks @ Punk.

**NOTE:  The Human Beatbox and former member of the Roots, RAH ZEL will be performing exclusively @ BLING on Saturday, November 20. If you don’t know RAH ZEL, just watch his mind-blowing live performance of “If Your Mother Only Knew” on YouTube.

For those who missed my raving review of Kagen’s incredible Gourmet Month special, you can read up here.  As always, the more the merrier, so feel free to join the group for some quality Japanese hot pot and BBQ goodness. If not, then kick off the winter snowboard season right and join the party at Punk for big beats and big tricks. Movie premier starts at 11:30pm and tons of sick raffle prizes up for grabs throughout the night.

A Tour of ‘The New Beijing’

It seems like a lifetime ago, but when I first moved to Beijing in 2006, I came as a student to study Mandarin at World Link Education.  Back in those days, everything was all play and stress-free – ah, the life as a student.  My crew’s regular hangout spot was Together Bar (which was recently demolished this summer and replaced with a park) and our regular party spots included none other than Babyface, Cargo, Bar Blu, Kai Bar, Suzie Wong’s and Vics (before the re-model).

Since then, so much has changed in Beijing pre and post the 2008 Olympics.

This October holiday, my best friend from World Link, Sophia Gericke came back to visit for 10 days – a visit that has been both refreshing and eye-opening.  It’s so easy to get caught up in all the small things and forget to see the big picture.  It’s hard to imagine that only a year ago, there was no Sanlitun Village, there was no Opposite House, no Bling, no Solana, no Legation Quarter, etc. etc.

With Sophia back in Beijing after a 3 years, I wanted her to experience the best of what I like to call, ‘The New Beijing’.

Having already lived in Beijing, Sophia had no interest in seeing any tourist attractions, so I was able to really give her a taste of Beijing’s new and improved dining and nightlife scene.

Here’s what the 10 day tour consisted of:

1. Sanlitun Village (Hatsune, Karaiya, Blue Frog for drinks, Panino Teca)
2. Opposite House (Alan’s Hotel Party in one of the suites, Mesh & Punk)
3. Solana (All-Star & Bling)
4. Legation Quarter Tour & dinner @ Capital M (Qianmen Pedestrian Street)
5. Park Hyatt’s Xiu
6. Olympic Green (complete with attending the Turandot Opera in Bird’s Nest)
7. 1949-The Hidden City: Club Décolleté, Club Glen, Sugar Cafe, Well Bar
8. Scarlett (Hotel G)
9. Glen Boutique Bar & Oden
10. d lounge
    

    Keep it Gangsta Party @ BLING

11. Vics (renovated)
12. Block 8‘s Ruby Khi (renovated)
13. Suzie Wong’s (unchanged)
14. Chocolate Club
15. Vineyard Cafe (best Sunday brunch)
16. Chef Too (Sunday brunch)
17. Regency Taipan (massage)
18. PurpleJade Country Club (spa)

Wednesday Night Drinking

1st Stop:  Sake Tasting at Morio

Perks from my job: Alan inviting me to tag along with him to a sweet Sake Tasting at Morio (Hotel G).  It’s quite perfect timing that the great Taka Yamamoto chose this particular time to host a Sake Tasting at Morio – while Alan and I are in the midst or sorting out all the details for Haiku’s Sake Tasting on August 12!

Alan and I are both a little puzzled upon arrival as we are seated at a 2-person table, expecting that we’d be sitting together with a group in an isolated section for the sake tasting. I guess it was not meant to be a group thing.

Taka was great to introduce some very fine and exclusive sakes for the tasting – we tried 5 different sakes, which were paired with the first 5 courses (7 in total).

Just to give you a taste of what we were served:

1^st course: 3 Appetizer Sampler included beef tenderloin in fresh spring roll, two kinds of beans puree, paired with sake marinated Hirame

2^nd course: Cyu-toro Maguro carpaccio + Oyster with sea urchin, caviar and quail egg – big WOW

3^rd course: Grilled Agu fish (kind of creepy to eat)

4^th course: Braised Veggie Dish

5^th course: Scallop & Sea Urchin Tempura

6^th: Rice in Soup

7^th: Watermelon Jelly with Vanilla Ice Cream ** ridiculous, perfect ending to the meal

As great as the meal was, it was good for us to attend another sake tasting to learn from them and tailor our’s to fit Haiku and our specific clientele.

If you are interested in attending, you can sign up by sending me an e-mail, see details below. Please keep in mind that seating is limited.

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 Haiku tasting menu along with four unique types of sake.

Limited Seating, RSVP Required: Contact Kristen Lum, 13240114868 or e-mail:  lum.kristen@gmail.com. Date: Wednesday, August 12
Time: 7:00pm

2nd Stop: Purple Haze Bistro

After a 7 course meal at Morio and more food at Dan’s local Hunan Spot by 7-11 at Shuangjing Qiao, we head to meet friend at Purple Haze (by Hooters on Gongti Bei Lu) and was reminded that this is a great spot!

Dan Rockin' his New Shades at Purple Haze

Every Wednesday, they have a live jazz band and their drinks are so cheap!

RMB 15 for a big mug of Beijing Draft Beer (my sources compare it to taste similar to Yanjing Beer)

RMB 35 per glass of house red or white wine

RMB 40 for their Shakes (Mango, Berries, Banana flavors)

Rm. 201, Building 3 China View, C2 Gongti Donglu, Gongti (South of The Den)
工体东路丙2号中国红街3号楼201室  The Den的南边

6501-9345

3rd Stop: Vics 威克斯

I don’t get Vics. Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it.  I always come randomly (through invitation or spontaneously), but whenever I do, I’m dumbfounded.  And since I’ve been to Beijing, it has changed again and again.  But not just through renovations, it changes all the time, as does its clientele.  You definitely see some of the same faces who call Vics their home and are there on a daily basis, but I love to just walk around in Vics and soak in the scene.  As great as it is to come to Vics at 5am after Bling closes, it’s almost more entertaining to go to Vics sober on a Wednesday night.

While it was cool to make rounds and greet the usual suspects, it was quite sad that someone from Vics actually came up to me and said, “Hey! You work at Bling?  You can’t be here!”

“Why?”

“Because you work at Bling.”

‘So?”

“I’m going to tell on you.”

Seriously?  Seriously. Nice one Vics.

Best Part about Vics: It’s consistently full Wednesday–Saturday nights.

Comments:

Wait staff pours out your bottle as quickly as possible and if you leave the table for a split second, your glasses (and the rest of your bottle) will be gone.

They are Haters of Bling, which is sad, we should be friends.

Vics:Inside Workers’ Stadium north gate, Gongti (next to Mix)

工体北门内东侧

5293-0333