the Beijinger

The Bookworm Literary Festival is still some weeks away, but tickets have been selling like hotcakes. This morning the Bookworm announced the following sessions have already sold out:

As the Gongti branch celebrates five violaceous years of business, the new incarnation of this Beijing Thai institution has opened in a renovated traditional courtyard dwelling.

Dish #9: 伤心凉粉 shangxin liangfen ("heartbreak cold noodles")

Know what it feels like to have your heart broken? Tears stinging the eyes, the numbness, and so much pain it’s like you can’t breathe? Whoever named this dish obviously had a few rocky romances.

Before I met Ray Plummer, who manages the Beijing International Ice Hockey League, he sent me a one-line e-mail in response to coming to one of their games: “Drink lots of beer when watching.”

Thanks to the fashion bible that is the Calgary Sun, we found out that animal prints are “in” this season. Not just in the greater Alberta area, or even Canada at large (although both are fashion hothouses, that’s for sure). Beijing, too, is in on the craze with prints that are wilder than a box set of Animals Say The Funniest Things (which is also popular in Canada).

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but not all of us are lucky enough to have a lover, wife, "special friend" to share meals with. Need a table for one? Don’t wither under the smirks. Hold your (sniveling) head high and tuck in at one of these singles-friendly establishments.

When it comes to multi-brand high-end retailers in Beijing, the list has been exclusive indeed – only I.T, Lane Crawford and The Swank. Now Mr.Ms has joined the club.

This month, Purple Haze founder Tobi Demker celebrates five years at his original Gongti branch plus the (re)opening of Purple Haze Bistro in a new hutong pad. We locked spoons over a bowl of tom yum soup to find out more.

Sweets, candy, lollies. Call them what you will but you’ll struggle to find all you want in Beijing, where pricey imports or shoddy local produce are the only choices. No longer. Bonbon Bins have sweets that are stupid fresh.