Wukan is no ordinary hair salon. Natural sunlight spills in from the tall glass windows. A DJ booth is parked in the corner, sitting atop stacks of old record albums and home décor glossies. The concrete floor and unfinished ceiling show closer resemblance to the refurbished factories in 798 – but perhaps that is precisely the point.

For non-Americans, Black Friday may require some explanation. You may already know that in the US, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. This year, that falls on November 24, 2011. (Click here for the first of many turkey guides on our blog). Black Friday is the name for the day after Thanksgiving, which marks the busiest shopping day of the year as well as the official inauguration of the Christmas season.

Imagine a day where stores open their doors as early as 4am (this year, several major retailers are starting out at midnight), and impatient shoppers wait in massive lines that snake into the parking lot. Does this sound like your greatest nightmare? Well, we forgot to mention its biggest draw: shopping deals and discounts beyond your wildest dreams. And now, even those of us living in Beijing can take advantage.

How’d Beijing’s Next Top Model fashion show and after-party turn out? Blue cocktails, an illuminated catwalk and a bar full of stunning women just about sums up the night.

The catwalk was narrow as hell. Twelve ladies sauntered up and down first in daywear, then in eveningwear. They made sometimes earnest speeches about why they deserved to win, why they had any interest in modeling. One finalist slipped and fell, only to be caught by one of the presiding judges. She ended up taking home the Miss Popularity award.

Sign-ups for the chance to be Beijing’s Next Top Model closed last Friday, May 20. But the real competition has yet to begin.

Tomorrow evening at 7pm at Hilton Beijing’s Zeta Bar, twelve women – all between the ages of 18-28, and all with “the face and figure [Toni and Guy] is looking for” – will be strutting their stuff on an illuminated catwalk.

Ladies had their turn yesterday. Now for those of you fellas scratching your heads wondering what beachwear is like for you, read on. We want you to be looking your best at the Beijinger’s Ninth Annual Bar & Club Awards, and as ready for an afternoon of drinking in the sun as you’ll ever be.