Get Ready for the Shuangjing Block Party Saturday May 16

I admit, I'm a total Shuangjing homer. Since I moved there eight years ago, I've been eagerly waiting for this neighborhood to break out into something big. It's struggled a bit to become relevant to anyone except those that live (or work) there, but it's slowly, slowly, slowly evolving into a destination neighborhood.

One of the leaders of that charge is Trevor Metz of Plan B, who has made it his mission in life to make something of the area that houses his bar, and one of the fruits of his labor can be enjoyed this Saturday at the third annual Shuangjing Block Party.

Located on the always-threatening-to-break-out 22 Art Street at the north end of Pingod, Plan B has made a name for itself over several years now with its friendly atmosphere and consistently good burgers.

But rather than settling for just filling the space between the walls of his bar, Metz has turned the woefully underused corridor outside into an multi-purpose events area that has really delivered a community feel to the neighborhood.

From boxing matches to wing-eating contests to charity benefits, Plan B's events have been in many ways the lifeblood of 22 Art Street, bringing energy and excitement to the place without letting it descend into chaos.

If you live in the area, there's no excuse for you not to be there Saturday. If you don't, this is the one Shuangjing event of the year worth going out of your way for.

This year it'll run from 1pm to 7pm and they'll have more than 60 vendors taking part.

Food will be one of the centerpieces of the event, with of course Plan B's burgers and ribs, while Avocado Tree will be doing Mexican. Also expect Italian, Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, and Moroccan selections as well. Beer and wine will flow as well, from Slow Boat, Vandergeeten, Erdinger, Top Shelf, Duvel, and 1421 Wines.

The Beijinger's Food Entrepreneur of the Year winner Erica Huang's Farm to Neighbors farmers' market will also take part, offering everything from Chinese traditional hand-crafted tofu and rice wines to 100 percent grass-fed Tibetan yogurt and organic Yunnan high-mountain teas.

And don't forget to bring the kids if you got 'em, as it'll be a family-friendly affair with a kids' zone, face painting, clowns and magicians.

For more information visit the event listing here or the Plan B website here.

Here's to hoping that last weekend's frighteningly cold weather is gone once and for all for the season.

Images: Plan B