the Beijinger

Word up, word up and all of that Avirex jacket-wearing, baggy pants-slanging, not-tying-your-shoes-up caper, it's Hotpot tonight. It's at Club LA and it starts at 10pm. If you like your beats bigger than your hi-tops are high and you want to get lower than the other dude's waistband then this is going to be the shizzle (or other more topical youth slang). Wordy is on the decks along with Lomang from NYC and Banana Sondsystem's Elnomo. Brrrrap Brrrrrap. See you there.

It was only a year ago that Beijing hosted the Olympics, but it doesn’t seem to have inspired you. tbj sent Sebastien Labarre and Sam Nankivell out to find out why more people weren’t playing sports.

"My back hurts, I’m too busy, and my gym was mysteriously shut down.” Tina Florin, 26, Sweden

SUBS – one of many bands you can catch at the InMusic Festival, more below; photo by Doug Kanter

What may be the last of its kind of the season, the InMusic Festival (Aug 7-9) at the Zhangbei Grasslands (230km outside of Beijing; see photo, right) is a three-day, Woodstock-esque music orgasm with none other than Tricky headlining. Plus, horseback riding, kite flying and a chance to play football with rock stars (Joyside is already registered) … How can you say no? End summer with a bang – or a Bigger Bang, if you want to.

(Ticket prices, transportation options and accommodation info below.)

Here are 25 bands you can catch at InMusic, in no particular order ...

1. Tricky (check back on the blog tomorrow for our interview with the trip-hop pioneer)

Football in China is making all the headlines but the good ones for the Premier Asia Trophy have been overshadowed by the actions of a team from Tianjin. The entire team has been disqualified by the CFA from the National Games after taking their protests with a referee a little too far. Click the links to be amazed by the video.

Another sad piece of news is that racism is apparently rearing its unwelcome head in the Chinese game. Chongqing Lifan's Costa Rican striker, Johnny Woodly Lambert, was abused in a friendly match against an Anhui team. Some colourful remarks from the Anhui players led to a five minute brawl. This was a bit of a rude awakening for new Chongqing signing Ailton and the team's new manager Arie Haan, formerly manager of the national team.

When it rains, it pours. Nothing else quite explains the music storm you’re about to head into.

First, fasten your seatbelt and return your tray table to its upright position, because Pilot Records is about to take you on a month-long ride. If you’re lucky enough to read this before the end of the month, you still have a chance to catch the first day of Summer Pilot 2009, which kicks off with local legend Xie Tianxiao (aka XTX; see photo, above) on July 31. The five-week concert series takes place at the Olympic Sports Center Stadium (not to be confused with the National “Bird’s Nest” Stadium just across the road).

It was only a year ago when our fair city hosted that international sports gathering of all sports gatherings otherwise known as the Olympics.

So what has Beijing to show for it?

Plenty of leftover venues, that’s for sure. And while some will continue on to find some purpose in the future, others will likely be ground back into the dust from whence they came. In this month’s cover feature, we examine which venues will go where, and how it concerns you.

And what happened to all those gold medal winners? All 51 one of them? We can’t say for sure, but we can tell you what at least ten of them are up to – or not up to, depending on how you look at it. We also go in-depth into why basketball succeeds and why football fails, and what implications these have on the future of sport in China.

Join ORIENTED Beijing and agenda for a Professional Networking Happy Hour at Loong Bar, Thursday at 7pm. Enjoy the company of other business professionals for an evening of networking, drinks and prize drawings in the beautiful dragon-themed lounge of the JW Marriott.

General admission is RMB 100, but ORIENTED members can register online to receive a 50% discount for standard membership and free admission for premium membership. Entry includes one free drink (additional drinks are two-for-one until 10pm), tons of finger foods served throughout the event, and a chance to a free deluxe overnight stay at the JW Marriott. Most importantly, the Happy Hour allows unlimited professional networking opportunities. Dress is business casual. Don't forget to invite friends and colleagues, and bring plenty of business cards.

This time last year, The Beach at Block 8 was chockablock with the great and the good living it up on the sandy rooftop. Well that summer’s been and gone, so this season the ever-popular venue gets a new look. Noticeable changes include heaps more sand and seating in the middle of the decking and a cabana-style second bar.

Anyone who lives in Beijing will be familiar with the sight of elderly couples dancing in parks and even on the street – notably at the north gate of the Workers’ Stadium – but eager dancers have plenty of options besides joining in with the old folks. Read about the variety of dance classes held regularly at bars and dance centers around Beijing in this issue’s cover feature.

Among the openings we cover in this issue’s Try These:
Prima Taste/Swensen’s – Singaporean street food with a side order of burgers, fries and shakes;
Dongjing Fandian – simple Chinese lunchtime sets at Jianwai Soho;
Peppes – the pizza remains, but they’ve beefed up the menu, redecorated and introduced new family-friendly facilities

Yao Ming’s career may be over. Or that’s what they say. The hairline fracture he sustained in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers in this year’s playoffs is likely to keep him out for next season, at best. Forever, at worst.

This is certainly bad news for basketball fans in China … or is it? True, the Chinese like to see their own players on the court. The meeting of compatriots Yao and Yi Jianlian for the first time on November 9, 2007, in Yi’s first season with the Milwaukee Bucks, was the most watched game in NBA history. (Of course, 19 stations broadcasting to 200 million Chinese certainly helped set that record.) Yao has also, in all seven of his seasons in the NBA, been voted starting center for the Western Conference in each year’s All-Star Game, while Yi’s vote total has moved from fifth to third in just two NBA seasons (surpassing Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce, and now only behind LeBron James and Kevin Garnett for the starting forward position for the East). Both players’ vote counts are widely attributed to the large number of Chinese fans voting for them.

It's time, once again, for our monthly happy hour, sponsored by the beijinger magazine. This month's festivities go down at Paddy O’Shea’s this Friday from 5-9pm.

Since the August edition is all about sports in Beijing, everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite team’s jersey to the event. There will be plenty of food and drink specials including RMB 15 bottles of beer, RMB 30 burgers and pizzas, and buy-one-get-one-free deals on all mixed drinks and cocktails. Anyone who donates a sports team scarf, flag or pennant to Paddy’s also gets free beer.

Every workday morning I make the same schlep to work. My journey begins with a walk behind the back row of buildings in my complex, then a straggling climb over a rusty iron fence (typical of many complexes here in Beijing, the management mysteriously refuses to open the gate on the north side) followed by another couple of minutes trudging through a half completed construction site over piles of dirt, mud and rubble until I hit the main road north of my complex. It is here – and only here – where it is feasible to catch a ride, which is more often than not in a “black cab” (hei che, 黑车), to complete my odyssey to the office.

If there’s a better way to while away summer afternoons than sitting in a beer garden, nobody’s told us.

It feels even better if you’re playing hooky. Here are some suggestions as to where to go so the boss won’t find you.

Changfugong New Otani
All-you-can-eat and drink is a good deal. All-you-can-drink German beer is even better.

Daily 6pm-11pm. 26 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6512 5555) 北京长富宫饭店, 朝阳区建国门外大街26号

The local designers behind the SQY-T label recently added a new design to their “Skin of the City” T-shirt collection. Emblazoned with a photograph of spectators crowding the Bird’s Nest, this tee (RMB 280) is a tribute to the Olympic Games that took place here a mere year ago.

Echinacities: Zhongnanhai Bodyguards

Echinacities has a series of photos from the Chinese press showing the President and Premier’s various bodyguards, including this shot of one of Wen Jiabao’s female bodyguards, complete with concealed handgun, 007 style.

The NBA is coming back to Beijing for their third exhibition game. Last
time it was contested between the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State
Warriors, this time the teams will be the much more exciting combination
of the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers. OK. the Pacers aren't that
exciting but the Nuggets arrival means that Beijing based hoops fans
will get the chance to see Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in the
team that took the Lakers to six in last year's playoffs. The preseason
game is on October 11 at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium. We'll have more
info for you on where to get tickets as soon as we have it.

News of yet another casualty of the financial crisis and 798’s soaring rents. Chinese Contemporary, one of Dashanzi’s landmark galleries, has closed its doors.

In its heyday Chinese Contemporary exhibited a range of top names from Zhang Xiaogang to Yue Minjun, but it has been a rather less starry place in recent years. Chinese Contemporary first opened its doors in London 13 years ago and went on to launch branches in 798 and in New York’s Chelsea. All three branches are now shuttered.

What turned out to be their swan song in Beijing was one of their best shows in a long time, Huang Rui’s “Comerchina”. Looked at in retrospect it seems a prescient choice, concerned as the show was with the dangers of commerce.

Local post punk veterans P.K.14, who haven't performed for a while since drummer Jonathan Leijonhufvud (or Lei Tantan in Chinese) broke his leg, plays at Yugong Yishan this Friday (July 24) - which means this will be the first time in a long time that local fans can witness lead singer Yang Haisong's tortured expressions and loud, wailing screams.

Joining them are American experimental rockers These Are Powers. After several shows and jam sessions at Wudaokou's D-22, the Brooklynites come to the eastside to make some noise.

Read tbj's interview with TAP's founder Pat Noecker here.