the Beijinger

I know this has come at a bad time – the sun has only just returned and we haven't been to nearly as many barbecues as we'd like just yet. There are plenty of summer hijinks still to be had, but if you wanna take part in this year's Beijing International Triathlon, you need to get into your training regime around about now as registration has now opened.

We've tallied up the votes and shared your 2013 Reader Restaurant Award picks already, and now we're taking a closer look at your favorite spots. Beijing foodies are spoiled for choice, and it's not easy being the new guy in this town. This year's Best New Chinese Restaurant winners may not have been open long, but they've managed to grab your attention and please your palate in a city full of fierce competition.

My first week in Beijing, I made the mistake of asking a group of friends where to go for some of that famous Beijing duck. After the brawl ended,  I was still no closer to an answer. Now, thanks to our 2013 Reader Restaurant Awards, I have the democratically decided results for the best kaoya in town.

After giving you a taste of the main stage and bass stage lineups here's the final installment in our Beijing Soundcloud run up to INTRO 2013. The Disobedience stage will be set up in a very cool industrial setting, facing an old railway and locomotive. Enjoy the tracks and see you on that train tomorrow.

Earlier this week we posted photos from our 2013 Bar and Clubs Awards at Galaxy SOHO last weekend. A video crew was on hand during the festivities filming the action and the video has been posted to Youku by none other than SOHO China head Pan Shiyi, who also shared it on his Weibo account.

You can watch the video, which features many familiar faces from Beijing's nightlife scene, a few of the Chocolate dancers and a cameo by event host and Gung Ho and Lush Marketing guru Rich Akers, above or view it on Youku here.

Take a look at the all-new format of the Beijinger magazine here or on Issuu.com right now. We'll tell you more about the exciting changes we've made when the print magazine hits the streets, but you can get a look at June's launch issue right now. If you've got an iPad, download the PDF. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

On the same day that Beijing taxi-booking app users shuddered when Shenzhen banned them, the municipal government began public consultation on how best to address cab drivers' complaints about low wages.

There was scandal at the Cannes Film Festival this year. The Vice President of the China Film Group, Zhang Qiang, was robbed there last week. Thieves broke into his beach residence and gutted the room of the poor bugger’s possessions.

Beijing bar scene stalwart Karl Long is set to join Great Leap Brewing as its new bar and floor manager on June 1, Great Leap's Carl Setzer and Long confirmed to the Beijinger on Thursday.

Long, who has 11 years' experience in China including four at Paddy O'Shea's, will team up with Great Leap, which won seven awards at the Beijinger 10th Annual Reader Bar & Club Awards (RBCA), "to do all that stuff I don't know how to do," said Setzer, the surprise winner of the Bar Awards "Personality of the Year," implying Long will handle front-of-the-house.

"Now hopefully Great Leap will be known for having 'the nice Karl,' which will balance my lovely personality out to neutral. Honored to have him on board," Setzer said.