July 2008

agenda July 31st to August 13th

The latest issue of agenda is our first of two covering the Olympics - for these issues, our focus remains providing the best restaurant, nightlife and shopping recommendations, but we couldn’t ignore the summer’s main event. For visitors and regular readers who are following the Games, then, we’ve given a chunk of our event listings over to comprehensive Olympic schedules, with full venue addresses and an Olympic map pointing you in the direction of the venues. In our regular sections, meanwhile, we’ve got a roundup of Beijing duck restaurants, a quick tour of the breadth of dining options available in Beijing, tips on bargaining courtesy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, interviews with master chef Brian McKenna of Blu Lobster and ChinaDoll’s Ai Wan, and much more besides!

the Beijinger August 2008

August’s issue of the Beijinger is out! And to celebrate, armies of journalists, the world’s finest athletes, thousands of tourists, and heads of state from around the globe have descended on our fair city. They might even stick around for the Olympics. If they do, they can find all the information they could possibly need in our latest issue - the best places to watch the Games if you haven’t tickets, and, for those have, things to keep in mind when you go to the venues. Of course, the Olympics aren’t just about sport - they’re a celebration of humanity and getting wildly drunk at every opportunity. Adriane Quinlan gives her tips on the best international houses where you can go and raise a glass to the Games, while Matt P. Jager recommends bars that will offer some respite from the Olympic bedlam. Likewise Venus Lau reminds visitors that the Beijing art scene isn’t all about 798 and Eric Mendel previews the top concert events for August.

All this, plus athlete interviews, comprehensive Olympic listings, and the lowdown on what the top athletes will be wearing - and eating - as they go for gold.

Let the Games begin!

agenda July 17th to July 30th

Our very last issue before the Olympics has hit the streets, and it's packed with all the usual handy event listings, as well as plenty of dining, nightlife and shopping recommendations to keep you busy before the summer's big distraction arrives on August 8. This issue's highlights include interviews with Italian chef Eugenio Iraci from Cepe and Dorothea Adam of Yugong Yishan, as well as Lists featuring Beijing's best places for catching live jazz jams, Nanluogu Xiang shopping and our cover feature - with a sumptuous cover shot taken by our photographer Judy Zhou - on business lunch deals. And, as new places scramble to throw their doors open in time for the Games, we've got Try These writeups on just-opened venues like mega-buffet import Todai, Nanluogu Xiang bar-restaurant-mini-spa Taste, and the Tsingtao microbrewery at the Solana mall by Chaoyang Park West Gate, which offers barbecue and teppanyaki as well as China's finest brewed on-site.

Let us know what you think! Get in touch with your comments and suggestions by e-mailing iainshaw@agendabeijing.com

the Beijinger July 2008

So, we’ve changed our name but otherwise we’re still the same. And yes, I meant that to rhyme. For more clever wordplay, check out the first-ever issue the Beijinger, which is bursting with all manner of wholesome goodness: The results of the 2008 Reader Bar & Club Awards, Halla Mohieddeen’s interview with red-hot Chinese designer Xander Zhou, Beijing Guo’an striker Tiago’s view on life in the capital and the prospects of the medal prospects of the Chinese Olympic football team. Also, Olivier Mosset tells us why his monochrome paintings are really nothing to get excited about, and Matt P. Jager meets the greenest DJs in town.

As always, this month’s issue is packed with all the best events for July, our indispensable directory listings, as well as the usual round up of all the newest bars, restaurants and shops.

Viva the Beijnger!