I Sing, You Sing, We All Sing for Beijing
On August 28, I Sing Beijing 2012 brings together 21 young Western singers at the NCPA. Led by Maestro Paul Nadler from the New York Metropolitan Opera and accompanied by the China Broadcasting-Film Symphony Orchestra, I Sing Beijing is the first program to introduce Mandarin as a language for classical singing to Western artists.
Roundabout Is Back
Hot on the heels of the distribution store’s successful re-opening in Shunyi, Roundabout is kicking off the school year with a signature blockbuster book fair at BSB on September 8. All proceeds will help children in need of critical medical care. Can’t make it on Saturday? Have no fear; bookworms can drop by BSB during school hours (Mon-Fri 9am-3.30pm) until September 28.
Catch an Outdoor Film Screening
Wile away those warm summer nights with a dose of culture, popcorn, and the outdoors. Beijing offers a number of movie nights for all tastes and ages. On August 10, That’s Mandarin screens Devil on the Doorstep by Jiang Wen. The Bookworm serves up a free rooftop movie screening every second Thursday, including It Happened One Night on August 16 and The Wizard of Oz on August 30. Every Saturday, Culture Yard showcases Chinese films centered around a monthly theme.
Run, Forrest, Run!
The Beijing International Marathon is coming up fast on October 14 with 5km, 9km, 21km, and 42km events. Runners of all stripes and skill levels can challenge
themselves with the HeyRunning Marathon Camp Sneak Start starting on August 28, a 10-week training program led by some of the city’s most experienced runners.
Become a Girl Scouts Troop Leader
The Beijing chapter of Girl Scouts of the USA is currently pre-registering girls for the 2012-2013 program and recruiting adults to be troop leaders. The youth organization – widely known in North America for organizing wilderness trips and community service initiatives – relies heavily on parent volunteers to run its activities. There are two information sessions for both girls and adults: August 28 at ISB and September 4 at Embassy House.
Get an “A” for Health
Did you know that September 1-7 marks Child Injury Prevention Week in the US? According to the As Safe as Possible Campaign, 90 percent of injuries to young children happen at home. Make sure you’re prepared by attending BJU’s emergency preparedness seminar on September 8.
Let’s Get Parental
August and early September are chock-a-block with events for parents and babies. Starting from September 4, Eduwings Kindergarten is hosting a baby group every Thursday afternoon for ages 3-15 months. Yoga Yard has a number of regular pre-natal and post-natal yoga classes, while businesses like Lafafa Education Center, My Little Mozart, and Micho Education offer a variety of stimulating music and development activities.
Quick, to the Craftmobile!
August is one of Beijing’s quietest months; school hasn’t started, the weather’s still hazy, and there are no major holidays. Why not pick up a new skill and make something with your hands? Drop by Samantha Crafts (www.samanthacrafts.com) to buy pretty cotton yarns or join one of the store’s crochet workshops. The Beijing Guild (www.beijingguild.com) hosts a number of regular events, including an after-work Nibbles and Knit session for crafters-on-the-go. Crafters can also contact the Beijing chapter of Stitch N’ Bitch (groups.yahoo.com/group/stitchnbitch_beijing), an international network of social knitting groups.
Wing It in Wangjing
Venture out to Wangjing, one of Beijing’s up-and-coming neighborhoods. Located northwest of the Dashanzi area, Wangjing is home to a growing community of expats – particularly Koreans. You’ll find global companies, excellent Korean restaurants, Western stores, Chinese markets, and more.
Pick Up an Instrument
For many families, music lessons are an integral part of a child’s education. Get a head start with this month’s features on private music teachers. Then, make a day of it and wander through Xinjiekou Nandajie or Gulou Dongdajie, two streets lined with instrument stores for all tastes, ages, and budgets.
This article is excerpted from beijingkids August 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.