Openings and Closings

Expats aren’t exactly renowned for leading stable lives. Whether we are backpackers, English teachers or traveling businessmen, we tend to relocate often, reside in apartments too small to accommodate our clothes or furniture, and/or have no place to store our valuables when we aren’t home. In the past, we had few alternatives – Beijing’s storage options were expensive, unreliable and way too much trouble than they were worth. But starting tomorrow, Koala Mini Storage will be here to help – and we’ve snagged a special deal for you readers. Read on for details.

• Read more

After more than a year of construction, Beijing's newest department store, Shimao is open for business on the corner of Xindong Lu and Gongti Beilu. There's a number of edible options (more on this later in the week) but arguably the most exciting eatery is the Hello Kitty Dreams restaurant. After successful culinary ventures in Korea and Taiwan, Hello Kitty's first mainland restaurant opens on December 20. We wheedled our way in for a sneak peek ...

• Read more

With his "comeback" branch comfortably bedded in up on Xiaoyun Lu, it was only a matter of time before pizza godfather Olaf "Kro" Bauer staked a claim for a share of the Sanlitun turf lost following his well-documented split with former business partner Yuan Jie. (If you don't know that story, catch up with a selection of reports here.) Well, for fans of huge, topping-loaded pizzas, the time has come - a new branch of Kro's Nest opened on Monday (August 29) in the Sanlitun Nanlu yard that houses The Bookworm, d lounge, Nanjie and Salsa Caribe.

• Read more

If you've exhausted all choices at the discount book carts around Beijing, then you'll be happy to hear about the grand opening of Page One in Guomao are, as reported by the Beijinger.

It looks like the bookstore competition in Beijing is heating up: Page One, a shiny (and rather sexy, to be honest) new bookstore just opened in Guomao today, at the Summit Wing section of the China World Mall. About 65% of their over 150,000 titles will be in English, covering art/design, food and wine, children's books, etc.

Actually, the shop features an excellent selection of children's books! A cursory glance revealed popular imported titles that aren't found in other bookstores around town. The staff seemed tolerant of browsing and reading aloud to children. However, expect to pay premium prices for the imported books.

• Read more

The Beijinger has been scouring the streets to find out what's open and what's closed this Spring Festival.

"The exodus has begun. Many will surely have noticed an improvement in traffic that cant be attributed to the new traffic implementations. Jianbing stalls and little street trinket stalls are becoming sparse. People are on the move.

"So for those of us who will be here over spring festival, what will be open and closed over the break?"

To read the full post, click here.

Nothing is more divisive in Beijing than Annie’s chain of Italian restaurants. It’s like marmite, Michael Moore and France rolled into one. You’re either a lover or a hater. Controversial winner of “Best Italian” each year at The Beijinger's Reader Restaurant Awards, Annie’s is repeatedly lauded for its value, family-friendly staff and reliable delivery on the Beijinger forums, and equally derided for an alleged lack of Italian authenticity.

• Read more