When I was in elementary school birthday parties entailed my mom sending a few pizzas and sodas to school for the whole class to enjoy. I remember we also had a kids party entertainer and we where really impressed with the magician that day. Then as I got older the parties got more intricate. By high school our birthday parties began to include private dinners in vintage wine cellars, boating around Balboa Island, and the epic Sweet 16. Needless to say, as we got older, party planning got fancier.

For those living in Beijing, the age for over-the-top parties starts even earlier. Most of us living here have apartments that can’t host the whole class, so hotel parties have become a norm. But throwing a memorable party that stands out doesn’t need to mean you need to shell out a ton of money, as long as you know who to go to.

TwoZi Balloons founder Zheng Zhong

According to expert party planner Zheng Zhong, owner of TwoZi Balloons, there are still some common party ideas in the West that haven’t made their mark in China just yet. “Piñata for example are very common for kids’ parties in the US, but in China it’s just the opposite. Many of our Chinese clients have never seen one though they have kids at international schools.” According to Zheng, the latest trend in China in recent years has been to use balloons as an easy and low-cost way to bring creativity to life.

“Parties here are not just about having fun, they’re also about looking good in photos. You need to create a photogenic ambiance for their WeChat Moments and Instagram.” Zheng tells beijngkids.

One party trend that’s been all over Pinterest but has never caught on in China is the gender reveal. For those who don’t yet know, gender reveal parties are typically held near the middle of the pregnancy. Often, it employs the trope of pink (denoting a female) or blue (denoting a male), perhaps hidden inside a cake or piñata. When the cake is cut or the piñata is opened, the color popularly associated with the baby’s sex is revealed to the parents and all attendees. But recently gender reveal parties have been seeing a decline for their obvious gender conformity with the colors and well, it’s not really the gender of the baby that’s being revealed; it’s the sex. “They probably don’t want to call it a sex party. It sounds strange to invite people to a sex reveal.” says Zheng. “In China you’re actually not suppose to tell the expecting parents the sex of the baby so baby showers here happen after the baby is born.” For new parents who don’t mind being a bit extra, there’s a baby shower at one month and another one at 100 days.

These parties are extravagant – some resembling a lavish wedding. Zheng tells beijingkids that with the right planning, a lavish party actually doesn’t need to cost a fortune. “We’ve done beautiful parties for as little as RMB2,000. That’s the beauty of balloons. It’s a low-cost way to be creative.”

With the holiday party season just around the corner, Zheng reminds us of the importance of putting an extra bit of focus on the decor. An extra dash of attention will transform any home party to an Instagrammable sensation that’ll make you the hostess with the mostest.

Photos: TwoZi Balloon, unsplash

Tomorrow (Saturday September 10) is Teacher’s Day in China, a special day to celebrate the hard work and valuable contribution made by educators.

The idea of Teachers’ Day was first mooted as far back as 1931. Initially, the government was skeptical since the suggestion came from educators themselves, but in 1939 the day was officially recognized and moved to August 27, the traditional birthday of Kongzi (Confucius). In 1951, the new Communist government merged it with Labor Day (May 1). However, in 1984 the Beijing Evening Paper proposed that teachers should have their own day again, and the suggestion caught on. In 1985, the modern celebration was enshrined in law. The date of September 10 was chosen because it’s near the beginning of the school year.

On the day itself, kids are encouraged to bring gifts for their teacher. There’s been a recent clampdown on a growing trend of offering extravagant gifts, such as smartphones, jewellery, and watches due to concerns of corruption – sorry, teachers! Instead, children are encouraged to make a card or bring flowers.

Since this year, Teachers’ Day falls on a Saturday, why not treat the educator in your life to some pampering? United Family Hospitals is offering them the chance to brighten their smile with a 30% discount on a check up and bleaching package.

Then, in the evening, the Big Smoke invites teachers to its All Day Happy Hour. From 5pm to 1am, they can get 20% off cocktails, house wine, and Jing A beer by showing their school ID to the fuwuyuan.

Teachers’ Day is one of three annual days in China that honors different professions. Nurses’ Day falls on May 12, as it does all around the world. Then, most importantly of all, November 8 is Journalists’ Day. We’re just letting you know now so you can start working on your handmade cards…

Photos: chinadaily.com.cn, courtesy of UFH

Admittedly, an Easter celebration on April 9th rather than on March 27th seems quite strange.  April 9th is nearly fourteen days after Easter Sunday, conscientiously skipping over Qingming Monday.

In reality, considering the transient and wanderlust nature of the Beijing family community, Etonkids International Kindergarten is absolutely brilliant.

If a family were faced with buying cheaper spring break airplane tickets on the days preceding Easter versus sticking around for an Easter event, they most certainly would pick cheaper airplane tickets.  After all, there are few with extended Western family relations in Beijing; no one is here to protest the absurdity of an untraditional Easter spent in Thailand.  Why not travel out for Easter?  Why not also travel for the school spring breaks scheduled around Qingming?

Although of course, we all like financial shrewdness, introducing children to cultural occasions from many parts of the world is an extremely important aspect to raising a globally minded child. These types of events are even more essential for third culture kids who might not otherwise have access to cultural traditions of their parents.

By holding the Easter celebration after spring break vacations, Etonkids is essentially letting the international family have their Easter cookies and eat them, too.

Last year, Etonkids International Kindergarten held the event at only four of their campuses.  This year, they’ve widened the Easter festivities to include eleven locations!  That makes traveling from around the city with a toddler in tow much easier. (Scroll down for a list of these locations. The admission is free, but don’t forget to register to receive a free Easter gift at your nearest campus!)

Sharing these types of events with all of the kids in the neighborhood and within the kindergarten will help children to have a sense of belonging and connection to their immediate community. Perhaps parents will even find new play date friends among the other cheerful families.

This year the Kindergartens plan to host creative Easter egg decorations, cookie decorations, pie decorations and additional kid friendly games. In years past, they’ve had an Easter Egg Match, Easter Egg Delivery Game, Easter Flea Market, Easter Treasure Hunt, Super Easter Egg Holder Game, Dynamic Curves Game and a Charity Donation Opportunity.

Jessica Suotmaa will be attending the festivities with her cute son Jax; you can learn more about Jessica in this post and look at cute pictures of Jax here.  If you see them, don’t be shy! They’d love to meet you and get to know your family.


Etonkids International Kindergarten Easter Celebration

Recommended Ages 2-4. Neighborhood Easter celebration to involve the whole family. More information in Chinese here. Free, but please register by calling 400.818.9098. From 9.30am – 12.00pm. Palms Springs Campus (Chaoyang), Lido Campus (Lido), Wangjing Baoxing Campus (Wangjing), Peking House Campus (Chaoyang), Central Park Campus (CBD), Global Grade Mansion Campus (CBD), Datun Campus (Chaoyang), Overseas Chinese Town Campus (near Happy Valley), Eastern Province Campus (Changping), Arcadia Campus (Shunyi), Poly Viladom Campus

Photo: George Atanassov (Flickr)

The Feast of St. Martin, or St. Martin’s Day as it’s also known, is commemorated each year on November 11 to mark the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. Historically, a feast is eaten on St. Martin’s Day to celebrate the earth’s bounty and newly produced wine from the year’s harvest is served in abundance.

Last Friday, November 13 more than 200 House of Knowledge International School and Kindergarten (HoK) community members took part in a special Feast of St. Martin celebration at the school’s Victoria Gardens Campus. Though the tradition is celebrated differently around the world, House of Knowledge took part in the festivities the German way; young and old carried lanterns and took a walk around the campus singing songs and customary St. Martin’s staple food and drinks were served including goulash, meat, and mulled wine. Sweet treats and juices by Colibri Cafe were also on hand. Entertainment included students singing St. Martin’s songs in English, Chinese, and German as well as a pre-recorded stage play in German with English subtitles about St. Martin’s day. Dave’s Studio was in attendance to take family photos of the memorable event.

St. Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier who was baptized as an adult and became a monk, according to Wikipedia. He was known as a friend to children and a patron of the poor. Perhaps the best known legend about St. Martin is that he once cut his cloak in half during a snowstorm to share with a beggar and save him from the cold. The legend holds that that evening, St. Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak and heard Jesus say to the angels, "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptized; he has clothed me.”

While the use of lanterns in the procession isn’t clear, the same article notes that some see the lanterns as a substitute for the traditional St. Martin bonfire which can still be seen in few cities and villages across Europe during the holiday. The lanterns are thought to be symbolic of the light, holiness, and hope St. Martin brought to the poor with his good deeds.

Indeed, the purpose of the celebrating the Feast of St. Martin at HoK is to be charitable and giving, affirms Head of Marketing Tara Gillan. “Leading up to the event, each class had fundraisers. All the children from nursery to elementary participated in raising money for a brave little 4 year-old girl with leukemia who Roundabout is helping. HoK raised RMB 24,811 from the St. Martin’s event to contribute towards her medical costs,” she says.

Photos: Courtesy of HoK
 

Ice cream cakes are the perfect cake for any celebration, but especially so in summer. Popular as Birthday and wedding cakes in the US and Australia, ice cream cakes are less well known in Europe. Their popularity is growing in China, with many ice cream stores now selling cakes and offering a custom made cake service. An ice cream cake can be just ice cream, layered with sponge, and some are wrapped in a thick coating of chocolate. Whipped cream is good as a topping, unlike buttercream it adheres well to frozen cake. Toppings can be sprinkles, cookies, chocolates, fruit, nuts, anything goes. Just be sure to eat it fast before it melts. Here are a few suggestions on where to pick up a cool ice cream cake.

Coldstone Creamery has signature cakes, birthday cakes, and custom made cakes that are thick, moist, layered with their rich and creamy ice cream, plus all your favorite mix-ins. You can choose from fluffy white frosting or rich fudge ganache to finish the cake. Flavors include strawberry passion, cake batter confetti, cookies and creamery, and double chocolate deception. Standard cake sizes come as small which feeds eight, or the larger size is enough for 14 servings. Custom made cakes can be made to size.

Baskin Robbins ice cream cakes are perfect for a birthday, graduation, baby shower, or any celebration. From small cakes that serve 8-12, to huge sheet cakes with 32-48 servings. Cake flavor includes vanilla or chocolate sponge, layered with ice cream flavors including Oreo, cookie dough, very berry strawberry, and peanut butter. Topped off with whipped cream and decorated with cookies, fruit, or chocolate.

Dairy Queen ice cream cakes come as sheet cakes, a rolled log, or round. Their most popular cakes incorporate fudge and crunch chocolate center, which is then surrounded by their soft serve ice cream, and decorated in your chosen design.

Häagen-Dazs offer ice cream cakes at the higher end of the price and indeed taste spectrum. You can choose a cake that incorporates your favorite ice cream flavor finished with a whipped topping, or your favorite ice cream covered in a rich chocolate coating. Toppings include chocolate curls, swirls and shards, or fresh fruit decoration.

VAI Milano is an artisanal Italian ice cream parlor which offers gelatos, sundaes, milkshakes, pastries, and coffee. Their gelato is made from natural ingredients, without artificial colors or preservatives. Their stores can also make personalized gelato cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos: Lynac, Food Recipe, Peiyu Wu (Flickr)

Seem quiet this holiday season? Clearly the bang and boom of previous Spring Festival celebrations is a bit tamer this year, as almost 38 percent fewer fireworks have been sold for the Year of the Horse, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.

The dip has been attributed both to an economic slowdown, but also to city government efforts to control the use of fireworks to rein in air pollution in the capital. Our friends at Shanghaiist did a story a few days ago about 41 tons of fireworks trash produced by all the festivities, but that link is broken now. Still, that sounds like a lot of trash we don’t really need, holiday or not.

The good news is that fireworks-related injuries also seem to be down, by 34.5 percent this year. "There were no reports of deaths or loss of eyes," Xinhua said. Well, that’s good. "Local police received 7.4 percent fewer reports of fires caused by fireworks than a year ago," Xinhua reported. We’re not sure if that means that a relatively small number of fires dipped even more, albeit slightly, or if there are still quite a few fires even though fireworks sales were down significantly.

Beijing Boyce and Grape Wall of China founder and the Beijinger local beer, wine, and spirits contributor Jim "Beijing" Boyce harkened back to 2007 as "arguably the best Chinese New Year fireworks [video] of the past 5,000 years." The Olympics are past now, and so is the tidal swell of fireworks, it seems.

This post first appeared on theBeijinger website on February 7, 2014.

Photo courtesy of Anthony Wang (Flickr)

When I was 4, I asked my dad to draw me a picture of a cat. He toiled away on a scrap of paper for 20 minutes. When he was done, I said: "But baba, that’s a picture of Mickey Mouse." My father replied: "Yes, but when I began drawing, the line could become anything in the world, including a cat. And that’s true for you, too." I looked at him askance; it was definitely a cop-out. But now, I look back on that incident with affection. To celebrate the slippery dad in your life, read on for a roundup of events and brunches happening this weekend.

Playing:

Sat, Jun 15

beijingkids‘ King For a Day Father’s Day Party
All ages. We know you want to brunch on Sunday, so we’re having our annual Father’s Day celebration on Saturday. We’re not slacking though; expect all-you-can-eat barbecue, free flow beer for adults and non-alcoholic drinks for kids, card-making, bubble blowing, temporary tattoo stations, a bouncy castle, shoulder massages by Bodhi, a three-legged dad/child race, a wife-carrying race, and a family portrait by VivaXiao. beijingkids Club members: RMB 150 (adults and kids 13 and up), RMB 100 (kids 3-12 yrs), RMB 50 (kids under 3 yrs); non-members: RMB 200 (adults and kids 13 and up), RMB 150 (kids 3-12 yrs), RMB 50 (kids under 3 yrs). 10.30am-2pm. EAST Beijing

Sun, Jun 16

Baking Made Easy: Gourmet Cupcakes, Mala Bombs
Ages 6+. For something a bit different, sign Dad up for a baking class with a kick. Lollipop Bakery hosts a class on making spicy sweet mala cupcakes with chili ganache and Sichuan peppercorn frosting. 11am-1.30pm. RMB 280, RMB 220 (members). The Hutong

Veg*n Bash
All ages. CISB is hosting Veg*n Bash, a market where visitors can try different foods and discover interesting local products. Be green by bringing your own reusable cutlery and containers (biodegradable stuff will be available for purchase). There will also be a cooking show filming on location. Free. 11am-3pm. The Canadian International School of Beijing

Dining:

Sun, Jun 16

Aroma Father’s Day Brunch
All ages. Find international dishes from China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the West in an open kitchen setting, with desserts to cap it all off. RMB588/adult (including free-flow coffee, tea, soft drinks, juice, imported beer, house wine and champagne), RMB298 for ages 6-12. 11.30am-3pm. Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street

Barolo Father’s Day Lunch
All ages. Enjoy Italian cuisine for Father’s Day; the price includes three dishes, free-flow sparkling wine, red and white wine. RMB 588/adult, RMB 294 for ages 6-12. 11.30am-2pm. Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street

Dads Dine for Free at InterContinental Beijing Beichen
All ages. Café O2 is letting dads eat for free for Father’s Day; each dad will also get a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” buffet voucher for their next visit. The offer is limited to two dads per table and cannot be combined with other promotions. RMB 398, RMB 518 (free-flow champagne). 11.30am-3pm. InterContinental Beijing Beichen

Father’s Day at Fairmont Beijing
All ages. A la carte options include breakfast, grilled meats, seafood, pasta, and risotto. Start with an appetizer buffet, then treat Dad to cakes, pastries and homemade gelatos from the dessert corner. Heineken beer, Strongbow, Murphy’s, house wines, and breakfast cocktails are also included in the price. Entertainment includes Heineken Foosball league tables, darts, and sports simulation tournaments on a huge projector screen. RMB 475/adult, RMB 250 (up to age 14). 11am-4pm. Fairmont Beijing Hotel

Father’s Day Brunch at Fratelli Fresh Restaurant
All ages. The Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel is hosting a “Beer & BBQ Sunday Brunch” on Father’s Day. RMB 288. Noon-3pm. Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel

Father’s Day at The Schoolhouse
All ages. Cap off a family hike at the Great Wall with a free meal for dad. Fathers accompanied by at least one of their kids can choose a sandwich or main course, plus dessert and soft drink on the house. Free for dads. Noon-9pm. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu

Father’s Day at Traders Hotel, Beijing

All ages. Enjoy lunch or dinner with Dad, with one complimentary draught beer. Prices vary. 10.30am-10.30pm. Traders Hotel, Beijing

Father’s Day Beer Brunch
All ages. Slow Boat hosts a Father’s Day brunch for a “man’s man” celebration. Dads can chow down on breakfast burgers, French toast, and the brewery’s very own craft beer. Kids are encouraged to draw on the walls; there will be juice, soda, and other non-beer options. Free to attend. Noon-4.30pm. Slow Boat Brewery (Dongsi branch)

Father’s Day Brunch at Asia Bistro
All ages. Join an outdoor barbecue and kid’s club for Father’s Day. Starting from RMB 498. 11.30am-3.30pm. JW Marriot

Father’s Day Champagne Brunch at The St. Regis

All ages. Dig into a ridiculously sumptuous seafood brunch buffet with Asian and international flavors. RMB 588 (plus 15% surcharge). 11.30am-3pm. The St. Regis Beijing

Father’s Day Special: Morton’s Steakhouse
All ages. Most dads are manly men who love meat. Take him to Morton’s, which is offering a meaty three-course menu for Father’s Day. RMB 828. 6-11pm. Morton’s Steakhouse

My Dad Is a Superhero
All ages. 360° is hosting a superhero-themed Father’s Day brunch with the usual Sunday favorites and a supervised play area. RMB 338 (includes juices and soft drinks, add RMB 60 for free-flow wine, beer, and champagne), RMB 168 for ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under. 11.30am-3pm. Hilton Beijing Capital Airport

Take Your Dad Fishing This Father’s Day
All ages. The Fizztastic Champagne Brunch is taking Dad fishing with a special “fish gift tank” and an extensive brunch buffet featuring seafood. RMB 458. 11.30am-3pm. Vasco’s FIZZtastic Brunch

Note: Yesterday, the Beijinger‘s WeChat newsletter mistakenly published the date of beijingkids‘ Father’s Day event as June 16. It is actually on June 15.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Spring Festival is a time for relaxation, celebration, spending time with one’s family, and – above all – shopping! In China, people start ban nianhuo (办年货) or doing Spring Festival shopping one or two weeks before New Year’s Eve officially arrives to prepare for the sumptuous family dinner and bring a festive atmosphere into the house. To help you replicate that good cheer, here are our picks for some of the best places around town to do Spring Festival shopping.

1. Major Supermarkets
This is maybe one of the most convenient ways to pick up basic supplies for Spring Festival in one place. Major supermakets like BHG, Carrefour, and Wal-Mart usually open up special sections for Spring Festival shopping, where you can find traditional red decorations (scrolls, door illustrations, paper cuttings, fu characters, and red envelopes), as well as typical Spring Festival food (niangao, tangyuan, candies, and assorted nuts).

2. Guanyuan Wholesale Market
Claiming to be one of the most traditional markets in Beijing for Spring Festival shopping, Guanyuan Wholesale Market features a variety of baubles and trinkets at reasonable prices. When you step onto the second floor, get ready to be swallowed by a red sea of decorations! From stall to stall, you’ll find everything you need to deck out your house Chinese-style and get typical Chinese gifts for friends and family. Don’t forget to bargain!

3. Hongqiao Market
For those who live in the southern end of the city, this is a great spot to do your Spring Festival shopping.Hongqiao Market offers a wild mix of merchandises; everything you’ll ever need in Beijing can be found here.

4. Laitai Flower Market
If you are looking for some fresh flowers or greenery for your home, this is the place to go. Located near Ladies’ Street in Liangmaqiao, Laitai Flower Market sells fortune-bringing plants like potted narcissus, lucky bamboo, or golden kumquat. Also try: Liangma Flower Market, Beidong Floriculture Garden

5. Online Shopping 
If you’re ready for the challenge, why not try online shopping? Every year for Spring Festival, big websites like like Taobao and 360Buy always offer lots of promotions, with discounts of up to 50% off – that’s more than you would get in a physical store, let alone the huge selection of goods that you can find online. For people who are on a tight budget, online shopping is your best shot for finding the best deals.

For more markets, check out our May 2012 feature.

Born and bred in Beijing, beijingkids intern Celia Hao is currently a senior university student majoring in Spanish at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). Passionate about writing, she is eager to share her love for this amazing city. Her interests include movies, travel, and good food.

Photos: coolinsights (Flickr), Eurofruit, Asiafruit & Americafruit (Flickr), shop.focus.cn, stephenrwalli (Flickr), Emily Yang, bfishadow (Flickr)