Do you have an upcoming family-friendly event that you want to be included in our listings? Maximize the reach of your event and promote it on beijingkids’ social platforms!

Let us know by leaving your message in the comments section below or by emailing us at webeditor@beijing-kids.com. Follow us on WeChat (ID: beijing-kids) or join our family events WeChat group by sending us your WeChat QR code. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are canceled or scheduled as planned. For more events that may not be included in this list, please check our Events page. 

BSB Shunyi Summer Fayre, Jun 16

Come along for some summer fun at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi’s (BSB Shunyi’) Summer Fayre. This is one of the biggest events of the year at BSB Shunyi. Bring your friends and family along, it’s open to the whole Beijing community. Families can enjoy lunch, snack and drinks from our many food vendors, fun with games, water park, bouncy castles and enjoy visiting a variety of stalls indoors and outdoors. The Grand Charity Raffle will have many fantastic prizes to be won too. The charities supported are Migrant Children’s Foundation, Roundabout and Hope – Riding for Disabled Children. All ages. Free admission. 12-4pm. The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi)

Coaching and Coffee, Jun 14

Enjoy a morning of meaningful conversation with yourself and others in a session created just for moms to participate in positive psychology and mindfulness activities. Certified Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Practitioner, Siana Braganza will be showing moms how to let go of the “roles” they play; mother, partner, and daughter to support reconnecting with oneself. Adults. RMB 100. 11am-1pm. (WeChat: sianalynn) Moleskin – Yard 19, Sanlitun Road, S2 OF Taikoo Li.

Youth Flea Market

That’s Mandarin are hosting a Youth Flea Market, where you will find all your favorite local vendors selling beautifully handcrafted products, such as jewelry, jams, vintage clothing, and more. This is one for the not-so-little ones in your life; get the older kids out to enjoy their youth and all this flea market has to offer! Young Adults. Free. 5-9pm. That’s Mandarin – Dongzhimenwai 东直门外 1/F, Office Bldg B, Xinzhong Yuan, Xinzhong Jie Dongcheng District 东城区 新中街新中园写字楼B座1层

Romeo et Juliette, Jun 9 to Jun 23

This musical version of Shakespeare’s classic tale of love and loss is brought to life in French. Audiences have raved about the beautiful score, luxurious set design, and powerful performances. All ages. RMB 180-480 (buy tickets here). 2.30pm, or 7.30pm. Century Theater.

“A Night to Remember” Charity Concert, Jun 14

Daystar Academy, the Ivy Schools, and the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing join together for a charity evening cocktail reception… filled with a cappella magic! In their first-ever China tour, Harvard University’s all-female ensemble, the Radcliffe Pitches, and their brother group the Harvard Krokodiloes are providing a one-night-only evening of entertainment to captivate your heart and imagination. There will also be a silent auction, with proceeds going to Dew Drops Little Flowers and Educating Girls of Rural China. Treat yourself to an unforgettable evening while making a difference in someone’s life. All ages. RMB 688 per ticket (register here). Note that children aged 6 and above need a ticket. Ages below 6 can sit on parent’s lap. 7-9pm. Four Seasons Hotel Beijing. (186 0120 6155, jaw@daystarchina.cn)

Ownmade Indoor Composting Workshop, Jun 15

If, like most of us, your home in Beijing is an apartment with no garden, you may think that composting isn’t for you. This workshop will get you thinking again, as Dan from HomeGrown School shows you how you can turn your kitchen waste into rich fertilizer, even if you live on the thirtieth floor. The price includes an Ownmade Indoor Composting System. All ages. RMB 388. 9am-11am. Mammolina Children’s Home Model Montessori Kindergarten, 36 Maquanying Siqu, Xiangjiang Beilu, Chaoyang District. 

Night With the Dinosaurs, date changed to Jun 15

Explore the museum at night with Chinese Academy of Science paleozoologist Dr. Tom Stidham as your guide. With exclusive access to the museum’s exhibits after hours, you’ll get to spend the night in tents with cool dinosaur skeletons on display. Just let your imagination go wild. Awesome activities include making dinosaur t-shirts, watching a 3D movie, and even excavating your own trilobite fossil. Age 4+. RMB 580/Chaperon, RMB 680/Child. 6pm Jun 15-9am Jun 16. Paleozoological Museum of China. (1560 1647 912 Xiaofei, or 1500 1371 016 Katie)

The Wizard of Oz, Jun 13 to 30

“We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz…” And you could be too, if you get down to the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center later this month. This is a revived and refreshed version of the stage musical, sure to delight all who love the classic film, and youngsters who are new to the story. Performed in English with Chinese subtitles. All ages. RMB 280-1080. 7.30pm, Sat-Sun 2.30pm matinee. Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. Bldg 9, Tianqiao South Street, Xicheng District. (400-635-3355) www.247tickets.com/t/broadway-classic-musical-the-wizard-of-oz. 西城区天桥南大街9号楼.

Deepen Your Relationships: Workshops for Couples and Families, Jun 15

Professional coaches Virginie Mangin and Eike Westerholt are holding a workshop on dealing with challenges in relationships. Participants will be able to explore concrete tools for effective communication, conflict resolution, and addressing needs in a non-assertive way.

Adults. RMB 350 per session. 10am-12.30pm. The Bookworm – Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu Chaoyang District. (eike@eikewesterholt.com, info@beyondcoaching.me) 朝阳区 工体北路4号院

Little Kickers Super Daddy Football Tournament, Jun 16

It’s time for all Little Kickers Daddies to show off their skills and teach their children their own unique game play. This Father’s Day, instead of standing and cheering from the sidelines, it is their chance to make their children proud and show all Little Kickers their ambition and courage on the field. All ages. RMB 299/Family. Register Date: May 24-Jun 14. 8.30am-12 noon. More info check this page. Beijing Side Park – No.9 Jiangtai West Road, Chaoyang District.

Photos: courtesy of event organizers

Already accepted into the business in culinary arts program at Le Cordon Bleu in France, we invited Giacomo Li for a lunch at one of the best Italian restaurants in Beijing. Giacomo just turned 18 and graduated from Beijing No. 55 High School. When we spoke to him, his passion for food and cooking was tangible. When he was around ten years old he started watching his mother cook and from here a chef was born. His half Italian, half Chinese heritage also helped with his passion for food. Giacomo will start his adventure in Paris at the end of September, and to prepare him, we gave him a taste of some of the fine dishes Chef Nello Turco and Chef Joel Manchia have created at MIO, located inside the Four Seasons Hotel.

MIO is an award-winning Italian restaurant with an extravagant interior. The original twist of the culinary delights cooked for us made us wish we were 18 again starting culinary school and learning all the tricks of the trade. We sat in the private area for an exclusive lunch consisting of four courses.  We started with a Panzanella Salad. This is a simple Tuscan salad, but these chefs have taken it to another level, by adding seared shrimp and smoked cod roe mayonnaise. The budding culinary student commented that the charcoaled part of the bread was phenomenal.

We then continued with a Black Garlic Lobster Piadina, a very original take on the Chinese jianbing prepared with Chinese, Mexican, and Italian influences. We were both wowed by this dish, and Giacomo thought it was very original and would never find this dish anywhere else. He said, “if I could cook something like this I would be very pleased with myself.” We then ate Giacomo’s favorite dish of the lunch, an Iberico Pork Neck with Radish. The pork was so soft and juicy, and it was hard to imagine that this was the neck of a pig. We all savored this plate without saying a word, which means it was the star of the lunch.

The dessert was also a best seller of the restaurant, a Chuao Milk Layered Chocolate Cake with Sea Salt Ice Cream and a generous portion of truffle shavings. Chef Nello Turco and Chef Joel Manchia join us while Giacomo eats his dessert and speak with the eager teenager about life in the kitchen.

Following the meal, we set off for a tour of the kitchen and Chef Turco explained how things were set up in hotels, and what kind of cool cooking gadgets they get to work with. The chefs at the hotel then offered Giacomo an internship with the restaurant before he starts school in the fall, which could be just the ticket to set him apart from the other culinary students in Paris. It’s easy to see that life in the kitchen is hard and the hours are very long. This is not a career choice easily made, especially as Giacomo tells me that becoming a chef is a profession that is a bit frowned upon in Chinese society. For him, to be able to follow his passion in Paris is a dream come true, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes him.

 Photos: Uni You

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This article originally appeared on p 24-25 of beijingkids August 2017 issue.
Download the digital copy here.

In just one week, the Dartmouth Aires will perform at the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing for the Daystar/Ivy Charity Cocktail Concert. The event will entail a silent auction featuring works from renowned artists, hotel stays, and restaurant vouchers in addition to a cocktail menu and free flowing drinks. All proceeds from the event will help support six migrant schools’ art and music program for a year and fund the college education of eight rural girls from Guilin. In anticipation of the noteworthy cause, beijingkids spoke to Dartmouth Aires Spring Tour Manager Brian Chalif.

Tell us about the group.
The group was founded in 1946, back when Dartmouth was all male. Although Dartmouth has become co-ed, the Aires have remained all male. We originally were part of the Glee Club, but over time we detached. When we departed from the Glee Club, we become completely student run, from logistics to budgeting, arranging, rehearsals, choreography and any aspect you could think that would go into an a cappella group. The group currently has 20 members, with a large new member class of six people.

Why a cappella?
As mentioned, we started as part of the Glee Club, but separated many years ago. In very old recordings, occasionally there were instruments, but that was only in the first couple of years. The reason that we only do a cappella is mostly tradition at this point, but I think most members would agree that the pure vocal music allows for some of the most beautiful music.

Is there a type of music that is impossible to vocalize?
We sing a wide range of music. Pop, classical, musical theater, jazz, and much much more. I can’t imagine singing something like heavy metal music, dubstep, or electronic music. That being said, we have never tried!

How many languages can the group sing in?
We sing mostly in English. However, we are learning a Chinese song for this tour! As a group, we have not sung in many languages, but individually many of us have sung in other languages. To name a few: French, Italian, German, Spanish, Hebrew, and Latin, but I am sure there are many more.

What types of songs tend to be most popular?
We tend to sing a lot of new popular music, as this is what our young college-age crowds generally enjoy. We also sing a lot of traditional Dartmouth songs, which Dartmouth alumni love.

What are some of the most different /interesting songs the group has performed?
We have sung new popular music like Uptown Funk featuring Bruno Mars, which is brand new and pretty mainstream. Last year, we sang Lady is a Tramp, a traditional jazz piece. Next term, after the tour, we will be learning a classical choral piece named Lux Aurumque, by Eric Whitacre.

What types of events do the Aires normally sing?
We sing at a wide range of events; there is no normal for the Aires! Since I have been in the group we have sung many alumni shows, school shows, and various Dartmouth functions. Some of the more exciting shows have included live video streams to tens of thousands of people, a performance at the White House, major fundraisers, an Obama presidential campaign rally for over twenty thousand people, and the national anthem at national league baseball games.

What the next move for the group?
Next year we will be working on recording a Christmas album. We also will be having our tri-annual reunions, in which 60+ Aires alumni come to Dartmouth to reminisce times singing with the group. Next year we will also do two tours. One on the east coast of the United States and one is yet to be decided, we are thinking maybe Iceland.

Is this your first time in China? Why did the Aires choose the Daystar Academy/Ivy charity event in particular?
This is my first time to China. A couple members have been, but most of us have not. For some, it is the first time leaving the country! We chose China because ever since NBC’s The Sing Off was aired in China 2 years ago (in which the Aires were runners up), we have been dreaming of going to China. This dream will become a reality in just a couple weeks. In regards to Daystar/Ivy, I give all the credit to Daystar Marketing Manager, Ja Wuttihamrong who has helped plan the entire thing. Without her, this show and our experience in China would not have nearly run as smoothly or been as enjoyable.

Are there any sites in particular in Beijing you’d like to see most?
We are performing a lot, but intend to also see some sights. We are going to see the Great Wall, of course. We will also see the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and Mao Zedong’s Mausoleum. Some other things we are hoping to see are The Golden Mask Dynasty Show and Panjiayuan Flea Market. For us, a tour that combines sight seeing and shows provides for a wonderful cultural exchange. We are very much looking forward to the charity concert at the four seasons.

The Dartmouth Aires serenaded an audience of millions in 2011 with a strong runner up performance on the hit TV competition The Sing-Off. But on March 20, the a cappella group will perform a far more intimate encore for their Beijing fans.

Daystar Academy and the Ivy Schools are coordinating the event, which will be held in the Four Seasons Hotel’s ballroom. A statement from Daystar says that all proceeds from the event will be donated to A Bridge for Children, an organization that funds art, music and sports programs at six migrant schools outside of Beijing.

A silent auction will also be held in conjunction with the concert, where attendees can bid on Four Seasons’ hotel stays and restaurant vouchers, along with works of art and other items donated by renowned local artists and parents of Daystar and Ivy students. All proceeds from the ticket sales and the auction will be donated to charity.

The Dartmouth Aires— a long running collegiate singing troupe from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire— will perform at the Daystar/Ivy event as part of the troupe’s first ever tour in China. The tour comes on the heels of the group’s latest album, Truth or Daire [https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/truth-or-daire/id931640804], which was released last fall. The album is The Aires’ first studio recording since its widely viewed second place finish on the popular hit TV vocal competition The Sing-Off in 2011. The group’s first iteration formed in 1946, and since then they have won the 2003 and 2005 Contemporary a Cappella Recording Awards for Best All-Male Collegiate Album, along with embarking on tours in Aruba, Costa Rica, France, and Italy.​ The group’s upcoming Beijing concert, and its additional PRC performances, will be the group’s first trek in China.

The Daystar/Ivy charity concert will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing’s The Imperial Ballroom (48 Liangmaqiao Road, 5695-8888) on Friday March 20. Acocktail reception will take place at 6pm, and the concert will begin at 7pm. Tickets cost RMB 688 each. All children under 5 will be admitted for free, but must sit on their parent’s laps. Tickets can be booked here [https://yoopay.cn/event/daystarivycharityconcert]. For more information on The Dartmouth Aires, click here [http://www.dartmouthaires.com].

Stay tuned for Beijing Kids exclusive Q&A with The Dartmouth Aires in advance of their performance.

Photo: Dartmouth Aires Facebook Page