Talking Pints: Caipirinha Festival, The House Rooftop Opening, Let's Powwow, Spark to Open

When you start choking on all those bits of white fluff that inexplicably descend on Beijing around this time, you know that summer has basically arrived. Terra plans to get you right in the mood with a caipirinha festival this Saturday afternoon (April 16).

They'll have a couple of stalls set up serving drinks outside, with more indoors - as well as traditional caiprinhas, they'll be serving flavors including strawberry and vanilla and lychee and mandarin. Caipirinhas will be RMB 30, and there'll also be cupcakes, cheese, wine and beer, as well as capoeira, a samba band and other entertainment.

Summer also means drinking on rooftops, and The House's roof bar is set to be one of this summer's hottest. The Workers' Stadium is an unlikely feature of an attractive "view," but the arena looks impressive from up on top of The House; you can also spy what's going on down in the Gongti car park outside Mix and Vics. I imagine the Guoan casuals will stop by regularly for champagne and strawberries after securing another three points in the Chinese Super League. Or maybe not - but you should stop by at the opening party on Friday night and get a look for yourself. Entry is RMB 50 and the party starts at 10pm.

Also on Friday night (April 15), Joris Voorn and Technasia will be worth a look at Tango (RMB 150 on the door) - a strong supporting cast includes Mickey Zhang, El-Mar and other DJs. Golden Bug bring "robotic disco-funk" to Migas (RMB 50), and Oshi, Tnem and A.M.U. bring an Orange Storm of electro and dubstep to Yugong Yishan (RMB 100). Then, over at Kokomo's Mo Lounge, the Wasabi Sounds team put the spice into the weekend (free entry).

On to Saturday (April 16), and Dave K drives the Black Train back to The House once more (RMB 50), while one of Beijing's most respected DJs, Eddie Lv - see our interview with him here - plays at Kokomo's Mo Lounge. Meanwhile, Kid Fresh and Esno liven things up at Punk (RMB 50, free before 11pm).

Before we get to the weekend though, location-based-search-engine-social-networking-site-deal-sharing-company Let's Powwow hosts its launch party tonight at The House (no, they never have a night off) from 8-10pm. Let's Powwow do have some good deals in association with some of Beijing's top restaurants and bars - to read more on CEO Adam Guli, see Agenda's interview with him here.

In other news, we hear that Taipei superclub Spark is coming to Beijing in July, Yue will close its doors for good next weekend, and a new club, Earl Bar, has opened up next to The Peninsula and is being tipped as a possible hit for underground parties. An underground venue near Wangfujing? I need a cup of tea. Have a good weekend