Talking Pints: Blue Frog Indigo Opens as The James Joyce Closes its Doors

First to news of a couple big events tonight. Australian DJ Bass Kleph plays at Gongti new boy Le Nest tonight. Tickets are still available; for RMB 80 you get a cocktail as well. Tonight also marks the grand opening of the new Blue Frog out at the Lido Indigo complex. We've managed to stop by and take a look around and can report that it's an impressive space. For RMB 100 you get all-you-can-drink and they'll also be offering free food. All proceeds go to children's charity Operation Smile. If it's as festive an occasion as the U Town Blue Frog opening last year, then it's to be quite a night in Lido.

In a recent Talking Pints we mentioned how the UK could be set to get into baijiu. Now global drinks distributor, Diageo, which supplies a fair degree of the grog we get here in Beijing, looks set to add baijiu to its armory. Speaking to Drinks International recently, Diageo CEO, Paul Walsh said he saw a "huge opportunity to capitalise on the growth of the category". How long, I wonder, before they're sipping baijiu cocktails in Manhattan?

Atmosphere has revealed that it is introducing a new cocktail selection. Head bartender at the China World Summit Wing bar, Henning Neufeld, is currently designing a new lineup which should be in place by the end of September. Given Neufeld's pedigree, we wait excitedly to see what he rolls out up there.

Mao Mao Chong's Stephanie Rocard appears to be angling for the role of Beijing's first Cocktail superhero. The reigning TBJ Bars and Clubs Personality of the Year has had a special "bartender toolkit" made up. No longer will she have to suffer seeing sloppily made cocktails around town. With her trusted kit bag containing her mixing tools, she'll always be ready to step in to rescue a poorly made mix. She's also looking to recruit for her cocktail vigilante crew, asking if any other bartenders in the city want one.

We mentioned recently how this could be an unstable period for some of the city's establishments with a number of closures and even more rumours going around. However, the sudden closure of The James Joyce last week was one that caught us by surprise. We hear the authorities tipped up without notice and cleared the bar of its custom before demanding the bar be closed. No official word on why yet, but we're hoping it's a temporary closure.

Drei Kronen 1308 has finalised details of it's Oktoberfest schedule. They will have live music as well as authentic German food and their house brew on offer every evening from the September 12 through to September 16.

Enjoy your weekend. Until next time.