Living La Vida Local: Smartphone Photography, Barista Tricks and Bilingual Tango

Tiffany Wang | Jun 8, 2012 10:00 am | Add a comment | 1372 reads

Not happy with yourself? Tough luck. There are plenty of opportunities for self-improvement around town, so if you don’t take advantage of them, that’s your problem. Need some new party tricks? Try out Spirit! It’s newest mixology class – only this one isn’t about making drinks, but about picking up the “flair” required of every cocktail master. Then there’s Culture Yard’s new photography workshop. Lots of us have interest in improving our picture-taking skills, but not all of us own fancy expensive cameras. Many do, however, have cell phones with cameras, and if you’re tired of your images looking average, then this is the class for you. And finally, for anyone looking to add some spice into their life, have you ever considered tango?

Many of you may have heard about or even taken one of Bob Louison’s cocktail-making classes. (We tried our hand at it last year; you can read about our experience here.) Now that summer’s here, he is launching his first “Flair Master Class” in Chaoyang Park on Sunday, June 10 from 3-6pm, teaching beginners how to juggle, flip and throw bottles and shakers in the air while making cocktails. Mr. Louison emphasizes that this will be a very low-pressure class: People can join and leave at any time, the price (RMB 100, not including park entrance) is the same whether you stay for one or three hours, and you will be provided with dummy bottles for practice. Note: There will be no use of alcohol for this training class. He asks that everyone meet at the south gate of Chaoyang Park at 3pm to walk in together. To reserve your place, email bobspirit.it@gmail.com or give him a call at 186 1016 0571.

Professional photographer Peter Carney has been hosting one-day workshops at the Culture Yard for some time now, but has recently also begun doing one-hour lectures and demonstrations on picture-taking. This week sees the debut of the Smartphone Photography talk on June 13 from 7-8pm. With the rise of Instagram and other photo-based social media, who doesn’t want to improve their iPhone or Blackberry shots? Reserve your spot at workshop@cultureyard.net or call 8404 4166.

Finally, several venues offer tango classes. How many have claimed to offer fully bilingual ones, though? Not many. Based on our experience, this is not an easy hobby to pick up – but it’s seductive and probably unlike anything else you’ve ever tried before. It’ll cost you RMB 70 at the Hot Cat Club, but that includes a free drink (trust us, you'll need some alcohol to calm the nerves). Happy dancing.

EVENTS (JUNE 8-15)

Jun 8
Introduction to Green Tea
Find out how to buy it, brew it and store it. RMB 70 (includes tea tasting), RMB 50 (CY students). 7-9pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Jun 9
BSK Cooking Class: Home-style Dumplings
Learn how to make both meat and vegetarian-style dumplings from scratch. RMB 300. 10am-1pm. Black Sesame Kitchen (139 9147 4408)

Chinese Kitchen: Gourmet Dumplings
Learn to make great tasting dumplings with healthy local ingredients. RMB 250, RMB 200 (members). 10am-12.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Global Kitchen: Pakistani Cuisine
Come here so that from now on, you can make curries and naan from home. RMB 250, RMB 200 (members). 2-4.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Talk: Reviving the Ancient Tea Trail
Scholar-explorer Dr. Ed Jocelyn takes you into the ethnography and drinking cultures of the people who lived along Yunnan’s legendary Tea and Horse Trail. RMB 100, RMB 50 (members). 3-5pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Culinary Walking Tour: Creating Your Own Chinese Kitchen
An action-packed hour in a local market filled with details on food combining, seasonal shopping and TCM-approved ingredients. RMB 100, RMB 80 (members). 12.30-2pm.. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Jun 10
Chinese Through Songs Workshop
Improve your language skills by learning popular Chinese tunes. RMB 40. 6.30pm-8pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Flair Master Cocktail Class
Pick up basic tricks required of any cocktail master. For beginner and intermediate level students. Reserve at bobspirit.it@gmail.com or call 186 1016 0571. RMB 100. 3-6pm. Meet at Chaoyang Park South Gate

Speed Dating
What do you have to lose? Each date lasts just six minutes. RSVP at www.fishbowlevents.com. RMB 150 (includes a drink & appetizers). 7pm. Location TBA

Survival Chinese
Learn the vocabulary essential for day-to-day survival in Beijing. RMB 200, RMB 600 (advanced payment for 4 sessions). 10am-noon. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Jun 11
Bilingual Tango Classes
See if you have what it takes to tango. RMB 70 (includes one drink), RMB 120 (couple). 7.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868; see Nightlife directory)

Life Drawing Club
Meet others and draw live models. Beginners encouraged. Register at info@thehutong.com. RMB 60, RMB 50 (members). 7.30-9.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Jun 12
British Club Coffee Morning
Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. No jeans or sneakers. RMB 70, RMB 50 (members). 10am-noon. The Capital Club (8486 2225 ext 260)

BSK Cooking Class: Imperial Chinese Dishes
Learn to feast like an emperor. RMB 300. 10am-1pm. Black Sesame Kitchen (139 9147 4408)

Chinese Kitchen: Gourmet Baozi
Learn the story behind the classic Chinese steamed buns and how to make them from scratch. RMB 250, RMB 200 (members). 7-9.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Exploring Chinese Social Trends
Discuss new trends and improve your conversational Chinese. RMB 40 (discounted for month of June from RMB 75). 7-8.40pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Free Chinese Corner
Practice your Chinese and make new friends. Free. 1-3pm. Beijing Mandarin School, E-Tower (6508 1026)

Green Drinks
Join Beijing’s green community at their monthly meet-and-greet. Happy hour promotions apply. Free. 7.30pm. The Bookworm (6586 9507; see Dining directory)

Headhunter and HR Social Networking
Connects people looking for jobs with people looking for staff. Register at info@fcgroup.org. RMB 130, RMB 90 (pre-registered). 7.30pm. Flames, Hilton Beijing Wangfujing (5812 8888)

Jun 13
Culinary Walking Tour: Creating Your Own Chinese Kitchen
An action-packed hour in a local market filled with details on food combining, seasonal shopping and TCM-approved ingredients. RMB 100, RMB 80 (members). 9-10.30am. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Photography Workshop: Smartphone
Join Peter Carney in a quick session on easy techniques to maximize your photographs. RMB 35. 7–8pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Jun 14
BSK Cooking Class: Savory Sweet Cooking
Pick up recipes for dishes that require sugar to balance out the flavors. RMB 300. 10am-1pm. Black Sesame Kitchen (139 9147 4408)

Chinese Through Media Class
Discuss a new piece of current global media. For intermediate/advanced learners. RMB 500/4 sessions (first class is free). 7-9pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Free Chinese Corner
Practice your Chinese and make new friends. Free. 1-3pm. Beijing Mandarin School, E-Tower (6508 1026)

INN Trekkie: Lama Temple
Make new friends and explore the secret gems of Beijing together. RSVP by Jun 12 to innbeijing@hotmail.com. Free. 9.30am-2pm. INN (no tel)

Jun 15
Chinese Kitchen: Dim Sum & Tapas
Learn how to get exciting flavors in small bites. RMB 250, RMB 200 (members). . 10.30am-1pm.
The Hutong (6404 3355)

Chinese Through Media Class
Discuss a new piece of current global media. For intermediate/advanced learners. RMB 500/4 sessions (first class is free). 7-9pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)