June 2011

the Beijinger - July 2011: Face The Music

We all know not to judge a book by its cover but that doesn't mean we can stop ourselves from judging a man by his iTunes library. It's clear that music plays a big role in all of our lives and that's especially true for Beijingers. We're lucky enough to live in a city with a vibrant scene and a healthy mix between its groundbreaking grassroots acts - local and laowai - and a variety of visiting international artists. It's interesting and exciting but can seem impenetrable to newcomers and old hands alike. What better way to get under the skin of what's really going on in Beijing music than to ask the insiders? We got 18 of the folks that matter when it comes to our aural pleasure and sat them around a table. We didn't let them leave until we had all the answers. You can find them out in our Cover Feature.

Also this month we have Rustic's Ricky Sixx talking about rocking and real estate (it's his day job), we highlight the dangers of noise pollution in our Ecology Feature and we spend three days on the road with local band DUDE in our Explore Feature. We've drummed up a Hands On with SambAsia, tracked down the Guardian's Jonathan Watts for some eco talk and devoted Grape Press to champagnes we can all afford.

Throw in a solid backing track of the best in events, new bars, restaurants and shops plus old favorites like Ich Bin Ein Beijinger (where Kaiser channels Walter Mitty) and you've got the July issue of the Beijinger. Since we love you we did not stop there. We've got a whole host of prizes to be won, which includes a group pass to the upcoming Beijinger Beer Festival for you and five friends (and we'll throw in transport and six tickets to Yen's 7th Anniversary.) Told you that we loved you. Just like music.

Get a copy of the July issue while you can, or download the PDFs below.

Agenda's Digital Gaming Issue is out!

The world is going virtual, and the latest issue of Agenda is here to show you the way. In this issue, we not only have interviews with some of the most important digital entrepreneurs in Beijing, but have also talked to some people who can lead you to better understand the secret world of Chinese gamers.

If you’re interested in the business side of things, be sure to read our interviews with Christopher Bremble, CEO of BaseFX, Christopher M. Pfeiffer, CEO of Balanced Worlds, Inc., Jesper Lodahl, CEO and co-founder of SmarTots, Chua Meng Kiat, business development expert at MoVend, and Ludovic Bodin, CEO and co-founder of Cmune, to learn everything about the topic, from surviving as an entrepreneur to how to monetize your app.

Download this issue at agendabeijing.com.

Want to delve deeper into the mind of Chinese gamers? Marcella Szablewicz, online gaming expert and doctoral candidate at Communication at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and professional gamer Teddy Guo will share some insights from different perspectives.

Finally, if you’re looking to start your own digital kingdom, consider signing up for an account with Ushi.com. According to Dominic Penaloza, founder of Ushi.com, it’s a great place to do business with local Chinese partners. And who knows, maybe you’ll be joining Bo Yiqun and Barrett Parkman of the Great Wall Club, along with China’s remaining digital elite, before too long.

If you’re ready to kick back for the weekend, be sure to check out our list of top electronics markets in Beijing and list of best pizza delivery services in Beijing. If you don’t feel like staying in, Miriam Deller, Director of Core Power Asia, will show you where to get Beijing’s best cocktails.

Agenda’s Sustainability issue is out!

Reduce, reuse, recycle. This is the mantra by which more and more people in Beijing live their lives. In this issue of Agenda you’ll meet some of the most interesting people working to make the world a more sustainable place, like Nathan Siy, the founder of Beijing Eletric Bike Tours, the members of the Beijing Energy Network, and Sue Meng Chan and Marcus Bauder, the brains behind China World Hotel’s carbon-less meetings. You’ll also learn about E-Idea from Dora Duan, who tells us how her initiative is cooperating with major media organizations to light the green spark in China’s young entrepreneurs. Then there’s Emilian Popa, one of the co-founders of Wimdu, who talks about his company’s mission to monetize couch surfing, and if you’ve got an idea of your own but no network to help you, man-about-town William Heathershaw will teach you how to build your network to reach your goals.

Download this issue at agendabeijing.com.

If you want to start making some small changes yourself, check out our list of China’s best environmental organizations, sustainable and second-hand shops, apps for a greener world and antique markets, and be sure to head over to one of our favorite vegetarian restaurants for a meat-free, sustainable meal. We also threw in a list of great places to have a beer – it’s not green, per se, but after making so many changes we felt you deserve a cool reward!

Agenda's Hospitality issue is out!

At some point in our lives each of us was new to Beijing, and chances are, we were so busy taking in the city that we forgot to give credit to the people who made it possible for us to come here. In this issue of Agenda, we talk to the people who think about the smallest details so that we don’t have to, and who work hard to make Beijing one of the most welcoming cities in the world.

Download the latest issue and enter for a chance to win at agendabeijing.com!

Check out our interview with Judith Los Banos of the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, whose team has brought numerous Michelin chefs to Beijing, as well as our list of places to take your visitors to make a great impression. Also, be sure to read about Jennifer Fils-Aimé’s work to make China a safer place for everyone. It’s truly inspiring! There are also lots of other interviews about China’s flourishing hospitality industry, and of course, our lists, where we tell you the ten best places to take visitors, eleven places to host a great dinner party, Beijing’s best boutique hotels, and the best cameras of 2011.