Beijing's Best Events That Won't Leave You Hungover, Aug 14-20
Our Events Watch series aims to highlight happenings that aren't focused on alcohol and drinking, but instead take a more educational or productive approach. Events include comedy, talks, networking events, markets, dinners and more.
Tuesday, Aug 15
Inn Sanlitun Coffee Morning
Moving to a new city (and for many of us, a new country) is not all rainbows and butterflies. It can also crush said newbies with crippling amounts of anxiety and loneliness. The International Newcomers Network hosts regular welcome dinners for those who are not willing to wait out the adaptation process and want to start meeting locals right away, or for those who moved to Beijing years ago and now want to help others navigate Beijing, be it literally or socially. Join them for a cup of coffee or two at The Bookworm in Sanlitun, which might also become your safe haven when that crippling loneliness finds its way to you (it happens to even the best of Beijingers). 10am. Free. The Bookworm
Wednesday, Aug 16
High Tension
The Red Brick Art Museum is far away, we know. Coming out of the deep, dark subway into the bright sunshine in an unfamiliar part of town can be disorienting, especially with a massive shopping mall resembling a ski resort on one side and fields and unmarked roads on the other. Even though the Red Brick Art Museum is impressive in its own right, it's wise to wait for a solid exhibition before venturing out into the wild, wild suburbs. High Tension is a collection of eight winners of the Marcel Duchamp Prize: Kader Attia, Latifa Echakhch, Cyprien Gaillard, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Laurent Grasso, Mathieu Mercier, Julien Prévieux, and Tatiana Trouvé. The curator has been working closely with the unique space of the Red Brick Art Museum and has chosen a collection of video art, sculptures, and installations. The exhibition will run until August 27, so don't wait until the last minute (especially since that minute is fast-approaching). 10am-5.30pm. Free. Red Brick Art Museum
Thursday, Aug 17
Breathwork
Breathe in, breathe out, and don't slap that teen who pushed you on the subway. Twice. Longtime Beijing expat and co-founder of the Mind Body Project Erin Henshaw has spent the past two years in the US teaching yoga and mindfulness classes at elementary schools and companies. Erin is back in Beijing for a month and excited to share her unique programs, which are influenced by her yoga, neuroscience, and breath-work studies in India, China, America and, most recently, Indonesia. Starting with a breathing technique for clarity and relaxation, as well as basic neuroscience and forceful exhalations for energy, at this first event in the Breathwork series, you will learn how different breathing techniques are used for different purposes. While we care so deeply about what we eat, why not care about an action we do even more often – breathing. Contact them on WeChat (bdunn027) for more information. 7-9pm. RMB 200, RMB 150 (advance). Shang Space
Friday, Aug 18
Frédéric Ledroit
Two points to start on: Beijing does not spoil us with affordable classical music gigs, and the organ is not only for churches. To send some shivers down your spine, head to the Beijing Concert Hall on Friday. French Organ master Frédéric Ledroit is touring China's concert halls August 18-23. He not only performs but also composes his own pieces. He has already created more than 50 opuses for the piano, organ, guitar, and string quartets. If you still think it will be boring, check this out: he is set to include improvised pieces based on iconic movie themes, like Star Wars and The Mission. 7.30-9.30pm. RMB 20-150. Beijing Concert Hall
Saturday, Aug 19
Sureno Weekend Brunch
Eggs Benedict, shakshuka, duck cavatelli, chicken rösti – exactly what brunch should be made of. We concede that brunch is, at its core, a boujee affair, but why not? It's the ultimate manifestation of pure weekend happiness and freedom from the weekday grind. Of course, the ideal brunch is buffet-style, so you can eat your fill, and then continue eating until you are in pain, forcing you to nap away the afternoon. Stroll down to The Opposite House for those full-on weekend vibes. Choose a spot in the garden or sit inside and watch the mastery of the chefs. RMB 348. 11am-3pm. The Opposite House
Sunday, Aug 20
Beyond Steel and Concrete
The restoration policies in China often leaves us amateurs shrugging our shoulders and face-palming (remember all the face-palming we did strolling through the bricked-over hutongs this summer). Apparently, it is not just us who value preserving China's historical sights. Professor of Archaeology in Peking University Giuseppe Vignato will talk about restoration processes along China's Silk Road and highlight that, so far, efforts seem to have been geared more toward tourism rather than genuine historical preservation. Vignato will use comparisons of old and new photographs to stress how important it is for the sights to tell their own story, even after the restorations. RMB 100, RMB 75 (advance). 4pm. The Courtyard Institute
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Images courtesy of the organizers, Scalar
