Double Play: August issues of the Beijinger and agenda are out!

August’s issue of the Beijinger has hit the streets - and to celebrate, armies of journalists, the world’s finest athletes, thousands of tourists, and heads of state from around the globe have descended on our fair city. They might even stick around for the Olympics.

If they do, they can find all the information they could possibly need in our latest issue – the best places to watch the Games if you haven’t tickets, and, for those have, things to keep in mind when you go to the venues. Of course, the Olympics aren’t just about sport – they’re a celebration of humanity and getting wildly drunk at every opportunity.

Adriane Quinlan gives her tips on the best international houses where you can go and raise a glass to the Games, while Matt P. Jager recommends bars that will offer some respite from the Olympic bedlam. Likewise Venus Lau reminds visitors that the Beijing art scene isn’t all about 798 and Eric Mendel previews the top concert events for August.

All this, plus athlete interviews, comprehensive Olympic listings, and the lowdown on what the top athletes will be wearing – and eating – as they go for gold.

The latest issue of agenda is our first of two covering the Olympics – for these issues, our focus remains providing the best restaurant, nightlife and shopping recommendations, but we couldn’t ignore the summer’s main event. For visitors and regular readers who are following the Games, then, we’ve given a chunk of our event listings over to comprehensive Olympic schedules, with full venue addresses and an Olympic map pointing you in the direction of the venues.

In our regular sections, meanwhile, we’ve got a roundup of Beijing duck restaurants, a quick tour of the breadth of dining options available in Beijing, tips on bargaining courtesy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, interviews with master chef Brian McKenna of Blu Lobster and ChinaDoll’s Ai Wan, and much more.

Let the Games begin!