Yes, we are always (pleasantly) surprised to see so many braving hot Beijing to attend our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant.
Always great to chat, the old-fashioned way.
Next one is Friday 2 September.
Life in the city
Old China Hands lunch and your Expat Idol
On Friday 1 July 2016 a nice turnout despite the hot weather, the busy schedules and people heading back home.
Nothing much to report except that the conversation was lively as always! Next lunch is 5 August.
We also asked our OCH to name their “idol” in the following message:
As you know, Colin is our partner for the Old China Hands. He has been organizing the Expat Fair and Expat Life Awards (ELAs) for the last few years.
He created them as a way for people to say “thank you” to the various providers of service and solutions for us expats living in Beijing.
This year he wants to add to the Awards an “ELA Hall of Fame”. We want your help and input!
Who is the most exceptional expat in your eyes? Who has done a great service or just merits your admiration? Obviously man or woman, young or “old”, any nationality!
Please email Colin directly (colin[at]fcgroup.org) the name of the person you think is worthy of the title.
Additionally, if you can spare a few more minutes, he would be delighted to hear your thoughts on any businesses that should be nominated for these awards. The list of ELA categories can be found here http://fcgroup.org/the-2016-expat-life-awards/
Choose your “idol”!
Australia China Night and a Beijing secret revealed
On 28 May our friend Barry took us along to this special event in the China National Convention Center in the Olympic Green: Australia China Culture & Art Night.
Since its construction I went never back. I actually have a unknown story to tell about that building.
When I was involved in launching the major Olympic venues for 2008, we ran into a brick wall. The NDRC (National Development and Reform Commission) had refused to approve the project of the BDRC (Beijing Development & Reform Commission). Over a private lunch with the president of the BDRC we reviewed this hiccup. Initially we wanted to launch it as the “Beijing Exhibition Center” but the NDRC refused on the grounds the surface area was too small and there were already other large exhibition centers in the pipeline. So I suggested to simply change it to a “Convention Center”. That worked… and soon we launched that tender as such, approved this time by the NDRC.
The Center is great but personally I regret the logistics, as it is the case with all venues in the area. Reaching it and leaving it is so difficult with all the security and access restrictions, for cars and even pedestrians. So I really don’t like to go there…
The evening was nice, with some VIP guests such as the Australian Former Dty PM Mark Vaile (we took pictures with him…) and Yu Xiaosong, former Chairman of the Chinese Chamber (among other functions), I met him many years ago.
The performances were creative: a mix of rock & roll and Chinese Opera. Cool! Explains the electric guitars…
Internations event at Mercedes me
The InterNations Beijing June Mid-Week Mixer was held on 7 June in Lighthaus @ Mercedes me, on Workers Stadium North Road at the corner of Sanlitun South Street, opposite Uniqlo Beijing and next to Sanlitun SOHO.
About 127 people attended, I was curious to see this new spot and was really surprised, to find such a vast space dedicated to Mercedes. Pretty cool, it has a restaurant and bar (Lighthaus) on the second floor, downstairs the exhibitiuon area plus coffeeshop and what looked like a juice bar.
Met a couple of old friends and the conversation was great, despite being on my no-alcohol period…
Concert at Peter Ritzen home: The Medici Salon
On the evening of 11 June a special concert at the home of Peter Ritzen and Stella Chang in Shunyi. See here the background:
160611TheMediciSalon
Stella opened the event, introducing the history and special character of their Medici Salon. The Peter gave a brief history overview of the piano as a musical instrument over the centuries, and in particular the history of the picture used in the evening: it is over 100 years old and after a long journey around the world ended up in their Beijing home.
An exceptional boy of 15 years old, a prize-winner, gave an impressive performance of his skills, playing Bach and Chopin. Then Stella, the soprano, song a famous Italian opera aria. That was followed by me who read and explained two French poems, as a tribute to Peter.
Peter, while handicapped with his left hand out of services still gave us a brief demonstration of his piano skills.
Some of the guests introduced themselves and one gave a short singing performance.
Our beloved chef Renaat Morel (Morel’s Restaurant) gave an overview of the Belgian dishes he prepared for the buffet that followed. Great food as usual!