Old China Hands lunch and your Expat Idol

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

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”!

Rotaract Gala Event: see what you missed!

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

If you were there, see our lovely memories!

Yes, too bad if you missed, the coolest young people of Beijing coming together (over 100) on Saturday 25 June for the Charity Gala Event, in the Vivid Bar, on the rooftop of the Conrad hotel. We were lucky with the weather, after a scorching day it cooled down a bit and no rain!
It was a PARTY FOR A CAUSE to enjoy finger food, free flow drinks (Belgian beer from Vandergeeten, red and white wines from CHEERS, soft drinks and more). It was an an evening of fun with two live DJ’s, raffle drawings, sales of special T-shirts and a Masquerade party!
Proceeds are going to Morning Tears and MCF (Migrant Children Foundation).

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It was a blast! See the pics, the beautiful girls and ladies, and the handsome boys! (yeah and some “mature” people from the Beijing Rotary Club.
It was sponsored by Vandergeeten, Cheers, Vivid Bar, UPLI (fitness), Beijing Victory Advertising; prizes from Beer Mania, The Tree, Morel’s Restaurant, Hilton Hotel, Frederic, myself and others.

It was hosted by Rotaract Beijing West  and Rotaract Club of Beijing, all did a great job, after weeks of intense preparation it was a success and people already as “When is the next one?”. So, no names here to mention as it was a real team work of many enthusiastic young people.

Legend Beer: new kid on the block, Gongti Xi Lu

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

I had been wondering what was going on with all the construction at the Thai restaurant at the West Gate of Workers Stadium. Well, now I know… Thanks to my old friend Adam who now works there.
The former building is now split into the Thai Restaurant (name I can never remember) and the new Beer Pub German style, Legend Beer.

I went over with chef Renaat Morel for an “inspection” just before its official opening. We were impressed by the facilities. A Chinese brew master with over 20 years experience runs the microbrewery (sparling brewery installation) that serves some great beers. Also all that is needed for an excellent German crispy pork knuckle: I tried it on Father’s Day, fully approved.

They have a snooker corner, private room and large outdoor area with TV screens (next to Babyface, currently AGAIN under renovation).
As I am currently on an “alcohol-free diet” I will explore more the beers later on. I like the “Workers Stadium West”, tasty, not too strong, nice flavor.
Reasonable prices indeed. See some of their dishes.

Australia China Night and a Beijing secret revealed

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

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

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

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…