Every Thursday, the Beijing Weekender distills City Weekend's database of nightlife events down to the weekend parties, concerts and live shows that you simply can't miss.

FRIDAY

It being Chinese New Year, most of the cool kids have packed up and gone home for the holidays. But there are the Beijingers, the foreigners and everyone else to help keep the place pumping for those of us left stranded in the city. On Friday, DJ Boflex (one part of The Three Discoteers) will take to the decks at Haze, along with other Beijing favorites YangBing, Kaize and Zhi Qi. Meanwhile upstairs, On The Corner Cafe will start their new weekly nu disco/deep house party, Cornered!, featuring DJ Max Feelgood, Magnus JH and their friends. And finally, rockers can catch the last show of the Chinese New Year drought, with blues-punk outfit Devils at the Crossroad at Temple. That's the last live music show we know of until February, so make the best of it!

SATURDAY

There is so little going on this night that there's only a couple of things I can mention, tucked away in Gulou. Siif is having their second stab at Fxxk Art, Let's Dance, their newest dubstep & drumstep series. This time the ByeBye Disco kids bring you DJ Donkey Tonk (The Syndicate) and Controller Brothers' DJ MarsKo. And if you're up for something a little quirky, new art deco bar Modernista is hosting a Fantastic Magic Show starting at 10pm. Besides that, there's always Punk's weekly Bang Saturday

SUNDAY

Chinese New Year's Eve, however, is a completely different story. There's plenty of stuff going on if you haven't already made plans, so you're guaranteed to have a good night no matter where you go. If you're looking for something low-key, head to Q Bar's Chinese New Year Eve Special, where they'll have some spectacular ice sculptures, special dragon-themed cocktails and free dumplings at midnight. Plus, there'll be a great view from the rooftop there. If you're down for dancing all night, Lantern is having their Wild New Year party, with prominent Beijing DJ/producer X.L.F. at the decks. They're also doing the dumplings thing (albeit at 3am), and they'll be setting off fireworks in the courtyard upstairs with the rest of the city. But if you want to stick to the hutongs, The Orchid's Chinese New Year bash should be a great time, with free flowing Great Leap beer and Orchid's mulled wine. Tickets will run out fast, so get them now.

But most of all, everyone, 新年快乐! See you in the Year of the Dragon.