Champagne News

Soviet Secrets
Hidden on the shelves of Jenny Lou’s across the city, disguised perhaps by its Cyrillic label, is Sovetskoye Shampanskoye, AKA “Soviet Champagne.” This generic brand of sparkling wine was produced as a state-run initiative all over the Soviet Union as “champagne for the people,” and at only ¥55 per bottle, it still lives up to its name. The taste is a bit sweet, but the price is far sweeter, so pop open a bottle of Bolshevik bubbly for your amazing (and affordable) New Year’s festivities.

2008 News

2008 Holiday Schedule
Ring in the New Year with a day off. Pending State Council approval, 2008 holidays will include one day vacations for New Year’s Day, May Day, Qingming (April), Dragonboat Festival (May) and Mid-Autumn Festival (October). National Day and Spring Festival holidays will last three days, and all holidays can be connected to adjacent weekends.

Home and Office News

Home Sweet Office
Beginning January 1, 2008, all city residences will finally permit the establishment of working offices. Those who choose to set up their offices at home, however, will have to register the rent of the property and pay corresponding taxes. Renters will also be banned from engaging in activities detrimental to the public interest or that interfere with normal living and working activities of other residents—that means no heavy machinery for would-be homebody entrepreneurs, even if it is the only thing that will drown out your neighbors’ renovations.

Community News

Culture on a Budget
2008 Beijing museum passes are now on sale. For ¥80, purchasers get a discount on 98 museums, temples and other historical sites. 50 of those venues offer free entrance for pass holders, and the rest offer two-for-one deals that are great for families or those in need of cheap date ideas. Buy your pass at a post office or Paper Tiger bookstore, or call 6221-3256/75 for free delivery.

Transportation News

Bumper Stickers with Perks
You can’t miss the “畅行 (changxing) 2008” bumperstickers these days. They’re already stuck to over 500,000 vehicles, or one sixth of cars in Beijing! By affixing the decal (free at Sinopec stations), you enter into a pre-Olympic driving contest, whereby reporters from BTV’s “Hongludeng” show can follow and film your car. Each day, six lucky drivers who make it 10 minutes without breaking any driving commandments (which can be found at http://www.sinolube.com/cx2008) will win ¥200 free gas from Sinopec and ¥300 worth of maintenance from Great Wall Lubricant, as well as TV and Internet fame.