SHANGHAIology

Small Talk With ...Bottoms Up
Rumors have been flying around everyone's favorite Bund beer house. As it nears time to grab a cold beer and enjoy the spring, we head to Bund Brewery to talk to Grant Chen about beer, Germans, Hooters and the BB management.
How did you get in the brewing business? Well, it's a long story. So you're not just a beer fan? Well, I am a beer fan, but actually if I could choose, I usually drink wine. Seriously? So did you work at a wine place before this? No, I've actually worked at a lot of places, most recently at Hooters though. Hooters is known for its beer too, isn't it? Not really, people just go there for the girls and drink Tsingtao and Budweiser. Your current customers aren't into that? Most of our customers are German, they don't really drink Budweiser. They're pretty picky. So what's your most popular brew? The new wheat beer we're having the party for. We've actually had it here since January but it's going to be our best summer beer. Has it been popular? It's been really popular among Germans. Last month a German company ordered 500 liters from us to celebrate the opening of a new factory. So it sounds like you're doing well. What about all the rumors that you're closing? We're definitely still open! Why all the rumors then? In January, we changed management. I'm sure that's what everyone is talking about. Everyone knew Frank and a FuturePerfect, but we've ended the contract. None of the old managers that people knew are still here. But that's all that's changed. We have the same food same beer, just different bosses.

Everyone Is Talking About ...Dump It Out

China's airlines ban liquids in carry-ons on all domestic flights in "preparation for the Olympics"
On a recent international flight, we were forced to jettison some pricey cosmetics because the containers were larger than 100 mL. Irritated, we consoled ourselves with the thought that this strict regulation only applied outside the country. Wrong. Many liquids are now banned from domestic flights in China while others will be strictly regulated, the response of the General Administration of Civil Aviation to a foiled terrorist attack on a plane flying from Urumqi to Beijing on March 7 (also a heightened security measure enacted prior to the Beijing Olympics).

What does this mean? First, no baby food. Those traveling with infants can apply to the airline to supply baby food free of charge, or can bring powdered formula on board which the staff will then mix up. Second, cosmetics must be less than the aforementioned 100 mL and stored in separate bags (lest they leak together in your Watsons protective sheath and cause an explosion)-dumping a bottle of Clinique in the garbage is painful, trust us. Third, passengers requiring prescription medications must hand these (and probably a prescription note) over to airport staff who will carry it aboard. Other liquids are banned completely, though you can still store them in your stow-away luggage.

Tied into all this is, of course, time. If you were one of those who preferred to indulge in the VIP pay-for-priority boarding service, these are cancelled. Guess you'll have to wait in line with the rest of us. Security checks on vehicles entering the airport zone have also been increased and more intensive security inspections at the gates have doubled the time it takes to squeeze through the line. End game? Come early and save yourself (and the rest of us) the time and frustration by ditching, or storing, you liquids pre-flight. Happy travels.

News You Can Use

Don't be Blue
The venerable House of Blues & Jazz, one of the oldest jazz venues in town, is set to re-open at a new location (Fuzhou Lu near the Bund, just across from the Captain Hostel) in the beginning of April. Plans are to be open from noon till late night, serving lunch and dinner as well as jazzy tunes.

Blowfish Baby

The Shanghai Fisheries University is studying how to prepare blowfish safely. The delicacy is currently banned from local restaurants as one fish carries enough poison to kill 30 adults (no antidote!). The researchers hope their findings will facilitate the approval of a Japanese model for preparing and serving the fish in Shanghai restaurants within the next two years.

Hold the Mint

Though it was a popular spot for Shanghai's young, affluent up-and-comings a year or so ago, Mint has declined in popularity over the last year. Finally falling prey to the ebb and flow of the Shanghai scene, it recently closed its doors.

All Aboard!

Those who make regular sojourns to Suzhou or Wuxi have more chances to hop on the train. The frequency of trains passing through the Shanghai Railway Station during the weekend rush hour (5:30-9:30am) will increase, coming every six minutes rather than 10 on weekends until April 13.

Catching the Replay

The Shanghai International Literary Festival has come and gone. If you missed hearing your favorite authors, check out podcasts of their presentations on the City Weekend Book Club blog. (Not availabe for presentations made in the Crystal Room–sorry!)