Cinematheque: Mulan is finally Chinese again! (and other film news)
Protest in Guangzhou: Why would you burn garbage?
Barbie Spa: For the cosmopolitan plastic beauty in you
Obama in China: Long gone, and still headlinin'
Lot o' Hotpot: Three Travellers
We're wondering how long our boycott of the former Cotton's location (more details here and here) was meant to last. One year? Two? Forever? It was pretty easy to boycott when it was Shane Bar -- that place sucked -- but what happens if something good takes over the space? It's just a great spot for a restaurant and bar, which is why we loved it when it was Cotton's. Some guy named Lance feels the same way, according Jarrett Wrisley's latest "new¬ed" column in SH:
Lance, who used to be found pouring shots of tequila behind the bar at Zapata’s, left his job there a few months ago and has struck out on his own, recently opening a bar and grill aptly named Freelance. It’s located in what was once Cotton’s, and later the miserable Shane Bar, which lies opposite the Eager Beaver on Yueyang Lu. Freelance is bigger than the old Cotton’s and they’ve expanded the kitchen. Freelance will serve steaks, burgers and chops grilled over charcoal.
We haven't been to Freelance, but should we even try it? Have we made our statement to the assholes who forced Cotton out? Or do the same assholes still own the place? Either way, Lance had nothing to do with Cotton's ouster -- and Cotton seems to be doing pretty well with her new place. But we made a vow to boycott the place on principle. But did that vow only include Shane Bar? Or everything that should follow? Quite a dilemma. Maybe we should call in The Ethicist (pictured).
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I think it is the same landlord, my understanding was that the master leaseholder on the property was(is) the ministry of education. The ministry probably rented it out to some well connected individual, my guess would be for an absurdly low price. That individual in turn rented out the property to Cotton at market value, and later screwed her.(though I did hear that at the time Cotton had not renewed her lease and was going month to month...not sure if that is true)
Anyway, I have been faced with the same dilemma as I also pledged never to set foot in Shane's. (save for a few drunken trips from the beaver to cause a scene by demanding to speak to Cotton) But as you pointed out, Lance had nothing to do with it, and if he puts together a good place I'll probably lift my ban.
There are more than enough places to go to. Let's adhere to boycotting anyone who screws us or attempts to do so, purely as a matter of solid principle.
Our boycott is a contribution to inducing some ethics into Shanghai, the Whore of the Orient.
Didn't Lance and Cotton work together at Blue Frog on Maoming Lu way back when?
That could be true, Girl. This was just forwarded to us:
You probably shouldn't take this as an open invite to all, although maybe it is.
For what it's worth, the person who sent the email said, "Quite a dilemma, but it's worth giving Lance a go."
Maybe we should just ask Cotton what she thinks of this and then make our own personal decisions. i DO believe that Cotton knows Lance and so maybe her position should be something we take into consideration?
Cotton and Lance did work together at the old Blue Frog, and he's a good guy. Support him. The assholes that forced Cotton's out learned their lesson and had to close their bar, and in my opinion it's better to have a knowlegeable bar owner with a good venue than yet another clueless tenant. Besides, Cotton's doing just fine - so well it's hard to get a seat these days.
I'm looking forward to some BBQ.
Ditto the dilema ... but the new Freelance bar is such a aesthetic contrast to the gloomy commercial trash that Shane was, and Lance is a nice guy, so the boycott is off. In fact, I think this might show the Shane people a lesson.
I am trying to contact a Lance Haggard, who grew up in Riverside, California. Is this the same Lance Haggard, in China???? If so, email me at ness2462@sbcglobal.net
I passed the place yesterday and it seems as it closed it's doors, I am sorry he could not make it...