While "French" and "affordable" are not often found in the same sentence, they are aptly paired at the recently opened Brasserie La Fourchette. The first solo venture from restaurateur Franck Krynen (who brought the award-winning Wagas cafes to Shanghai), La Fourchette is located in the French concession, and is designed to be "a place for the people", that would be relaxed, accessible, and kind enough to refrain from eating a hole through your wallet. more ›

In Cafetique, Shanghaiist reviews coffee shops and cafes around Shanghai that provide the two things our writers need most in life: caffeine and wireless internet. How does your neighborhood hangout spot stack up? more ›

After opening up to much buzz last May, Avalon seemed to drift a little below expectations. Before the year had ended, the chef was out and the menu and the look was promised a revamp. Now, Sean Jorgensen (formerly of MAYA) has taken the lead - and I was incredibly pleased with the results. more ›

In Cafetique, Shanghaiist reviews coffee shops and cafes around Shanghai that provide the two things our writers need most in life: caffeine and wireless internet. How does your neighborhood hangout spot stack up? more ›

If you've ever wanted to know the nitty gritty about preserving and/or buying one of those beautiful lane houses - or really, anything built before 1949 - still dotted along the city (especially before they get torn down and replaced by another skyscraper), Shanghai Scrap has an informative interview with Amy L. Sommers, who recently co-published "A Tragedy of the Common: Property Rights Issues in Shanghai Historic Residences" with Kara L. Phillips of the Seattle University Law Library. more ›

• The Tushanwan Archway, first created in Shanghai almost 100 years ago, has been reassembled from thousands of pieces and will stand ready to meet tourists in June, along with a museum named after it. It was exhibited at three World Expos and shipped back to Shanghai from Sweden last year. [Shanghai Daily]
• Looks like we're not the only ones complaining about the weather. Apparently one team media rep for the Shanghai run of Formula One welcomed NYT blogger Brad Spurgeon with the words "Welcome to the North Pole!" [New York Times: Formula One]
• Hot on the heels of that BMW Parkour-featuring video ad we discovered, it seems that Shanghai has opened its first parkour playground... though we thought the whole point of the sport was to use the city as your course? [CNNGo]

French Concession Moroccan restaurant Marrakech will be shuttering its little blue windows come this Valentines Day, according to SmartShanghai. While that deserves maybe a single solitary tear (there just ain't enough Arabic/North African/Mediterranean joints in this city), we're quite excited that the people behind one of our favorite cocktail places, Tara 57, are taking their place. They'll start renovating after the Spring Festival and it'll resume business in spring. more ›

This photo was taken this morning on Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Lu. Nothing screams "Better City, Better Life" like walking on some blacktop. A local business owner said this ugly, quick-fix approach to city planning could be a sign that Shanghai is really feeling the crunch as it tries to get its myriad "beautification" projects completed before the May 1 start of the 2010 World Expo. On the plus side, asphalt sidewalks will probably last a bit longer than the already-cracking-and-coming-unstuck brick ones laid out not too long ago in other parts of the French Concession. But we're definitely not looking forward to strolling on — or getting stuck to — these human driveways when they help make Shanghai's already muggy summers even muggier. more ›

Despite our eager anticipation of its summer arrival, we hadn't had a chance to review Southern Belle until now. Recently, we went with a 12-person birthday swarm to try out a bit of Southern hospitality in the French Concession - particularly the Southern hospitality that guarantees a ¥100 all-you-can-eat grilled chicken wings and jumbo beef-pork hotdogs until 11pm (tack another ¥100 for open bar). more ›

A man with a kid on his shoulder is disappearing behind a gate leading to a narrow alley behind Julu lu. He is apparently heading towards The Studio, the art gallery and creative space which lies squeezed inside a maze of low brick houses. A couple of minutes later more parents show up, leading their children by the hand into this little bubble of art in the heart of the French Concession. more ›

So how about that rain, huh? At around 1pm today, the heavens above Shanghai suddenly opened up and poured its heart out, not stopping in intensity for the next two hours. It seems to have slowed to a drizzle now (thankfully), but not before creating a brand new river for the city… right in the heart of the French Concession. more ›

If you're planning on going out to the Hengshan Lu, French Concession area tonight, be forewarned - it seems like the cops down there have been cracking down on excessively drunk people, inside of cars and out. A tipster told us that he's seen as many as ten cops on the corners of Wulumuqi Lu and Yongjia Lu every night and a few more hanging around by Zapata's. Not only are they doing random drunk driving checks, they've also become much less forgiving of public displays of drunkenness and loitering. The breathalyzer testing has also been confirmed on Baoqing and Huaihai Lu. Perhaps they're afraid foreigners coming for the Expo will be disgusted by the sites of their drunken compatriots? P.S. No disrespect to the drunken laowai pictured, who very charitably and heroically chugged beer after beer at our July 4 party near where the cops are now patrolling. more ›

We had a chat with R3 of S.T.D. Promotions (the people who brought us Ratatat in May) about his work on tonight's launch of Shanghai's newest bar and live music venue, Not Me. We also got to take a look around the place on Dongping Lu, and while it's not the biggest venue in town, it's definitely got potential for some great parties. more ›

Party animals that we are, we were absolutely thrilled to find out that Shanghai was getting another live music venue. Not Me, a bar/lounge on Dongping Lu, will soon be hosting a score of Indie / Indie Electro / Electroclash / Dance Rock acts in the French Concession. But before we start rooting for Cut Copy or Friendly Fires to make their way over to (or at least get copious dance floor play in) Shanghai, there first must be a grand opening! more ›

Recently, we stumbled upon an invite from fancy schmancy French Concession restaurant, Sasha’s, begging us take a (free!) sneak peek at their newly renovated dining room while sampling their upgraded menu. Without much thought, we blew off our happy hour dates and made reservations. more ›

Anyone taking a stroll down Taojiang Lu towards Hengshan Lu is bound to spot the bright green shutters of 'The Cottage', a new coffee shop at number 25a. more ›

Ever wanted to look at Shanghai through the lens of one of those older Sim City games? While we've discovered this 3D map of Shanghai before, James Fallows over at the Atlantic brought it to our attention again (it has been two years since we last swooned over it, after all) and we've re-realized how cool it is. It's called Edushi.com more ›

This week's Adoptable Pet from Second Chance Animal Aid, Shanghaiist's favorite adopted animal charity. more ›

It's almost as though Shanghai restaurateur Kelley Lee is reading our mind. First she opens Shanghai's best Mexican place, Cantina Agave, a short stroll from Shanghaiist headquarters (and she always has the flat screen tuned into classic NBA games). And now, we learn (from her) that she is opening a Boxing Cat Brewery almost next door to us. (If next Kelley takes over the Iranian consulate building and turns it into an art house movie theater, the wife may start to get suspicious.) more ›

We pass this billboard (almost) every day, between Shanghaiist headquarters and the gym. For a long time it featured Barack Obama on the cover of the Chinese version of Men's Health. Recently a Twitter user named Shaquille O'Neal has taken the president elect's place. It's an ad for Li Ning basketball shoes, Shaq's brand of choice for a couple years now. (You might remember the real Li Ning from such Olympic opening ceremonies as Beijing 2008.) more ›

You never forget your first, and for many people in Shanghai that first (bar) was probably Face on Ruijin Lu. Sadly though, Face's 10 years on the scene are numbered. You have until December 14th to say goodbye. (Thanks to SmartShanghai for the sad news). more ›

Got photos of this morning's storm or the flooding that followed it that you'd like to share? Email them to photos@shanghaiist.com and they will automatically show up on our Contribute Page. Flickr users, simply tag your photos "shanghaiist". more ›

"I don’t know what La Bella’s space will become afterwards—surely it will still be some kind of French Concession-esque bar/cafe where young urban hipsters and professionals hang out. Whether or not that sense of community will transfer or can be quickly rebuilt is another matter entirely." We wish Isabella all the best. [Source] more ›

Set back from the junction of XinLe Lu and XiangYang Lu, opposite a blue-domed Russian Orthodox Church stands the Mansion Hotel. more ›

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By Wm Patrick Cranley more ›

This Italian delicatessen in the Old French Concession (Yongfu Rd) has been opened for a few months now, and manageress Alessia Vettore will not hesitate to open bottles and unpack fresh Italian cheese to seduce your palate. Even if supplies come in small quantities, the tiny place offers a wide range of “choice-quality traditional Italian products, including Modena balsamic vinegar, wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, dressings, pasta, ready-to-serve sauces and creamy savouring toppings, wines, cheeses, cold cuts and confectionery.” Although a bit pricey (the cheapest – albeit delicious – wine is 175 RMB), this shop could satisfy a few food cravings, and it’s only a stone’s throw from LaBella Café and Yongfoo Elite restaurant. more ›

Just off the northern edge of Fuxing Park, this unusual building was the original French Club (le Cercle Francais Sportif) circa 1904. Later it was moved what is now the Okura Garden Hotel (and much later moved to Cafe Montmartre). For a while this was the French Concession's most prestigious public high school, Le College Francais. You can still see the monogram 'CFS' cast into the wrought-iron railing of the main staircase. There's also some excellent stained-glass in the lobby, which we would have photographed if the security guard wasn't an ass doing his job. more ›

The Shanghaiist Weather Center is 100 percent sure the answer will be yes (although is Shanghai Circuit really in Shanghai?). It's dry now in the French Concession, but the dark clouds above suggest it won't stay that way for long. Here's the latest weather update from the official Formula 1 website: Thus far Sunday has been dry with a little wind, but no sign of the edge of Typhoon Krosa, which is sweeping through the... more ›

One of the great things about living in China is the relatively low cost of courier services which means you can get just about anything delivered at next to nothing at all. China Herald informs us that now, you can even get fresh Yunnan coffee delivered to your house, for FREE (if you live within the French Concession and the Jing'an area, that is, or if you order over 100RMB). Otherwise, you pay just RMB10 if you live in Puxi and RMB15 if you're in Pudong. Very reasonable! more ›