The highly anticipated release of Versace clothing at H&M drew crowds, many of whom stood in lines for days ahead of time to snag the luxury label at low prices. However, for those who thought by donning an article of the haute couture brand they could be the next Godfrey Gao, prepare to be disappointed.
Versace released at H&M - dozens waited in the rain... for this?
This week in Shanghaiist
- We cloned the iPad--three months ago!
- We Macked on you, blaxploitation-style.
- We ruined one-fifth of your Expo pavilion fantasy.
Huaihai Road's "call girl" abused, cut in half
Ever see the call girl on Maoming road and Huaihai road? No, we're not talking about prostitutes (though that's probably the place to find them, too): we're talking about the sculpture by Shanghai artist He Yong of a girl on the phone. You've probably passed by it a hundred times, like the rest of the quotidian copper statues around town, but as of yesterday, she's no more: someone ripped her arm off, cut her in two, and left her to lie in the street under a misty rain.
Barbie Megastore proves to be tough sell
Despite getting a ton of press when it first opened back in March, it looks like the Barbie Megastore on Huai Hai Road just hasn't been as popular as Mattel had hoped. The six-floor retailing monolith has been unable to make any of its "astronomical" sales targets.
At the Barbie Shop: Entrance to a world of feminine mystique
We finally went to have a look at the Barbie flagship megastore on Huaihai Road over the weekend in an attempt to sidestep the first week rush. What stood out to us most: This rather... suggestive... escalator. We hardly knew where we would end up if we entered.
New live music venue and You Say Party! We Say Die!
Here is a piece of good news (for all you live music lovers out there) to help quench your thirst while you wait out the events drought that inevitably hits during every Chinese New Year. End of March there is a promising new live music venue (no cover bands!) opening up. Unfortunately, we have been sworn to secrecy on location (hint: former sports bar somewhere on Huaihai Road) but can tell you it will hold 250 comfortably (Yuyintang holds around 100) and will offer cheap drinks and entrance fees.
Lisboa Pork Buns make us happy
If "burger" can be defined in the simplest terms as meat crammed in a bun, then we think Macau-Portugese restaurant chain Lisboa can throw their hat in the ring for next year's Shanghaiist Burger Grill-off. Their pork bun (pictured) is one of the many affordable delights that keep us heading back to Lisboa when in need of some Asian-style comfort food.
No foreign language only signs please, this is China!
Shanghai Daily tells us that all businesses in Xintiandi and along Huaihai Road, "especially foreign-brand stores", must add Chinese names to their signs and must do so before this Sunday.
Today's Links: McMuffins, banned horns and bad medicine
For more del.icio.us links, visit the Shanghaiist Contribute page, which is updated throughout the day.
Photo by Slow Boat To China found via the Shanghaiist Contribute page.
Pencil This In: What's coming up this week in Shanghai
Still recovering from your May Holiday partying? Well, there's no respite. Here are a few things that Shanghaiist is keeping an eye on over the coming week.
This Old House: Soong Ching Ling edition
There appears to be a push (or maybe a slight nudge) to save an old house on Taojiang Lu that for four years in the 1940s was occupied by Soong Ching Ling, also known as Madame Sun or Sun Yat Sen's wife. The two story villa, which is very close to O'Malley's, is currently occupied by 40 workers from the Shanghai Qianggu Construction Engineering Company.
Welcome, tourists! (Now please enjoy our famous traffic jams)
We know you all have been eagerly awaiting the 2006 Shanghai Tourism Festival (site appears to be only in Chinese -- helpful for tourists). Well, it kicks off with a parade tomorrow ... and it seems like traffic downtown will be all sorts of messed up. Here's the rundown:
Tang Hui to reopen in April, party this Saturday
We just got this in our email this morning. Has Tang Hui gone electric?
'Indecent things' in Shanghai's free parks
From the China Daily (via the People's Daily) we learn that the number of free parks in Shanghai now stands at 122 after 23 more were opened on April 1. But not everyone is celebrating:

