The weekend is finally here, and despite the buzz surrounding Linkin Park on Sunday, there are plenty of other shows that are also worth checking out. Friday, Yuyintang warms things up for Linkin Park fans with four local nu-metal bands strutting their stuff and letting out their best screams. While over at 4Live, Pixel Toy, from Hong Kong, provide an eccentric mix of Cantonese pop electronica. Opening for them is Banana Monkey. Phreaktion in celebration... more ›

Fingers crossed: A wise man once proclaimed Backyard Cafe, tucked behind the Bridge 8 complex on Jianguo Lu, to be the purveyor of the best steak in Shanghai. We agreed that, dollar for pound, Backyard was a deal not to be missed. A buy one get one free Enjoy Shanghai coupon sweetened our visits. more ›

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. more ›

We came across this store during a stroll on Jianguo Lu. Having recently bought an Astro Boy (60s Japanese anime) DVD, we were quick to notice an inflatable Atom Boy or two smiling blankly next to some flashing Christmas bulb lights in a display window, and we had no choice but to go and walk in. According to Jeff, the co-owner/manager (he wasn't that specific), while both he and the other guy had day jobs doing design and other such stuff, that they had collected a bunch of old toys and other kitschy items (transparent, inflatable Hitchcock pillow with the director's silhouette and some fake "bird shit" stains on them—a reference to a certain movie about creepy birds) and decided to sell them. The store is tiny, but strangely cozy—Jeff sat in a sofa chair, drawing some weird sci-fi type illustration while we perused the goods. We didn't ask much about the prices, but if you're interested, check out some of the photos we took of the place to get a sense of what they are selling. Also, check out their origami business cards—a piece of black paper with a map and their address folded into a black swan. more ›

Win Maxïmo Park tickets! more ›

We received an email yesterday from Fabrique telling us about a "re-opening" party on Saturday, and we wondered, How many re-openings can one club handle? But this most recent incarnation looks a little more interesting than previous ones. Zooma, formerly of the old Tang Hui and formerly of the new Tang Hui, is now the GM at Fabrique, which will now be known as 4 Live (same name as the party held at the club not too long ago). Here's the musical line-up for the re-re-re-opening party: Blue Garden, Honeys, Crystal Butterfly and Zooma himself. No invitation is needed for the party and there in no cover charge. Doors open at 8 pm and there's an open bar from 8 to 10 pm. The email we received said going forward 4 Live plans to have live bands before 1 am and "underground electro music" afterward. We tend not to get too excited about such things because the live music scene in Shanghai changes so frequently, but this at least sounds promising. It's a good venue in a non-residential area that is used to music and crowds. And with his connections, Zooma could potentially bring in some solid live acts. Let's keep our fingers crossed -- and hope they start adding their events to our Public Calendar. more ›

Recent reviews of the best burgers in town made Shanghaiist want a drink -- a cocktail, to be exact. Don’t get us wrong, we love our local favorites -- we’re addicted to Xinjiang Black Beer now that it’s stocked at the nearby convenience store. We’re even known to occasionally take a healthy shot of baijiu alongside our Qingdao Beer during dinner. (At least, we think so -- we usually don’t remember the details of baijiu nights.) But when the Black Beer’s sold out, and baijiu doesn’t feel quite right (does baijiu ever feel right?) a cocktail can hit the spot. more ›

The summer of 2005 just wasn't the same in Shanghai. Neither was the spring. Nor the fall. Why? No Cotton's. Cotton's, one of Shanghaiist's favorite bars -- thanks in large part to its great outdoor patio -- was forced to close by an unscrupulous landowner at the beginning of this year. (More on why you should boycott Shane's here and here.) more ›

Colonel Kurtz's nightmare might have been watching a snail crawl along the edge of a straight razor, but ours is shopping. What an odious pursuit. Shanghaiist would rather have dental work done than get dragged through boutiques and malls -- particularly in this city, where the footpaths are clogged with touts, bargain hunters and middle-aged women selling tea eggs. more ›

Backyard Cafe on Jianguo Lu more ›