In case you have missed -- and really, how could you -- we have been asking daily Aussie trivia questions in a build up to tonight's Shanghaiist Dinkum Drinks Happy Hour at Senses. The winners of these daily contests get a free drink at the party (if they can find us in the crowd). more ›

Only 26 hours to go before you get to drink cheap Coopers beer while wearing your Drizabones and listening to Regurgitator's "Kong Foo Sing." And no, we have no idea what any of that means. more ›

Today's Shanghaiist Dinkum Drinks Happy Hour reminder comes with another chance for you to have Shanghaiist pay for your first drink at the party Friday night. more ›

We're sure you are all marking the days off on your calendar, but just in case, here's a reminder: Three days and less than two hours to the Shanghaiist Dinkum Drinks Happy Hour! more ›

Well, actually we don't like cats too much since we are allergic, but we love dogs and free drinks. If you do too, you might want to head over to Senses Wine Lounge (515 Jianguo Xi Lu, 龙聚苑酒吧建国西路515号) this week, because they have free drinks for anyone who makes a donation of one kuai (one friggin' kuai) or more to the Shanghai Second Chance Animal Aid organization. That's a deal even the Mouding County police can applaud. more ›

Yes, we know it is supposed to rain on Thursday, but don't let that keep you away from Cotton's for the first Shanghaiist Happy Hour. Yes, we may not be able to use Cotton's big drinking garden -- but we will have free reign over her huge house (and her three cozy fireplaces). And, really, if something like rain keeps you holed up in your apartment during this time of year in Shanghai, you are seriously depriving your lungs of that fresh Shanghai air. more ›

Got plans next Thursday evening? Shanghaiist would like to drink with you. more ›

You can almost hear the buzz surrounding the upcoming opening of the new Cotton's bar/restaurant in Shanghai all the way where Shanghaiist currently is holed up for the holidays. Wait ... no ... that's just the 3 a.m. train rolling by. (Damn jetlag.) But anyway, sources who happen to still be in Shanghai tell us that lots of people who enjoy a good drink and a good chat are talking about the impending return of one of the friendlier faces to grace the Shanghai scene. Contrary to popular belief, however, New Year's Eve is not the first chance you'll have to check out Cotton's new digs. Local party planners Matt & Flo are throwing a Christmas Eve bash there on -- you guessed it -- Christmas Eve (Saturday). Here are the details, ripped from the party email: 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 ›

While Shanghaiist has been here long enough that the picture to the right didn't seem wrong at all, it's true that Shanghai traffic can be a little crazy sometimes. And while we have personally been hit by a taxi (and several bicycles) it may be getting worse, despite efforts to the contrary. A few weeks ago Shanghaiist noticed that the intersection of Jianguo Xi Lu and Ruijin Er Lu was becoming rather, well, fortified. The sidewalk corners had been fenced in, and there were so many traffic wardens and police that we took to avoiding the intersection whenever possible. After all, when in a rush, the last thing we want is to have to stop at a red light. We did notice, however, a large number of signs standing on one corner, and had to investigate. It turns out that the signs are part of the most recent city-wide initiative to promote traffic safety that began in June. How? Well, whenever the police stop someone riding or walking the wrong way, they politely escort them over to the corner, where a warden attempts to educate them about the specific law they've violated. With the aid of pictures. Pedestrians, she informed us, are the biggest problem here. Strange, considering the police car turning left through a red light as she spoke. "In China we don't talk about that," she responded. more ›

Bikes get stolen in Shanghai. Sure, they go missing in New York, or Seattle, but Shanghai seems to have less respect for the lock than most metropoli. When our cute orange folding bike turned up missing last week, Shanghaiist went a bit crazy. While many bike theft victims purchase progressively cheaper bikes, following the theory that "this one's so garbage no one could possibly want it," we went the opposite direction. Walking past Speed Cat Bicycle (site in Chinese) every day might have been the reason. In a tiny little shop that would be comfortable in any US college town, Speed Cat is instantly recognizable by the pile of half-assembled frames outside. more ›