Results tagged “newworld”

These are definitely sweet days for Shanghai dessert lovers. We've already reviewed Sugar and La Crêperìe. We even panicked a little over the temporary closing of Paul, which thankfully is now thriving and whose napoleon is one of the best tasting pastries we've ever had. Now comes Brix 12, located on the first floor of Hong Kong New World Plaza, which had their grand opening last week after a month-long soft run.

One of the art works you won't be seeing at the Beijing human rights exhibition is Andy Warhol's iconic portrait of an iconic guy, Chairman Mao. The painting found a new owner at a Christie's auction:

As a kid, Shanghaiist was a video arcade fiend. Looking fondly back on that Golden Age of video game entertainment, plenty of hard earned allowance and Chinese New Year money would have been better off being saved in a bank account rather than being flushed down a coin slot. The Mortal Kombat bloodlust was just too strong to resist! Remember that ego-inflating boost of self-esteem that came with whupping someone's ass for only 25 cents? If you are in need of a reminder, then it would be wise to make your way to the newly opened Sega Player's Arena in People's Square (as previously mentioned).

Want to meet the person behind (arguably) the most popular blog in the world? Actress/director/blogger Xu Jinglei will be meeting the public in Shanghai this weekend as part of the "Football & Film" party being thrown by Chinese-language city website Metroer.com in the outdoor area at Hong Kong New World Tower on Huaihai Lu near Madang Lu. Xu is promoting her new film Dreams May Come (《梦想照进现实》) and we're not sure if "meeting" actually means shaking hands or just standing on a stage and waving. But anyway, she'll be there.

Or maybe it won't. Either way, it will likely make its owner even richer. In 2001 at a Shanghai store, Liu Gang, founding partner of one of Beijing's largest commercial law firms, bought an ink map on bamboo paper that could be from the 18th century and could be a copy of a world map from 1418 that could offer proof that Chinese admiral Zheng He did in fact beat Christopher Columbus to the "New World" by more than 70 years, as at least one disputed author -- Gavin Menzies, who wrote 1421: The Year China Discovered the World -- has been claiming for a while now. Liu bought the map for US$500 and will unveil it -- well, a copy of it -- tonight in Beijing. We found this bit interesting:

Shanghaiist once visited Madame Tussauds in London after a big night of Theakston’s Old Peculier and, while sitting ashen-faced and stupefied in a chair, was mistaken for one of the exhibits by two elderly ladies. We’re not sure who they thought they were looking at, but it sure as hell wasn’t Brad Pitt.

Former child actor Jeremy Miller -- the least famous cast member of 80s sitcom Growing Pains -- has found work in China, one of the few remaining countries where he might actually get recognized on the street. Growing Pains, which stopped production 13 years ago, was one of the only Western imports to hit Chinese televsion in the 90s, and thus was wildly successful. And what does this fading Far Eastern fame get someone like Miller? A part in a struggling uber-indie Chinese film production called Milk & Fashion, enticingly billed as "Asia's first feature film centering on ballet." That should fill the seats.

As July 11th approaches, many Shanghai residents are eagerly anticipating the celebration China's newest holiday: Maritime Day. Given the Chinese penchant for celebrating in style, Maritime Day should prove to be a momentous occasion, as 2005 marks the 600-year anniversary of Zheng He's (鄭和) nautical expeditions to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Some even argue Zheng, everyone's favorite eunuch explorer, might have beaten ol' Chris Columbus to the New World.

Crystal Jade Restaurant in Xintiandi