Did you survive the Expo traffic over the last week or two? Congestion, especially around the intersection of the Expo Center and Euro Plaza, is awful – I even saw a totaled taxi and a minivan that was completely on its side. I’d love to get information on the Expo schedule for the remainder of the year, as well as whom to talk to about what “they” plan to do about the traffic and parking situations. If you have any information you can share about this, please contact me.
*I attended my first local INN meeting at Mrs. Shanen’s last month, and was pleasantly surprised to see a turnout of about 14 women there – some who have been in Beijing for many years, and others brand new to the area. It was a great way to share information and just meet new people, and I highly encourage those in Shunyi to check out these monthly meetings. Come to Mrs. Shanen’s on Thursday, March 17 from 10am – noon for coffee, breakfast and a great networking opportunity.
*Any mini master chefs in your house?! If so, here’s a fun activity to keep in mind after spring break in April. At Fuel restaurant in the Langham Hotel (by Beijing Capital Airport), every Saturday in April kids can make unlimited pizzas, with head chef Erik being the judge on the pizza creations. Big kids are RMB 88 and little kids are RMB 50 each. More details to follow as April nears, but what a great activity to look forward to!
*A side note regarding the Langham Hotel above – in the March issue of beijingkids magazine, there is a listing of Top 5 places to go for brunch. The Place at Langham was mentioned for families to consider, but the phone number listed was incorrect. The correct number is 6457 5555. Their brunch buffet, priced at RMB 150 per person and free for kids under 12 with accompanying adult, is a great bargain and a wonderful Sunday afternoon out. Apologies to the Langham for the incorrect information!
*It was sad to see Blue Frog officially close its doors at their Euro Plaza location on Sunday. General manager Greg Dover was kind enough to talk with me about the restaurant’s plans for expansion in Beijing, and to see if they will come back to Shunyi in the near future. The business has had tremendous success in Beijing, particularly their Sanlitun Village area. By July 1 they will open another location in Chaoyangmen, near Party World and U-Town, which is expected to be an excellent area to expand their brand. There is also the distinct possibility that in August/September, Blue Frog might relocate in the Shunyi area again — quite possibly in Pinnacle Plaza! Nothing is firm, but Dover said that the idea of a two-level restaurant, with an outdoor balcony/patio eating area back in the heart of our community is not out of the question. Stay tuned this summer for what we can hope is going to be good news!
*Young writers, take note! There is another April activity to look forward to at the BookMark Library in Shunyi. Open to children of all ages, writers can share their original works at the Young Writers Program. This is not a competition, but a celebration of language and literature. Students from ISB, WAB, BSB and homeschooled children will read aloud or act out their writings for the audience. Mark Sunday, April 24 on your calendars from 1-4pm for this creative event for young students! Contact Deborah (139 1003 1879) or Amanda (136 0105 4566) for more information, and please include your child’s name, gender, age, and type of writing.
*The Dragon Bay Preschool Pilot Program is currently undergoing Phase II. There are currently eight children in the 1-2 age group, and six children in the 2-3 age group. To complete the school, they are looking for students in the 3-4 age group. The preschool is free of charge and is run in association with Harvard China Education Institute and the Beijing New Talent School. The pilot program is adopting High Scope approach, which gives individual attention to every child’s development in order to maximize their potential. Please contact Sonia at Sonia.Buchan@gmail.com or 150 1054 7402 for more information.
