For Shunyi Happenings, the auto show IS what’s happening. It’s all-consuming. And it will be for the next eight days.
I waited too long to take an accurate picture. Opening day, Monday, was the best photo op – total gridlock in the Euro and Pinnacle Plaza areas, no parking, and very little actual driving. Tuesday, the day of the above picture, was rainy and not quite as accurate without the hordes of people walking along any clear pathway. Actually, the snapshot looks far more manageable than what we who live here are actually experiencing – lots of honking, jumping the line, and ignoring traffic cops. Cars are parked on every spare space of road available, even if in a traffic lane or two. Those placards we all received to make it easier for residents to get around? I’m not sure what they accomplish. Nobody looks at them, they don’t gain you entry into Pinnacle Plaza during the day (although car show cars do) and you can’t get close to the Euro parking lot – which, by the way, has plenty of parking spaces available. Are they being sold, by chance? It’s all something to endure, and I’m sure we all will.
A few other tidbits in our neighborhood:
*In that teeny tiny plant area next to Jenny Wang’s, there is now a quaint place – perhaps the same as the original plant seller, only expanded. In there they sell BBQ grills, patio furniture, awnings and more. They continue to work on the area, making it inviting by showing what kind of relaxing green and floral area you could create outside of your own home, and I’ve seen many people stop by there to check it all out.
*Big Paul’s Grocery Store is back. I think that’s funny. They were there, then immediately gone. It was obvious that they jumped a little too soon, and needed to back track to create proper fixtures and whatever else. I still have yet to stop in there, but I see produce and other small gems that might be worth a stop – not quite a large grocery, not quite a local wet market; a nice happy medium.
*Anybody wondering where Land-O-Lakes products are? If you’re like me and keep thinking that Jenny Wang’s or elsewhere are simply out at the moment, well, we’re both wrong. They are no longer going to distribute here (I don’t know if it’s Beijing in general, or just certain stores), so we will have to find a replacement for our margarine and cheese slices. Boo….
