By Oliver Robinson (That's Beijing)
Updated: 2006-10-08 15:07

I like getting drunk and obnoxious in public as much as the next man and thus decided to sate my penchant for al fresco boozing with a visit to Sanlitun, where I could enjoy a few of the area's outdoor venues before the nip of winter set in. After running the gauntlet of small dirty children I managed to make it to Top's roof terrace, which is now partially covered, perhaps in an attempt to get the most out of what's left of the temperate climate. Sanlitun newcomer Shooters also has outdoor seating where you can sit back and watch Beijing's new batch of students find sport in tossing around said dirty children. I should note that Shooters, which is pulling the crowds with cheap booze and good music, was in fact opened by the former manager of The Tree. Apologies if last month's misleading write-up embarrassed anyone quoting it during high-brow dinnertime conversation.

In keeping with the month of Halloween, Xiao Xin has come back from the dead, rising from the rubble of Nanluoguxiang, albeit slightly skinnier than before. Meanwhile, the infinitely crappy Cuboo on Chaoyangmen Nei has tried to re-emerge into the world of the living as Studio 54. Despite the new name it's still crap, but on Saturday nights it has turned out to be a great place for the rainbow-friendly-competition perhaps for Pipe (formerly Pipes Cafe). However, Pipe's recent renovations and rebranding should ensure its continued popularity for Saturday night same-sex shenanigans. Interestingly, Pipe enjoyed 15 minutes of fame (or infamy?) after Qiao Qiao, the lady in charge of the venue’s alternative nights, outed several Supergirls (not by name, but by very obvious implication) in an interview with Southern Metropolis Weekly.

It might be obvious from the above references to "coming back from the dead"and "re-emerging into the world of the living" that the tbj nipple clamps are being tugged and twisted, prompting me into shamelessly plugging this month's tbj Halloween Party. Still, it should be quite a good knees-up considering you get some free booze and the fact that Henry Lee's been good enough to let us misbehave in the increasingly popular social residence of Rui Fu on October 27.

Keeping with Rui Fu, the former husband-wife owners of Suzie Wong's were spotted there, quaffing Glenfiddich and Moet & Chandon. On asking what occasioned their midweek binge, the distraught couple revealed they were diluting their bad business sense after selling Wong's for a mere RMB 400,000. Though this is double what they bought the venue for, anyone who's been there recently doesn't need a Harvard MBA to see they undersold themselves.

To add insult to injury, Suzie Wong's might further its reputation as the place to party with the stars if rumors of a massive charity gig on the Great Wall prove to be true. The club has become the destination for overseas celebrities to hang out (think Black Eyed Peas and Shaquille O'Neal) and if the Great Wall gig ever gets the green light, the potential big-name acts are more than likely to party at Wong's after the event, which will be one of eight held at man-made wonders around the globe over the next four years. Have a look for yourself at www.eighthwonderoftheworld.com.

Lastly, visitors to Q Bar would do well to take some yodeling tips from resident Austrian DJ David Lindinger in an attempt to get the attention of the overworked barstaff. Lindinger's arrival has coincided with some pretty slow-motion service in peak hours-George and Echo's concoctions are certainly worth waiting for, but 55 minutes for a pina colada, anyone?