|
|
|
May-May's Diary
Entry for March 28, 1998
Boys and girls, have you ever been to the Golden Age nightclub on the corner of Huaihai Lu and Shaanxi Lu? It features such over-the-top tacky opulence, it has to be seen to be believed!!. But I like it. It is the only place of its kind in Shanghai, and needs to be experienced at least once. A word of warning before you go, however: there is a minimum charge of 330 yuan and you need to be sure of the price of anything before you order it. But 330 yuan will get you three regular drinks, and it is worth it to see the floor show, which consists of a different act every half hour all through the evening.
For us girls, it is fun to be served by handsome young gentlemen wearing tails and white gloves, while the men, fools that they are, seem to be completely besotted with the hundreds of waiting girls who flitter about, dressed in golden bare-shouldered gowns and long gloves. If they turned the lights up a little, I think interest would wane somewhat, but let them have their fantasies!!!
There are more and more foreigners going to the Golden Age, but the core of the business is rich businessmen from Taiwan, and the girls, I understand can easily earn 30,000 yuan in tips every month. Which is more than they would earn if they worked in a factory, let's face it.
I went to the Golden Age last night to see my friend Jesse Zhang, who sings there three times a week, including Fridays at 9.30pm. Jesse is one of the best singers in Shanghai, and wears the most gorgeous satin gowns. But she told me she is thinking of moving into business -- she says the entertainment world is not an ideal place for young female singers, and I think we've all heard enough stories to know that that's probably true.
While I was there dancing last night, a man who I will call Mr Hairy cut in between myself and my partner and whispered in my ear: "You dance so well!!". He was, of course, correct -- I do dance well. But I was not impressed. His behaviour was crass and rude, and I snubbed him. But he dances well, too, does Mr Hairy. I think he's professional. A king of ballroom dancing from the 1950s, perhaps. No stranger to the Jinjiang Club of old, I suspect!! I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of Mr Hairy in future, so I'll keep you informed of developments.
I am writing this on Saturday morning, and my spirits are soaring. The sun is out, the rain and the drizzle have departed, and spring has finally descended on Shanghai. Tra-la-la!!! My darlings, I wish you a very pleasant weekend and do spend some time walking in the sun. Preferably backwards.
Byeeeee!!
Entry for March 26, 1998
I don't know if I have every suggested this to you before, boys and girls, but I really do believe that Shanghai is the richest, most extraordinary city in the world. The weather is appalling, it is true. But under the cold, grey skies blanketing our city there is a golden haze through which we move. Poetry!!
I am inspired with this thought having just returned to my perfumed boudoir from the Cotton Club, where Shanghai's first Guitar Festival has been held. Such talent! Such variety!! Flamenco guitar, an Italian maestro, a Chinese jazz band, and lots more besides. So many friends were there!! Oh, bliss!!! I am tempted to just string exclamation marks together from here to the end of the report. But perhaps that would make for a fairly boring nightlife report! Man-mountain Mathew, the manager of the Cotton Club, said he planned to hold the guitar festival every month, which would be excellent. And also profitable. Watch out for more news.
I often get the feeling that drinking habits in our city are changing rapidly, and now I have proof. I was talking last night to a very handsome Frenchman who imports wines. He says sales of cognac are dropping eight percent every year, while imports and sales of red and white wine are growing at 25 percent year on year. Isn't that interesting??
A few days ago I mentioned a new bar called Jack's Banana, but failed to mention where it is located. If you want to find Jack's Banana, if you attracted by the notion of a nightspot with such a name, then you will find it on Huaihai Lu near the Shaanxi Lu intersection, oppposite the Fulin Huanggong seafood restaurant. You go downstairs. I confess that I have yet to sample the delights of Jack's Banana. Is it big? I don't know. Oh, enough already!!!!
There's news of a new Italian restaurant in an unexpected location -- inside the Huating Hotel which last year ceased to be a Sheraton. If you've been there, please let me know how it rates. Time for you to do some of the work!!!
Other places to investigate are Superstar, opposite the Holiday Inn, which is often featuring an "a capella" band (just singers, no musical instruments) these days. Also a place called "Tribal Men". I wrote that name last night in the middle of a crowded bar, and I can't for the life of me remember what it is or where it is or why it is worth mentioning. If you know, please tell me!!!
Byeeeee!!
Entry for March 25, 1998
I braved the rain and the cold on Wednesday evening to bring you up-to-the-minute news of Shanghai's first Guitar Festival. Yes!!! No sacrifice is too great, no road is too long when it comes to keeping my fans in the picture on the nightlife scene in this, the world's greatest city. Someone the other night said I was so selfless when it came to seeking out and reporting the important developments in this area that I should be called the Mother Theresa of Huaihai Lu. I think this suggestion is in bad taste, and I am ignoring it.
Anyway: the Guitar Festival. It was held at the Cotton Club, under the leadership of cuddly man-mountain Mathew, and as a means of boosting business on a dreary Wednesday evening, it was a massive success. Shanghai's premier blues guitarist, Zhang Du, played a couple of tunes with guitarist Xiao Fu, whose ponytail is definitely the most stylish in town. But the hit of the evening was a trio from the American school led by Warren. It was their very first performance, and they were excellent!!! Unfortunately, it was impossible to hear a word Warren sang. I look forward to their next performance and finding out what it was he was trying to tell us!! I have a feeling it was about the Great Jellyfish Mother (da haizhe niangniang), which I have mentioned before.
Don't miss the second night of the guitar festival on Thursday!!! Someone in the crowd described the entertainment as being plucking good, which I think is also in bad taste.
Did you see the charming and highly creative art exhibition the German Consulate was running on the notice board / glass case on the consulate wall in Yongfu Lu? It was called Limited / Unlimited, and was definitely the smallest art exhibition in the world!!! One Shanghai artist was featured every month, and I particularly liked the last show, created by our city's most dissolute artist, Zhou Tiehai -- it featured a shower fixture actually placed on the notice board, and you can see a photograph of it by clicking here. But don't you dare click away until you've read every single word in my report!! I understand that the exhibition series has now gone into hibernation for a while, and with the weather as bad as it is at the moment, I think that's an excellent idea!!!
I have received a message from one of my fans who says "I think I am getting addicted to May-May". Now, this is a potentially serious problem, and I think the medical authorities should be alerted to this threat as early as possible. I have discussed the matter with a doctor, and he says that May-May reports, read once or even twice a day, will not pose a threat to your health. But if you find yourself clicking on the Shanghai-ed Nightlife report anything more than four or five times a day, then you should pay serious attention to clicking elsewhere in the Shanghai-ed site. Get your fortune told by Lao Zhang!! Check the weather!!! Visit Aunt Daisy!!!! But please, my darlings, do try to control this May-May fever. I wish I could be less attractive than I am, but what can I do????!!!!! I have to be me, we all have a role in life and THIS IS MINE!!!
Byeeeee!!
Entry for March 24, 1998
You may not have noticed (hah!), but we have entered Shanghai's dreaded rainy season. The man I had dinner with last night predicted that this weather will last until mid-April and I almost burst into tears, only partly as a ploy (men do love the helpless female. If only they knew!!). But we must be strong. And prepared. It is soggy shoes and muddy clothes for the next few weeks. The only positive side of it is the soothing sound of the rain at night. But that's a big plus!!
I see business at the Long Bar in the Portman is doing well. Crowds of foreigners, not too many locals. But foreigners in large groups can always be counted upon to consume large quantities of beer. Which will keep a smile on the face of Philip, the cutest and most understanding man in the Shanghai Centre. No more live music, which the Long Bar was once famous for, but it seems to have survived the loss of the Five Guys on a Train jazz band well. The parallel question is: how has the jazz band survived the loss of the Long Bar. Answer: it hasn't.
But I have good news on that front. A couple of nights ago at the Cotton Club, I bumped into Jake, the hunky man who founded the band several years ago, then skipped town. It was lovely to see him again, and watching him play the harmonica brought back some wonderful memories!!! Maybe he will help the revive the Five Guys from their sleeping beauty slumber. He certainly woke me up!!!
Don't miss the guitar festival in the Cotton Club on Wednesday and Thursday evening. That cuddly man-mountain Mathew has promised me that every guitarist in Shanghai will play. I hope not all at once!!!
I went to lunch at Mr Yao's lovely Moonshanghai restaurant on Huaihai Lu the other day -- still the original and best. I mention it simply because of the huge sign in English which greets you as you leave, which I think invited me back again, although I may be wrong: "Welcome to Moonshanghai and repeat"!!!
Byeeeee!!
Entry for March 23, 1998
I am getting deluged with information on developments on Shanghai's nighlife scene, which is just wonderful!! Keep it coming, all you nightlife spies and informers!!!
There's a new cafe and art gallery on Maoming Lu, just north of Judy's Too, called (you'll never guess) Art and Cafe. It's open, it says outside, from 11:00 to 26:00, which I think is really cute. At the moment, they have a special art exhibition in progress, by a charming young Shanghai girl now living in Beijing called Lin Qingqing. I had a quiet talk with her about her paintings which are lovely, and should be snapped up by adoring hoardes in spite of the high prices. She paints, amongst other things, various clothes hanging on hangers, and told me the aim is to show how clothes take on the characteristics of the people who wear them. If that's true, what are we to make of the short crumped purple skirt I sometimes wear, and the black slacks with holes in the knees??!!! Anyway, I loved her clothes and her flower paintingss, but was puzzled by her social commentary works, and made uneasy by her pictures of a mad bird in various cages. Worth having a look. The coffee is weaker than the art by a long shot!!!
I see there is a new pub/disco opened called Jack's Banana, which is designed like a spaceship. Well really, what a name!!! I presume if it's successful, we can expect a sister establishment called Jill's Melons???!!
And another place: on the ground floor of the Jing An Hotel's west wing is a new bar called "2nd War", with a World War II theme. Very interesting concept, and quite well done.
And yet another: another bar called Cotton Club, this time in Hong Qiao. Just what we need: even more confusion on the club front (see yesterday's entry for another example)!!
Where is the best dimsum in Shanghai? I say the Fulin Huanggong on Huaihai Lu near Shaanxi Lu. How about you?? Email me.
I must apologise for the occasional misspelling in my diary entries. A constant reader has pointed them out to me, and I blush with shame, but can only say in my defence that I write these reports very late at night before slipping into something more comfortable and retiring to my perfumed boudoir. I don't drink much as I do my nighttime rounds, but perhaps just enough to result in the occasional spelling error. Please please be gentle and forgiving with me, my dear fans!! Thank yew.
Byeeeee!!
|
|
