I was sitting in a wine bar the other night with a couple who live in the Bahamas, the island paradise in the Caribbean, and who are staying in Shanghai for just a couple of months trying to find companies to invest in. "Really," said one, "Shanghai is a step up from the Bahamas. You can get everything here. Back home, I have to make regular shopping trips to Miami." Now, that says it all. Enough of this talk of whether Shanghai will overtake Hong Kong or not. Who cares? We've already overtaken the Bahamas!!!

Zoobaa is advertising its next comedy night, which will be over by the time you read this, as its last. Why? Not yet clear. Meanwhile, China Town has closed for reasons that are still elusive. But having that garden closed off in the summer is a disappointment. Many is the time I have swung on the swing and looked up at the night sky and imagined (as this is Shanghai) what the stars must look like behind the haze, the smog and the city light glow.

On a more uplifting, not to say titillating note, Hooters, the notorious American restaurant known for revealing more than just good food, is reportedly looking for a location here in Shanghai. The rollar skates would surely add some spice to Shanghai's culinary scene, but I think they'll be modifying the wait-staffs attire somewhat. And quite right too. We don't want to give the girls in other venues too much unfair competition, now do we??!!!

Starbucks, the ultimate caffeine pit-stop on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, is now actively looking for a good place to set up camp in Shanghai. Where? I'm not sure. But that's all we need -- another surge of caffeine to knock us into hyper-drive, beyond any point of return.

Also in a coffee mode -- Espresso Americana of Shanghai Centre fame is opening new branches in a new flurry of activity, no doubt not unrelated to the imminent arrival. Number 2 is on Shaanxi Nan Lu near MGM and number 3 is said be opening across from the Oriental Department store in Xujiahui.

Here's a line from the Xinmin Evening News, Shanghai's evening newspaper sold around te city every afternoon to shrieks of "Ya Baw!!!": " If your monthly income is over RMB 4,000, you can go to the Oriental Shopping Center; between 2,000 and 4,000, you should visit the Pacific; between 2,000 and 1,000, the Luibai; lower than 1,000, the Huimin." If China was ever a classless society, it sure isn't now!!!

Champagne is one of those drinks that makes it impossible for me to say no. Which is a scary thought. But nevertheless, the news is that French Champagne brand Verve Cliquot is holding a party at Park 97 on June 24. See you there??!!

Byeeeee!!!