Diner’s Guide

By Wang Yu
Cozy hutong life cannot exist without mouthwatering food and satisfying drinks.
Like most shop owners in Wudaoying Hutong, the owners of the restaurants and cafes are in the business because of their love of food. Some of the establishments evolved from places where the owners and their friends gathered to dine.
Besides the excellent menu, [...]

The hidden world of Wudaoying Hutong

Hutong shops are the Beijing alternative to shopping malls. The most well-known among these neighborhood alleys is Nan Luoguxiang, which is rarely missing from the itinerary of tourists. West of the Lama Temple is Wudaoying Hutong, which some people dub “the next Nan Luoguxiang.” Wudaoying’s collection of shops is growing, but it still provides the brand of peace and quithat people seek out in hutong.

Learning to say ‘Hello’

By Venus Lee
The organizer announces the start of the activity, and 12 tall and awkward men take to the streets looking for an attractive woman.
Some followed a woman for a long time before watching her disappear into the crowd. Though they came back disappointed, the teacher sent them out to try again.
The group meets every [...]

British video games industry needs tax breaks, warns report

(Telegraph)
By Claudine Beaumont
The British video games industry will lose out to other countries unless the government introduces tax credits to boost innovation, says Nesta.

Nesta states that Britain will lose its third place in the global video games industry due to lucrative tax breaks offered by Canada and USA
The United Kingdom currently has the third most [...]

Pass the student accommodation test

(Telegraph)
By Graham Norwood
The new generation of student accommodation has lofty ambitions, finds Graham Norwood

Britain’s army of students may be wearing concerned frowns this summer. Are they caused by late exam results? The scramble for university places? Or are they worried about where they are all to live?
There are already 1.96 million university students in Britain [...]

Good Things Do Come in Pairs

(NY Times)
By Cathy Horyn

DYNAMIC FORCES Mary-Kate, left, and Ashley Olsen have emerged as unlikely designers with their clothing lines The Row, and Elizabeth and James. Above, the twins at their Manhattan warehouse.
“THERE is a certain amount of face time that you need when you have a brand,” Ashley Olsen said. “We just wanted to function [...]

New life for old arts – Eight Xuanwu artists lead Charming Beijing in Brussels

The history of Beijing as the capital city began in Xuanwu District. During the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), imperial construction began in the district’s Guang’anmen area. Centuries later, the district is famous for its well-kept tradition of folk arts and craftsmanship. Its current artists give new life to the old arts they inherited.

3D cinema is art’s new Renaissance

(The Guardian)
By Jonathan Jones
The technical effects of James Cameron’s film Avatar give us a glimpse of what it was like to see depth in art for the first time

Like staring into a Da Vinci painting … Fans preview the film Avatar at Comic-Con 2009 in California.
James Cameron’s new 3D film Avatar has a lot to [...]

Judge sentences singer Chris Brown to five years of probation

(The Guardian)
Brown appeared in court today to be formally sentenced for an assault on pop star Rihanna

A judge today sentenced Chris Brown to five years’ probation and six months’ community labour for the beating of pop star Rihanna and issued a stern admonition to the R&B singer.
Los Angeles superior court judge Patricia Schnegg told Brown [...]

Good Things Do Come in Pairs

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/fashion/27olsens.html?ref=global
By CATHY HORYN
“THERE is a certain amount of face time that you need when you have a brand,” Ashley Olsen said. “We just wanted to function more behind the scenes.”
It was a sultry afternoon in August, and Ms. Olsen and her sister Mary-Kate were visiting the production office of The Row, their two-year-old fashion label, [...]