The top 17 things to do this week
Photograph: courtesy 247tickets.com (Kinky Boots)
There's a lot of great stuff to look forward to this week in Shanghai. It's the semi-finals and final of the World Cup, Plug Fest brings some of the country's best rappers to town, Kinky Boots hits Shanghai Culture Square, everything is set to get rosy at Rosé Revolution, funny man Theo Von is over from the States for two shows and of course there's the super kawaii Studio Ghibli exhibition at Shanghai World Financial Centre. Read on for our picks of the best things to do.
Food & Drink
Rosé Revolution 2018
Photograph: courtesy The Flying Winemaker
Brought to you by The Flying Winemaker, this day of pink wine returns to Shanghai. Get knowledge on just how good rosé can be at this rooftop tasting festival on The Bund.
Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund 19 Gongping Lu, near Haiping Lu. Sat 14. Midday-8pm. 250RMB; 400RMB (VIP). Extract QR code to book tickets.
Chef's table at Egg – Hisham Alumnayes
Photograph: Yang Xiaozhe
Egg's Chef's Tables return, featuring a new guest chef every week serving up a tasting menu for ten diners around the café's communal table. This week's chef is Hisham Alumnayes. His passion for cooking sparks from family barbecues and brunches where kebabs and hummus were regular appearances. In this Chef's Table, expect dishes sprouting from his childhood memories as he serves Mediterranean fusion with a twist.
Egg 12 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu. Thu 12. 8-10pm. 288RMB.
Mr & Mrs Bund French National Day Celebration
Photograph: courtesy Mr and Mrs Bund
This Bastille Day, modern French eatery Mr & Mrs Bund is bringing four days of celebrations starting with Bingo on Thursday, La Boum party on Friday and the main foodie event over the weekend. Dinner on Saturday (5.30-11pm) will feature French favourites and buy-one-get-one-free on select wines and champagne bottles. Brunch (Sat-Sun 11.30am onwards) will be starring the Bund omelette, croque madame and oysters with caviar – fab, fun and French.
Mr and Mrs Bund Sixth Floor, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu. Thu 12-Sun 15.
Music & Nightlife
Plug Fest
Photograph: @higherbrothers via Instagram
Some of China's finest rap acts are coming to an old shipping warehouse on the former Expo site in Puxi this July. Billed as a celebration of street culture, the one-day event will feature Higher Brothers, MJ116, Stooki Sound, bbno$, Young Dragon, Warz and more. The space features indoor and outdoor areas meaning you'll be able to party whatever the weather. Note: the venue information here is just as a guide - the actual location for this festival is just across the road.
Near the Children's Art Theatre 800 Miaojiang Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu. Sat 14. 560RMB; 420RMB (presale); 300RMB (early bird). Extract QR code to book tickets.
Music in the Summer Air: Velvet Underground 50th Anniversary Memorial Concert
Photograph: courtesy Shawn Brackbill
The Velvet Underground finally make it to China. Well, sort of. Yes, yes, Lou Reed and Nico might no longer be with us, but this isn't just some cashing-in-on-the-name type show - this is something potentially really special. John Cale and Joey Maramba will be performing along with a handful of Chinese indie luminaries. Zhang Shouwang, Yang Fan, and Yan Yulong - who between them have made some of the most important music to come out of Beijing via Carsick Cars, Chui Wan, Ourselves Beside Me, and a multitude of side and solo projects - will join as part of the band. Do. Not. Miss. Even though tickets are sold out, do what you need to to get your hands on some.
Shanghai Symphony Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Baoqing Lu. Wed 11. 7.30-9.30pm.
Broken English Club
Photograph: courtesy Elevator
L.I.E.S-endorsed Oliver Ho, aka Broken English Club, drops a live set at Elevator as part of Say Yes' two-night third birthday celebration. Expect avant techno, house and 'brutal futurist' sounds.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu. Thu 12. 10pm-4am. 100rmb.
Didi Han
Photograph: courtesy Le Baron
Seoul selector Didi Han - one of the masterminds of the highly thought of Pute Deluxe nights in the South Korean capital - drops in to Le Baron having been streamed on Boiler Room twice and played festivals across the continent. Expect hip hop, house, and 'darkling R&B'.
Le Baron Seventh Floor, 20 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu. Thu 12. 10pm-4am.
Cut Killer
Photograph: courtesy Bar Rouge
French hip hopper Cut Killer storms The Bund on Bastille Day for 'an unforgettable night of retro hip hop'. As anyone who's seen him in Shanghai before will know, his sets usually weave together hip hop, rock, pop and reggae - though perhaps tonight it'll all come with a bit more of a French accent than usual.
Bar Rouge Seventh Floor, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu. Sat 14. 11pm-5am. 150RMB presale; 200RMB door price. Extract QR code to book tickets.
Things to do
World Cup semis and final
Photograph: Emma Dau via Unsplash
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is coming to a close with the semis on Tuesday 18 (France vs Belgium) and Wednesday 19 (England vs Croatia) before the final on Sunday 15. Is it coming home? If you know, you know...
Various locations. Extract the QR code for full event details.
Stand Up Comedy with Theo Von
Photograph: courtesy Shanghai Comedy Club
Hailed by Joe Rogan as 'one of the funniest guys in America' and as seen on MTV, Comedy Central. Netflix, Last Comic Standing and more, Theo Von hits Shanghai for two shows.
Cages Bar and Sports Third Floor, Jingan Sports Centre 428 Jiangning Lu, near Wuding Lu. Fri 13-Sat 14. 9-10.30pm. 200RMB.
World of Ghibli
Photograph: John Pearson
Miyazaki fans take note. The World of Ghibli features the Catbus from Totoro, presented as a plush, life-sized replica, a half-scale recreation of Satsuki and Mei’s house and a life-sized Totoro and an eight-metre replica of Castle in the Sky's airship on the 94th floor. Check out our walkthrough of the exhibit here.
Shanghai World Financial Centre 100 Century Avenue, near Dongtai Lu. Until Sun 7 Oct. 10am-7pm. 159-310RMB. Extract QR code to book tickets.
KFK Frontstage: Gus Tate
Photograph: courtesy Kung Fu Komedy Club
Beijing Comedy Competition winner and Hong Kong International Comedy Festival Finalist Gus Tate is back from the US to headline Kung Fu Komedy. Support comes from Ben Frank, Adam Hopkins, Norah Yang and host Jorge Castellanos.
Kung Fu Komedy Club Fourth Floor, 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu. Sat 14. 8.30-10pm. 150RMB; 100RMB (presale).
Film
Animal World
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=a0693gm5n7j&width=500&height=375&auto=0
Director Han Yan's off-the-wall sci-fi/action adventure sees desperate debt-laden protagonist Zheng Kaisi embark on a gaming cruise ship outside the rule of international law, where the winner takes all and losers pay the highest price.
On general release now.
Dying to Survive
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=c0693j8jc34&width=500&height=375&auto=0
This slick Chinese noir comedy loosely adapts the true story of a cancer patient who peddled imported medication in China - think Dallas Buyer's Club, without the moustaches and Texas twangs, in the backstreets of Shanghai.
On general release now.
Art
Wavelength: Reset
Image: ONFF Studio, courtesy Powerlong Museum
Powerlong Museum and CUBE Consulting Group Inc. have come together to present a three-months-long contemporary art exhibition, Wavelength: Reset. The exhibition features more than 100 sets of artworks from 40 artists around the world, ranging from paintings to new media to fashion. The exhibition will be in Halls 4, 5 and 6 on the first floor of the Powerlong Museum.
Powerlong Museum 3055 Caobao Lu, near Xinzhen Lu. Until Mon 8 Oct. 10am-6pm (except Mon). 128RMB, 230RMB (pair); 80RMB (student).
Charlie Chaplin: A Vision
Image: © Roy Export SAS. Courtesy Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne (via 247tickets.com)
A major retrospective exhibition of Charlie Chaplin photographs comes to Shanghai coproduced by the Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne and Yuz Museum. The collection includes production and set stills, as well as travel albums and portraits by well-known photographers such as James Abbe, Edward Steichen and Richard Avedon.
Yuz Museum 35 Fenggu Lu, near Longteng Dadao. Until Sun 7 Oct. 10am-9pm (except Mon). 150RMB. Extract QR code to book tickets.
Classical/Stage
Kinky Boots
Photograph: courtesy 247tickets.com (Kinky Boots)
Fabulously sassy, uplifting and ever so kinky, this Tony Award-winning musical is coming to Shanghai for 12 days in July. Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, with music and lyrics by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots tells the story of a struggling Northampton shoe factory. It follows the factory owner Charlie Price, whose chance encounter with drag queen Lola inspires a production line of sexy heels for transvestites that helps save the family business.
Shanghai Culture Square 597 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Shaanxi Bei Lu. Wed 11. 7.30-9.30pm. Extract QR code to book tickets.