12 excellent things to do in Shanghai this week

Photograph: Jeremy Daniel (Chicago)

The festive season is in full swing and just like last week, we're one week closer to Christmas – it's funny how that works. Read on for our pick of the best things to do in this Shanghai this week, many of which have nothing to do with Christmas if you're a bit of a Grinch...

Eating & Drinking

Photograph: Amy Snelling (Miss Green Pop-up)

Blackstone Magic Bar: Magic Santa

Black Stone Magic Bar's magicians put on their Magic Santa show. Guests receive a specially crafted cocktail upon arrival before entering China's first-ever close-up magic theatre. 

📍Blackstone Magic Bar, Unit 5152, Found 158, 158 Julu Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu. Thu 20-Tue 25. 7.30-8.30pm, 9-10pm, 10.30-11.30pm. From 240RMB; from 180RMB (presale). Tickets include one cocktail. Scan the QR code above to book tickets. 

Miss Green Pop-up at Roast & Wine Merchants

A pop-up from the Taipei-famous Miss Green, this plant-based brunch/lunch runs through the whole of December, bringing the likes of whole roasted cauliflower (68RMB) and cauliflower and roasted chickpea tacos (38RMB), roasted veggies (48RMB), and a shitake mushroom and tofu 'buddha bowl' bagel with vegan spring onion cream cheese (58RMB) to steakhouse and barbecue joint Roast & Wine Merchants.

📍Roast & Wine Merchants, Room 111, 135 Yanping Lu, near Wuding Lu. Until Mon 31. Midday-3pm. Free entry.

Things to Do

Photograph: courtesy Shaving in the Dark

Jing An Kerry Centre Christmas Market

Jing An Kerry Centre has gone all-out for Christmas with a 13-day holiday market featuring food stalls serving all the seasonal heavy-hitters (think Madison Kitchen turkey sandwiches, pan de jamon from Azul, mulled wine and hot chocolate from HLK bistro), live bands, carol singers, visits from Santa Claus and more.

📍South Piazza, Jing An Kerry Centre, 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Changde Lu. Until Wed 26. 10am-10pm. Free entry.

Comedy UN's Christmas Special

Get into the festive spirit with Comedy UN at their Christmas special, including Emily Gant, Nate Johns, Charlie Wallace, Kurt Dunsing, Ivan Ivan and host Gene-George.

📍Comedy UN, 549 Yanan Zhong Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu. Sat 22. 7.30pm-9.30pm. 70RMB; 50RMB (presale).

DKNSTKRT Drag King Bootcamp

Find out everything you need to know about being a drag king in this fast-paced free workshop. Shanghai's reigning drag king Dorian T Fisk will be joined by Cole Steel Johnson, dandy London Summers and Shanghai School of Burlesque's Kara LaCroi to teach you everything you need to know about being a drag king in just three hours. Sign-ups are a must and it's BYO drag kit: make-up, make-up brushes, a collared shirt and a necktie.

📍The V Spot, Fifth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Donghu Lu. Sun 23 Dec. 4-7pm. Free entry. Scan the QR code above to book your spot. 

Shaving In The Dark Christmas Market

Shaving in the Dark Magazine presents their very own market. Pick up gifts like comics, prints, tattoos and illustrations, or participate in workshops where you can learn tricks of the trade from professional illustrators. There will also be live music and mulled wine available, as well as a special Christmas edition of the group's Drink n' Draw, an event which brings together artists and non-artists alike for a relaxed evening of, well, drinking and drawing.

📍Subland, Bldg 8, 51 Runanjie, near Zhizao Ju Lu. Sat 22 2-8pm. Free entry.

Music & Nightlife

Photograph: courtesy Modern Sky Lab

Modern Sky Lab x Say Yes Christmas Special

Modern Sky Lab and Say Yes are hosting an electronic showcase of dark proportions. For their special Christmas show, they have wrangled a potent lineup of hard techno, post-punk and shoegaze musicians from the genre's international and local scenes. UK-born Giant Swan will be headlining.

📍Modern Sky Lab, 3F Moon Shopping Mall, 188 Ruihong Lu, near Tianhong Lu, Sat 22 11pm-late. 100RMB (early-bird); 130RMB (presale).

Michael Jackson & Bruno Mars MANIA LIVE

The musical team that brought you the Pearl's ABBA tribute night tackle top songs from Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars. Rhian and Ksenia with the Red Stars band will be bringing the works of two pop icons to the Shanghai stage.

📍The Pearl, 471 Zhapu Lu, near Haining Lu. Tue 21-22. 9pm-11pm. 120RMB (presale).

China Social Club: The Bad Seed

China Social Club are seeing in the winter months with nitty-gritty electronica and basslines. Inspired by the 1954 novel of the same name featuring an evil young girl with sinister motives, CSC invites you to forget your humility and let out your own bad seed. DJs Illsee, HYMN and Frau will be providing the twists and turns with house, acid, techno, EBM, ghetto, two step and jungle rhythms on this genre unrestricted jaunt.

📍DADA, 115 Xingfu Lu, near Huashan Lu. Fri 21. 10pm-5am. Free entry.

Film

Searching

Image: courtesy Sony Pictures

Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, Searching follows the story of a father (John Cho) searching through his daughter's online footprint after she goes missing. With the help of a detective (Debra Messing), the scrambling dad discovers a lot more than he bargained for in this visually stunning thriller that's set almost entirely on screens. It was released back in August to the wider world and soon gained critical acclaim and huge box office takings.

📍 On general release now.

Art

Photograph: Ollie Dico

Thomas Hirschhorn: Re-Sculpt

Re-Sculpt is the first China exhibition of Swiss contemporary artist Thomas Hirschhorn. The exhibit explores the aesthetics of ruins and discusses the complexity and paradox of destruction and creation, by asking visitors to both make and break in this ever-evolving exhibition space.

📍 Ming Contemporary Art Museum, 436 Yonghe Dong Lu, near Gonghe Xin Lu. Until Sun 17 Feb (open Tue-Sun). Free entry.

Stage

Photograph: Paul Kolnik

Chicago

'Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts' – no, we're not talking about a Saturday night at Found 158. World-famous musical Chicago is coming to town this week. The show is known for its dark humour, sharp dances, raw energy and unforgettable music. Tickets are officially sold out on Time Out Tickets for this week, but you can still book tickets for future dates (scan the QR code below). 

📍66 Jiangning Lu, near Fengxian Lu. Thu 20 Dec-Sun 13 Jan. 2pm, 7.30pm. From 550RMB.

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