17 stellar things to do in Shanghai this week
You might not believe it but according to China’s 24 Solar Terms, we’re already three days into autumn - still the scorching heat won’t be leaving us anytime soon. Aside from cooling down with frozen drinks, chilling at rooftop bars and spending days by the pool, there's plenty of events this week to keep you entertained. We’ve got a big band supper club at The Pearl, a queer film screening at Specters and a new exhibition of Liu Xiaodong at UCCA Edge. For rest of what's good in Shanghai over the next seven days, read on.
Flyers courtesy venues and promoters. Click to enlarge.
Things to Do
The Rooster Trivia Night
Kick your brain into gear at The Rooster’s Sunday trivia. Prizes to be won include vouchers, beers, shots and the grand season prize – one keg of Goose Island IPA. Drink specials includes glasses of house wine (35RMB), four Jameson shots (100RMB) and more. This week’s trivia clue is ancient religious leaders, so grab your brainy friends and get prepared.
📍The Rooster, 455 Shaanxi Bei Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu. Sun 15. 7pm-late. Free entry.
UseDem Upcycle Workshop
UseDem teams up with adidas Terrex for a special upcycle workshop at niko and… flagship store on Nanjing Xi Lu. You’ll learn how to transform leftover fabrics from Terrex jackets into messenger bags (there will be four 30-minute sessions to choose from). Extract the QR code on the flyer to sign up.
📍niko and..., E-127, First Floor, 169 Wujiang Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu. Sun 15. 3.20-6.30pm (30-minutes sessions). Free entry.
Eating & Drinking
The Pearl’s Big Band Supper Club Sunday
Take a trip back to the 1930s at The Pearl’s swanky big band supper club. Jazz singer Frank Bray will kick off the festivities with some classics alongside The Pearl’s Big Band led by conductor Jeremy Sinclair. To complete the night, Chef Baidas will be preparing a Middle Eastern buffet. Sound like your thing? Book the table here or call at 136 2168 8556.
📍The Pearl, 471 Zhapu Lu, near Wujin Lu. Sun 15. 6-8pm (dinner); 8.30pm-late (show). 388RMB (dinner and show); 220RMB (show only).
Deep Dish Pizza at Cages
This month’s edition of Chicago-style deep dish pizza at Cages sees a supreme variation (pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, bacon and three-cheese blend) join the classics - meat lovers, vegetable primavera and chicken parmesan pies on the menu. The pizzas (298RMB each) are all 14-and-a-half inches and feed around three to four people. They’re also limited in supply so pre-orders are a must. Message Cages on their official WeChat ID 'CAGESofficials' to do that.
📍Cages, Third Floor, Jingan Sports Centre, 428 Jiangning Lu, near Wuding Lu. Sun 15. 9am-2am.
Music & Nightlife
Poison Mind
Celebrating ‘freedom, personality, diversity and a taste for love and life’, queer-friendly party concept Poison Mind is at Celia this Friday. The show runs from 11.30pm-12.30am, with Simon Adams, DJ Hot Lips and Lina K keeping the party going into the wee hours. Dress up in an outfit that screams ‘Perfect Intense’. Click here for an idea of what to expect. Click here for an idea of what that looks like.
📍Celia, 709 Jiaozhou Lu, near Yuyao Lu. Fri 13. 9pm-late. 100RMB (inc drink).
100% Vinyl
Cocarde Collective’s 100% Vinyl is back. Hosted at X Bar, celebrate the glory days of old-school DJ culture with classic disco and house – think Donna Summer, Minister De-La-Funk, Stardust and more.
📍X Bar, 7 Donghu Lu, near Xinle Lu. Fri 13. 10pm-2am. Free entry.
Antigen: Vol 2 Footwork All Night
Antigen brings Footwork Vol 2 to ALL for a night of high-speed stepping through the sounds of Hangzhou FunctionLab's RSBSBLT and Shanghai's own Ikke, BAADAAM, Chuan and Zean.
📍ALL Club, Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. Fri 13. 10pm-late. 80RMB; 40RMB (before 10pm).
Donghu Ballroom
X Bar's monthly Donghu Ballroom party gets a new look (hello, low hanging disco balls) with Saturday's theme based on Qixi (Chinese Valentine’s Day). Dress in 1920s-style qipaos or '70s disco attire for a chance to win A bottle of prosecco, while DJs O-Mori and Tatz blast the music. There’ll also be a special martini menu from Peddlers Gin on the night.
📍X Bar, 7 Donghu Lu, near Xinle Lu. Sat 14. 8pm-late. Free entry.
Back to the 80s and Bollywood Mix
This double-header evening at The Pearl brings you back to the '80s with The Red Star Band playing classic tunes from ABBA to Bon Jovi, before going full-on Bollywood with DJs and Bollywood dancers. Chef Baidas will also be cooking up Indian food and snacks.
📍The Pearl, 471 Zhapu Lu, near Haining Lu. Sat 14. 8.30-11pm (Back to the 80s). 11pm-late (Bollywood Mix). 200RMB; 150RMB (presale).
Circle of Sound Music Festival
Shanghai event organiser Circle of Sound brings ten local indie bands together for a small music festival that’ll cover genres spanning from metal to punk, pop, funk, indie, blues and jazz. The lineup includes Shanghai-based punk band Evolution, folk trio Mr Slicker, singer-songwriter Nei-Nei and more. Music aside, there'll be a dozen booths selling things like indie jewellery, antiques, vintage books and handicrafts.
📍Lofas, B1-09, 230 Ruiping Lu, near Wanping Nan Lu. Sat 14. 1.30pm-late. 120RMB; 200RMB (for two).
The Beat Battle Vol 2
A bit different from the last Beat Battle (where beatmakers drew from a sample of vinyls and had two hours make their own), this time around six beatmakers will be going head to head playing their original sounds with cash prizes in cash (2,000RMB for the winner). MDC and LATENINE6 will be behind the decks during the intervals. Interested in competing or want more info? Check out the recap of the last battle, click here.
📍ALL Club, Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. Sat 14. 10pm-late. 80RMB; 40RMB (before 10pm).
Sugar House
This Saturday, Dada is throwing its first Sugar House party bringing people to the dancefloor for a night of timeless R&B-inspired sounds from DJs Dirty Dishes, Missytana, Tag and a performance from choreographer and dancer Amber.
📍Dada Shanghai, 1303 Yanan Xi Lu, near Anxi Lu. Sat 14. 11pm-late. 80RMB; 60RMB (before 11pm).
Film
CINEMQ 41: JOY
The latest edition of Queer monthly short film screening and party series CINEMQ is taking place at Specters on Thursday under the theme JOY. There’ll be a screening of short films celebrating queer joy and love as an expression of self at 8.30pm, followed by an after-party featuring Tina Turnatrick from 10.30pm onwards.
📍Specters, Bldg D, 753 Yuyuan Lu, near Zhenning Lu. Thu 12. 8.30pm-1am. Free entry.
The Year Earth Changed
Another film screening from the Green Initiatives crew to make us think about our impact on nature. This time they’re showing The Year Earth Changed narrated by David Attenborough. The documentary reflects on nature’s resilience and some of the lessons learned from global lockdowns about how small changes in human behaviour can make a big difference to the planet.
📍Education First (Jingan), 258 Tongren Lu, near Nanjing Xi Lu. Thu 12. 6.30-9.30pm. 60RMB.
Art
Liu Xiaodong: Your Friends
The UCCA Edge’s second exhibition presents 30 oil paintings and 80 watercolours by Liu Xiaodong, one of the pioneers of China’s new realism movement. The display spans the length of his career including manuscripts, diaries, a documentary and works from his latest series ‘Your Friends’ (where he painted his artist friends during the pandemic). Praised by critics such as Jérôme Sans, Liu's art is known for capturing the lives of people living within China's fast socio-economic development.
📍UCCA Edge, Second Floor, 88 Xizang Bei Lu, near Qufu Lu. Until Sun 10 Oct (closed on Mondays). 100RMB.
Jonas Burgert: blüht und lügt
Take a peek inside the fantastical world of Berlin-based painter Jonas Burgert, whose solo exhibition is currently at Long Museum West Bund. The artist has filled the space with oversized canvases that feature imaginative images of eerie figures dressed in wild costumes – all designed to demonstrate the inner and outer conflicts that often encompass the world around us. Burgert isn’t interested in what's on the surface or quick messages, instead, his art takes a deep-dive into exploring human nature.
📍Long Museum West Bund, 3398 Longteng Dadao, near Ruining Lu. Until Fri 8 Oct (closed on Mondays). 200RMB (all the exhibitions).
Family
Children Cookie Decoration Class
Got little'uns who love to bake and decorate cakes? Geneva is hosting a kid-friendly cookie decorating class this Saturday. Tickets (88RMB per child) include six cookies pre-made for decoration, a goody bag to take home and ice cream to enjoy during the class, plus many activities to keep your young cookie artists busy. Call 5239 9197 to book.
📍Geneva, 112 Jinbang Lu, near Fuquan Lu. Sat 14. 2-4pm. 88RMB.
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