The best of the week
California Dream Basketball Clinic with Willie Cauley-Stein
Monday 23, Shanghai Stadium, Free
The latest NBA name to make a stop in Shanghai is rookie Willie Cauley-Stein. The Sacramento Kings centre will share his basketball story with fans, host a basketball clinic and play a 3-on-3 game with local players. Fans can also jump in on the action with a challenge against the NBA star, where the challenger who finishes in the shortest time will win a grand prize. Limited free tickets at the venue on a first come first served basis.
Summer of Haze
Friday 27, Dada, Free
Antidote hosts Moscow 'goth trap' and witch house producer Summer of Haze. Apparently witch house, which we always thought was a fake genre made up by bored music journalists, is an insane hybrid beast in Russia. Who knew? Summer of Haze is joined by Hyperboloid label runner Saburov and local DJs from the Antidote orbit. Check out more info on our nightlife page.
Grab a last meal at Pirata
Closing on Monday 30
International tapas kitchen Pirata has been one of our favourite spots in town since former ElEfante head chef Ling Huang opened it in 2014. Sadly the restaurant is shuttering this week, although they say they are hopeful of opening a new location soon. For now, why not go down and grab something from their outstanding menu. Read our full review of Pirata online.
Shanghai Beer Festival
Saturday 28-Sunday 29, Sinan Mansions, Free
It's Shanghai Beer Week! Which means there's a trio of beer festivals for the culmination this weekend: Yes! Brew! promising a 35 metre beer tap wall at Jijiang Amusement Park, Shanghai Craft Beer Fest at The Place in Hongqiao, and our pick, the straight-up Shanghai Beer Festival at Sinan Mansions in the heart of the Former French Concession. Expect brews from Boxing Cat, Slow Boat, Master Gao and lots more, plus food and live entertainment. Hoppy days.
The Angry Birds Movie
On general release now
It's already being described as the best movie ever adapted from an app about disgruntled birds. And this feature length debut seeks to answer that pertinent question - just why are the birds angry? Whilst some critics think Angry Birds should have been left in your pocket rather than catapulted onto the big screen, you can judge for yourself at cinemas across Shanghai this week.
Bipolar Records Presents: Les Enfants Terribles release show
Thursday 26, Yuyintang, 40RMB
Beijing experimental artist Liu Xinyu joins the Bipolar Records bill this month at Yuyintang for the official release party for new compilation Les Enfants Terribles, which features some of China's premier noisemakers and experimental musicians. Also on the bill are Torturing Apparatus (a new group formed from Torturing Nurse and Apparatus 1), Mai Mai + Aming Liang, Fish Drinking Soup (aka Xu Cheng, formerly of Torturing Nurse) and, just in case all that experimentalism gets too much, surf rock trio The Psyders.
All this for just 40RMB (which includes a free download code for the compilation). Click 'read more' for a sample of what you can hear on the night.
Looky here