Comments for myredstar http://www.myredstar.com The Best of Qingdao Fri, 18 May 2012 02:47:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Carnegie’s 卡耐基 by Marcus Thomson http://www.myredstar.com/carnegies/#comment-475 Marcus Thomson Fri, 18 May 2012 02:47:06 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=5473#comment-475 Hello Gunther, Thank you for your review of Carnegie's. Firstly I must say that we do not have bags of cash to throw at the business but I can promise you that we will still be in Qingdao in two months time! Yes, business is not great at the moment but we have very successful businesses in other parts of the region and we are adamant that will will try our very best to make the Qingdao bar work. Although I agree with you that we have been pretty quiet during the weekdays maybe you haven't been for a while on Saturday but it has been picking up recently on Saturdays. Don't get me wrong, we are still a long way from where we want to be but we are adamant that we will continue to try all means to get more people through the doors. Critical mass is a major thing here, as you say at the end of your message, nobody wants to be on their own in such a large venue. That is a problem for us, getting sufficient numbers through the door at one time which in turn attracts more people. It is definitely not easy to do. Can I correct you on the "Buy 10 Tsingtao beers for 100 kuai" deal. Yes, you have to buy all the beers in one go. That is simply a strategy to allow you to get a cheaper price. However they do not need to be opened all at once and nowhere does it say that you cannot swap warm for cold. So if there are only two of you, you only need to get those opened that you are drinking at the time and if, after say four beers the remaining ones are getting warm you may swap any unopened ones for new beers out of the fridge. The only stipulation is you cannot get money back on ones you haven't drunk (but then you could always take them with you if you wish). I take note of your point about drinks taking too long to be made and shall bring this up with the Management. However I've got to say our flaring bartender is a pretty good and not something you see in Qingdao every day of the week. Also, our cocktail list and 366 shooters list is legendary in HK and Taiwan, maybe we just need more time in Qingdao. I've got to agree with the previous reviewer though as I realize now that Qingdao is a lot more price driven than say HK or Taiwan, this is something I certainly didn't realize whilst setting up the business. You only have to go to New York Bar, Rhumba or Q Bar (except Wednesday Ladies Night) where they charge substantially more than us and they are dead most of the time as well. As per the last review, you are welcome to come to our party next Saturday, just drop by for an invite. As it is free food and drink for two hours I doubt it will an empty ballroom (well I hope it isn't!). And I look forward to meeting you too. Best Regards, Marcus Thomson COO Carnegie’s International Group Hong Kong * Taipei * Perth * Qingdao * Fremantle (coming soon) The Conservatory (Perth) Hello Gunther,
Thank you for your review of Carnegie’s. Firstly I must say that we do not have bags of cash to throw at the business but I can promise you that we will still be in Qingdao in two months time! Yes, business is not great at the moment but we have very successful businesses in other parts of the region and we are adamant that will will try our very best to make the Qingdao bar work.
Although I agree with you that we have been pretty quiet during the weekdays maybe you haven’t been for a while on Saturday but it has been picking up recently on Saturdays. Don’t get me wrong, we are still a long way from where we want to be but we are adamant that we will continue to try all means to get more people through the doors. Critical mass is a major thing here, as you say at the end of your message, nobody wants to be on their own in such a large venue. That is a problem for us, getting sufficient numbers through the door at one time which in turn attracts more people. It is definitely not easy to do.
Can I correct you on the “Buy 10 Tsingtao beers for 100 kuai” deal. Yes, you have to buy all the beers in one go. That is simply a strategy to allow you to get a cheaper price. However they do not need to be opened all at once and nowhere does it say that you cannot swap warm for cold. So if there are only two of you, you only need to get those opened that you are drinking at the time and if, after say four beers the remaining ones are getting warm you may swap any unopened ones for new beers out of the fridge. The only stipulation is you cannot get money back on ones you haven’t drunk (but then you could always take them with you if you wish).
I take note of your point about drinks taking too long to be made and shall bring this up with the Management. However I’ve got to say our flaring bartender is a pretty good and not something you see in Qingdao every day of the week.
Also, our cocktail list and 366 shooters list is legendary in HK and Taiwan, maybe we just need more time in Qingdao.
I’ve got to agree with the previous reviewer though as I realize now that Qingdao is a lot more price driven than say HK or Taiwan, this is something I certainly didn’t realize whilst setting up the business. You only have to go to New York Bar, Rhumba or Q Bar (except Wednesday Ladies Night) where they charge substantially more than us and they are dead most of the time as well.
As per the last review, you are welcome to come to our party next Saturday, just drop by for an invite. As it is free food and drink for two hours I doubt it will an empty ballroom (well I hope it isn’t!).

And I look forward to meeting you too.

Best Regards,
Marcus Thomson

COO Carnegie’s International Group
Hong Kong * Taipei * Perth * Qingdao * Fremantle (coming soon)
The Conservatory (Perth)

]]> Comment on Carnegie’s 卡耐基 by Marcus Thomson http://www.myredstar.com/carnegies/#comment-474 Marcus Thomson Fri, 18 May 2012 02:27:06 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=5473#comment-474 Hi An Rui, thank you for your comments. I agree with you that our location is not one that passers by are going to simply come across; and that has no doubt been a big problem for us. As you rightly state, the subway construction has meant less traffic coming down Nanjing Road which has also adversely affected our business. We were hoping to get more of a spin-off from the Ye Chao/Vivi crowd but this has not happened. I have got to say that I thought that 15 yuan would be a reasonable price for a bottle of Tsingtao, I know some places charge 10 yuan but then some places charge a lot more. One thing you may not know is if you become a member (which is free to do) then you are entitled to 10% discount on this price so it comes down to 13 yuan (rounded down). Thank you for pointing out the deficiencies in the wait staff, I shall make a point in bringing this up with the Manager to ensure this improves. Glad you like our bathrooms! You may or may not be aware but we are holding a party next Saturday 26th May from 6-8pm. You and your friends are more than welcome to come. You need to swing by to get an invite beforehand. I will be in Qingdao for the party next week so if you come please feel free to introduce yourself to me. Best Regards Marcus Thomson COO Carnegie's International Group Hong Kong * Taipei * Perth * Qingdao * Fremantle (coming soon) The Conservatory (Perth) Hi An Rui, thank you for your comments. I agree with you that our location is not one that passers by are going to simply come across; and that has no doubt been a big problem for us. As you rightly state, the subway construction has meant less traffic coming down Nanjing Road which has also adversely affected our business. We were hoping to get more of a spin-off from the Ye Chao/Vivi crowd but this has not happened.
I have got to say that I thought that 15 yuan would be a reasonable price for a bottle of Tsingtao, I know some places charge 10 yuan but then some places charge a lot more. One thing you may not know is if you become a member (which is free to do) then you are entitled to 10% discount on this price so it comes down to 13 yuan (rounded down).
Thank you for pointing out the deficiencies in the wait staff, I shall make a point in bringing this up with the Manager to ensure this improves. Glad you like our bathrooms!
You may or may not be aware but we are holding a party next Saturday 26th May from 6-8pm. You and your friends are more than welcome to come. You need to swing by to get an invite beforehand.
I will be in Qingdao for the party next week so if you come please feel free to introduce yourself to me.

Best Regards
Marcus Thomson
COO Carnegie’s International Group
Hong Kong * Taipei * Perth * Qingdao * Fremantle (coming soon)
The Conservatory (Perth)

]]> Comment on Milano Italian Restaurant 米兰诺意大利餐厅 by Dawn http://www.myredstar.com/milano/#comment-473 Dawn Thu, 17 May 2012 17:16:39 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=7528#comment-473 I've met the owners, two wonderful gentlemen. Had a nice visit with them about their extensive wine selection, very helpful how to choose a wine that you'd enjoy. Also tried their pizza, and the first thing I noticed was the aroma and how fresh and authentic the cheese was. It's difficult to find truly authentic flavors in this city. However, it doesn't take an expert food critic to recognize top-quality after tasting an array of imitations. Aside from pizza, they have a full menu of other Italian cuisines, appetizers, and drinks. The upper level dinning area has round tables for small group seating, moderately decorated, but classy - a nice, relaxing environment. The downside is that everything is a little pricey, in the 80 RMB starting range, but reasonable when considering that they use imported materials. Excellent food, worth every penny! I’ve met the owners, two wonderful gentlemen. Had a nice visit with them about their extensive wine selection, very helpful how to choose a wine that you’d enjoy. Also tried their pizza, and the first thing I noticed was the aroma and how fresh and authentic the cheese was. It’s difficult to find truly authentic flavors in this city. However, it doesn’t take an expert food critic to recognize top-quality after tasting an array of imitations.

Aside from pizza, they have a full menu of other Italian cuisines, appetizers, and drinks. The upper level dinning area has round tables for small group seating, moderately decorated, but classy – a nice, relaxing environment. The downside is that everything is a little pricey, in the 80 RMB starting range, but reasonable when considering that they use imported materials.
Excellent food, worth every penny!

]]> Comment on The Canvas by Dawn http://www.myredstar.com/canvas/#comment-472 Dawn Thu, 17 May 2012 16:50:26 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=7013#comment-472 I also appreciate the new environment. It has a nice ambiance, mixing the cold feeling of stones with rugged wood, nice balance. It's a great place to bring a few friends to visit without having to yell over noisy crowds. My friends introduced it to me for the "amazing" quesadillas. I'm happy to see some Mexican food in Qingdao finally; however, their "caliente" (hot pepper) burger didn't even tingle my taste buds. That was a little disappointing. All in all, nice restaurant when wanting to have some western dishes and a quiet conversation. I also appreciate the new environment. It has a nice ambiance, mixing the cold feeling of stones with rugged wood, nice balance. It’s a great place to bring a few friends to visit without having to yell over noisy crowds. My friends introduced it to me for the “amazing” quesadillas. I’m happy to see some Mexican food in Qingdao finally; however, their “caliente” (hot pepper) burger didn’t even tingle my taste buds. That was a little disappointing. All in all, nice restaurant when wanting to have some western dishes and a quiet conversation.

]]> Comment on Crowne Plaza Hotel 青岛颐中皇冠假日酒店 by Dawn http://www.myredstar.com/crowne-plaza-hotel/#comment-471 Dawn Thu, 17 May 2012 16:39:33 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=2194#comment-471 The Crowne Plaza is the most centrally located hotel for all your downtown needs in Qingdao. I stayed for a week in this hotel and a week in the Intercontinental. I like the warm colors, elegant furnishings, and knowledgeable staff that speak several languages, especially English. Aside from a variety of indoor restaurants, coffee lounges, and bars, it also has a very nice swimming area and bowling alley! The ATM is in a safe location and it has several languages to choose from as well. It's hard to say what my favorite part of my business suite was, the super comfy bed and fluffy pillows or the ultra-high water pressure in the shower, all were impressive compared with my other hotel stays. Hassle free internet, room-service, ect... You would end up paying a lot more for less quality elsewhere in Qingdao. The Crowne Plaza is the most centrally located hotel for all your downtown needs in Qingdao. I stayed for a week in this hotel and a week in the Intercontinental. I like the warm colors, elegant furnishings, and knowledgeable staff that speak several languages, especially English. Aside from a variety of indoor restaurants, coffee lounges, and bars, it also has a very nice swimming area and bowling alley! The ATM is in a safe location and it has several languages to choose from as well. It’s hard to say what my favorite part of my business suite was, the super comfy bed and fluffy pillows or the ultra-high water pressure in the shower, all were impressive compared with my other hotel stays. Hassle free internet, room-service, ect… You would end up paying a lot more for less quality elsewhere in Qingdao.

]]> Comment on Carnegie’s 卡耐基 by Günther http://www.myredstar.com/carnegies/#comment-470 Günther Thu, 17 May 2012 03:19:21 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=5473#comment-470 Quite curious how long Carnegie's will survive in Qingdao... I honestly give it a month or 2, or the investors must have bags full of cash they are willing to drop in this place. They'd better give the cash to me, at least I'd give it some purpose instead of putting it in a bottomless hole. The only fun night there I remember was the opening when there at least were people attacking the free food and drinks. After the opening the place has been like a cemetery: dead and quiet, even on Fridays and Saturdays. Maybe that's why they only show opening party pictures of Carnegie's Qingdao at the website (www.carnegies.net) and use the pictures of Taipei (where the fun seems to be) to advertise their Qingdao "events". Never seen cute girls dressed like like that over at Carnegie's QD... We took a customer there once for dinner on a Tuesday and she indeed asked us if we rented the whole place for her since we were the only ones there... After dinner we walked around Zhonglian plaza to see plenty of people in the area, so that people can't find the place is nonsense, since Ye Chao and Vivi are all nights packed, along with other places on Zhonliang Plaza that seem to do reasonable business. Right product, right place and you'll get customers. Simple marketing basics imho. If you can't afford a 15rmb beer, than what are you doing going out? Stay in and buy a bag of beer on the street and enjoy getting drunk for cheap on your couch... As if the 5rmb difference on the beer price compared to other bars is all that would matter... On the other hand the action they have of buy 10 beers pay 100rmb makes no sense to me. If your with 2 and do this, by the time you are at beer number 3 the others are lukewarm... Food is ok, but not very special. It's the same like all restaurants in QD. Nobody is really creative and sees other options. They all go for the so-called Western food: steaks, pastas, pizzas, salads and burgers. Why is there no "Waggas", "Element Fresh" or places like this in Qingdao? It takes you a day walking around Shanghai to see what places are packed and what we are missing in Qingdao. I really am willing to pay for a nice dinner or good drinks. But having a 300 shots and 100-something cocktail card, makes no sense to me when they are not well made and it takes hours to prepare them since the bartender is more busy flaring bottles and showing of instead of making drinks. I wish them all the best at Carnegies, but cutting down on drink and dinner prices doesn't do the trick for me. I still don't want to be the only customer in a empty place the size of a ballroom. Vielleicht Auf Wiedersehen! Quite curious how long Carnegie’s will survive in Qingdao… I honestly give it a month or 2, or the investors must have bags full of cash they are willing to drop in this place. They’d better give the cash to me, at least I’d give it some purpose instead of putting it in a bottomless hole.

The only fun night there I remember was the opening when there at least were people attacking the free food and drinks. After the opening the place has been like a cemetery: dead and quiet, even on Fridays and Saturdays. Maybe that’s why they only show opening party pictures of Carnegie’s Qingdao at the website (www.carnegies.net) and use the pictures of Taipei (where the fun seems to be) to advertise their Qingdao “events”. Never seen cute girls dressed like like that over at Carnegie’s QD…

We took a customer there once for dinner on a Tuesday and she indeed asked us if we rented the whole place for her since we were the only ones there… After dinner we walked around Zhonglian plaza to see plenty of people in the area, so that people can’t find the place is nonsense, since Ye Chao and Vivi are all nights packed, along with other places on Zhonliang Plaza that seem to do reasonable business.
Right product, right place and you’ll get customers. Simple marketing basics imho.

If you can’t afford a 15rmb beer, than what are you doing going out? Stay in and buy a bag of beer on the street and enjoy getting drunk for cheap on your couch… As if the 5rmb difference on the beer price compared to other bars is all that would matter… On the other hand the action they have of buy 10 beers pay 100rmb makes no sense to me. If your with 2 and do this, by the time you are at beer number 3 the others are lukewarm…

Food is ok, but not very special. It’s the same like all restaurants in QD. Nobody is really creative and sees other options. They all go for the so-called Western food: steaks, pastas, pizzas, salads and burgers. Why is there no “Waggas”, “Element Fresh” or places like this in Qingdao? It takes you a day walking around Shanghai to see what places are packed and what we are missing in Qingdao. I really am willing to pay for a nice dinner or good drinks. But having a 300 shots and 100-something cocktail card, makes no sense to me when they are not well made and it takes hours to prepare them since the bartender is more busy flaring bottles and showing of instead of making drinks.

I wish them all the best at Carnegies, but cutting down on drink and dinner prices doesn’t do the trick for me. I still don’t want to be the only customer in a empty place the size of a ballroom.

Vielleicht Auf Wiedersehen!

]]> Comment on The Canvas by Brandon http://www.myredstar.com/canvas/#comment-469 Brandon Wed, 16 May 2012 14:06:38 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=7013#comment-469 In response to the review from Filip, I simply have this to say. The Canvas is currently a Non-Smoking establishment. The 'Old' Canvas... Now called Dejavu is a smoking restaurant. Hope this clears up any confusion. In response to the review from Filip, I simply have this to say. The Canvas is currently a Non-Smoking establishment. The ‘Old’ Canvas… Now called Dejavu is a smoking restaurant. Hope this clears up any confusion.

]]> Comment on Carnegie’s 卡耐基 by An Rui http://www.myredstar.com/carnegies/#comment-467 An Rui Tue, 15 May 2012 05:15:24 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=5473#comment-467 No, Michael, the place was dead when we went there a couple of weeks ago on a Friday night. If you want to have an entire restaurant all to yourselves, this is the go-to place. They have an unfortunate location at the very back of the Zhonglian Plaza; nobody is ever going to walk by and stumble across this place. It's too far away from the city center and any touristy spots. The subway construction can't be helping right now. The food was good...but who charges 15 yuan for a bottle of Tsingtao Beer? Many of the foreigners in Qingdao who frequent independent bars and restaurants are English teachers. They don't make that much money. This ISN'T Hong Kong, Sydney or Perth. Reducing the prices on the menu and drinks was a step in the right direction. Incredibly, even though we were the only people in the restaurant for some of the evening, the waitstaff was just not on top of the service. They should have been swinging by every 15 minutes to ply us with fresh drinks, not waiting for us to flag them down, which is basically what we had to do. But I guess since people in China don't tip, there's not much motivation for the workers to provide outstanding service. Don't get me wrong, the service was friendly and the waitstaff spoke acceptable English, so I am not complaining about that at all. This is a nice restaurant and I hope it succeeds. It's the kind of place you could take your visiting out-of-town family members to, so they don't go into paralytic culture shock. Even the bathrooms were fabulous for China. No, Michael, the place was dead when we went there a couple of weeks ago on a Friday night. If you want to have an entire restaurant all to yourselves, this is the go-to place. They have an unfortunate location at the very back of the Zhonglian Plaza; nobody is ever going to walk by and stumble across this place. It’s too far away from the city center and any touristy spots. The subway construction can’t be helping right now.

The food was good…but who charges 15 yuan for a bottle of Tsingtao Beer? Many of the foreigners in Qingdao who frequent independent bars and restaurants are English teachers. They don’t make that much money. This ISN’T Hong Kong, Sydney or Perth. Reducing the prices on the menu and drinks was a step in the right direction.

Incredibly, even though we were the only people in the restaurant for some of the evening, the waitstaff was just not on top of the service. They should have been swinging by every 15 minutes to ply us with fresh drinks, not waiting for us to flag them down, which is basically what we had to do. But I guess since people in China don’t tip, there’s not much motivation for the workers to provide outstanding service. Don’t get me wrong, the service was friendly and the waitstaff spoke acceptable English, so I am not complaining about that at all.

This is a nice restaurant and I hope it succeeds. It’s the kind of place you could take your visiting out-of-town family members to, so they don’t go into paralytic culture shock. Even the bathrooms were fabulous for China.

]]> Comment on Carnegie’s 卡耐基 by Michael http://www.myredstar.com/carnegies/#comment-466 Michael Mon, 14 May 2012 13:02:21 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?p=5473#comment-466 Do people still go to Carnegies? It seems empty every time I walk by? Which nights are busy? Do people still go to Carnegies? It seems empty every time I walk by? Which nights are busy?

]]> Comment on Into The Woods 拜访森林 by webmistress http://www.myredstar.com/events/into-the-woods-%e6%8b%9c%e8%ae%bf%e6%a3%ae%e6%9e%97/#comment-465 webmistress Mon, 14 May 2012 10:27:01 +0000 http://myredstar.com/?post_type=event&p=7035#comment-465 Tickets are selling like hot cakes, grab yours now at the listed venues and secure a very philanthropic session of belly-aching laughter. Tickets are selling like hot cakes, grab yours now at the listed venues and secure a very philanthropic session of belly-aching laughter.

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