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No Slumbering Start to Summer

Greetings all. No preamble today. No wandering through transitions. No meandering. There's simply too much going on. I'm getting straight to it, so strap yourself in and take notes. This Friday you've got a chance to set a great tone for the weekend, contribute to a worthy cause, and have a great time doing it. On the 23rd, Green Mango is hosting a Myanmar benefit show with live music, raffles, and an all around good time. As most of you surely know, the Irrawaddy delta region of Myanmar is in a state of utter devastation. Many died in the cyclone itself, but that loss will pale in comparison to the numbers that might be claimed due to lack of safe drinking water, preventable illnesses, and outright starvation. Given the position taken by the Burmese regime in regards to foreign aid and humanitarian intervention, the need is even more pressing. Through attending this event sponsored by Green Mango and a variety of other Hanoi businesses, you can be sure of your contributions making their way directly to the relief efforts of I.D.E. ("International Development Enterprises", a non-profit NGO based in Yangon) via UNIS Hanoi's existing fundraising support program. The night itself will be filled with activities and entertainment, including performances from DJ JC, Simpsons Donkey, and the Green Mango Guitars. A whole variety of raffles will be taking place, all sponsored by some of the most generous businesses found in Hanoi. If you're living on a bit of a budget, this is the night to splurge. Treat yourself. You deserve it, and you can justify it all the more by knowing you're directly helping those in need. Don't miss it. If you head out on Friday and spend your whole weekend fund at the benefit show, don't worry. We're looking out for you. The following night, May 24th, is the New Hanoian meet up at Noc Bar - La Scala. They'll be turning over their huge, 19th floor space to the New Hanoian hordes. From 7pm~10pm, Noc Bar will be opening the taps with free draft beer, as well as pouring loads of Kamikaze cocktails for all registered members, free of charge. Bring out all your friends and colleagues to help make this the biggest meet up we've yet had. If they're not yet signed up, tell 'em to get to it...or just sign up at the event. Remember though, the line for the sign up at the door can get a bit long, and it would be a shame to lose valuable drinking time. For those coming early and looking for a bite to eat, Noc Bar - La Scala also has a full menu, as well as a few specials cooked up specifically for this big night. While the food won't be complimentary like the three hours of drinking you've got coming, it's certainly not a bad idea to dine on their terrace overlooking all of Hanoi. You could certainly do worse. While many of you may have never made it out to that end of Hoang Hoa Tham before, it's plenty easy to find. Simply take the street to the far west end. As you approach the intersection with Buoi Street (just next to the Buoi Market), you'll see a towering apartment building on your left. Noc Bar - La Scala is at the very top (the 19th floor). You can park in the basement garage and take the elevators all the way up. We'll be waiting for you. Finally, there's an event that's becoming as Hanoian as your morning Pho. From May 30th ~ June 1st, the Thac Da Resort in Ha Tay Province will be playing host to the infamous, the notorious, the boisterously sublime Minsk Olympics and Music Festival. Organized by the one and only Minsk Club, the Minsk Olympics is now in its sixth incarnation. Turnout is sure to be bigger than ever, with their always popular Piston Trophy and Komrade Struggle competitions in full swing (with prizes for both the best male and female riders). For entertainment, the Hanoi-based outfit Digital Offensive will be first to get the party started, then there will be original Vietnamese rock tunes from Holy Red Cross, spectacular electro pop from the Traks Boys, who will be flying all the way from Tokyo to perform exclusively at this event, then last but not least, there will be sublime rhymes from hip-hop artists Da Aya Clan, who will be coming up from Ho Chi Minh City to strut their stuff on stage. Tickets cost VND500,000 which includes stilt-house accommodation, the banquet on Saturday night, breakfast and lunch on Sunday, and entry and parking at the resort. As preparations will begin early on Saturday there will be a crew heading down on Friday night and rumour has it the CAMA djs will be spinning some tunes, so if you'd like to make a weekend of it just contact the club at minskclubvietnam@hotmail.com. There are also a limited number of private rooms with AC available, so again, drop the club a line to make a booking (no pressure but it's first in first served). For directions to Thac Da resort check out www.minskclubvietnam.com. While the event will be packed with the ever ubiquitous Minsk, you certainly don't need one to attend. Get there however you can, because if you're looking for the quintessential let-me-tell-you-about-my-time-in-Hanoi story, this will be among the best. To top it all off, we've got another month of prizes to reward the continuing contributions from all of you who have helped make The New Hanoian the most indispensable resource on life in Hanoi. Here's what you've got a chance at: The banks of the Red River have long been home to late night drinking dives of various levels of repute. We might not always favor them on their own merits, but their locations have allowed them hours of operation many places their size just can't match. Now, a new player is on the riverside scene, attempting to give us the all-night weekend spot so many seek, without making us feel like we've settled out of necessity. One of our distinguished users and a whole slew of friends certainly won't be settling for anything. To announce their grand opening, Stones 1 is inviting one of our winners and fourteen additional friends out to their riverside lounge for free food and drinks for a solid two hours. Not only that, but they can show up at virtually any time, because Stones 1 doesn't close, or shut down their kitchen, until the last customer leaves. Whether they show up at 2pm or 2am, Stones 1 will be ready fire up the grill, uncork the booze, and send fifteen lucky folks on their way to a big night. The open-air shisha lounge overlooking the Red River and space on the dance floor await. A second elite New Hanoian reviewer will be heading off for lunch at an Old Quarter eatery that the long-term residents of Hanoi surely know, but who may need an occasional nudge to head back for the fine French cuisine the restaurant has always been known for. Few restaurants in Hanoi have such a varied but consistently high quality menu of French gastronomic delights as does Cafe des Arts. For one of our users and three friends, lunch will be an all expenses paid affair drawing on their extensive menu or perhaps their always rotating lunch specials. Just this week, they have such diverse dishes on offer as Creole style Ox skewers, all-you-can-eat Breton buckwheat pancakes, Chicken vol-au-vent and their famous quenelles, or perhaps Royal Couscous and/or a sirloin gratin Dauphinois. Pure, delectable refinement for one's palatte, and all ready to be enjoyed amidst their rotating art exhibits inside or high above Bao Khanh alley on their terrace. Discovering the Cafe des Arts lunch experience awaits our lucky four...and perhaps a great many more of the New Hanoian community. Make the most of these next couple weeks. They look to be stellar. Cheers, The Staff of the New Hanoian

Written by alpha

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