Chinese New Year has finally drawn to a close. The temple fairs are over and everyone is getting back to work. While you might be complaining about the stack of papers on your desk, don't worry because there is plenty coming up in Beijing, including Avril Lavigne and the last gasp blow-out of Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival.

Notable News:

1) All those crazy fireworks
While Beijing's foreign residents have a bit of a love-hate relationship with fireworks during Chinese New Year, there is no doubt that Chinese love the age old tradition. They love it so much that the endless booms and bangs of their firework mania created nearly 184 tonnes of waste over the week long holiday. Unfortunately, residents don't like to clean the mess up as much and Beijing had to employ over 5,000 street sweepers to deal with the disposed firework casings.

Also according to official city numbers, 193 people were injured by fireworks, including one man in Beijing's suburbs who died in a fireworks explosion. While it may seem like a lot, injury numbers are actually down 50% from last year.

2) No ID, no knife
If you are looking to buy a knife anytime soon, make sure you bring your ID as new regulations prohibit supermarkets in Beijing from selling knives to any individual without registering their ID information, home address and the purpose for buying the knife. According to the new regulations, supermarkets are also prohibited from selling knives to people with “unusual and abnormal” behaviour.

Strangely, local mom and pop hardware stores are for some reason exempt from registering knife buyers.

Events:

1) Superbowl 46
If you like watching muscular men in tights hit each other while kicking back cocktails at seven in the morning then February 6th is the day for you! Bars all over Beijing are offering specials to attract people to what the climax of the American football season at their establishment. Here is just a few of the offers out there:

- Kro's Nest (at Xiaoyun Lu): Special Superbowl food, buy two cocktails get one free
- Tim's Texas BBQ: 25 RMB Bloody Mary's and Screwdrivers, breakfast buffet
- The Den: 100 RMB breakfast buffet, 15 RMB Bloody Mary's and Tsingtao
- Union Bar and Grille: 155 RMB 'jumbo' breakfast, 45 RMB Bloody Mary's
- Danger Doyle's: 58 RMB American breakfast, 15 RMB Tsingtao and Kamikaze shots
- Luga's Villa: 98 RMB buckets of Budweiser

The game kicks off at 06:30 so make sure you make it out in time to enjoy the Superbowl in all its alcoholically infused breakfast glory! 

2) Lantern Festival
This year February 6th marks the Lantern Festival which not only celebrates the first full moon of the year but also marks the official end of the Chinese New Year season. While there will be more fireworks, the festival is more known for a plethora of red lanterns. There are plenty of places to see the famous lanterns in Beijing but here are three of the most popular.

- Sanlitun International Lantern Show: Taking place at the Sanlitun SOHO there will be plenty     of dragon decorations, bars nearby and red lanterns
- Red Lantern World Daguanyuan: Taking place at Daguanyuan Park in Xuanwu District this spectacle will have over 5,000 lanterns spread out over traditional Chinese courtyards.
- Ditan Park Lantern Festival: Not only does Ditan Park have a great temple fair they also have    plenty of red lanterns to gaze at. The great thing is you can buy them and take them home!

3) Jorma Kaukonen graces Beijing
Music legend Jorma Kaukonen, co-founder of 70's standout Jefferson Airplane, is making his way to Yugong Yishang on February 11th to rock Beijing with his current blues/bluegrass style. He will be supported by popular Beijing bluegrass band The Randy Able Stable. The show starts at 21:00 and tickets are 100 RMB at the door or 70 RMB presale.

4) Avril Lavigne hits BeijingView In Map
Canadian punk/rock sensation Avril Lavigne will rock out Beijing on February 14th as part of her Black Star Tour. So if you want to get out there and hear all your Avril hits, head out to the MasterCard Center (Wukesong Arena) on the 14th. The show starts at 20:00 and tickets cost 280-880 RMB depending on seating location. So get online here (http://en.piao.com.cn/beijing/ticket_4391.html) and get your tickets before they run out.

When: February 14th, 20:00
Add: 12 Xicui Lu, Haidian District, Beijing
地址:北京市海淀区西翠路12号
Price: 280-880 RMB

Openings:

1) New Indian Food
If Indian food is your thing then keep up to date about what is going on at the Sanlitun SOHO because new Indian Restaurant Khajuraho is about to open soon!

2) The Wu at Wudaokou
If you like cheap drinks and dance floors then get out to student hangout Wudaokou and visit new club/bar Wu which just opened at the former location of the ill-fated Mango Club in the U-Center.

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Keywords: Beijing watchdog Watching the Superbowl in Beijing Lantern Festival in Beijing buying knives in Beijing Avril Lavigne in Beijing