TresSugar

The Right Way to Store Servingware

Susannah Chen — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:14:48 PDT

At some point in your life, chances are, you'll be investing in a set of new servingware. But not all ceramics are created equal, and based on the formality and type of dinnerware, it might make sense for you to store some of your high-end china.

If you're tending to ceramics and silverware incorrectly, the odds are stacked against you, and you'll likely run into snafus in years to come. Want to preserve your fancy ceramics and silverware for life? Follow these instructions for packing with care when you read more.

Chinese Newlyweds Get Carried Away During Hot-Air Balloon Weddings

Annie Scudder — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:06:44 PDT

Married life started on a high note for 15 couples who got hitched during a group hot-air balloon wedding in China's Shaanxi Province on Sunday. After becoming officially married on the ground, the brides and grooms traded their first dance for a first flight, boarding colorful balloons while guests watched from down below. Love was clearly in the air, and although the newlyweds had to share their big day, they'll have one-of-a-kind memories. See more photos of the celebrations now.

Picture It: Love Triangle

Tara Sharp — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:45:53 PDT

She laughs at her situation, as a woman caught between two men - a male underwear model and his evil twin brother.

No, this is not the plot for a juicy romance novel, it's simply the Asia Adult Expo in Macau, China. The three-day sex-po begins today, and last year it managed to attract 30,000 visitors. See the slightly NSFW pics snapped at the event now, including an artist at work who calls himself "Pricasso" . . . can you guess what body part he paints with?

What's the Future of Global Aquaculture?

Susannah Chen — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:11:46 PDT

From functionally extinct oysters to shark fin cruelty, recent environmental news has suggested a doom-and-gloom future for global aquaculture. A new report, from The WorldFish Center and Conservation International, takes the notion of the world's bleak seafood system a step further, with a chart that illustrates how the mercy of the world's fish supply lies almost entirely in the hands of one country: China.

China accounted for 61.5 percent of global aquaculture in 2008 and is now the single largest exporter of seafood to the United States, thanks to America's taste for shrimp and catfish. But given the country's rash of recent food safety scandals, and the fact that the FDA has only inspected 1.5 percent of processing facilities in China, this statistic has perilous implications for the future of seafood.

Overfished seafood and overfishing have both been hot topics as of late, but there needs to be a greater conversation not only about how fish are disappearing, but also who the world's seafood suppliers have turned to. Are you concerned about the provenance of your seafood for health and safety reasons?

Source

Would You Register For China?

Katie Sweeney — Tue, 17 May 2011 05:03:20 PDT

Since I'm a huge fan of entertaining, and in particular hosting dinner parties, one of the things I'm looking forward to is selecting a beautiful set of china. Although I'm currently single, when I get married, I'm definitely registering for it! However, the tradition of china can spark debate. Many modern couples don't throw dinners, and others don't have the storage space for a second set of dining ware, so they simply won't register for china. How do you feel about it?

Shanghai Hotel Embraces Industrial-Chic Design

Elka Karl — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:10:50 PDT

If you're headed to Shanghai and appreciate great design, book a stay at The Waterhouse at South Bund. This 19-room intimate boutique hotel features a rooftop cocktail bar, spacious lounge, and a fantastic mix of private indoor spaces and public outdoor spaces. The Travel + Leisure 2011 Design Awards just awarded the hotel an honorable mention for Best Hotel, while its ground floor restaurant Table No. 1 was named Best Restaurant. With furnishings from Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Antonio Citterio, and Kana Ishikawa, it's truly a design lover's dream stay. Take a tour!

Sham Marriage Is a Liberated Option For Gen-Y Gays in China

Colleen Barrett — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:00:06 PST

Weddings may be big business in the US, but they are serious business in China. There's tremendous pressure to marry and bear children, so much so that unmarried women over 27 are called sheng nu or "leftovers." Gay people aren't spared, because social protocol dictates a "don't ask, don't tell" policy that keeps nearly everyone in the closet. Previous generations suffered through loveless marriages, but Generation Y has a new plan: gay men marry gay women to please their parents and (sort of) free themselves.

It's become so popular that there's a fake-marriage market where in-the-know Chinese lesbians and gay men go to find spouses. At one underground market, held in a yoga studio (the owner supports gay rights) in Shanghai, Slate's Nicola Davison talked to fake-spouse seekers and those who've already said "I do" (fingers crossed). Read what they had to say below.

Vibrating Bra For the "Exquisite Figures Women Diligently Long For"

Colleen Barrett — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:30:41 PST

I can't tell if the point of this vibrating bra, which Ellen ordered from a Chinese infomercial, is to vibrate breasts into new cup sizes or just vibrate them into looking bigger. Either way, the best part of this video from today's Ellen is not the infomercial nor Ellen trying it on; it's the Chinglish she reads from the instructions.

"Dear female friends. You have become our female friends when you are reading our elegant pamphlet. Mamma, the most important body organ of woman, which enable human life to grow as delicate and bright color just as flowers and hot houses . . . Exquisite figures are always the pursuit that women diligently long for day and night for thousands and hundreds of years."

That was amazing, but I still don't know what the bra's supposed to do.

Lady in Red: Michelle Obama Shines in McQueen at State Dinner For China

Annie Scudder — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:50:29 PST

Michelle Obama looked as glamorous as ever in a dress by Alexander McQueen, as she and Barack welcomed China's President Hu Jintao to the White House tonight. The first lady chose to wear red, which symbolizes good luck in China, for the latest state dinner. Check out tons of photos now!

Brilliant or Baffling: Opening a Chinese Bank Account

Emily Co — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:15:59 PST

Today, The Wall Street Journal gave five solid reasons for opening a Chinese bank account, but it may be hard for those of us living on the other side of the world to wrap our mind around the idea. This comes after the announcement of how the American branches of the Bank of China are now allowing US citizens to open an account with it and to keep their money in Chinese yuan. Some of the reasons the WSJ columnist gave for converting your dollars to yuan are that it's very likely that the Chinese currency will keep going up (although that might take a long while) and it diversifies your portfolio. So what do you think: is this brilliant or baffling advice?