Eat beat

China

Drinking for a cause

Maovember, which until now has been a Beijing-based effort to raise funds for charity through alcoholic merrymaking, spreads across China this year with new events in Shanghai and Tianjin. Organizer Jim Boyce says the "mao" refers to the coins worth one-tenth of a yuan and the idea that many small donations lead to big results. Proceeds from Maovember pin sales, personal donations, and tipplish events go to career training for developmentally challenged late-teen orphans and libraries for orphanages and impoverished schools. The launch party is on Friday at XL Restaurant and Bar in Beijing, and officially ends Nov 18 in the capital at Paddy O'Shea's with the annual hockey shootout, a Jameson pickleback bar and live music.