So good you wanna....

With my upcoming US trip arriving in 2 weeks, I needed to finish up some Christmas shopping. I headed over to the Silk Market, one of the larger marketplaces in Beijing.

Along with some gifts and a new winter coat for myself, which according to the saleslady I look handsome in, I purchased a simple magic trick from a magic shop in the market. I won't say the name of the prop I bought on here so I don't reveal the secret but for my magic buddies it was a product commonly sold in U.S. magic shops that comes in a variety of textures, colors, and sizes and is made by Vernet. These weren't Vernet quality(try dollar tree quality), but since I didn't have one, I decided to haggle for it. He started his price at 85 (discount since I said I was a magician ). This is about 13 dollars. I offered him much lower and in his shock, he made a crucial mistake. He said "Sir you are magician, you know quality of this product." To which I responded, "Yes I do, and I know this one is not worth what you are asking." I got it for 40, still a little high but it came with a silk so I can't complain.

Now on to the real reason for my visit: FOOD. With this being a touristy area, I figured there would be some good western restaurants around. I walked around a bit in search of a place and amidst calls from street vendors to buy socks and dvds and one offer from a Chinese pimp to find sex for me, I found the restaurants. Mexican, no. Steak, no (even though according to the sign this place had "The best steak in town, probably." And then there it was: Tim's Texas Barbecue. I stepped in the place feeling like I had stepped into a King of the Hill episode. There were a couple of tables occupied, all foreigners (including one loud table of annoying Texan tourists debating Obama and Bush, why are tourists such dweebs?) I immediately sat down and ordered the brisket (the true measure of any place claiming to sell Texas bbq.) It didnt' dissappoint. The onion rings were the best I have ever had, the pinto beans and cornbread divine, and the meat tender and smokey tasting, and the spanish rice a unique side item for a bbq place. Now only if my mama had been there for me to slap her...