What to do this weekend in Singapore: 15-17 January

We hope you’re starting the year right and slowly easing into the rhythm of 2021. For those who are looking for something to do this weekend, we’re still around to guide you. From the reopening of Raffles Hotel’s iconic bar to celebrating a South Indian harvest festival, there’s more than enough to do both on- and offline this weekend. Without further ado, here are five lovely ways to treat yourself and your loved ones this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Celebrate the return of Raffles’ Long Bar

On Friday evening: Long Bar is finally back. The historic Raffles bar reopened its doors to guests this month, and is once again offering the perfect cosy space for social get-togethers and celebrations. Even better, to welcome the community back to the legendary bar, Raffles is offering an exclusive promotion with every purchase of the Original Singapore Sling, entitling guests who order one to an additional complimentary Original Singapore Sling or one snack of their choice from the Asian-inspired bar bites menu.

Not a fan of the Sling? There are plenty of other boozy options on the bar’s cocktail menu, including the refreshing elderflower Sakura Sling and the exquisite Sour Plum Mojito. Pair your choice with a few light snacks, like Long Bar’s Singapore Chilli Crab Cake, Spicy Tiger Prawns, or the “Long Bar” Chocolate Peanut Bar, and you’ve got yourself a night in heaven.

Raffles Hotel Singapore, 328 North Bridge Rd, #02-01 Raffles Arcade, Singapore 188719
Contact: 6337 1886 / [email protected] / Online Form
The Long Bar is open Thursday through Saturday, from 4:00pm to 10:00pm. The 1-for-1 promotion will run until 31 March, 2021.

Fall in love with something pre-loved or vintage at Shentonista Restyled

On Saturday afternoon: To celebrate its 10th anniversary, fashion documentation collective Shentonista is launching Shentonista Restyled this January. A collection of pre-loved and vintage clothes from the closets of some of the brand’s favourite featured faces, Shentonista Restyled will feature three new collections over the coming weeks. Less is more with Shentonista Restyled; all clothes and accessories sold will be once-loved and ready for a new home.

Though Shentonista has been documenting Singaporean fashion in all its many shades and patterns since 2011, this marks the first time that the brand will expand its e-commerce store. The very first collection, consisting of four looks, is curated by former DJ, fashion designer, and stylist Linda Hao. Prices of the outfits will range from $12 to $180. The second and third collections will be contributed by Nicole Chin, a sustainable thrifting advocate, and Susannah Jaffer, an eco-fashion entrepreneur, respectively.

Shop Shentonista Restyled online from 15 January, 2021.

Rock up to your Netflix homepage to start binging Lupin

On Saturday night: The name ‘Arsène Lupin’ should be uttered in the same breath as the likes of ‘Danny Ocean,’ ‘Thomas Crown,’ and ‘Carmen Sandiego.’ They’re all fictional gentleman (or, in the latter’s case, gentlewoman) thieves who capture your heart even as they’re filching the priceless diamonds around your neck. And now that the new Netflix series has debuted to rave reviews and record-breaking numbers, it’s more than possible Lupin will become a mainstream example of the lovable rogue archetype. Lupin is the first French-language series to ever debut on the streamer’s Top Ten List in the United States, and it currently holds an enviable 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Intouchables’ Omar Sy stars as Assane Diop, who uses the persona of the world-famous master of disguise, Arsène Lupin, when pulling off his (and solving others’) masterful crimes and avenging his father’s wrongful death. A contemporary reimagining of the early 20th-century book series penned by French novelist Maurice LeBlanc, Lupin is Ocean’s Eleven meets James Bond. What are you waiting for? Pop the popcorn and grab your coziest blanket. Nous avons hâté!

The first five episodes of Lupin are playing on Netflix now. Part Two will be available to stream in April.

Taste Heart of Darkness’ brand new Weekend Brunch menu

On Sunday morning: If you’ve already tried all 20 craft beers that local watering hole Heart of Darkness has on tap, it’s time to make another journey to the bar, because now the pickings are just as good in the day as they are in the dark of the night. Heart of Darkness is rolling out its new Weekend Brunch menu, and it promises to be one you won’t want to miss.

Every Saturday and Sunday from noon onwards, beer and bites will flow alongside a lively playlist dishing out hit after hit from the ’80s and ’90s. Menu highlights include the Smash Avo Toast, resplendent with grilled baby corn, smashed avocado, tomatoes, onions and jalapenos topping wholemeal toast, and the Monsieur Marlow, Heart of Darkness’ beer-infused take on the croque monsieur. By Jove, as Joseph Conrad wrote, you won’t have seen anything so unreal in your life.

Heart of Darkness, 1 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089109
Contact: 6208 7940
The Weekend Brunch menu is available at Heart of Darkness every Saturday and Sunday.

Ring in the harvest with the Indian Heritage Centre’s Pongal Day Out

On Sunday afternoon: To commemorate Pongal, a festival that allows both South Indian communities all over the world to celebrate the rice harvest, the Indian Heritage Centre will unveil a series of incredible immersive cultural activities all through this weekend. On-site at the IHC, you can try things like garden and harvesting, or be led down bustling Campbell Lane to learn more about Pongal and why it’s celebrated. Take in the sights and sounds of the festival as it’s observed throughout Little India and the surrounding area. And make sure you keep an eye out for a particularly spectacular lights display.

You and your family can usher in the auspicious Thai, the 10th month on the Tamil calendar, with the IHC online, too. From a TikTok Pongal dance challenge to a special interactive learning portal, there’s something for everyone—anytime, anywhere. Say “pongalo pongal!”

Indian Heritage Centre, 5 Campbell Lane, Singapore 209924
Contact: 6291 1601 / [email protected]
Pongal Day Out 2021 will run until 17 January, 2021.

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Past Events

Check into the Grand Hyatt for a Living Grand Staycation

On Friday night: If you made a New Year’s Resolution to indulge yourself more, then this one’s for you. Grand Hyatt Singapore’s Living Grand Staycation is specifically designed to cater to your every need. Starting off in style, a limousine will arrive to pick you up and transport you to the hotel. The experience will then put you up in the Grand Suite—can you say 83 square metres of space, a complimentary mini-bar, and free-flow light bites and cocktails from the Grand Club Lounge?

In-room butler service and afternoon tea are complimentary, of course, as is the next morning’s Deluxe American Breakfast. And outside your room, enjoy a sustainably-sourced, 7-course culinary journey in mezza9’s private dining room and a 90-minute body or facial treatment at the evergreen Damai Spa. Whether you want a calming, reviving, healing, or renewing experience, Grand Hyatt has just the night you need, in a specially prepared home-away-from-home.

Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211

The Living Grand Staycation will run until 31 March, 2021, for Singapore residents only. To reserve your stay now, email one of the Grand Hyatt’s dedicated Guest Service Managers, Azizah Sulaiman or Katharine Pincaro.

Sample the newest offering from Lady M: a cake infused with The Macallan Double Cask

On Saturday afternoon: Lady M has met her match, with a dark horse of a partner in The Macallan. The two brands have come together to launch a new seasonal cake that combines the best of both worlds: dark chocolate and whisky. Debuting today, the Whisky Dark Chocolate Mousse is generously infused with The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old and will be available at Lady M outposts across the island. Both companies are hallmarks of their respective markets, using only the highest quality ingredients to debut luxurious, decadent products.

Out of The Macallan’s sherry-seasoned oak casks flows liquid gold, with its flavour profile of honey, citrus, and ginger, known for its distinctive, warm character. These qualities, plus the tradition-breaking inclusion of the more delicate American oak (as opposed to the classic European kind), caught Lady M’s attention. Out of the collaboration springs forth a cake with two layers of dark chocolate and milk chocolate whisky mousse, separated by a film of whisky jelly with orange zest and set over a moist chocolate sponge and crunchy feuilletine base.

Lady M, multiple locations.
The Whisky Dark Chocolate Mousse is available for dine-in and retail across all five Singapore Lady M boutiques, as well as island-wide delivery, from 7 January to 28 February, 2021.

Start the year off right with a tipple trip to MO BAR

On Saturday night: In 2019, MO BAR’s second volume menu of cocktails earned it a highly-prized place on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. With its third volume, launched in November of last year, it continues that bespoke legacy of carefully handcrafting drinks, each with a unique story behind it. A continuation of the ‘Nomadic Foragers’ theme first glimpsed in early iterations of the menu, inspiration for the third volume has been plucked from locales around the globe. The team at MO BAR set out to find the heart of their ingredients, and came back with more than a few ideas for cocktails, which Bar Manager Adrian Besa has distilled into sixteen distinct drinks (including four non-alcoholic ones).

First up on your to-do list should be the menu’s star (the one you’ll inevitably want to plaster all over Instagram), the Sarimanok. A rum-and-mango concoction inspired by the rooster of Maranoas, this drink features a magnificent edible rice paper garnish floating on top. From there, you can travel from New Delhi to Ho Chi Minh, from Seoul to Guangzhou, and from Jakarta to Sri Lanka. Be sure, though, to always make your way home to Singapore—and the drink inspired by the city, a herbaceous bracer called Thunder—again. “We are like the islands in the sea,” MO BAR’s menu gently informs its reader, “separated on the surface but connected in the deep.”

MO BAR, 5 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039797
Reservations: Online / 6885 3500 / [email protected]

Shop ’til you drop at the Red Letter Sale

On Sunday morning: One of the largest designer clearance sales in Singapore is back, perched on two levels of Design Orchard for one weekend only. Shop more than 50 local brands like Ans.Ein, Sunday Bedding, Sabrina Goh, Nude Femme, Blithe & Merry, and more, to satisfy your shopaholic habit and stock up on everything food, fashion, and furnishing. Discounts will run up to a whopping 90 percent at the Sale, so it’s the perfect chance to satisfy your discerning buyer’s eye at cost, and get away with some true steals.

The Cocoon Space, 250 Orchard Road, #02-01, Singapore 238905
Red Letter Sale will run from 8-10 January, 2021.

Register your interest in attending the Red Letter Sale for priority, as shoppers will be allowed into The Cocoon in designated 1.5-hour slots.

While away the hours at ShanghART’s evolving exhibition, contemporary: replay

On Sunday afternoon: contemporary has been a lauded project for ShanghART since it launched last September. It tried—and tries—to chronicle our time of heightened uncertainty, capturing the zeitgeist felt by ordinary society and the art industry alike. An experiment in moving forward into the murky future, contemporary is an ongoing process where the space is constantly refreshed and renegotiated, filled with new artworks and the chance for new discussions.

January has seen ShanghART introduce contemporary: replay to its exhibition. An expansion of the already-buregoning project, contemporary: replay presents a range of introspective video works in an intimate setting. See artists both have conversations both old and new around subjects like anticipation and adaptation; all highly relevant to our own new normal.

ShanghART Singapore, 9 Lock Road, #02-22, Singapore 108937

contemporary will run until 15 January, 2021, and contemporary: replay until 28 March, 2021. Admission is free.

Tune into a rare screening of an acclaimed experimental film directed by an award-winning composer

On Saturday afternoon: Narrated by Tilda Swinton, Last and First Men is one of the most original sci-fi flicks to come out in the last decade. Directed by Jóhann Jóhannsson, the late film score composer responsible for sweeping you up in movies like Arrival, The Theory of Everything, and Sicario, his first and final movie Last and First Men didn’t premiere until two years after Jóhannsson’s tragic death in 2018. Garnering critical exaltation at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, the final movie is a dazzling post-apocalyptic spectacle.

But it’s extremely experimental in its execution, and not for the faint of cinematic heart. The movie lingers on fascinating visuals to conjure a macabre vision of the world two billion years in the future. All that’s left of humanity in Jóhannsson’s mournful universe are our surreal monuments, beaming their messages into the wilderness. Naturally, the film is guided by an ethereal, haunting score composed by Jóhannsson himself, making Last and First Men a masterpiece of total artistry.

The Projector, 6001 Beach Road, #05-00 Golden Mile Tower, Singapore 199589
Last and First Men will be screened at 2:30pm on 2 January, 2021. Tickets to the film can be purchased through The Projector. 

Keep the party going at Campari’s Sala Spiritello pop-up

On Saturday night: The InterContinental Negroni now exists—what are you waiting for? As part of an international collaboration across South East Asia, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has partnered with liqueur brand Campari to launch a series of Sala Spiritello pop-ups in their hotels. Immerse yourself in Milanese culture and its rituals of aperitivo and digestivo right here at home, with a series of carefully-curated masterclasses, menus, and drinking experiences.

Six deliciously Campari-muddled cocktails will be available exclusively at InterContinental Singapore’s The Lobby Lounge throughout the month. Aside from the new InterContinental Negroni, created by Campari regional brand ambassador Symphony Loo, there are drinks like the light Negroni Sbagliato, the fruity Pina Shakerato, and the potent Aero 2.0. If you like bittersweet drinks, there’s no better way than with Campari and InterContinental to spend an evening in rainy January.

InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966
Sala Spiritello will be available at The Lobby Lounge every evening from 5:00pm to 9:30pm until 31 January, 2021.

Raid the larder with Plentyfull Bakery & Deli’s new menu

On Sunday afternoon: At Plentyfull Bakery & Deli, things are kept simple—honest, delicious food without any of the fuss or pretense. Visitors won’t find any old cold cuts and boring salads in this eclectic Asian-inspired deli, however. Whether it’s their Bacon & Kimchi Fried Rice with its distinctly charred aroma, or tantalising Umami Miso Baguette, the Deli only serves dishes that have gone through many rounds of taste tests, tweaking, and trials. Comfort food meets gourmet flourishes in meals like Oma’s Bubur Ayam, a stellar twist on a traditional Indonesian chicken porridge, the Kimchi Breakfast Burrito, and Sourdough Prawn Toast (with all the requisite fire from a helping handful of sambal belachan on the side).

Their larder and bakery also feeds the perception that this eatery is considerably larger than it seems, in its physical dimensions and ambitions alike. Bread and pastries like canelés, loaves, and Baklava-turned-croissants are baked daily—and their trove is emptied out quickly by hungry customers in the know, so you’ll want to get there early for the best bites. With ingredients like kimchi, jam, and preserved lemons all made in-house, Plentyfull Bakery & Deli is fresh and fun dining with an eye towards easygoing perfection. (And pro tip: make sure you try the Hand-Stacked Potato Tots before you leave.)

Plentyfull Bakery & Deli, 1 Kim Seng Promenade #B1-K119, Singapore 237994
Plentyfull is open seven days a week from 9am to 8pm.
Contact: 6721 9952 / [email protected]com

Solve a recruit’s murder in Asia’s first virtual horror-mystery escape room

On Sunday night: Two recruits have been found dead, their superior officer summarily dismissed, and the whole case swept under the rug—until now. You are charged with solving the case before time runs out, which may or may not involve a supernatural encounter with the horrifying Pontianak mysteriously linked to the goings-on at Mandai. Written and directed by award-winning playwright Chong Tze Chien and starring Benjamin Kheng and originally only meant to run until 2 January, Murder at Mandai Camp: The Case Reopens has proven so popular that its producers have elected to extend its run for two more weeks. Specialty cocktails crafted by the game’s official partner, Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall, will also continue to be available for pre-order. These include the floral Scent of Plumeria and the chocolatey Pisang Noir.

With Murder at Mandai Camp, no two playthroughs are the same. With live-action gameplay and incredibly rendered flashbacks, augmented with 360 degrees views and immersive surround sound, Murder at Mandai Camp: The Case Reopens is a choose-your-own-adventure theatrical experience not to be missed.

Murder at Mandai Camp: The Case Reopens will run until 16 January, 2021. Tickets can be purchased on SISTIC now. Gameplay is approximately 90 minutes in length.
Pre-order partner drinks from Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall here.

Take a tipple or two at Christmas on Canal

On Friday night: Whether it’s drawn by horses or reindeer, it’s time to pull your sleigh up curbside on North Canal Road. Step inside Barbary Coast’s downstairs venue, Deadfall, and be transported into a wintery watering hole where the grub is good and the grog is even better. Mull over the new seasonal dishes, part of the Deadfall Christmas Chew Over, including everything from Grinch’s Gratin Dip (as green as it sounds) to Santa’s Helper (a gorgeous beef wellington that has no right being on a limited-time menu).

Decor to match the cheer of the menu—think baubles hanging from the ceiling and tinsel draped around the fireplace—make for a markedly modern North Pole, where each new cocktail on the menu comes in its own custom holiday glass. Grab a Drunk Uncle Mulled Wine in a cheery snowman cup or a Nutcracker Nog Fog in a mug decorated with the sheet music for ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ And if you’re feeling ambitious, the Ho Ho Holy Sh!t, with Monkey Should, pimento dram, maple and burnt pecan bitters will put you a right holiday mood—as will shots like Christmas Scofflaw and Santa’s Godfather. Season’s greetings indeed.

Barbary Coast, 16 North Canal Road, Singapore 048828
Christmas on Canal will run until 27 December, 2020.
For reservations: Call / Email / Book Online

Shop ’til you drop at the Capitol Singapore’s Christmas Market

On Saturday afternoon: Soak up the festivities at Capitol Singapore, where much of the mall has been transformed into a Nutcracker-themed wonderland. A bevy of holiday experiences, including festive installations, light projection shows, and snowfall await you. And if you ever get tired of traipsing around one mall, simply head next door to CHIJMES for even more opportunities for holiday fun.

At the Capitol Singapore, you can decorate a gingerbread man and add your own signature flair to a handcrafted felt ornament in just two of more than a dozen arts & crafts classes on offer, or ascertain the perfect temperature at which to roast a Yuletide main course at a Kempinski cooking masterclass. Perhaps your talents are suited to performing, in which case you’ll want to check out a dance or acting workshop at the Capitol Theatre. And if you need to check a few outstanding gifts off your list, wander around the artisanal Christmas Market in the mall’s basement level, which will host over 40 vendors.

Capitol Singapore, 13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178905

Capitol Singapore and CHIJMES will be filled with holiday cheer until 31 December, 2020. For a full list of programmes and workshops, go to Capitol Singapore and CHIJMES’ dedicated website.

Cosy up to catch a snowy flick at the Nordic Film Festival

On Saturday night: Roll out the red carpet. The second edition of Singapore’s Nordic Film Festival is being brought to The Projector as a result of the joint efforts of all five Nordic countries. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden will each bring a movie to the Lion City this weekend, casting the celluloid shadow of the Northern Lights halfway across the world.

Iceland’s entry will be 2018’s Woman at War, a fascinating look at what the meaning of ‘greater purpose’ might be, and is the winner of 29 film awards. It will play just before the Finnish fantasy movie Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, a darkly comic look at the Santa legend. One figure you might recognise at the Festival is Stellan Skarsgård, who stars in Norway’s picture, In Order of Disappearance, a rip-roaring revenge quest. Whatever flick you pick, the reception should be anything but frosty.

The Projector, 6001 Beach Road, #05-00 Golden Mile Tower, Singapore 199589

Find out more about the Nordic Film Festival, including all showings and ticket prices, here. The Festival will run from 25 to 27 December, 2020.

Check out what makes for a ‘Perfect Stranger’ at the Asian Civiliations Museum

On Sunday afternoon: 2020 has opened the door on the human faces behind some of our most storied institutions, and the Asian Civilisations Museum is no exception. This December, the museum will open three new exhibitions designed to shed light on the people behind the art—staff, volunteers, partners, collectors and artists.

In Perfect Stranger, Dawn Ng collects a year-long narrative project, presenting it in its entirety for the first time as an undulating sea of paper and colours. In Faith Beauty Love Hope—Our Stories, Your ACM, more than 60 treasures from ACM’s extensive collection will be on show, with some masterpieces presented for the first time alongside stories from the heart and imagination of staff and supporters of the museum. And finally, in thINK: Chinese Calligraphy, Connoisseurship, and Collecting, the intimate relationship between collector, collection, and the making of a legacy is exposed.

Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555

More information about Perfect Stranger, thINK, and Faith Beauty Love Hope can be found here. A standard ticket grants entry to all three exhibitions, and may be purchased through ACM’s portal.

Enjoy a boozy takeover at Brass Lion Distillery

On Sunday night: Better watch out: elves have recently taken over Brass Lion Distillery, and they want you to join them for a fun-filled, sloshing good time. Get GIN-spired at the distillery’s pop-up retail store for a gin-blending session that will have you walking away with your very own personalised bottle—gift it to a loved one or pass it around the dinner table. Bottled cocktails and festive distillery exclusives to delight and tantalise will also be available for purchase.

Then, once your shopping is done and dusted, you might want to head over to the Brass Lion Christmas GIN-gle on the distillery’s upper floor. There, the Chief Distillery Elf will guide you through a tasting flight of holiday gins. You’ll also get the chance to try several culinary riffs that take their cue from the liquor. Tucking into the Pahit Gin-Glazed Ham, with a glass of the distillery’s fan-favourite Boozy Hot Chocolate? Talk about having a holly jolly Christmas.

Brass Lion Distillery, 40 Alexandra Terrace, Singapore 119933

More information about December gin-blending sessions and the Christmas GIN-gle can be found on the distillery’s website.

Snap your fingers to a double-bill Christmas jazz concert at Victoria Theatre

On Friday night: Singapore International Festival of the Arts will grace the stage once more at Victoria Theatre this month. Featuring three different double-bills of famed local jazz acts, Jazz at Play: 7 Songs at Christmas was conceived to breathe a little life back into the local music scene. It promises to be a fun and funky time for all. Each evening will feature two 45-minute sets of seven songs: a Christmas tune, a favourite jazz classic, an original composition, two songs that represent 2020 and 2021, and two dedications selected from the audience.

There are a number of spectacular bands, musicians, and vocalists that will bring their jazz stylings to this concert. The first night, Friday, Jordan Wei’s quintet Wei 5, featuring veteran jazz songstress Alemay Fernandez, will go on before the Aaron James Lee Group, which is partnered with rising vocal star Sarah Chew. Those who choose to return again and again for Saturday and Sunday’s jazzy offerings will get the chance to see other musical acts like Rani Singam, Rit Xu Group, The Steve McQueens, and Regi Leo.

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, 9 Empress Place, Singapore 179556
Jazz at Play can be watched live and in-person by ticket-holders on 17-19 December at 8pm. A number of free virtual watch parties will run on SIFA All-Access at 9pm on 27-30 December, 2020.

Have a weekend indulgence at Bailey’s Treat Bar

On Saturday afternoon: There will be no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon this month than by having an aperitif at one of the bars on Keong Saik Road, whether it be The Old Man, No Sleep Club, or Heart of Darkness, and then ambling down to Apiary Ice Creamery for a sweet, boozy treat. As the year draws to a close, remember what you’re thankful for with Baileys, as they present an experimental pop-up and collaboration in the ice cream bar that has added much holiday cheer and joy to the season.

Indulge in some limited-edition drinks and ice cream flavours, including the Red Velvet Cupcake (particularly scrumptious), or Strawberries and Cream. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can then move on to Apiary Ice Creamery’s Baileys & Brownies flavour made with Baileys Original Irish Cream—already a big favourite amongst local ice cream lovers. An assortment of festive drinks like Baileys iced coffee and iced chocolate will accompany your gastonomic voyage. Make sure to get that complimentary Baileys drizzle on top of your chosen fare, too!

Apiary Ice Creamery, 84 Neil Road, Singapore 088844
Explore Baileys Treat Bar at Apiary Ice Creamery from 2 to 31 December, 2020.

Stroll through a winter wonderland at Gardens by the Bay

On Saturday night: Christmas can’t be Christmas without lights. The seventh edition of Singapore’s biggest festive event, Christmas Wonderland, will run rain or shine through December, featuring a dazzling array of eight installations, handmade by Italian craftsmen, on the Walk of Lights. With 1,215,600 LED bulbs that took 27 days to set up for visitors, the Walk is 370 metres long and sees guests along a winding path through the Gardens, past structures like the Path of Tranquility, a 40-metres long tunnel with over 60,000 lights, the 17-metres tall Spalliera, and the Double-Storey Carousel, the only Venetian merry-go-round in Singapore, which visitors are invited to climb aboard.

The Walk of Lights will be the physical complement to this season’s Virtual Christmas Wonderland that the Gardens are hosting. An enchanting online digital wonderland will be packed with interactive content, games galore for all ages, festive performances, and shopping from the comfort of your home.

Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
The Walk of Lights at Gardens by the Bay can be seen from 4-27 December, 2020, at 6:30-10:30pm. Tickets may be purchased here.

Have a lie-in and listen to the story of AWARE

On Sunday morning: A limited-series podcast hosted by acclaimed former journalist Bharati Jagdish, Saga chronicles the 2009 story of the attempted coup of AWARE by 100 strangers in twelve fascinating episodes. What coup, you ask? You’ll have to listen to find out.

One of the first-ever long-form narrative podcasts produced in Singapore, Saga commemorates that once-in-a-lifetime event, bringing the story to a new generation of feminists. It asks bold questions about civic engagement in Singapore, and looks ahead to the future of women’s rights, sex education, religion, and democracy.

AWARE will drop new episodes of Saga every Wednesday until January 2021. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Browse an extensive pottery collection at an Eat & Sip open studio

On Sunday afternoon: It’s December, which means it’s time once again for Eat & Sip to open their studio to the ceramic-loving public. With twice as many local makers as last year’s edition, the studio will bring guests a wide-ranging variety of homeware.

Whether you favour ceramic, porcelain, or macrame, Eat & Sip wants you to come down and learn a bit more about the local community of creatives. Ask questions of your favourite makers, learn about their processes, and soak up the cosy ambience of the sun-dappled studio for a few hours to unwind this Sunday.

Eat & Sip Studio, 50 Gambas Crescent, #09-11, Singapore 757022
Confirm your slot with Eat & Sip’s booking system. The open studio will run from the afternoon until evening all weekend.

Blaze a trail on a fabulous Whisky Journey

On Friday night: Think you can sample over 1,000 whiskies from 20 distilleries at 16 Singaporean bars and restaurants over 10 days? If this sounds like your kind of challenge, then The Whisky Store has organised just the drinking trail for you. On the Whisky Journey, guests can trot the island and have the opportunity to taste whiskies both commonplace and rare. Each venue will be paired with a whisky distillery and offer a tasting menu, samples of highly sought-after casks and rare bottles at wholesale prices.

Just one ticket, priced at $32, will grant you a whisky passport and a free dram at each participating location—with additional drams being priced from only $2. Bottled straight out of both family-owned boutique distilleries to renowned international brands like Tomatin, Duncan Taylor, Glencadam, Inchmurrin, and Glen Scotia, the whisky available on the Journey is a surefire way to stock up ahead of the holiday season or get on the hunt for a perfect Christmas gift.

Whisky Journey will run from 11 to 20 December, 2020.
Early-bird passes are available for purchase online at Whisky Journey; passes will also be available for purchase at the doors of each participating bar.

Shop up a storm at the i’mable Gift Market

On Saturday morning: The first-ever Enabling Lives Festival is happening all throughout this month, with plenty of events, workshops, and talks to educate and entertain. Centered around the themes “Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate”, the Festival aims to strengthen connections within the disability community, spark collaborations that drive positive outcomes, as well as celebrate disability inclusion efforts and the achievements of persons with disabilities.

The i’mable Gift Market is a large part of SG Enable’s push to spread joy this year. With over 30 vendors retailing gifts, snacks, artworks, interior decor, and workshops, all goods and services at the Gift Market have been lovingly created by persons with disabilities and socially conscious brands. Grab a seat to workshops that teach you how to make your own Aquajar or Log Cake, or check out the wonderful crafts handmade by groups like MINDS, Marvelous Works, the Singapore Association for the Deaf, and many, many more.

Shop the i’mable Gift Market online on 12 December, and check out the rest of the Enabling Lives Festival and its programming from 3 December until 22 December, 2020.

Embark on a globetrotting quest set in the 1920s at ATLAS

On Saturday night: A voyage of discovery is on the horizon. ATLAS’ delightful cocktail menu ‘La Grande Nation’ whisks diners not only across the world, but back through the sands of time, landing them squarely in 1925’s City of Lights. Accompanying a fictional journalist, Cecil Beaumont, as he gallivants across an Art Deco’d Paris, each of the menu’s four chapters is awash with liquid gems for every kind of connoisseur.

Each chapter also focusses on Beaumont’s dalliance with an inspirational, real-life figurehead of the era’s aesthetic revolution. Hear him breathlessly recount rubbing elbows with glass sculptor René Lalique or accept an invitation to dine at the home of celebrated graphic designer A.M. Cassandre. His passage will be narrated to you as a kind of audio drama through your earbuds, as privately as an elegant friend whispering gossip conspiratorially into your ear. Take ahold of the spiced pear notes in the Pearl Revival or the old world tonic inherent in the Summer in Paris, and raise your glass high. Salut!

ATLAS, Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188778
For reservations: 6396 4466 / [email protected] / Online

Board the Orient Express for a fairytale voyage

On Sunday morning: Gracing the shores of Singapore after a successful sojourn in France, the Orient Express will be pulling into the station at Gardens by Bay to show off its new pop-up, ‘Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express.’ Curious as to the inspiration behind such seminal works as Murder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie and Stamboul Train by Graham Greene? Now is the time to discover what exactly lit the foremost minds of a byone age on fire.

The Orient Express, created in 1883, was the epitome of luxury travel and refinement and is now an important representation of world history. ‘Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express’ will present some of the most extraordinary artifacts, newreels, and documents that retrace the legacy of the train and the world writ large. A reconstituted historical train platform and showrooms with evocative giant trunks will further guide guests back into the lives of travellers who lived long ago. Explore the history, mystery, and wonder for yourself—climb aboard the Orient Express this December.

Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Tickets to the Orient Express are now available for sale at SISTIC.

Enjoy a bagel with your high tea at Janice Wong x Two Men Bagel House

On Sunday afternoon: Gather ’round the campfire, kids. As a part of the chef and artist’s ongoing collaborative series, Janice Wong is back with a fresh, cosy, holiday-themed high tea at 2am:dessertbar. Working in step with Two Men Bagel House, the Christmas Campfire Collection invites guests to experience a sweet and smoky Christmas with a range of chocolates, cookies, cakes and bagel sandwiches. Guests can toast Lavender and Mint Marshmallows S’mores, and delight in the warm campfire glow in a setup perfectly sized for their table.

Amidst Janice’s signature Diamond Chocolate Bon Bons (in assorted flavours of apple pie, pistachio, and mulled wine), find hidden the Two Men Bagel Special, featuring Smoked Pork Collar with Mop Sauce. Top off the experience with items from Janice’s Larger than Life Christmas Collection: the Christmas Hat Cake, made with raspberry and lime, and the Christmas Tree, a banana cake filled with nougat mousse and pecan. Handcrafted to bring happiness and magic to the festive season, Two Men Bagel House and Janice Wong have conjured pure revelry this holiday season. All that’s missing is you.

2am:dessertbar, 21A Lor Liput, Singapore 277733
With limited sets available each day, the Christmas Campfire Collection starts on 12 December and runs every weekend till 27 December, 2020.
Reserve your table at 2am:dessertbar online.

Soak in the sights 57 floors up at CÉ LA VI

On Friday night: Perched on the roof of Marina Bay Sands, CÉ LA VI is an iconic lifestyle destination that’s pulling out all the stops for the holiday season. A month-long three and four-course Festive Set Dinner menu curated by Group Executive Chef Joey Sergentakis features a sumptuous feast of holiday classics with modern Asian twists. Tuck into a warming Asparagus & Mushroom Cappuccino or the indulgent Fine De Claire Oysters & Oscuetra Caviar, before moving onto larger plates like the Saffron “Sushi Rice” Risotto and the Lavender & Honey Glazed Duck. Toast to the season with an array of new cocktails created by Lead Mixologist Andrew Hyman, including the Festive Campfire with ginger and orange bitters, a vodka and cinnamon delight called the Yuletide Punch. No matter when you choose to visit the top of MBS this December, you and your loved ones can be assured of an unforgettable meal and a breathtaking skyline.

CÉ LA VI Rooftop Restaurant, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Level 57, Marina Bay Sands Tower 3, Singapore 018971
The Festive Menu will run from 1-23 & 26-30 December, 2020, and 1-3 January, 2021.
For reservations: 6508 2188 / [email protected] / Online

Celebrate street culture with Culture Cartel

On Saturday afternoon: For the first time, Culture Cartel’s much-anticipated festival event–which annually draws over 18,000 attendees from across the region–will be produced as a fully virtual experience with rotatable interface. This will allow users to explore Culture Cartel as a town lined with interactive booths offering unique experiences, online drops from streetwear favourites, creative masterclasses and an impressive list of music artistes from Singapore and around the world. Music lovers can jam out to homegrown DJs like Darren Tan and Amanda Keisha Tan spinning remote sets, gearheads can attend the e-launches of Art Of Speed Malaysia and The Wicked Wallop, and tattoo enthusiasts can cheer on their favourite artists from around the country in a virtual ink competition. Users can also look forward to the much-anticipated Raffle Draw where they stand a chance to win over 500 prizes, including Jordan 1, Nike Dunk and Yeezy bundles worth more than S$1,000 each.

Culture Cartel 2020 will run on 5 December from 1pm-midnight

Sample a four-course dessert flight at Riviera Forlino

On Saturday night: Celebrated eatery Forlino, which has been around for over a decade, has turned the page on a new chapter in its history, complete with a new name and concept. Bringing a dynamic vibe and innovative Mediterranean coastal cuisine to one of Marina Bay waterfront’s favourite dining destinations. This naturally calls for new dishes, and Riviera Forlino is never going to be one to disappoint. Alongside Executive Chef Rémy Carmignani’s brand-new menu, which takes diners on a gastronomic tour across the sun-drenched coasts of the Mediterranean peninsula and features Wild-Caught New Zealand Langoustine, Handmade Tortellini, and Lobster Bouillabaisse, is Executive Pastry Chef Nicolas Vergnole’s ingenious new dessert concept. A masterfully-crafted sweet trip, the dessert menu will star, among other players, a luscious Caraibe 66% Dark Chocolate Cremeux and the Orchard Citrus Sphere with vanilla ganache and tequila granité.

Riviera Forlino, 1 Fullerton Road, #02-06, One Fullerton, Singapore 049213
For reservations: 6690 7564 / [email protected]

Check out an exhibition of Georgette Chen’s rare archival art

On Sunday morning: In conjunction with their fifth anniversary and seasonal theme of inspiring inclusiveness, Georgette Chen: At Home in the World is the National Gallery Singapore’s newest large-scale survey, encompassing 69 prominent works and 74 archival materials. One of Singapore’s most celebrated modern artists, Chen had a unique sensitivity to the nuances of Singaporean culture, and made a singular contribution to the development of the country’s then-nascent artistic community. Visitors will get the rare opportunity to immersively encounter Chen’s prolific body of work, which spans the breadth of her practice from her time in China, France, the USA, Malaysia and Singapore. From seldom-seen works from her early period in France, to her exemplary still-life paintings, the exhibition will trace the development of her artistic techniques and style. It will be accompanied by rare glimpses into Chen’s childhood and private life through photographs, letters, and diary entries, contextualising the way she saw the world through her art.

National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
Georgette Chen: At Home in the World will be on show at the Level 4 Gallery and Wu Guanzhong Gallery from 27 November 2020 until 26 September 2021.
Purchase of a general admission ticket is required for entry to the exhibition.

Deck the halls at Crane’s Christmas Market

On Sunday afternoon: A holiday extravaganza you won’t want to miss, the Festive Weekend pop-up at Crane features artisanal and handmade products from small local businesses. Brands that will be set up in Crane’s gorgeous lifestyle-forward space include Taizjo, Tea Story, Katong Diner by Amala, Drink Morning, Hannabe, Lil Happy House, Forest Child, Mimo, and many, many more. Activities will include the chance to make your own Christmas Wreath in partnership with expert florists from Beverly’s Blooms—two workshops will run at 3:30pm and 5:30pm. Participants will be able to use preserved flowers guaranteed to last until Christmas day to craft their very own Wreaths, while imbibing two complimentary gin cocktails. Also on deck are opportunities to learn how to craft your own tapestry with ByHands, and customise your very own family caricature with cartoonists from the Association of Comic Artists of Singapore.

Crane, 48 Kim Yam Road, #01-05, Singapore 239351
The annual Festive Weekend pop-up will run 5-6 December, 12-5pm
Inquiries: 9826 9498 / [email protected] / [email protected]

Raise the roof with AWAREFest

On Friday night: A virtual fundraiser celebrating female love and rage, Singapore’s biggest gender equality advocacy group, AWARE, is also ringing in its 35th anniversary with a curated programme of conversations and parties. Through workshops, panel discussions and interactive programmes, this five-day virtual festival will move the needle on gender equality, ignite hard conversations and empower the next generation of activists.

The dress code is OutRAGEous, whether you’re sitting in on Friday night’s panel on women in politics, ‘The Personal Is Political,’ or attending Saturday night’s Zoom rave, AWAREHouse Party. Speakers will include—among many, many others—local drag icon Becca D’Bus, Members of Parliament Carrie Tan and He Ting Ru, theatremaker Edith Podesta, and author-activist Liyana Dhamirah. The money raised from the weekend’s events will go to supporting the work that AWARE does, from aiding their Helpline and Sexual Assault Care Centre, to funding their research and advocacy work.

AWAREFest will run from 25-29 November 2020
Find more information about the rest of the weekend’s programme, get tickets to any of AWAREFest’s events, or buy an all-access Festival Pass

Experience a multi-sensory journey with The Macallan

On Saturday afternoon: An immersive experience that celebrates the art of the single malt scotch whiskey, The Macallan Experience promises to whisk you all over the world with its cinematic stories of those who seek adventure and strive to help others with their work, all with a glass of some of the finest spirits in the world in their (and your) hands. At the iconic Raffles Hotel, start with a stroll down the Cask Entry Tunnel, lined with the same oaken casks crafted by The Macallan’s Spanish artisans.

Then, settle back into a chair in The Macallan’s Sensory Cinema, ready to be assailed with two tales of dedication and ambition. Sip on two drams of The Macallan’s signature whiskey—Double Cask 12 Years Old and Sherry Oak 12 Years Old—to accompany this short film, directed by Gemma Lee. Later, in the bar and lounge, view The Macallan’s archival library, which houses some of its rarest bottles, and an art installation reminiscent of the bronze droplets of Changi’s Kinetic Rain. Private masterclasses and tasting experiences are available for booking here, but you could then go one step further with the exhibition’s VIP Dining Room experience, where exclusive Raffles dining packages are paired with The Macallan’s best liquor.

The Macallan Experience, 328 North Bridge Road, Raffles Arcade, 188719
The Macallan Experience will run from 26 October 2020 to 10 February 2021
Reserve your Sensory Cinema experience with The Macallan now

Let the spritz flow at Bayside Drinks & Eats

On Saturday night: Laidback atmosphere, truly stellar panoramic views, and ebullient music (feel free to make a request) can be found right at the heart of Marina Bay, in the form of the vibrant waterfront hotspot Bayside Drinks & Eats. It’s all in service to creating and maintaining that quintessential “Little Orange Dot” vibe, which makes BDE one of the country’s premiere al fresco drinks destinations. To accentuate the bubbly Aperol’s signature shade, this Saturday the restaurant will also introduce the next creative mind in their monthly line-up of guest artists.

Last month was Colombian street artist Ledania, who created for BDE a one-of-a-kind mural that has to be seen in-person to be believed. Next up is SONG, a Singaporean street artist who has been tagging since 2014, covering urban canvasses from Europe to Hong Kong. Alongside this in-house art gallery, auction, and performance all rolled into one, BDE is also rolling out a new endless drinks package—their Free Flow Saturday—from 5-10pm for $70, which will include Aperol Spritzes, house beer, and wine. As if that weren’t enough, a Sunset Hour two-for-one special is available by the bay, every Wednesday through Sunday.

Bayside Drinks & Eats, 1 Fullerton Road, #01-12 One Fullerton, Singapore 049213
For reservations: 8121 3995 / [email protected]

Walk through a winter wonderland at the Christmas Atelier

On Sunday afternoon: Celebrate and shop all of Singapore’s favourite artisanal brands, all housed under one roof for one weekend. The smell of evergreens will greet you just before the sight of The Floral Atelier’s lavishly decorated Christmas trees. Wonder as you wander through The Atelier & Co.’s 7,000 square foot global headquarters. Dotted with stalls, the space will let lucky vistors discover the craft behind 19 local companies, including Bynd Artisan, Le Petit Society, Carrie K., Da Paolo Gastronomia, and Janice Wong. Lifestyle products spanning flowers, fashion, homeware, treat, and much more will all be available for perusal and purchase.

Celebrating the joy of gifting and the spirit of community, The Floral Atelier will also be launching its exclusive Christmas Floral Collection at the two-day event. Design aficionados can look forward to eye-catching festive installations and spectacular, swooping ceiling decoartion. Share the magic and uncover some truly festive gifts, as well as onsite discounts, exclusive items, and activities such as coffee and gin tasting, embroidery, and pearl styling. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The Christmas Atelier, 2 Alexandra Road, Delta House Level 8, Singapore 159919
The Atelier will run from 27-29 November 2020
The live event is currently fully subscribed, but an online platform version of The Christmas Atelier is also available to shoppers who wish to purchase items from participating brands

See the best of this year’s movies from near and far at the Singapore International Film Festival

On Sunday night: SGIFF returns with its 31st iteration this year, with its team having worked tirelessly around the clock to move much of its programming—films and panels alike—online. Audiences will still be able to enjoy many of its movies in theatres at Shaw Lido, Bugis+, Cathay, and more. The Festival opens with the premiere of filmmaker Tan Bee Thiam’s Tiong Bahru Social Club, a quirky surrealist comedy that blends elements of Black Mirror and Wes Anderson. Big headlining flicks include the sapphic period drama Ammonite, starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan, as well as Chloé Zhao’s new film Nomadland, a Frances McDormand road movie that’s already being eyed as a potential Best Picture nominee at this year’s Academy Awards.

There’s dozens of options closer to home, too. Investigate alternative strains of Indonesian history with Tellurian Drama, be moved by a Kashmiri adaptation of a centuries-old folktale in The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs, and probe the anxieties of disparate individuals who all call Singapore home with local documentary Semantara. Speaking of documentaries, tune in Sunday night for the panel ‘Shaping Southeast Asian Identities through Documentary,’ hosted by acclaimed filmmaker Tan Pin Pin, who is perhaps best known for her banned masterpiece To Singapore, With Love.

The SGIFF will run from 26 November to 6 December 2020
Check out an overview and guide to the Festival’s programmes, and register for its online panels and talks here
Purchase tickets to in-person screenings, and sign up to pre-order online tickets for virtual screenings through The Projector Plus

Kick back and have a movie night at Zouk Cinema Club

On Friday night: If you miss neon lights and the thrum of the bass under your feet but aren’t quite ready to get swab-tasted just to go clubbing, you’re in luck—Zouk Singapore has transformed its sprawling space into a cinema experience that conjures the same electric energy the prolific nightclub is known for. You’ll walk into Zouk the same way you might have done in the twilight hours pre-pandemic, but there is no mosh-pit to dance the night away in. Instead, you’ll be ushered into a theatre dressed according to a bimonthly theme (their inaugural theme for November is ‘For The Love of Music’, so prepare to be transported to the cobbled streets of Moulin Rouge.)

Guests are seated on comfortable, socially-distanced couches, where a plethora of food and drink items await, like the moreish Garrett Popcorn, a decadent bottle of Moet & Chandon, or Zouk’s famous Long Island Iced Tea. And this is no ordinary theatrical experience—each screening lasts for over four hours, showing two movies with an intermission between. Expect a movie roster that rotates between fresh, new releases and cult classics—complete with smoke machines, a surround sound effect and strategically flashing lights for an ultra-immersive 3D experience.

Zouk Cinema Club, 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery #02-05 S179022
Opening hours: Wed-Sat, 6pm to 10.30pm
Contact: 9006 8549 / [email protected] 

Tune into conversations with Harry Shum Jr. and other celebrities at Esquire Neighbourhood

On Saturday afternoon: Esquire Neighbourhood is, put simply, a celebration of creativity. Featuring an array of performances, workshops, and talks, the four-day event will bring together a star-studded collection of actors, musicians, photographers, athletes, and designers. One of those leading artists is American triple-threat Harry Shum Jr., of Glee and Shadowhunters fame, who will discuss the behind-the-scenes shenanigans and processes of his upcoming tearjerker feature, All My Life. He’ll be hosted by Mitchell Oakley Smith, the editor-in-chief of Esquire Singapore.

Other events on Saturday include an intense HIIT workout with Level Singapore and, later, a wine pairing masterclass with Penfolds. Of course, Esquire has ponied up with great events on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday as well, so don’t fret if your Saturday is already fully booked. Thursday will see an exclusive virtual opening performance by Singaporean singer-songwriter Charlie Lim and a talk with Malaysian comedian Ronny Chieng, while Sunday will usher in conversations with Deadpool actor and martial artist Lewis Tan and musician Lauv.

Esquire Neighbourhood will run from 19-22 November. Their full programme of free events can be viewed and registered for here

Tuck into a Casual British pub dinner at the Fairmont

On Saturday night: Following the successful launch of Chef Kirk Westaway’s inaugural seasonal pop-up over the summer, the lauded executive chef has extended the run of his popular Casual British menu at modern cocktail bar Anti:dote. Chef Kirk is known for channelling his deeply rooted passion for natural flavours reminiscent of his childhood in the southwest of England, and for the Casual British pop-up has introduced more than a few refined and intricate reinterpretations of traditional pub fare.

He’s added a number of completely new courses to the menu, including the hearty Farmhouse Duck and Lentil Terrine, the brined-and-braised Berkshire Pork Belly, and Casual Bread and Butter Pudding served with candied walnuts and pure vanilla ice cream. Even if you’ve attended the pop-up before, these fresh additions make Anti:dote and the Casual British menu well worth another visit.

Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560
The Set Lunch menu is available daily from 12-1:30pm, and the Set Dinner menu from 6-9pm
The Casual Bite menu option offers guests the opportunity to pick dishes a-la-carte
Reservations: 6431 6156 / [email protected] / Online

Save the planet at the Singapore Eco Film Festival

On Sunday morning: Poignantly themed RE(GENERATION), this year’s Eco Film Festival asks how we can collaborate to contribute to a thriving planet that will sustainably support both us and future generations. In its fifth iteration and moved entirely online this year, the festival is nevertheless filled with eco-focused films, insightful panel discussions, activities, and workshops for people of all ages, not to mention a 7pm bedtime story read to you and your family by a different prominent ecologist, including Jane Goodall, every night this weekend.

On Sunday morning, audiences can take a virtual meditative trip to the Arctic, listen to a talk given by Sri Lanka’s leading environmental architect, and watch a panel of ‘Wild, Wicked, Wise’ women working to transform our attitude towards the environment. SGEFF is also announcing the inclusion of Elizabeth Lazan, Singaporean actress, producer, and ecowarrior, as the festival’s first official Eco Ambassador. Lazan will help curate the festival’s programming, host its opening, and moderate both the Sustainable Fashion and Climate Anxiety panels.

The Singapore Eco Film Festival will run from 14-22 November
The festival’s full lineup of events can be explored here

Satisfy your palate with the new lunch experience at Butcher’s Block

On Sunday afternoon: Tasty tostadas? Fried chicken with homemade pickles and yeast mayo? Garum cheeseburger? If your mouth is watering in anticipation, you’ll want to make a booking at the Raffles Hotel this weekend. The vibrant Butcher’s Block, known best for pairing the finest cuts of meat cooked with wood fires, has introduced a fresh, expanded lunch experience only available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Delectable appetisers newly available include Joselito Ibérico Ham, widely praised as the best cured ham in the world, and Scallop Crudo, perfectly paired with habanero sauce, coconut and sea urchin. Mains that simply pop off the menu and catch the eye include the new Big Eye Tuna & Chipotle Mayo, Live Shrimps and Cholula Dressing, and Octopus BBQ Al Pastor. And the Butcher’s Block lunch experience wouldn’t be complete without a wide range of natural wines, beers, and ciders. All in all—it’s bound to be a meal absolutely perfect for sharing with friends and family.

Raffles Hotel Singapore, 328 North Bridge Rd, #02-02 Raffles Arcade, Singapore 188719
The new lunch specials at Butcher’s Block are available on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-2:30pm
Contact: 6337 1886 / [email protected] / Online

Have a month-long barbecue with The Guinness Great Grill Out

On Friday night: Guinness’ annual November of fun, food, and fire is back. The brand’s 2020 Grill Out will feature a balance of nights out and nights in, with virtual grilling classes and specially curated menus on the schedule all month long. Championing the spirit of adventure that the company is known for, the Grill Out will also play host to a series of renowned local grillers, smokers, and roasters, all bringing their own unique take on what it means to be a grilling hero. On Friday night, this will include Chef Shen Tan of Ownself Make Chef, who plans to teach Singaporeans how to craft Guinness-inspired recipes from the comfort of their own kitchens. These dishes will include the mouthwatering Beef Rib with Guinness Oyster Sauce, a scrumptious Mala Guinness Glaze with Grilled Vegetables, and a delectable Fish and Guinness Kuih Kosui.

For more information on The Guinness Great Grill Out, click here or join the conversation at #TheGreatGrillOut
To get more information on Chef Tan’s Home Gourmet course, click here

Revel in what it means to be human at SAME-SAME

On Saturday afternoon: The Australian theatre of disability company, No Strings Attached, and Singaporean company, Diverse Abilities Dance Collective, will come together on Saturday morning to bring to life an online collaboration that transgresses borders and preconceptions alike. Over the last three months, seven performers from both countries have been working together to devise an inclusive, collaborative movement project around the idea of what it means to be human. With the artists performing live and in-person in Australia and online in Singapore, the project’s questions will be posed by the theatremakers of both companies, led by directors Jeffrey Tan and Emma Beech, in collaboration with DADC programme leader Subastian Tan and Adelaide-native performer Michaela Cantwell. What makes us similar? What is it that separates us? Is connection still possible? Audiences can tune into SAME-SAME this weekend to find out.

SAME-SAME will be performed on 13 November at 9:30am and 4pm, and on 14 November at 11:30am and 4pm
Free tickets to SAME-SAME can be reserved here
Contact: 6837 8700 / [email protected]

Make a wish at Gardens by the Bay

On Saturday night: To promote connectivity and unity in times of separation and distance, Gardens by the Bay will be hosting one of a multiple ‘Dandelion’ installations as a part of artist Ryotaro Muramatsu’s global art initiative. The Breath / Bless Project aims to collect thoughts of peace across the world, as the artist and his company, NAKED, Inc., have conspired to set up their Dandelions in multiple locations across the world. The art itself is an interactive experience, evocative of blowing on a dandelion to make a wish. Audiences can scan a QR code and point their phones at a sensor, which will trigger the scattering of dandelion fluff in a dazzling showcase. The fluff will then be carried to another location in the world to produce a new flower. The Singapore artwork will interact in real-time with multiple Japanese installations, as well as the virtual one on an online platform. Also hosted at the Gardens earlier that evening is a screening of Ailo’s Journey, chronicling the sweeping odyssey of a newborn Arctic reindeer in the stunning taiga of Lapland. The movie will be shown as a part of vOilah! France Singapore Festival’s programming this month.

The Dandelion will be accessible for free from 9-15 November, 7-10pm, on the Lawn at Supertree Grove
For more information on the Breath / Bless Project, visit NAKED, Inc.
Tickets to Ailo’s Journey, which will be shown at 3:30pm and 6pm, can be purchased here

Indulge in a Deepavali buffet at the Shangri-La

On Sunday afternoon: A grand total of 88 dishes both to order and served table-side will be available this weekend at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. Hosted at The Line, the hotel’s international buffet venue, meals on offer include traditional Indian fare like Crab Kofta with Moilee Sauce, Malai King Prawn, and Stuffed Baby Eggplant with Salon Sauce. Classic desserts like Kaju Burfi will be paired with Indian twists on Western favourites, like Masala Chai Crème Brulee. All mains will be served with free-flow papadum, raita, chutney, and pickles. And, naturally, alongside the dishes created exclusively for Deepavali will be The Line’s extensive regular menu, which draws inspiration from global cuisines both Eastern and Western.

Shangri-La Hotel, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350
Festival of Lights at The Line will run from 12-15 November, with lunch from 12-2:30pm and dinner from 6-10pm
Reservations: 6213 4398 / [email protected]

Light up the night with a MO BAR x The Elephant Room collaboration

On Sunday night: The iconic Mandarin Oriental bar with its jaw-dropping views of the Singaporean skyline will be firing on all cylinders come Sunday night. Adrian Besa, MO BAR manager and one of the country’s best bartenders will spotlight restaurant’s original New Delhi-inspired cocktail, SOMA, a clarified drink made with Hendricks Gin, Mango Chutney and Yogurt. An item off of the entirely new Volume Three menu, the cocktail can be washed down with MO’s other specialty drinks, including the Green and Red, which takes inspiration from City Hall and the flavour combination of coriander, basil, and mint. What’s more, though, is that MO is bringing in Yugnes “Yugi” Susela, founder of instant-hit Keong Saik watering hole The Elephant Room to help ring in Deepavali. Susela will present guests with the Spice Trader, a mixture of Monkey Shoulder whisky, Tekka spices, and Annasi, and a cocktail called the Celestial Fruit, a bananas-and-gin combination sure to put a smile on your face at the end of a long, wonderful weekend.

MO BAR, 5 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039797
A Deepavali Special by The Elephant Room @ MO BAR will run on 15 November, 7-1opm
Reservations: Online / 6885 3500 / [email protected]

Soothe your ears with a virtual Singapore Symphony Orchestra live concert

On Friday night: Music is in the air this weekend, with the first of a planned three live online concerts performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra streaming on Friday evening. Conducted by maestro-in-chief Hans Graf, the concert will be pair Metamorphosen, a Strauss work composed for 23 strings, with Mozart’s lyrical “Gran Partita” Serenade. Strauss’ work is a sorrowful elegy penned towards the tail end of the Second World War, concerning the composer’s reminder to his listeners—and himself—of the transformative power of art during a period of devastation. 

Mozart’s serenade, on the other hand, is a glorious challenge for a small wind ensemble, and showcases the legend’s experimentation with freedom of form and expression, as horns, bassoons, oboes, and clarinets gradually come together to weave a rich tapestry of sound. Cinephiles will recall it as the piece that played as jealous composer Salieri meets his young rival for the first time in the Academy Award-winning film Amadeus. The character calls it an experience akin to, “hearing the voice of God.”

‘Metamorphosen and Mozart with Hans Graf’ will livestream on SISTIC on a pay-as-you-wish basis at 8pm on 6 November. The concert will be viewable until 20 November
Tickets can be purchased via SSO or SISTIC
The SSOPlayOn! series will broadcast a number of concerts throughout November, December and January. For tickets to any of these performances, click here

Support aid workers in action by attending the Doctors Without Borders Film Festival

On Saturday afternoon: Doctors Without Borders, or Médecins Sans Frontières, returns with a third edition of its annual film festival in Singapore. From the comfort of your home, the festival gives the chance for fascinating insight into the realities faced by vulnerable populations around the world. The festival this year will see the virtual screenings of three critically-acclaimed documentaries, including Diaries from the Field, which follows the response to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, Restoring Dignity, portraying the lives of noma survivors, and Panorama—Ebola Frontline, which follows doctors in Sierra Leone. 

According to Jenny Tung, executive director of MSF Hong Kong, the films screened this year highlight the medical parallels of our current global fight against the novel coronavirus. Particularly in focus this year, too, will be the need to preserve and restore the dignity of people directly and drastically affected by the pandemic. Each screening will be followed by a live Q&A with experienced field workers from the organisation, as well as the documentaries’ directors. 

Doctors Without Borders Film Festival will run for free from 6-8 November
More information about the festival and its lineup can be found here

Slip into a speakeasy at Manhattan

On Saturday night: Manhattan Bar needs no introduction—ranked time and again in global best bars lists, the storied fine drinking establishment has long been known for bringing a slice of the Big Apple to Singapore. Now, the bar is bringing a newly revamped menu to its patrons, with each item inspired by one out of six iconic Manhattanites: from Robert Downey Jr. to Ella Fitzgerald.

Indulge in a range of premium cocktails that are delicious as they are experiential—from the smokey bourbon-forward Leather Jacket (which comes clad in a leather jacket of its own) to the bubbly Pol Roger champagne-filled Kiss and Cry. Standout bar bites include the creamy truffle mac and cheese and the umami tuna tartare, perfect companions to the elevated concoctions you’ll be sipping all evening.

Manhattan Bar, Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249715
Contact: 6725 3377 / [email protected]

Indulge in some retail therapy at pop-up Pasar Glamour

On Sunday afternoon: In addition to starring in Pangdemonium’s recent virtual show Waiting for the Host, local actress Petrina Kow has once again brought this annual charity pop-up event to life. Working in conjunction with other homegrown stage icons like Janice Koh and Pam Oei, the actors have curated an array of pre-loved luxury, designer goods like handbags, shoes, and beauty essentials.

All proceeds from the not-for-profit event will go towards helping arts companies like Pangdemonium to continue operations through the end of the year and beyond. The funds raised will allow them to continue creating entertaining work to help process current events. This year, the venet will be hosted in the co-working, members-only social space Crane.

Pasar Glamour, 46 Kim Yam Road, #01-06, Singapore 239351
Pasar Glamour will run on 8 November, 12-5pm
Tickets can be purchased at $20 here

Jam out at Singapore’s largest free alternative music festival, Baybeats

On Sunday night: At nearly 20 years old, Baybeats is one of Singapore’s oldest music festivals. By the community, for the community, this is the second time this year Baybeats has graced our screens. Having first run in August 2020, the online version of the festival proved popular enough to mandate an encore, with an all-new lineup of digital programmes. Small groups of select audience members will also be welcomed into the performance centre’s physical spaces—the Esplanade’s Concert Hall and Theatre—in accordance with social distancing regulations. From the Concert Hall, it will be possible to tune in to Baybeat’s six ‘Budding Bands,’ making their debut at the festival after two months of membership. Psychedelic funk band Spacewalk, alt-rock project persona, and experimental prog-rockers Approaching Aphelion can all be enjoyed there.

Over at the Theatre, audiences can rock out to bands like dream pop starlets Subsonic Eye, theatrical metal band Cockpit, and soulful electro-pop sextet Riot !n Magenta. Additionally, at the Esplanade Annexe Studio, the team will facilitate a two-way livestreamed experience that’s as close to a real concert as any of us have gotten for months. Indie and hip hop rockers like Astreal, Hanging Up The Moon, and THELIONCITYBOY will perform to live audiences projected on screens around the stage.

Baybeats will run for free from 6-8 November, from 7pm each night, and will be available for viewing online until 30 November
The additional Baybeats Backstage Experience will allow live, in-person viewing of the concerts. Tickets are available here
Tune in here for the livestream, and here for the post-concert kickback sessions hosted on Instagram Live

Dance the night away to top Mandopop hits at Cross Ratio Music Festival

On Friday night: Dean Augustine first started Cross Ratio Entertainment as a dynamic music agency five years ago. As an anniversary celebration, the group will host their first Mandopop music festival, featuring more than 20 of their local artists. The virtual festival will offer numerous prizes for viewers, include a weekend staycation package, more than $400 worth of CRE Surprise Box and Hair Treatments, and hundreds of bubble tea vouchers. The lineup features performers on Cross Ratio’s roster like The Fleurist, Soph T., Lenner Lim, Belinda Lee, and Tay Kewei, who was Cross Ratio’s first signed artist.

Cross Ratio Music Festival will stream on Facebook Live, Youtube, and Twitch from 9pm on 20 October
Register for free tickets here

Turn your perspective ‘Inside Out’ at vOilah!

On Saturday afternoon: In partnership with the seventh edition of the Singapore International Photography Festival, Singapore’s annual celebration of all things French, vOilah!, will bring the acclaimed ‘Inside Out’ photography project to Singapore. Conceived and constructed by anonymous French artist JR, who works with an ethos that the street is “the largest art gallery in the world,” the project will see a mobile photo booth travelling around Singapore to set up shop at its cultural precincts over the course of two months. Capturing the portraits of 1,000 everyday people, JR will then exhibit these photographs as a collage celebrating diversity, amplifying voices, and reclaiming public spaces—not just in Singapore, but all over the world.

To take part in the ‘Inside Out’ photography project, register for a slot here
From 30 October to 30 January, the project will rove from location to location in Singapore; find more information on the exhibition schedule here
Find more information on vOilah! France Singapore Festival here

Dig into La Mattina at Publico Ristorante

On Sunday morning: Say hello to your newest morning ritual. Presenting a fresh perspective on weekend breakfast chic, Publico Ristorante’s new breakfast menu lists twelve new á la carte dishes. As pleasant on the eyes as they are on the palate, dishes like Smoked Salmon & Ricotta Brioche, Green Eggs & Ham Croissant, and White Chocolate French Toast will appeal to a range of health tribes, from gluten-free to vegetarian. Along the bright and breezy Robertson Quay waterfront, enjoy your Publico breakfast with hot arabica brews by local roasters Liberty Coffee, as well as an abundance of freshly squeezed fruit juices and nutritious smoothies.

Publico Ristorante, 1 Nanson Road, Singapore 238909
La Mattina: Breakfast at Publico runs every Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am
Reservations: 6826 5040 / [email protected] / Online

Get poetic with a Pulitzer Prize winner at Singapore Writers’ Festival

On Sunday afternoon: Join beloved, award-winning poet Sharon Olds as she shares her poetry and takes questions from the audience about her intimate and extensive body of confessional work. Known for pushing boundaries, getting frank about sex and motherhood and illness, the agility and electricity of her verse cannot be denied. She writes as astute a “Hospice-Bed Song” on grief as she does an irreverent “Ode to the Penis.” Having worked as a wordsmith for four decades, Olds is the author of 11 volumes of poetry and was the New York State Poet Laureate from 1998 to 2000. Though the interview, moderated by lauded Singaporean poet Cyril Wong, will be pre-recorded, the subsequent Q&A on 6 November will be live and interactive with the 77-year-old Olds herself.

‘Sharon Olds: An Intimate Life in Poetry‘ will stream from 3:30-4:30pm on 1 November
Buy a Digital Festival Pass, which grants access to over 130 virtual events, here

Have a ‘Proper Dinner’ at 28 HongKong Street

On Friday night: 28 HongKong Street may be one of the best ranking bars in Asia, but it’s had to adapt to new hours like the rest of the pack during Phase 2. As a part of its evolution, the bar has introduced a new ‘Proper Dinner’ menu, serving food alongside its world-class artisanal cocktails and spirits. Each menu, as dishes rotate periodically throughout the month and beyond, will be crafted and curated by an celebrated chef from the United States. From Souther Comfort dishes to Cuban Cuisine from the heart of Miami’s Little Havana, the new menu at 28 will delight every kind of appetite.

Naturally, the bar won’t let its guests go home thirsty. A selection of signature cocktails will accompany each dinner menu, featuring overseas favourites like the Brown Derby and the Ginger Highball. 28 HongKong Street, though hidden behind an unassuming 1960s shophouse façade, naturally presents an intimate speakeasy vibe and a lively hip-hop atmosphere. Now, it has the American eats with which to ground its initial inspiration, the New York dive scene of the early aughts.

28 HongKong Street, 28 Hongkong Street, Singapore 059667
‘Proper Dinner’ is available Tuesdays through Saturdays, 5-7pm
Reservations: 8318 0328 / [email protected]

Kick back with a whisky on the balcony at The St. Regis Singapore

On Saturday afternoon: The Macallan Sling & Stay is for whiskey connoisseurs and novices alike. In celebration of The Macallan’s launch of its newest 15 Year Double Cask Whisky, The St. Regis Singapore has launched an experiential staycation like no other. Founded in 1824, The Macallan has a reputation that precedes it, its very name heralding the arrival of an outstanding single malt product of distinctive Scottish character.

Check into the St Regis and enter your own luxurious Grand Deluxe room, outfitted with a sleek The Macallan mini bar. There, you can indulge in one of the most exquisite whiskys in the world, one dram at a time. The experience comes complete with a welcome bottle of the iconic whisky, a private in-room cocktail-making masterclass, an epicurean breakfast for two, and a gift set of The Macallan Whisky 12 Year Trio (Sherry Oak, Double Cask, and Triple Cask Matured) to take home with you the next day.

The St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247911
The Macallan Sling & Stay package is available now until December 31, and requires a booking at least 2 days in advance
Reservations: 6506 6888 / [email protected]

Let your palate fly across the world at Lucha Loco

On Saturday night: Leisure travel might still be off the radar at the minute, but restaurants like Lucha Loco are working their magic to bring the heart of Mexico to their tables. For the month of October, indulge in a special regional menu inspired by the lush rainforests of Tulum.

Expect fresh, piquant flavours in its refreshing dishes—our winning number for the evening was the seafood ceviche, a winning combination of plump octopus and juicy prawns tossed in orange and lime. Also call for the Pescado al Pastor Taco, stuffed with buttery sautéed barramundi, grilled pineapple, roasted capsicum and a creamy habanero aioli for a mild hit of spice. Finish off your evening with one of their citrusy cocktails or the Arroz Con Leche, a well-balanced rice pudding dessert topped with gelato from local ice cream company Tom’s Palette.

Lucha Loco, 15 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089598
Reservations: 6226 3938 / [email protected]

Be scared by the screen at the ArtScience Museum

On Sunday morning: In order to mark the 100th anniversary of the first horror film—1920’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari—the ArtScience Museum is ringing in the spooky season with a phantasmagoria of both on- and offline programmes. Arthouse fiends can indulge in a gloriously restored print screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari or a curated selection of surrealist master David Lynch’s early short films.

Also available will be several gripping séances conducted over livestream by local musician Fauxe, as a part of the museum’s Late at Home lineup. Chills and thrills will be further weaved into the marrow of the the museum’s online content throughout the month of October, as virtual tours will lead guests back down the dark and winding path of the ArtScience Museum’s biggest past exhibitions, academic commentaries of horror in film and architecture, and several Singaporean illustrators’ nightmarish reimaginings of Caligari as a figure in local folklore.

ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
ArtScience on Scream tickets to offline screenings of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and David’s Lynch’s short films are available for free here

Test the invisible lines of power at The Arts House

On Sunday afternoon: Power Play 2020: Invisible Lines is a newly conceived arts festival that has invited more than 40 international and local artists from 18 geographical locations to come together to explore, question, and subvert the institutional hierarchies and structures that govern and threaten our lives. Sociocultural, socioeconomic, and socio-political narratives will be prodded and provoked by The Art House’s festival artists; expect your preconceptions to be shaken and challenged.

Including international creatives like Hijack, Kyun-Chome, and Iwona Ogrodzka, as well as local artists like Adrian Tan, Nature Shankar, and Veronyka Lau, Power Play 2020 will release a number of programmes in waves from now until the second week of November. It promises to be an eclectic melting pot of events like performance art, film screenings, artist talks, and workshops.

Power Play: Invisible Lines will run from 23 October-8 November

Catch a seafood dinner at Catfish

On Friday night: If a TGIF tipple is what you’re after, Cure Concepts’ newest fish grill and raw bar Catfish is the perfect place for unbuttoning your collar. With an array of fresh seafood served up cooked or raw and a dinner menu featuring Asian-inspired plates, where Catfish really shines is in its innovative, experiential appetisers.

The mini cone selection is a crowd favourite—it’s hard to miss the Instagrammability of tiny crispy wanton skin cones loaded with a range of unexpected toppings like scallop sashimi and beef tartare. Another standout dish is the sesame prawn and scallop toast garnished with copious amounts of uni and caviar, each bite laced with rich umami flavour. Wash it all down and shake off the work week with one of Catfish’s signature cocktails—the Tom Cat, in particular, comes spiced with tom yum and Chalong Bay rum for a feel-it-in-your-bones buzz.

Catfish, 5 Gemmill Lane, Singapore 069261
Contact: 9069 9207 / [email protected]

Tune into a German flick at The Projector

On Saturday afternoon: A staple of the local film circuit since 1978, the German Film Festival is back against the odds this year, as the producing Goethe Institut has partnered with local retro picturehouse The Projector to screen this year’s best German and Swiss features in Singapore.

The Projector, an oasis for alternative, arthouse, and indie films since its opening in 2015, will show four titles in its three movie halls. Flicks to catch at the Green Room, the Blue Room, and the Redrum (pun intended) include festival-opener O Beautiful Night, as well as System Crasher, Styx, and Cocoon. The festival will also stream an additional four movies on-demand via new platform The Projector Plus: The Most Beautiful Couple, Chris the Swiss, Die Ruden, and Head-On.

The 24th German Film Festival will present from 15 October-1 November
Tickets and more information can be found here

Check into the Raffles Hotel for a luxurious theatrical experience

On Saturday night: Lovers of the stage, take heed. Singapore residents looking for unique staycations are called to indulge in the new Suite Theatre at Raffles experience. An immersive dive into the local arts and culture scene, guests will be able to choose from three distinctive productions for private viewing from the luxurious comfort of an elegant suite at Raffles Hotel Singapore.

Have a day to yourself, exploring the gardens of the hotel, enjoying a complimentary history tour, or sipping a Sling on your verandah, before your Raffles Butler makes arrangements for an in-suite screening at your convenience between 6 and 8pm. Throughout, you can enjoy a specially-curated selection of cocktails and canapés—call it dinner and a show. From a SingTheatre musical revue, to a multimedia show featuring incorrigible Singapore Boy Hossan Leong, to a Pangdemonium Broadway classic, something for everyone can be beamed to you from the comfort of your king-sized Raffles bed this weekend.

Raffles Hotel Singapore, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673
Suite Theatre at Raffles will run from 15 October-13 December
Contact: 6337 1886 / [email protected]

Take a baking masterclass and bring home your Nonya creations

On Sunday morning: Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get traditional; Chef Julie Yee’s Baking Lab will be running two cake-baking workshops this Sunday. In the morning is a lesson on chocolate chiffon sponge cake, layered with Asian fudge, followed by an afternoon class on pandan kaya fudge cake and sponge.

Chef Julie Yee has been running her Baking Lab since 2013, frequently holding pastry and cake classes through ToTT Cooking Studios in Tampines. Having first learned to cook Nonya cuisine with her grandmother as a child, the chef now passes on her professional skills in making everything from sourdough to egg tarts, macarons to caramel, patiently coaxing students in both English and Chinese towards edible masterpieces.

Julie Baking Lab, 163 Bukit Merah Central, #03-3597, Singapore 150163
The Chocolate Chiffon Fudge Cake Class will be hosted from 10:30am-2pm on 18 October, with the Pandan Treats Class following it the same day at 2:30-5:30pm
Contact: 9157 9159 / [email protected]

Dive into music at a transposed Venice Biennale exhibition

On Sunday afternoon: Song-Ming Ang, Singapore’s representative at the 58th Venice Biennale—the “Olympics of the art world”—last year, will bring his incendiary exhibition to his home country for the first time. Presented in full at the National Museum, Music for Everyone: Variations on a Theme is a multidisciplinary approach to understanding how people relate to music on a personal and societal level.

Music for Everyone explores the amateur creation of music and how sound affects agency, and riffs off of a series of concerts organised by the Singaporean government from 1971 to 1985. Ang’s exhibition will be made up of nine works, including a three-channel video installation of children improvising on instruments, recorders rearranged into idiosyncratic sculptures, and music manuscript collages. His egalitarian approach to art deconstructs the limits of “good” and “bad” music, questioning who is allowed to designate it so, and grapples with the concept of how music helps to inform ideology.

The National Museum, 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
Music for Everyone: Variations on a Theme will run from 8 October-8 November, from 10am-7pm every day
Contact: 6332 2659 / [email protected]

Rock out to Flock at the Nest

On Friday night: The Nest is a new hole-in-the-wall music venue sequestered in the Pasir Panjang Power Station, in all of its preserved industrial aesthetic glory. Though it remains closed to live audiences, the joint has been taken over by 24OWLS, a group of the music event programmers behind Laneway, and will play host to a weekly digital performance event that kicks off this Friday. The first edition of the hour-long concert series, Flock at the Nest, will feature Marian Carmel, lewloh, and Benjamin Kheng. A ticket to the show also guarantees quirky cocktails or mocktails, complete with names like ‘Unicorn Barf’ and ‘Deeznuts,’ delivered to your doorstep by pandemic-born brand GudSht. For the discerning music fan open to new sounds, Flock at the Nest promises to be an intimate live showcase.

Flock at the Nest will stream on 9 October at 8pm
Tickets to the digital concert, organised by 24OWLS, can be purchased here

Clear your mind at Gong on the Moon

On Saturday morning: The Moon is one of Singapore’s best independent bookstores, and also doubles as a popular cafe and event space. They’re known for carrying feminist tomes and local authors in spades, and curates a clean, distinct aesthetic to match its whimsical literary sensibilities. Its hanging plants and sunlight-dappled walls couple beautifully with its slight witchy vibe, which will come in handy for the bevy of enchanting and eerie events its team has planned for October. One of those events is Gong on the Moon, their monthly event of contemplative reflection and sound meditation that welcomes in the new moon. The gong bath meditation provides an opportunity to restore energy fields, rebalance the body’s frequencies, and rejuvenate the entire being, while alleviating stress and clearing the mind. It’s an ideal activity for Mental Health Day.

The Moon, 37 Mosque Street, Singapore 059515
Tickets to Gong on the Moon, which runs from 10.30-11.30am on 10 October, can be purchased here

Enjoy a seven-course Persian meal at Shabestan

On Saturday night: Embark on a gastronomic journey to Persia at Shabestan, the award-winning restaurant celebrating its seventh birthday with an all-new seven-course menu titled ‘Seventh Heaven.’ Guests are welcomed with a glass of prosecco, wine or a mocktail, before being invited to stroll down a culinary path of delights cooked using traditional Persian recipes and techniques. A standout option for main course is Shabestan’s Shah Pasand Chicken, a special recipe from the Gulf, where tender boneless chicken breasts are marinated in saffron and herbs. Another mouth-watering dish is the Tekeh Masti, a dish made up of premium beef fillet cubes marinated in yoghurt and Persian spices. The minds behind the menu are also eager to show off their newest signature dish, the Impossible Kebab, to complement a fan-favourite vegetarian staple, the Sabzi Kebab.

Shabestan, 80 Mohamed Sultan Road, #01-13, Singapore 239013
Reservations for this special meal, which will run from 7-31 October, can be made by calling 6836 1270 or booking online

Get lost in a green world at Pocket Gardens Surprise

On Sunday morning: Gardens by the Bay is welcoming visitors back to the Flower Dome with Pocket Gardens Surprise. Guests will have the chance to explore the Dome’s hidden corners and nooks in order to unearth a wealth of lush mini-gardens—and never get bored, as the greenery displays are changed every two weeks. Starting this week is An Urban Oasis, located by the Dome’s largest tree, the African baobab. The newest display, which joins, among others, Hanging Garden and It’s Always Teatime, chronicles Singapore’s journey to becoming the Garden City. Also present in the Flower Field is the ongoing Edible Garden display, which draws inspiration from traditional French potager gardens and features a range of ornamental vegetables, herbs, and flowers. With the disruption of the supply chain of flowers due to COVID-19, Gardens by the Bay has designed and cultivated a series of beautiful floral displays to welcome the local community back.

Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Tickets to the Flower Dome can be purchased here

Read your heart out at The Substation’s B.A.C.A.

On Sunday afternoon: ‘Baca’ means ‘to read’ in Bahasa. Around that simple concept, experimental arts programming venue The Substation has designed a weekend of gathering to celebrate independent literature and those who love it. Punk artist-in-residence Shaiful Risan will lead visitors through a series of books, zines, periodicals and other independent publications across generations and countries from the ‘90s to present day. Also speaking will be Khairul Jafni (creator of an online and physical zine showcase platform AFTER), Michael Chua (author of Maid In Singapore) and Steve Lodge (author of The Hall of the Shepherd’s Pie). Guests will be invited to browse a crowdsourced collection of modern local zines displayed in the space, and to make their own zines. All the necessary accoutrements—typewriter, scrap paper, and stationery galore—will be provided to feed your creative and rebellious spirit.

The Substation, 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 177936
B.A.C.A. is free to enter and runs on 10-11 October, from 4-9pm

Sky High Hawker

On Friday night: In collaboration with some of Singapore’s most celebrated master chefs and rising stars in the culinary world, Marina Bay Sands’ iconic rooftop restaurant and bar CÉ LA VI is presenting high-flying hawker-style dining. From 57 floors above the street, local culinary masters will present their signature dishes alongside special treats curated just for the Hawker event. This will include the award-winning Janice Wong of 2am:dessertbar, Pang Seng Meng of New Ubin Seafood, and Gwyneth Ang of One Prawn Noodle, alongside third-generation hawkers who have worked alongside the likes of Gordan Ramsey, like Hassan Abdul Majeed of Cafe Mariam. Come and experience the pioneering next wave of Singaporean cuisine for yourself.

Sky High Hawker will run from 3-4 October, from noon to 10pm daily, with tickets available here
For more information, contact CÉ LA VI at 6508 2188  or [email protected]

Check out a living legend’s first virtual art exhibition

On Saturday afternoon: Cultural Medallion holder Lim Tze Peng is still going strong at age 100. Singapore’s oldest living artist has been plumbing the depths of his memories throughout the year, conjuring scenes of pre-modern Singapore, all painted from memory. This exhibition, titled “A Century of Memories” and Lim’s first done online, will feature 20 of his new works. His distinct old-school style—pinning rice paper to wooden boards and using traditional ink-painting techniques—will be complemented by more than 100 works inspired by his body of work, showcased in a parallel virtual gallery “next door” to his.

Ode To Art’s virtual exhibition “A Century of Memories” can be entered here until 28 October
For more information, contact Ode To Art at 6250 1901 or [email protected]

Party at a MASKquerade

On Saturday night: The Rice Ball, put on by local theatre company WILD RICE, has gone virtual this year. The annual celebration has changed up its format to include a gourmet meal delivered to your doorstep, prepared by the minds behind lauded restaurants like Odette, Braci, and 3 Embers. Guests can also look forward to a silent auction and afterparty in addition to the main show itself. The Ball is directed by Glen Goei and Pam Oei, who will also double as the Mistress of Ceremonies. With a script penned by Alfian Sa’at and Thomas Lim, the show will feature well-known local performers like Dwayne Lau, Siti Khalijah Zainal, and Andrew Marko, as well as WILD RICE founder Ivan Heng. There will be individual and group prizes for those deemed Best-Dressed, but as with all virtual events, the company has noted, pants are optional.

The Rice Ball will begin streaming from 6pm, with performances starting at 7:50pm
To reserve your ticket or inquire further, contact WILD RICE at [email protected]

Check out the new menu at Caffe Fernet

On Sunday morning: With bold new-Italian flavours, the 130-seater restaurant Caffe Fernet will introduce guests to an arresting new array of delights this weekend. Executive Chef David Tang, drawing from his own personal culinary journey, has blended traditional Italian methods with local produce to create a series of meals that are deceptively simple and extraordinarily satisfying. Boozy brunchers, take note: an updated and accomplished modern aperitivo drinks will be introduced to diners concurrently. Inspired by the neighbourhood bars that line the streets of Italy, the Caffe’s tipples will be divided neatly into frose, aperitivo, spritz, and negroni. This weekend, grab a few friends and head down to the historic Customs House along the Fullerton Bay waterfront, to sample Caffe Fernet’s signature convivial hospitality and its sparkling-new menu.

Caffe Fernet, 70 Collyer Quay, #01-05, Customs House, Singapore 049323
Contact: 9178 1105 / [email protected]

Tune into the annual Painting with Light film festival

On Sunday evening: At the end of a busy weekend, curl up on your couch with your laptop or tablet to watch an international film on art. National Gallery Singapore presents the third edition of the hugely popular film festival, “Painting with Light,” now moved completely online and made free for all viewers. Viewers can look forward to 20 short films and full-length features, including several local premieres of films like “Woo Woo” by Ismail Basbeth and “The Mental Traveller” by Taiki Sakpisit. Together, this selection of stories explores the tangible and intangible aspects of home within a multitude of contexts, revealing the fragility of the concept itself—particularly in the face of ever-changing global and local environments.

The National Gallery’s Painting with Light digital film festival runs from 2-25 October

Happy Hour at the Asian Civilisations Museum

On Friday night: The ACM, a staple of Singapore’s normally-thriving tourism scene, has found new and inventive ways to engage with local audiences, a quieter city, and Asia’s rich artistic heritage this summer. One of their newest events is Happy Hour, a Friday digital series exploring lifestyle, art and wellness. Last week saw the airing of the first installment, “Out of Curiosity”. Live on social media, movement artists Hafeez Hassan and Clyde Charlene Judith offered an interpretive dance session based on the ACM’s collection of treasures. Brillyn Toh of Hock Siong, a second-hand furniture company specialising in antiquities, also appeared to field questions and take viewers on a tour of the famous local shop.

This Friday will feature Erni Salleh, a dynamic authorial talent and finalist for the 2020 Epigram Books Fiction Prize, and interior stylist Priscilla Tan, who will share expert tips for beautifying your own home. The night will end with a cocktail-making Zoom masterclass from Jekyll & Hyde, one of Singapore’s pioneering cocktail bars. Registering for this event will get you access to exclusive DIY cocktail packs, which will be delivered to your home. Senior bartender Byron Tan will then take you through his step-by-step guide to preparing two curious cocktails at home.

The Asian Civilisations Museum’s Friday Happy Hour will be streamed from 6pm on their Instagram
Contact: 6332 7798 / [email protected]
Note: Attending ‘Curious Cocktails with Jekyll & Hyde’ requires a $25 ticket, which can be accessed here

We The Fest 2020: Virtual Home Edition

On Saturday afternoon: Say goodbye to that Jakarta traffic. An annual summer fiesta in Indonesia, We The Fest was initially cancelled in June—before it was announced in August that it would be resurrected online by its plucky organisers. The result will be two days of free at-home partying, where you can jam out to their phenomenal lineup of 26 international artists. Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi will be (virtually) present, as will London-based pop duo Oh Wonder, and saxophonist-rapper Masego. The festival will be hosted by two homegrown talents, radio host Reza Chandika and singer-songwriter Vidi Aldiano, and will include numerous Indonesian artists, like soul band Maliq & D’Essentials and metal-dangdut duo Gabber Modus Operandi.

We The Fest will begin streaming from 5pm
Secure your free pre-registered slot

Make dinner a party at Zouk Capital Kitchen

On Saturday night: Having shelved its dancing shoes for a later date, Zouk Group pivoted in July to gourmet dishes, quickly turning their renowned Capital lounge into a pop-up restaurant that’s worthy of a celebratory dance in its own right. The result, an adaptation of remarkable ease to the post-pandemic landscape, the second-level Capital Kitchen is a vibrant, intimate experience that retains a nostalgic trace of its once and future nightclub identity.

Seating 100 guests at a time, the establishment serves up a wide array of Asian and Western dishes straight out of the preeminent RedTail kitchen. If your opportunistic streak is feeling particularly twitchy this weekend, Capital Kitchen also offers the chance to circumvent the miles-long Paparch bakery waiting list, as the famed burnt cheesecake can be ordered (quickly, due to limited daily quantities) for dessert. Naturally, all that feasting can be accompanied by Zouk’s very own (and very wide) “bottle service” of sake, wines, spirits, and cocktails.

Capital Kitchen, 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery #02-05, Singapore 179022
Contact: 9006 8793 / [email protected]

Test out the healthy menu at Super Loco Robertson Quay

On Sunday morning: For brunch this weekend, it’s more than worth rocking up to the Loco Group’s Robertson Quay restaurant, as they’ve overhauled and completely revamped their weekend menu. They’ve done away with all but a few crowd favourites; but, of course, they’ve kept the gorgeous view of the Singapore River right at their doorstep.

The name of the game for this Super Loco is putting a healthy spin on classic brunch fare, such as the Gluten-Free Blue Corn Waffles with Fried Chicken (which can be swapped out for vegan-friendly coconut sorbet, topped with blueberries and candied pecan). With produce from Malaysia and meat from organic, free-range farms, it’s guilt-free dining at its finest. Their boozy brunch boasts a low-calorie Skinny Margarita, and a languorous mid-morning meal can be topped off by tucking into the vegan brownie, made with sweet potatoes and chocolate-cashew butter, served with a side of refreshing coconut sorbet. Says Chef Jason Jones of the new menu, “Each thing that we do, there’s an element of consciousness that we put to it, to say, ‘This is going to be good for you.'”

Super Loco, 60 Robertson Quay, #01-13 The Quayside, Singapore 238252
Contact: 6235 7900 / [email protected]

Archifest

On Sunday afternoon: This Friday, the annual Archifest celebration kicks off. A collection of over 100 exhibitions and events related to architecture, the festival is organised by Singaporean architects, for enthusiasts of all ages. This year’s theme—”Architecture: Saving Our World”—seems particularly prescient, and invites participants to examine the role of architecture in today’s climate and delve into Singapore’s urban environment from the ground up. A virtual conference and pavilion are particular cynosures, but new events will occur all month long.

This Sunday features two different events that exemplify the new hybrid model the festival will be testing for the first time. The first is an online Gouache Workshop, designed to teach novices how to paint landscapes in the style of Gouache, or opaque watercolour. When you sign up, you’ll receive a promotional discount code to purchase the materials required at Overjoyed (The Cathay). From 10am on Sunday, participants will be guided through trialling the unique properties of the Gouache medium, color mixing and brush handling methods.

Later in the day, there’s a physical event, “Tensengrity Structures,” at Edible Garden City. Half-workshop, half-exhibition, the experience will acquaint ticket-holders with “tension-integrity,” a feature of architectural elements that are supported by continuous tension systems with discrete or disconnected rigid elements. Structures like the floating table and the Singapore Flyer benefit from tensegrity, and now participants will, too, as they will have the chance to build architectural model kits and manipulate a 4m diameter tensegrity prototype.

Singapore Archifest 2020, various locations from 25 September to 31 October
Tickets can be reserved for most Archifest events (prices vary by event)