We get it. Life is such a rollercoaster ride that sometimes it’s near impossible to stay updated on things to do in the city. That’s where we come in: We’re here to bring you the latest buzz in the city, covering everything new and cool from food and shopping to entertainment and viral trends – all in easy-to-read, bite-sized doses, of course! So go ahead and bookmark this page for your weekly hit of what’s happening in Singapore.
Get your cool kicks
Sneakerheads, rejoice. The first-ever Southeast Asian Sneaker Con is landing on our shores in June, with a massive marketplace full of collabs and pumped up kicks, a skatepark, a trading pit for you to buy, sell or trade footwear, panel discussions with international designers, collectors and brand owners, and loads more. Plus, Sean Wotherspoon (the man behind the Nike Air Max 97/1) will be designing the official merch, so you can get your hands on everything from tees to swimming trunks.
Sneaker Con Southeast Asia, 20 – 21 June, $52/ticket per day, Marina Bay Sands Exhibition Halls E and F
An easy DIY guide to hand sanitiser
All you need are three ingredients, an empty bottle and a couple of minutes to spare.
It’s gonna be a longer wait…
This season, we’ll be practising quite a bit of delayed gratification, thanks to the Covid-19 situation. The latest bigwig to be postponed? Hydeout. Its first edition in Singapore was originally to be held in April, but will now be pushed to 9, 10, 16 and 17 October. All acts and details of the festival remain the same for now and purchased passes are still valid for the new dates. But refunds are available too, in case you were wondering.
P.S. Any Garden Beats fans in the house? Soz, but it looks like Gioli & Assia have pulled out of the festival. No worries though, Thai singer Pyra will take their slot on the line-up and Foals will play an extended set to keep the music going!
Tune in to these hot new tracks
Wondering what’s new and cool in the local music scene? Some of our fave talents have dropped fresh tracks, and we’re lovin’ it. Check ‘em out below!
- Hummingbird by Charlie Lim x Linying: A sweet soundtrack for chill sessions, this melancholic collab between the two popular local musicians chronicles the courage it takes to believe in something new without being haunted by past mistakes.
- Be Cool by Gareth Fernandez x Gentle Bones: Inspired by self-image issues faced by the youth of today, thanks to the facade of perfection on social media, this R&B/pop track blends smooth vocals by both singers with an upbeat groove.
- Find Me by Benjamin Kheng: Formerly one-fourth of The Sam Willows, Benjamin Kheng’s sophomore effort after his debut solo number Wicked sees him taking things slow. The emotional ballad comes from an unhappy place he found himself in a few years ago, and it’s in the words that his raw honesty really shines through.
- Who We R by Dru Chen: The first single from Dru Chen’s as-of-yet untitled sophomore album dives into the trials of the past and an unfamiliar future. With lyrics like “we were who we were back then, but we are who we are right now”, it’s a catchy pop anthem that’ll be stuck in your head for a while.
- Fool by In The Now: Up-and-coming quartet In The Now have just dropped their debut tune via Umami Records today, and it’s something we can all relate to: Unrequited love. If you like their heartbreak tune, the electro-pop/R&B band, comprising four teenage friends from Singapore, will be releasing their EP later this year.
Save the earth, one bag at a time
As the world moves towards an eco-friendly direction, Uniqlo jumps on board the bandwagon to replace its plastic shopping bags with paper ones. Heads up though: You’ll have to pay 10 cents for them, or get the reusable tote at $2.90.
Drinks for a cause
A year-long collab between Mitzo Restaurant and Bar, Destination Beverage and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Drink for Hope will give all its proceeds to Habitat for Humanity Singapore’s Project HomeWorks. To participate in the series, which takes place every last Friday evening of the month, simply donate at least $5 in cash to get your free glass of Bittersweet Symphony, made with ginseng-infused Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Becherovka, lime juice, ginger beer and fresh passion fruit. Each month features a special event as well: Feb offers a complimentary tarot card reading session, March spotlights a live demonstration by two female artists, April stars a magic performance, and so on.
Oh, and to celebrate International Women’s Day, Japanese restaurant Koma is offering a one-for-one cocktail promo on 7 March, 9pm to 11pm, for all ladies at its bar and lounge. A boozy toast here will also get you free entry into nightclub Marquee before midnight.
It’s a funky feast
Yaass, the popular Durian Fiesta returns to Goodwood Park Hotel once again. Amazingly enough, it’s been serving up stinky treats for over three decades (no complaints from us!). This time, expect to see seven new Mao Shan Wang and D24 pastries influenced by the hotel’s past.
To commemorate its hosting of Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova in 1922, the kitchen has whipped up a D24 pavlova (plus a coffee version) with a meringue crust. Inspired by the building’s green gardens, D24 Summer Dream is a mousse cake with colourful petals and fruit jelly. Other fresh highlights include D24 Nutty Delight, combining durian with peanut butter marshmallow, a durian golden fritter and an ice cream roll. Of course, you can also nibble on hot favourites like D24 crepe and Mao Shan Wang mousse cake.
Durian Fiesta, 14 Mar – 26 Jul, Goodwood Park Hotel
Last week’s buzz
A toast to the best cocktail
Woo girls, where y’all at? National Margarita Day is this weekend! So what if it’s more of a thing in the US? We’re down to celebrate our fave boozy treat anytime, and plenty of restaurants and bars are getting in on the action. Whether you like it frozen or on the rocks, there’s a drink promo for you at hotspots like OverEasy Fullerton, The Secret Mermaid, Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall, Super Loco, Cuba Libre, Piedra Negra and more.
National Margarita Day, celebrated at multiple locations.
So long, farewell
In our fickle food scene, your fave eatery may be all the rage one day and shuttered the next. For every hot new table, you’ll likely see more than a few spots close down. We’re only two months into 2020, yet we’ve already said goodbye to ice cream parlour Cold Stone Creamery, Ronin cafe and Belimbing Superstar (sister to The Coconut Club). To add on to the farewells, we’ve got the once-viral Spice World Hotpot, formerly famed for its bizarre bubble tea steamboat, departing our shores. As for the Jay Chou-endorsed Liang Sandwich Bar, all four outlets are closed, but they’ll make way for the rebranded Liang Crispy Roll, so stay tuned for new menu offerings at the end of 2020!
Germs, be gone
After sanitising and sterilising like there’s no tomorrow, you’re probably low on anything anti-bacterial by now. No worries though; you can easily make your own. There are plenty of tutorials out there, but the basics are simple.
All you need is 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel, one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, 1/2 teaspoon of vitamin E (optional) and essential oils like lavender and tea tree (about 10 drops each). Just blend it all up, pour the mix into a small bottle, and you’re good to go. Psst: You can make yours more aromatic by adding extra essential oils such as cinnamon, lemongrass and peppermint!
#Supportlocal in film… for free
The regional short film competition inspired by HBO Asia Original series Invisible Stories has chosen its winners from a pool of more than 300 entries, and you can check ‘em out without charge on HBO Go. The three top picks feature untold stories from their own neighbourhoods.
Washed Off by Ansen Goh from Singapore offers a peek into the lives of two workers from Bangladesh who run car-wash moonlighting services; Ali by Malaysia’s Ibtisem Ben Nassib follows the titular character as he leaves Syria in search of a better life but soon realises it’s a mistake; and Hello Uncle by Singaporean Sabrina Poon takes a look at an old man’s encounter with strange noises from his upstairs neighbour.
HBO Asia’s short film winners, free to stream on HBO Go
This music fest gets a glow-up
Returning to the shores of Sentosa, AIA Glow Festival has announced its headliners for this year’s edition: MGMT, Two Door Cinema Club and Starley. If that doesn’t convince you to get your tix, perhaps the wellness activities, international yoga bigwigs, charity run to brunch, or hip eateries will.
AIA Glow Festival 2020, 30 – 31 May, Palawan Green, Sentosa
The virus situation everyone’s talking about
Covid-19 isn’t going away anytime soon, yet life must go on. Still, staying home doesn’t have to be a chore. So if you’re self-quarantining, under official orders or working from home, we’ve got all the tips you need to keep entertained and productive.
Other updates include: The Singapore Red Cross appealing for blood donors as national stocks have dipped to low levels after the outbreak; Singapore Airlines and SilkAir temporarily cutting down on flights due to a drop in travel demand; and local theatre companies teaming up to offer discounts for those who book multiple shows. So if you’re planning to catch Wild Rice’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “The Son” by Pangdemonium, or SRT’s “The Lifespan of a Fact”, you can get 15% off your purchase if you buy tickets to one of the other productions too.
Wildlife baby boom
The next time you take a trip to any of the wildlife parks on the island, look out for little ones of the animal variety. Apparently, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari have altogether welcomed 660 newborns and hatchlings from 121 species over the last year. Quite an amazing feat, no? Some of the babies on the list include the Santa Cruz ground dove, hyacinth macaw, Malayan tapir, anteater, West Indian manatee, crocodile monitor, douc langur and rhinoceros. Too cute!
May the 4th be with you
Can’t quite muster up the nerve to join the crowds at marathons or fitness challenges? Yeah, we feel you. Which is why fun runs like the upcoming Star Wars Virtual Run are ideal to gear you up for a lifestyle change. This one’s easy – you get ample time to clock in your distance from 4 – 31 May, and you can do it anywhere (even at home on the treadmill!). Just download the Move Run Tracker app and pledge your allegiance to the Light or Dark side to participate.
Star Wars Virtual Run, 4 May
Yaass, queen!
The first-ever Queens of Asia kicks off with a bang, starring a whole host of funnywomen doin’ it for the laughs at Coyote Ugly Saloon in Clarke Quay. Hosted by Hossan Leong, the show features names like Yumi Nagashima from Japan, Aditi Mittal from India and Joanne Kam from Malaysia. Expect to chortle your way through wisecracks about dating, sex, marriage and gender equality.
Queens of Asia Comedy, 21 Mar, 8pm, Coyote Ugly Saloon Singapore
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