I-S Magazine Mar 28

March 28 - April 10, 2014

No sweat

# 6 4 9 | I n s i d e s i n g a p o r e | www.is-magazine.com

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Days New Workouts

Indoor surfing! Electro-therapy! Trampolining!

How we survived a week of wacky fitness routines

Eat s ALL NEW DINING GUIDE — FREE INSIDE! The best brunches, burgers, sushi, soba and so much more. 25+ categories, 250+ venues!

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Rain Over Me 6

Cover Story

Singapore’s government was forced into an embarrassing climb-down this month when its attempts to permanently stop the rain failed in dramatic fashion. Following the longest dry spell since the mid-nineteeth century, the heavens opened up again midway through March.

We Can Work it Out

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19

TRAVEL

art

Maldives magic

William Phuan

“We didn’t want to say anything,” said another, “but we needed something drastic to distract people from all the negative news of late. All this talk of being the world’s most expensive city was really hurting us. We performed poorly in the press freedom index. The BBC said we were selfish. We just thought permanent sunshine would boost the national mood.”

15 style

Ready for the World Cup?

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tech

COMPETITION

Dining

Whatsapp alternatives

Meet the winner of our Cupcake Challenge

Shisen Hanten

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nightlife

INTERVIEW

New at St. James

Cecilia LeongFaulkner

Who's in charge?

Where to find us!

Country Manager Andrew Hiransomboon countrymanager@asia-city.com.sg

Media Executives Denise Lim, Stephanie Zheng Gwen Tang

Editorial Editorial Director Ric Stockfis editor@asia-city.com.sg

Marketing Marketing Manager Silver Adrienna Ng marketing@asia-city.com.sg

Associate Editor Crystal Lee Junior Writers Delle Chan, Letitia Tandean Custom Content Editor Clara Lim Custom Content Writer Samantha David Editorial Assistant Khairul Amri Design Senior Designer Beverly Chong Designers Carmen Louise Ho, Fishy Toh, Janel Quek Multimedia Designer Photographer Mossy Chew Wenzhi Sales Business Development Manager Intan Agustina advertising@asia-city.com.sg Media Manager Shernan Plameras

Marketing Executive Lia Roslan Finance Finance Manager Lynn Legaspi finance@asia-city.com.sg Accountant Huang Huiping Admin Executive Goh Ting Yu ACMG Digital Digital Product Manager Nancy Ide

Group Directors Chief Executive Officer Gretchen Worth gworth@asia‑city.co.th

The Asia City Media Group Bangkok Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd 22/F, Silom Center 2 Silom Road, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02‑624‑9696 Fax: 02‑237‑5656 bkmagazine@asia‑city.co.th Shanghai shonline@asia‑city.com.cn Kuala Lumpur Pacific Tourism Communications Sdn Bhd Lot 2.44‑2.45, 2nd Floor, Wisma Cosway, Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: 60‑3‑2144‑4886 Fax: 60‑3‑2141‑1911

Singapore Asia City Publishing Pte. Ltd. Block 211 Henderson Rd. #14‑03 Henderson Industrial Park Singapore 159552 Tel: 65‑6323‑2512 Fax: 65‑6323‑2779 ismag@asia‑city.com.sg

WINNER

Editor of the Year

After three months of surreptitiously and rather successfully manipulating the weather, officials admitted defeat. “It’s over,” said one minister on condition of anonymity (and no photo, as the rain had spoiled his hair), “I got soaked outside Paragon.”

I‑S Magazine is published 24 times a year by Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd., 211 Henderson Road, #14‑03, Singapore 159552.

Tel: 65‑6323‑2512 Fax: 65‑6323‑2779. Copyright ©2014 Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. The title “I‑S Magazine,” its associated logos or devices, and the content of I‑S Magazine are the property of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.

I‑S Magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Contact the Publisher for ad rates and specifications. All advertising in I‑S Magazine must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business, copies of which are available upon request. Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte. Ltd., 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968. ISSN 0218‑8872 MCI (P) 136/12/2012

Leaked documents point to distinctly underhand measures.

Among those most aggrieved was Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, who complained about the amount of paperwork he is now required to complete before unleashing a storm. “They sure make it tough for a foreigner like me to just get on with my job,” said the bearded 3,800-year-old. “It took me nearly nine weeks to get the green light, but now it’s hammer time!”

Mother Nature was also distinctly unimpressed.

“Darling, you don’t have to tell me,” she said. “That icky parched brown was so not a good look! But what’s a girl supposed to do? I heard they siphoned off the entire subterranean water table and used it to cool Mick Jagger’s cryo-stasis chamber for that show at MBS.” Observers say it was only a matter of time before the scheme failed, citing the government’s inexperience dealing with such powerful opposition. “We’re talking about the elements here,” noted one columnist. “You can’t just shut down their blog.”

Ironically, it was Indonesia that emerged the big winner— Jakarta’s deployment of next-gen, super-strength haze generators ultimately forcing the government’s hand. “We waited until they’d let it get nice and dry and dusty ... then switched these bad boys on,” said a proud official quoted in the Post. “Look at these things! They can blast PM2.5s at least 1,000 miles! Of course Singapore had to switch the rain back on.”

Distributed by

Asked if he felt any remorse, the official was unrepentant.

“What are they complaining about over there anyway? We thought they liked having smoke blown up their ass!”

Group Digital Director Greg Duncan gduncan@asia‑city.com.sg

Cover by Carmen Louise Ho

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@is_magazine FRIDAY, march 28, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 3

UP FRONT Giveaways

And we have a winner Congratulations to Michael Roberts for winning a pair of dinner tickets for Savour 2014 (worth $130)!

Singapore Sparks

Quote of the Week “If alcohol was the cause, then every weekend should be a riot.”

Celebrating the city’s entrepreneurs, start-ups and innovative thinkers

Kevin Osmond is the CEO of Jakartabased Printerous (www.printerous. com), a social design service that will turn your Instagram pics into poster-sized wall art (or a photobook, sticker or magnet). They currently ship to Singapore, Indonesia and Europe.

– Mr P. Raveentheran of the Singapore Tamil Committee in response to questioning at the Committee of Inquiry into the Dec 8 riot.

Savour 2014

Want to win some amazing prizes?

Go to is-magazine.com/giveaways to find out more.

Be Good Cool Down

We

SG

This week you will mainly love your city for its...

Smart Money Another big player has jumped on the cashless bandwagon.

ComfortDelGro taxis are now incentivizing their commuters to use cashless payments by rewarding them with points for every transaction made, which they can use to redeem transport vouchers. This comes hot on the heels of McDonald’s tying up with Visa to encourage cashless payment for food orders; and bolsters other popular payment methods in place such as EZlink and Nets Flashpay now available at some 100,000 spots around the island.

OB Index Charting the ups and downs of Singapore's openness, tolerance and freedom of expression. march

It’s a social design service where people can create personalized arts.

We turn your designs into high quality arts through printing with advanced technology and skilled workmanship.

Then we deliver the art to your doorstep with care. But in the future, Printerous will be the online platform for people to create, buy & sell personalized products from people all around the world.

Where did the idea come from?

Numerology 8

3,818

minutes taken for Xiaomi Redmi smartphones to sell out on their February 28 launch

number of people in a mass Taiji session at Yio Chu Kang stadium, setting a new record in the Singapore Book of Records (up from 2,500 in 2012)

11

The phrase “men in blue” may soon be obsolete with the creation of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) Women’s Committee led by the highest-ranking policewoman, Senior Assistant Commissioner Zuraidah Abdullah. The hope is that they can increase the number of policewomen to a third of the force compared to the current (and rather paltry) 17%. Commissioner of Police Ng Joo Hee hopes that the SPF would be an even more “female-friendly organization.”

What’s the elevator pitch for the Printerous concept?

Who doesn’t love ice cream? Come April 8, it’ll be Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day once again and this time, you also get to do your bit for charity. Visit any of the four participating scoop shops from noon8pm—Vivocity, Dempsey Hill, Great World City and Singapore Zoo—to redeem your cone and contribute a sum to The Children’s Charities Association of Singapore (CCA) which helps fund programs to benefit physically, mentally and socially-disadvantaged children in Singapore. For more information, visit www.benjerry.com.sg.

27% proportion of professionals actively looking out for a new job here according to the Talent Trends 2014 report

$944,000 worth of gold pellets stolen by a production line worker at consumer electronics giant Philips over five months

These days, people love taking pictures with their smartphones or cameras— but often these memories end up only on social media or web storage. It’s now possible to revisit these memories every single day.

Is it hard to make pictures from people’s phones look good at a larger size?

We have developed proprietary image resizing technology that allows us to create good quality prints. We’re so confident that we’ll even give you a full reprint of your order at no additional charge.

Has anyone submitted anything strange?

We once got a Photobook order from a dog to its master, celebrating the master coming home after a long holiday trip.

Ric Stockfis

e!

fre

with I-S Now, you will never miss out on events and happenings in Singapore again

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What to do? Where to go? What’s happening?

Available for download now!

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Sources: Asia One, The New Paper, Channel News Asia, The Straits Times, Today.

4 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

CALENDAR Essential Events March 28 - April 11 SEE This

DO This

Fade into Darkness Expect an intense night of spine-tingling electronic music Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington perform as Darkside. Apr 6, 6pm.

See Music, page 19.

DON’T Miss

Green Day

Earthly Pleasures

If you haven’t been yet, hit up the NÓNG x Naiise.com pop-up ASAP as it closes its doors Mar 31—though keep your eyes peeled for more urban farming and dining projects after.

See Stuff, page 20.

SAM’s first post-Biennale show Unearthed is a fascinating collab between regional artists and Earth Observatory of Singapore. Through Jul 6.

See Art, page 19.

CALENDAR FRIDAY, MARCH 28 VIP preview of new Creolestyle restaurant and bar Life Is Beautiful at Duxton. It’s going to be massive. See Scene & Heard, page 19. Invite-only.

Last chance to catch Wild Rice’s The House of Bernarda Alba before the run ends on Mar 29.

See Theater, page 19.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29 Check out art studios in historical houses at the annual ArtWalk@ Wessex, with over 20 artists’ work exhibited. Mar 29-30, 11am. Free. Head to www. facebook.com/ArtWalkWessex for details.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 The Macallan Whisky & Wagyu Dinner brings together possibly one of the most droolsome pairings at World Gourmet Summit.

7pm. Stellar at 1-Altitude, 62/F One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place, 64380410. $348.

Ben & Jerry’s THURSDAY, Free Cone Day APRIL 3 Easter-appropriate epic flick Noah may be the heavy hitter, but we’re rooting for Terry Gilliam’s hacker flick The Zero Theorem—both open this weekend.

Dance all night to hip hop, dancehall, R&B and reggae courtesy of Chroam DJs Paulsilver and Drem. 10pm. Blu Jaz, 11 Bali Lane, 6292-3800.

Free.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 Haw Par Villa ups its cool factor with local art exhibition Latent Spaces. See Art, page 19.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30 Sneaker freaks, head to this edition of Zouk Flea & Easy for a Sole Superior showcase. 2pm. See Sales & Fairs, page 20.

SUNDAY, APRIL 6 We wouldn’t normally suggest staying in, but Game of Thrones season 4 premieres on HBO, so you gotta do what you gotta do.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1 Cover your bases for April Fool’s Day with Mr Know It All, page 22.

MONDAY, APRIL 7 Hop on the bandwagon at Crowdsourcing Week, which features speakers from Roomorama all the way

to NASA. Through Apr 11.

Fusionopolis, 3 Fusionopolis Way. Head to www. crowdsourcingweek.com for details.

TUESDAY, APRIL 8 Snag free Ben & Jerry’s at the annual Free Cone Day at their VivoCity, Dempsey, Great World City and Singapore Zoo outlets.

12-8pm. See Up Front, page 4.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 Yet another production of Romeo & Juliet opens, this time care of Brit theater company TNT. Through Apr 11.

See Theater, page 19.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 See super-luxe boats and mingle with the super-rich at Singapore Yacht Show.

Through Apr 13. See Stuff, page 21.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 Get together with fellow coffee nerds at the Singapore Aeropress Championships at Common Man Coffee Roasters, #01-00 22 Martin Rd., 68364695. Invite-only.

open door

Dibs

The buzz: Although not well known to the wider public, every food critic we’ve spoken to is mad about new Duxton arrival Dibs, an unpretentious restaurant serving up off-cuts and genre-defying dishes by chef Leong Khai Git. The vibe: Sure, there’s bare concrete and unpolished dark wood everywhere, and the menus come on clipboards, but the space feels a lot more like a friendly diner than the latest hip hangout. There’s also a spacious bar upstairs.

The food: “Not for light eaters,” says Leong. Nor is it for the conservative.

Happily, the menu undersells the creativity of the food. Veal marrow ($15) is amply topped with bonito; the chicken main ($25) turns out to be a (maybe a little too) clever take on chicken rice; the pork cheek ($28) comes tonkatsu-style on a

bed of bright green pea puree.

Leong really doesn’t half-ass it with his food. Flavors are bold and umami-heavy, yet complex. We think no dish showcases his flair better than the blistered Brussels sprouts ($10), which is sweet, nutty, salty, calamansi-tangy and jalapeno-kicky all at once.

The drinks: There’s a small selection of wines ($12/glass) and beers ($14), but skip these: The panAsian flavors here pair best with their flavored umeshus ($8). The Dibs team are self-confessed sake addicts, so their sake selection (from $40/bottle) is solid as well.

Why you’ll be back: Like us, because you’re hooked on Dibs’ playful plates. Plus—and here’s where the lack of self-promotion works in their favor—you’ll feel like an insider in the foodie circle.

51 Duxton Rd., 6223-3784, www.dibs.sg. Open Mon-Fri 12-2pm; Mon-Sat 6pmmidnight. CLARA LIM

FRIDAY, march 28, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 5

COVER STORY

Week In, Weak Out What we learned in seven days of new fitness routines. By the I-S Team

L

ike all of you, we think of ourselves as reasonably fit. Not obsessive about it, but, you know, not in bad shape considering how much eating, partying and TV drama-watching we do. Truth be told though, we’ve grown a little bored of our lazy gym routine and the occasional jog around the track.

So when we heard about a host of new workouts that promised us not just a better body, but less time lifting weights and more fun while we were at it, we jumped at the chance. Of course, it wasn’t enough for us to just test them out: we set ourselves the ambitious and horribly ill-advised goal of trying them all within just one week. Here’s what happened.

How hopeful we MONDAY were when the week began! Once we’d shaken off our post-weekend woes the prospect of a workout that would be over almost before it had begun had us pretty excited. That’s RIOT, a 30-minute regime that packs a series of cardio, calisthenics and weight-training exercises into a single session. It harnesses your own body weight, plus equipment such as kettle bells and TRX for a more structured workout.

“RIOT is a great way to work out and keep motivated with your friends,” says Dr. Lynn

Yeo, owner and Director of new gym R-Evolution. “It’s short, intense, effective and fun.” We can’t really argue with that, though a more honest appraisal would have been “it’ll leave you lying on your back gasping like dying fish.”

We were tasked to perform a series of jumping jacks (60 reps), ring push-ups (20 reps), ab extensions (20 reps)... well, you get the idea. And that was just one circuit—we had to complete as many circuits as humanly possible within 30 minutes. Great for getting ripped in no time, not so great if you’ve spent all day Sunday at a Champagne brunch.

Where to do it: R-Evolution, #03-09 Vivocity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-9697, www.r-evolution. com.sg. $280/month for unlimited classes.

Ouch. Barely a day in and Tuesday already our bodies were screaming stop. But the prospect of a workout mimicking animal movements and poses had piqued our interest, and we were hopeful at least one of them would be “sleeping cat”.

No such luck: Zuu (pronounced “zoo”) is a 30 or 45-minute, high-intensity workout featuring bizarre exercises like frog squats and bear crawls.

There are over 100 different moves altogether.

According to

Eat Clean Here at I-S, we attend so many restaurant tastings and bar openings that we’re probably not in the best position to tell you about diets and healthy living. So, we’ve asked those in the know to break down the latest fads for you.

Juice Cleansing “Juicing makes it not just convenient but also tasty to stomach all the nutrients and vitamins that most of our urbanites are deprived of on a daily basis.”

– Lim Xinhui, Head Concierge of hic’Juice, www.hicjuice.com.sg

By now we were desperately hoping for a second wind to kick in, or at least an excuse not to do any more damn squats. We’d tactically booked in for a session of Aerial Arts, figuring the gravity-defying, acrobatic moves would spare our knees. That they did, though hauling our own bodyweight up, over and through equipment like the trapeze, lyra (hoop) and silks for the best part of an hour was by no means easy,

Sunita Vira

There is little or no scientific evidence [in favor of it]. Cooking actually helps breaks down the non-digestible parts of plants...and some nutrients become easier for the body to absorb after cooking.

– Derrick Ong

Lim Xinhui

Derrick Ong

I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, march 28, 2014

Wednesday

Raw Food “I love the energy I get from eating raw foods. You never have to diet and you never have to worry about your weight! My favorite benefit is the mental clarity. The brain fog cleared up!”

– Sunita Vira, founder of The Raw Food Centre, www.rawfoodcentre.com

As a detox program or for weight loss, then definitely no.

It’s extremely low in calories, ill-balanced and can be relatively high in sugars.

– Derrick Ong, director of Eat Right Nutrition Consultancy, www.eatright.sg

6

Christian Mason, Virgin Active’s operations director for Southeast Asia, Zuu “improves mobility… and strengthens ligaments, tendons and inter-connective tissue through primal pattern movements.” But while they might be primal, it’s been a good 10 million years since man branched out from other animals, and it certainly felt like that long since we’d had to move like this.

We were actually quite good at the gorilla crawls (although apparently our lactate threshold sucks), less so the snake plank (moving up and down while holding a normal plank position, which actually felt pretty uncomfortable) and iguana push-ups. We also invented a new one: sweaty ape. We couldn’t fault the routine for novelty value, but we’re not rushing back.

Where to do it: Virgin Active, 6/F One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place, 6908-7878, www.virginactive.com. sg. Membership is priced at $42.50 a week and $170 per month.

4:3 and 5:2 diets “Studies suggest that intermittent fasting is more effective [than eating normally] in preserving lean body mass. Some people may find it easier to set aside 2-3 days a week, rather than trying to practice continuous caloric restriction 24/7.”

– Derrick Ong

and despite some helpful guidance we’re still waiting on the call up from Cirque de Soleil.

It was a great core and upper body workout, though, and “by learning how to perform aerial tricks, you’ll improve your bodily awareness, coordination and mental concentration,” says Simply Yoga Director Annie Gan. One thing we really didn’t want to concentrate on was how high the equipment seemed—if you suffer from vertigo (or, you know, are just looking for an excuse to sit out your third day of exercise in a row) you might want to give it a miss.

Where to do it: Simply Yoga, #03-23/24/25 Katong V, 30 East Coast Rd., 6348-6828, www.simplyyoga.sg. $200 for an 8-week aerial foundation class.

Thursday

With the weekend approaching (and our arms now struggling with ultra-challenging tasks like, ahem, picking up pens) we figured we’d take things down a notch and

Class Act

sign up for a chilled out session of Surfset. We figured wrong.

Think of all the things that make surfing so difficult (nailing the right posture, having good balance, needing a strong core), take away the scenic setting and the water and you’re left with a tough, 45-minute session of surf-inspired moves on a static, floormounted (and purposefully unstable) board, incorporating planks, push-ups, paddling and even yoga poses. All this means you reap “the cardio benefits of spinning, the muscle toning of TRX training, and the improvement of core and balance all at once,” according to Melissa Goh, owner and instructor of Surfset Fitness.

Surfset doesn’t teach you how to surf (there’s Wave House Sentosa for that) but it targets the exact muscles needed for the sport. And it wasn’t nearly as mechanical as

Stuck in a workout rut? Shake up your fitness routine by giving these other new-ish classes a go.

CoreAlign Head to Sky Pilates for classes that are conducted on the CoreAlign, a revolutionary training tool designed to improve posture and balance.

With an array of deep stretches and challenging exercises, your core stability muscles should feel the burn.

Sky Pilates, #09-01 Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Rd., 6100-7597, www.skypilates.com.sg.

abs, butt, back and obliques, as well as improve your balance and mobility.

California Fitness, 8/F Ngee Ann City, 391A Orchard Rd., 68342100, www.californiafitness.com.

ViPR This 30-minute class places an emphasis on loaded movement training and 3-dimensional movements with the ViPR, that logshaped exercise tooL you may have seen lying around the gym. You’ll get to build up your functional strength, while torching tons of calories.

Pure Fitness, 6/F Asia Square Tower 1, 8 Marina View, 61002233, www.pure-fitness.com.

Zumba Step

Les Mills CXWORX™ Launched at California Fitness last September, this workout, which involves the use of an elastic resistance tube, will do wonders for your core muscles—all in just 30 minutes. It’ll strengthen and tone your

This workout, which debuted worldwide last month, combines traditional fitness, dance and step aerobic moves, all set to sexy, infectious tunes. It’s a fun and effective way to tone those glutes and hamstrings, plus you’ll get to burn up to 1,000 calories in a single session.

Virgin Active, 6/F One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place, 6908-7878, www.virginactive.com.sg.

»

FRIDAY, march 28, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 7

COVER STORY that makes it sound: you don’t get the zen effect of being out on the water, but just like the real thing there are plenty of hot bodies to ogle. And the afterburn lasted all the way to our workout the next day, which can only be a good thing (even if it felt like anything but at the time). The movements certainly came more naturally than in many of the other classes we tried.

Where to do it: Surfset, 454B Joo Chiat Rd., 9751-0793, www.surfset.sg. $35 for a single class; $165 for a package of five.

Friday

The folly of what we’d gotten ourselves into was now abundantly clear, and we knew we’d need something truly crazy to keep us motivated. Step forward Powerzeit! It’s a full body training exercise that uses neuromuscular electronic stimulation (NMES) to…who are we kidding?

It’s a weird and wacky regime in which you get

zapped to get fit.

Said to increase aerobic capacity, define muscles and fight cellulite, Powerzeit also allegedly prevents unnecessary exertion and pressure on your joints. “NMES is very scalable—athletes can complement their functional training, weekend warriors can keep fit and couch potatoes can overcome their motivational issues,” says Wolfgang Reeh, cofounder of Powerzeit.

There’s no denying it’s an unusual experience, though. Once we’d overcome our fear of having electricity passed through our body (and frankly we were in no state to resist by this point), we were fitted in a special damp outfit—for better conductivity!—before getting wired up. But it wasn’t nearly as bad as we’d feared: the instructor controls the intensity of the electrical impulses so we never felt too uncomfortable. We did, though, break into sweat after just two minutes, and we were knackered at the end of the 20-minute session. Was it interesting? Yes. And great if you’re lazy.

Would we do it again? Doubtful.

Where to do it: Powerzeit, 4/F Equity Plaza, 20 Cecil St., 6536-6921, www. powerzeit.com. $30 per starter session; $70 for a single class.

»

Float On

body to heal faster. It also cuts down the body’s “gravity-fighting” workload, which has benefits as well.

There’s a new fitness trend that’s taking the MMA world by storm—floating in sensory deprivation What about mental tanks filled with bodyor psychological temperature salt water.

Derrick Foo benefits?

It sounds strange, but Palm It’s a conducive environment Avenue Float Club founder for meditation.

Once you’re in a Derrick Foo tells us about its many meditative state, your brainwaves benefits. and stress levels go down, while Where did you first hear creativity and healing performance of flotation? go up. Tibetan monks are said to It’s been around for decades and spend 20 years to develop the decades, but I first got exposed to ability to go into this state at will— it through MMA—a lot of people and getting into the tank is like a have discovered flotation as a taking bullet train to this state. technique to help them visualize Because you’re detached from their “perfect” performance. stimuli and are forced to focus inwards and spend so much time What kind of physical benefits with yourself, the treatment can does flotation offer? also change your worldview. Lots The anti-gravity nature of the of people come out of the tank in a environment allows blood to flow euphoric, light and hyper-aware (of through body much more quickly. sound and light) state that lasts for This reduces cortisol in the body, releases endorphins and allows the a day or two.

Palm Avenue Float Club, Palm Ave., 9151-6004, www.palmavefloatclub.com. Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, 9pm-2am; Sat 10am-2am. Float rates start from $65/hour.

NIGHTLIFE! Advertise in I-S Magazine’s exclusive

World Cup Guide Published 6 Jun 2014

Includes our annual best bars guide

Discounts of up to 30% Now - 15 Apr 2014 Offering an insight into all the action in Brazil this June and July and where to watch the big games in Singapore. It’s going to make essential reading for the city’s footy fans Don’t delay, contact our Sales team today at 6323 2512 or email sales@asia-city.com.sg 8

I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, march 28, 2014

We tried really, really hard not to treat ourselves Saturday to a night out after Powerzeit. But the less said about what happens when we try not to do something the better. So we were quietly relieved to have booked ourselves into a padded room to work off our hangover. Even better? When you go trampolining you can do as little or as much as you like within a one-hour slot.

Of course, once we realized the setup was basically a giant bouncy castle, kitted out with wall-to-wall trampolines and foam pits, the temptation to bounce around like a loon proved irresistible. And there’s some serious science behind it—according to a 1980 NASA study, 10 minutes of playing Spiderman equates to 30 minutes of cardio, and is more efficient and effective than running or swimming. What’s more, it supposedly increases bone density, preventing arthritis, and strengthening muscles you didn’t know you had (we can certainly testify to the not knowing part).

The downside? We can see it being pretty

APBS-032-14 IS Mag@ol.ai

1

18/2/14

easy to hurt yourself (our backs were a little stiff after half an hour). Says Sky Ong of AMPED Singapore, “It’s safe, although we’ve had a few injuries when people get overambitious while doing trick jumps.”

Where to do it: AMPED Singapore, 2/F, 369 Tanjong Katong Rd., 8669-4894, ampedsingapore.com. $9-$15 per hour.

The end of the week Sunday couldn’t come soon enough; though we had to reluctantly admit feeling much fitter than we had when we started out. Perhaps mixing things up like this wasn’t such a bad thing after all. And thankfully we’d saved one of the most interesting offerings till last.

At Stand Up Paddleboarding (or SUP) Yoga we paddled out 25 meters from Tanjong Beach to perform basic yoga asanas, from sun salutations to back bridges, on a 10-foot long board. Similar to Surfset you’re working your core so as not to keep shaking and falling

off the board—it was a less challenging workout but so much more fun for being out in the elements. You have to hold your balance as the waves roll in and, of course, avoid capsizing the board. They don’t even really mind you cooling off in the water: “More people are willing to try handstands at SUP Yoga,” says Ellen Goel of 22 Experience, “as you fall into the water, instead of onto hard ground.”

All things considered, a pretty great way to end a pretty tough week. Who knew Singapore sunsets were that pretty?

Where to do it: 22 Experience (8421-5021, www.22experience.com) holds a session ($55) every last Sunday of the month at Tanjong Beach. Weekly YogaFitness classes ($50 upwards) are available at SUP School Singapore, Tanjong Beach, Sentosa, 9638-5565, www.supschool.com.sg). n

6:12 PM

FRIDAY, march 28, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 9

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The Dream Makers Newly launched cheap flights and resorts looking to outdo one another with extravagant new experiences make the Maldives one of this year’s hottest travel picks. By Lauren Jade Hill Aerial view of The Residence Maldives

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi

Atmosphere Kanifushi

M The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Atmosphere Kanifushi

Male

Niyama

The Residence Maldives

ore than 100 resorts occupy their own island in the 1,190 island archipelago of the sparkling Indian Ocean—each offering the kind of picture postcard setting that impossible expectations are made of. The good news is that, if you pick the right resort, even your highest hopes will be blown out of the water: crystal clear waters, turquoise lagoons, villalined jetties jutting out to sea and luxury service on tap.

Some say the Paradise isles are, whisper it, a bit boring, but in fact there are now so many resorts putting on underwater, overwater and island-based activities and excursions that you couldn’t possibly fit them all into one trip. So we checked out* four special, but completely different, top-rate resorts, each of them offering their own take on that trademark Maldivian indulgence.

A stay here is never going to be cheap (though see below for details of cheap flight access), but for a once in a lifetime experience it’s pretty much the gold standard.

* Tough job

Best for living the dream

Niyama Stay: What can we say—Niyama is where to stay if you want to feel like a rockstar.

The villas are stylish, sexy and fitted with contemporary furnishings, such as the light fittings influenced by the native coral. The resort feels like an ultra-exclusive village

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The Residence Maldives beach

with sandy paths leading you between villas, pristine beaches, uber hip eating and drinking venues, state-of-the-art facilities and the serene Lime Spa. They’re eco-conscious too, with an on-site marine biologist there to give guests an insight into the underwater world, and the opportunity to plant your own coral. The downside is that the high price means you can’t stay as long as you’d like (forever?).

Eat: There are seven dining and drinking venues, but stand-outs are Edge, an overwater restaurant and bar accessed by boat, Subsix, the world’s first underwater club, and Tribal, an alfresco dining space, specializing in African and South American flavors; try the lobster ceviche and chargrilled ostrich.

Do: With a daily schedule of activities, such as yoga or DJ workshops, an extensive range of watersports and excursions, including trips on Maldivian Dhoni boats, as well as the gym, spa, game simulator center and marine biology lab, you’ll never feel like you’ve had enough time here.

Need to Know: Travel to the resort by Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane for US$600 ($759) return. Nightly rates range between US$850 ($1,074) in low season for a beach studio to US$14,900 ($18,829) in high season for a two-bedroom beach pavilion (we can dream).

Oluveli Island, PO Box 2002, Dhaalu Atoll, 96 0676-2676, www.niyama.com.

Best for romance

The Residence Maldives Stay: The resort is set one of the farthest flung islands from Male, so you’ll need to take a domestic flight to nearby Kooddoo Airport, from where you’ll be taken by speed boat to Falhumaafushi, The Residence’s own island. That might seem like a lot of effort, but it’s worth it when you discover the extraordinary abundance of sea creatures among the coral right by your own villa, or as you’re whisked away to a nearby sandbank for candlelit castaway cocktails as the sun goes down, revealing the starlit sky. The resort itself exudes classic elegance with Maldivian style water and beach villas that incorporate contemporary luxe detailing.

Honeymooners, this one’s for you.

Eat: The Dining Room serves up international cuisine in a contemporary setting, while overwater restaurant Falhumaa specialises in fresh seafood—we met the man who free dives for the lobster each day, so you know it’s fresh—and fine wine. You can sit in the pool while sipping on cocktails at the Beach Bar, which also serves up tapas.

Do: Guests can either spend their time lounging by the pool or at The Spa by Clarins, or by making the most of the natural surroundings with the watersports, diving and boat excursions on offer.

Need to Know: The resort is accessed by a domestic flight with Maldivian Airlines for

Send your travel news and promotions to travel@asia-city.com.sg

US$400 ($505) return. Villa rates start at US$940 ($1,188) per night.

Falhumaafushi, Gaafu Alifu Atoll, 96 06820088, www.theresidence.com/maldives.

Best combo of local and luxe

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Stay: If you want a taste of true Maldivian life while still experiencing the total luxury that the archipelago is known for, this could be the one for you. The resort encourages guests to gain a more memorable experience of the islands by exploring what the local community has to offer, from visiting the farms and villages to Maldivian cooking classes. The resort is huge, with as many as 221 villas, but each guest still receives the attentive service of a boutique stay. You’re sure to leave here with some stories to tell.

Eat: There’s plenty to choose from with 11 eating and drinking venues scattered across the island, including poolside bites, an overwater eatery, beachfront grilled seafood and specialist spots for vintage wines and Champagne. Each night has a dining event, such as Champagne and lobster BBQs.

Do: This is another resort for those that don’t like to sit still—findiing time to relax is almost a challenge with a daily schedule packed with activities like sunset fishing and wine academy.

The spa is huge—a maze of tranquil pathways through tropical flora, leading you to private villas that are each inspired by a different flower.

Noonu Atoll, 96 0656-0591, www.thesunsiyam. com/irufushi.

Next Wave Festival

New!

Atmosphere Kanifushi Stay: This brand new resort prides itself on being one of the very few five-star all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives. The setting is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, with a huge beach that you almost always have to yourself. The island is pretty big compared to others so guests can borrow bicycles to cycle along the wide sandy avenues that are lined with soaring palms. Plus, it’s almost liberating to be able to eat and drink top rate cuisine and cocktails without having to pay a cent.

The resort doesn’t have the boutique, personalized service that the others offer, but you do have a huge amount of privacy.

Do: The all-inclusive package includes nonmotorized watersports and snorkelling trips out to the incredibly pristine reef. You also get to join an additional excursion, such as a sunset boat trip or fishing. Treatments at the Akiri Spa by Mandara are an optional extra.

Need to Know: Travel to Kanifushi by seaplane for US$459 ($580) return. Villa rates range between US$900 ($1,137) and US$1,680 ($2,123) per night based on two sharing.

Niyama beach studio with pool

Kanifushi Island, Lhaviyani Atoll, 96 0662-0066, www.atmosphere-kanifushi.com.

Essentials Once you’re there, most resorts will arrange transfer to and from Male. To travel between resorts you’ll typically need to go back through Male.

Visa and Currency Free visa permits are issued on arrival. US dollars and credit cards are used at all resorts.

Tigerair

When to Go

Getting There

Temperatures are usually 26-30°C, with the high season from January to March. Mid-May to November is monsoon season, so you can expect some rain.

In late January Tigerair (www.tigerair.com) became the first low-cost airline to launch direct flights to the Maldivian capital Male, making the archipelago more accessible than ever (at least you can save money on the journey!). Flights leave Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday each week, departing at 9.50am and arriving just after 11am. The return flight runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, departing Male at 12.15pm. Fares vary depending on the season but expect to pay around $400.

with Lauren Jade Hill

Need to Know: The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is reached by seaplane with Trans Maldivian Airlines for US$1,300 ($1,644) return. Rates range from US$520 ($657) for a beach villa to US$4,270 ($5,396) for the celebrity retreat, per night.

Eat: Most guests dine at The Spice, a spacious beach-front restaurant with a buffet and live cooking stations. For light bites and drinks head to The Liquid and The Sunset pool bars, or try out Just Veg, the Maldives’ first purely vegetarian restaurant and Teppanyaki Grill for Japanese cuisine.

Aerial view of Niyama

ESCAPE ROUTES

Southe ast A sia

Fresh Off the Boat

culture, Next Wave Festival (www. nextwave.org.au), is back in April for its 30th anniversary, this year named the New Grand Narrative. Over 28 days, 40 world premieres and 239 artists will be showcased, among the curated collection of ambitious, risky and surprising new art, including performance, dance, visual and sound art. The festival will take place from April 16 to May 11 at various venues, with tickets available online.

This September you’ll be able to cruise down the Mekong in five-star style with Aqua Expeditions’ (www. aquaexpeditions.com) new river-boat Aqua Mekong, which will transport passengers between Cambodia and Vietnam. The intimate yet spacious (and ultra luxe!) boat will feature Design Suites, with or without balconies, all with panoramic views of the river. The space will Worldwide incorporate everything you’d expect of a five-star hotel, including indoor and outdoor Global travel site bars and dining spaces, a Hotels.com is looking to screening room, library, plunge Aqua make mobile hotel booking Expedtions pool and spa. You definitely won’t even quicker and easier by be roughing it. Three, four and redesigning its iPhone and iPad seven night itineraries are on offer, with app for iOS 7. Notable features include rates from US$3,000 ($3,812). an easy to use map, now at the center

Making Room

China

Top of the Lake In the foot of the Yanshan Mountains in Beijing, Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel (www.kempinski.com) is set to open in May. The property covers a 14 sq km area around the scenic Yanqi Lake, with views of Mutianyu Great Wall and the mountains. The huge space features 595 rooms, spread across the main land, State Guest House and a private island. In addition to plush accommodation, there’s a marina, an 18-hole golf course, a spa and fitness facilities, as well as 14 restaurants and bars. Rates have not yet been released—find out more on their website.

Australia

Looking Swell Melbourne’s month-long biennale celebration of cutting edge arts and

of the hotel selection process, and the choice to pay when booking or at the hotel. With 260,000 hotels in 25,000 destinations worldwide, users are spoilt for choice, and with more than 10 million user reviews it’s well worth a look if you’re planning a trip.

Staycation

Brush Strokes New art-themed boutique hotel in Chinatown Hotel Clover The Arts (www.hotelclover.com) is slated to open in March, aiming to give guests a unique art experience in each of the individual, creatively designed rooms.

Styles span retro kitsch and urban street art to pop art vibrance and line art minimalism, featuring the artwork of local professional artists, alongside students from art and design schools in Singapore. Double rooms will start at $235 per night. Find out more online.

Is it safe?

The last decade has seen a considerable amount of political unrest in the Maldives, though currently it appears more stable than it has for some time.

Since you’re in and out of Male before you know it, it’s not something to get too worried about.

Now available for your iPad & Android Tablet The all-new Where® Singapore app —your complete guide to go.

Available for download now!

I‑S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, march 28, 2014

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island

FASHION + FITNESS + TECH + HOME | Get More Out of Singapore

grooming Heroic Save

Just in Case Kitschy-cool travel accessories are hard to come by—the same-same luggage parade at the airport is proof—but new online travel specialist Get Set Go is looking to change that with its inventory of clever and practical wares. Brands that caught our attention at their webstore include Dutch label SUITSUIT for its tongue-in-cheek Washing Machine and Boombox luggage ($197 upwards), SleepPhones for soft headphones that are worn like a head band ($109) and Crash Baggage (pictured) for its pre-battered suitcase ($335 upwards). www.getsetgo.sg.

Hip barbershop We Need A Hero has added scalp care treatments to their repertoire—choose from Basic (for deep cleansing and maintenance, $70) and Intensive (to tackle hair loss, $180). Each session, which includes a thorough analysis, shampoo, conditioning and a head massage, is tailored to your specific scalp needs and uses products from renowned hair care brand Nioxin. #01-86, 57 Eng Hoon St., 6222-5590, www.weneedahero.sg.

style Watt Next

Another week, another stylish newcomer at Tiong Bahru. Online multi-label store Wattletree.asia has recently opened its showroom for fashion-loving folks to browse, try and purchase its beach-chic clothes by Australian resort-wear labels (perfect for our all-summer climate) Camilla, Coco Ribbon and Zimmermann.

US$230 ($290) upwards, #03-06 Regency Suites, 38 Kim Tian Rd., 9164-5416, www.wattletree.asia.

fitness Blade Runner

adidas’new Springblade running shoes have got to be the coolest we’ve seen in a while. On the soles of these futuristic-looking kicks are angled blades, designed to propel you forward like a springboard. At about 340g, it’s on the heavy side, but works great for heel strikers and casual runners looking for a durable pair to pound the pavement with. $249, from adidas Sport Performance Stores, including #02-13 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St., 6336-7811, www.3stripes.co.

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fashion + fitness + tech + home

TECH

What Gives First the Zuck bought it.

Then it crashed. Then Singtel suggested they might charge for it. Maybe it’s time you found an alternative to Whatsapp.

By Khairul Amri

Line Around since: June 2011 User base: 340 million Popular in: Japan Why it’s worth it: On top of the standard fare of text messaging, video calls and file sharing, this giant offers users group chats of up to 100 people at a time, a desktop app, games and also a cool “timeline” for people to post their thoughts and images similar to Facebook.

Cons: It’s a real battery drainer. line.me/en

Viber

Skype

Around since: December 2010 User base: 200 million Popular in: USA Pros: Unlike Whatsapp (for now at least), you can make free calls to your friends as long as there’s an Internet connection. There’s a desktop version for Windows, Mac and Linux, and they’ve also recently released Viber Out, a new feature that gives you the ability to make low-cost calls to even non-Viber users.

Cons: No video calls or messages. Plus, the account is locked to your phone.

Around since: August 2003 User base: 300 million Popular in: Everywhere Pros: Often taken for granted since it’s been around for so long, Skype is robust and stable, unlike almost everything else. It’s available in virtually every platform imaginable, too. A proven alternative.

Cons: Isn’t as expressive as the competition, with a lack of stickers and limited emoticons. www.skype.com

www.viber.com

WeChat

Kik

Around since: January 2011 User base: 600 million Popular in: China Pros: Matches and outflanks Whatsapp on virtually every aspect and more—with endless emoticons available for download, video calls and even a “drift bottle” feature that allows you to send out a random message for strangers to pick up.

Cons: Although popular, the bulk of its users are based in China. It’s yet to take off in other markets like Singapore.

Around since: October 2010 User base: 90 million Popular in: Canada & USA Pros: You might think the days of texting are over, but by focusing on one thing and doing it exceptionally well Kik are keeping it alive. They’re also the first to incorporate a browser in the app so that you can surf and share links with your contacts easily.

Cons: It’s essentially a one-trick pony.

www.wechat.com

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www.kik.com

1403_IS-Endless Summer-28Mar-Vert_Ad-FA.pdf 1 14/03/2014 5:18:21 PM

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STYLE NOTES

With Crystal Lee

Puma

Moral Fiber

Clean Slate

Remember H&M’s garment collecting initiative at the beginning of last year? Since then, the Swedish fashion giant has been hard at work with all the unwanted clothes, recycling them into usable textile fibers to be re-purposed for its capsule denim collection. Consisting of five classic styles—jeans, vests and jackets in various washes—each piece contains 20 percent recycled cotton, maximizing sustainability without compromising on quality. $59.90 upwards, from Orchard Building, 1 Grange Rd., 6235-1459, www.hm.com/sg.

Chain Gang

Online fashion marketplace Shop des Createurs (www. shopdescreateurs.com), which carved a niche spotlighting indie, emerging designers from all over the world, has given its web store a fresh new look. New visual aesthetics aside, a handful of new cuttingedge Asian labels have joined the family, including Hong Kong’s Wear And Tear, Taipei’s ShephaneDou Changleeyugin as well as homegrown names Al & Alicia and Fabrix. Prices ($35 upwards) are displayed in SGD so there’s no messing around with currency conversion, there’s free shipping, plus Shop des Createurs trend stories to read— what’s not to love?

Hands up if you use jewelry to make a statement in your everyday workwear. For bold yet elegant pieces, look to newish local label Joanne L. by founder Joanne Low for standout earrings, necklaces, rings, cuffs and bangles.

If chunky statement rings (some of them prettily accented with gemstones like sapphires, amethyst and topaz) aren’t quite your style, go for the sleek hammered cuffs to punctuate a simple outfit. The label’s After 6 and Simplicite collections will also be showcased for the first time at the upcoming Blueprint (May 15-18)—a great chance to see these gorgeous pieces up close. $180 upwards from www.joannel.com.

W SINGAPORE - SENTOSA COVE PRESENTS

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Brazilian World Cup madness has already begun. Sportswear label Puma is riding the hype with its latest lifestyle collection, slated to hit stores in April, inspired by Brazilian culture. Expect a riot of bright colors (including the familiar green and yellow) and tropical prints on footwear, apparel and casual bags. $33 upwards, from all Puma stores including #02-15 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-8090, www.puma.com. style@asia-city.com.sg

BUY SPY With Earth Hour happening on March 29 (lights off at 8:30pm), Nautica couldn’t have picked a better time to launch the NMX 1000, its new eco-friendly and solar-powered sport watch. It incorporates some snazzy Japanese tech that converts light into electrical energy, and stores it in an environmentally conscious, long-lasting secondary battery. A few seconds of sun exposure is all it needs to start working, plus it features a water-resistant (up to 200m) body, battery over-charging protection, and comes with orange and black resin straps. $499 upwards from TANGS Orchard, 310 Orchard Rd., 6737-5500.

BRING OUT THOSE SUPER SOAKERS AND COME BEAT THE HEAT WITH US!

CY

CMY

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On the Ball

ENDLESS SUMMER EDITION

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FRIDAY, march 28, 2014 I‑S MAGAZINE

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DINING OPEN door

Shisen Hanten restaurants around here. For extra privacy, book one of the two sleek dining rooms overlooking the main dining hall.

The buzz: This popular Japanese Szechuan chain opens its first Singapore outpost. Its claim to fame is the fact that head chef Chen Kentaro’s father is Iron Chef Chen Kenichi.

The vibe: High ceilings, a scenic view, plush furnishings and OTT clusters of chandeliers make this spot a good deal more posh than most Chinese

The food: Szechuan classics such as mapo tofu ($24) and dan dan mian ($12) are done nicely, although, considering the chef’s pedigree, we’d have liked to see more flair—like in the unusual kung pow oysters (only available seasonally). There’s a typically Japanese focus on premium ingredients, but even that doesn’t lift dishes above and beyond competent Chinese restaurant fare, since delicate flavors tend to get lost in the full-on boldness of Szechuan sauces.

The drinks: Tea, of course.

Why you’ll be back: The food has a kick, the service is reliable, and the ambience is nice enough to make a good impression. Everyone needs a Chinese standby like this.

35/F, Orchard Wing, Mandarin Orchard Singapore, 333 Orchard Rd., 6831-6262, www.meritushotels.com. Open daily noon-3pm, 6-10pm. CLARA LIM

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Q&A Mauro Colageco

The De’Longhi PrimaDonna XS Deluxe is the high-tech coffee maker that currently gives us our (necessary) daily cuppa in the I-S office.

While it’s not as sleek as a Nespresso, it’s solid, reliable, and boasts a lot more functions—you can customize settings for your ideal brew, and even control temperatures with its cup-warming function.

Plus, its bean-to-cup instead of capsule based, ensuring you get the freshest brew every time. $2,499 at major departmental stores, including TANGS, 310 Orchard Rd., 6737-5500, www.tangs.com.sg. Delle Chan

Originally from Argentina, and now a two-Michelin star chef at France’s Mirazur restaurant, Colagreco is one of the participating Masterchefs at World Gourmet Summit (on now through Apr 5). He tells us what’s in store at this year’s event.

What can we expect from your Forlino Wine Dinner?

The theme for the wine dinner is “Italian Touches”. The menu will be based on French and Italian culinary techniques, as my restaurant is located on the border of France and Italy.

Online Grocery Shopping No time to get to an actual supermarket? Order your groceries online instead, and have them delivered straight to your door.

Delicia www.delicia.com.sg The Fishwives www.thefishwives.com

Tangy Tangerines www.tangytangerines.sg Delle Chan

What are your beliefs in the kitchen?

I think we shouldn’t mask the natural flavor of good produce with heaps of different sauces and creams.

Green Circle www.greencircle.com.sg GroXers www.groxers.com The Organic Grocer www.theorganicgrocer.com RedMart www.redmart.com SuperNature www.supernature.com.sg Swiss Butchery www.swiss-butchery.com.sg

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What’s your cooking style like?

For me, cooking with fresh local products is something I love doing. I own a garden and it houses a variety of different vegetables, which I utilize when preparing dishes at Mirazur.

RedMart

Any plans to set up shop in Singapore?

I appreciate Singapore a lot—I think it’s a beautiful place, full of energy, culture

and a buzzing lifestyle. I’d be glad to perhaps open up a restaurant here. I don’t have any plans at the moment, but I’m very open to propositions.

Join chef Mauro Colagreco for dinner at Forlino (#02-06 One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Rd., 6690-7564, www.forlino. com) on Tue, Apr 1 at 7pm as he prepares a seven course dinner (priced at $288) together with hosting chef Kentaro Torii. Samantha David

NEW AND NOTED

I-S Cupcake Challenge Ann Siau

With Samantha David

Boozy Bites

Oyster Bar Eastern Granola

Eat Out and Geek Out

Game of Thrones fans, this is one event you won’t want to miss.

Organized by Geek Crusade, Dinner is Coming is taking place April 1, 7:30pm at No Menu (23 Boon Tat St., 6224-0091, www.osvaldo. sg), where Michelin-starred chef Osvaldo Forlino will present a fourcourse feast ($95) inspired by the hit series. Menu highlights include mushroom soup with snails, and braised boar belly with apple sauce.

Hurry—there are only 50 slots available. Keep an eye out for more pop culture-themed meals coming your way at www.geekcrusade.com.

Made in Singapore We’re particularly proud to announce this one: Our former dining editor, Chin Hui Wen, has launched Eastern Granola, delicious cereal that’s inspired by Southeast Asian flavors.

Five varieties are on offer ($12.50 per bag), including Original (mango nutmeg), 5Cs (coconut, cashew, curry, chocolate and chilli), Milo, Thai Mango Salad (mango, chili, peanuts and fish sauce), and Eastern Muesli (mango, pineapple, cashews and peanuts), with more in the making.

Stockists are being confirmed, but you can buy the granola online at www.easterngranola.com.

Love craft beer and fancy bar food?

The Mad Poet Then check out new gastrobar The Mad Poet (#01-23/24 China Court, 20 Cross St., 6557-0312, www.facebook. com/themadpoetbar). Choose from craft beers ($10-$15) and cocktails like Death & Resurrection (Caribbean white rum with cumin and yuzu, $15). Their upscale bar grub includes light bites like beef sliders with honey mustard ($12) to heavier meals like yellowfin tuna steak ($20) and mac and cheese ($10).

Streets Ahead Got friends from out of town looking for a good time? Chinatown Food Street (335 Smith St., 6225-3633) has just had a major revamp (a $5-million facelift, to be exact) and boasts an almost all new line-up of 24 hawker stalls and six shophouse restaurants, most of which are pretty legendary.

Geylang Lor 9 Fresh Frog Porridge, Adam Road Nasi Lemak, Chen Fu Ji Restaurant and Fatty Weng Restaurant are some of the especially noteworthy ones.

Late last year we organised a big bake-off, inviting home bakers to submit their best efforts to our Christmas Cupcake Challenge.

We’ve only just recovered from tasting all the entries, and can finally announce the winner!

Home baker Ann Siau, 37, dropped off three treats for us—a gingerbread cupcake with cinnamon, a rum scented brown sugar cupcake with salted caramel frosting and core (the most challenging to make), and a chocolate cupcake with mint chocolate ganache. Siau tells us how she got started.

Congrats on winning the Cupcake Challenge! How do you feel?

I’m surprised and flattered at the same time, really. I don’t have much luck when it comes to these things. I didn’t dare tell anyone I’d won because I thought you guys had made a mistake!

What started your baking obsession?

Two things: KitchenAid appliances—which my husband got me—and watching celebrity chefs like Nigella Lawson on TV.

Are there mistakes people make too often in the kitchen? Any tips to share?

Over-baking and over-beating. Cupcakes come out too dense and hard if left in the oven too long. Under-baking them isn’t as bad; at least they come out moist. Remove them from the oven two minutes before. Also, if you poke a toothpick through and it comes out completely clean, it’s already too dry.

Do you have plans to set up shop somewhere?

At the moment, no. Opportunity cost, soaring rental prices, competition is just insane—I think it’s just not feasible for me at the moment. I’m going to stick to what I’m doing.

See what Siau’s up to and follow her on Facebook (www.fb.com/eatkek) for some kitchen inspiration.

SAMANTHA DAVID Special thanks to our other finalists: Brennagh Lee, Jade Foo, Corrine Tan, Tan Li Qin, Catherine Chua, Collette Height, Denise Low, Samantha Quek, Melody Harper and Kathleen Wong.

Bite Sized Earlier this year, we released our Top Tables guide to the best restaurants in town. Now, free with this issue, is I-S Eats—a more casual, fun food guide highlighting over 250 dining spots spanning a crazy number of categories, from brunch to lunch, and desserts to sushi. If your copy’s missing with this issue, fret not—download the e-version at is-magazine.com/eats.

open door

Char

out for the one with a pig—so apt), as well as vintage décor, like a typewriter set on a high shelf.

Lunch Box BEDROCK BAR & GRILL

The deal: If you’re trying the threecourse set lunch ($38-$58) at this steakhouse, it’s obvious what your main course should be. Go for either the wagyu minute steak or the flat iron steak. If you’re not in the mood for

Any recipes you want to try?

I’ve been feeling nostalgic these days so I’m toying with the idea of making stuff that reminds me of my childhood, like gula melaka and kaya cupcakes.

meat, you can choose from three other options, including baked barramundi fillet and wood-fired chicken. Starters and desserts are just as comforting, with creations like cured ocean trout with avocado cream and warm chocolate pudding with strawberry ice cream.

The buzz: This Chinese eatery (located a few doors down from The Tuckshop) specializes in roast meats inspired by (and in our opinion possibly as good as) the legendary Oversea Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. You can also pair the sinful treats with craft beers—now, why didn’t we think of that?

Why it’s worth it: You get to feast on Bedrock’s signature steaks (and more) for a lot less. Plus, with four starters, seven mains and three desserts to choose from, you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice.

The vibe: It might be pretty spic-and-span (and maybe even slightly upscale) for a zi char place, but it’s still very casual and laid-back. Old-school marble-top tables with brown stools and red and yellow wooden chairs fill the space in this 65-seater. You’ll find random pieces of art on the walls (look

#01-05 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard, 96 Somerset Rd., 6238-0054, www.bedrock.com.sg. SAMANTHA DAVID

The food: The highlights are of course, the roast meats, especially the melt-in-yourmouth honey barbecued pork a.k.a. char siew (from $15), crispy pork belly (from $12) and the duck (from $14). Other zi char classics are also available, such as seafood (there’s crab, fish, crayfish and prawns; have it steamed or stewed with your choice of topping or sauce), steamed pork with salted egg ($11), salt and chili pepper spare ribs ($16), chicken and salted fish fried rice ($11) and soups ($5) that change daily.

The drinks: With a selection of craft beers and ciders on offer, pick from choices like St. Bernardus Witbier ($10)—which goes well with the roast duck—and Wychwood Ginger Beard ($13). Thatcher’s makes up the cider list (the Pear Cider, $11, is our fave), and if you’re not in the mood for alcohol, there are soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea ($3-$5).

Why you’ll be back: Why travel to KL when you can get your hands on equally fantastic roast meats (and more) here?

393 Guillemard Rd., 6842-7759, www.char.com.sg. Open Tue-Sun 11am-2:30pm, 6-10pm. samantha david

FRIDAY, march 28, 2014 I‑S MAGAZINE

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Need to know Theater & Arts The Arts House > 6332-6919 www.theartshouse.com.sg

Esplanade Box Office > 6828-8377 www.esplanade.com

Fort Canning Park > 6332-1302

chart the weeks ahead

www.nparks.gov.sg

Gatecrash > 6100-2005 www.gatecrash.com.sg

National Museum of Singapore > 6332-5642

Have some fun out at sea at Boats & Beats, a cool new party aboard a private yacht that's jointly organized by Belvedere vodka and Sunshine Nation.

See Nightlife, page 21

DO This

SEE This

Wheely Good The city's first mass cycling event returns, with over 12,000 enthusiasts taking over public roads around the Marina Bay area. Mar 28-30. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd., 6799-5900.

Girls on Film Swoon over La Dolce Vita—and unearth some indie gems—at the 11th Italian Film Festival.

See Film, page 21

Get more out of Singapore, with the free I-S Magazine iPad app.

P L A Y • W A T CH • L I S T E N • E X P L O R E

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18 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MARch 28, 2014

Cinema Ticketing Hotlines Cathay > 6337-8181 www.cathay.com.sg

Eng Wah > 6836-9074

www.ewcinemas.com.sg

Filmgarde > 6344-5997 www.filmgarde.com.sg

Golden Village > 1900-912-1234 www.gv.com.sg

Shaw > 6738-0555

Singapore Art Museum > 6332-3222

Other Ticketing

www.shaw.sg

Sistic > 6348-5555 www.sistic.com.sg

Peatix > www.peatix.com Sportshubtix > 6333-5000

The Substation > 6337-7535

www.sportshub.com.sg

www.substation.org

Aye Aye Captain

www.ticketbooth.com.sg

www.nationalmuseum.sg

www.singart.com

BOOK Now

Ticketbooth > 6296-2929

Stage » ART

MUSIC

I-S PICk

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concerts

Suzanne Vega Catch the lustrous American singer-songwriter and her acoustic guitar. Apr 1, 7:30pm.

Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $148 from Sistic.

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Lowercase Sessions with Jonathan Meur Spend the evening with Singapore-based French-Mauritian singer-songwriter Jonathan Meur, who will perform a mixture of folk, pop, rock and classical songs. Apr 3, 10, 17, 8pm. Lowercase, #01-01 Lasalle College of the Arts, 1 McNally St., 6337-5581. Free.

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Yiruma The renowned South Korean pianist-composer will be performing in Singapore for the first time at a one-night-only concert. Apr 5, 8pm.

The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 6636-0055. $38-168 from Sistic.

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I-S PICK> The Gathering: Darkside Critically acclaimed electronic duo Darkside, consisting of Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington, will be headlining the second edition of The Gathering. Apr 6, 6pm. *SCAPE The Ground Theatre, 2 Orchard Link. $65-80 from EventCliQue.

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Lionel Richie: All The Hits All Night Long Need we say more? Apr 14, 8pm. Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk, 6344-2660. $98-248 from Sportshubtix.

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I-S PICK> Dirty Beaches The Canadian lo-fi musician will be in town for a gig that'll showcase his trademark haunting, intense sound. Apr 16, 8pm. Pink Noize, 744 North Bridge Rd. $35-45 from Peatix.

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Zee Avi The Malaysian singersongwriter is back in Singapore for another gig, following her sold-out show in 2011. Apr 17, 8pm. TAB, #02-29, 442 Orchard Rd., 6493-6952. $55-70.

stage

dance

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To Beat the Butterfly’s Wings This multi-disciplinary dance performance is inspired by the butterfly effect and chaos theory, and features intense performances that shift from one gallery chamber to another. Apr 17-19, 8pm; Apr 18-19, 3pm. Artspace @ 222, 222 Queen St. $20 from Peatix.

Email event news to stage@asia-city.com.sg and art@asia-city.com.sg

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Con$umed This theater piece examines the serious issue of consumerism and all its detrimental consequences. Mar 28-29, 8pm.

University Cultural Centre Theatre, National University of Singapore, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, 6516-2492. $23-29.

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Romeo & Juliet Theater lovers can look forward to another adaptation of William Shakespeare's famous tragedy, this time by Brit company TNT Theatre.

Apr 9-11, 8pm. Raffles Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd., 6337-1886. $36-75 from Sistic.

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Made in Singapore: Rising Son Set during the Japanese occupation, Dick Lee's latest production Rising Son (the first of a three-play series) narrates the coming-of-age stories of his father, aunt and a Japanese army lawyer. Through Apr 12, 8pm. DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT, 20 Merbau Rd., 6733-8166. $3055 from Sistic.

I-S PICk

theater

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I-S PICK> The House of Bernarda Alba This famous Spanish play, about a tyrannical mother who seals her family off from the world after her husband's death, gets a Singaporean remake. Through Mar 28, 8pm; Mar 29, 3pm, 8pm. Drama Centre Theatre, National Library, 3/F National Library, 100 Victoria St., 6837-8400. $45-75 from Sistic.

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Dream Academy: Happy Ever Laughter Watch 13 of Singapore's top comedians, including Adrian Pang, Selena Tan and Kumar, discuss hot topics like hawker center ceilings, racial tensions and, er, your mothers. Apr 16-27, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr.. Call 6278-0377 for more info. $47-127 from Sistic.

with Clara Lim

A to Zee 2014 has been pretty great for music fans so far.

This month isn’t quite as crazy as the last, but Malaysian indie/pop/jazz starlet Zee Avi is going to be back in town (Apr 17, 8pm, TAB, #02-29 442 Orchard Rd., 6493-6952. $65-70). Also worth catching are Far East Movement at the H20 Festival (Apr 12-13, www.celebratesongkran.com) and neo-traditional folkster Tim Eriksen, who’s in town for Esplanade’s A Tapestry of Sacred Music (Apr 25-27, www.tapestryofsacredmusic.com).

On the Road The Circular Road action just keeps on coming, doesn’t it? Following late night pedestrianization efforts and the big St. Patrick’s Day street party, the next festival we hear will hit the Boat Quay area is the debut of Singapore International Comedy Festival (Apr 23-26). Twenty-nine comedians from all over the world will perform at various venues all along Circular Road and Boat Quay over this four-night (and 131 show!) fest. Log on to www. comedyfest.com.sg for the line-up and ticketing info.

The Arts House celebrates its 10th anniversary from March 26 to April 6.

We speak to director William Phuan.

How do you think the local arts scene has changed in the past ten years?

Bar Watch Fans of The Library’s (47 Keong Saik St., 6221-8338) Stefan Ravalli, we feel your pain. The star barkeep is now off meditating in the Himalayas, so Nicholas Quattroville—who’s worked at London’s W Hotel and La Bodega Negra—is taking the helm with a new, pareddown cocktail list. Other hip new faces on the mixology scene are US imports Ricky Paiva at the Regent’s soon-to-open bar Manhattan—told you hotel bars were getting hip, didn’t we?—and Tyler Hudgens at New Orleans-style resto Life is Beautiful (99 Duxton Rd., www.lifeisbeautiful.sg). clim@asia-city.com.sg

specifically, a tongue-in-cheek tribute of an alternate universe in which The Arts House does not exist. The concept plays on our memories, and hopefully makes people think about the role of The Arts House.

What books, local or otherwise, do you recommend?

It has definitely become more vibrant The Chinese novel Art Studio by and exciting. The cultural calCultural Medallion winner Yeng endar is now crowded with Pway Ngon is a monumental performances and exhibitions. Artists achievement. Confrontaare also more ready to take William Phuan tion by Mohamed Latiff risks, both artistically and Mohamed and The Inlet by thematically. Plus, locals Claire Tham are quite amazing too. are being exposed to the arts at a younger age now. It’s an exciting What do you enjoy most time for the arts about your job? in Singapore.

Meeting the different artists and working with them. Their pasWhat do you think the sion and unwavering faith in the scene will be like ten importance of art is always inspiring. years from now?

The social and cultural fabric of Singapore is always changing. Artists will respond to these changes and create works that reflect, critique or interrogate these changes.

How did the “disappearing” theme for this year’s anniversary bash come about?

We didn't want to do the usual celebrations with pomp and flair— instead, we wanted something contemplative, but not too serious.

Chong Tze Chien, the Artistic Director for our anchor show The Next Stage, came up with the idea of "absence"—

art

SCENE & HEARD

Tim Eriksen

SCENESTEALER William Phuan

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I-S PICK> ArtWalk@Wessex Local and international artists living and working in the historical black and white houses at Wessex Estate off Portsdown Road will open their doors for the annual ArtWalk@ Wessex. This year there will be the opportunity to visit 14 studios and meet 20 artists working in a variety of media including painting, drawing, printmaking and ceramics. Mar 29-30, 11am. Free.

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I-S PICK> Edward Burtynsky: Water Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky's arresting works examine the impact of human consumption on the world's water supplies. Through Apr 6. Sundaram Tagore Gallery Singapore (Gillman Barracks), #01-05 Gillman Barracks, 5 Lock Rd., 6694 3378. Free.

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Salvador Dali: The Argillet Collection Marvel at over one hundred of Salvador Dali's surrealist etchings, drawings and tapestries, which will be presented for the first time in Asia. Through Apr 20.

Redsea Gallery, #01-10 Dempsey Hill, 9 Dempsey Rd., 6732-6711. Free.

What is the greatest challenge that you’ve faced so far?

Pulling off our 10th anniversary celebrations!

The Arts House kicks off its 10th anniversary celebrations with its anchor show, The Next Page, from Mar 27-29, 8pm.

1 Old Parliament Lane, 63326900, www.theartshouse. com.sg. $8-$10. delle chan

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LATENT SPACES @ Haw Par Villa Haw Par Villa will be home to four art exhibitions—Nameless Forms, Materialised Time and A Lifetime of Warranties, as well as a group exhibition, studying the relationship between human society and objects. Apr 5-Sep 7. Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir Panjang Rd., 68722780. Free.

I-S PICk

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Unearthed The Singapore Art Museum's first exhibition after the Singapore Biennale will feature artworks that investigate our relationship with the natural world. Through Jul 6 2015, 10am. Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222. $10.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 19

SPORTS » STUFF Email event news to food@asia-city.com.sg and stuff@asia-city.com.sg

WHY NOT? Visit a Hot Spring Chances are that you’ve never heard of—or at least not yet visited—the Sembawang Hot Spring (Gambas Ave.), which is the only natural hot spring in Singapore. The lowkey facility is surrounded by verdant greenery, and visitors get to fill colorful plastic buckets with natural spring water from a tap. The water is naturally enriched with sulphur and other minerals, plus it supposedly contains mighty medicinal properties that can treat ailments such as acne and arthritis.

Best of all, it’s entirely free. DELLE CHAN

food & drink

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I-S PICK> Dinner Is Coming: Welcome To King’s Landing Take your Game of Thrones obsession to the next level with this themed dinner featuring dishes inspired by the hit TV series. Apr 1, 7:30pm. No Menu, 23 Boon Tat St., 6224-0091. $95-120.

Sports

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Energizer Night Trail Singapore The fourth Energizer Singapore Night Trail Run will see participants using an LED headlight to guide them through the dark trails.

May 10, 3pm. Lorong Asrama, Mandai.

Check www.singaporenighttrail.com.sg for registration updates.

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I-S PICk

I-S PICK> World Gourmet Summit Themed “Back to the Classics” this year, this eleven-day celebration of fine wines and gourmet cuisine sees big name vintners joining the lineup of prestigious chefs.Through Apr 5. Various venues. Call 6273-7707 for more info.

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Store · The Substation · Bobby’s @ Chijmes · Hog’s Breath Café · Front Row · Loof · Dome Café @ Singapore Art

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Museum · CLARKE QUAY · Brewerkz · Ricciotti @ The Riverwalk · Wings · The Central L1 Customer Service · Crazy Elephant · Mad for Garlic · DEMPSEY · Taphouse by Brewerkz · Jones The Grocer · White Rabbit · 22 Dempsey · Don Quijote · House, Barracks & Camp · Dome Café @ Dempsey · Red Dot Brewhouse · DHOBY GHAUT · Kith Café @ Park Mall · Dubliner Irish Bar · EAST · The Tuckshop · City Square Mall Customer Service Counter · Loysel’s Toy · HARBOURFRONT · Prive Bakery Café · Brotzeit @ Vivo City · Coffee Club @ Harbourfront Centre · Sky The Fitness Lifestyle · HOLLAND VILLAGE · Mu Parlour · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Holland Village · Barossa @ Holland V · Harry’s @ Holland Village · NYDC @ Holland Village · Wala Wala · Fosters - An English Rose Café · MARINA BAY · Carnivore Brazilian Churrascaria @ Marina Bay Sands · Foodology · Erwin’s Gastrobar · The Exchange · The Coffee Bean @ Marina Bay Sands · Bazin · Salad Stop @ MBFC · Smoothie King @ MBFC · The Bank Bar & Bistro · MOHAMED SULTAN / ROBERTSON QUAY · Kith Café @ Watermark · Harry’s @ Pier Robertson · Blow+Bar · Wine Connection Cheese Bar @ Robertson Walk · Wine Connection Tapas Bar &

Bistro @ Robertson Walk · Toby’s Estate · Bar Bar Black Sheep · En Grill and Bar · EM By the River · Singapore Repertory Theatre · NOVENA · Kitchenette · Novena Square Shopping Mall · ORCHARD · ION Concierge counter · The Marmalade Pantry · Balaclava · Coffee Club @ Paragon · Dome Café @ Paragon · PS.Cafe @ Paragon · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Paragon · Dome Café @ Shaw House · TAB · Skinny Pizza @ Wheelock Place · Sky Pilates · Essensuals by Toni & Guy @ Orchard Central · Hansel · Lawry’s The Prime Rib · Leftfoot @ Cineleisure · Rockstar by Soon Lee · RAFFLES PLACE · Catalunya · The Coffee Bean @ The Sail · Coffee Club @ One Raffles Quay · 1-Altitude · Coffee Club @ Raffles Place Square · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Republic Plaza · Chevron House · True Fitness @ Chevron House · Dome Café @ UOB Plaza 1 · O’Briens Irish Sandwich Bars · Salad Stop @ One George Street · Boathouse · Kinki · Capital Square · Pacific Coffee Company @ Reddot Traffic · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ CPF Building · Simply Sandwich · Gloria Jean’s Coffees @ Twenty Anson · RIVER VALLEY · Zouk · Bangkok Jam · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Great World City · True

Fitness @ Great World City · SENTOSA · Kith Café @ Sentosa Cove · Hard Rock Café RWS · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Palawan Beach · Tanjong Beach Club · Azzura · Wave House Sentosa · SOMERSET · Smoothie King @ 313 · Actually · Editor’s Market@ Somerset · Dean & Deluca · Ice Cold Beer · No. 5 Emerald Hill · Oriole Café & Bar · Goethe-Institut · Brotzeit @ 313@Somerset · Jibiru · KPO Café Bar · Porterhouse Butcher Bar · Toni & Guy @ Mandarin Gallery · TANGLIN · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Forum Galleria · K Suites @ Orchard Parade Hotel · Hard Rock Café · TANJONG PAGAR · GAEST · Kyo · Impact MMA · 137 Telok Ayer Street Level 1 Reception · The Ogilvy Centre · Boulevard · Red Dot Design Museum · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ International Plaza · The Coffee bean & Tea Leaf @ Fuji Xerox Tower · Broth · Latteria Mozzarella Bar · Sprmrkt · TIONG BAHRU · Tiong Bahru Bakery · Coq & Balls · Forty Hands · Books Actually · WEST · Skyve Elementary Bistro & Bar · Salad Stop @ Fusionopolis · One Rochester · B @ Rochester · Nosh · Alliance Francaise

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Green Corridor Run This 10.5km run along the Green Corridor, a stretch of forest that runs the entire length of Singapore, starts from the historic Tanjong Pagar Rail Station and finishes at the old Bukit Timah Rail Station.

Registration closes on Mar 31. May 18, 9am. Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, 30 Keppel Rd. $56.

Sundown Marathon Singapore's pioneer night marathon makes a comeback this year, and it promises to be better than ever. Battle fatigue with thousands of other participants, and try to beat the sunrise. Registration is open till Apr 30. May 31, 12pm. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd., 6340-4204. $53-90.

Stuff

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I-S PICK> NÓNG by Edible Gardens Located on the sixth floor carpark of People's Park Complex, this pop-up concept by the guys behind Edible Gardens aims to up the ante for the urban farming scene and features exhibitions, art displays, workshops and more. Through Mar 31. People’s Park Complex, 1 Park Rd.

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Art Mart Purchase good books, literary knick knacks, as well as an array of food at this pop up flea market at The Lawn.

Mar 28, 5pm; Mar 29, 3pm. The Lawn, The Arts House, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900.

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I-S PICK> Zouk Flea & Easy: Triple Decker Special The club's popular flea market is back, featuring pre-loved goods and knick knacks from local startups, including sneaker label Sole Superior.

Mar 30, 2pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. Free.

happy hour_mar14.pdf

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NIGHTLIFE » FILM Email event news to nightlife@asia-city.com.sg

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Singapore Yacht Show 2014 Mingle with yachting professionals, boat owners and supercar enthusiasts at this stunning showcase of the world's finest yachts. Apr 10-13, 2pm. ONE°15 Marina Club, #01-01, 11 Cove Dr., 6305-6988.

FILM

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I-S PICK> 11th Italian Film Festival More than 10 films from the recent 70th Venice Film Festival will premiere here, including Golden Lion Winner, Sacro GRA, the only documentary to win that award. Apr 2-7. The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd., 6736-7310. $12.

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Southeast Asian Film Festival Singapore Art Museum’s eye-opening Southeast Asian Film Festival is back this year for its fourth edition, with opportunities to catch rare docus and challenging indie films from the region, as well as to meet their creators. Apr 11-May 4. Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd. $10 from Sistic.

dance music. Mar 29, 11pm. Velvet Underground, 17 Jiak Kim St., 67382988. $25-32.

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Wax on Wax Off - Record Store Day Loof’s signature all-vinyl night is back with a Record Store Day Party edition. The event will feature a flea market as well as scratchy beats from the decks, manned by DJ KoFlow and DJ collective Pushin’ On. Apr 19, 7pm. Loof, #03-07 Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop, 331 North Bridge Rd., 9773-9304.

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I-S PICK> Boats & Beats Join 200 revelers aboard Sunshine Nation's private yachts, before being whisked away to the waters off Lazarus Island for customized Belvedere cocktails and party sounds from AOS Collective's DJ Dave Does, DJ Tang and MC N'FA. Apr 26. Sentosa, 1800-736-8672. $150-175.

HAPPY HOUR

ANNOuncements notice of Intended marriage

nightlife

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M.O.B. Launch Party DJs Lincey, Tinc and The Professor dish out their unique combination of experimental

I, Oliver Robert Aird McKenzie, single, of 106C Oxley Rise, Singapore 238704, intend to marry Luann Rocky Alphonso, single, of Blk 935 Yishun Central 1, #05-39, Singapore 760935, at Antica Fattoria Paterno, Via Paterno 44, Montespertoli, Italy, on 26/06/2014. Any person knowing of any lawful impediment to the marriage should without delay notify: British High Commission, 100 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247919.

C

4PM TO 8PM DAILY & 4PM TO 11PM ON SUNDAY

M

Y

CM

ON THE BAR St James Power Station

MY

CY

It's been a while since you came here—but maybe it's time to revisit St James and check out its new clubs and bars. Psst: Cover charge (with the exception of Powerhouse) now only applies on Saturday nights.

Outpost Bar & Bistro The only gastropub in the vicinity, newcomer Outpost offers “elevated” bar bites, paired with a tightlycurated and surprisingly offbeat wine selection with decent house wines.

Try the quirky red Le Pigeoulet ($13/ glass). Their happy hour promo (69pm daily) isn’t too shabby either, with six different beers at $5/half pint. Acoustic live music keeps the atmosphere relaxed and almost rustic. #01-11, 3 Sentosa Gateway, St James Power Station, 9069-1109, www.outpostbar.sg. Open Mon-Sun 6pm-3am.

Club Gossip Touted as the only Vietnamese disco in Singapore, Gossip caters to quite a niche crowd.

Each night scantily-clad girls take to the stage to gyrate to “Viet-House” beats, complete with glow sticks and pulsating strobe lights. There’s also a private room upstairs to play pool and fish for stuffed toys from the claw machine.

#01-02, 8153-1301, www.facebook. com/clubgossipsg. Open Mon-Sun 10pm-6am.

CMY

K

1-FOR-1 SELECTED BEERS, HOUSE POUR SPIRITS & WINES; AND $10 NETT ‘COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK’

Toxic A neon green biohazard sign greets you, after which a spiralling descent leads down to a cavernous space with an industrial vibe. It’s all very Y2K hereremember when Eurotrance clubs with podiums and lofty VIP lounges were all the rage? Expect a flashback to earlier party days, all set to an electro house soundtrack.

Drink in the unique charm of Tiong Bahru at Halo; above WANGZ Hotel and below the stars.

#01-05, 8484-0033, www.toxic.sg.

Open Wed-Sat 9.30pm-6am.

District One Your best bet for a good night out at St James, this club churns out everyone’s favorite EDM remixes. With the DJ tucked away in a corner by the bar, the podium takes center stage for those who like to show off their dance moves. Even on a Wednesday night, the crowd goes all out. #01-01, 8112-3621, www.facebook. com/DistrictOneSG. Open Wed-Thu 7pm-4am; Fri-Sat 7pm-5am.

LETITIA TANDEAN

Halo, Level ‘R’, WANGZ Hotel 231 Outram Road, Singapore 169040 www.wangzhotel.com www.facebook.com/Halorooftop For reservations, please call (65) 6595 1388 or email inquiry@wangzhotel.com

FRIDAY, march 28, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 21

freewill astrology

Week of March 28 © 2014 Rob Brezsny

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): “There was another life that I might have had, but I am having this one.” So says a character in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Unconsoled. At this juncture in your life story, Aries, it might be healing for you to make a similar declaration. Now is an excellent moment to say a final goodbye to plot twists that you wished would have happened but never did. To do so will free up stuck energy that will then become available for future projects. You may even awaken to exciting possibilities you haven’t imagined yet.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): In May 2011, two Nepali men reached the top of Mt. Everest after a six-week climb. Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa and Sano Babu Sunuwar had prepared an unprecedented way to get back down off the mountain.

Strapping themselves to a single parachute, they leaped off and paraglided for 45 minutes, landing near a Sherpa village thousands of feet below the summit. I suggest you look around for a metaphorical version of a shortcut like that, Taurus. Don’t do the next part of the journey the same way you did the previous phase.

Take a more direct route. Enjoy an alternate adventure. Give yourself a fresh challenge.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20): Seeking wisdom and chasing after pleasure are polar opposites, right? You must devote yourself to either one or the other, correct? You can be an enlightened servant of the greater good or else an exuberant hedonist in quest of joy, but not both. True? No. No. No. False. Wrong.

Here’s the bigger truth: Now and then, grace periods come along when you can become smarter and kinder by exploring the mysteries of feeling really good. Can you guess when the next of these grace periods will arrive for you, Gemini? Here’s the answer: It’s here now!

Mr. KNOW‑IT‑ALL Our Favorite Smart Aleck Answers Your Questions Dear Mr. KIA, April Fool’s is just round the corner, and I’d love to play a prank on my colleagues—only thing is, I’ve run out of ideas. Can you share any useful apps that might help me create an entertaining scare? – Unoriginal Prankster

Dear Mr. KIA, I’ve recently developed a crazy obsession for yachts, and I couldn’t be more excited that the Singapore Yacht Show will be here in two weeks. Meanwhile, is there anywhere in Singapore that I can charter yachts? – Boatman

Dear Unoriginal Prankster, I do have a few suggestions for you, you big kid. PrankDial (Android; free) enables you to send hilarious prank calls to your friends—you can choose from over a hundred scenarios.

Alternatively, Prank* (iPhone; free) is an app that lets you secretly play annoying noises, such as white noise and insect buzzes, that will make you the (unidentifiable) source of everyone’s wrath. Now, do you solemnly swear that you’re up to no good?

Dear Boatman, Sail off into the glorious sunset with a yacht from One15 Marina (#01-01 Sentosa Cove, 11 Cove Drive, www.one15marina.com)— there are more than fifteen boats of different sizes to choose from (some with strange names, like Boon Teik). Prices vary according to boat type, but typically start from around $699 for a four-hour slot. Bon voyage.

Would extra dough make you happy?

We’re looking for a HAPPY SALESPERSON. It’s all about attitude! salesdirector@asia-city.com.sg

22 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22): Humans walked on the moon before anyone ever had the simple idea to put wheels on suitcases. Unbelievable, right? Until 1972, three years after astronauts first walked on the lunar surface, travelers in airports and train stations had to carry and drag wheelless containers full of their belongings. I suspect that a comparable out-of-sequence thing may be going on in your own life, Cancerian. In some ways you are totally up-to-date, and in other ways you are lagging behind. Now would be a good time to identify any discrepancies and start correcting them. Metaphorically speaking, I’d love you to have rolling luggage by the next time you take a journey.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): Have you ever heard of the sasquatch, also known as bigfoot? You know, one of those big, hairy, humanoid beasts that walks upright and lives in dense forests?

Scientists assure us that there is no such thing.

But then they used to say the same thing about the platypus. It was a myth, they declared; a figment of explorers’ vivid imaginations. A duck-billed, egg-laying mammal simply could not exist. When the respected British zoologist George Shaw claimed there was indeed such a creature, he was mocked by his contemporaries.

Eventually, though, the truth emerged and Shaw was vindicated. I suspect that you Leos will soon experience an event akin to the discovery and confirmation that the platypus is real.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): Kyoka is a Japanese word that means a flower reflected in a mirror.

I suggest you use it as a metaphor to help you understand what’s happening in your life right now. Here are some clues to jumpstart your ruminations. Are you more focused on the image of what you love than on what you love? If so, is there anything wrong with that, or is it perfectly fine? Are you more interested in ephemeral beauty that you can admire from afar than in tangible beauty you can actually touch? If so, is there anything wrong with that, or is it perfectly fine? Should you turn away from a dreamy surrogate and turn toward the real thing? If so, why?

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22): A British researcher poured 300 million facts into a computer program designed to determine the most boring day in history. The winner was April 11, 1954. It was selected because almost nothing important happened except an election in Belgium. I’m wondering if you Libras might

reach that level of blah sometime soon. The astrological omens suggest it’s a possibility. And frankly, I hope that’s exactly what happens.

You need a break from high adventure and agitated activity. You would benefit from indulging in some downtime that allowed you to luxuriate in silence and stasis. The time has come to recharge your psychic batteries.

SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): You won’t be the recipient of good luck in the coming days. Nor will you experience bad luck or dumb luck or weird luck. No, Scorpio. The serendipitous slew of synchronicities that will slip and slide into your sphere requires a new word, which I have coined for this occasion. That word is “shluck.”

Shluck is a cracked yet plucky sort of backwards luck that provides you with an abundance of curious slack. Shluck slings your way a series of happy accidents and curious coincidences that give you experiences you didn’t even realize you needed. To take maximum advantage of shluck’s benefits, you have to dispense with your agendas and drop your expectations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): In the old fairy tale “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” the poor woodcutter Ali Baba is collecting firewood in the forest when he spies a gang of thieves bragging about their exploits. Observing them from a hiding place, he hears them chant a phrase, “open sesame.” This magically unseals the opening to a cave that happens to be full of their stolen treasure. Later, when the thieves have departed, Ali Baba goes to the cave and says “open sesame” himself. The hocus-pocus works. He slips into the cave and steals a bag of gold from the robbers’ plunder.

This story has resemblances to an adventure you could enjoy sometime soon, Sagittarius.

I suspect you may discover your own version of “open sesame.” It will give you access to a less literal and more legitimate bounty.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Your ability to heal rifts and bridge gaps is unusually high.

You could connect seemingly irreconcilable elements and forge apparently impossible links.

Former allies who have become estranged might be moved to bond again through your compassionate intervention. I’m not promising amazingly miraculous feats of unification, but I’m not ruling them out, either. You have a sixth sense about how to create interesting mixtures by applying just the right amount of pressure and offering just the right kind of tenderness.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): My friend Harry said he wanted to teach me to play golf.

“Are you kidding?” I asked him incredulously.

“The dullest game on the planet?” He tried to convince me that it would provide lots of interesting metaphors I could use in writing horoscopes. “Name one,” I challenged him.

He told me that “Volkswagen” is a slang term that describes what happens when a golfer makes an awkward shot that nevertheless turns out to be quite good. “Hmmm,” I replied. “That is exactly the theme I have decided on for the Aquarius horoscope.”

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Do you remember being in your mother’s womb? Probably not. But here’s what I know about that time: In the first few weeks after you were conceived, your body grew at a very rapid rate. Once you were born, if you had continued to expand and develop with that much vigor, you would literally have grown to be as big as a mountain by now. So let’s be thankful you slowed down. But I do want to sound an alert and let you know that you are currently in a growth spurt with some metaphorical resemblances to that original eruption. It’s basically a good thing. Just be aware that you may experience growing pains.

LAST WORD Cecilia-Leong Faulkner The co-founder (with actor husband John Faulkner) of British Theatre Playhouse pauses her prepwork for upcoming production Yes, Prime Minister (May 8-18) for a chat with Clara Lim. I love my work.

There’s no doubt about that.

My tiger

I cannot neglect my friends. Even when I’m busy, like I am now, there are times when I sneak out for a meal or coffee with them.

My morning mom trained ritual is I think women just have intuitions me well switching on about people—some call it the TV, making energy, some call it chemistry. a cup of tea, I always listen to my hunches. and bringing it back People used to ask, “don’t you to my room to watch the news. want children?” and I would say, “oh Gone are the days of throwing yes, I love kids. I love them fried.” my own galas and parties— Single people should move out Playhouse has been keeping and live on their own. When I me so busy. It’s my life now. did that, years ago, standing on It’s very difficult to get people to my own feet made me relate to like you all the time, and vice versa. the world very differently. I also led a great bachelorette’s life!

People don’t realize how much of an investment time is.

I don’t know how people can go to a party and not drink. I drink to make other people interesting.

I do meet people whom my instinct tells me “don’t touch!” But I do try to be diplomatic—and open—to them.

20 years back, I just couldn’t wait to grow up.

When I was studying in the US, I was exposed to a lot of drugs.

But I never slipped up. My tiger mom had trained me well.

The only way to find yourself is to go out into the world, try different things and taste the salt.

And I’ve tasted the salt… a lot.

The closest thing I have to a guilty pleasure is drinking. A glass of wine or a nice G&T really hits the spot when I’ve accomplished something—like answering 20 emails in one shot.

Life has come to a standstill because of Yes, Prime Minister. I haven’t had time to read, go to the cinema or even re-watch Yes, Prime Minister on BBC Entertainment!

Youth is your ammunition. You can afford to make mistakes when you’re young. Though that’s not to say you can’t make them when you’re old!

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