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cool and unusual Behind the scenes with 10 of Singapore's most innovative party planners

page 3 Find Page 3 online at is.gd/page3

Come Undone 6

Cover story Going underground with the city’s offbeat event organizers

It is with a heart full of sadness that Greater Singapore has decided to consciously uncouple from Little India. We have been working hard

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for over four months, ever since last year’s riots,

travel

tech

to see what might have been possible between

Behold Bhutan

An action-packed camera

us, and have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much, we will remain separate. We have exhausted all reasonable

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means of resolving our differences. In the first

fitness

instance, we banned alcohol consumption. Then

New yoga studios

we extended that ban. We then went on to extend

Depression branches out

a new law banning any public assemblies, unless

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style

it on a weekly basis. Most recently, we instituted the organizers hold a police permit. At a tearful

drink

Open door

Sour plum specials

Afterglow

counselling session we told them that we would “continue to take calibrated measures to maintain public order”—words, you will surely agree, of love at its most raw and searching. Yet despite such heartfelt attempts at conciliation, these

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film

interview

SE Asian Film Festival picks

Bernie “Botak” Utchenik

measures drove us further apart. This split, while the result of many factors—the people there like cricket, we like football; their tolerance for spicy food is a little humiliating to us—is one born of the deepest respect (to be clear, however, we

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

Managing Editor Mrigaa Sethi 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 Designers Beverly Chong, Carmen Louise Ho Designers Fishy Toh, Janel Quek Multimedia Designer Photographer Mossy Chew Wenzhi Sales Business Development Manager Intan Agustina advertising@asia-city.com.sg

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

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WINNER

Editor of the Year

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

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have not consulted them on this matter). We have lived together for almost 50 years, and while modern society adheres to the idea that such unions should be lifelong, we believe we need to redefine this construct. Hereafter we will be reviewing the friendship on a monthly basis and reserve the right to take more punitive measures if they don’t get their act together. We are, however, and always will be a family, and in many ways (especially through our comprehensive blanketing of the area with CCTV cameras) we are closer than we have ever been. We ask for our space

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and privacy to be respected at this difficult time.

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

Cover by Fishy Toh & Carmen Louise Ho

Media Manager Shernan Plameras

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@is_magazine FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 3

UP FRONT Giveaways

And we have a winner Congratulations to Isabelle Liu for winning a 2D1N stay at Costa Sands Resort (Downtown East) with a pair of tickets to Wild Wild Wet (worth $237)!

Coasta Sands Resort

OB Index

Quote of the Week

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

“What’s a water festival without water?”

march

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– Lighting designer Sanischaya Mankhongphithakkul of the recently canceled Celebrate Songkran 2014. The event has been replaced with a Water Conservation and Water Heritage Exhibition in conjunction with national water agency PUB

Want to win some amazing prizes?

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

We

SG

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

Unmasking The haze may be back again but soon we will be able to make better sense of it all with the new air quality reporting system rolled out by the National Environment Agency (NEA). This new pollutant index will better reflect the conditions on the ground as it will be based on six different pollutants, to give a more accurate overall reading. An NEA spokesperson said the new system will “correspond more closely with what one sees.”

Be Good

Squeaky Clean

An advertisement by SAFRA encouraging people to sign up for their gyms drew negative feedback for its depiction of two men ogling an attractive women behind her back along with a tagline: “A great workout, good friends and some healthy distractions.” Women’s rights advocate group AWARE slammed the ad saying it contributes to a culture that “encourages everyone to see women as existing to be “checked out” in every setting” and that they are “quite sure that men can appreciate the benefits of exercise and enjoy hanging out with their friends even without women dangled before them as sexual prospects.”

Quit complaining about having to keep your own home clean and lend a hand at Home Maintenance, a monthly outreach activity by Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities that provides cleaning services and basic D-I-Y tasks such as basic repairs and plumbing. Volunteers will be briefed on activity day and attached to a specific home for work from 9am till noon.

No training is needed—just dress comfortably for cleaning duties and bring a change of clothes and water. For more information on the dates or to sign up, visit www.thkmc.org. sg/volunteer/ or call 6276 4769.

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

More places to dine out with American Express

AMEXNETWORK.COM.SG

American Express is proud to present exciting new restaurant partners to whet your appetite. From classic American grills to Hong Kong-style dim sum and authentic Chinese cuisine, you now have even more culinary choices when using your American Express ® Card. This month, make the most of our 30licious dining programme with outstanding set menus from just S$30++ at all of our new partners featured below.

Big Bern’s American Grill Serving up fine American comfort food in a comfortable environment.

312 Balestier Road #01-01 Tel: 6252 6225

Bistro One Zero Three Delight in quality Western-Euro comfort food with a menu of simple and classic dishes served up in hearty portions.

Mel’s Place Bar & Bistro This rustic reprieve in the heart of the East Coast food belt is easily accessible, with ample parking and a sprawling ground, making it perfect for a romantic tete-a-tete, family outing or corporate event.

2A Kuo Chuan Avenue Tel: 6440 3573

103 Pasir Panjang Rd, Tel: 6476 6373

Mouth Restaurant

Kombi Rocks Diner

For over 26 years, Mouth Restaurant has enticed Singaporeans with a mix of quality dim sum and Cantonese cuisine.

Enjoy delicious meals in an unpretentious retro ambience amidst a collection of vintage Volkswagens.

66 Yio Chu Kang Road Tel: 6288 1206

Lewin Terrace Discover this romantic venue that draws couples for all sorts of occasions, including dinner dates, anniversaries, proposals and weddings.

21 Lewin Terrace, Tel: 6333 9905

China Square Central #01-61 Tel: 6438 5798 Plaza Singapura #02-01 Tel: 6337 7446

Wàn Hé Lóu Take a culinary journey with Wàn Hé Lóu’s mouth-watering selection of Chinese cuisine.

65 Maude Road Tel: 6294 8057

30licious $30 deals 30 days

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hungrygowhere_secondary_vertical_logo_WEB

Dine at our new partners with the 30licious Programme From 27 March to 25 April 2014, American Express and HungryGoWhere invite you to enjoy an islandwide culinary celebration with S$30++ dining deals at a wide selection of participating restaurants.

Make your bookings today, visit promotions.hungrygowhere.com

To start accepting American Express Cards at your establishment: • SMS “MYAEXP<space>NEW<space>Contact Name<space> Contact Number” to 72009 • Email newmerchant@aexp.com • Call us at +65 9772 3002 (9am to 9pm daily) for rapid account setup

30licious Programme Terms & Conditions: 30licious offers are available when payment is made with the American Express Card, including American Express Corporate Cards and American Express Cards issued in Singapore by DBS Bank Limited, United Overseas Bank Limited, Citibank Singapore Limited and EZ-Link Pte Ltd. Prices listed may be subject to service charge and prevailing government taxes where applicable. Offers cannot be exchanged for cash or used in conjunction with other promotional programmes, offers, discount cards, vouchers or VIP privileges, unless otherwise stated. Offers are not applicable on eve of Public Holidays, Public Holidays and special occasions unless otherwise stated. Merchants’ terms and conditions apply - please check with respective restaurants for complete details. American Express acts solely as a payment provider and is not responsible or liable in the event that such services, activities or benefits are not provided or fulfilled by the merchant. Card Members acknowledge that any disputes in relation to the above are to be directed solely to the merchant providing such services, activities or benefits. American Express International, Inc. is not responsible for the endorsement of any service or product featured. Merchants are solely responsible for the fulfilment of all offers. American Express International, Inc. and the business establishments reserve the right to change the terms and conditions at any time without prior notice. All information is correct at the time of print. Visit promotions.hungrygowhere.com for more details.

American Express International, Inc., Incorporated with Limited Liability in the State of Delaware, U.S.A. with a place of business at 10 Marina Boulevard #15-00, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 2, Singapore 018983. ®Registered Trademark of American Express Company. Copyright © 2014 American Express Company. All rights reserved.

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4 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

4/4/14 12:17 PM

Essential Events April 11 - 24 CALENDAR

DO This

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 Indie film weekend: Catch SCUM Cinema’s latest cult movie gig, plus the Southeast Asian Film Festival kicks off. See Cover Story, page 6, and Film, page 21.

Long Live The King Zouk celebrates 23 epic years with a four-day anniversary bash with superstar DJs Fedde Le Grand and Sander Van Doorn.

See Nightlife, page 21.

Marina Bay goes all nu-rave for this year’s neon Electric Run. Apr 11-12, 5pm. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd.. $118. electricrun.sg

DON’T Miss

SEE This

Just For Laughs

Swan Song

Get set for comedy month, what with Singapore International Comedy Festival, Singapore Comedy Fringe and Happy Ever Laughter all happening in April.

See Comedy, page 20.

The big Annie Leibovitz retrospective opens this month with nearly 200 personal and professional photos shot for the likes of Vogue and Vanity Fair.

Apr 18-Oct 19.

See Art, page 21

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 Do the “downward dog along to Snoop Dogg” at Sweat in the City’s Hip Hop Yoga sesh. 7:30am. The Hub@113 Somerset Rd. $30 from Peatix.

Beloved Japanese bar Orihara Shoten whips out a whopping 200 labels for Sake Festival Singapore.

See Food & Drink, page 21.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13 Gawk at super-luxe boats and super-rich people at

Singapore Yacht Show. Apr 10-13. See Stuff, page 21.

TUESDAY, APRIL 22 Don’t miss Bar 22’s new monthly comedy night, 22 Calibre Comedy. See Comedy, page 20.

Last chance to hunt down the Nara C.O.W. food truck for that Thai street food experience.

3pm, Westgate Mall, 3 Gateway Drive, 9818-6636.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 Sneak a last peek at tech/art collective teamLab’s digital waterfall, Universe of Water Particles before the show closes on Apr 26. Ikkan Art Gallery, #01-05 Artspace @ Helutrans, 39 Keppel Rd., 66816490, www.ikkan-art.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 17 Local filmmaker Ho Tzu Nyen branches out into theater again with his latest, Ten Thousand Tigers. See Scene & Heard, page 18.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18 TGI Good Friday! Staycation this long weekend, anyone?

THURSDAY, APRIL 24 It’s time for Backstage Pass, ticketing agent Peatix’s get-together for offbeat event organizers. 6:30pm.

See Cover Story, page 6.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19 Celebrate Record Store Day with all the other vinyl nerds at this edition of Wax On Wax Off. Or visit Kult’s Chinatown Vinyl Squad exhibition of remixed LP covers. See IS+, page 18.

Hounds of the Baskervilles head honcho Feroze McLeod has a live tattoo showcase at The Vault. 8pm. 23 Circular Rd., 6222-5001.

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FRIDAY, April 11, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 5

COVER STORY Where the Wild Things Are Who to follow to stay up on the city’s coolest alternative events. By Crystal Lee

I

t’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment when our city’s revelers fell out of love with the mainstream. In the past few years, alternative parties and events, held in roughand-ready locations like unoccupied warehouses and reclaimed outdoor spaces, have been popping up with increasing frequency. But if you want in on the action, you have to know where to look. Lucky for you, we’ve picked out 10 of the city’s coolest independent event organizers that you should be keeping tabs on. Follow them closely, and soon you’ll be rubbing shoulders with other indie insiders.

EXPERIMENTAL PARTY PLANNERS Sideshow

Sunday at the Training Shed

Longstanding scenesters Sideshow—founded by percussionist Aidan Bamrah and DJ Tom Shellsuit— have a loyal following thanks to daytime party Sunday at the Training Shed in Labrador Park.

They’ve also held parties at a hidden beach club in East Coast Park and across the border in JB.

Food warriors for the big bucks, and also, we like that if you read it too fast it looks like No Panty Here.

How is what you offer different?

LL: On music, we’re serious, but our affairs appear subnormal on all other levels. One of our previous parties had Djedjotronic of Boysnoize spinning against a backdrop of 70’s workout videos.

The next No Party Here (featuring Jacques Greene) is on May 2, 10pm. Kyo, Keng Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 8299 8735. Price to be confirmed. www.facebook.com/nopartyhere

Aligned Agency

Is there a gap in the party scene that you are trying to fill?

TS: Not really—we’re just doing the kind of events we like to go to. And a big part of the enjoyment of doing these events is meeting new friends and collaborators.

And what’s the hardest part of it all?

TS: Bookkeeping and second-guessing when you’re thinking of trying something new.

The next Sunday at the Training Shed is on Apr 20, 3pm. The Training Shed, 8 Port Rd., 6273-1993. Free.

www.facebook.com/sideshowsg

No Party Here

Super O Season

Founder Alyssa Kokilah and her team have brought underground pop-up techno-heavy festival Super 0 Season to improbable locations such as design studio The Mill and art enclave Gillman Barracks, with residents of famed Berlin club Berghain playing alongside our very own left-field DJs. How did the idea of Super 0 Season came about?

We were inspired by lots of festivals and gigs overseas and wanted to put all our best experiences into creating something special and super fun. Cynthia Chua of Spa Esprit Group saw the potential, and then we were all off setting up Super 0 Season together.

Soul Clap

If you’re looking to catch cutting-edge dance music acts, keep tabs on this wacky pair—Audrey Choy and Louis Lam—who’ve brought in cult names like Boiler Room host Bradley Zero and madcap funksters Soul Clap for their hush-hush parties.

What inspired the No Party Here series?

AC: We believe the best parties, more often than not, happen spontaneously and we wanted to do just that. No serious planners here, not in it

6 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, april 11, 2014

Your goals and dreams for the agency?

We dream big! We hope to be like the Southeast Asian counterpart of Japanese events company Creativeman by putting together innovative events and experiences.

Alyssa Kokilah The next Aligned series, featuring Midland, Cosa Nostra and Darker than Wax, is on May 17, 10pm. Kyo, Keng Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 8299 8735. $20-$25, one drink included. www.facebook.com/aligned.agency

Clubvivre

Pop-up dinner in a gallery

We love secret supper clubs (read more about them in our story “Spilling Secrets” at is.gd/ singaporebestkeptsecrets) and Maria Kuvshinova’s Clubvivre pulls them off fantastically. Case in point: their most recent pop-up dinner, Nordic Lights, which featured molecular cuisine served in a subzero environment, complete with giant LED walls and ice sculptures.

Nordic Lights

Steak party

Tell us about your proudest pop-up.

One of my personal favorites was a 1920s steak party we threw in a private gallery of antique collectors. Guests came dressed in ’20s fashion and were treated with a meaty fourcourse meal paired with craft beers. The entire atmosphere felt as if we went back in time.

The core of your business is private catering. Why did you choose to branch out into large-scale events?

Our creative team is bursting with ideas, so every now and then we throw a pop-up for the fun of it.

We’ve got corporate clients asking us if they can “sign up” to be part of these ad-hoc events. It’s a winwin: having partnerships with several compatible brands makes it easier to share costs and scale, so we envision we’ll do more of such events in the future.

Follow Clubvivre’s social media pages to keep updated on the next pop-up. www.facebook.com/Clubvivre

»

Bacchanalia Brunch Series What’s so great about partying the day away at a boozy brunch?

RD: There is something magical about walking out of a party and seeing that the sun is still shining. Partying in the day is also a fantastic way of having all of the fun you could have on a night out, but without the dread of the nasty hangover the next morning!

Raj Datwani and Alex Chew

Bacchanalia owners Alex Chew and Raj Datwani need no introduction. They’ve turned the traditional notion of Champagne brunches (read: relaxed and lazy) around with their raucous boozy brunches, which have since seen a slew of copycats around town.

If there’s one rule guests need to abide by when attending your crazy brunches, what would that be?

RD: Come with an open mind! Brunch is a place where you can let loose and enjoy yourself no matter what age you are. It’s all about the mindset.

The next Bacchanalia Brunch is on May 17, 1pm. Bacchanalia, 23A Coleman St., 6509-1453. $50. www.facebook.com/Bacchanaliabrunch

»

Sure, Sistic and the new Sportshubtix are where to go for big name concerts and events, but there’s a whole slew of under-the-radar ones— from tiramisu workshops to paddleboarding yoga sessions—that you can find on offbeat events ticketing platform Peatix (www.peatix.com). “Singapore’s events scene is getting very diverse. We see new events with fresh concepts popping up almost every month. The public is craving for more, they’re becoming increasingly adventurous and the shopping malls just don’t cut it anymore as weekend entertainment,” says Claire Ding, manager of community growth at Peatix.

Interested in putting on your own event?

Then add April 24, 6:45pm to your diary; that’s when the next edition of Backstage Pass, Peatix’s networking night for event organizers, takes place at The Hub Singapore (113 Somerset Rd.). This time around the theme is #homegrownSG, with a planned 7-10 Claire Ding speakers, including organizers of groundup local events like SG Makers, Pub Crawl Singapore, Culture Kitchen, See and Be Seen and WalkaboutSG. Tickets are $18 from http://backstagepass5.peatix.com.

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FRIDAY, april 11, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 7

COVER STORY FILM FREAKS S.C.U.M Cinema

There’s no shortage of alternative movie screenings here, but true film buffs can dig deeper into alt-cinematic history by following indie collective S.C.U.M (short for Society of Cult and Underground Movies) Cinema—comprising The S.C.U.M team Monkey Fist, Mountain Monkey and Topo Sanchez—for their free, bi-monthly screenings.

What are your thoughts on the local film scene?

Judging from the full turnout of past film festivals, we are pretty sure the Singapore audience possesses the maturity and receptiveness for all kinds of new films. That’s one of the reasons why S.C.U.M Cinema exists—to fill the void in the local cinema experience for those thirsting for alternative films.

What are some of the problems you face?

The cost of getting the screening rights, acquiring DVDs and securing a venue is not exactly a walk in the park. So for every screening, we produce limited

8 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, april 11, 2014

edition artwork that is available for purchase and all proceeds will be directed to support the next screening.

Blaxploitation classic Black Belt Jones is screening on Apr 11, 8.30pm. Screening Room, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6903. Free. www.facebook.com/scumcinema

surprise in itself. It’s an irony—a planned performance that’s completely unplanned at the same time. Artists then feel like they have plenty of scope for creativity.

Sign up at Sofar Sounds website for a chance to attend their secret gigs. www.facebook.com/sofarsounds

Sub-Sonic Live

Music Champions Sofar Sounds

This global movement organizes secret gigs in people’s living rooms. Its Singaporean outpost— spearheaded by producer Sam Drury—has been slowly but surely turning the local soundscape on its head with its super intimate aural experiences.

Why did you decide to keep your pop-up gigs a secret?

Some of the principles are to maintain the cozy and intimate environment and also ensure that the people who come down for the gigs are really genuine and put in the effort. On top of that, holding it in someone’s house translates to limited space. We’re always over-booked, so it helps to keep the numbers appropriate for a session.

Have there been any surprises at the event?

Not announcing the lineup way ahead in advance is a

Pleansantry

Fred Perry’s music initiative, responsible for holding multi-sensorial concerts in abandoned warehouses and disused schools. Their Marketing/PR Manager Cheryl Ann Lee says they’re always on the lookout for something new.

Is there more demand for unconventional events?

Yes! We’ve now had parties at venues you never knew existed or thought it was possible to have a party at.

It’s always refreshing to have alternate party options.

»

How do you pick your performers?

It starts off by going to shows, speaking to friends, social media and digital updates that catch onto our radar. Last year, we got Jeremy Lee onboard as Sub-Sonic Live’s Music Curator to oversee the gigs’ overall music direction and programming.

Follow Fred Perry Singapore’s social media pages to keep updated on the next Sub-Sonic Live.

Cheryl Ann Lee

www.facebook.com/fredperrysg

shopaholics anonymous Underground Market

Flea markets are dime a dozen in Singapore, and they can be hit-or-miss. But what if Singapore’s coolest fashion bloggers—including organizer Arissa Ho—got together and let you raid their closets? Problem solved! You’ll never need to second-guess the stylishness of your purchase again.

Tell us the story behind Underground Market.

[Bloggers] Venetia and Pia decided that they Arissa Ho should get together to sell their pre-loved items.

Dawn and I were roped in with Emma, Lenne and Linda Hao and the first flea happened in Pia’s basement. It’s been our venue ever since! The space is not huge compared to some other flea markets, but it is still spacious and homely. The best part is that it’s air-conditioned.

Why do you think flea markets are so popular right now?

Many people realize the impact that the clothing industry has on the environment, and it is a lot of wastage to deal with. We view it as a great opportunity to mingle with our blog readers as well.

The next Underground Market is slated to happen in July. 33A Chiltern Drive. Free. www.facebook.com/undergroundmkt

$langin’ Saturdays

$langin’ Saturdays

Kilo is so much more than a restaurant these days, what with its new party space on level 8 and regular DJ gigs. The clearest indication that they’re truly hip? The fact that Jasmine Tuan (of the now-closed boutique Blackmarket) and Bobby Kwok (of The Butter Factory) are collaborating with them for this curated flea market series.

Who are your vendors?

JT: Previous editions had Kult, Koom, Lulubare, Mandy T Skincare, Nilos Beachwear, MAH collection (scarfs), CindyKate / ContraBrand, theWYLDshop.com, WattleTree and Kelly Su. There was everything from sustainable shoes, jewelry, high-end swimwear and art pieces.

Do you think there’s enough appreciation and support for local artists and talents?

JT: Compared to 5 years ago, there’s definitely a significant growth in local brand awareness and support. Consumers must know that they are the investors of brands they want to see more of.

The next $langin’ Saturdays is expected to be held in late May at Kilo, 66 Kampong Bugis, 6467-3987. www.facebook.com/slangingoodz n

Bobby Kwok (right)

FRIDAY, april 11, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 9

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Mountains of the Mind Ahead of a new showcase of Bhutanese culture, Ric Stockfis explores the contemporary art scene in the capital, Thimpu.

“Mani Wall” by Asha Kama

Cherngzhi at work

“My Land” by Rinchen Wangdi

I

Tiger’s Nest

i Cred

f Bhutan is little known to the outside world—its snowupward of $1,000. There are no less than 13 official Bhutanese capped Himalayan peaks having shrouded it in mystery arts and crafts. But the focus is squarely on the traditional and, for centuries—its nascent contemporary art scene is all but as Tashi Payden, a friend of the artist and founder of Bhutan’s invisible. Most visitors (and there are only around 100,000 RSPCA, points out, “we don’t want to be seen just as a a year) go to trek amongst those mountains and living museum.” marvel at the ancient dzongs, the imposing fortresses With that in mind, artists like Rinchen are that dot the countryside. They’re drawn there too exploring contemporary Bhutanese issues by the quirks of modern Bhutan: a monarchy (particularly environmental degradation) that voluntarily ceded power in 2008 to usher in through their experimental mixed-media work. democracy; the much-vaunted notion of Gross “Art is not about creating beautiful things,” National Happiness, which sets quality of life ahead he says. “It’s about the message.” He readily w. m ve of economic output; and—in no small way—by just admits the scene is still in its infancy. “We have co . y lan tinephotograph how damn special the experience of being there feels a long way to go. Most of our buyers come from (the US$200-250/day tourist tariff may not be universally developed nations; we can’t expect local people to buy Asha Kama and popular but it’s certainly kept the worst excesses of the Rinchen Wangdi this kind of work yet. So to sustain ourselves, we have modern travel industry at bay). to do commercial, educational work. We’ve had some It’s not that these visitors won’t come across any government support, but to really keep art alive we art. Thimpu-based artist Rinchen Wangdi says, “Art is deeply need institutions. We need galleries, educators, magazines, art integrated into Bhutanese life. It’s just that most artistic practice collectors. All of this is lacking at the moment.” is associated with religion.” Bhutan has a long and rich history A key figure in what progress there has been to date is Asha of Tibetan or tantric Buddhism, and wherever you travel in the Wangdi, a.k.a Asha Kama, another artist combining traditional country you’ll see astounding works of sculpture and painting, techniques with modern influences. Together with two friends he as well as multi-hued, intricately handwoven fabrics selling for set up VAST (Voluntary Artists’ Studio, Thimphu; www.vastbhutan.org), an NGO providing arts schooling and exhibition space. “There’s no market to speak of for our kind of art,” he says. “Traditional craftsmen are in good demand. But as a country Until May 14, all The Soup Spoon (www. we lack the love for and understanding thesoupspoon.com) outlets are offering a taste of of modern art. Abstract and selfBhutan in the form of three chef’s specials: beef and expressive art just isn’t appreciated.” So, radish stew, spicy chicken stew and vegetable chilli in the absence of formal art institutions, cheese; featuring ingredients like Bhutanese red rice and ezay (chopped dried chilli salad)—prices start VAST was set up to offer would-be from $7.30. Director Anna Lim, who was inspired by artists (including Rinchen, who was one her visit to the Centenary Farmers’ Market in of their first students) encouragement Thimpu, tells us, “they’re comfort soups!” and direction. “Now, 16 years later, we have a lot of young artists working t: w

w

Chilli Days

Bhutanese beef & radish stew

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I‑S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, April 11, 2014

Uma Paro

Seconds Out Bhutan is unusual in that its only international airport serves the town of Paro, not the capital, which is an hour’s drive away. Fortunately, Paro is much more than just a waypoint and you’d be remiss not to spend at least a few days there. Among the highlights is Paro Taktsang, or Tiger’s Nest, a 17th-century monastery perched high on a cliff-face some 900 meters above ground—a solid four-hour return hike.

Stay at Uma Paro (www.comohotels.com/umaparo), a gorgeous estate set amidst 38 acres of lush blue pine forest on a hill overlooking the town. It’s a popular spot for executive retreats—and with an in-house COMO Shambhala spa, traditional wood-fire Bukhari stoves warming up the bar and restaurant and trails leading off in every direction up and down the mountainside, it’s easy to see why. Rooms start from US$450 ($570)/night.

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

independently. Struggling but surviving,” he says. Of his own work he explains that, having toyed with both modern disciplines (“everyone’s a graphic designer now!”) and traditional religiously-inspired techniques (“I found I wasn’t sufficiently committed spiritually”), he’s working across the two. “I’m painting Buddha, but Buddha in my own way”—a fair summation of how this small group of like-minded artists are tackling the transition from old to new.

So while the Bhutanese modern art scene is by no means big enough to base an entire trip around, as a counterpoint to your wanderings through the more traditional landscapes and tapestries of Thimpu (including the stunning Thimpu Dzong, which faces the Royal Palace across the river), some time spent exploring the handful of contemporary galleries makes a worthy add-on to any visit. The artists are refreshingly free of pretension and happy to sit and talk shop, and in both their conversation and their works you get a fascinating insight—and an often controversial one at that—into how this long closed-off country is wrestling with modernization.

Singaporean visual artist Erwin Lian, a.k.a. Cherngzhi, a lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, found it so inspiring he’s been back several times. “Actually, I had my fair share of doubt and cynicism when I first landed,” he says. “The Bhutanese tourism board markets it as the happiest place on earth. I thought: Perhaps they are trying to hide the ‘real’ Bhutan from an outsider. But I went exploring by myself—even sketching on the street at night—and it was so idyllic and peaceful. And while not everyone there is happy, they’re fulfilled.

I’ve tried to capture the essence of just being there ever since.” n Works by all of the above artists will be on show at the Impressions of Happiness exhibition, which runs from April 12-17, 11am-7:30pm at Sculpture Square (155 Middle Rd.). Part of the proceeds from artworks sold will go to helping underprivileged young artists in Bhutan. There will also be a book launch (see right) and screenings of two Bhutanese films (April 12, 2-7pm). Find out more at www.drukasia.com/impressions.

Essentials GETTING THERE

Q&A Dr. Karma Phuntsho The academic and author launches his ground-breaking book, The History of Bhutan, at the Impressions of Happiness exhibition (April 12, 2-4.30pm). He is also the founder of the Loden Foundation (www. loden.org), a charity promoting education and entrepreneurship.

What prompted you to write this book?

The Bhutanese have a very great sense of belonging—and therefore a strong attachment to history and their origins. But most of the educated people in Bhutan are affiliated with the system and the government; they have more or less signed an agreement that only allows them to say certain things. So we get a very watered-down version of our history. I’m an independent academic so I have no obligations to abide by any particular version of history.

Are there concrete examples of how that history can inform the present?

A lot of people come with this naïve view of Bhutan: that it’s an isolated Shangri La that’s suddenly been exposed to democracy. In fact, democracy is deeply engrained here. The whole Buddhist system is very democratic, very egalitarian, almost republican. Buddhism doesn’t accept any virtue by birth; there’s no absolute power; you are an independent individual, free to choose your own course. It’s only the election system—of appointing a government—that’s new, and there are big powers at play. The Bhutanese are very shrewd and smart; but things beyond their control, like counting of the votes, mean there’s a risk of manipulation.

What about Gross National Happiness (GNH)—is it a helpful model for development?

To some extent it’s largely rhetoric. It’s a good vision to have; a high ideal. If it happens, then we ought to be optimistic. But I often find GNH comparable to communism. It sounds like a utopian idea: a fantastic ideal, but no one really practices or implements it.

Where do you think Bhutan’s future lies?

We can’t just be isolated like we were 100 years ago. But we’ve become excessively and unnecessarily dependent on India; partly fuelled by the illusion that we cannot exist without Indian support, though that history only goes back 100 years. I’d rather choose to keep India as a very good friend, but pursue multilateral relationships. Ric Stockfis

Fly from Singapore to Paro with Drukair (www.drukair.com.sg) for around $1,250 return.

VISA AND GETTING AROUND A visa is required for all visitors to Bhutan (except Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals), and can only be obtained through authorized travel agencies like Druk Asia (www.drukasia.com). They can also coordinate your trip, including the opportunity to explore the arts scene first-hand.

Grand opening

Dhensa Punakha

STAY Thimpu suffers from some of the urban sprawl and construction blight you’d find in any rapidly expanding town: it’s certainly not as scenic as some of the more rural parts of the country, though the valley setting is still pretty special.

The central location of the 66-room Taj Tashi (www.tajhotels.com) is hard to beat and the food at on-site Bhutanese restaurant Chig-Ja-Gye among the best we had on our trip. They also organize traditional cultural shows in the evenings in their courtyard—and Asha Kama’s works hang in the lobby and suites. It’s fancy without being particularly slick, and is a great base if you’re keen to explore Thimpu after dark. Rooms start at USD400 ($505)/night.

A few miles out of town, with wonderful morning views down the valley and a breakfast deck right by the river is Terma Linca Resort and Spa (www. termalinca.com). It’s a lot more modern than Taj, with huge rooms, a spa specializing in traditional Bhutanese hot stone baths (a godsend when you’ve been trekking), and its own vegetable garden. Downside: you’re too far from town for a casual stroll. Rooms start at USD300 ($380)/night.

Taj Tashi

Terma Linca Resort and Spa

Dhensa Punakha

Overview: Just emerging from its soft launch phase is this 24-suite resort in Bhutan’s lush Punakha Valley, surrounded by pine forest and overlooking the Punakha river and the valley’s terraced paddy fields (the relatively low-lying Punakha is known as the country’s “market garden”). It’s the first property from new Singaporean brand Dhensa Boutique Resorts, and they’re championing a “return to innocence” theme.

rooms, as well as the specialist spa treatments, and lie back in an outdoor wood-fired bath.

Design: Contemporary style fused with Bhutanese tradition (what sounds like a standard formula these days is, in fact, seamlessly executed here). It incorporates six cottages with private balconies, a reading lounge, Dhensa Spa cottage and a dining room serving up Bhutanese, Asian and Western cuisine that uses seasonal, local and organic produce. At Dhensa Spa guests can make the most of the yoga, sauna and steam

Rant: It’s a four-hour drive from Paro to Punakha; assuming there are no landslides blocking the road. Then again, it’s not like you’ll just be swinging by Bhutan for a long weekend, so there’s no rush.

Rave: Aside from the jaw-dropping setting? The idea of rediscovering your childhood wonder might sound cheesy, but when it translates into one-of-a-kind experiences like crafting your own souvenir with a local artisan, hiking into the forest to learn more about the flora and fauna and watching rice threshing up close, it’s hard not to be impressed.

Price: From USD$350 ($440)/night +975 2 584434; www.dhensa.com

FRIDAY, April 11, 2014 I‑S MAGAZINE

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

ESCAPE ROUTES

U Zenmaya

THAIL AND

So Kal’ There’s a lot happening in Phuket right now (the opening of Nikki Beach, for one—look out for our story soon). Hip boutique hotel U Zenmaya also opened last month, overlooking Kalim Beach and offering guests a five-star luxury experience. The hotel stands out with its Sino-Portuguese style, influenced by local heritage, as well as its rooftop lounge with ocean views, signature restaurant, pool and spa. Opening rates are from THB 7,600 ($295), including a two-hour massage per person. Find out more at www.uhotelsresorts.com/ uzenmayaphuket.

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is back from August 1 to 31 at over 20 venues across Canberra. The monthlong festival will have lots of hearty winter cuisine, local cool-climate wines and crackling fires to cozy up by.

Event highlights include degustation dinners, wine tastings, performances and exhibitions, as well as activities like horse riding and chocolate tasting. Visit www.thepoachersway. com.au to register for updates.

SINGAPORE

Find Out Where Have friends or family planning a visit to Singapore? Get them to download the interactive, all-new Where Singapore tablet app, which is the I-S team’s carefully curated guide for visitors.

Available for iPad and Android tablets, it’s packed with the latest happenings in town, as well as a plethora of useful travel tips, walking tours and maps.

It’s the perfect tool for planning trips to our island in advance. Learn more at www.wheresingapore.com. There’s also a PDF version available at is.gd/ WhereSG2014Q2.

The ultra luxe train Eastern & Oriental Express is collaborating with charity Save Wild Tigers to offer a once-ina-lifetime journey from Singapore to Bangkok that will raise funds for wild tigers. The journey, which is taking place from October 2 to 6, will take passengers through the tigers’ historic habitat, departing With Easter weekend from Singapore and approaching, Ramada traveling through and Days Hotels at Malaysia and Zhongshan Park are Thailand before offering the Easter Great arriving in Bangkok.

Getaway (EGG) staycation It’s not cheap—the for stays on April 19. At Days five-day, four-night Ramada Hotel, the staycation includes journey costs from £2,960 Hotel Sunday brunch for two, with rates ($6,170)—but it’s sure to be from $200, while at Ramada Hotel memorable. Details at www. the staycation entitles you to a buffet easternandorientalexpress.com. breakfast and Easter high tea for two, with rates from $288. Find out more at AUSTR ALIA www.ramadasingapore.com and www. dayshotelsingapore.com.

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I‑S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, April 11, 2014

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island

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

Take Root No space for potted plants in your home? Dangle them from the ceiling instead with Boskke’s innovative—and extremely stylish—Sky Planters.

These gravity-defying planters suspend ferns, ivy, orchids, herbs and vegetables from above, while an internal reservoir system channels water directly to the plants’ roots. They’re a great way to soften harsh concrete spaces, and incorporate some much-needed greenery into your life. $29.90 upwards from www.naiise.com.

beauty Marc Our Words

style Good Measure

tech Fool Proof

Makeup junkies, there’s a new brand in town to add your stash: Marc Jacobs now has its own beauty line, and it’s available at Sephora. Products are characterized by luxe textures and provocative shades—you’d expect nothing less from the outrageous designer, really. Choice picks include the Re(Marc)able full-cover concealer, which is infused with soy protein, shea butter and coconut oil to help rejuvenate skin, as well as the Lovemarc lip gel, a hydrating, highly pigmented lipstick that comes in 16 vivid shades. $32 upwards from all Sephora stores, including #01-05 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, 6509-8255, www.sephora.com.

Cult label Charlotte Olympia, famed for her kitschy, look-at-me stilettos, has designed a limited edition capsule collection just for luxury footwear specialist On Pedder. Looking to a vintage sewing box as inspiration, the exclusive range feature statement wedges, ballet flats, pumps and clutches imprinted with thread wheels, measuring tape and button motifs—perfect pieces that add a touch of offbeat fun to sophisticated chic. $1,010 upwards from #02-10 Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Rd., 6636-3060, www.onpedder.com.

The new Nikon AW120 is a camera for anyone with a taste for adventure. Besides being able to survive underwater down to 59 feet, take a fall from up to 6.6 feet and withstand cold weather, it’s equipped with an electronic compass and GPS to track your exploration.

And that’s not all—this little gem has Wi-Fi connectivity to seamlessly transfer your images or videos to other electronic devices. $529 from all authorized Nikon dealers including #02-43/35, Challenger VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-6100, www.nikon.com.sg.

FRIDAY, April 11, 2014 I‑S MAGAZINE

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island

fashion + fitness + tech + home

WELLNESS

Dog Days

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An islandwide guide to the best new yoga studios.

By Delle Chan and Clara Lim

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Bikram Yoga Katong

130 East Coast Rd., 9380-0715, www.facebook.com/ BikramYogaKatong. Open Mon-Fri 8am-10pm; Sat-Sun 8am-5pm.

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The buzz: Set up by Bikram yoga enthusiasts Maria Lourdes Chan and Jez Heng, this boutique R-Evolution studio in Katong is home to a tight-knit community.

There’s a real party vibe here; everyone knows one another, and they sometimes venture out to the beach or even on boats to practise.

What it offers: The mainstay is classic Bikram yoga—26 poses (each done twice) in 90 minutes—though there are also plans to offer options for people with disabilities.

Though they’re friendly, the instructors are pretty hardcore, plus the studio is one of the hottest we’ve tried, so it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. The rain showers are a nice touch too.

How much: An eight-day trial pass costs $58. Members can either buy class cards (from $668 for 20 classes) or unlimited passes (from $438 for one month). Private lessons ($150) are also available.

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Meraki Yoga

The buzz: Tucked away in a tranquil condo near One North Masters’ Yoga MRT, this is one of the very few Sadhan yoga places in the west (which is surprising considering how close the tai-tai strongholds of Bukit Timah and Holland Village are).

What it offers: Various styles of hot yoga—hatha, classic and flow. Classic hot yoga is quite similar to Bikram yoga in terms of length and poses, but the instructors here are a good deal gentler than some of the Bikram drill sergeants we’ve come across. Non-heated classes are also available. There’s plenty of space and natural light here, except for the hot room (which has no windows), with big clean showers and even a lounge.

How much: You can start with a $50 one-week trial pass; subsequently, class cards start at $369 for 14 classes. #01-15 One North Residences, 7 One North Gateway, 68723711, www.merakiyoga.sg. Open daily at various times.

The buzz: This no-frills yoga center operates out of two neighboring studios in the CBD, so it’s great for a quick work-day fix.

What it offers: Wall Rope Yoga lets you enjoy inverted poses like handstands, which would otherwise require a great amount of upper body strength and balance.

Other than typical classes like hatha and hot yoga, they also offer hard-to-find sub-styles of yoga, like Sivananda (based on Hindu spiritual leader Swami Sivananda’s teachings) and Kundalini (a tantric yoga-like style popularized by yogi Bhajan). They’re extremely welcoming here—just don’t expect the polish and postworkout amenities of a posh studio.

How much: The most affordable of the lot. Drop-in classes are $35, while class cards start from $190 for 10 classes, and monthly passes start from $250 for one month.

The buzz: This fitness center has over 280(!) classes a week, covering a wide range of workouts from MMA to kickboxing to yoga. Unlike many other all-in-one gyms, though, the yoga classes here aren’t just an afterthought—the founders are from Space & Light Yoga and clearly know their stuff.

What it offers: Only non-heated yoga classes are available, mostly hour-long sessions covering the basics as well as more advanced classes for strength training. Our favorite though is their proprietary 30-minute YogaBLAZE workout, an unlikely combo of dynamic yoga postures and HIIT. You learn a simple sequence of movements, perform as many reps as possible within a short time span, rest, and repeat with the next set of movements. It’s a lot harder than it sounds (or looks)!

How much: A one-month trial pass costs $138; thereafter, monthly fees are priced at $380/month.

88A Tanjong Pagar Rd. & #03-00 20 Peck Seah St., 90115255, www.masters-yogasadhan.com.sg. Open Mon-Fri 7am-8.30pm; Sat-Sun 8am-3pm.

#03-09 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-9697, www.r-evolution.com.sg. Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat-Sun 9am-10pm.

I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, april 11, 2014

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Simply Yoga

Bikram Yoga Katong

The buzz: Yet another new yoga studio in the East Coast area—though they stand out from the rest with some cool aerial arts courses, on top of regular yoga classes.

What it offers: The brightly-lit studio is cozy and compact, with a variety of circus arts equipment—think hoops, trapezes and swathes of colourful silks—taking center stage. Yoga purists can sign up for regular sessions like hatha, yin and flow. However, if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, try your hand at the aerial arts classes, where you’ll learn how to perform acrobatic tricks a la Cirque Du Soleil.

How much: Prices start from $300 for 10 sessions. If you have a workout buddy, you can sign up as a pair at a discounted rate of $540 (i.e. $270 each). #03-23/24/25 Katong V, 30 East Coast Rd., www.simplyyoga.sg.

Open Tue-Fri 9am-10pm; Sat-Mon 10am-10pm.

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Yoga Inc.

The buzz: This affordable new yoga studio just off Geylang is a fun, friendly spot that’s about as unintimidating as it gets.

What it offers: A pretty standard mix of heated and non-heated yoga classes (like hatha and yin) covers all the bases: Of note are the core yoga classes—which focus on the often-underworked group of muscles—and yin yang—a mix of deep stretching and muscle strengthening exercises. Do note that the non-heated studios are naturally ventilated (read: no A/C).

How much: A drop-in class is $35; class cards start at $300 for 10 classes, and unlimited passes start at $350 a month. We like that they’re upfront about allowing members to transfer or extend their packages. #01-08 100 Guillemard Rd., 9326-1789, www.yogainc.sg. Open daily at various times.

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Ziva Yoga

The buzz: Hot yoga in Tiong Bahru, one of the coolest neighborhoods in town—we needn’t say more.

What it offers: The studio, which is located in a quaint little rustic hut amid verdant greenery, is bright, spacious and wellventilated. You’ll find your usual yoga staples (hot and non-hot) here, like vinyasa, hatha and flow, for beginners and regular practitioners alike. Plus, plans are in the works to offer pre-and post-natal yoga in future.

How much: The studio is holding an open house promotion through April 30, where you get 50% more classes for the same price—for instance, you get 15 lessons for the price of 10 ($290).

That’s a steal deal if ever there was one.

10 Seng Poh Rd., 6220-2500, www.zivayoga.com.sg. Open MonFri 10am-9pm; Sat-Sun 9am-3.30pm.

STYLE NOTES

BUY SPY

With Crystal Lee

consists of four ranges—Petite Parisienne with its update on traditional French work clothes; Bleu, Blanc, Parisienne for casual looks in blue, white and red; Note Parisienne with its sophisticated, feminine pieces; and the comfy Souffle de Parisienne line for working out or lounging. $14.90 upwards, from #01-382 Suntec City, 3 Temasek Blvd., 6238-8174, www.uniqlo.com.

Happy Face Audi Fashion Festival

Run Up The official lineup for Audi Fashion Festival (May 14-18; audifashionfestival.com), which returns to Tent@Orchard this year, has been announced: Singapore-born, New York-based designer Prabal Gurung is set to open the mega fashion event while Oscar de la Renta takes on the closing show. Both will be presenting their Fall 2014 collections, with celebs like Kate Bosworth expected to make appearances. This year’s edition also boasts the largest showcase of local and regional names, including Ashley Isham, Farah Khan, Saturday, hansel, Ong Shunmugam, Exhibit with Curated Editions and Roberta Pieri with Jonathan Liang.

Bons Plans Can’t get enough of that French “je ne sais quoi” since H&M’s sold-out collection with Isabel Marant? Good news: Uniqlo’s collaborative line with French fashion icon Ines de La Fressange is now in stores. The collection, which exudes easy Parisian chic,

Hot on the heels of its (now-closed) pop-up boutique Sect Shop at Cineleisure (its permanent home will open at Orchard Gateway in May), owners-designers Kenny Lim and Andrew Loh of Depression have added a new label, Not Cool Enough, to their growing portfolio of avant-garde clothing lines. Sticking true to streetwear roots, signature styles include oversized tees and unisex tank tops with big letterings and graphics. $59 upwards, from #04-14 Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Rd., www.facebook.com/NCEnotcoolenough.

Work sucks—and the hilarious, Singlish-filled Ho Seh Boh post-it note pad by design consultancy firm Tuber Productions (www. tuberproductions.com) might just be what you need to take the edge off a little. There’s a “kena arrowed” pad for your seemingly endless to-do list, “alamak” stickies for sending honest feedbacks to co-workers, small “organize this” and “analyze that” tabs for specific problems to address and one to spread compliments. It’s also a great gift for friends overseas—the back of the book has definitions of Singapore slang. $12.90, available at Basheer Graphic Books, #04-19 Bras Basah Complex, 231 Bain Street, 63361917, www.facebook.com/BasheerGraphic.

Fare Thee Well

Uniqlo

It’s only been a few weeks since multi-label store Coda Co. closed up shop at Scotts Square. Japanese furniture brand Francfranc is the next to follow suit, with the JCube branch (#02-27 JCube, 2 Jurong East Central 1,6684-5917) closing on April 20, and its VivoCity flagship (#02-41/42 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-8077) having its last day on June 1. Unfortunate as it is, there is now a closing-down sale at its two outlets, with items marked down by 50 percent. Drop by and stock up before they’re gone forever. style@asia-city.com.sg

FRIDAY, April 11, 2014 I‑S MAGAZINE

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DINING

Sign up for our weekly food & drink newsletter at is.gd/TheDish to get The Dish delivered to your mailbox every week.

NEW AND NOTED With Samantha David

What’s Cooking?

Kanpai!

Like you, we’re always excited about new restaurants, so keep your eyes peeled for these exciting spots opening soon. First up, there’s Long Chim by chef David Thompson, the talent behind Nahm in Bangkok—which picked up the award for Asia’s Best Restaurant earlier this year. The casual Thai eatery is scheduled to open at Marina Bay Sands by mid-year. Also opening mid-year is a new outlet by The Privé Group in CHIJMES, which is currently undergoing a major revamp (not much is being revealed at this point). More secrecy behind the now defunct Au Jardin at Singapore Botanic Gardens—a new restaurant is taking over the fine dining spot and will officially launch later this year.

Opening even sooner: Makansutra’s second outlet, Seefood Seeshore, at Sentosa’s Palawan Beach. The hawker spot's currently in its soft launch stage and will be fully ready in May. There'll be a total of nine stalls and you can expect some of Singapore's most iconic hawkers to be there, including a well-known zi char stall, which will be serving up items like popiah quesadillas.

Sake enthusiasts, you don’t want to miss the Sake Festival (tickets from $30) organized

by Orihara on April 12, happening at ME@OUE (OUE Bayfront, 50 Collyer Quay, 6634-4555, www.me-oue.com). There'll be 30 sake breweries present and you'll have more than 200 varieties of sake to sample. Pace yourself. Visit sg.oriharashoten.jp/event for more info.

Thai Up Love the idea of meals on wheels? Look out for the Nara C.O.W.—a collaboration between Singapore’s own food truck The Travelling C.O.W and Nara Thai Cuisine—as the mobile food pantry moves around Singapore serving up Thai fare like deep fried chicken in Thai shrimp paste (from $4). Catch them at their last stop at Westgate Mall (Gateway Dr., 6536-1188, www.westgate.com.sg)—where their new second outlet is located—on April 13 from 3pm onwards.

Midday Menus

Nara Thai's soft shell crab with

All Ears yellow curry Turns out a nice lunch break Easter’s coming up (April 18 is your public holiday), without hurting your wallet which means another excuse to indulge. Let us help is entirely possible. Clarke you out with our round-up of over 20 Easter deals around town, whether you’re Quay's Exective Set Lunch craving for a decadent brunch or an all-you-can-eat buffet feast. Visit is.gd/ promo is back this month, easter2014 for the full list. featuring set lunch offerings priced at $15, $25 and $35 Easter Sweet Indulgence Chow Down nett at outlets such as Vintry Vintry's caramelized roast pork at The St. Regis Singapore Missed your copy of our new food guide I-S Eats with (#01-01 Blk. A Clarke Quay, 3 our last issue? Download the e-version at is.asia-city.

River Valley Rd., 6338-2808, com/eats. This casual, fun guide features over 250 dining spots www.vintry.com.sg), Peony Jade (#02-02 Clarke Quay, 3A River Valley Rd., 6338-0305, spanning a crazy amount of categories, from brunch to lunch, desserts www.peonyjade.com) and Mulligan's (#01-10 Blk. C Clarke Quay, 3 River Valley Rd., 6305and sushi. Plus, you can easily book a spot at these places with the 6726, www.mulliganspubs.com). For more info, visit www.clarkequay.com.sg/lunchtime. interactive app edition, which comes with live booking from Chope. food@asia-city.com.sg

Nightlife Guide

Advertise in I-S Magazine’s exclusive

Nightlife + World Cup 2014 Guide Published 6 Jun 2014 Discounts of up to 30% Now - 18 Apr 2014 Offering the lowdown on only the top nightlife venues in each category plus an insight into all the action in Brazil this June and July and where to watch the big games in Singapore.

Don’t delay, contact our Sales team today at 6323 2512 or email sales@asia-city.com.sg 16

I‑S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, April 11, 2014

OPEN door

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Afterglow

The buzz: Vegan-friendly creations take center stage at this new farm-totable raw food eatery that offers plenty more than just wholesome grub, from fine wine to locally made products like vintage bicycles.

The vibe: More hipster than zen— complete with industrial-chic décor (we’re beginning to wonder if anyone’s not following this design trend). Shelves displaying eco-friendly bodycare products, tables full of books, an open food prepping area in the back—it’s like hanging out at home with Jessa from Girls.

that’s placed in front of you. On offer are items like raw nut cheese made from chili, walnuts and cashews ($16, comes with dehydrated raw crackers in flavors like beetroot); salads like the drag-pom ($16), which has dragonfruit, pomegranate, avocado and macadamia nuts; mains such as nori rolls stuffed with homemade kimchi and achar (from $12); a deconstructed sushi bowl with avocado and miso dressing ($16); as well as dairy and sugar-free desserts, including a raw chocolate orange semifreddo ($10).

The drinks: Cold pressed juices, of course. Different combinations are available; with base options like spinach, pineapple and beetroot (from $6). A small selection of craft beers (from $19) and bottled cold brew coffee by local brand Bob's Brew ($16) are also on the menu.

Why you’ll be back: To see how far they push their raw food creations. Plus, the highly-anticipated cocktail bar serving healthy tipples made with herbs is set to launch later this year.

New Cafés The latest arrivals on our ever-expanding coffee scene.

Assembly Coffee 26 Evans Lodge, 6735-5647, www.assembly.sg.

November8 #01-30 Thomson V Two, 11 Sin Ming Rd., 65544388, www.facebook.com/November8.SG. One Man Coffee 215R Upper Thomson Rd., 6456-1555, www.facebook.com/onemancoffee.

Roosevelt’s Diner & Bar #01-02, 331 New Bridge Rd., 6538-3518, www.roosevelts.com.sg.

Simply Eden 164 East Coast Rd., 6345-6411, www.simplyeden.sg.

Stirling Highway Unit #G1 Ridgewood Condominum, 5 Ridgewood Close, 6464-9607, www.stirlinghighway.com.

Tolido’s Espresso Nook #01-63 Blk. 462 Crawford Lane, 9728-2690, www.tolidosnook.com.

WoodShed 204 204 Rangoon Rd., 6299-4308, www.facebook.com/woodshed204.

Yellow Cup Coffee #01-09 Central Square, 20 Havelock Rd., www.yellowcupcoffee.com.

Chef Janice Wong (of 2am:dessertbar fame) and chef Ma Jian Jun have put together a comprehensive (and pretty mouthwatering) cookbook, simply titled Dim Sum, consisting of both traditional recipes and contemporary creations. The 92 recipes in this 180-page tome are categorized by the type of flour used, with bite-sized tips, and brilliantly colored photos to whet your appetite. It’s sophisticated enough for professionals, but not too complex for the amateur cook looking to replicate the yum cha experience at home. $40 from www.janicewong. com.sg/dimsum. Delle Chan

Delle Chan

The food: Expect an intriguing mix of ingredients in every bowl and plate 24 Keong Saik Rd., 6224-8921, www.facebook.com/afterglowsg. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-11pm. SAMANTHA DAVID

Drink

Sour Plum Cocktails

Craving something refreshing? Go for these drinks featuring one of our favorite local flavors.

Singapore Sour One of the stars of Loof's signature Asian Sensations range plays on salty-sweet with Singapore Sour sour plum, freshly squeezed calamansi and vodka—a real thirst quencher. $17 at Loof, #03-07 Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop, 331 North Bridge Rd., 9773-9304, www.loof.com.sg.

Rummy Plum Boasting a nice, tart kick, this concoction is made from a mix of house rum, lime, sour plum, sugar syrup and assam tea for a rich, malty flavor. $16 at Switch by Timbre, #01-01/02, 73 Bras Basah Rd., 6336-7739, www. switchmusic.sg.

My Beautiful Lady

JIBURU My Beautiful Lady

New to db Bistro Moderne is this smooth tipple crafted from fresh watermelon juice, combined with vodka, cucumber syrup and lime juice, then served in a sour plum sugar rimmed glass. A hit with the ladies and perfect as an aperitif. $22 at db Bistro Moderne, #B1-48 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave., 66888525, www.dbbistro.com/singapore.

SAMANTHA DAVID

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 I‑S MAGAZINE

17

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

Ticketbooth > 6296-2929 www.ticketbooth.com.sg

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

www.nationalmuseum.sg

Shaw > 6738-0555

Singapore Art Museum > 6332-3222

Other Ticketing

www.singart.com

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

DON'T DON'TMiss Miss

Enter Sandman

Lo-fi musician Dirty Beaches, the man behind last year's Drifters/Love is the Devil LP, plays an under-the-radar set at recording space Pink Noize.

Apr 16, 8pm. 744 North Bridge Rd. $25-$45 from Peatix

DO This

SEE This

Record Breakers 25 contemporary artists from Kult mash-up Chinatown’s vintage vinyl covers.

Zero Sum Game

Chinese artist Lam Fun’s surreal, Nietzsche-inspired exhibition Paintings for All and None opens at Galerie Belvedere.

See Art, page 20

See Art, page 21

Open Bar The Mad Poet The buzz: Apparently styled after the drinking dens frequented by the likes of Hemingway and Wilde (though it’s hard to picture either of them among all the suits), this bar is one of the latest arrivals at China Square.

(complete with spoonful of the good stuff), Southern Rebel (a nicely refreshing twist on the mint julep) and Death & Resurrection (it’s the cumin that packs a punch). They also have an extensive range of bottled craft beers and ciders (from $10).

The décor: Dark wood, exposed concrete; minimalist-industrial decorators really have their hands full in Singapore right now.

Leather booth seats mix with high-tops that spill out into the shaded courtyard. Still, it’s a bit edgier than your standard CBD spot.

The food: Treads a fine line between down-to-earth dishes and fusion fare. Bar bites steal the limelight with offerings like cream cheese-stuffed jalapeno poppers ($10) and deep-fried wild mushrooms with truffle mayo ($8). There are healthier options too, like a beautifullyseared Yellowfin tuna steak ($20).

The drinks: A snappy cocktail list (from $15) with drinks like Basil & Caviar

20 Cross St., China Square Court #01-23/24. 6557-0312, www.facebook.com/themadpoetbar.

Open Mon-Thu 11am-11pm; Fri 11am-midnight; Sat 11am-11pm. LETITIA TANDEAN

18 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, april 11, 2014

The music: Pretty standard hip hop, pop and indie—nothing too offensive unless you only want to listen to death metal.

The crowd: The post-work corporate crowd (plenty of agency folk in the hood), of course, plus some stray tourists who’ve wandered over from Chinatown.

Why you’ll be back: It’s a solid bet if you’re in the area. If you’re not, it’s worth going out of your way for their value-for-money $10 lunch options.

WANGZ HOTEL_I-S_APRIL11.pdf

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3/4/14

4:03 PM

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

MUSIC

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classical

DRINK IN THE VIEW, BOYS & GIRLS!

music festivals

André Rieu Live in Singapore The “King of Waltz” André Rieu performs with his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra for a night of diverse music, from Viennese operettas to film scores to folk songs. Apr 16, 8pm. Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk, 6344-2660. $98-268. From sportshubtix.

concerts

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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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Lowercase Kopparberg Jazz Series: Bill Ang & Friends Bill Ang and friends Edison Lauw, Mylene Gomes, Audrey Tang and Sebastian will showcase a blend of jazz, blues and bossa nova. Apr 19, 8:30pm. Lowercase, #01-01 Lasalle College of the Arts, 1 McNally St., 63375581. $15.

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I-S PICK> Musicity Singapore 2014 Tiong Bahru comes alive with live music and spoken word performances.

There'll be ten gigs by eight artists, including The Sam Willows, Seyra, Marc Nair and Jennifer Champion. Held at various venues around Tiong Bahru. Apr 25-May 10. $20-40.

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Boats & Beats: Featuring AOS Collective This is Singapore's first music festival out at sea. Some 200 revelers will board Sunshine Nation's private yachts from Sentosa, where they'll be treated to customized Belvedere cocktails and live music from AOS Collective's DJ Dave Does, DJ Tang and MC N'FA. Apr 26. Sentosa, 1800-736-8672. $150-175.

Stage theater & dance

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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.

BEEF & B O OZE EV ER Y T UESD AY C

M

Y

CM

SCENE & HEARD

MY

with Clara Lim

Rant & Rave

Play Time Esplanade’s annual The Studios experimental theater season (Apr 17-Jul 19, www.thestudios.com.sg) is back, this time with a more tightly-curated selection of boundary-pushing pieces.

Highlights include filmmaker Ho Tzu Nyen’s arty, trippy Ten Thousand Tigers (Apr 17-19)—a continuation of last year’s Song of the Brokenhearted Tiger—and Blank Space Theatre’s Mark Rothko bio Red (Jul 10-13). True theater buffs should definitely go for the insider-y Rant & Rave (May 1-4) a “documentary” of the local theater scene all the way back to the ‘80s. Also don’t miss free performances like Edith Podesta’s dark prison drama Dark Room x8 (Jul 5).

Sir Mix-a-lot You’ve heard of open mic nights—now there are “open bar” nights every Thursday at 28 HongKong Street (6533-2001, www.28hks.com). If you fancy yourself a pretty good amateur

HALF PINT DRAFT BEER @ $10++ WITH 1 FREE MINI BEEF SLIDER

CY

mixologist, go up to the bar and ask to show off your skills. But be warned: You’ll have to fight off quite a few established local bartenders around town, too. Another place to share the love with other cocktail fanatics is newly-public bar Manor Cocktail Room (2/F 8 Ann Siang Hill, 9696-6695, www.manorbar.com.sg), previously an invite-only whisky tasting room, now spearheaded by local bartender Din Hassan of Bitters & Love. It’s not just a run-of-the-mill bar—here’s where the alcohol industry-types congregate, dream up new concoctions and get collectively plastered.

CMY

K

AND... BIG

BOYS ENJOY HOUSEPOUR WHISKY @ $5++ PER GLASS & 20% OFF PREMIUM WHISKIES BY THE GLASS

GLITZ G A LOR E EV ERY WEDNESDAY 1-FOR-1 CLASSIC MARTINIS @ $18++ AND... GLAMOUR

GIRLS ENJOY SPARKLING WINE @ $5++ PER GLASS

Beach, Please We don’t like to play Chinese whispers, but the rumors of Bali beach club and restaurant group Potato Nikki Beach Head (www.ptthead.com) opening something along Keong Saik Road are getting pretty hard to ignore. Is it going to be a bar?

A bistro, maybe? The Potato Head website says that they have a boutique hotel in the works, so it could be that. In other sexy beach club news, we caught up with the newly-opened Nikki Beach (www.nikkibeach.com) in Phuket and they’re saying that they really, really want to bring Nikki Beach to Singapore’s East Coast. We have our fingers crossed. clim@asia-city.com.sg

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, april 11, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 19

Hospitality Point-of-Sales & Information Management System

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ART » STUFF » NIghtlife » FILM

comedy

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22 Calibre Comedy A monthly event at 22 Mosque St., up to ten comedians perform four rounds of unscripted comedy.

The best part? The audience gets to choose who comes out tops. Apr 22, 7pm. Bar Twentytwo, 22 Mosque St., 8157-7556. $15-22 from Peatix.

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28 Sin Ming Lane #06-136 Midview City Singapore 573972 Tel : +65 6252 3393 Fax : +65 6659 4240

19 Tampines Industrial Ave 5 T5 @Tampines #02-00 Singapore 528619 Tel : +65 6783 6610 Fax : +65 6783 7611

Malaysia Office

CCi Solutions & Security Sdn Bhd A-G-10, Jalan Bangau 11 Bandar Puchong Jaya.47100 Puchong. Selangor D.E. Malaysia Tel : (03) 8070 5880 Fax : (03) 8070 5882 Email: info@cci.com.my

Jakarta (Main Office): Jl. Letjen Suprapto Ruko Cempaka Mas Blok I No. 3 Jakarta Pusat 10640 Tel : +62 21 4288 5023 Fax : +62 21 4288 5024 Surabaya (Branch): Jl. Raya Darmo Permai III Bavarian Village B-27 Surabaya Tel : +62 31 734 8959 Fax : +62 31 734 8962

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dance

Singapore Comedy Fringe 2014 Focusing primarily on up-andcoming comedians, Jonathan Atherton shines a spotlight on the burgeoning talents in our region. As the founder of the Comedy Club, Atherton calls it a coming-of-age for the Southeast Asian and the local stand-up comedy scene. Apr 23-26. DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT, 20 Merbau Rd., 6733-8166. $20-55. www.thecomedyclub.asia.

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Jeff Dunham: Disorderly Conduct One of America’s most-loved comedians and ventriloquists is here for one night only.

Famous for performing with his wildly inappropriate puppets, including Achmed the Dead Terrorist, it's a show not to be missed.

May 21, 8:30pm. The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 6636-0055. $88-168 from Sistic.

To Beat the Butterfly’s Wings This multi-disciplinary dance performance is inspired by notions of 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.

I-S PICk

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Tap Dogs Watch energetic dance numbers and live music performances as the cast of Tap Dogs tapdance around an imaginary steel works. May 27-31, 1pm. MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, B1/F The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave. Call 6688-8826 for more info. $65-135.

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20 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, april 11, 2014

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· 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 · 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 &

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ART

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last chance

Gather & Disperse Observe Chng Seok Tin's final showcase of bronze sculptures, which draw inspiration from educational pursuits, writers, and nature. Through Apr 19. Art-2 Gallery, #01-03 Old Hill Street Police Station, 140 Hill St., 6338-8713. Free.

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ARAB STREET/KAMPONG GLAM · Artistry Cafe · Working Title · BEACH ROAD · Blu Jaz · WineBos · The Plaza L1 Office Lobby Reception · O’Briens Irish Sandwich Bars · BOAT QUAY · The Vault · Enoteca L’Operetta · Harry’s @ Boat Quay · The Arts House at Old Parliament · Timbre @ The Arts House · London · BUGIS · Hood Bar and Cafe · Essensuals by Toni & Guy @ Bugis · K Suites @ iluma · Stuttgart Blackforest Boutique S-Cafe · BUKIT TIMAH · The Great Beer Experiment @ Pasar Bella · CHINATOWN · The Chamber · The Muffinry · Morsi & Sorsi · CITY HALL · Table 24 · Wa-Cafe · The Soup Spoon @ Suntec City · The Soup Spoon @ Raffles City Shopping Centre · Addictions Café & Remedy Bar @ Marina Square · Barossa @ Esplanade · The Coffee bean & Tea Leaf @ Suntec City · True Fitness @ Suntec City · Coffee Club @ Millenia Walk · Outback Steak House · Paulaner Brauhaus · Timbre @ The Substation · Ice Cold B’s · Brotzeit @ Raffles City · Coffee Club @ Raffles City Shopping · MICA Office Lobby Reception · The Substation · Bobby’s @ Chijmes · Hog’s Breath Café · Front Row · Loof · Dome Café @ Singapore Art Museum

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Ah Boys To Men: The Musical Hit local film Ah Boys to Men is taking on a musical form, with members of the original cast, such as Tosh Zhang, Wang Wei Liang, Maxi Lim and Noah Yap. Apr 18-27, 8pm. Resorts World Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-8888. $38-128 from Sistic.

website: www.raptorpos.com | www.hrsmarketing.com email: sales@raptorpos.com

3 WAYS

theater

I-S PICK> Shakespeare in the Park: The Merchant of Venice SRT's brilliant series is back. Expect plenty of high-stakes drama and some of the most riveting speeches in the bard's canon. Apr 30-May 25, 7:30pm.

Fort Canning Park, Cox Terrace, 6332-1200. $40-108 from Sistic.

musicals

Bali (Branch): Komplek Puri Citra Pratama Jl. Taman Sari VII No. B-17 Denpasar, Bali Tel : +62 361 803 7278

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Grease Expect dazzling costumes, a talented cast, electrifying sets and much-loved songs like “Grease is the Word” and “You're the One That I Want” at this Broadway musical smash hit. Apr 25-30, 8pm; May 1-18, 8pm. MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, B1/F The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 66888868. $60-175 from Sistic.

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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Chinatown Vinyl Squad Watch 25 contemporary artists put a twist on some of Chinatown's vintage vinyl covers. Hosted and curated by Kult, artists include Adeline Tan, ANTZ, Flee Circus, Russell Taysom and more. Get artsy while enjoying the bar's wide selection of drinks. Through Apr 29, 7am. Zui Hong Lou, 8 Ann Siang Hill, 6423-9562. Free.

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Singapore International Comedy Festival 29 performers from the world over gather for one big hilarious laugh-fest (there'll be 131 shows!) at various venues around Boat Quay. Lineup TBC. Apr 23-26, 6pm. Boat Quay . $20-75 from SISTIC. www.comedyfest.com.sg.

Download the free I-S Now app to find out about this and hundreds more upcoming events! www.is-magazine.com/app

Email event news to art@asia-city.com.sg, stuff@asia-city.com.sg, nightlife@asia-city.com.sg and film@asia-city.com.sg

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Salvador Dali: The Argillet Collection Marvel at over one hundred of Salvador Dali's Surrealist etchings, drawings and tapestries, presented for the first time in Asia.

Through Apr 20, 9:30am. Redsea Gallery, #01-10 Dempsey Hill, 9 Dempsey Rd., 6732-6711. Free. www. redseagallery.com.

continuing

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Secrets of the Fallen Pagoda: Treasures from Famen Temple and the Tang Courts A selection of rare relics and objects, including gold, silver, ceramics and glass, drawn from the famed Famen Temple in Shaanxi, are exhibited for the first time in Singapore.

Through May 4, 10am. Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place.

Call 6332-7798 for more info. $8-12.

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

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KEEP CALM AND SHUT UP! See the transformation of Oky Rey Montha's fluid painterly style at his solo exhibition of acrylic on canvas paintings. Through May 18. Equator Art Projects (Gillman Barracks), #01-21, 47 Malan Rd., 6694-3727. Free.

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Simply Scribbly Dyslexic artist Vince Low will showcase his “Scribble Art” pieces—seemingly simple doodles that together form artistic masterpieces. Through Jun 2, 11am. tcc the connoisseur concerto Circular Road, 51 Circular Rd. Call 6479-2445 for more info. Free.

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LATENT SPACES @ Haw Par Villa Haw Par Villa is showcasing 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.

Through Sep 7. Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir Panjang Rd., 6872-2780. Free.

opening

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I-S PICK> Annie Leibovitz A Photographer’s Life 19902005 The famed photographer showcases a unified narrative of a period of her life that includes the growth of her family, professional triumphs and personal losses.

Admission price to be announced.

Apr 18-Oct 19. ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868.

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Paintings for All and None Chinese contemporary artist Lam Fun uses ideas inspired

by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche to create a provocative painting style that transports viewers to another reality. Apr 25-May 10.

Galerie Belvedere, #01-10/11/12 Old Hill Street Police Station, 140 Hill St., 6423-1233. Free.

Food & Drink

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Sake Festival Singapore Go crazy with sake at this festival featuring more than 200 varieties from 30 breweries, including names like Dassai, Maboroshi no Taki, Yoshinogawa and Hakuryu. Apr 12, 1pm. ME@OUE, 19/F OUE Bayfront, 50 Collyer Quay. Call 9114-2096 for more info. $30 from Sistic.

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Beat Packing District Bar drinks are 20 percent off all night while resident DJ Anderpants spins some cool house tracks. Apr 16, 7pm.

Bochinche, #02-01, 22 Martin Rd., 6235-4990. Free.

sports

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J.P.Morgan Corporate Challenge The 10th edition of this 5.6km team race starts on the Esplanade Bridge and finishes at the F1 Pit Building. Open to full-time employees of local businesses and corporations, this event requires a minimum of four employees to register.

Apr 24. Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $60 per person.

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Energizer Night Trail Singapore 2014 This race sees participants using an LED headlight to guide them through the dark trails. The event will also feature carnival activities. May 10, 3pm. Lorong Asrama, Mandai, Lorong Asrama. $37-58.

stuff

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Celebrate Songkran 2014 Join in the fun at the largest Songkran festival in Singapore—event highlights include a Muay Thai tournament and the inaugural H20 music festival (which is ticketed). Apr 12-13, 1pm. The Padang, Connaught Dr., 6338-9271. Free.

WHY NOT? Sign up for a Novelty Run Novelty running events are all the rage these days, and for good reason—they make the racing experience a lot more interesting. Sign up for the 5km Foam Run (May 24-25, www. the5kmfoamrun.com.sg), which involves lots of soapy, bubbly fun, or navigate a 5km obstacle course at the Lion Dash (June 8, www.liondash.com).

Alternatively, go for the Heroes Run (June 28, www.heroesrun.sg), where you’ll get to dress up as your favorite superheroes—go dig out that childhood Batman costume of yours. Delle Chan

sales & fairs

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Singapore Yacht Show 2014 If you’re into the high life, this luxurious boating event is for you. You’ll get to sip Champagne with society’s finest, and admire a gorgeous showcase of fine art, cars, jewellery and timepieces. Through Apr 13, 2pm.

ONE°15 Marina Club, #01-01, 11 Cove Dr. (Sentosa Cove), 6305-6988.

film

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2nd Singapore Chinese Film Festival Highlights of more than 30 films, include the Cannes-winning A Touch of Sin, A Time in Quchi a retrospective of Wuxia master King Hu. Apr 17-27. Various venues. $12-13 from Sistic or direct from venues.

REEL TIME

Southeast Asian Film Festival Back for its fourth run, Singapore Art Museum’s Southeast Asian Film Festival (SEAFF) features 20 fascinating contemporary films and documentaries from the region. But if you find it hard to decide which ones to catch, we’ve done the work for you.

Book these now:

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Aberya

I-S PICK> 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., 97739304. Free.

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Detox feat. dissoul A house special helmed by resident DJ Kenneth Francis alongside guest DJ dissoul. Apr 19. The Vault, 23 Circular Rd., 6222-5001. Free.

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M.O.B. with Lincey & Tinc + The Professor Let Lincey, Tinc and The Professor take you on an adrenaline-pumping ride all night with heavy-hitting experimental dance music. Apr 19, 10pm. Velvet Underground, 17 Jiak Kim St., 67382988. $28-35.

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Midnight Shift Label Showcase feat. Kirk Degiorgio DJ Kirk Degiorgio from the UK graces the decks for a label showcase featuring his eclectic and deep-digging sounds.

Apr 26, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 8299-8735. $20-25.

nightlife events

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I-S PICK> Zouk 23rd Anniversary Week The grande dame of Singapore's nightlife scene turns an epic 23 years old and is throwing a four-day birthday bash featuring the club's signature TGIW (Thank God It's Wednesday) party, Mambo Jambo on day two, DJ Fedde Le Grand on the decks at EP!C on day three and Zouk 2300: The Club of Tomorrow featuring Sander Van Doorn to round up the celebrations. Apr 16-19, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $25-35.

The Act of Killing

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Aberya (Philippines) Bad boys and girls run amok in this debut film that follows the fates of four characters on Cebu island: nun-turned-prostitute Angel, drug dealer Mike, accidental porn star Eden and egotistic, womanizing boxer Lourd. Director Christian Linaban’s Woody Allen influences are obvious in his talky, character-driven debut film.

nightlife dj gigs

top 6

Apr 12, 3pm.

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Mister John (Singapore) Local theater veterans Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor—who were responsible for the short film Tiong Bahru in 2010 at short film series Civic Life—tackle high drama in this story of infidelity, death, identity and obsession. We’re pretty sure the skilled team (including Zoe Tay as one of the leads) can pull off this rather difficult genre.

Apr 18, 7:30pm.

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Pascalina (Philippines) Shot by budding filmmaker Pam Miras on a Harinezumi toy camera, this experimental picture details the strange adventures of unluckyin-life Pascalina, in a subtle critique of the working-class single woman in urban Filipino society.

Apr 19, 3pm.

Pascalina

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Ice Poison (Myanmar) A look at the world of agricultural poverty and drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle. Taiwan-based director Midi Z forgoes preachiness and examines with frankness and humor the circumstances that drive young Burmese people to the drug trade and the complications that arise therein.

Apr 19, 5:30pm.

Shakespeare Must Die (Thailand) Ing K’s film is one of the biggest highlights at SEAFF, not least because it was banned in Thailand (for the full story, catch the accompanying Censor Must Die on May 3, Shakespeare Must Die 5:30pm). It’s also an ambitious Thai take on Macbeth—here “Mekhdeth”—combining two pretty unlikely bedfellows: Thai horror and Shakespeare.

May 2, 7:30pm.

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The Act of Killing (Indonesia) UK researcher and filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer sheds light on both violent war crimes in Indonesia as well as the psychological makeup of the men behind the acts. Dark and illuminating all at once, this disturbing documentary was made with various Indonesian collaborators, who reenact some of their darkest moments.

May 4, 1:30pm.

SEAFF is on Apr 11-May 4 at Moving Image Gallery, SAM at 8Q, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222, www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/seaff. $10 from Sistic. CLARA LIM

FRIDAY, april 11, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 21

freewill astrology

Week of April 11 © 2014 Rob Brezsny

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): In his novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera says that the brain has “a special area which we might call poetic memory and which records everything that charms or touches us, that makes our lives beautiful.” In the coming days, it will be especially important for you to tap into this power spot in your own grey matter, Aries. You need to activate and stir up the feelings of enchantment that are stored there.

Doing so will make you fully alert and available for the new delights that will be swirling in your vicinity. The operative principle is “like attracts like.”

nes at e c s e h ind t Go beh nts e v e s s e s, pr preview stings, a t t c u d and pro gram a t s n I n o with I-S azine @ismag

Mr. KNOW‑IT‑ALL Our Favorite Smart Aleck Answers Your Questions Dear Mr. KIA, No matter how hard I try, I seem to always be running late for appointments. I have tried setting my watch faster, waking up earlier, and even giving myself an enormous buffer time. But it seems like no matter what I do, I’m never on time and have to resort to calling for cabs. I hate paying the excessive booking charges, especially during peak hours. What do I do?

— Fashionably Late

Dear Fashionably Late, It seems to me that your time management skills need a little work. But in the meantime, fret not, because there’s a great app that will at least help you cut the cost of taxi bookings and get you to your appointments on time. EasyTaxi, the taxi booking app, has just announced that they are eliminating the costs of booking a taxi!

So now you’ll save a little money for some time management classes instead.

HEALTH & Beauty

ANNOuncements I

notice of Intended marriage

David Ahlbrecht, single, of NTU, 24 Nanyang Avenue, BLK 47-b888 Singapore 639811, intends to marry Miss Mary Mazzilli single, of NTU, 24 Nanyang Avenue, BLK 47-b-888 Singapore 639811, at Convento della Maria SS. degli Angeli, Via Convento 55, 70020 Cassano delle Murge, Bari (Italy) on 13th of September 2014.

Any person knowing of any lawful impediment to the marriage should without delay notify the Consular Section, British High Commission Singapore, 100 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247919.

Freelance Chinese gym fit male offering strong shiatsu massage to ease all your tensions away. Outcall $60/hour. (Titan) 9056-4044.

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, APRIL11, 2014

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Our ancestors could see the Milky Way Galaxy spread out across the heavens on every clear night. Galileo said it was so bright, it cast a shadow of his body on the ground. But today that glorious spectacle is invisible to us city-dwellers. The sky after sundown is polluted with artificial light that hides 90 percent of the 2,000 stars we might otherwise see. If you want to bask in the natural illumination, you’ve got to travel to a remote area where the darkness is deeper. Let’s make that your metaphor, Taurus. Proceed on the hypothesis that a luminous source of beauty is concealed from you. To become aware of it, you must seek out a more profound darkness.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20): “Dear Gemini: I don’t demand your total attention and I don’t need your unconditional approval. I will never restrict your freedom or push you to explain yourself. All I truly want to do is to warm myself in the glow of your intelligence. Can you accept that? I have this theory that your sparkle is contagious—that I’ll get smarter about how to live my own life if I can simply be in your presence. What do you say? In return, I promise to deepen your appreciation for yourself and show you secrets about how best to wield your influence. - Your Secret Admirer” CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22): The Cancerian artist Rembrandt became one of the world’s greatest painters. It was a struggle. “I can’t paint the way they want me to paint,” he said about those who questioned his innovative approach. “I have tried and I have tried very hard, but I can’t do it. I just can’t do it!” We should be glad the master failed to meet his critics’ expectations.

His work’s unique beauty didn’t get watered down. But there was a price to pay. “That is why I am just a little crazy,” Rembrandt concluded.

Here’s the moral of the story: To be true to your vision and faithful to your purpose, you may have to deal with being a little crazy.

Are you willing to make that trade-off?

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): The Indian spiritual teacher Nisargadatta Maharaj offered a threestage fable to symbolize one’s progression toward enlightenment. In the first stage, you are inside a cage located in a forest where a tiger prowls. You’re protected by the cage, so the tiger can’t hurt you. On the other hand, you’re trapped. In the second stage, the tiger is inside the cage and you roam freely through the forest. The beautiful animal is trapped. In the third stage, the tiger is out of the cage and you have tamed it. It’s your ally and you are riding around on its back. I believe this sequence has resemblances to the story you’ll be living in the coming months. Right now you’re inside the cage and the tiger is outside. By mid-May the tiger will be in the cage and you’ll be outside. By your birthday, I expect you to be riding the tiger.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): What is “soul work,” anyway? It’s like when you make an unpredictable gift for someone you love. Or when you bravely identify one of your unripe qualities and resolve to use all your willpower and ingenuity to ripen it. Soul work is when you wade into a party full of rowdy drunks and put your meditation skills to the acid test. It’s like when you teach yourself not merely to tolerate smoldering ambiguity, but to be amused by it and even thrive on it. Can you think of other examples? It’s Soul Work Week for you.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22): Are you close to anyone who is a catalytic listener? Is there a person who tunes in to what you say with such fervent receptivity that you get inspired to reveal truths you didn’t realize you knew?

If so, invite this superstar out to a free lunch or two in the coming days. If not, see if you can find one. Of course, it is always a blessing

to have a heart-to-heart talk with a soul friend, but it is even more crucial than usual for you to treat yourself to this luxury now.

Hints of lost magic are near the surface of your awareness. They’re still unconscious, but could emerge into full view during provocative conversations with an empathetic ally.

SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): On my blog, I quoted author Ray Bradbury: “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” I asked my readers what word they would use in place of “writing” to describe how they avoided being destroyed by reality. Popular responses were love, music, whiskey, prayer, dreams, gratitude, and yoga. One woman testified that she stayed drunk on sexting, while another said “collecting gargoyles from medieval cathedrals,” and a third claimed her secret was “jumping over hurdles while riding a horse.” There was even a rebel who declared she stayed drunk on writing so she could destroy reality. My question is important for you to meditate on, Scorpio.

Right now you must do whatever’s necessary to keep from being messed with by reality.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Does your mother know what you are up to these days?

Let’s hope not. I doubt if she would fully approve, and that might inhibit your enthusiasm for the experiments you are exploring. It’s probably best to keep your father out of the loop as well, along with other honchos, cynics, or loved ones who might be upset if you wander outside of your usual boundaries. And as for those clucking voices in your head: Give them milk and cookies, but don’t pay attention to their cautious advice. You need to be free of the past, free of fearful influences, and free of the self you’re in the process of outgrowing.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): For the foreseeable future, I urge you not to spend much time wrangling with bureaucrats and know-it-alls. Avoid frustrating projects that would require meticulous discipline. Don’t even think about catching up on paperwork or organizing your junk drawer or planning the next five years of your career. Instead, focus on taking long meandering walks to nowhere in particular. Daydream about an epic movie based on your life story. Flirt with being a lazy bum. Play non-competitive games with unambitious people. Here’s why: Good ideas and wise decisions are most likely to percolate as you are lounging around doing nothing— and feeling no guilt for doing nothing.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Are you waiting?

Are you wondering and hoping? Are you calculating whether you are needed, and if so, how much? Do you wish the signs were clearer about how deeply you should commit yourself? Are you on edge as you try to gauge what your exact role is in the grand scheme of things? I’m here to deliver a message from the universe about how you should proceed.

It’s a poem by Emily Dickinson: “They might not need me but – they might / I’ll let my heart be just in sight / A smile so small as mine might be / Precisely their necessity” PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): You will soon get a second chance. An opportunity you failed to capitalize on in the past will re-emerge in an even more welcoming guise, and you will snag it this time. You weren’t ready for it the first time it came around, but you are ready now! It’s probably a good thing the connection didn’t happen earlier, because at that time the magic wasn’t fully ripe. But the magic is ripe now! It’s basically a good thing. Just be aware that you may experience growing pains.

LAST WORD Bernie Utchenik The “Botak” in Botak Jones, and now director of Big Bern’s American Grill, talks to Samantha David about his disdain for money and how, even after 20 years in the industry, he isn’t ready to quit.

Money is my biggest pet peeve. It’s been so manipulated throughout time and now it’s taken on such a sense of necessity and importance that other things seem to fall by the wayside.

Before I got my citizenship, as an expat back then, I was a little ashamed.

The locals’ perception of foreigners isn’t as welcoming as it could be.

I

parents did and they don’t have the same reasons to do so.

I wish I could get on the MRT, wave my senior citizen concession card around in the air and be like, “Hey! I’m 62! I need a seat!” People like me feel exasperated when the reserved seats signs are right there, and need a yet people still tend to not seat! freely give up their seats.

Singlish is one of the few truly Singaporean traits. Unfortunately, there’s so much effort to rid the country of the “language” and I think it’s sad.

I have a lot of empathy for hawkers here. Nowadays the children don’t want to work as hard as their

When I was a kid I was skinny and I was beat up quite a lot by others. I was quite athletic, too.

Growing up, I wanted to either be a baseball, football or a hockey player.

I suffer from anxiety and bipolar disorders. They’ve caused a couple of ups and downs, but I try to talk to people going through the same thing and at

the end of the day, I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I used to go to places like Timbre and Crazy Elephant and jam with blues and jazz bands in my free time.

My guilty pleasure is to spend a lot of time in bed and channel surf all day.

You can’t keep a good man down.

There have been a couple of times where I’ve been tripped up by people.

Once you let one of them stop you, that’s the end of the game. And I’m not ready to end my game yet.

My sole purpose in life is to make sure my wife laughs once a day.

I-S Magazine comes out every two weeks! Look for the next issue of I-S on Apr 25.

FRIDAY, APRIL11, 2014 I-S MAGAZINE 23

Every Wed > TGIW : ZOUK / Bounce with Ghetto & Matthew feat. MC EJ. Phuture / CHARGED with Hong & Lincey

11.FRI

12.SAT

ZOUK

ZOUK

ZSS PRESENTS FORMATIVE & HONG

TRANSFIX PRESENTS ALY & FILA EGY WITH FORMATIVE

16.WED

17.THUR

— DAY 01

— DAY 02

18.FRI

— DAY 03

ZOUK

ZOUK

ZOUK

TGIW WITH GHETTO & MATTHEW FEAT. MC EJ

MAMBO JAMBO

EP!C PRESENTS FEDDE LE GRAND WITH FORMATIVE

(EVE OF GOOD FRIDAY)

19.SAT

NED

— DAY 04

ZOUK

VELVET UNDERGROUND-DANCE

PHUTURE

ZOUK 2300: THE CLUB OF TOMORROW NED FEAT. SANDER VAN DOORN WITH HONG

M.O.B. WITH LINCEY & TINC + THE PROFESSOR

BIG TEASE WITH MATTHEW & ANDREW CHOW FEAT. MATTHIAS (WICKED AURA) LIVE PA

25.FRI

25.FRI

26.SAT

ZOUK

VELVET UNDERGROUND-DANCE

ZOUK

ZOUK X IBIZA DREAMS PRESENT IVAN GOUGH AUS*SG DEBUT* SPA WITH JP CANDELA + FORMATIVE

PARA//EL PRESENTS SECRET CINEMA NED WITH HONG

26.SAT

30.WED

VELVET UNDERGROUND-DANCE

ZOUK

POPTART THE GREAT TGIW: 'MY LIGHT SHINES ON' MONOCHROME MANIAC WITH WEELIKEME, WITH GHETTO & MATTHEW JINMART & KIDG FEAT. MC EJ

Every Fri > Velvet Underground - Dance / Cue Up! with Jeremy Boon & Lincey Phuture / Bulletproof with Ghetto & Matthew

ZSS PRESENTS FORMATIVE & HONG

Every Sat > Velvet Underground - Dance / Cue Up! with Jeremy Boon & Lincey Phuture / Tease with Matthew & Ghetto

APRIL \ 2014

17 JIAK KIM STREET SINGAPORE 169420 +65 6738 2988