I-S Magazine May 24 (Issue 627).pdf

MAY 24 - May 30, 2013

Standing room only

# 6 2 7 | I n s i d e s i n g a p o r e | www.is-magazine.com

The Hot Seats Essential Eames exhibition, 1 World Music Festival and Films at the Fort kick off our preview of 16 huge debut events

drink Organic wines tech Smartphone wars travel Asia's Grandes Dames

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

Sly and Retiring

It’s the end of an era. After three decades in the game, two titans of their game are stepping down.

In one corner we have Sir Alex Ferguson, Manager of Manchester United and a legend in his own lifetime.

In the other, we have… Singa the Courtesy Lion, Manager of Manners and erstwhile mane man.

8

Cover Story Unmissable events for the upcoming months

18

Both parties have talked about being exhausted after years of struggling to make people see things their way; and said they need a break.

Between us? We’re just waiting for them to admit that they’ve simply decided to switch roles.

Nightlife

Art Bars 14

23

20

TRAVEL

Dining

tech

Colonial hotels

A for Arbite

Smartphone wars

29

31

film

LAST WORD

Guilty of Romance

Jonathan Atherton

Who's in charge?

Where to find us!

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

Assistant Marketing Manager Silver Adrienna Ng Marketing Assistant Lia Roslan

Managing Editor Ric Stockfis editor@asia-city.com.sg

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Associate Editors Terry Ong, Hidayah Salamat Staff Writers Chin Hui Wen, Crystal Lee Editorial Intern Foo Rong En Custom Content Editor Clara Lim Editorial Assistants Azimin Saini, Khairul Amri Art Director Intan Agustina Deputy Art Director Tetuko Hanggoro Prasetyowibowo Designers Fishy Toh, Zhou Jixuan Multimedia Designer & Photographer Mossy Chew Wenzhi Design Intern Foo Siew Chen, Robson Tan Finance Manager Sally Kang Accountant Mark Anthony Habel Admin Executive Goh Ting Yu

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IN

Sales Manager Daniel Lim Senior Executive, Media Sales Yeo Hui Yu Executives, Media Sales Brian Tan, Priscilla Tay ACMG Digital Digital Product Manager Nancy Ide

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Ferguson has said he wants to travel more, he’s long proven himself adept at motivating a multinational team, and Singapore just loves bringing in foreign workers to do a local’s job. While Singa says he’s “too tired to continue facing an increasingly angry and disagreeable society”, Ferguson’s aides privately talk of how he just can’t wait to unleash his famous hairdryer treatment on people jaywalking across Orchard Road. In response to suggestions that the man who once kicked a boot into Beckham’s face might not be the best person to lecture others on courtesy…? Well, we’d love to tell you what Fergie said, but he’d barred us from the media briefing room for bringing the question up in the first place. We’re sure it was a very polite answer.

For his part, Singa will have his work cut out for him, with his first challenge being to talk a discontented Wayne Rooney back into the team.

But since both of them are oddly proud of the little tufts of hair on their head and with neither having taken their shorts off since 1985, they have more in common than you might think. Explaining to the team why incoming manager David Moyes has been ousted in favour of a talking animal might be a little harder, but this is a lion, people, not the Courtesy Mouse. He’ll do just fine. Besides, even Singlish is easier to understand than Glaswegian.

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

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@is_magazine FRIDAY, may 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 3

UP FRONT Giveaways

The drinks are on us

Xkcd www.xkcd.com

Quote of the Week

1000 Times

“I’ll get beaten up if I rate Singaporean women’s fashion sense from 1-10.”

2 pairs of tickets to Beerfest Asia 2013 on Thu, Jun 13 (worth $60) To enter, go to is-magazine.com/ freebies, register and tell us why you deserve to win.

Bryan Gan, founder of Omhealth, at a media conference for new Singapore television series, Ladies First.

The Bookie

We

SG

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

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

Karl Marx Karl Lagerfeld Six feet under

In town recently

The Communist Manifesto

The little black dress

Against consumerism

Encourages shopping

Serious and down-to-earth

Flamboyant and air-kisses

The odds: Even. Marx is a deep thinker, but Lagerfeld’s much more fun.

Be Good Be Kind, Rewind Find out what it takes to be kind at the inaugural Singapore Kindness Day event (May 31, 7pm.

Clarke Quay, www.kindnessday.sg). Taking place along the Singapore River at Clarke Quay, the event aims to recognize exemplary figures in society and support the movement for a more gracious society.

Not only will you get the chance to get up-close to these “role models”, there will also be various music and dance performances to entertain viewers and participants.

MAY

4

Singapore fell 14 places from last year’s standing to a record 149th position in terms of press freedom according to an annual report by nongovernmental organisation Reporters Without Borders (RWB). The city state is wedged between Russia and Iraq. The result was based on the continuous censorship on new media here, which cited incidences of arrests or letters of demand issued to bloggers and online media commentators for allegedly defaming government officials online.

Pedestrian Popularization Earlier this year, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that the authorities were keen to close off more roads for community events. And it seems like people were listening.

Bartini threw a Jaywalkers event at the end of April, with no cars on Club Street and $10 Coronas all night long; and Haji Lane was closed to traffic for the Samsara Sunday Fair in mid-May. Here’s hoping the trend of putting people before combustion engines continues. What we’d give for something like a Reclaim the Streets demo here, or even just real participation in this year’s World Car Free Day (September 22).

WE’VE ORGANIZED A YEAR’S WORTH OF FREE READER EVENTS. JOIN US! Sep 18-20, Wed-Fri

Thai Time Come September, enjoy a weekend break in Phuket in the company of our travel writers, courtesy of Twin Palms and Tiger Airways.

Jul 27, Sat, 8am

Green Peace Find that long lost state of zen with a special outdoor yoga session courtesy of Green Yoga @ MacRitchie.

To apply, go to www.is-magazine.com/isx Sources: Asia One, MICA, The New Paper, Publichouse.sg, The Straits Times, Today.

4 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

CALENDAR Essential Events May 24 - June 3 DON’T Miss

OPEN DOOR

A for Arbite

DO This

The buzz: An offshoot of Serangoon Gardens European eatery Arbite, this second project by chef-proprietor Mark Wee in Kampong Glam offers experimental fusion plates.

Parting Shot

The vibe: Housed on former

The evocative exhibition Being Together: Family and Portraits by John Clang finally closes. This is your last chance to catch it. Through May 26.

National Museum.

Air Time Catch rising stars, both local and international, at the annual Music Matters Live with HP. Clarke Quay.

Various times.

See Art, page 25

See Stage, page 25.

CALENDAR FRIDAY, MAY 24

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29

The Singapore Social. Rock out to Aerosmith and Ceelo Green at one of the best music fests in town at the lush confines of Gardens by the Bay. 7pm.

Through May 25. See Stage, page 25.

You can eat well and do good at the new corporate social responsibility initiative RWS Carrot Cause. All proceeds from this dining event (featuring a sumptuous meal by chef Pasqualino) will be donated to charity when it reaches quota of 98 guests, so book now! 8pm. Palio, 2/F, Hotel Michael, 6577-8888, www. rwsentosa.com/carrotcause.

SATURDAY, MAY 25 Get uninhibited at themed party Blush Night, where you can savor Rose wines and Pink Champagne, and participate in a series of games (no, not that kind) and quizzes to earn even free wines by the glass. There will also be live musical performances. 8pm. 1/F, Buyan Restaurant & Caviar Bar, 10 Duxton Hill, 6223-7008.

After you get seriously high, head over to Velvet Underground for some deep techno grooves at the Para//el presents Ben Klock with Adrian Wee DJ gig. 10pm. See Nightlife, page 28.

Last chance to catch (and buy) limited-edition prints of book covers reinterpreted by local creatives at the Read Carefully art exhibition.

Kult. See Art, page 25.

The World Street Food Congress 2013

If you’re looking for eye-candy of a different kind on a Friday night, catch all the sweaty action taking place at the Sundown Marathon.

6pm, Marina Barrage.

See Sports, page 26.

Dance fans will not want to miss Singapore Dance Theatre’s 25th Anniversary Sundown Gala show, where our local talents Marathon will collaborate with international dance troupes for a one-off performance.

8pm, Esplanade Theatre. See Dance, page 25.

THURSDAY, MAY 30 Get hands-on with the latest Lenovo products at the Touch, Flip, Fold, Connect. Go Beyond. media showcase. 4:30pm. ION Sky, 57/F, ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn. Invite-only.

FRIDAY, MAY 31 The 10-day food siesta The World Street Food Congress 2013 features up to 35 top street food maters spanning various international dishes.

Through Jun 9. F1 Pit Building. See Cover Story, page 8 Be one of the first to preview H&M’s Autumn/Winter collections ahead of everyone else, with free flow drinks and canapés. 11am-5pm. H&M Showroom, #1903 Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd. Invite-only.

SATURDAY, JUn 1 Opening night of DISPLACEMENTS (/dis’plásm#nt/), a community art initiative set in a soon-to-be demolished 77 year-old bungalow at Mt. Sophia. Works by at least a dozen artists will be showcased. 3pm.

13 Wilkie Terrace. Through Jun 23. Free. monDAY, jun 3 Opening night of Clifford Pier — A Place in Our Hearts exhibition. Relive the good ol’ Clifford Pier (before it ever became hip!) through a series of photography works which trace its socio-political chances from 1993 all the way to 2006. Oh, and there’ll be free flow wine going around.

7pm. Invite-only. See Etc, page 27.

schoolhouse premises, the place is done up in cheery primary colors, with long communal tables and a big black chalkboard where you can check out the daily specials.

The food: Dig into small plates like miso mussels with pink peppercorn butter ($12.90), scotched egg with yuzu wasabi hollandaise ($7.90) and fingerling truffle potato ($10.90). Plus, larger dishes such as Angus ribeye steak with porcini red wine sauce ($42.90). For dessert, there’s green tea panna cotta ($9) as well as an old favorite from Wee’s first restaurant, My Wife’s Chocolate Cake ($8).

The drinks: The highlight is their range

of Belgian craft brews—including Palm ($12) and Steenbrugge Double Brown ($14)—which are exclusive to the venue.

The beers are also available in tasting flights of five ($25) and come with helpful tasting notes. For non-drinkers, there are proprietary teas in flavors like osmanthus oolong ($6). The food menu comes with handy dandy little icons suggesting beers or teas to pair with each dish to boot.

Why you’ll be back: For its easyto-navigate yet creative selection of generously sized-small plates in a playful laidback space. Plus Kampong Glam is always a hip hood to hang out in.

Chin Hui Wen

#01-01 28 Aliwal St., 8321-2252, www.arbite.com.sg. Open Tue-Fri 11:30am2:30pm, 5-11pm; Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 9am-9pm.

Check out more parties, openings & shows on the I-S tablet app at is-magazine.com/app 6

I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

COVER STORY

Ticket to Ride Mark your calendars for the hottest new events of the next few months. By Terry Ong

Y

ou know you’re suffering from a case of same o same o when you're scanning the Sistic website and can't find anything that excites you. It doesn’t help that there are now so many events happening here, so filtering the good from the mediocre isn't easy. So what’s really worth your time? The list we've assembled here features huge stars, awesome new concepts and more than a few surprises. We've also thrown in some self-serving recommendations of where to find the best events coverage in town. Just remember—these debutantes are a big deal, so you'll want to book early.

Music 1 World Music Festival

Pet Shop Boys

Orbital

Zouk Indie Triple Bill

It’s been a while since our friends at Zouk organized live concerts at their venue (previous acts who performed there include Peaches, Chicks on Speed, The Radio Dept. and Mono), so we were excited to hear that they are bringing back their live music series with the launch of their first triple bill, which will have Icelandic band Mum performing (for the first time here) their brand of ethereal electronica alongside up-and-coming local bands Wavves and Shelves, who will open for them. Those who missed fellow Icelanders Sigur Ros’ gig a couple of months back have a chance to redeem themselves at this one.

Jun 15, 8pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $80.

The xx

Any hipster worth their skinny jeans knows The xx, but those who really know their music can testify that the group’s brand of moody electronics and hushed vocals hark back to the best of the shoegazing sounds from the ‘90s. Although the threesome performed here previously in 2010 to mark the launch of their acclaimed debut album xx (supporting Florence + The Machine) with a short-ish 45-minute set, their upcoming solo gig will have them perform

The xx

a full set of tunes from their acclaimed last two albums (including the more recent Coexist).

Aug 2, 8pm. The Star Performing Arts Center, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 6636-0055, $68-148 from Sistic.

Pet Shop Boys

The last time these guys were here for SingFest in 2007, the crowd had so much fun dancing to their retro ‘80s tunes that the rest of the acts in the line-up (Cobra Starship, The Noisettes) seemed out of place. Part of their travelling Electronic tour (the album of the same name will be released in June), expect to see kitschy costumes and a fantastic multi-media backdrop that will rival even that of Kraftwerk’s 3D concert here last month. Yes, Neil (Tennant) and Chris (Lowe) will be dishing out newer tunes from their upcoming album, but expect the crowd to go wild when they play classics like “Rent”, “Heart” and “Domino Dancing” instead. That’s when we’ll be getting our glo-sticks ready (and you should, too).

Aug 3, 8pm. Compass Ballroom, Resorts World Convention Centre™, 26 Sentosa Gateway, 68414555, $88-198.

Finally, something truly new for F1. Music gig inside the circuit tend to be disappointingly short and horribly crowded (let's hope The Killers prove us wrong), making this the to-go-to gig during the race. This two-day music fest to be held at the Marina Barrage (also a first) will feature international acts like Tinie Tempah and Iggy Azalea performing, while DJ acts include names like Orbital and Miguel Migs. "You’ll feel as though you’re in the eye of a hurricane, and the electric feeling generated from the stage will ripple through the crowd,” says Mark Rafter of organizers Retfar Entertainment (we think that's meant to be a good thing). Rumor has it that the celebritydesigner Jeremy Scott and DJ-partygoer Samantha Ronson will also drop by for the festival, so it's definitely one for the diaries.

Sep 20-21. Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Dr., 6440-8784. $88-$188 from www.1worldfest.com.

The Killers

When The Killers were announced to headline the F1 2013 concert at the Padang earlier this year, we were excited but apprehensive (they cancelled on us in 2010). Vocalist Brandon Flowers reunites with the rest of the team (after embarking on a semi-successful solo career) to promote their latest album Battle Born, although don’t be surprised if they serve up old favorites like “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” along the way.

Sep 21. Zone 4 The Padang, 3 St. Andrew's Rd., 67386738, Various prices.

The Killers

Check out music videos from all these acts on the I-S Tablet app is-magazine.com/app 8 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

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COVER STORY theater photo © manuel harlan

Our guide to Singapore’s best restaurants is now available in our free tablet app.

• Over 100 reviews with star ratings • Instant reservations powered by • For iPad and Android tablets

The Taming of the Shrew

Dirty Dancing

When you pit two feisty and rebellious characters with a cool old-school soundtrack featuring tunes like The Ronette’s “By My Baby” and Eric Carmen's "Hungry Eyes", nostalgia can only be a good thing. Sure the film version has pretty much reached cult status, but seeing the show live on stage takes it to a whole new Dirty Dancing level. Relive the story of Baby and her affair with dance instructor Johnny Castle in this timeless tale of youth, love and revolt.

May 24-Jun 16, various timings.

Grand Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave, 66888868. $55-$175 from Sistic.

One Man Lord of the Rings / The Lord of the Rings—The Fellowship of the Ring Official Magazine

The first of two unofficial* double bills (next up, Shakespeare, see opposite), these two shows promise to be a good use of your "precious" time. The first is the critically-acclaimed one-man stand-up comedy show by Charles Ross, whose hilarious spin on the series will amuse both fans and non-fans alike, while the latter is a live projection screening of the movie with live orchestral accompaniment by Howard Shore.

Jun 18-23, various timings. DBS Arts Centre,20 Merbau Rd., 6733-8166. $65 and Jun 6-8, 7.30pm. The Star Theatre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 6636-0055. $58-$228. * Unofficial because they're completely unconnected and we've just grouped them together for the sake of a story.

Back for Good

Returning events to look out for in the coming months.

Design Film Festival

Phantom of the Opera

More arty gems by the likes of Marina Abramovic and Gergory Crewdson at this year’s edition.

It’s great that the much-loved fest has decided to come home after successful editions in Berlin, Bangkok and Portland.

Worth the ticket price alone for its hypnotic set—look out for the twirling giant chandeliers.

Jun 15-16. School of the Arts (SOTA), 1 Zubir Said Dr., 6338-9663, $8-12. www.designfilmfestival.com.

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No iPad or Android tablet? (Poor you.) Email us (marketing@asia-city.com.sg) and we’ll send you the PDF eBook version.

10 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Singapore Food Festival Sample local heritage delicacies tapas-style and enjoy a oneof-a-kind dining experience at the River Safari­—the first time that the fest will be held at an unexpected venue.

Jun 28-Jul 28. Various venues. www.singaporefoodfestival.com.

Jul 16-Aug 11. MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands®, B1 The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave. $55-230.

Sundown Ultra Marathon Back after a year’s absence, the overnight race is set to flag-off at the Marina Barrage, where dedicated runners can push their physical prowess to new heights by racing in the 100km Ultra-Marathon.

Sep 14, 6pm. Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Dr., 6514-5959, $40-85. www. sundownmarathon.com.

Alfian Sa’at—In the Spotlight

again up to no good (but with the best of intentions, of course) as they get sucked into the trappings of modern living.

based on the popular film series.

This time round, Morticia, Gomez, Lurch and the rest of the family members are yet

Oct 2-13, 7:30pm. Fort Canning Park, 1800-471-7300. $98-$138 from Sistic and Oct 1-12, various timings.

DBS Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Rd., 6733-8166. $68-$108 from Sistic.

Fans of the prolific playwright will not want to miss this triple Jul 9-28, various timings. Festive bill of two rare works and one Grand™ Theatre, Resorts World® new one. "The Optic Trilogy" (a Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577meditation on love and loss) gets 8888. $55-$175 from Sistic. a fresh new cast featuring Janice Koh and Brendon Fernandez, The Taming of the while "Dreamplay: Asian Boys Vol. Shrew and Shakespeare 1" is a modern gay fantasia set in a / Complete Works fictional world filled with of William lots of topless boys and Shakespeare a couple of naughty (Abridged) “angels”. The new If SRT's Shakespeare work "Cook a Pot of in the Park series Curry" promises to got you all hot under be an outspoken take the ruffled collar, then on migration and the you'll want to book these changing demographics One Man Lord now. First up, none other of the Rings of Singapore. than the Globe Theatre are Jul 3-20, various timings. in town, with a completely new The Singapore Airlines Theatre, take on the classic tale of sisterly LASALLE College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street, 6496-5000. $35-$60 rivalry played out by an all-female from Sistic. cast (settle down, boys). That's followed by a hilarious take on at least 37 plays summarizing all The Addams Family the tragedy, romance and comedy More nostalgia in the form of that the Bard is most famous for. this hilarious and dark musical

I-S ONLINE: Itchy feet? If you don’t want to stick around Singapore, check out the best events from around the region at is.gd/regionalevents.

Singapore Biennale

Affordable Art Fair

This year’s theme is “If The World Changed”, with a confirmed lineup including filmmakers Royston Tan and Boo Junfeng and Cultural Medallion recipient Lee Wen.

Far and away the best art fair if you’re looking for works by emerging artists, with many priced below $1,000.

Oct 26-Feb 16. Various venues. www.singaporebiennale.org.

Singapore Writers’ Festival We had The Hours’ Michael Cunningham last year; this year will feature philosopher A.C. Grayling and crime novelist Peter James.

Nov 21-Nov 24. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd., 6884-694. www.affordableartfair. com/singapore.

ZoukOut 2013 Still the most reliable dance gig and beach party in town.

»

Dec. Siloso Beach, Sentosa. www.facebook. com/ZoukOutOfficial.

Nov 1-Nov 10.

Various Venues. www. singaporewritersfestival.com.

Affordable Art Fair

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 11

COVER STORY FILM Official Magazine

We love outdoor film screenings (the recent Art-in-Film Festival at Dusk held at Tanjong Beach Club was one of the freshest we’ve been to), so we’re certainly looking forward to this one, from the folks who put on the Green Corridor Run earlier this year. And what a perfect setting for a movie! Not only will you get the chance to see quality films like the nevver-before-screened documentary Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007 about the Bond franchise, you can also catch Oscar-nominated The Intouchables and the Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook if you missed them on the regular cinema circuit. The festival will also present short films by local directors prior to the screening of the feature length films. Plus, there will be lots of gourmet food and wine to go around, and a dedicated Champagne bar if you feel like making the occasion one to remember.

Aug 22-25. Fort Canning Green, Cox Terrace. www.filmsatthefort.com.sg.

12 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

photo © makansutra

Films at the Fort

food

Silver Linings Playbook Laksa, of course

Peruvian ceviche

World Street Food Congress

Think you've seen it all in the foodie scene? You're still in for an unusual experience as street food hawkers from all over the world clean up their acts and convene here to wax lyrical about the artisanal merits of their craft and how to best professionalize the industry for better recognition of their work. Before this get-together of cheap eats enthusiasts takes off internationally—organizer Carol Anne Wah hopes to hold it in "San Francisco, Mexico or even Israel" one day—food culture nerds had best get in line for this year's inaugural edition.

The Intouchables

May 31-Jun 9. F1 Pit Building & Paddock,1 Republic Blvd. $28 for the Jamboree, $630-$750 for the conference. www.wsfcongress.com.

Art/Design

Shameless plugs for the best event websites in Singapore. photo © dirtraction.com

photo © florianstephens.wordpress.com.

Essential Eames

Not only will this much-anticipated exhibition feature some of celebrated couple Charles and Ray Eames’ celebrated chair designs, it will also trace their personal life with a showing of Ray’s intimate drawings for the first time ever, as well as contextual display of a case study house for a more interactive experience and a Powers of Ten film screening, a little seen gem directed by the duo tracing the origins of the universe.

Promises to be the most cohesive and complete art exhibitions here after Warhol’s 15 Minutes Eternal at the Art Science Museum in 2011.

Jun 1–Sep 31, 10am. Art Science Museum, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8328.

Hitting the Source

Sports

In the absence of event flyers, hearing about cool, new happenings here relies rather too heavily on chance. But bookmark the right sites and you can be in the know before almost anyone else. Here’s how three top sites—all powered by our crack team of writers—stack up.

I-S Online (www.is-magazine.com)

Mountain Bike Carnival

Missed OCBC Cycle but want to show off your pedaling chops beyond fixed gear? Sate your taste for terrain at the city’s first and biggest mountain biking event. Aside from the standard eight-hour Enduro marathon conducted on fireroads, there are likely to be other activities, including an exhilarating night race—just try overtaking en masse in that. n Aug 25, 7am. Registration and more info at at www.mtb.sg.

• All the listings from the best city-living mag in town • Dozens more listings and exclusive interviews that don’t make it in (typically short-notice) • Carefully curated for our readers: no kiddie crap or family fun • Navigation needs a little work, but it is now optimized for mobile WHERE Singapore (www.wheresingapore.com) ®

• Covers only the biggest, most interesting events in the coming month • Includes recommendations on where to eat and drink before the show • Allows you to browse free e-mag versions

• Part of the international network of WHERE® titles (now approaching their 80th year) YourSingapore (www.YourSingapore.com) • Features events well before anyone else (often as much as 6 months in advance) • Extremely thorough vetting process; you can trust that everything is worth knowing about • Written by the I-S team, not corporate suits • All big ticket stuff—no regular DJ gigs or average art exhibitions • Aimed at visitors, but still surprisingly useful for residents Other sites worth a look include CityNomads.com (their wine event coverage is particularly good), TheList.sg (a fantastic resource for tech and start-up events) and inSing.com (the visuals are a headache-inwaiting, but the swap tickets feature is neat).

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 13

travel

Eastern & Oriental Hotel

Asia’s Grandes Dames From white colonnades and marble floors to oak wood furniture and crystal chandeliers, these iconic hotels’ Victorian charms are impossible to resist. By Top Koaysomboon

Colombo, Sri Lanka Galle Face Hotel Since: 1864 Perhaps the oldest colonial hotel in Asia, it opened in 1864 next to the Galle Face Green, a sprawling lawn by the ocean which gave it its name. Today the hotel features 147 rooms in two wings: Classic and Regency, and has previously hosted famous guests like astronaut Yuri Gagarin, actor Roger Moore and US president Richard Nixon. The hotel has a whopping nine restaurants and four bars but the must-do highlight is taking high tea at the hotel’s veranda overlooking the Indian Ocean.

From US$360 [S$444] (US$141 [S$178] on Agoda). 2 Galle Rd., Colombo, Sri Lanka, +941-1254-1010/16, www.gallefacehotel.com

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Hotel Continental Saigon Since: 1880 This famous hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) sits at a prime location on Dong Khoi Street, HCMC’s shopping and business district within short walking distance to shopping malls, the gorgeous Louis Vuitton flagship store, Ho Chi Minh Monument and the

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I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

Opera House. Eighty guestrooms and suites are housed behind its French-colonial-style facade, which has recently been renovated.

From US$104 (S$128). 132-134 Dong Khao Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, +848-38293201, www.continentalhotel.com.vn

Penang, Malaysia

Eastern & Oriental Hotel Since: 1885

The first property of the Sarkies brothers, a hotelier family who pioneered a number of hotels in Southeast Asia, including Raffles Singapore and The Strand Yangon, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel was built to serve rich merchants and travelers when Penang was the first British port in the region. The hotel’s location at the harbor front of Georgetown means it’s just a short walk to Fort Cornwallis, the City Hall and Penang State Museum. Eastern & Oriental went through a major renovation from 19962001 and is now home to 100 well-appointed suites in its Heritage Wing and an additional 122 modern rooms and suites at the Victory Annex. Famous guests include writer Rudyard Kipling, actor Charlie Chaplin and pop superstar Michael Jackson.

From RM640 (S$268) for Heritage Wing and from

RM580 (S$243) for Victory Annexe. 10 Lebuh Farquhar, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, +604-222-2000, www. eohotels.com

Bangkok, Thailand

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Since: 1876 Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is one of the longest-running hotels in Asia, though the Author’s Wing, home to the Author’s Lounge and a collection of suites named after world famous writers, is the only remaining 19th-century structure. Bamboo Bar opened in 1947 while Le Normandie turns 55 this year. The hotel also had Thailand’s first elevator in its Garden Wing.

From B10,950 (S$456). 48 Oriental Avenue, Charoen Krung Rd., 02-659-9000, www. mandarinoriental.com/bangkok

Hanoi, Vietnam Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Since: 1901 With a classic French-colonial facade and a terrace where you can sit back in a lounge chair and watch the streets, just ignore the buzz of the motorcycles and you might feel like you’re back in Paris circa 1930. After several renovations and additions, this legendary hotel, which has

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

welcomed guests like actors Charlie Chaplin and Jane Fonda, now features 364 rooms and 22 suites decked out in a neo-renaissance theme. Moreover, the Hanoi Opera House is only 100 meters away, as well as several other main attractions.

From US$200 (S$246). 15 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kien District, Hanoi, Vietnam, +844-3826-6919, www.sofitel-metropole-hanoi.com

Yangon, Burma The Strand Since: 1901 The Strand is another hotel started by the Sarkies brothers at the height of the British empire, following on from the success of its sisters in Penang and Singapore. The Victorianinfluenced mansion is set on Strand The Strand Road, overlooking the Yangon River.

As Myanmar’s most luxurious hotel, it has witnessed the country’s troubled past and was only open to white guests until World War II. Then came financial struggles, various owners, coup d’etats and a general lack of renovations throughout the 1950-80s.

The Strand was reopened in 1993 and renovated into an all-suite hotel with 24-hour butler service. Even if you are not staying there, we highly recommend their afternoon high tea.

From US$226-278 (S$278-S$372, depending on agents). 92 Strand Road, Yangon, Myanmar, +951-243377, www.lhw.com/thestrandyangon

The Majestic

Hotel Majestic KL

Manila, The Philippines

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Manila Hotel Since: 1912 Built by the Americans after they acquired The Philippines from Spain, Manila Hotel sits on the grand Roxas Boulevard, facing Rizal Park, a memorial park named after a national hero, with Manila Bay to its back.

After a major renovation in 2008, its 570 rooms now feature local decor touches, meaning Spanish-influenced architecture using local materials like natural linens and rattan. Manila Hotel has hosted numerous American stars and politicians, including Michael Jackson and John F. Kennedy.

From PHP7,999 (S$239). 1 Rizal Park, Manila, The Philippines, +632-5270011, www.manila-hotel.com.ph

Hotel Majestic Kuala Lumpur Since: 1932 The Hotel Majestic was the classiest hotel in town when it first opened in 1932, welcoming jetsetters and socialites. But after World War II, it experienced a decline and was closed down in 1984. Last year, it came back to life after a head-to-toe renovation. The facade and its classic timber floors are preserved while minimal furnishings with an art-deco feel, now decorate the rooms in both of the two buildings— modern comforts included.

From RM650 (S$272). 5 Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +603-2785-8000, www.majestickl.com

Malacca, Malaysia

Vientiane, Laos

The Majestic Settha Palace Since: circa 1920s Since: 1932 Malacca has come a long way, arguably Settha Palace is Vientiane’s most too far, since it became a UNESCO World charming accommodation and Heritage City in 2008 and is now a mega lies in the heart of the city. Lush trees tourist hub. But a visit to The Majestic will let you and gardens hide this French-colonial Settha Palace mansion, once a residence of a wealthy Lao turn back the clock to when it was just a simple port town welcoming Chinese, Tamil, Arab and Western family, from the bustling streets nearby. merchants. Although all 54 rooms and suites are now With both rooms and suites, the hotel evokes La housed in a modern tower, the original mansion Belle Epoque through its marble and teak wood built around 1920 still serves as a lobby, library and furnishings. That’s also the name of its restaurant, restaurant. Its charming Peranakan architectural details, one of the city’s most charming spots to enjoy French with classic porcelain, teakwood furnishings and cuisine along with a fine selection of wines. n artifacts on exhibit, are best enjoyed in the library.

From US$220 (S$271). 6 Pang Kham Street, Vientiane, From RM390 (S$163). 188 Jalan Bunga Raya, Malacca, Laos, +856-2121-7581/2, www.setthapalace.com Malaysia, +606-289-8000, www.majesticmalacca.com

FRIDAY, may 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 15

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

ESCAPE ROUTES

with Chin Hui Wen

Mandarin Oriental Pudong Shanghai

Conrad Beijing

CHINA

A-commie-dation It’s almost hard to keep up with the number luxury hotels opening in China—the country’s just moving so fast. Among the latest additions is the Conrad Beijing (29 North Dongsanhuan Rd., Chaoyang, Beijing, +86 10 6584-6000, conradhotels3. hilton.com), in the central business district of Beijing, with 289 rooms and views of Tuanjie Lake Pak. Also new is the Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside (34 Haihe East Rd., Hebei, Tianjin, +86 22 5861-9999, www. banyantree.com/en/tianjin_riverside), now offering an Opening Celebration Offer with rates starting at CNY1,100 ($220). The getaway in the former Austrian concession district has an on-site Banyan Tree Spa (the first in northern China). And in Shanghai, art lovers will want to check out the just launched Mandarin Oriental Pudong Shanghai (111 Pudong Rd., Pudong, Shanghai, +86 21 20829888, www.mandarinoriental.com/ shanghai), which boasts 4,000 original artworks displayed throughout the building curated by the noted Art Front Gallery. The hotel’s offering two introductory deals—both priced from CNY3,600 ($722)—to boot.

ONLINE

The Hosts Peer-to-peer vacationing (think Airbnb and Roomorama) allows you to stay in local homes. And new Singaporebased travel service Indiescapes extends that idea, offering day-today activities hosted by city locals, priced from US$30 ($37). Activities include living a day like a Balinese villager, eating Vietnamese street food and partying in Bangkok with

Indiescapes

free-admission into clubs and access to VIP areas. Co-founder Min Seetoh says, “We realized that what is easily available on the market is usually the touristy and commercialized stuff and wanted to make authentic experiences more prevalent.” Get the full details at indiescapes.com.

Visit is.gd/indiescapes for our full interview.

AUSTR ALIA

Evolution Theory

Seems north Australian city Darwin is really heating up, with a slew of new hotel openings by The Hilton Group.

The foremost, the Hilton Darwin (32 Mitchell St., Darwin, +61 8 8982-0000) features 235 rooms, has clear views of Darwin Harbour and is on the city’s main drag, Mitchell Street. The area includes a number of lively bars and attractions like The Crocosaurus Cove Crocodile Park (where we swam with a giant crocodile when we visited in March). For more information, head to www3.hilton. com. Check out our blog about our visit to Darwin at is.gd/darwintravel FLIGHTs

Indo Needs You Tiger Airways is set to commence flights to two Indonesian cities: Yogyakarta (July 1; from $51 oneway) and Bandung (August 1; from $44 one-way). Flights for each route will depart seven times weekly. Book tickets at www.tigerairways.com.

Looking to get away?

Sign up at www.is-magazine.com/user/register#newsletter to get Escape Routes delivered to your mailbox every Tuesday.

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island

STYLE + LIVING + DINING | Get More Out of Singapore

grooming Hero Worship

Tea Party Pewter maker Royal Selangor, renowned for its heirloom-worthy tableware and home accessories, has collaborated with award-winning Chinese designer Jamy Yang for Serenity, a luxurious and beautiful collection of tea accessories. The modern, Asian-influenced design is inspired by bamboo, with simple cylindrical shapes and ribbed pewter surfaces to mimic the texture of bamboo fiber. The tea set, which includes a pot, caddy, cup, snack plate and tea whisk, also uses the plant on the teapot’s base, finial and handle for its heat-resistant properties. $130 upwards from Royal Selangor, #L1-39 Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-7167, www.royalselangor.com.

The latest all-in-one men’s grooming parlor (it provides haircut services, shaving, waxing and ahem, cleaning your nostrils) is up and running at Tiong Bahru. We Need a Hero (#02-86, 57 Eng Hoon St., 6222-5590, www.we needahero.sg) is yet another cool project by the guys behind Spa Esprit, with its mix of raw steel and wood interior mimicking that of a Western cowboy saloon. Never mind the rest of them—with wash-and-blow starting from just $20, this one’s the real deal.

lunch Fried and Seek

If you’re looking for deep-fried food served in a fancy pants setting, it’s hard to beat modern minimalist Japanese spot HAN (#01-04 Odeon Towers, 331 North Bridge Rd., 63362466). The restaurant specializes in kushikatsu (breaded deep-fried skewers from Osaka) and serves lunch sets with seven sticks for $75. Offerings change seasonally but might include kurobuta pork, and mushroom with cream cheese.

Available Mon-Sat noon-3pm.

wellness Como Over

Wellness center Como Shambhala Urban Escape (#06-01/02 The Delfi, 402 Orchard Rd., www. comoshambhala.com/singapore) has expanded into a spanking new space, offering sessions in yoga, Pilates, gyrotonics, as well as Western and alternative medicine.

The new new thing is their in-house spa, where you can book their signature, deep tissue or Thai massage ($140170) for right after your workout. A single drop-in class costs $40 while class packages go for $175-1,250. Check their website for other rates.

FRIDAY, May 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 17

island

food + fashion + fitness + tech + health + home

Five for Fighting As the handset wars reach fever pitch, we put the latest entries to the test. By Azimin Saini HTC One $968 (32GB) from HTC Concept Store Hot: Next to other plastic Android phones, the polished design and sturdy aluminium chassis make this number feel like a million bucks.

Sense 5, a new interface, turns your home screen into a very goodlooking news feed, making it a choice option for social media mavens.

Not: The missing menu button may put off some users used to the three button Android interface, and while 32/64GB of space is plenty, there isn’t a micro SD card slot to jack it up.

Samsung Galaxy S4 $998 from Samsung Experience Store Hot: By far the biggest buzz-maker of the lot, its ramped up specs include a 1.9GHz quad-core, a 13 megapixel rear camera, nine sensors to detect everything from humidity to magnetic fields, as well as an extended battery life, all packed into the same dimensions as its predecessor.

Not: It seems class is lost on the Samsung folk. At nearly $1,000, the Galaxy S4 could’ve done away with the cheap plastic chassis (that’s unfortunately become its signature) for something classier. Instead, they’ve added a whole lot of random features, most of which you’ll probably never find a use for—who needs an atmospheric pressure sensor?

OPEN STORE

In Situ

The buzz: French designer Eric Ledoigt, who started In Situ in Guatemala 12 years ago, has opened a Singapore edition in partnership with former graphic designer and photographer Isabelle Persenda. The founders work exclusively with independent, underthe-radar designers and artists from all over the world to produce one-of-a-kind artisanal furniture and furnishings.

Coming Soon.

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The vibe: Lush, contemporary and slightly rustic, the 1,400 sq. ft. space, though cramped for a showroom, is thoughtfully put together and styled like an open-concept home. A commanding wooden dining table with matching

tech

Sony Xperia Z $888 from Sony Store Hot: Images and videos display beautifully on its 1920x1080 five inch screen coupled with a 13 megapixel camera to take them. But the clear winner here is the glass frame that hugs the hardware so snug; it keeps out water.

Not: It’s a pretty display, but the screen scratches and smudges far too easily.

Having a waterproof phone also means the ports are covered with flaps making access a little slower.

Blackberry Q10 $898 from Starhub Shop Hot: Blackberry diehards can rejoice as its physical keyboards are not being phased out (yet).

Combined with the powerful Blackberry 10 operating system which offers over 100,000 apps, this refresher looks set to get its former fans back onboard.

Not: It may be a cinch for existing users to switch over, but touchscreen users will find the keyboard cumbersome at first.

Instagram junkies might also have to wait as imaging apps haven’t yet debuted on this OS.

Singapore Outlet Wisma Atria #03-06 OUE Link #02-06 Departmental store at Tangs Orchard and Tangs Vivocity (Opening in May 2013)

DQ (IS 24May 2013)FA.pdf

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Essentials Nokia Lumia 720 $479 from Nokia Shop Hot: This mid-range all-rounder gives you all the smartphone perks you need without breaking the bank.

Not: The notification bar found in iOS6, Android and even Blackberry 10 is absent. Phone statuses like wifi, reception strength and battery life are shown only if you tap the top of the screen. Unfortunately, this functionality is missing in some apps.

Sony Store #01-58/59, 200 Victoria St., Parco Bugis Junction, 6837-0646, www.sony.com.sg | HTC Concept Store #03-26, 23 Serangoon Central, Nex, 6787-0800, www.htc.com/ sea | Samsung Experience Store #01-54, 200 Victoria St, Parco Bugis Junction, 6334-0368, www.samsung. com/sg | Nokia Shop #01-08, 109 North Bridge Rd., FunanDigitalife Mall, 6334-9083, www.nokia.com/sg-en | Starhub Shop #B3-16, 2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard ,6760-0800, www. starhub.com C

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chairs greets you at the entrance, while further inside is the living area (the only thing missing is a flat-screen TV) and a warm bedroom under a skylight.

The goods: Besides Eric Ledoigt’s works, the showroom also features the designs of celebrated names like Manuel Morquecho, Carl J Myers and Laurel Jacobson. Most of the goods are handcrafted and produced in Guatemala by artisans. Highlights of the collection include a hand-carved table made of conacaste (South American tropical wood, $9,883), Mahogany dinnerware (from $458) and Mangrove lamps made out of sustainable mangrove trees (from

$1,896). Other key items include sofas, armchairs, coffee tables and a selection of antique pieces (from $58).

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Why you’ll be back: For beautifully crafted furniture that look like works of art. And if the stylish space doesn’t provide enough inspiration, the company also provides personalized interior design consultations to help you visualize, choose and create your ideal home. Crystal Lee 238 River Valley Rd., 6733-7307,www. facebook.com/InSituSg. Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 11am-5pm.

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 19

Would extra dough make you happy?

island

food + fashion + fitness + tech + health + home

STYLE NOTES

With Terry Ong

Knowledge Cotton Apparel

Green is the New Black

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

If you love to shop but are concerned about its effect on the environment (however self-contradictory that might be), then go for the just arrived, little-heard-of Danish brand Knowledge Cotton Apparel’s Spring/Summer collection. Started

by J.Mørup Stof back in 1969, the innovative yet environmentally conscious brand utilizes only handpicked, biodegradable 100% certified organic cotton in their apparel. Not only are they more comfortable, but they’re actually pretty stylish, spanning polo tees, striped long-sleeved shirts and pastel-colored berms that wouldn’t look out of place at a hipster cafe. $89 upwards at Rockstar by Soon Lee ( #03-08 Orchard Cineleisure 8 Grange Rd., 6836-8201).

using elements found in siu mais and har gaos (we kid you not). The result: a luxurious mix of yellow leather and suede upper, referencing the yellow wrap of siu mai dumplings coupled with cushionCELL midsole and neoprene boot for fit and comfort. And get this, it even comes in a dust bag that mimics the motif of a bamboo steamer, similar in style to the old school dim sum basket. $209 from Ltd Edt Chamber (#B2-23 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sand, 2 Bayfront Ave., 6688-7012).

Phoning It In

Online retailer Zalora have just launched their first iPhone app, making shopping almost dangerously easy than ever.

Shopaholics can now get their fix of over 15,000 products from the site’s 500 brands when they Run with It sign up, plus you’ll A rare collaboration be informed of any worth saving up new arrivals and flash for. Revered online sales so that you can style publication stay ahead of the Hypebeast has style curve. Paypal teamed up with and direct credit PUMA to release the card transactions are “Dim Sum” Pack encouraged, but if collection, consisting “Dim Sum” Pack you’ve busted the of both the Glory OG latter, you can opt and Blaze of Glory LTWT models. The for the cash-on-delivery payment. slightly curious moniker aside, the Sign up now at http://itunes.com/ design team from Hypebeast has apps/zalora. managed to create a stylish design

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Flex in the City Start the weekend right with a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga sesh outdoors at our upcoming I-S Xperience: Green Peace (Jul 27, 8am. MacRitchie Reservoir, www.greenyoga. com.sg), led by Green Yoga’s Suraya Sam. Using a variety of movements and asanas, Sam will help you reconnect your mind and body at a lush outdoor setting. Only 30 spots available, so register quickly at is-magazine.com/isx.

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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 Chin Hui Wen

KHA

Caveau Wines and Bar

Martin Mania Looks like Martin Road’s becoming the next foodie hub. Last year, the stretch welcomed paella bar BOMBA (Martin No. 38, 38 Martin Rd., 6509-1680, www.bomba.sg) and an outlet of Baker & Cook (#01-01 38A Martin Rd., 6636-5865, www.bakerandcook. biz). And this year, Common Man Coffee Roasters—a collaborative effort by 40

Hands (#01-12 78 Yong Siak St., 6225-8545, www.40handscoffee.com) and Australian roaster Five Senses (www.fivesenses.com. au)—is slated to open there on August 1.

Existing eateries in the area are also upping their game. Thai restaurant KHA (Martin No. 38, 38 Martin Rd., 6476-9000, www.kha.sg) is now offering an updated Isaan menu care of new executive chef Adam Cliff. It includes plates like pla phao glua ($30), salt-crusted whole seabass, and nuer yung jim jaew ($23), grilled wagyu beef with smoky tomato chili relish. Spanish and Thai food, plus a quality bakery and coffee—there isn’t much more we could ask for.

stalls and the space is quite charming looking, with large wine barrels serving as tables, ornate iron posts demarcating each store, and stylish exposed light bulbs. Plus, the food looks genuinely good: Everything from savory meals (the giant pans of paella at European joint Le Patio (#02-K27) caught our eye) to—something we’re really excited about— unique bottles from boutique winery co-op Merchants (#02-K43/44).

Lucky Eight

Wine retailers are pretty dandy. But we’re also always on the lookout for a good drink deal. And Caveau Wines and Bar’s (#02-10 Shaw To Market, To Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6737-2622, Market caveauwinesandbar.com.sg) On the topic of one-stop food just-launched 8 Dollar Happy spots, mega project Pasarbella Hour sounds classier than (The Grandstand, Turf City, 200 most. Red wine, white wine, Turf Club Rd., 6887-0077, www. rosé and whisky, all at $8 a pop. pasarbella.com) is now open. The Plus, they’ve got small plates—crispy Le Patio gourmet market is not the place to do chicken bits, fried hanoi rolls, potato your weekly shopping (there’s no fresh croquettes and chicken drumlets—each local produce). But it still passes muster as a also priced at $8. The crowd’s real grownup gourmet haven for a quick readymade meal and sedate too; far from the usual discountor dinner party supplies. There’re around 30 crazed mobs that frequent bars with promos.

Craft beer delivery Bored of bland lager and craving some full-flavored brews? Don’t bother going out—get it delivered to your home instead.

The Beer Cellar Monthly box of 12 bottles from $95, with free delivery. www.thebeercellar.asia.

Beerstyle From $115 for a case of 12, with free delivery. www. drinkbetterbeer.net.

Brewers Craft From $50 for a set of four, with a minimum purchase of $150 for delivery. www. brewerscraft.com.sg.

Craft Beer From $130 for a case of 24, with free delivery. www. craftbeer.sg.

Thirsty From $7/bottle, with free delivery for orders above $100. www.thirsty.com.sg.

Tipple Town From $10/bottle, with free delivery above $50. www. tippletown.com. Azimin Saini

FRIDAY, may 24, 2013 I‑S MAGAZINE

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island

food + fashion + fitness + tech + health + home OPEN DOOR

Drink Organic Wines

Bacchanalia in-seat compartments for ladies to store their heels (when they dance on the tabletops).

The food: On the menu are sharing plates (categorized as vegetable, seafood or meat) like fennel and Tahitian vanilla salad ($15), mackerel with beets ($24), and steak and eggs ($38), care of chefs who used to work at The Fat Duck. Desserts are comforting classics with a twist such as the rice pudding with morello cherries ($14).

The buzz: Founded by Alex Chew and Raj Datwani—who made a name for themselves hosting raucous pop up meals as part of the Bacchanalia Brunch Series— this restaurant is housed in the historic Masonic Club building.

The vibe: Inspired by a glass of Champagne, the space includes 400 hand-blown glass bubbles hanging from the ceiling imported from the US. The atmosphere at the 150-seater is pretty mellow most nights, but the restaurant is well equipped to host their high energy blowout brunches. There are even special

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The drinks: There’s plenty of Champagne (from $26), which you can also order up in a range of Champagne cocktails for a $3 supplement. Sip up options like the Kir Bacchanalia (with framboise) and the Old Cuban, with rum, lime and mint. The rest of the wine list (from $15/glass, $38/bottle) is diverse, international and pretty affordable, plus there’s a range of sakes (from $90) too.

Why you’ll be back: For a surprisingly good value meal in a swish, underrated space that’s far from the maddening crowd.

Chin Hui Wen

23A Coleman St., 6509-1453, www. bacchanalia.asia. Open Tue-Sat 6pm-1am; Sun 11am-3pm.

Mark World Environment Day (June 5) with one of these eco-friendly chemicaland pesticide-free vinos.

Domaine du Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhône Cuvée Réserve 2011 This intense red is a blend of four different varietals: grenache noir, syrah, cinsault and mourvèdre. Timothy Goh, director of wines for the Les Amis group says, “This bottle is made by a respected family Jaume, who have been producing wine in southern Rhone since the 19th century.

It has rich and bold flavor yet exhibits elegance, quality and approachability even at a young age.” $68 at Caveau Wines Bar, #02-10 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6737-2622, caveauwinesandbar.com.sg.

Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze 2009 This is a white wine from Burgundy is made from chardonnay grapes.

Gerald Lu, general manager and head sommelier at Praelum, says, “Not only is it complex and flavorful, the high acidity goes well with several foods and even works on its own. It’s easily one of the best value-for-money and powerful wines around.” $85 at Praelum Wine Bistro, 4 Duxton Hill, 6238-5287, praelum.wix.com/praelum.

Triennes Merlot 2009 Made by the folks behind noted Burgundy wine producers Domaine Dujac and Domaine de la RomanéeConti, this medium bodied red boasts a lovely ruby color and rich dark plum and cherry aromas. Chin Hui Wen $63 Onaka @ ARC, #01-32 PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Rd., www.facebook.com/Onaka. at.ARC.

Domaine du Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhône Cuvée Réserve 2011

WANGZ-HALO-AD_MAY24.pdf

Print is dead. So get the app instead!

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As if you needed another reason to get our awesome awardwinning tablet app, this year our annual restaurant guide, Top Tables, with more mouth-watering photos, plus maps and click-through booking, available in app format for your iPad or Android tablet at asia-city.com/app.

RESTAURANT REVIEWs Fordham & Grand HHHHH American. 43 Craig Rd., 6221-3088, www.fng.com.sg.

Ok, so speakeasy-style joints are dime a dozen these days, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work when done right. Case in point: Fordham & Grand, a place inspired by the New York cross street of Fordham and Grand in the Bronx (which was really hopping with bootleggers during prohibition). The space is dark and cavernous—with no windows—so it feels really hidden.

It’s hard to tell how much time has gone by while you’re inside (quite a dangerous proposition seeing as they open till 3pm). Still, they’re not obnoxious about maintaining exclusivity: There is signage—unassuming and nondescript as it is—and no silly passwords. We could see ourselves returning to this hangout for straightforward generous dishes, smart cocktails and affordable wines (they’ve got 100 bottles priced under $100). Our top picks food-wise are the beef steak and fries ($30)—the best version you can get in town for the price we reckon—and the lobster linguine ($28), a flavorful plate of Asian-inspired noodles flecked with ginger and coriander, and crowned with an impressively-sized lobster claw The food isn’t complicated. It’s just a nice accompaniment to the playful yet grownup cocktails (modern takes on classics) such as their pina colada ($18), which includes coconut water instead of the usual heavy coconut cream. Service is on the slow side but they try hard. (Mortified about spilling a couple of fries when laying down our steak, the server compensated us with a heaped order of golden fried potatoes—a totally unnecessary but appreciated gesture). It’s an open secret now, but for us night owls, there are few better spots to wile away a good chunk of the evening (and morning) with good grub and smooth drinks. Open daily 6pm-3am. $$$ C

Pistola HHHHH

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Asian-Mexican. 93 Club St., www.facebook.com/pistolasingapore.

We’ve been quietly holding a torch for this hole-in-the-wall Club Street joint for a while—the kind of crush that refuses to die in spite of all its obvious flaws. The place seats just eight (barely), the music playlist consists mainly of ‘90s college rock tunes, the counter staff don’t try to impress, and there’s a detectable patina of stickiness on all its surfaces. Nevertheless, we just keep coming back because it’s so much fun to mix and match its five Asian-inspired fillings and four Mexican-style vehicles. We’ve pledged undying devotion to the burrito with sesame rice and pork carnitas ($16), which seriously reminded us of retro canned pork cubes in the best possible way. The braised tofu rice bowl ($15) also had us doodling hearts and daydreaming; far from bland health food, its MSG-esque bursts of meaty umami will make vegetarians blush.

Before you go too crazy, though, watch out for funky-tasting items—the tacos ($14), Mexican tomato rice ($5) and corn chips ($8) all tasted old. The feistysounding Asian slaw ($4) and Thai-style corn cup ($5) also didn’t quite deliver, and we had to smother them in Sriracha sauce. Drinks-wise, the boozy mescal mango slushie ($14) was fun to drink not absolutely to-die-for, but hey, you’re on Club Street, so it’s no biggie. You’ll either swoon or get burned (or both) here, but if you’re like us, you’ll still come back for more anyway. Open Mon-Fri noon-2:30pm; Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight. $ Ratings ★ Forget it ★★ Only if you’re stuck in the neighborhood ★★★ A pleasant dining experience ★★★★ More than just great food, tell your friends ★★★★★ Not to be missed

Price Guide $ Less than $40 $$ $40-$80 $$$ $80-120 $$$$ $120-200 $$$$$ $200 and up

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Price per person, including one drink, appetizer, main course and dessert. Prices do not include bottles of wine unless stated.

New restaurants are not reviewed within three months of their opening.

Reviews are based on actual visits to the establishments listed, without the knowledge of the restaurants. Reviews are included at the discretion of the editors and are not paid for by the individual restaurants.

Recently Reviewed by I-S The Naked Finn “Besides good grub and frosty drinks, the minimalist shack...is just plain relaxing.” HHHHH SUR “...you’ll be hard pressed to find such authentic South American fare in town, and at such wallet-friendly prices.” HHHHH 1 Market “If you play for the quality-over-quantity team, best to sit this one out.” HHHHH Rabbit Carrot Gun “Leave it to the East Coasters and live-in tourists, who’ll find comfort in the oh-so-standard menu.” HHHHH Binomio “Binomio’s commendable for providing a level of décor and service to match the prices.” HHHHH

Like us at www.facebook.com/Halorooftop to get the latest promotion updates and stand to win exciting prizes.

FRIDAY, may 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 23

Need to know Theater & Arts

The Substation > 6337-7535

The Arts House > 6332-6919

Ticketbooth > 6296-2929

Esplanade Box Office > 6828-8377

Cinema Ticketing Hotlines

www.esplanade.com

Fort Canning Park > 6332-1302

chart the weeks ahead

www.substation.org

www.theartshouse.com.sg

www.nparks.gov.sg

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

National Museum of Singapore > 6332-5642

www.ticketbooth.com.sg

Cathay > 6337-8181 www.cathay.com.sg

Eng Wah > 6836-9074

www.ewcinemas.com.sg

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

www.nationalmuseum.sg

Golden Village > 1900-912-1234

Singapore Art Museum > 6332-3222

Shaw > 6738-0555

www.singart.com

www.gv.com.sg www.shaw.sg

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

SEE This

DON'T Miss

Tyler and the Creators Aerosmith are just one of the big acts to look out for at The Singapore Social.

See Stage, page 25

DO This

The Write Stuff All Rise

Classic books reinterpreted by local creatives at the Read Carefully exhibition.

Fine Japanese dining awaits at Gourmet Japan: A Kaiseki Experience with Suntory Whiskies.

See Art, page 25

See Food & Drink, page 26

OPEN BAR The Vintage Room The buzz: As if there aren’t already enough reasons to make the trek to Duxton Hill, newcomer The Vintage Room (occupying the former digs of sister establishment Le Petit Cancale) joins in the fun.

The décor: The bar retains some of Le Petit Cancale’s Old World charm, but has bumped up the quirkiness factor with mismatched furniture, fuzzy Persian rugs, throw pillows, antique curios and vintage posters. “Eclectic” is a bit of an understatement. If this bar were a movie trope, it’d be a manic pixie dream girl— and with stark, masculine interiors being

done to death in the bar scene, that's not at all a bad thing.

The music: It’s pretty quiet, which makes it the perfect place for a good gab.

The drinks: Leave any machismo at the door, please. You’ll find a drinks list dominated by Champagnes, bellinis, mimosas, mojitos in no less than five flavors, plus cocktails like the Carribean Rose, a rosy, coconutty concoction (from $14).

The crowd: People here seem much more laidback, quieter and less eager to impress than the usual Duxton crowd. Also, despite the obvious girliness of the décor and drinks, we found quite a number of male regulars freely indulging their daintier sides.

The food: About as French as you can get, with escargots ($14 for 6), croque monsieurs ($18), rillettes, pates and terrines served with good crusty Poilane bread (from $14). Oh, and do yourself a favor by saving space for the mousse au chocolate ($12). Très délicieux.

Why you’ll be back: The whole Duxton Hill and Club Street scene can get kind of hectic at times, so this is a nice place to escape and wind down. It’s also the bar to take that one friend who can’t stand booze to, just to watch her get happily buttered without her realizing it. Clara Lim

37 Duxton Hill, 6690-7565, www.thevintageroom.sg. Open Tue-Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri 3pm-1am, Sat 5pm-1am.

24 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

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

stage

music festivals

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classical

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Spring: a violin piano duo recital Tee Khoon and Sam Haywood's longstanding musical relationship will see the duo perform a handpicked list of renditions from Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Sarasate. May 28, 8pm. Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd., 64121335 / 6412-1340. $26 from SISTIC.

I-S PICK> The Singapore Social Following up on the inaugural The Social Star Awards 2013, Gardens by the Bay will host The Singapore Social featuring top music and social media stars from around the world, including Aerosmith, Blush, Ceelo Green and PSY. May 24-25. Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr., 6420-6841. $150-500. www.starcount.com.

I-S PICK

concerts

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Sungha Jung Live in Singapore The Youtube starter has risen to fame with his immaculate fingerstyling guitar skills and his third performance here is a testament to this rising talent. He will be performing alongside Spanish guitar maestro Agustin Amigo. May 25, 7pm. Kallang Theatre, 1 Stadium Walk, 6348-7907. $48-88 from Ticketbooth.com.sg.

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Syndicate Subsessions: Pleasantry, Fauxe & Weish and Brandon Tay The triple-bill of local bands Pleasantry, Fauxe and Weish will be accompanied by resident visual artist Brandon Tay. Jun 1, 8pm. The Substation Theatre, 45 Armenian St. Call 6337-7800 for more info. $20 from The Substation.

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I-S PICK> Stomp 2013 This famed percussive theater performance needs no introduction. Using only body parts and everyday objects, the Stomp troupe creates intricate, energetic pieces of music that will boggle your senses and get you thumping along in no time. Jun 18-23, 7:30pm. Sands Theater, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave. Call 6688-8826 for more info. $150-65.

I-S PICK

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Music Matters Live with HP Enjoy a smorgasbord of music with over 50 bands from 20 countries performing more than 160 shows in this annual celebration of music discovery. Through May 24, various times. Clarke Quay, 3 River Valley Rd., 6337-3292. Free. Log onto www.musicmatterslive.com for full line-up.

Home Club & Symmetry Entertainment Present Before Sunrise #3 – This Will Destroy You Mark the last day of May with This Will Destroy You, a post-rock band from Texas. Comprising guitarists Jeremy Galindo and Chris King, drummer Alex Bhore and keyboardist Donovan Jones, expect a night of atmospheric instrumental music. May 31, 8pm. Home Club, #B1-01/06 The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Rd., 65382928. $38-48 including one drink and entry to Kicks! after.

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dance

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Singapore Dance Theatre’s 25th Anniversary Gala This spectacular classical dance extravaganza will feature guest dancers from international ballet troupes. May 31-Jun 1, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr. Call 6338-0611 for more info. $30-70 from SISTIC.

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© Maverick Records and Annamaria

Deftones Live in Singapore The alternative band will be back in Singapore for a one-night-only gig showcasing materials from their seventh album Koi No Yokan, and more. May 28, 8pm.

Hard Rock Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway. Call 6348-5555 for more info. $88108 from SISTIC.

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I-S PICK> Shelves, Wavves and Múm Concert at Zouk Showcasing a mishmash of indie sounds from the likes of Singaporean pop-rock group Shelves and American punk-rock band Wavves and Icelandic experimental band Múm. Jun 15, 8pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $80.

musicals

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Pursuant: A Musical Wonder what it would be like to live in a society where dreaming is disallowed? No? Well anyway. Pursuant: The Musical centers around a young boy who, along with his buddies, goes on a sacred mission to restore the ability of society to dream again. May 31, 8pm. The Drama Centre, National Library, #05-01, 100 Victoria St., 6837-8400. $30-40. www.singaporeopera.com.sg.

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I-S PICK> Dirty Dancing The theater show written by Eleanor Bergstein— also the script writer and co-producer of the 1987 Dirty Dancing movie—tells the tale of teenager Baby and dance instructor Johnny who fall in love at Kellerman’s resort over the summer.

The performance features hit songs such as “Hungry Eyes”, “Hey Baby”, “Do You Love Me?” and “Time Of My Life.” May 24-26, 8pm; May 25-26,

SCENE & HEARD with Crystal Lee

Grand Designs The gazetted conservation building along Middle Road, where St. Anthony’s Convent and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts used to be, is now the designated spot for the city’s first National Design Centre (111 Middle Rd.). Slated to Google and the open end of this year, the World Brain future institution will be a one-stop resource hub where designers of all disciplines can come together to exchange ideas and collaborate through its programs and exhibits. Facilities including a proto-typing lab, design galleries and an auditorium, as well as the offices of the national design agency DesignSingapore Council will also be housed within the center.

“Design is the other enabling tool to help businesses increase productivity and develop innovative products and services that meet user needs,” said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, minister for communications and information recenty. “(It) also plays an important role in enhancing our everyday life. For example, we can employ design to our physical and social spaces to improve the lives of the communities.” And speaking of design, film buffs shouldn’t miss the annual Design Film Festival (June 15-16. Drama Theatre, School of the Arts, 1 Zubir Said Dr., 6440-7330, www.designfilmfestival.com. $8-$12), which showcases a curated collection of films dedicated to architecture, fashion, photography, street and the subcultures of design. This year’s film list includes Marina Abramovic’s The Artist is Present, Ben Lewis’s Google and the World Brain and Christopher Kenneally’s Side by Side.

2pm; May 28-Jun 2, 8pm; Jun 1-2, 2pm; Jun 4-9, 8pm; Jun 8-9, 2pm; Jun 11-16, 8pm. Grand Theater (MBS), The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868. $55-175 from SISTIC.

theater

Pot of Gold Ceramics and pottery don't get much attention in Singapore’s arts scene, but that might be about to change with the opening of the quirkly named and centrally-located Pot Potter Pottest (#01-01, 16 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6440-4886, www.facebook. com/potpotterpottest), a gallery dedicated to the works of local potters. "Interest in both local artists and the art of pottery in Singapore has been increasing in recent years. We thought it is important to fuel this interest and help build a name for Singapore potters in the international art arena,” says Mark Lee, potter and one of the five owners of the gallery. Currently on display are pottery works by all five founders (Eddie Yeow, Delphine Sng, Jo-Ann Yang, Chew Su-Jin), but they’re also working with other local artists, like Lim Kim Hui for its inaugural showcase, for upcoming exhibitions. clee@asia-city.com.sg

25. Kult, #C2-5 Emily Hill, 11 Upper Wilkie Rd. Call 6338-1066 for more info. Free.

I-S PICK

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Loud Mouth Loving Debutants The Common Folk in collaboration with the Substation bring forth a masked performance boasting an ensemble cast. The piece depicts a series of whimsical and thought-provoking confessions from a Singaporean point of view. May 25, 8pm; May 26, 3pm, 8pm. The Substation Theatre, 45 Armenian St. Call 6337-7800 for more info. $15 from The Substation.

ART last chance

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Pot Potter Pottest

I-S PICK> A Kult Exhibition about Books Previously featured in the Singapore Design Society Festival, the unique interpretations of book covers by over 50 local and international artists will be showcased at the exhibition. Look out for outstanding artworks by Genevieve Gauckler (Netherlands), John Burgerman (UK), Speak Cryptic (Singapore) and Sakiroo (Korea) at $300 each. Through May

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Soundwaves British artist Tim Wakefield’s unique artworks are created by capturing the digital heartbeat of some of the world’s most iconic musicians including Eric Clapton, BB King, Pink Floyd and The Clash. Through May 31.

Icon Gallery, 476 River Valley Rd., 6735-4550. Free.

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I-S PICK> Anthology of the Abysmal Local street artist ZERO's intimate paintings are a departure from his usual take on society and space in Singapore, exploring instead a more emotional and personal side of his life to create involving self-portraits. Through May 26. Chan Hampe

Galleries, #01-20/21 Raffles Hotel, Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd. Call 6338-1962 for more info.

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I-S PICK> Being Together: Family and Portraits Revered local photographer John Clang's first museum show consists of a collection of his best works, namely portraitures of modern families from his Being Together series.

Through May 26. National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 63325642. $5.

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Yamato Dynamics A group exhibition on Japanese contemporary art by eight artists featuring an eclectic mix of traditional and digital paintings, video art and ceramics. Through May 26.

Mizuma Gallery (Gillman Barracks), #01-34, 22 Lock Rd. Call 6570-2505 for more info. Free.

continuing

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I-S PICK> Young Blood Hip contemporary pieces by some of the world’s most sought-after up-and-comers including C215, Mac1, The London Police, Noah Wunsch, Emer Haverick, Flore Zoe and Ali Alisir. Through Jun 2. Opera Gallery, #03-05 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, 6735-2618. Free.

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 25

ART » SPORTS » FOOD & DRINK Email event news to art@asia-city.com.sg, sports@asia-city.com.sg and food@asia-city.com.sg

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of her journey to the International Territory of Svalbard in 2011.

Through Jun 2. Fost Gallery (Gillman Barracks), #01-02, 1 Lock Rd., 66943080. Free.

Immanenf Geographies Photography group show by the likes of Baguio-based Kidlat De Guia, London-based artist RJ Fernandez and Danish-Filipina Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen. Through Jun 2. The Drawing Room (Gillman Barracks), #01-06, 5 Lock Rd., 6694-3289. Free.

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Re-Reading This group show featuring Chinese artists Li Shan, Ding Yi, Shen Fan and Pu Jie allows visitors to explore the artworks in different time, space and cultural contexts.

Through Jun 3. Shanghart Gallery (Gillman Barracks), #02-22, 9 Lock Rd., 6734-9537. Free.

I-S PICK

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I-S PICK> Tetraphilia Nadim Abbas' first solo show here is a compelling installation mapping the word “tetra” (better known as a prefix meaning four) and continues the artist's psychological explorations on perception. Through Jun 9. Hermes, #01-02A Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Rd., 6738-9807. Free.

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| ‘relikt | Edgy pieces by Filipino greats Jet Pascua, Ryan Villamael and Costantino Zicarelli exploring meaning in symbolism. Through May 26. Silverlens (Gillman Barracks), #01-25, 47 Malan Rd., 6694-4077. Free.

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I-S PICK> Every trick only needs one truth Award-winning Singapore contemporary oil painter and sculptor David Chan invites the audience to search for the truth in the face of their own swift and often misleading judgements through his cleverly layered artworks. Through Jun 15. Art Seasons

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Silence on a Milk Mountain Local artist Wyn-Lyn Tan's paintings of glacial landscapes are the culmination

SCENESTEALER Fight Comic The regular participants from standup comedy competition Fight Comic share what it’s like to be a working funnyman in Singapore.

SS: The audience always lets me know when I've gone too far. Yeah, loads of stuff is outof-bounds, but I don't think you want to print those topics in this magazine.

Why’d you decide to be a comic? Is it all it’s cracked up to be?

Fakkah Fuzz: I love connecting with people through jokes.

Plus, it makes me look a little attractive. I went to a Star Trek convention once and they told me, "Nice alien make up.” I wasn't wearing any.

What’s the best part about standup comedy?

Fakkah Fuzz

FF: When the audience laughs. That way you know you're doing your job.

SS: Waiting a long time for the audience to stop laughing so I can tell my next joke.

What makes comedy worthwhile?

Suzanne Shepherd: I decided to become FF: I am a stunt Suzanna a comic because just the performer by day, a Sheperd thought of it scared the standup comedian by night tar out of me. I think that and I also work as an actor from you should do things that scare time to time. I earn as much as a you. Otherwise, you'll probably garbage collector earns. But I do lead a pretty small life. I'm not what I love. No offence, of course, saying I live an important life, to garbage collectors who love but I do know what "exhilarated" being garbage collectors. feels like.

SS: My income is not derived How do you know when a joke from comedy. For me, comedy is worthwhile because I know what has gone too far? it's like to be sad and depressed.

FF: I feel a joke never crosses any I know how much it sucks, so I bounds as long as it is a proper try to make people laugh so they joke and you are able to see don't have to feel like that. the humor in it. However, it is Chin Hui Wen subjected to how tasteful it is or Fight Comic is on every Thursday, if it is related to a tragedy, how soon is too soon before you tell it? 9-11pm at Blu Jaz Café, 11 Bali Lane, 6292-3800, www.blujaz.net.

26 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

Gallery, #02-21/24 PoMo, 1 Selegie Rd. Call 6741-6366 for more info. Free.

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WHY NOT? Go Fishing

Ian Woo: How I Forgot to Be Happy More abstract artworks from one of our foremost artists. The lineup of works emphasizes the materiality of paint. Through Jun 16.

Tomio Koyama Gallery (Gillman Barracks), #01-26, 47 Malan Rd., 6659-7068. Free.

Want to pick up fishing as a hobby, but not sure where to start? The team of fishing enthusiasts at CatchBay (30 Ubi Road 4, 6743-3628, www.facebook.com/ Catchbay), a new retail concept store, will get you (ahem) hooked on angling. The place offers the chance to bond with like-minded fishing pros and newbies while watching videos of fishing trips by experts—a sure-fire way to get you revved up for your own adventures at sea. The shop also offers practical services like fishing rod repair and rod assembly (from $100). Foo Rong En

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The Ladder to Somewhere Drawing inspiration from Philippine mythology and legends, renowned painter Rodel Tapaya's solo exhibition here explores the intersections between disparate realms between mortals and immortals. Through Jun 30.

ARNDT, #01-35 Gillman Barracks, 22 Lock Rd. Call 6734-0775 for more info. Free.

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opening Assemblage Korean artist Chun Kwang Young's showcases 22 of his works, which explore the dichotomies in life through the aggregation of polysterene foam triangles wrapped in traditional Korean mulberry paper.

May 30-Jul 27. Art Plural Gallery, 38 Armenian St. Call 6636-8360 for more info. Free.

Barclays. Jun 1, 9am. Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr., 6420-6841. $20-35.

I-S PICK

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March 71 Revered veteran Chinese graphic designer and artist Kan Tai-Keung’s works blend elements of traditional landscape paintings with graphic design principles to interesting effect. May 31-Jun 9. Hakaren Art Gallery, #02-43 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Rd., 6733-3382.

Free.

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Clifford Pier—A Place in our Hearts A photo exhibition chronicling the different roles the pier played in the sociopolitical landscape of Singapore from 1933 to 2006. Jun 3-Aug 31. Clifford Pier, Collyer Quay.

Free.

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Devotion & Desire: Cross Cultural Art in Asia See the fruits of artistic and cultural exchange across borders at this show of over 150 works of Asian, European and Middle Eastern origin. May 30-Dec 8, 9am. Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place. Call 6332-7798 / 6332-3275 for more info.

Sports

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HomeTeamNS REAL Run 2013 This large-scale run will feature men and women competing in junior, standard, and veteran categories. Catch this showdown of physical prowess as runners race on a sprawling track that spans some very tricky beach terrain.

May 25, 7:30am. Sentosa Island, 1800-736-8672. www.realrun.sg.

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Sundown Marathon This annual night race continues to provide an adrenaline rush not just for the participants, but also on-lookers. May 31. Starts at Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Dr., 6340-4200. $40-85 from www. sundownmarathon.com.

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Bare Your Sole Leave your shoes at home for charity in this walking event organized by Habitat for Humanity and

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I-S Xperience: Twist and Turn Pick up effective Pilates moves in two intensive sessions starting this June, from the fit folk of Sky Pilates.

Jun 15, 2pm. Sky Pilates, #05-03 Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Rd., 61007597. Register on www. is-magazine.com/isx. Free.

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FairPrice Walks With U This inaugural walking event features a scenic 4km route which begins at the Marina Barrage and continues through Gardens by the Bay East before returning to the start point. Along, the way, expect a series of performances and games. Jun 29, 8am. Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Dr., 65145959. $15-55. www.whatsupatfairprice. com.sg/walk.

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Race Against Cancer Raise money for cancer patients by taking part in this running competition, where individuals can either compete in the 10km run,15km run or participate in the 5km Fun Run. Better still, gather your collegues and join forces for the Team Challenge with a minimum of five runners per organisation for the 10km Competitive Run. Jul 21, 7am.

East Coast Park Area E2 (Angsana Green), 1220 East Coast Parkway. Call 6421-5862 for more info. $42-55.

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Pokka Sports Water TRI-Factor Series 2013 Whether you’re a beginner, a professional or just there for fun (we spotted Wonder Woman), this triathlon’s for you. A total of four events are being organized including the TRI-Factor Bike (Jun 9), the TRI-Factor Run (Jul 7) before concluding with the TRI-Factor Triathlon Aug 18. Sign up on their website. Through Aug 18. Tanjong Beach, Tanjong Beach Walk. $24-145

food & drink

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Gourmet Japan: A Kaiseki Experience with Suntory Whiskies Chef Kazuhiro Hamamoto presents this kaiseki meal paired with Hibiki, Hakusu and Yamazaki whiskies.

Purchase your tickets from the website.

May 29, 7pm. Ki-sho, Chateau Tcc, 29 Scotts Rd. Call 6733-5251 for more info. $358.

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I-S PICK> The World Street Food Congress 2013 This inaugural 10-day food fiesta features up to 35 top street food masters from the region and around the world. There will also be a two-day World Street Food Dialogue for stakeholders to network and share ideas, which will culminate in the World Street Food Awards Dinner. May 31-Jun 9. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd. Call 6438-4038 for more info.

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...Thru Time and Space This 15-course dinner by chef Stephan Zoisl will be centered around the theme ...Thru Space and Time. Expect a meal prepared with a range of techniques (think nitrogen freezing and sous vide), served up in a elaborately decorated space. Jul 5-11, 8pm. My Private Pantry, 61 Tras St., 6224-4050.

I-S PICK

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I-S Xperience: Bake and Take Fifteen readers can discover how the wonderful pastries from artisanal patisserie Dolcetto by Basilico are made in this mini master class by chef Angelo Ciccone. Jun 26, 7pm.

Dolcetto by Basilico, G/F The Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Rd., 67208000. Register on www.is-magazine. com.isx. Free.

STUFF Email event news to stuff@asia-city.com.sg

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I-S PICK> Beerfest Asia Taste over 250 beers from around the world, enjoy live performances by talented tribute and comedy acts, as well as attend connoiseur workshops in this annual event. Jun 13-16, 6pm. Marina Promenade, F1 tracks behind the Singapore Flyer, 6338-8277. $20-80 from Sistic.

STUFF etc

chef Paul Bates at The Commonwealth Wine & Gourmet Dinner (Jun 7), a football clinic with four ex-Manchester United legends including Andy Cole and Denis Irwin and an exhibition showcasing up-and-coming British artists like Tim Wakefield and Horace Panter.

Jun 7-16. The British Club, 73 Bukit Tinggi Rd., 6467-4311.

classes & workshops

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The LASALLE Show 2013 Exhibition Over 900 works from the Design, Fine Arts, Film, Animation, Media Arts, Dance, Music, Theatre and Art Therapy scholls from Lasalle, curated by Dr Charles Merewether. May 24-Jun 6. ICA Gallery, #B1-04 LASALLE College of the Arts, 1 McNally St., 6496-5000. Free.

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Ad:tech Singapore 2013 The largest media and marketing event for all brand advertisers, traditional and interactive agencies, portals, on-line publishers and service providers provides an unparalleled opportunity to showcase and discover new practices and technologies. Jun 13-14, 9am.

Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Blvd., 6337-2888. $25-1,195.

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I-S PICK>The Best of British 2013 In celebration of its 30th anniversary, The British Club Singapore is presenting this 10-day festival featuring Michelin-starred

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“We all live in a LOMO Submarine” LC-A+ Krab Underwater Housing Workshop Try your hands at underwater photography with the LC-A+ and its underwater Krab. May 26, 3pm.

Call 6223-8850 for more info. 10. www.lomography.sg.

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The Perfumer’s Workbench with Gauri Garodia Code Deco's founder and creative director puts out a series of multi-sensory workshops that attempts to demystify the art and science of perfumery. May 30, 10:30am.

The Screening Room, 12 Ann Siang Rd., 6221-1694. $150 refreshments included.

sales & fairs

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Clarke Quay Traders’ Market: Best of Blog Shops A collaboration between Clarke Quay and flea market brand For Flea Sake, the June edition of the Clarke Quay Traders' Market features a 'Best of Blog Shops' theme, with celebrity bloggers selling their wares and live band performances. Jun 14-15, 5pm. Clarke Quay, 3 River Valley Rd., 6337-3292. Free.

E X C L U S I V E L Y for i - s app subsrcibers

HAPPY HOURS

FLASH GIVEAWAYS

from the I-S happy hour smartphone app

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Amber Nectar Enjoy 1-for-1 deals on brews by Hofbräuhaus (from $9)—the royal brewery of the Kingdom of Bavaria— including Hofbräu Original Lager and Hofbräu Schwarze Weisse. Daily,5-8pm. #01-10/11 Robertson Walk, 11 Unity St., 6737-3774.

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Artery Bar Get 1-for-1 on housepours ($15) and house wines ($18). Mon-Thu, 4-8pm. 3-8pm, Fri 3pm-3am. #01-04 Red Dot Traffic Building, 28 Maxwell Rd., 63274820, www.artery.sg.

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Caveau Wines and Bar This happy hour deal gets you red wine (Chateau Barrejat 2010 from Madiran), white wine (Château du Poyet 2010 from Muscadet de Sevre et Maine), rosé (Château des Sarrins 2010 from Côte de Provence) and whisky (Nikka 12-years from Japan) all going at $8 a pop.

Daily 5-8pm. #02-10 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6737-2622.

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Gravity Bar Sink into the hotel bar’s plush chairs and unwind with live music and happy hour prices. Daily, 3-8pm. G/F Carlton Hotel, 76 Bras Basah Rd., 6311-8839.

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Win top prizes every Friday!

r ˸§ a world of gourmet flavors, artisan-produced foods and handcrafted indulgences

La Villa Throw back Heineken draft beer, prosecco, and housepour cocktails at 1-for-1 prices. Mon-Fri 6-8pm. 341 River Balley Rd., 6836-5286.

Skyve Enjoy 1-for-1 on Hoegaarden and Stella Artois, as well as selected house wines at the Skyyve Alfresco or Lounge Area. Daily, 4-8pm. #01-17 Blk. E, 10 Winstedt Rd., 6225-6690.

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Wings Bar 50% off all draft beers, housepour spirits and cocktails from 5-6pm and 25% off from 6pm onwards. A tray of eight shooters go for $50++ all night. Daily, 5-7pm. #01-02 Blk. D Clarke Quay, 3 River Balley Rd., 6333-4460.

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Wooloomooloo Steakhouse Australian and New Zealand wines, as well as 20-odd cocktails and mini cheeseburgers, are at $12++ each. Daily, 4-9pm. 3/F Swissotel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Rd., 6338-0261, www.wooloo-mooloo.com.

Thirsty?

Locate drink deals near you 24/7, sorted by the time of day and distance from your current location – in Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong!

May 31: Gym passes and bags up for grabs!

Turn on your notifications to win other exciting prizes exclusively for tablet app users!

(In Settings: Notifications, select I-S Magazine and switch Notification Center to ON.) www.is-magazine.com/app

Download at is.asia-city.com/happy-hour

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 I-S MAGAZINE 27

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

nightlife

BARFLY Art Bars Test out your beer goggles at these bars that do double duty as art galleries.

nightlife events

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Standard Vesak Day ft. Aidan Bamrah Training Shed and Backyard@Dempsey party regular Aidan Bamrah brings his signature Afro-Brazilian-inflected drum beats to the Mansion for this Vesak Day special. May 24, 10pm. The Mansion, #02-10/15 Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Rd., 6734-2276.

The Vault

22

dj gigs

7adam

Mad Nest

Situated atop a hill off Adam Road in a tranquil black-and-white colonial building, this not-sohidden gem is a fusion bar-restaurant that doubles up as an art gallery. Coming here feels a bit like stepping into a moneyed art connoisseur’s house, what with paintings on the walls and sculptures displayed quite nonchalantly in various rooms.

Swing by before July 23 and you’ll catch an exhibition of Malaysian artist Eng Tay’s Boteroesque works, inspired by and revolving around the concept of family. Although it’s best known for its European-Asian food, we’re certain appreciating the artwork here with a glass of wine or two wouldn’t go down too badly either.

Well known to Easties, this airy restaurantgallery along East Coast Road is one of the few art spaces in an area almost totally dominated by food. It’s no surprise that the menu is staggering and covers practically all the bases, from Italian to Japanese to North Indian food, and that the drinks list is equally diverse. (They’re tweaking the alcohol menu right now, but we hope the fun craft beer and cider selection stays.) Artistically, the stuff on show here veers towards the friendly and harmlessly quirky—the kind of inoffensive stuff you’d buy as a gift, perhaps. Case in point: the current exhibition (through May 30) features illustrations based on street style snaps on websites like Shentonista and Sartorial Daily.

7 Adam Park, 64670777, www.7adam.com.

Open daily 11am-11pm; gallery closes at 8pm.

The Vault

378/380 East Coast Rd., 3648-6867, www.madnest. sg. Open Mon-Fri 4pm-1am; Sat-Sun 11am-1am.

As if being one of the mpst popular bars in town wasn’t enough, this Chinatown joint has been hitting the sweet spot between corporate-chic and indie-cool lately. With its rotating showcase of local contemporary art, bimonthly Sunday Artists Market (next one’s on June 2, 11am) and flash mob art performance Stand Up For Artists Rights! (just past), it’s now steadily becoming a hangout for local music, art and fashion types.

(Adorning the walls right now are Amanda Ang’s (An Everyday Muse) pieces.) The drinks aren’t terribly inventive, but you’ll want them handy as you join in the ruckus—the monthly exhibition openings are a great excuse to drop by.

22

237 South Bridge Rd., 6222-5001, www.thevault. com.sg. Open Wed-Sat 5pm-3am.

22 Mosque St., 8157-7556. Open Mon-Thu 4:30pm1am; Fri-Sat 4:30pm-2am.

This snazzy little bar tucked amongst the dodgy shops along Mosque Street may be low profile (they don’t have a website or Twitter) but it boasts plenty of art cred, being the brainchild of Malaysian designer P.C. Ee. This small, speakeasytype space is packed with plenty of style, bearing lots of unfinished brick, concrete and metal for an industrial-chic vibe, which make a great backdrop for the underground art it showcases, such as the work of Thai graffiti artist P7. Complete the experience with Thai bites and cocktails ($15) created with Asian ingredients like pandan syrup, lemongrass and bandung. Clara Lim

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Rewind featuring Ian Pooley Supported by Brendon P & Shigeki With five albums to his name, German producer/DJ Ian Poole has garnered a cult status in the underground music scene with his slow yet sexy hip hop beats. May 24, 10pm.

KyÖ, Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6222-5001. $20 including one drink.

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ONE with Aldrin & Friends featuring Maurice Simon DJ Aldrin and Maurice Simon takes over the console for a night of genre-bending dance music as ONE celebrates its tenth year. May 24, 10pm.

Velvet Underground, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $25-32 including two drinks. www.zoukclub.com.

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Forward featuring Zig Zach Supported by Norman C & Ramesh K Fans of deep house, nu-disco and tech-house will find a home on this night as DJ Zig Zach doles out his signature tunes. May 25, 10pm. Kyō, Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 62225001. $20 including one drink.

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Home Club Presents Trance Republic A lineup that includes trance specialists Hardtek SG, SG Hardcore Crew and Bren X Yoji. May 25, 10pm. Home Club, #B1-01/06 The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Rd., 65382928. $15 including one drink.

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Para//el presents Ben Klock with Adrian Wee DJ, producer and label owner Ben Klock will be flying in from Berlin and dishing out his brand

Coming Soon!

The definitive, updated guide to the best bars, brewpubs, clubs and cocktail lounges in Singapore.

Free with the June 14 issue of I-S Also available in the I-S Tablet App and as a PDF download

28 I-S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, May 24, 2013

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The Great TGIW: STARS & STRIPES with Ghetto, Matthew & MC EJ The Great TGIW makes a comeback with Ghetto, backed up by Emcee EJ with hip hop and electro grooves. Or let Adrian Wee and djB take you back in time with Total Recall, playing hits from the '90s.

Over at Phuture, Ming unleashes his onslaught of drum and bass and old school UK dubstep. May 29, 10pm.

Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $0-25 including two drinks.

I-S PICK

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CODE with Hong and Lincey Zouk's resident DJs Hong and Lincey will deliver crowd favorites from electrohouse to tech-funk. May 24, 10pm.

Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $25-32 including two drinks.

Got an idea for Barfly? Email us at nightlife@asia-city.com.sg

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of techno with deep and hypnotic grooves. May 25, 10pm. Velvet Underground, 17 Jiak Kim St., 67382988. $25-32 including two drinks.

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ZSS presents Third Party with Hong London duo Third Party are bringing the resurgence of European progressive house here.

May 25, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $25-32 including two drinks. www.zoukclub.com.

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Pleasuredome Chill out with DJ Small and DJ JNR's tunes as they revisit dance anthems of the '80s and '90s. May 31, 10pm. The Mansion, #02-10/15 Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Rd., 6734-2276.

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I-S PICK> Transfix presents Cosmic Gate with Hong With a decade of achievements and awards under their belt, German duo Cosmic Gate will be in town with their boundary-pushing trance music. May 31, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $40 including two drinks.

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I-S PICK>Wax On Wax Off Loof's all-vinyl night returns and sees DJ Brendon P, Kenneth Francis, Joshua P and Gerald Ang stripping down the music for a night of analog bliss. Jun 1, 9pm. Loof, #03-07 Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop, 331 North Bridge Rd., 6338-8035. Free.

FILM Email film news to film@asia-city.com.sg

FILM continuing Admission • (US) Paul Rudd and Tina Fey team up in this so-so rom-com by About a Boy’s Paul Weitz.

Populaire • (France) Despite a relatively charming plot coupled with aesthetics set in the ‘50s, it still leaves much to be desired due to the lack of steamy French romance one would expect involving an ambitious boss and his lovely secretary.

The Big Wedding • (US) Cliched Hollywood romance, even with heavyweights Robert DeNiro and Diane Keaton on board.

I-S PICK> Spring Breakers • (US) Cult director Harmony Korine’s latest is a hypnotic study on the search for the meaning of life set in modern day Florida. James Franco and Selena Gomez star.

The Call • (US) Actress Halle Berry admitted that she signed up for this thriller just for the paycheck. Your call.

Star Trek Into Darkness • (US) Explosive, darker sequel helmed by the somewhat reliable J.J. Abrams.

Emperor • (US) Matthew Fox and Tommy Lee Jones headline another pedestrian war film.

I-S PICK> Trance • (US) Danny Boyle’s latest is a trippy whodunit with a stellar cast including James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel and Rosario Dawson.

Fast and Furious 6 • (US) Nothing new here, except Vin Diesel looking aged.

Identity Thief • (US) Potential stinker as Jason Bateman and Kathy McCarthy square off in a comedy about mistaken identities.

Olympus Has Fallen • (US) Director Antoine Fuqua attempts to bring plenty of tension and explosive drama in this so-so thriller about a takeover of the White House.

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opening Dead Man Down • (US) Collin Farrell and Noomi Rapace star in this steamy thriller about a tough right-hand man embroiled in a woman’s retribution plans.

Great Expectations • (US) Director Mike Newell abides by the principles that made David Lean’s 1946 rendition a memorable classic and refreshes it rather impeccably.

Guilty of Romance

(Japan). Directed by Sion Sono. Stars Megumi Kagurazaka, Kanji Tsuda and Makoto Togashi. Continuing.

Trust the Japanese to come up with the most morbid of storylines. Divided into five “chapters”, cult director Sion Sono’s Guilty Of Romance (the third of his Hate trilogy) focuses on two central woman figures: The main character, Izumi (Megumi Kagurazaka), subservient to her demanding and seemingly straight-arrow novelist husband (Kanji Tsuda), is just plain bored with the routines of marriage. They agree she could use some distraction, so she takes a job in a supermarket selling sausages (subtlety is obviously lost on the director). After meeting a manipulative procuress on the job, she becomes a nude model for sex films, then begins an affair with her handsome co-star. The floodgates open. This formerly meek woman turns aggressively to prostitution, all the while maintaining her wifely demeanour at home.

Izumi becomes an acolyte of Mitsuko (Makoto Togashi), an academic by day and a sexually demented prostitute at night, who maintains that her nocturnal persona “empowers” her. A born cynic, she teaches the naive Izumi the ropes and advises Izumi to have sex only for money while getting her immersed in the gloomy poems of Japan’s famed Tamura Ryuichi. In one of the film’s unexpected build-ups, Mitsuko arranges for an orange-wigged Izumi to take on as a client her own unsuspecting husband. He is obviously as bored with their dead-end marriage as she is. Cue bloodbath in the end.

While we’ve seen enough sex-themed Japanese dramas, Guilty of Romance is still mildly interesting for its clever use of poet Ryuichi’s affecting work to lift its central themes of meaningless love and sex. And there’s certainly enough gratuitous nudity (Kagurazaka is quite the looker) to keep viewers entertained. Character development may be a tad abrupt (the film was 143-minutes when it made its Cannes premiere last year, cut down to its current 100), but this is as entertaining as it gets when it comes to torture porn. Terry Ong

Dean & Deluca

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Store · The Substation · Bobby’s @ Chijmes · Hog’s Breath Café · Actually · Front Row · Loof · Dome Café @ Singapore Art Museum · CLARKE QUAY · Cassis · Brewerkz · Ricciotti @ The Riverwalk · Wings · The Central L1 Customer Service · San Sui Contemporary Japanese Dining & Bar · Crazy Elephant · Mad for Garlic · Fern & Kiwi · DEMPSEY · Jones The Grocer · White Rabbit · 22 Dempsey · CMPB - Contemporary MeltingPot & Bar · Don Quijote · House, Barracks & Camp · Dome Café @ Dempsey · Red Dot Brewhouse · Oktober Munich Restaurant and Bar · DHOBY GHAUT · Timbre @ Old School · Dubliner Irish Bar · EAST · Just Salad · HARBOURFRONT · Prive Bakery Café · Brotzeit @ Vivo City · Carnivore Brazilian Churrascaria @ Vivocity · Modesto’s @ Vivo · Coffee Club

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health & beauty

freewill astrology

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20): A character in Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel A Game of You delivers this speech: “Everybody has a secret world inside of them… No matter how dull and boring they are on the outside, inside them they’ve all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid worlds. Not just one world. Hundreds of them.” As a Gemini, you are not, of course, dull and boring on the outside. That may have something to do with why your secret inner worlds are often even frothier and sparklier than most people’s.

But lately, I’m afraid some of those secret inner worlds of yours have gotten a bit shabby and dank. It’s time for a deep cleansing. To be thorough, don’t just wash your own brain. Wash your wild heart and funky soul, too.

CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22): “You begin saving the world by saving one person at a time,” said writer Charles Bukowski. “All else is grandiose romanticism or politics.” I invite you to make that thought one of your guiding principles in the coming week, Cancerian. Translate your high ideals into actions that make a practical impact on particular human beings and animals. Instead of merely talking about what good things you want to do, actually do them. As much as possible, be sure that every detail of your daily life reflects your vision of ultimate truth and beauty.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): If you were a fledgling savior, now would be a propitious moment to begin your messianic mission. If you were a musician hoping to leap to the next level of career success, this would be prime time to plan an extensive tour. If you were the inventor of the Next Big Thing, I’d suggest that you get your marketing campaign in gear. And if none of those descriptions fits your personal situation, regard them as apt metaphors for your use. How can you spread the word about what’s most important to you?

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): As frontman of the band Queen, Virgo singer Freddie Mercury made use of his four-octave range with flamboyant showmanship and breathtaking technique. Many critics regard him as one of the greatest vocalists in the history of pop music. Freddie joked that he was perfect except for one glaring flaw: his overbite. Because he had four extra teeth in his upper mouth, his top jaw protruded. But he chose not to alter his appearance with surgery because he suspected it might change his singing voice in unpredictable ways. Is there a comparable situation in your own life, Virgo? A so-called imperfection that seems to be entwined with a beautiful asset?

I urge you to be like Freddie. Accept the paradox— embrace it and celebrate it—and move on.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22): The 14th-century poet Dante was a major influence on 20th-century novelist James Joyce. “I love Dante,” wrote the author of the epic novel Ulysses. “He is my spiritual food.” And yet Joyce felt he had to absorb Dante in small doses. “Dante tires one quickly,” he said.

“It is as if one were to look at the sun.” Is there any influence like that in your own life, Libra?

Judging from the astrological omens, I’m guessing it’s a fine time for you to get as much sustained exposure to that glorious source as you can bear.

SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): Greek poet Sappho was renowned in antiquity. The nine books she wrote were so esteemed that the historian Strabo wrote, “In this whole span of recorded time we know of no woman to challenge her as a poet even in the slightest degree.” And yet little of Sappho’s work survives. As of 2004 there were just 264 fragments and three complete poems. But then a fourth complete poem emerged. Its text was written on papyrus that had been wrapped in the casing of an Egyptian mummy. The mummy had been stored for years in a backroom at Cologne University in Germany before someone discovered its hidden treasure. Your assignment, Scorpio, is to seek an equivalent recovery. Search for a part of the past that’s still beautiful and useful, even if that quest leads you to unlikely and obscure places.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): When I turn my psychic attention in your direction, I smell smoldering smoke. Here’s how I interpret that: Your internal fire is burning with less than maximum efficiency.

Do you agree, Sagittarius? If so, do you know

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I‑S MAGAZINE FRIDAY, may 24, 2013

Week of May 24 © 2013 Rob Brezsny

why that might be? Did you not provide enough kindling? Is the wood too green? Is the ground wet? I urge you to find out what the problem is.

You can’t afford to have sputtering flames and sooty light and spotty warmth. You need a steady blaze that radiates brilliant light and strong heat.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Very few of us are completely uninhibited about expressing who we really are. Most everyone is shy about revealing at least one facet of his or her identity. Why? Maybe because we’re afraid that people will judge us harshly for being different from what they think we should be. Or maybe our secret side is at odds with our self-image, and we hesitate to acknowledge it even to ourselves. What is this part of you, Capricorn? In what sense are you still in the closet about a truth or quality or event that’s central to your character? I urge you to have a conversation with yourself about it. You aren’t necessarily ready to tell the whole world about it, but now might be the right time to start considering the possibility that you can give it more room to play.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): I absolutely forbid you to be a slave of happiness, a victim of pleasure, or a prisoner of love. Wait. Sorry. I take that back. What gives me the right to forbid you from doing anything?

It’s your life. You’re the boss. So let me reframe my previous advice. Dear Aquarius, I beg you not to be a slave of happiness, a victim of pleasure, or a prisoner of love. None of the good things in life will give you what you need if you make yourself crazy or sick while pursuing them. That’s the cautionary news. The encouraging news is that in the next five weeks, I think you will have a knack for cultivating a graceful relationship with happiness, pleasure and love.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Don’t be like the ducks that are floating on Phoenix Lake a short distance from where I’m sitting. They’re feeding entirely on the surface, happy to skim a few insects from the top of the placid waters they’re drifting on. No, Pisces, be more like the frogs that are diving to probe for morsels down below.

This is a phase of your astrological cycle when the quest for more variety can deepen your perspective and provide better nourishment.

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): In the alternate universe created by Marvel comic books, there is a mutant superhero called Squirrel Girl. She has the magic power to summon hordes of cute, furry squirrels.

Under her guidance, they swarm all over the bad guy she’s battling and disable him with their thousands of tiny chomps and thrashing tails. She and her rodent allies have defeated such arch-villains as Dr. Doom, Deadpool, Baron Mordo and Ego the Living Planet. Let’s make her your role model for the coming weeks, Aries. The cumulative force of many small things will be the key to your victories. As in Squirrel Girl’s case, your adversaries’ overconfidence may also be a factor.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): You have arrived at the edge of reality. Or rather, to be precise, you have arrived at the edge of what you think of as reality.

Here’s where things could get very interesting. Just on the other side of that edge you’re brushing up against, there is much, much more reality—a vast territory you have barely imagined, let alone believed in or explored. Are you feeling brave? If you’re willing to find out about stuff you didn’t even realize you would love to experience, I suggest you slip across the border and wander around on the other side.

LAST WORD WHAT’S NEW AT

Jonathan Atherton The quick-witted director of Comedy Asia takes time off from running shows in seven countries, including Singapore, to talk guilty pleasures, fears and love with Hidayah Salamat.

I’m a two-faced, charming, flirtatious, quick-witted scoundrel.

I’ve lived in Singapore for five years, but I’ve been visiting since the late ‘70s. It was a long distance affair that ended up in us shacking up together.

I’ve learnt that the business side of what I do does not define me.

I get much more joy from simply performing comedy and even more by helping young Singaporean comics develop their skills.

The people here don’t appreciate shock value or dark comedy.

There’s been more They like their humor to evolution than be positive. I do a lot of revolution. By jokes about life from I don’t and large, the point of view Singapore has believe of the foreigner changed for who doesn’t know Singaporeans the better. what’s going on. are racist It’s a great But in doing so, at all shame that I am actually xenophobic demonstrating tendencies have that I do get it. been inflamed by Singaporeans don’t like various interest groups because stereotyping but they do I don’t believe Singaporeans are appreciate accurate parody, racist at all. I think it’s a media as long as it’s funny. beat up designed to distract My girlfriend is French and people from real issues. thinks English speakers use “love” Singaporeans are among too liberally. We say stuff like “I the most gracious and love pizza” and “I love your new hospitable people I have handbag”, which when said by lived and worked with. a woman, actually means, “You Geylang is my favorite part of b*tch, I was saving up for that!” town, not for the red light action I think love is selfless and giving. (which, as it happens, is very safe It is an innate human emotion and tame by world standards) or that we can survive—but never the illegal back alley dice games truly live—without. Being in love (all stopped at about the same on the other hand, is a mental time the casinos opened), but for disorder where you’re subsumed some of the best food in Singapore by another individual, whose and incredibly hospitable locals. wellbeing you place above your I always bring visiting own and whose every whim comedians to Geylang. We becomes your obligation. start with handmade noodles If you’re in love, please and rice wine, and then end up seek professional help. dancing in an open-air dangdut I’m a Gemini. I don’t bar. It’s the closest you can stick around long enough get to the third world without for a rut to happen. When crossing the causeway. it gets boring I leave.

Online

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Beauty Queen

You only know something when it’s your time to know it.

I get really anxious in small confined spaces. If an elevator stops, I feel like my heart will explode. Flying is a nightmare for me, particularly on those sardine can budget airlines.

I only ever live in a house, with a back door and my feet touching the earth. I couldn’t stand being cooped up in a box stacked on boxes adjoining yet more boxes, even if there is a gym and a pool.

Bintan’s been getting real glammed-up of late… We just hope she doesn’t forget the folk that got her started—us.

My favorite spot for having fun is my bedroom and sometimes the dining table when my flatmate is out.

A Real Kick

is.gd/bintanbeautyqueen

An interview with ESPZEN director Lee Taylor, one of the few positive drivers behind the local football scene. is.gd/interviewleetaylorespzen

Going Dutch

Beer, mayo fries and pickled fish—that’s what great parties are made of—and KLM got it right. is.gd/ispyklmdutchborrel

Bonus issue alert!

Look out for the summer travel issue of I-S on May 31.

FRIDAY, may 24, 2013 I‑S MAGAZINE

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