SG Magazine, Feb 20

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 12, 2015

When’s the next long weekend?

# 6 7 2 | S G M A G A Z I N E | PREVIOUSLY I-S MAGAZINE since 1995

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

what’s on what’s new what matters

A gritty side of Singapore by Sufian Samsiyar at Flaneur, the island’s newest gallery.

See ART , page 10 for an interview.

MUSIC

NEIGHBORHOOD

FOOD

TRAVEL

Local Bands to Watch Out For

New East Coast Highlights

Neil Road Taste Trek

Long Weekend Getaways

page 3

Shut Up and Eat

14 feature

12 Local Acts to Watch Out for This Year 4 top 20

8 literary

Family Restaurants of Yesteryears

3 New Books

by Local Writers

6 festival

16 tech

Singapore Design Week

Tablet Fever

17 drink

19 new restaurant

Creative Asian Cocktails

Madrinaa Italiano

The Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill isn’t the only radical piece of legislation going into effect soon. After representatives from several constituencies brought up a shared public disturbance, a new bill was swiftly developed and tabled. The bill was debated, covered widely in the news, accused of systematic discrimination, supported and ridiculed on social media and has now finally become law.

The islandwide Foodies Control (Online and In-Person Nuisance) Bill will go into effect in April 2015 and will ban (1) the public taking of food pictures, (2) the public sharing of food pictures, (3) using the word foodie publically and (4) publically pontificating about food in any way between the hours of 7am-9 am, 12pm-2pm and 7pm-9pm.

20 travel

23 interview

Minister Bo Bee Hoon, in charge of public safety and peace said, “We knew we had a problem on our hands when several citizens with completely normal relationships with food complained that they felt unsafe eating at restaurants and using social media for fear of being disturbed by the fetishes of strangers.”

Long Weekend Getaways

The Busiest Man in Local Theater

For the purposes of the bill, Facebook, Instagram, individual blogs and residences are also defined as public spaces.

Who's in charge?

Publisher & General Manager Ric Stockfis countrymanager@asia-city.com.sg

Advertising Director, Business Development Intan Agustina advertising@asia-city.com.sg

Editorial Managing Editor Mrigaa Sethi editor@asia-city.com.sg

Senior Manager, Media & Marketing Shernan Plameras Executives, Media & Marketing Lee Wee Keong, Roderick Wong, Joy Yao, Swathi Raj

Staff Writer Aaron Khoo Junior Writer Letitia Tandean Custom Content Editor Clara Lim Custom Content Writer Joyce See Intern Erny Luiza Kartolo Design Senior Designer Carmen Louise Ho Designers Fishy Toh, Celeste Chooi

Where to find us!

Bangkok Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd 22/F, Silom Center 2 Silom Road, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02-624-9696 Fax: 02-237-5656 bkmagazine@asia-city.co.th Shanghai shonline@asia-city.com.cn

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

Finance Finance Manager Lynn Legaspi finance@asia-city.com.sg Accountant Huang Huiping Group Directors Chief Executive Officer Gretchen Worth gworth@asia-city.co.th Group Digital Director Greg Duncan gduncan@asia-city.com.sg On the cover Artwork by Sufian Samsiyar

Marketing & Admin Assistant Geraldine Tan

Included in the bill is also what netizens are calling a draconian measure. In addition to the islandwide restrictions, the areas of Duxton Hill, Yong Siak Street, Arab Street and Haji Lane are being designated Foodie Control Zones and will face much stricter limitations, based on police’s operational assessment.

“It’s not profiling,” the minister added. “These are simply areas associated with excessive food photography and related disturbances.”

Concerned citizens have joined together to form the Concerned Foodies for Civil Liberties Facebook page and intend to protest the bill.

The Asia City Media Group

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ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

SG Magazine is published 26 times a year by Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd., 211 Henderson Road, #14-03, Singapore 159552.

Tel: 65-6323-2512 • Fax: 65-6323-2779. Copyright ©2015 Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. The titles “SG Magazine”, “I-S Magazine” and their associated logos or devices, and the content of SG Magazine and I-S Magazine are the property of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. SG Magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Contact the Publisher for ad rates and specifications. All advertising in SG Magazine must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business, copies of which are available upon request. Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte. Ltd., 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968. ISSN 0218-8872 MCI (P) 174/12/2014

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

3

up front HOT OR NOT

Singapore’s latest news, numbers and dramas at a glance

Our biweekly study of the city’s burgeoning (and dying) trends

SAY WHAT? The best comments on our most popular web stories Henrik Riedler Let’s go to all these places.

But you’re paying; I am unemployed—on “Where to eat healthy in Singapore”

Hot: East Coast

Not: CBD

It’s getting less and less difficult to convince our friends to trek out and spend the day in Siglap and Katong with us. With all these new cafes, spas and co-working spaces, there’s no reason to say no. For six reasons to visit, turn to SG Now on page 8.

Michaela Anchan East Coast all the way!

They left out my favorite cafe (Brawn and Brains) but they included Woolf Works so all is forgiven!—on “7 reasons why we love Singapore’s East Coast right now” April Tan It’s not like they cannot get a busker’s license if all they want is exposure.

—on “Promising “exposure” instead of payment is disrespectful to bands” Jiaxin Wu SUGAR YES PLEASE—on “Maroon 5 and Pharrell Williams headline this year’s F1” Dave Lim Nosh-talgia.—on “20 places you ate at with your parents”

Hot: Foodie Festivals

Not: Cheap Eats

While there seems to be daily drama about hawker centers, fancy schmancy eating is in the limelight again, with no less than five food and drink festivals in March and April, including the brand new Singapore Cocktail Week. For the lowdown, turn to SG Eats on page 19.

Be a part of the conversation at www.facebook.com/sgnow.sg

Run blind

Also Hot: Foreign acts

Our local music scene has been hot recently (check out our Feature on page 14) and we’re equally excited for the international acts coming down to Singapore next month. For the complete lowdown on these highly anticipated concerts—both local and international—turn to music on page 8.

SINGAPORE SPARKS

At Runninghour on Mar 21, run with over 200 visually, mentally and physically-challenged runners. The objective of this running event is to advocate good health and promote the inclusion of people with special needs. You can sign up with a friend for the Blind Run category, where one of you will be blindfolded while the other is a running guide. Choose between a 5km ($45) or 10km ($50) run, either competitive or noncompetitive. More details and sign-up at www. runninghour2015.com.

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

Tell us the origin story.

I have been renting for over 20 years and I’ve always hated it. The duplicate, fake, false listings are all

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

What do you plan to do with this fresh injection of funds?

We are completely focused on the Singapore market. The new funding allows us to build the best product we can for both agents and consumers and scale up the supply and demand on our platform.

How did you manage to land funding from Eduardo Saverin and Sequoia Capital?

I was introduced to them by a common friend. While fund raising is not easy, we don’t really spend time on it. We believe in spending most of the time working on the product.

Aaron Khoo

1 Jing Hua Dumplings, pot stickers and “Chinese pancakes”.

2 Colbar Remember post-colonial brunches (before “brunch” even made it into your vocabulary) at this lush place?

3 The Tiffin Room It’s all about the colonial vibes with its Mulligatawny soup and high ceilings.

4 Raffles Grill A dinosaur in the dining scene. Just remember your table manners and be on your best behavior.

5 Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant Remember your mother turning tissues into bibs so you don’t get sauce all over your shirts?

6 Swensens The sundaes and the fish & chips! This place was always a special-day treat.

8 Chatterbox ... unless atas chicken rice was more your family’s speed.

9 Samy’s Curry Restaurant The unassuming restaurant is known for its fiery, finger-licking curries.

10 Pasta Fresca Never mind that all we ordered was greasy spaghetti carbonara at this classic joint.

11 Pete’s Place The cozy, family-style Italian restaurant had super classic food that’s almost ‘80s in palate.

12 Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant This frou-frou Chinese restaurant had the novelty of rotating slowly.

13 Kenny Rogers Who doesn’t love grilled chicken and an entire lineup of sides?

over the market place. The existing pay-to-list system creates an arms race between agents and business costs get passed down to agents and consumers. Only the portals are really benefiting. Agents do not have incentives to do complete, quality listings, and this harms consumer experience. We thought we could do better.

99.co’s unbiased and thorough property listings have gained a faithful following since the startup launched late last year. It has since doubled its traffic to 150,000 visits a month. What’s more, they recently received over $2 million in fresh funding from the likes of Eduardo Saverin (of Facebook fame) and Sequoia Capital. Here, we speak to CEO Darius Cheung about the quirks of the market and why apartment listings are always such a mess.

We’re turning 20 this year, and in the spirit of feeling older and wiser, we look back at some of the places we had many meals with our families.

7 Boon Tong Kee A go-to for Sunday zi char family dinners, thanks to its juicy whole chickens ...

BE GOOD

Hot: Local music

THROWBACK 20

14 Ponderosa We were in it just for the chicken nuggets, onion rings, spaghetti and unlimited soft serve ice cream.

15 A&W Lots of fond memories of coney dogs, root beer floats and curly fries. We’re sad to see this go.

16 Jack’s Place One of our first forays into Western food with steaks, mashed potatoes and grilled chicken.

Like this issue? Read it and every new issue of SG free on your tablet or mobile. issuu.com/sg_magazine

17 Red Star It’s super vintage, with the aunties pushing carts full of dim sum, and everyone loves it.

18 Tony Roma’s For the addictive nature of barbecue ribs, slathered in barbecue sauce. Bring on the free flow fries.

19 Dunkin’ Donuts It was the most popular donut hangout in the ‘80s and now it’s back for good.

20 McDonalds at King Albert Park The playground meant that parents could ditch us and shop at Cold Storage in peace.

Letitia Tandean

now

The essential guide to what’s on in Singapore Send your events news to art@asia-city.com.sg, nightlife@asia-city.com.sg, stage@asia-city.com.sg

SAT

SAT

Feb 21

Mar 7

FOOD & DRINK Singapore Cocktail Week In this inaugural instalment, gear up for eight days of workshops, cocktail tours and pop-up bars—not to mention the second Singapore Bar Awards and guest bartenders like Steve Schneider from NYC‘s Employees Only and Roman Foltan from London‘s Artesian (and brother of Kamil from Tippling Club). Best part? $14 cocktails at 28 HongKong Street, L’Aiglon and 26 other fancy bars. Mar 7-14. Various venues, www.singaporecocktailweek.com.sg. $28-140 from Eventclique.

FRI

Feb 20

WORKSHOPS The Growell Pop-Up The folks behind Edible Gardens borrow Broadcast HQ’s space for workshops, discussions, exhibitions and dinners around the theme of urban farming. There’s also a café and retail space that sells local artisanal goods. Plus, you can learn to cultivate your own mini garden. Feb 21-Apr 19. 109 Rowell Rd., 6292-4405, www.facebook.com/thegrowellpopup. Free.

SAT

Feb 28

FILM Harold and Maude

NIGHTLIFE Dangerously Disco: Pete Herbert

Get your picnic mats and baskets ready for outdoor film series Under the Banyan Tree, this time screening the ‘70s classic about a young, off-kilter, rich boy and his fascination with death and a vivacious 79-year old woman. Feb 28, 8pm. National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659, www.nationalmuseum.sg. Free.

This DJ has been everywhere from London and Ibiza to Belgium and Marseille. He‘s been on remix duty for artists like Royskopp and Bottin but also has his own vein of music that veers into Balearic leftfield disco, house, Italo, dub and funk. Feb 20, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6225-6001, www.clubkyo.com. $20-25.

SUN

Mar 1

ART Singapore Design Week Local and international designers and creative agencies get together for trade shows, conferences, exhibitions and workshops. Highlights include International Furniture Fair Singapore, Maison&Objet Asia and SingaPlural 2015, an event showcasing architecture, interior, graphic and fashion design. Mar 10-22. National Design Centre, 111 Middle Rd., www.designsingapore.org/SDW. Free.

TUE

Mar 10

SAT

Feb 21

CONCERTS Dream Koala The French producer (born Yndi Ferreira), who specializes in chillwave and ambient electronica, plays his first live show in Singapore. Despite being only 20, he‘s already played at Boiler Room and remixed Banks, Angel Haze and The 1975. With a DJ set by Team Cake.

Mar 1, 8pm. Kilo, #02-01, 66 Kampong Bugis, 6467-3987, www.facebook.com/ moonbeatsasia. $35-50 from Peatix.

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

PARTY Saturday Social BBQ

Timbre’s Saturday tradition gets the Chinese New Year treatment, with beers, grilled meats live bands and DJs playing surf music. A one drink minimum applies. Feb 21, 4pm. Timbre @ Gillman, #01-05 Gillman Barracks, 9A Lock Rd., 6694-4201. Free.

now Hellen Jiang

NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE 5 reasons to go back to the East Coast

Malthouse

The cafés here are actually good Duxton heavyweight Group Therapy (#01-11 Katong V, 30 East Coast Rd., www.gtcoffee.com) and Pasarbella cult fave Dutch Colony Coffee Co. (113 Frankel Ave., 6448-5852, www.facebook. com/Dutch.Colony.Coffee) each have easterly outposts. And you probably already know about Papa Palheta’s bicycles-and-mod-Sin venture Coast Cycles (54 Siglap Dr., 6681-5581, www. coastcycles.com). Plus, if you have a hangover that needs curing, get your protein and Common Man coffee fix at Carvers & Co. (43 East Coast Rd., 5348-0448, www.carversand.co).

So many places to drink East Coast isn’t as well-known for watering holes as, say, Holland Village. But that’s cool with East-siders who would rather have chill new beer bars like Malthouse (685 East Coast Rd., 9146-6808, www.facebook.com/MalthouseSG) which has craft beer like Hitachino Nest on tap and The Drinking Market (226 East Coast Rd., www.facebook.com/thedrinkingmarket) all to themselves. Budget-conscious oenophiles also have cause for celebration as much-loved wine bar Wine Connection (#01-06/07 I12 Katong, 112 East Coast Rd., 6443-3885) also has a new outlet in Katong. Hello, $30 bottles!

Cat Socrates loves the East It was only a matter of time since the popular indie haunt at Bras Basah Complex opened a second outlet. Their Joo Chiat branch (448 Joo Chiat Rd., 6348-0863, www.facebook.com/catsocrates) is stuffed with gifts, books, stationery, toys, trinkets and bicycle accessories. We love the lifestyle goods by local designers and the resident cat, which has its own hammock by the window.

We’ve got our very own co-working space And it’s even named after Virginia Woolf. We couldn’t be more pleased that Joo Chiat is home to Singapore’s first women-only co-working space, Woolf Works (#02-01 176 Joo Chiat Rd., 90023724, www.woolfworks.sg). It’s a full-featured space complete with meeting and workshop rooms, lockers, day-to-day necessities like printers and a kitchen.

Cute places to get your beauty fix Colorful newcomer Paint Shoppe (39A East Coast Rd., 6348-1008, fb.com/paintshoppenailspa) uses eco-friendly and cruelty-free polishes for their mani-pedis, which we like. Another adorable find is twee new store Rue Mademoiselle (452 Joo Chiat Rd., 8518-0164), which stocks French beauty and skincare products. Clara Lim

Find out why Sims is Singapore’s next hot hood.

Download the free guide from tiny.cc/DiscoverSims

LITERARY 3 new local books we’re reading

A Luxury We Cannot Afford, edited by Christine Chia and Joshua Ip This collection of 65 poems by 56 poets is inspired

by Lee Kuan Yew’s 1969 statement “poetry is a luxury we cannot afford”. $19 from BooksActually, 9 Yong Siak St., 6222-9195, www. booksactuallyshop.com.

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Moth by Leonora Liow This debut collection of short stories by 2003 Golden Point award-winner and former law student Leonora Liow has main characters such as migrant workers, aging mothers and young girls on the verge.

Available at $21.40 from www.ethosbooks.com.sg/ store.

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

STAGE

concerts

theater & dance

Christina Perri - The Head or Heart Tour Bringing new hit singles like “Human” and “Burning Gold” the American pop singersongwriter will be supported by local up and comer Gentle Bones. Feb 27, 8pm. The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 65778888. $98-138 from Sistic.

Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts The annual showcase covers music, theater and dance. Highlights include What Is Sex?, a Gatsby-esque take on Dream of the Red Chamber, and Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women, a symphony accompanied by 13 short films. Through Mar 1. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377, www.huayifestival.com. $18-118.

Kenta Hayashi The Japanese master musician has been part of the alternative funk rock band Four Minutes Til Midnight , and has collaborated with artists like Common Sense, The Expendables and Lenny Castro. This one-man extravaganza layers vocals, guitar, effects, percussion and electronic beats. Feb 27, 8pm. Going Om, 63 Haji Lane, 9646-4114.

Free.

Cat Socrates

Dutch Colony Coffee Co.

MUSIC

Priest In Geylang by Fr. Guillaume Artocarena In this memoir of Singapore in the 80s, a priest who founded a church in Geylang writes about his experiences serving migrant workers, sex workers and gangsters. Available at $21.40 from www. ethosbooks.com.sg/store.

ERNY LUIZA KARTOLO

Sing Jazz Festival This year’s headliners include Chaka Khan, Grammy winner Bobby McFerrin and UK pop starlet Jessie J, plus pianist Ramsey Lewis and trumpeter Chris Botti. There’s also Indonesian blues rock band Gugun Blues Shelter and others. Mar 5-8. Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868, www.sing-jazz.com. $80 -720 from Sistic.

Incubus After a four-year dry spell, the American alternative rockers have a new EP and a hit single “Absolution Calling”. Catch front man Brandon Boyd and guitarist Mike Einziger play their new beats. Mar 9, 7:30pm. The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-8888, www.upsurgeproductions.com. $108 from Peatix .

One Direction: On The Road Again Tour Teenyboppers listen up: the boyband will be in town to promote their fourth album, cleverly called Four. Mar 11, 8pm. Singapore Sports Hub, 15 Stadium Rd., 6344-2660. $88-388 from Sportshubtix.

SG PICK

A Night of Magic at Raffles Four time Merlin Award-winning master magician Joe Labero promises a night of awe-inspiring and mind blowing illusions, this time accompanied by fire artists Burnt Out Punk. Through Feb 22, 7:30pm. Raffles Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd., 6337-1886. $75-230.

ONETWOSIX This performance-installation by designers Lim Wei Ling, Darren Ng and Lim Woan Wen tells a 3D interactive story about life in the city through inanimate objects, such as drawers, an escalator and even a toilet seat. Mar 5-7, 8pm. Black Box, Drama Centre, #05-01 National Library Building, 100 Victoria St., 6837-8400, www.fingerplayers.com. Free. from Sistic.

Great World Cabaret This throwback to ‘60s and ‘70s Singapore features beautiful dancing girls and some of Singapore’s favorite comedians such as Hossan Leong, Sebastian Tan and Judee Tan. Through Mar 17, 8pm. Resorts World Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-8888. $68-128 from Sistic.

comedy Talk Cock Comedy See Singaporean comic Jonathan Atherton and other brilliant local performers in The Comedy Club‘s no-holds-barred open mic comedy night every Wednesday at Blu Jaz. Feb 25, 8:30pm. Blu Jaz, 11 Bali Lane, 6292-3800, www.thecomedyclub.asia. $10.

ART The History of Java Local artist Jimmy Ong critically reimagines Sir Stamford Raffles‘ time in Indonesia through large-scale drawings that depict scenes from the establishment of Islam to the arrival of the British forces. Through Mar 1. Fost Gallery, #01-02 Gillman Barracks, 1 Lock Rd., 6694-3080, www.fostgallery. com. Free.

Rufus Wainwright The vocalist and songwriter will be playing his greatest hits after the recent release of his studio album Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright. No doubt he’ll be playing his heart-wrenching rendition of “Hallelujah”.

Mar 17, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $48-108 from Sistic.

The Gathering with Erlend Øye The Gathering brings us the Norwegian musician best known for being one half of duo Kings of Convenience. Most recently, he put out his second solo album, Legao, which he recorded with Icelandic reggae band Hjálmar. Mar 19, 8pm.

The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-8888, www.thegathering.asia.

Crosby, Stills & Nash Twice-inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, these granddaddies of folk rock will be playing hit classics like “Deja Vu” and “Helplessly Hoping”, sans Neil Young, unfortunately. Mar 19, 8pm.

The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 6636-0055, www.lamcproductions.com. $98-228 from Sistic.

Brooke Fraser This New Zealander folk pop singer-songwriter makes her Asian debut with her latest album Brutal Romantic. For super fans, there’s also a meet-and-greet package. Mar 20, 8pm. Kallang Theatre, 1 Stadium Walk, 6348-7907, www. sproutentertainment.com.sg. $58-148 from Sistic.

Hiroshi Senju The Japanese artist’s atmospheric show presents single- and multi-panel paintings of waterfalls, combining classical Japanese painting techniques with contemporary elements like UV-reactive fluorescent paint. Through Mar 8. Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Gillman Barracks, 5 Lock Rd., 6694-3378, www. sundaramtagore.com. Free.

Workmanship of Certainty and Chance Ceramics artist Michelle Lime studies the material and symbolic aspects of food vessels through pottery and popiah skins. Mar 5-8. The Substation Gallery, 45 Armenian St., 6337-7535, www.substation.org. Free.

A Tree With Too Many Branches Singaporean artist Ang Song Nian examines the power struggle between people and the environment through a mixed-media installation. The star of the show is a site-specific installation of 800 potted plants. Through Mar 15. DECK, 116 Prinsep St. Free.

APB Foundation Signature Art Prize Exhibition See 15 contemporary art pieces from 13 Asian countries, including Liu Jianhua’s “Trace”, based on principles of Chinese calligraphy, which takes up the second floor landing, while Choe U-Ram’s metallic sculpture “Custos Cavum” fills a whole room. Through Mar 15. Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222, www.singaporeartmuseum.sg. Free.

Carlos Rolon: Mi Casa The Chicago-based artist explores the universal theme of the home, namely in the middle-class American sense, through shrine-like pieces loaded with overthe-top faux luxury, maximalist excessiveness and the artist‘s signature Kustom Kulture aesthetics. Through Mar 15. Pearl Lam Galleries, Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Rd., 6570-2284, www.pearllam.com. Free.

Thousand Knives Known for his surreal and multidisciplinary work, local artist Wong Lip Chin‘s exhibition has seven diptychs, including oil paintings, stainless steel reliefs and video

now Send your events news to events@asia-city.com.sg

work. Through Mar 15. Michael Janssen Gallery.

Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Rd., 6734 8948, www. galeriemichaeljanssen.de. Free.

PantoneMyArt - Tattoo in Color This year‘s edition features 10 Singaporean tattoo artists who have each designed artworks in their chosen Pantone color. Instead of skin, they translate their skills and styles onto paper. Through Mar 30. TCC The Connoisseur Concerto, Circular Road, 51 Circular Rd., 6533-9033, www.facebook.com/ PantoneMyArt . Free.

HAPPENINGS

literary SG PICK

FOOD & DRINK Restaurant Week More high class nosh at a steal, as restaurants like Bacchanalia, Una and Garibaldi dish out lunch menus for $25-40, and dinner menus for $35-55.

Everything‘s at least three courses, and this year will focus on twists on homey food. Book early as the good ones go first. Mar 14-22. Various venues, www.restaurantweek.sg. $25-55.

SG PICK

Story Slam 12 - Let’s Pretend The 12th edition of this storytelling night is all about having to pretend you’re good at or interested in something, whether it’s on a date or hiring a fake date. As usual there will be six storytellers. Feb 28, 8pm. Artistry, 17 Jalan Pinang, 6298-2420, www.artistryspace.com. $5

outings

A favorite among foodies for its more affordable price point, Savour returns to the F1 Pit Building this year. We heard that you can expect fish flown in from Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji Market this time. Mar 26-29. F1 Pit Bldg., 1 Republic Blvd., www.savour.sg. $55-65

festivals Chingay Coinciding with Chinese New Year, this annual street parade sees over 10,000 performers and floats take to the streets. This year‘s theme is We Heart SG, duh. To participate, Singaporeans can craft flowers from used plastic bags to represent their good wishes for the nation. Feb 27-28, 8pm. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd., 6884-6940, www.chingay.org.sg.

fairs

Real Escape Game Vol. 8: Last Garden The new edition is a collab with SCRAP (the Japanese company that created REGs). Participants must complete various puzzles and eventually find one orb in the Flower Dome to save their city. Through Feb 22. Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr., 64206841, www.realegame.sg. $27-165 for a group.

Savour

materials. Feb 28, 9:30am. urbansketchers-singapore. blogspot.sg. Free.

meetups Saturday Sketchwalks Urban Sketchers, a community of recreational, on-location sketchers of all skill levels, meets in a different neighborhood each month for a drawing session. Head to their blog closer to the date to find out this month’s location. And bring your own

International Furniture Fair Taking place at The Decor Show and Hospitality 360º, this annual interior design fair showcases a massive range of furniture, interiors and fittings. Mar 13-16.

Singapore Expo, 1 Expo Dr., www.iffs.com.sg. Free.

www.facebook.com/TheThistleBindery. $45 from Sistic.

sports Armour@TheBay x 7Cycle Outdoor Night Ride How about a free spinning class outdoors every other Tuesday? Workouts last 35-45 minutes each, including rhythm-based rides, full-body workouts and circuit trainings. Plus: the views. Through Mar 3, 6:30pm. Clifford Square, Fullerton Bay, 80 Collyer Quay, www.7cycle.sg. Free.

HSBC Women’s Champions 2015 The world‘s top golf players battle it out for US$1.4 million prize money at the eighth edition. Expect big names like Inbee Park, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis and Shanshan Feng. Mar 5-8. Sentosa Golf Club, 27 Bukit Manis Rd., 6275-0090, www.hsbcgolf.com/womens. $200 from Sistic.

SG PICK

charity Love is the Last Thing on My Mind Artists bring traditional and street theater into hospices, orphanages and old folks home to promote the arts.

Register for seats, or sign up to volunteer for any of the performances. Mar 9-15. www.fingerplayers.com. Free.

classes & workshops The Orange Playground Showcase 1 A showcase of acclaimed actors Siti Khalijah Zainal and Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit, multimedia artist Brian Gothong and 33 other theater artists, with open discussions.

Feb 27, 7:30pm; Feb 28, 7:30pm; Mar 1, 3pm.

The Necessary Stage Black Box, #B1-02 Marine Parade Community Building, 278 Marine Parade Rd. Free from Peatix.

See Art, Make Book The last of The Thistle Bindery‘s four-hour workshops begins with a tour of the ongoing APB Foundation Signature Art Prize show and is followed by a workshop on Coptic bookbinding methods. Mar 14, 2pm.

Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222,

The Green Corridor Run You might still be able to register for the 10.5km running event along an uninterrupted stretch of greenery and woodlands, starting at the Tanjong Pagar Rail Station and finishing at the old Bukit Timah Rail Station. The race is also raising awareness of drinking water and sanitation. Mar 8, 10am. Various venues, www.greencorridorrun. com.sg. $43-58.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

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WIN UP TO $10,000 WORTH OF GIVEAWAYS, ALL YEAR ROUND

now ART Sufian Samsiyar went trigger happy around town and printed out a few of the photographs. One thing led to another and my attention shifted from the camera to the printed material. I started to explore different types of mark-marking.

It’s our 20th anniversary, but we’re giving you the presents! Fancy a luxurious $10,000 grand suite staycation in Hong Kong? A $5,000 fitness membership to keep you in shape? A night of partying in style that’s worth $1,500?

Spending credit of $1,000 to splurge on dining and cocktails? There’s all that and much more to win throughout the year.

You take photographs of urban landscapes and then use ink/solvents to make the prints look damaged. Why is that?

My work responds to the complex issues surrounding urbanity that present themselves in our landscape and architecture today. I want the photographs to look aged like they are from the past but set in a nostalgic, fictitious and perhaps bleak not-so-distant future.

We have been so mesmerized by this young local artist’s work, we put one of his pieces on the cover. He photographs Singapore’s buildings, then does aluminium prints of them, and the result is both beautiful and eerie. Here he tells us about photography as a medium and local art versus art abroad.

We heard that you started out hating photography.

Back then, I thought photography was easy, and I could not fathom why something so simple was categorized as a form of art. So I borrowed a camera from a friend one day,

To get clues on how to win, like us at facebook.com/sgnow.sg

You’ve done a residency in the UK and been to Berlin Art Week. How is contemporary European art different from what we are doing here?

I usually refrain from classifying art as European or Asian. What’s important is the thought process and the execution. I am working as an art technician for the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore and I work very closely with curators, local and international artists throughout the year. From my work experience, visits to shows and galleries outside of Singapore, I personally feel that there is little to no difference between the contemporary art works from Europe to the ones here.

See Sufian’s work as part of Urban Hysteria at the new Flaneur Gallery (129 Jalan Besar, www.flaneur.sg). Other artists include Ezekiel Wong, Ruyi Wong and Yeo Tze Yang. Through Mar 1. ERNY LUIZA KARTOLO

SCENE & HEARD with Letitia Tandean

Maroon 5

From #instafood porn to #TGIF shenanigans, live vicariously through our #sg #eyecandy Follow SG on Instagram @sg_now

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

Sugar High

March Mayhem

Dapper Drinks

K-Art

Seven months early, we’ve got the headlining acts at this year’s F1 Grand Prix (www. singaporegp.sg) races. Happening Sep 18-20, the night race is known for pulling some heavyweight acts like Rihanna and J.Lo. This year, singer-songwriter and rapper Pharrell Williams, best known for his Grammy-winning sensation “Happy”, will perform. Sharing the Padang Stage is pop rock band Maroon 5 who are back with new album, V. They’ll no doubt be performing songs like “Maps” and viral music video, “Sugar”. Tickets start at $228.

After closing the raucous Boat Quay location, The Spiffy Dapper (73 Amoy St., 8233-9810, www.spiffydapper.com) is back. They’ve got some shiny new digs after moving to Amoy Street. Although you can expect more of the same drinks, it’s lost its dive bar vibes. The space is a little sleeker and boasts lots of copper and wood tones. Don’t let that fool you, as the bar team is still as lively as ever.

March is full of concerts, from French producer Dream Koala’s ($35-50 from Peatix) chillwave and ambient electronic tunes on Mar 1 to The Gathering’s Erlend Øye—he’s best known for being one-half of Kings of Convenience—show on Mar 19.

New Zealander Brooke Fraser ($58-148 from Sistic) is in town Mar 20 with her latest album Brutal Romantic, while French electro-pop singer Emilie Simon ($60-75 from Peatix) makes a pitstop on Mar 23. For the full list, visit ow.ly/IsvhE

Singaporean boutique design agency Kinetic has set up a pop-up space in Scotts Square called K+ (#03-14/15 Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Rd., www.kplus.sg). The team curates art and puts on exhibitions by local artists and photographers as well as new-to-Singapore international names. Currently showing is the “Alive Without Breath”, an exhibition about hyper-realistic resin paintings and sculptures. The makeshift gallery will stay put until Aug 31.

now Send your events news to events@asia-city.com.sg

SG PICK

NIGHTLIFE Recess with Lincey & Zushan A new themed night with resident DJs Zushan and Lincey. Expect lots of bass lines and dirty, loud and electrolaced sounds from a variety of genres at this crazy launch party. Feb 21, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www.zoukclub.com. $28-33.

The Great TGIW: Aztec Petals with Ghetto & Andrew Tang feat. MC EJ Wednesday night partying is back, this time with feather headdresses and geometric Aztec gear (somewhat politically problematic...). Ghetto and Andrew Tang turn it up with electro and hip hop mashups with the help of MC EJ. Feb 25, 10pm.

Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www.zoukclub.com. $28-33.

This is House feat. DJ Wehbba Known for his edgy house and techno remixes, this Brazilian DJ has worked with big names like Christian Smith and Laurent Garnier. He’ll be supported by DJ Brendon P and DJ Haan. Feb 26, 9pm. Ku De Ta, 57/F Skypark, Marina Bay Sands, 1 Bayfront Ave., 6688-7688. Free. +65 feat. Goldie Founder of Metalheadz, Goldie does hypersyncopated breakbeats and reggae tunes with soulful vocals and jungle music basslines. Feb 28, 10pm.

Canvas, #B1-01/06 The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Rd., 6538-2928, www.canvasvenue.sg. $28-38.

breakfast at 7am. Feb 28, 11pm. The Sultan Hotel, 101 Jalan Sultan, 6723-7101. Free.

Musicians Unite!

A night of soundbites of various genres. Expect to see familiar faces from the local music scene like Oli Hughes, Justin Bannister, Timothy Patrick and Yazeid Rahman.

Mar 13. Blu Jaz, 11 Bali Lane, 6292-3800. Free.

FILM

indie screenings SuperFREQ - Just Be

SG PICK

He‘s known under many monikers like Matthew B and Layo, but Just Be always pushes the boundaries of house, breakbeat, techno, downtempo and ambient beats. He‘s played alongside Carl Cox so you‘ll recognize hits like “Magic Rock”. Feb 28, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6225-6001, www. clubkyo.com. $20 -25.

Rang Barsay And you thought Songkran was exciting. This colorful, Holi-themed beach party mixes local DJs spinning great Bollywood remixes and lots of colors and waterguns.

Feb 28, 10am. Siloso Beach. $12.

Let the Tunkus Techno Dance the night away to house and techno remixes anchored by DJs Tunku Yadin, Anand Nair, Jeck Hyde and special guest We Believe Stay. There’s also free

Download the free SG Now app www.sgnow.sg/app • Hundreds of listings, daily updates • Restaurants, bars and other openings • Save events to your calendar

Le Sommeil D’Or A part of the Francophonie festival, this documentary is all about the birth and destruction of Cambodian cinema, from the first films in 1960 to Khmer Rouge’s arrival in 1975. From over 400 films, only 30 remain today. Mar 10, 8pm. Alliance Francaise de Singapour, 1 Sarkies Rd., 6737-8422. $10-12 from Sistic.

cinema highlights Focus Will Smith stars as Nicky, a master of misdirection who becomes romantically involved with an amateur con artist Jess, played by Margot Robbie. He breaks it off after she gets too close, but three years down the line, the femme fatale throws his latest scheme out the window. Opens Feb 26.

Song One Anne Hathaway’s latest movie promises to be a tearjerker. After her brother gets into an accident, Hathaway’s Franny returns home only to fall in love with her brother’s musical idol. Opens Mar 5.

World Cinema Series: The Films of Nuri Bilge Ceylan Not only do Nuri Bilge Ceylan‘s films show breathtaking vistas of Turkey, the Turkish director delves into everyday settings, realities and moral dilemmas in atmospheric features like Distant, Three Monkeys and Clouds of May. Through Feb 22. Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659. www. nationalmuseum.sg.

SCUM Cinema presents: The Raid 2 The sequel to Indonesian film, The Raid, this one follows the aftermath of the first. Rama is forced to reinvent himself and go undercover in order to protect his family, which leads him through an ultra-violent journey with gangs. Feb 27, 7:45pm. Screening Room, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Ln. $8 from Peatix.

The Water Diviner Russell Crowe’s directorial debut sees him assuming the lead role of Joshua Connor, an Australian farmer who travels to Turkey after the 1919 battle of Gallipolli.

There he finds out one of his sons is declared missing in action and seeks to find the truth. Opens Mar 5.

Boychoir Featuring an all-star cast that includes Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Eddie Izzard and Kevin McHale, this is all about a 12-year old orphan who is sent to a musical boarding school, exceeds expectations and joins a choral band that travels the world. Opens Mar 12.

Disney’s Cinderella The much-awaited live-action Cinderella is finally here.

Lily James plays everyone’s favorite soot collector while Cate Blanchett steps in as the evil stepmother.

Also, who knew that Helena Bonham Carter could be the fairy godmother no one ever dreamed of? Opens Mar 12.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

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Songkran in Thailand 5 places to catch the water festival this year. And there’s more to it than just partying.

Chiang Mai

Y

ou never need a reason to go back to Thailand. But as April approaches, we’re gearing up for the Thai New Year, aka Songkran. Famous for its street parties, water splashing and general revelry, it’s also a great time to be a part of traditional ceremonies and do some fantastic street photography (mind the splash, though). Here are our top five destinations and the unique Songkran celebrations they offer.

Chiang Mai

Bangkok

Where to refuel: Ku Muang canal is by the historic walled heart of the city, which is full of restaurants, cafes, bars and markets. Grab a coffee at third wave roasters Pacamara (80/5 Rachadamnoen Road, +66 53 327-324) or kick back with wine or some tea at the vintage-chic and semi-alfresco Kalapela (+66 8 1634-2245. www.facebook.com/kalapelatea)

Where to go: Major intersections such as Sala Daeng and Ratchprasong have become sites for water gun armies. Khao Sarn Road in the historic district of Banglampu can get especially raucous, so we recommend the tree-lined riverside avenue of Phra Athit Road that’s a short walk away.

Where to refuel: Phra Athit has dozens of hip cafes and bars. Don’t miss Dickinson’s Culture Cafe (64 Phra Athit Rd., +66 89 497-8422), which has DJs every night and affordable snacks and cocktails. For something fancier, head to boutique hotel Riva Surya (23 Phra Arthit Rd, +66 26335000, www.rivasuryabangkok.com) at sunset for cocktails and daybeds at Babble & Rum. Getting there: With six direct flights every day, AirAsia has the most frequent service between Changi Airport and Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. Prices start at $85 all-in in April for a one-way flight.

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Where to go: The street parties in the northern capital come with a heavy dose of local Lanna culture. There are traditional events at temples (such as Phra Sing and Phra That Doi Suthep temples). The major water splashing event tends to be at Ku Muang canal. There is a cultural parade on the first day, involving a Buddha statue procession and a Miss Songkran Chiang Mai pageant.

Getting there: AirAsia flies from Singapore to Chiang Mai every day, with a Fly-Thru transit in Bangkok. Prices start at $170 allin in April for a one-way flight.

Phuket Where to go: The southern island offers the best of both worlds: there will be crazy street parties on famous Patong Beach as well as a cute and kitsch Miss Songkran beauty pageant. On the more traditional front, expect ceremonies such as a flowerthemed parade and a Buddha statue procession through town.

CHIANG RAI CHIANG MAI

Fly-Thru Transit

BANGKOK (Don Mueang)

KRABI PHUKET SINGAPORE Getting to Thailand on AirAsia

PERK ALERT The Fly-Thru at Bangkok’s Don Mueang No lines. There’s no immigration check at transit.

Free hands. No baggage to collect until your final destination.

Shops galore. Duty free, cosmetics and more. Plus: Thai crafts and Thai food.

Life’s essentials. Also known as free Wifi.

ADVERTORIAL

SURVIVAL GUIDE 5 things to know before you descend into the streets

1

Know the backstory. Songkran is the Thai New Year. Despite all the parties, there is a solemn aspect to the festival, involving alms-giving, temple visits and paying respect to elders.

2

Adjust your expectations. If you’re leaving the room during Songkran, you will get wet—over and over. If you get splashed while walking down the street, take it in stride. Dress casually and have a good time. As the Thais say, “sabai sabai”.

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Bangkok

Protect your essentials. The less you carry the better. Do what the locals do and seal your smartphone and cash in a small ziplock or sandwich bag.

4

Refuel. You may think that being wet all day will keep you cool. But it’s peak summer in April, so be sure to stay hydrated, especially if you’re drinking.

Where to refuel: The nightlife on Patong can get gritty and grungy, but we like Sky Lounge, a rooftop bar and restaurant at The Kee Resort (152/1 Thaveewong Rd., +66 76 335-888, www.thekeeresort. com), which does simple cocktails and fusion tapas and seafood.

5

Know your limits. Public drinking and water splashing are not permitted in indoor areas such as malls and stores. If someone asks you not to splash them, listen.

You’d want them to do the same for you.

Getting there: AirAsia flies direct from Singapore to Phuket International Airport every day, and it’s a 30-minute cab ride into town. Prices start at $65 allin in April for a one-way flight.

Krabi Where to party: While downtown Krabi has its charms, it seems that most people head to nearby Ao Nang for the festival.

Flanked by the beach on one side and rows of cafes and bars on the other, Ao Nang is great for a casual celebration.

Where to refuel: When you’re ready to extract yourself from the melee, head above it all to The Hilltop Restaurant (99 Moo 3, +66 75 637-195, www. thehilltopaonang.com) with amazing views of the beach and a solid seafood menu. For something traditional, Ruen Mai (117 Moo 3, Kribi Rd., Kao Thong, +66 89 288-3232, www.facebook.com/ ruenmaikrabirestuarant) is all about openair bamboo dining rooms and rustic decor.

Getting there: AirAsia flies direct to Krabi daily, and the flight time is under two hours. Prices start at $62 all-in in April for a one-way flight.

Chiang Mai

HOW TO Fly like a pro on AirAsia Fix a date. Planned trip or impulse holiday, check www.airasia.com for the lowest fares.

Book your bag. You’ll save up to 66% if you book your check-in bag online.

Pick your seat(mate). Don’t get separated from your friends or end up in seats you don’t want. Pick your seats online from just $3 extra.

Upgrade. Premium Flex lets you board first, change flights and check-in up to 20kg.

Mango sticky rice

Green curry

Whet Your Appetite When it comes to Thailand, the only thing more exciting than Songkran (and the shopping) is the food.

On AirAsia (www.airasia.com), you get a taste of all your favorites before you even arrive. On all flights to Thailand, you have the option of signing up for a Thai meal, including green curry, basil chicken, mango sticky rice and lots more. Meals start at $5 when you pre-book online.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY AIRASIA (WWW.AIRASIA.COM)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

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feature

Home Grown Harmony They’re putting out new records, they’re playing at Laneway and they’re blasting at the office. Here are 12 local acts—old and new—that we think are going to be big this year. By Letitia Tandean

Felix Phang

T

here’s never been a better time to be all rah rah rah about local music. There have been no less than six new albums already launched this year, two Singapore bands played Laneway last month, the NAC forked out millions of dollars and the recent Getai Electronica at People’s Park Complex showcased a badass all-Singapore line-up. We expect to hear a lot of local music this year, and here are the bands we predict we’ll be hearing it from.

Sphaeras

The Psalms

You’ve probably seen them at Baybeats and despite their reverb- and delay-laden sound, they are adamant about not being labeled as a post rock band. The four-man instrumental outfit is indeed a mixture of genres that include math rock’s odd time signatures, too.

These guys have been around for a while but in 2008 had a change in direction. The five man-band comprising Nur Sahili as lead vocals, Kye on guitars, Mish’aal on bass, Wan Gondrong on keyboards and Isyraf on drums released its first EP Ishmael’s Wishlist in 2008.

They’re known for fusing pretty intense rock riffs and strong vocals with Miles Davis-esque syncopated jazz improvs.

Where to listen: Keep a look out for their first album as they’ve been recording with local heavyweight producer Leonard Soosay and his label, Snakeweed Productions. Expected release: first quarter.

Sphaeras

Taj They’re the band on everyone’s lips. The future-soul trio, comprising established indie and jazz regulars Audrey Tengkey, J.R. Teo and Tim de Cotta have a funky and bassheavy sound that’s ambient and reminiscent of ‘90s acid jazz.

Where to listen: The band has just released its visceral nine-track debut album, People Eating People ($12 at thepsalmssg.bandcamp.com)

Where to listen: They have just released the six-track The Astral Journey EP ($10 from darkerthanwax.bandcamp.com) with a super mellow and chillout single “Taj Yo’self”.

The Psalms

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, February 20, 2015

TAJ

Spacedays Founded in 2009, this rock band is psychedelic to say the least.

They’ve got a vintage ‘60s rock sound that can only be described as: Franz Ferdinand as an American SoCal garage band. There’s a lot of staccato guitar riffs, groovy rhythms and fuzzy, easy vocals.

Although they released their last album, Moondust, early last year, we love sonic tracks like “Darkest Day” and “Ego”.

Where to listen: At Comforting Sounds (Aldy Hotel, 27 Jalan Kota, Malacca, Malaysia) on Mar 7.

They’ll be supporting Malaysian act Khottal.

Amateur Takes Control A math and post-rock band comprised of six members, including Adel and Ahmad on guitars, Isa on bass, Ariff on keyboards and Junaidi and Syadie on drums. Amateur is known for its diverse style and emotionallycharged tracks. If you’ve had a chance to catch the band live, they always pack a frenetic live performance and have been seen on the ZoukOut 2009 stage.

Where to listen: The band has just released its self-titled EP but also have a compilation album that lumps in their previous record, You, Me And The Thing Unsaid ($35 from hailsatanrecords.com).

Alicia Pan

.gif

Hanging Up the Moon It began as a one-man project by Sean Lam who self-released his debut in 2011, and now includes four other musicians including The Observatory’s Leslie Low—the sound is much more upbeat than the latter band, though. They were one of two Singaporean bands at Laneway this year. Their acoustic guitar-heavy sound and all-dude harmonization remind us of a cross between Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Young.

Where to listen: They have a third album coming up in late March of this year called Immaterial.

Meantime, you can hear all the songs on their second album The Biggest Lie in the World at ow.ly/IwGpK

Paint The Sky Red This post-rock instrumental band is pretty ambient in sound. The four-man band writes reflective, nostalgic songs with a soulful but experimental edge. Singles like “The Happy Ending Is You”, feature melodic guitar solos, ambient sound and all-round soul.

Spacedays

WISH LIST 5 things that would make local music better More venues. There has to be more regular places that provide a platform for local bands, not—as Darker Than Wax founder Kaye points out, “one-off festivals or events.” And of course, ones that “won’t burn a hole in organizer’s pockets,” adds Caracal’s KC. Air time. “More local music being played on the radio or maybe a new radio station that plays a majority of local music,” says Gabriel of Caracal.

Generous listeners. It’s weird that we shell out hundreds of dollars to see visiting acts from abroad but not for local bands. “That is just sad,” Alicia Pan says.

Collaborations. Local musician and organizer Aya Sekine would like to see our bands collaborating with artists from other countries.

“The scene is too small,” she says, “and I see too much emphasis on promoting locals to locals.”

A real industry. In an absence of a robust industry there isn’t as much know-how here as abroad.

Lesley founder of KittyWu Records points out that there were “few independent labels that we could reach out to for support—the market was occupied by the likes of Universal. A lot of it was researching the US market and then adapting their practices and information.”

Where to listen: They’ve recently released their second album, Not All Who Wonder Are Lost ($10 at painttheskyred.bandcamp.com or Cat Socrates, #03-39B Bras Basah Complex, 231 Bain St., www. catsocrates.com.sg)

Felix Phang The local jazz composer is classically trained in instruments like the violin, trombone and double bass, so it’s no wonder he knows his way around an orchestra. Although he’s officially a composer, he works as a music director, conductor and, of course, performer. The album comprises of nine original tracks with large jazz ensemble compositions on songs

like “A Thousand Li of Rivers” and “Sing it to Grandma”. Although his sound is a little more conventional, we love the big band jazzy vibes.

Where to listen: His latest album Seeing Sounds is $15 at imaginaryforces.peatix.com.

Caracal

Silhouette

Although they formed in 2007, the five-man rock band, comprising KC, Martin and Gabriel, has garnered tons of attention over the years that led to the release of their first album, Welcome the Ironists in January, with tracks like “Welcome the Ironists” and “Entrepreneur”.

The post-hardcore band is known for their heavier beats, ferocious riffs and catchy melodies that capture the spirit of punk rock. Plus, their live sets are always high energy and lively, with the band encouraging everyone to dance.

Where to listen: Welcome The Ironists is $20 for a CD and $35 for vinyl at caracalnoise.bigcartel.com.

.gif The electronica duo made it big and recently played at this year’s Laneway. Members Weish and Din are both established musicians in their own right. Influenced by acts like Frou Frou and Thievery Corporation, they’ve got an indie, downtempo and electronic sound.

After more than a year following the release of their debut, Saudade, they’ve invited various local producers to reinterpret their tracks in their latest EP.

Caracal

just released her self-titled EP. The multi-hyphenate singer, songwriter, actress and model cites D’angelo, Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill as major influences to her R&B-heavy tracks and their touch of hip hop and jazz. Despite the long hiatus, she’s already proven that she’s got staying power in the local music scene.

Where to listen: Alicia Pan EP ($4.98 on iTunes).

Silhouette

Alicia Pan

Formed in 2007, this modern alternative rock band comprising of five members is starting to make it big. The band released its first EP, Discover, in 2009 and cites elements of metal, jazz and soul as influences but it’s got a higher octave, aggressive sound full of quick guitar riff changes and melodic vocals.

We know she’s not entirely new to the scene but after an extended break, the songstress

Where to listen: They’re currently working on their album set to release by the first quarter.

Where to listen: Their latest EP Re:Saudade is free from dotgifdotgif.bandcamp.com.

However, they will be releasing an LP in the coming months with a darker and grittier sound.

FRIDAY, FebRuARY 20, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

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island

The latest openings and hottest trends in Singapore

DIGITAL

Super Slates

Cheap, extra slim, or “ready to replace your laptop,” here are the best tablets available on the market in Singapore right now. By Kanin Srimaneekulroj 1

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1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5

Features: Samsung’s flagship tablet comes in beautiful, vibrant colors and is equipped with a Super AMOLED screen that alleviates the need for any backlighting. As a result, it’s among the lightest and thinnest tablets in the market, measuring a little over one pound in weight and about a quarter-inch thin.

Good for: General, on-the-go use. A well-rounded tablet for people who prefer Android.

Specs: 10.5” 2560 x 1600 Super AMOLED display, octa-core Exynos processor, 3GB RAM, 2.1MP front camera, 8MP rear camera.

Where to buy: $948 from Challenger, #02-34/35 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-6100, www.samsung.com/sg.

2. Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro

Features: The high-end two-in-one tablet doesn’t just look like a laptop; it also works like one. The tablet runs Windows 8.1 on Intel’s Haswell series processors, which are commonly used in the company’s notebook computers, too. The highlight is the screen, though, which is capable of matching the resolution levels seen in high-end laptops such as the Macbook Retina. The tablet comes in a wide range of specs and prices, though we recommend staying away from the cheaper models, which run on Intel’s core-i3 processors rather than the superior core-i5 or i7 in the top-of-the-line models.

Good for: Working outside the office. Versatile use due to foldable keyboard.

Specs: 13.3” 3600 x 1800 resolution display, Intel Haswell series processor (core-i3 to i7), 8GB RAM, 256GB hard drive, Intel HD Graphics4400 graphics adaptor.

Where to buy: $1,199 from Polaris, #01-K6 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6334-1110, www.lenovo.com/sg.

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3. Dell Venue 8

Features: Performance-wise, you get what you pay for, so don’t expect the Venue 8 to compete with heavy-hitters like the iPad any time soon. That said, Dell’s tablet does provide a decent enough package for those on a budget. The processing power is on par with many higher-end competitors, running on Intel’s dual-core Atom processors with 2GB of RAM. The screen is decent at best, providing pleasant natural colors at a passable resolution of 1200 x 800, which is technically higher than even the iPad Mini’s 1024 x 768.

Good for: Basic use, for a significantly lower price than competitors.

Specs: 8” 1200 x 800 HD display, Intel Dual-core Atom processor, 2GB RAM, 16-32 GB native storage (with microSD slot), 5MP rear camera.

Where to buy: The Dell Venue 8 will launch early March at $699. Get it at Best Denki, #05-01/04 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6835-2855, www.dell.com.sg.

4. Apple iPad Air 2

Features: Commonly lauded as the tablet of SG pick choice for any and all uses, the Air 2 offers the premium quality performance you would expect from an Apple product. It’s incredible how thin Apple has been able to make the tablet without sacrificing any power, thanks to Apple’s top-of-the-line A8X processor chips. Swiping through apps is quick and snappy, and the increased processing power allows the tablet to achieve feats like capturing slow-motion videos.

Good for: Excellent product all around, especially if you prefer iOS. Specs: 9.7” 2048 x 1536 LED display, A8X 64-bit processor, 2GB RAM, integrated Intel graphics adapter.

Where to buy: $688-$968 from Challenger, #0234/35 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-6100, www.apple.com/sg.

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Office

Features: Another choice for anyone work looking for a two-in-one tablet with the pick guts of a laptop. Running on Intel’s Haswell processors commonly seen in laptops, with up to 8GB of RAM, the tablet can run PC-level applications with few problems. The Windows 8.1 operating system also allows you to install and use Windows-compatible programs, making the Surface Pro 3 a great choice for those looking for a light and portable alternative to laptops. The flimsy keyboard cover isn’t the greatest, and it’s actually sold separately, but it’s still better than a lot of competitors and practically a must-have if you wish to use the tablet to its full potential.

Good for: This reliable and convenient machine is suited to working as well as general use.

Specs: 12” 2160 x 1440 LCD display, Intel Haswell series processor (core-i3 to i7), 4-8GB RAM, 64-512GB hard drive.

Where to buy: $1,108-$2,698 from Newstead, #03-18 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6339-8239, www.microsoft.com/en-sg.

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The inside scoop on Singapore’s drink and dining scene

eats

COCKTAILS Asian Sensation Ding Dong (23 Ann Siang Rd., 6557-0189, www.dingdong.com. sg) has a new cocktail menu full of playful Asian-tinged libations.

Dreamed up by Tippling Club’s head bartender Kamil Foltan, there are drinks like the Roti Kaya ($18), a whiskey-based pandan syrup and coconut cream creation; Das Sai Maru Te I Ni ($19), a decidedly Japanese concoction of sake, gin and pickled ume plum; and the potent-sounding Bahru Bootleg Cocktail ($20) with aged tequila, orange curacao, pomegranate, pineapple and calamansi.

DINNERS Forty-One Bukit Pasoh

If you’re a serious foodie with deep pockets, this is the ultimate dinner to attend. Restaurant Andre (41 Bukit Pasoh Rd., 6534-8880, www.restaurantandre.com) is collaborating with Chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara of New York City’s Eleven Madison Park for a one night only dinner. The Four Hands dinner (Mar 6) only has 30 seats and sees the three Michelin-starred restaurant sharing the kitchen with one of our best. Expect it to be pricey: it’ll set you back $888 per head with an extra $288 for wine pairings. So, about the price of a ticket to NYC.

DELIVERY Bringing Home Barbie

In this weather, we all love a good barbecue and some cold beer. New delivery service, Stoke (www.facebook. com/StokeSingapore), brings gourmet barbecue meats right to your doorstep. Parcels come in different sizes depending on the crowd—they cater to parties of four to 12—and have produce like Iberico pork, Aussie lamb and beef and organic British sausages. Plus, if you’re feeling too lazy to grill, the online store has appetizers like stuffed olives, pate and Manchego cheese, too.

NEW BAR Eye of the Tiger

We’re extra scrutinizing about the bars and restaurants around the tourist trap known as Chinatown Food Street, but we’ve had a couple of great nights at the new Taps by Fabrika (27 Smith St., 6225-7354, www. facebook.com/taps.fabrika). It’s run by the Tiger beer folks, but there are craft brews by Archipelago, ciders

by Strongbow and a selection of international brews like Kilkenny on tap, too. The three-story shophouse also has bar snacks, live bands and, most excitingly, a couple of arcade games, including Street Fighter. Just don’t get into any brawls while waiting your turn.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

17

eats ASIAN DELIGHTS Jing Hua Xiao Chi

This is the original outlet of the familyrun restaurant now also at Palais Renaissance. It serves up comforting Chinese classics like xiao long bao ($7), pan-fried pancakes with minced pork and chives ($10) and the famous red bean pancake ($10).

21 Neil Rd., 6221-3060, www.jinghua.sg

ManBok Korean BBQ

Don’t be confused by the other Manbok that’s in Tanjong Pagar. This one’s a barbecue restaurant with DIY grilled meats and tons of sets that include beef, pork, eel and octopus (from $75).

The restaurant also serves favorites like beancurd stew and drinks like soju.

116 Neil Rd., 6436-3424.

TASTE TREK

The Nooks of Neil Road

LATE NIGHT FUN Old House

It’s got some great dining and drinking options, no matter the time of day.

Here are a few of our favorites. By Letitia Tandean Neil Road

WHOLESOME HAUNTS

DINNER & DRINKS

The Lokal

Da Laura

From the folks behind Sarnies, this cafe is housed in the Goethe-Institut. Coffee aside, they have hearty meals from the pork burger ($23) to the veal schnitzel burger ($28). If you’re more of a health nut, it does delicious peanut butter-almond milk smoothies ($9) and tons of salads.

136 Neil Rd., 6423-9918, www. facebook.com/thelokalsingapore

Tea Chapter

If drinking tea is more your pace, this large shophouse space specializes in the art of Chinese tea. It’s got a workshop space and a retail store that specializes in tea cookies and Pu’er tea jellies but also sells all sorts of teas from green to floral (from $8).

There’s an exhibition of Zisha teapots, too.

9-11 Neil Rd., 6226-1175, www.teachapter.com

An Italian restaurant that’s pretty easy to miss, this place serves great pasta dishes.

The homey interiors belie the finesse of the food with dishes like gnocchi with seasonal vegetable ragout ($28) and our personal favorite, the pinched ravioli with roast beef in veal jus ($28).

47 Neil Rd., 6224-8251, www.da-laura.com

Taboo The Lokal

L’Aiglon

The classy Franco-Asian cocktail bar has a signature woody scent and is decked out in custom-made furniture and dim lighting. On the menu are classic cocktails with a local twist, wines and spirits by the bottle. Don’t miss the Screaming Tomatoes ($24) or the small-batch Champagne Henri Giraud ($120/bottle).

69 Neil Rd., 6220-0369, www.barlaiglon.com

A favorite for late-night suppers, it’s an institution and is known for the Dinosaur prawn mee ($8) that’s brimming with pork ribs, huge prawns and egg noodles.

At night, the no-frills restaurant also serves a variety of zi char dishes like prawns, clams and stingray in their special sauce.

25 Neil Rd., 6223-1633, www.oldhousefood.com Always with a line out the door, this alternative bar and club seems to be the most happening place with a lounge area and dance floor. There are tons of pretty young boys waiting to get in to dance to house and Top 40s anthems. Just don’t be surprised when the drama spills over to the sidewalks.

65-67 Neil Rd., 6225-6256, www.taboo.sg

Jing Hua

Coming Soon Our 200-venue guide to chic and affordable dining around Singapore.

Book now at sales@asia-city.com.sg

NEW PLACE Sushi Jin The buzz: Les Amis has opened a mid-range sushi joint, complete with proper counters and omakase, in the up-and-coming Farrer Park neighborhood.

The vibe: It’s not uppity like those $500-perhead places but it definitely has refinement.

The narrow space has a sushi counter and traditional seating, but feels airy and not like it’s sandwiched in between a medical center and a hotel (which it is).

The food: A lovechild of Tatsuya and Aoki.

The extensive menu ranges from assorted sashimi and sushi (both $80 for two people) to cooked items like udon ($8). The seafood is fresh and skilfully sliced (but don’t compare it to heavyweights like Hashida). We love the #01-11/12 Owen Link, One Farrer Hotel & Spa, 1 Farrer Park Station Rd., 6443-3378, www.sushijin.com.sg.

Open daily noon-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm. LETITIA TANDEAN

18

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

truffle seafood chawanmushi ($15) stuffed with prawn, crab and scallops, and the wagyu don ($35) generously topped with shaved truffles. Plus, sushi omakase at lunch only sets you back $80, while at dinner it is $130.

The drinks: The list is sake-dominated with bottles of junmai daiginjo starting at $120.

There are also daiginjo and junmai options starting at $95. By-the-glass options are limited to umeshu and shochu (all $12) but there’s a wine list that includes labels like Chateau Latour a Pomerol ($170) and Chateau Fuisse ($90).

Why you’ll be back: They serve great sushi in an intimate high-end setting without the stiffness and the hole in your wallet.

eats Send your food news to food@asia-city.com.sg

LUNCH DEAL Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

NEW AND NOTED with Letitia Tandean

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants

Madrinaa Italiano

Chip Off the Block

Chip Bee Gardens is having a small food shake up. We say goodbye to long-time Italian restaurant Michelangelo’s and welcome a new Italian concept. Madrinaa Italiano (#01-60 Chip Bee Gardens, Blk 44 Jalan Merah Saga, 9646-4620, www. madrinaa.com) took over the space in January to serve up more approachable and similar fare like penne vodka, pork ribs and the decadent sounding penne foie gras.

Coriander Leaf

is re-opening at Chijmes (30 Victoria St., www.chijmes.com.sg), complete with a space for cooking studios and private dining.

When Harry Met Apps

After rebranding from being your neighborhood bar to a chic place to drink, Harry’s is also launching an app. Not only do you become a member of the institution, there are tons of deals and vouchers for you to spend. It also allows you to pay for your drinks through the app—provided you top it up. Plus, it’s free for Apple and Android devices.

Festival Feast

On top of Savour, there are plenty more foodie festivals happening. The World Gourmet Summit kicks things off on a chi-chi note this April 14-25, while the Singapore Food Festival brings it closer to home in July with more local fare. Also happening in March is the announcement of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (www.theworlds50best.com/asia) that comes with master classes, dinners and celeb chefs.

Turning a New Leaf

After a short hiatus, local instituion Coriander Leaf is back at a new location, trading in Clarke Quay’s raucous scene for somewhere a little more low-key. The Asian restaurant

Foodie gossip Get weekly updates on new restaurants, bars and events on The Dish. Sign up at www.sgnow.sg/newsletters

The deal: We love the steaming baskets of xiao long bao and toothsome handpulled noodles at Crystal Jade. So we’re thrilled that our local comfort food chain is jumping on the set lunch bandwagon with a frankly shocking deal. A two course lunch, with drinks, sets you back a mere $9.80. Pick from four dim sum dishes that include xiao long bao, veggie dumplings and barbecue pork buns Tian Jin-style. There are also five noodle bowls like la mian with minced pork wanton and la mian with minced pork and mushroom. For an extra $2.90, you get a mango pudding dessert, too.

Why it’s worth it: Did we mention it’s only $9.80? Although the portions are smaller—dumplings come in fours and noodles are in smaller bowls—it’s still a pretty hearty and easy lunch. #04-27 Takashimaya S.C., 391 Orchard Rd., 6238-1661, www.crystaljade.com.

Lunch available on Mon-Fri 11:30am5pm. LETITIA TANDEAN

MARKETING@PASARBELLA.COM

Pasarbella_IS_YearofGoat2015_FAP.indd 1

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 SG MAGAZINE 19AM 30/1/15 11:40

escapes

Holidays, hotels and insider travel news

TRIP IDEAS

Break Away If you didn’t get your act together for CNY weekend, there are plenty more long weekends coming. Here are some fabulous ways to spend them. By Joyce See

Montigo Resorts

Bhutan

DRINKING & DANCING

RIDICULOUS RESORTS

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Batam, Indonesia

How did our neighbor get so hip so fast?

For starters, it looks to be an exciting year for KL’s entertainment and nightlife scene with Trec (Jalan Tun Razak, www.trec.com. my), the city’s largest lifestyle enclave, set to open in early 2015 and will also be Zouk KL’s new home. Expect plenty of food and drink options ranging from casual to fine dining, wine bars, pubs and lounges.

Yangon, Myanmar

It might be one of South East Asia’s grittier cities but the former capital is booming and has a growing hipster scene to match.

New restaurant Port Autonomy (Oo-PaSa Street, Seik Kan Township, +95 92 5006-4694) has a cool retro-interior and a laid back outdoor dining area. The menu features modern takes on Burmese classics like Burmese fried rice with guacamole Exciting things are also happening on the nightlife front, with upmarket watering holes like Union Bar and Grill (42 Strand Rd., Bohtataung, +95 94 2010-1854) popping up.

20

OFF THE GRID

Mongolia

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Traveling to Mongolia just got easier, with direct flights now available on Mongolian Airlines (www.miat.com). Or, if you don’t mind taking a few more days off work to make the most of your trip, we know of Spice Roads’ (www.spiceroads. com) epic nine-day tour around Mongolia’s mountainous earthy terrains that involves plenty of cycling, trekking and horse riding.

Mongolia

Insider travel tips

NATURE & ADVENTURE

Before you write it off, consider this: the island’s first and only five-star beach resort, Montigo Resorts (Jl. Hang Lekir Nongsa,+62 77 8776-8888, www.montigoresorts.com), has 88 threestory villas that all come with a private infinity pool and your very own spacious sky terrace. With rooms starting from $371 a night and each villa being able to sleep up to five people, we say it’s a pretty sweet deal.

Koh Kood, Thailand

Whether you’re a luxury traveler or a hardened backpacker, there’s something for you among the beaches and cliffs of Krabi. The towering limestone karsts on famous Railay Beach are a rock climber’s dream, with over 700 climbing routes for all levels. Plus, we found a serene hot water lagoon, the Emerald Pool (Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve, Klong Thon), which is perfect for a mid-day dip and drooled over the luxe Rayavadee Resort (214 Moo 2, Tambon Ao-Nang, +66 7 5620-7403, www.rayavadee.com), surrounded by three beaches.

Forget the usual suspect Thai beaches.

Away Koh Kood Resort (43/8 Moo 2 Baan Klongchao, +66 8 7136-4036, www. awayresorts.com), located on Thailand’s eastern coast, is all about luxurious ocean facing bungalows and unspoiled beaches.

Aside from the snorkeling and scuba diving, there’s a local fishing village open to visitors. They’ve also got a promo (till Mar 31) that includes a two night stay, round trip ferry from Trat (the closest airport) to Koh Kood and all meals.

Sign up to Escape Routes, our weekly travel newsletter at sgnow.sg/newsletters

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

Krabi, Thailand

Away Koh Kood Resort

Fancy escaping the city and staring out at the calm river as fishermen go about their day? Cambodia’s sexy new Mekong Floating Bungalows (+855 1753-1514, www.mekongbungalows. asia, prices from US$110 ($146)) lets you do just that. Located on the Mekong River itself, this hotel consists only of two wooden bungalows: the bedroom and the restaurant/bar, making for the perfect unplugged holiday. No pesky neighbors to speak of either.

Thimphu, Bhutan

2015 is a big year for the Bhutan. There are a bunch of big festivals, including the three-day Talo Festival happening on Mar 27 where you’ll get to see traditional mask dances. What’s more, a swanky new Starwood property, Le Meridien Thimphu (Chorten Lam, +97 5233-7788, www.starwoodhotels.com), with another slated for an April opening. Bonus: you can now keep track of all the exciting happenings on their Visit Bhutan (www. visitbhutanyear.com) website.

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

ESCAPE ROUTES with Joyce See

Metropolitan by Como

Eight the Residence, Ambalangoda

MALAYSIA

All That Jazz Who said nothing cool ever happens in JB? The Johor Bahru Jazz Fest (www. facebook.com/jbartsfestival) is set to take place Feb 26-Mar 1 and involves some pretty big names from the jazz world. Expect performances by worldclass saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, Italian acapella group Mezzotono and names from around the region, including KL’s David Gomes and Singapore’s very own Jeremy Monteiro. Early bird tickets for a day pass start at RM50 ($19) and you can get them at www.ticketpro.com.my.

THAILAND

Nom at Nahm Heading to Bangkok? Consider checking yourself into the super chic Metropolitan

by Como (27 South Sathorn Rd., +66 26253333, www.comohotels.com). The 169-room hotel houses one of Asia’s top foodie joints: famed chef David Thompson’s much-raved about Thai restaurant, Nahm. Like all hot restos, landing a table here can be hard but there’s a Nahm Experience package that will guarantee you a spot with a tasting menu for two. Prices start at THB6,745 ($278) a night and also include a one-night stay in the Metropolitan room and breakfast.

SRI LANKA

Beach Bumming The newly opened Eight The Residence, Ambalangoda (21/7 Galle Road, Urawatte, + 94 7 7239-1520) is less chic boutique

Johor Bahru Jazz Fest

hotel and more home away from home— just a fancier beach house version. It sits directly on the stretch of road that leads you to Hikkaduwa, a town known for its pristine beaches, and has five bedrooms (two come with their own private plunge pools). The decor is charming and rustic but it also comes with all your modern day spoils like hot water, rain showers, plush four-poster beds and Wifi.

FLIGHTS

Supersize Me Australian carrier Qantas (www.qantas. com.au) just upped its economy class in-flight meal game and we have to say, we’re pretty impressed. They are offering a 50% increase in their in-flight meal portion sizes and letting you pre-order your meal online via their Q-Eat service that used to only be available to Business and Premium Economy classes. They’ve also added more meal options, going from two to four, with a healthy meal choice as well.

TECH

Book It If you’re the kind that likes planning spontaneous getaways, you’ll love new mobile app HotelQuickly (www. hotelquickly.com). It’s super easy to use and makes booking a room at the last minute a breeze. All you have to do is pick a city and it will show you its top 10 picks. Plus, the rates offered are also (on average) 28% less than rates you’d find online. Oh, and if you refer a friend and they end up making their first reservation, you get US$15 ($20) in credit.

THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO

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PISCES (FEB 19-MAR 20): “It isn’t normal to know what we want,” said pioneering psychologist Abraham Maslow. “It is a rare and difficult psychological achievement.”

That’s the bad news, Pisces. The good news is that you may be on the verge of rendering that theory irrelevant. In the coming weeks, you will be better primed to discover what you really want than you have been in a long time. I suggest you do a ritual in which you vow to unmask this treasured secret. Write a formal statement in which you declare your intention to achieve full understanding of the reasons you are alive on this planet.

ARIES (MAR 21-APR 19): There are many different facets to your intelligence, and each matures at a different rate. So for example, your ability to think symbolically may evolve more slowly than your ability to think abstractly. Your wisdom about why humans act the way they do may ripen more rapidly than your insight into your own emotions. In the coming weeks, I expect one particular aspect of your intelligence to be undergoing a growth spurt: your knowledge of what your body needs and how to give it what it needs.

TAURUS (APR 20-MAY 20): What is the proper blend for you these days? Is it something like 51 percent pleasure and 49 percent business? Or would you be wiser to shoot for 49 percent pleasure and 51 percent business? I will leave that decision up to you, Taurus.

Whichever way you go, I suggest that you try to interweave business and pleasure as often as possible.

You are in one of those action-packed phases when fun dovetails really well with ambition. I’m guessing that you can make productive connections at parties. I’m betting that you can spice up your social life by taking advantage of what comes to you through your work.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 20): In 1900, the world’s most renowned mathematicians met at a conference in Paris.

There the German whiz David Hilbert introduced his master list of 23 unsolved mathematical problems. At the time, no one had done such an exhaustive inventory. His well-defined challenge set the agenda for math research throughout the 20th century. Today he’s regarded as an influential visionary. I’d love to see you come up with a list of your own top unsolved problems, Gemini. You now have extra insight about the catalytic projects you will be smart to work on and play with during the coming years.

CANCER (JUN 21-JUL 22): “Spanipelagic” is an adjective scientists use to describe creatures that typically hang out in deep water but float up to the surface on rare occasions. The term is not a perfect metaphorical fit for you, since you come up for air more often than that.

But you do go through phases when you’re inclined to linger for a long time in the abyss, enjoying the dark mysteries and fathomless emotions. According to my reading of the astrological omens, that’s what you’ve been doing lately. Any day now, however, I expect you’ll be rising up from the Great Down Below and headed topside for an extended stay.

LEO (JUL 23-AUG 22): When faced with a big decision, you might say you want to “sleep on it.” In other words, you postpone your final determination until you gather more information and ripen your understanding of the pressing issues. And that could indeed involve getting a good night’s sleep. What happens in your dreams may reveal nuances you can’t pry loose with your waking consciousness alone. And even if you don’t recall your dreams, your sleeping mind is busy processing and reworking the possibilities. I recommend that you make liberal use of the “sleep on it” approach in the coming weeks, Leo. Revel in the wisdom that wells up in you as you’re lying down in the dark.

VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 22): In 1962, Edward Albee published his play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? It won numerous awards and is still performed by modern theater groups.

Albee says the title came to him as he was having a beer at a bar in New York City. When he went to the restroom, he spied the words “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” scrawled in soap on the mirror. I urge you to be alert for that kind of inspiration in the coming days,

Virgo: unexpected, provocative and out of context. You never know when and where you may be furnished with clues about the next plot twist of your life story.

LIBRA (SEP 23-OCT 22): Edward III, a medieval English king, had a favorite poet: Geoffrey Chaucer. In 1374, the king promised Chaucer a big gift in appreciation for his talents: a gallon of wine every day for the rest of his life. That’s not the endowment I would have wanted if I had been Chaucer. I’d never get any work done if I were quaffing 16 glasses of wine every 24 hours. Couldn’t I instead be provided with a regular stipend? Keep this story in mind, Libra, as you contemplate the benefits or rewards that might become available to you. Ask for what you really need, not necessarily what the giver initially offers.

SCORPIO (OCT 23-NOV 21): To make the cocktail known as Sex on the Beach, you mix together cranberry juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, peach schnapps and vodka.

There is also an alternative “mocktail” called Safe Sex on the Beach. It has the same fruit juices, but no alcohol.

Given the likelihood that your inner teenager will be playing an important role in your upcoming adventures, Scorpio, I recommend that you favor the Safe-Sex-onthe-Beach metaphor rather than the Sex-on-the-Beach approach. At least temporarily, it’s best to show a bit of protective restraint toward the wild and sometimes erratic juvenile energy that’s pushing to be expressed.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22-DEC 21): In Herman Melville’s short story “Bartleby, the Scrivener,” a lawyer hires a man named Bartleby to work in his office. At first Bartleby is a model employee, carrying out his assignments with dogged skill. But one day everything begins to change.

Whenever his boss instructs him to do a specific task, Bartleby says, “I would prefer not to.” As the days go by, he does less and less, until finally he stops altogether.

I’d like to propose, Sagittarius, that you take inspiration from his slowdown. Haven’t you done enough for now?

Haven’t you been exemplary in your commitment to the daily struggle? Don’t you deserve a break in the action so you can recharge your psychospiritual batteries? I say yes. Maybe you will consider making this your battle cry: “I would prefer not to.”

CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 19): “All life is an experiment.

The more experiments you make the better.” That’s what American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson advised. Even if you’re not naturally inclined to see the potential wisdom of that approach, I invite you to play around with it for the next three weeks. You don’t need to do it forever. It doesn’t have to become a permanent fixture in your philosophy. Just for now, experiment with the possibility that trying lots of experiments will lead you not just to new truths, but to new truths that are fun, interesting and useful.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20-FEB 18): The art of the French Aquarian painter Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927) appears in prestigious museums. He isn’t as famous as his fellow Impressionists Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro, but he wielded a big influence on them both. His career developed slowly because he had to work a day job to earn a living. When he was 50 years old, he won a wad of free money in the national lottery, and thereafter devoted himself full-time to painting. I’m not saying you will enjoy a windfall like that anytime soon, Aquarius, but such an event is possible. At the very least, your income could rise. Your odds of experiencing financial luck will increase to the degree that you work to improve the best gifts you have to offer your fellow humans.

“Mixing bistro fare with gastronomical touches, this is the most promising new opening in a while. ow.ly/loszZ ” Want to know which restaurant we’re talking about?

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

last word

Adrian Pang The actor and Pangdemonium founder is having a busy year. His company’s latest play Circle Mirror Transformation was at DBS Arts Centre, and he’s being directed by his wife Tracie in The Weight of Silk on Skin, part of Esplanade’s upcoming SG50 celebrations in April and his first stab at a one-man show. Here, he tells Joyce See about working with Brad Pitt and the time he almost got exiled.

There was nothing to see in Singapore in the ’70s and ’80s. I don’t recall seeing a single theater production. I don’t know what motivated me to audition for a school production of Oliver Twist.

It was a major upheaval for a couple of years. The work culture is very different and it was all very alien to me. The whole time I was working for Mediaworks [later Mediacorp], I was pretty much a misfit.

I was not good at sports and a bit of a geek, so [theater was] a mild distraction. And then I had that “oh wow” moment.

Singapore has been struggling with its identity for years now and will continue to do so for years. And the way we speak is very much entrenched in this struggle.

It’s the anticipation of going on stage; it’s a heightened I’ve had to play characters who speak in a very Singlish euphoria, delirium almost. The challenge is to do it night kind of way. But the producers will say, “Don’t use lah on after night and still be able to say those words as though TV.” That’s why English language films in Singapore are so you’re telling the story for the first hard to do. You’re reaching huge masses and time. It is hard but I absolutely love it, to find a [representative] way we speak here is Singapore has really tricky. which is why theater is my first love.

I consider myself quite lucky.

Through the nine years that I was working as an actor in the UK, I never had to wait any tables. I know people who didn’t work for years after they finished an acting job.

been struggling with its identity for years now and will continue to do so for years.

The offer to come back and work for Mediaworks came out of the blue. I was in Oxford playing an undercover CIA agent with Brad Pitt [in Spy Games] and I got this call. And I was just like “What are you talking about? I’m working with Brad Pitt, don’t you know?” And then three months later, we were back in Singapore.

I remember hosting for a solemn, sober state event where Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was the Guest of Honor and as I was thanking everybody, I referred to him as President Lee Hsien Loong.

The moment it came out of my mouth, I said, “Of course I meant Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong...but then he should be the President.”

Talk about a horrendous faux pas! And then trying to cover it up with the lamest cover up, which made it even worse. I thought I was going to get exiled.

were back in the UK, we certainly wouldn’t be running our own theater company.

On the opening night of [Pangdemonium’s debut production] The Full Monty, both my boys, who were supposed to take turns being in the show, fell ill and were losing their voices. My older boy, Zack, was chosen to open the show and it was his first time on stage.

Before the show, Zack’s face was white and he started to cry. So I told him, “I know you’re nervous, I’m nervous as hell as well. If you tell me you can’t do it, I guess we won’t.

But I swear to you, if you go and do this, you will feel so good about yourself.”

After the first scene, as we went off stage, he looked at me and he said “Oh my god! That was fantastic!” That was such a moment for me, as a producer and as a dad.

When we started rehearsals for Circle Mirror Transformation and Tracie was commanding the room, I sat back and was just in awe. My god, I’m married to this really awesome woman. I am so put in my place.

She is my boss in the company and she’s the boss at home. Even right down to the nitty gritty mundane everyday stuff, she will take care of it. My life would fall apart without Tracie.

14 years after moving back, we’re still here. Tracie and I have talked about it many times and we agree that if we

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by Kathy Macleod

kathymacleod.blogspot.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

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