w w w. s g n o w. s g | 2 0 1 5 M PA S W e b s i t e o f t h e Ye a r
Your FREE independent guide to the next two weeks
Got a costume yet?
SG MAGAZINE | ISSUE #688 | OCTOBER 16, 2015 since 1995
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
what’s on what’s new what matters
Illustrator Lee Xin Li reminisces about Singapore’s fast-disappearing heritage through a series of quirky drawings. Turn to ART , page 8, for an interview
CITYSCAPE
DINING
EVENTS
TRAVEL
Epic Music Festivals
Best New Openings
A Clockwork Orange
Tokyo on a Budget
page 3 Singapore Halloween Costume Idea Generator
16 grooming
Barbershops, Spa Treatments and Skincare 8 illustration
7 outings
Remembering Singapore’s Heritage
Changi Revisited – The Hendon Horrors
12 cityscape
17 events
Music Festival Guide
Upcoming Fun Runs
It’s less than two weeks till Halloween—got a killer costume idea yet? Never fear. Use our handy idea generator. Step 1: Pick an adjective. Sexy
Spooky
Slutty
Undead
Step 2 (Basic): Combine step 1 with one of the following. Lee Kuan Yew
The Sam Willows
Lee Hsien Loong
Kopitiam Auntie
18 new cafe
19 dining
Amos Yee
Oversharing Uber Driver
The Coffee Academics
Best New Restaurants
Merlion
Misanthropic Taxi Uncle
Chinatown Drag Queen
Ah Boys to Men
Orchard Road KTV Hostess
Keong Saik Bartender
Sun Ho
Singapore Party Girl
VR Man
Ah Beng/Ah Lian
21 travel
22 interview
Affordable Tokyo
A Historian in Tiong Bahru
Step 2 (Advanced Only): Skip Step 2 (Basic) and go with one of these abstract ideas.
Who's in charge? Publisher & General Manager Ric Stockfis countrymanager@asia-city.com.sg
Content Sales & Custom Media Content Director Clara Lim customcontent@asia-city.com.sg
Editorial Managing Editor Mrigaa Sethi editor@asia-city.com.sg
Advertising Director, Business Development Intan Agustina advertising@asia-city.com.sg
Features Editor Chelsia Tan Digital News Reporter Xie Shi Min Design Associate Art Director Carmen Louise Ho Senior Designer Fishy Toh Designer 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
Senior Manager, Media & Marketing Shernan Plameras Executives, Media & Marketing Chan Xin Yee, Lee Wee Keong
Finance finance@asia-city.com.sg 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 Illustration by Lee Xin Li
Marketing Marketing Manager Silver Adrienna Ng marketing@asia-city.com.sg
Kopi
Hepatitis C Outbreak
HDB Block
Haze
+ = Step 1 Step 2
Your Halloween Costume
Who are we?
Published every two weeks (with daily updates at sgnow.sg), SG (previously I-S) delivers honest, independent and irreverent coverage of the Singapore lifestyle scene. We’ve been recommending what to do and where to go here for 20 years—and we’ve never been more excited about the city than we are right now.
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Awesome events, cool new places, the very best of the next two weeks
High-end, hawker and everything inbetween: news on the drink and dining scene
Hot topics, local initiatives and ideas for making Singapore even better
Because Singapore is only so big: the best deals and destinations around Asia
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SG Magazine is published 24 times a year by Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd., 211 Henderson Road, #07‑02, 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, OCTOBER 16, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
3
up front
Singapore’s latest news, numbers and dramas at a glance
Our biweekly study of the city’s burgeoning (and dying) trends
NUMEROLOGY
5.5 million
Julie Miss Butterflies
HOT OR NOT
Singapore’s total population, according to the latest figures from a National Population and Talent Division report.
Hot: LGBT-Themed Events Not: Homophobia
Fred von Lohmann
Beverly & Pack
Pink Dot’s not the only LGBT event here—there was an Allies Night, a mixer for professionals on Oct 1. Now, the 7th Love and Pride Film Festival by cinema operator Golden Village, happening through Oct 18, features limited screenings for movies such as Stonewall, about the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of violent demonstrations that triggered the gay civil rights movement in the US.
$1.6 million Total amount of fines issued by the Land Transport Authority to SMRT for recent disruptions and safety breaches.
$317,000
Hot: Vinyl Records
Not: CDs
Gramicidin
Former CD giant HMV has closed its last outlet at Marina Square and while the store is supposedly re-opening elsewhere, there has been zero news of any new developments (sniffle). In the meantime, vinyl records have made a comeback according to reports by Time and The Wall Street Journal (and everyone else), so check out new vinyl, book and magazine store The Analog Vault (#02-13 Esplanade Mall) for a curated record collection.
Not: Gentrification
Besides Archifest, there have been a few walking tours held at heritage sites, such as the revamped Singapore River Walk (formerly known as Singapore River Trail), an informal tour of Bukit Brown cemetery and guided nature walk of The Istana grounds. But first, put Bukit Brown cemetery and the historical KTM railway tracks on top of your list, as they are slated to be demolished soon.
WE
Um, there’s a new Hello Kitty theme park in Singapore It’s with mixed feelings that we tell you this: Singapore’s first ever Hello Kitty theme park is here. Bring your unbearable cute friends to this event Hello Kitty Park at The Coliseum from Oct 16-Nov 10. There’s a Hello Kitty merry-go-round, an interactive game carnival and dance performances (with most of it decked out in pink, of course). Relive your childhood at the Party Hall and the Ferris Wheel, and kick it old school by sending a letter at the Post Office. There’s a Hello Kitty Tote Bag workshop and lots of merch at the gift store to add to your Hello Kitty memorabilia collection (because one stuffed kitty is not enough). Tickets are $45. See what else is happening at the park at www. hellokittygoaround.com.sg.
Website of the Year MPAS 2015
Amount of bribes allegedly accepted from six contractors by former director of Resorts World Sentosa, Soh Yew Meng, in a corruption case.
S I N G A P O R E ’ S H OTT E ST L I F E ST Y L E N E W S
OB INDEX
10 Number of new MRT stations to be named by the public via votes this month.
$15,000 Hot: Heritage Tours
NEWS FROM SGNOW.SG
The personal bond of Briton Pravin Dhokia, who was arrested after taking a walk along the F1 race track. Tsk.
Sources: The Straits Times, Channel News Asia
SG
SEP
29
Charting the ups and downs of Singapore's openness, tolerance and freedom of expression
The Media Development Authority (MDA) cut a 40-minute parody on teen blogger Amos Yee, who was found guilty for inciting anti-Christian sentiments online, from writer-director Jonathan Lim’s parody sketch show Chestnuts. According to him, they were only informed to cut the sketch (or forfeit the arts entertainment licence) just hours before the opening show, but in a statement to The Straits Times, the government body said this was because the script was submitted late. No matter—Lim has plans to turn the segment into a YouTube series or a mini movie online, via a crowd-funding campaign.
Get this issue to go.
This week you will mainly love your city for its...
Free Lifestyle-Improvement Toolkit for Pioneers There is a new DIY toolkit for seniors in Singapore, which helps track their wellbeing through questions ranging from health to current affairs. This aids them in identifying skills and hobbies they can pursue to boost their overall lifestyle through a list of questions. The free toolkit, which comes in the form of booklets, is currently available for download online and at centres like Feiyue Community Services, RSVP Singapore, Yah! College and WINGS.
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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
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
FRI
THROUGH
Oct 23
Nov 8
FOOD & DRINK Wine Fiesta
LITERARY Singapore Writers Festival
One of the biggest wine events in town, this annual festival has over 350 wines from over 70 wineries on show this year. You’ll get to taste your way through all the booths, as well as attend over 40 masterclasses. There is also food by chefs Malcolm Lee and Cheryl Koh. Oct 23-25. Clifford Square (next to Fullerton Bay Hotel), 80 Collyer Quay, www.winefiesta.com.sg. $50.
The literary festival is back with more speakers, authors and workshops led by international and local names like Alexandra Spencer-Jones, Audrey Chin and Alfian Sa’at. There are also live music performances by local bands like I Am David Sparkle and In Each Hand A Cutlass. Oct 30-Nov 8. Various venues, with some ticketed events.
THROUGH
OUTINGS Halloween Horror Nights 5
WED
Oct 31
Nov 4
THU
Oct 29
The fifth edition of this spooky event has four haunted houses and three scare zones based on themes like a haunted MRT station, a True Singapore Ghost Stories house and an HDB flat with infected residents. Through Oct 31, 7pm. Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-8899, www. halloweenhorrornights.com.sg. $68.
STYLE Digital Fashion Week
THEATER A Clockwork Orange
Directed by Alexandra Spencer-Jones, this gritty all-male retelling of Anthony Burgess literary classic (and Kubrick’s adapted film masterpiece) has earned an R18 rating in Signapore. Set in the Manchester underworld, expect lots of shirtless men and a “playtime of orgiastic ultraviolence and sexuality”. Nov 4-7. Esplanade Theatre, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377, www.aba-productions.com. $58-128 from Sistic.
FRI
FESTIVAL Singapore River Festival
The fourth edition of this fashion week includes highlights like French fashion photographer Corinne Mariaud and British fashion designer Catherine Teatum of Teatum Jones. Oct 29-Nov 1. Capitol Theatre, 15 Stamford Rd., 6222-5807, www.digitalfashionweek.com. Free.
WED
Oct 23
Oct 21
This year’s edition of the river festival has an exciting lineup of acts including world-famous acrobatic troupe La Fura dels Baus, as well as local artisan markets with live music and urban art around the three quays. Oct 23-25. Singapore River (Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay). Free.
FILM 23rd Israel Film Festival
This edition of the film festival has a woman-focused theme with six titles. On the roster are films like Tayla Lavie’s dramedy about female soldiers completing their military service in Zero Motivation and The Good Son, which tells the story of a 22-year-old male who is secretly getting a sex change without his parents’ knowledge. Oct 21-27. Golden Village VivoCity, 2/F & 3/F VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6311-9162, www. facebook.com/IFFsingapore. $9.
6
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
now HAPPENINGS
outings Sculpture Trail Guided Tour The Fort Canning sculpture trail takes you through the historic and contemporary sculptures dotted around the famous park. Learn about the artists’ inspiration and the stories behind the sculptures. Oct 17, 3:30pm. National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659, www.nparks.gov.sg. Free. Changi Revisited – The Hendon Horrors Solve an interactive murder mystery at the Old Changi Hospital and the Changi Barracks this Halloween. The fictitious Hendon Hotel will be home to lots of scare actors and plot twists for brave souls. Oct 23-25 & 30, 3:30pm. 33 Hendon Rd., www.changirevisited.com. $68.
festivals
Coffee Painting Workshop Try your hand at painting with coffee under the guidance of Estonian-born artist Maria Filatova-Chan. Learn about the various tones and shades of brown that coffee produces. Oct 17, 1pm, 3:30pm. Global Connect Village, Temasek Polytechnic, 21 Tampines Ave. 1, www. dutchcolony.sg. $40 from Eventbrite. Asia Fashion Future The British Council bring Asian and international fashion experts like Lucy Siegle, Frances Corner, Ong Shunmugam and Ling Wu, as well as retailers like Zalora and Lane Crawford for a short course on the global fashion movement. Oct 26-29. LASALLE College of the Arts, 1 McNally St., 6496-5000, www.britishcouncil.sg. $1,600.
sales & fairs Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair Featuring an array of exquisite jewelry and finely crafted designs from 200 exhibitors spanning 28 countries, ogle at rare gemstones, glittering jewels and artistic pieces of jewelry. Participating exhibitors include Far East Gems and Jewellery, Eiko Pearl and Yoel Deil Diamonds. Oct 22-25, 11am. Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868, www. singaporejewellerygemfair.com. Free.
Brian Jeffery Beggerly
Dia De Muertos Singapore Celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead at the biggest festival of its kind. Enjoy art and music performed by both Mexican and local artists and musicians, and savor gourmet Mexican cuisine as well. Nov 7, 7pm. Emily Hill, 11 Upper Wilkie Rd., 6337-4204. Free.
classes & workshops
Changi Revisited - The Hendon Horror
5 - 15 NOVEMBER
FILM
The Women in Film & Photography Showcase Comprising a photography exhibition and various film screenings, this women-centric festival touches on issues like loneliness, gender stereotyping, culture and identity. Film highlights include Berlin Film Festivalwinner Megane and Singapore Panda. Oct 22-Nov 29. Objectifs, 155 Middle Rd., 6336-2957, www.objectifs. com.sg. Free. Cinema Haute Couture The glamor of French cinema is transplanted to Singapore through this film series. In conjunction with Digital Fashion Week, films include Madamoiselle C, a film about Carine Roitfeld, the former Vogue Paris editor-in-chief, as well as William Klein’s Where
Perspectives Film Festival
Are You Polly Magoo? Oct 28. Alliance Francaise de Singapour, 1 Sarkies Rd., 6737-8422, www. alliancefrancaise.org.sg. $15-30. 19th German Film Festival Showcasing the newest of Berlin cinema, 22 films will be screened for the first time in Singapore at this festival. Focusing on the theme “search for identity”, expect WWII drama Phoenix and award-winning thriller Victoria. There’s also an eight film retrospective of Rainer Werner Fassbender. Nov 5-15. Various venues, www.goethe.de/singapore. Tickets TBA.
Host venue / In partnership with
© Sony Pictures Releasing GmbH. Jan Rasmus Voss
Perspectives Film Festival Catch the tail end of this film festival centering on the theme of transition, with seven international feature films spanning different genres. Highlights include Xavier Nolan’s Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize winner, Mommy, as well as Kurdish refugee and war film, Turtles Can Fly. Through Oct 18. Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659, www.perspectivesfilmfestival.com. $10-48 from Sistic.
Supported by
Venue Support
The Women in Film & Photography Showcase
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
7
now ART Lee Xin Li’s Sayang Singapura
John McLaughlin4th Dimension
MUSIC
classical To Paris With Love Jazz pianist Jeremy Monteiro and guitarist Eugene Pao play tracks from their new collabarative album, To Paris With Love. It’s a tribute to Michael Legrand, famed for his Grammy award-winning composition in movies and TV. Oct 16, 7:30pm. Victoria Concert Hall, 11 Empress Place. $35-75 from Sistic. Lee Xin Li
You probably know architecture student and illustrator Lee Xin Li’s famous kueh prints. But this year, he published Sayang Singapura, a collection of illustrations depicting Singapore’s recently lost past, inspired by the styles of Herge (of Tintin fame) and travel graphic novelist Guy Delisle. Here he tells us more about the project and about Singapore’s relationship with its past. How do you draw places that have been demolished? The photographs from Singapore Archives, PictureSG, old films, recollections by people, interviews, articles, newspapers, research papers, books, maps, et cetera provided useful references to construct a scene from these long-gone landscapes. Others which are more personal, such as Neo Tiew and Pulau Tekong, came from memory as well. Any personal memories? I have very fond memories of a number of them, one of which is Neo Tiew Estate in Lim Chu Kang. My dad used to drive my siblings and I to Neo Tiew to fetch my mum, who sold hor fun and chicken rice at the coffeeshop. My aunt and uncle also sold drinks there. We loved playing around the playground and wander about the estate. Today the estate is a military training ground. I went back there during my NS days for military training which was surreal because for one moment, we were defending
the grounds of the former coffeeshop and clearing the rooms of my aunt’s former flat for imaginary enemies. Why are Singaporeans so nostalgic? I think partly nostalgia results from the deeper uncertainty or search for a national identity among Singaporeans. With a skyline largely attributed to foreign architects or more foreign presence, nostalgia is fuelled by a desire to dig deeper into Singapore’s past for what it means to be Singaporean, our histories, the kampong, food heritage, et cetera. Last but not least, one cannot discount the role of social media in recent times which raised awareness of Singapore’s past and alternative historical narratives. Tell us about your book, Sayang Singapura. I wept at the end of Kelvin Tong’s Grandma Positioning System in [recent SG50 omnibus] 7 Letters when grandma and the family members recounted many familiar landscapes that were sadly “bo liao” (gone)… I was confronted with the reality of loss of the landscapes which I grew up in and my loved ones whom I shared many memories in these lost landscapes such as Neo Tiew. Such sentiments served as the motivation for Sayang Singapura, which was published earlier this year. It is an expression of love for the home we grew up in yet at the same time pity for the loss. It is an imaginative journey of rediscovery of these landscapes that were lost or are soon to be gone.
Bryson Andres + Duke of Andres YouTube’s famous electric violinist, Bryson Andres, and Japan’s top classical anime pianist, Yui Morishita, perform their unique self-styled techniques that merge classic and contemporary music. Nov 1, 7:30pm. Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $38-118 from Sistic.
concerts John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension The Grammy award nominated jazz and rock group plays a fusion of pop and vocal jazz music. Expect songs from album To The One, as well as other hits. Oct 29, 8pm. University Cultural Centre Hall, NUS, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, 6516-2492, www. livenationlushington.net. $88-148 from Sistic.
Your FREE independent guide to the next two weeks
SG MAGAZINE | ISSUE #688 | OCTOBER 16, 2015 since 1995
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
what’s on what’s new what matters
Cover Up SG Magazine covers celebrate local artists, photographers and illustrators and their remarkable depictions of Singapore. They look so good, we’ve even started hanging them on our walls.
Illustrator Lee Xin Li reminisces about Singapore’s fast-disappearing heritage through a series of quirky drawings. Turn to ART , page 8, for an interview
CITYSCAPE
DINING
EVENTS
TRAVEL
Epic Music Festivals
Best New Openings
A Clockwork Orange
Tokyo on a Budget
To suggest someone we should feature or to partner with us on this initiative, email editor@asia-city.com.sg
8
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
Sleepwalker Series Presents Acid Baby Jesus The Greek psych-rock band performs heavy rock n’ roll tunes from their latest LP Selected Recordings for the first time in Singapore. Expect to hear hits like “It’s On Me” and “Vegetable”, alongside a performance of The Shabbab from Melbourne. Nov 4, 8pm. $30-100 from Peatix. Dimensions & Demons Local writers and musicians collaborate to imagine a world represented solely through the words in music. Expect names like Darren Shiau, Riot in Magenta, Dave Chua, Weish, Stephanie Ye and Ferry to perform and narrate their pieces, which center around the different sureral angles of being a human being. Nov 5, 8pm. Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377, www.esplanade.com. $25. Taylor Swift In support of her fifth studio album, 1989, the world’s biggest pop star returns to perform hits such as “Style” and “Bad Blood”. Nov 7-8, 8pm. Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk, 6344-2660. $128-328 from Sportshubtix.
Ghost The Musical Adapted from the award-winning film of the same name, the musical centers on the spirit of a murdered man who returns to earth to protect his lover from harm. Oct 20-24, 7:30pm; Oct 24, 2pm; Oct 25, 1pm, 6pm. Sands Theater, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868, www.marinabaysands.com. $85-175 from Sistic.
theater Cirque du Soleil: Totem
Kafka on the Shore
Got a costume yet?
SG50 Concert Series in the Park Pack a picnic basket and bring your mats for the next concert in the park with acts like Kit Chan and Jack & Rai. Music aside, there are also retro food stalls and a games area. Oct 31, 6pm. Jurong Central Park, 291 Boon Lay Way, 6471-7808, www.nparks.gov.sg/sg50. Free.
musicals
Lee Xin Li’s book, Sayang Singapura, is available via Cat Socrates, Kinokuniya, Times, MPH and Popular Bookstore. You can see more of his work at www.behance.net/ pokpokandaway. MRIGAA SETHI
w w w. s g n o w. s g | 2 0 1 5 M PA S W e b s i t e o f t h e Ye a r
Taylor Swift
STAGE
dance Cirque du Soleil: Totem The fantastical troupe returns with another colorful show featuring 46 circus artists, actors, musicians and singers from 17 countries performing an impressive collection of jaw-dropping acrobatic moves alongside cutting-edge digital effects. Oct 28-Nov 22. Field beside Bayfront MRT (Exit A), 11 Bayfront Ave., $98328 from Sistic.
Ebizo Ichikawa Ebizo Ichikawa XI, scion of Japan’s oldest kabuki family, returns to Singapore with Japan Theatre to put up two plays that have never been seen before, Uwanari and Mimasu Kuruwa no Kasauri. Oct 17, 3pm, 7:30pm; Oct 18, 3pm. Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, 6688-8868. $89-350. Bawang Puteh Bawang Merah (#BPBM) Based on a popular Malay folk tale, this play contemporarizes the well-known story that shows Bawang Puteh’s problems after her parents’ death and the difficulties in living with her stepmother and step sister Bawang Merah. Oct 29-31, 8pm; Oct 31, 3pm. Black Box, Drama Centre, #05-01 National Library Building, 100 Victoria St., 6837-8400, bpbm. adiconceptsg.com. $10-25. Seed Directed by award-winning playwright Chong Tze Chien, this production revolves around the basic human need of food and delves into the different perspectives and processes of the story of life. Oct 29-31, 8pm. SOTA Drama Theatre, School of the Arts Singapore, 1 Zubir Said Dr., 6594-8411. $35-45 from Sistic. Kafka on the Shore Harumi Murakami’s cult classic gets the stage treatment with an all-Japanese cast including Rie Miyazawa and Nino Furuhata. The plot centers on the intertwining stories of 15-year-old Kafka, who runs away from home, and the elderly Nakata, finder of lost cats. Oct 30-31, 8pm; Nov 1, 2pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377, www.esplanade. com. $48-118 from Sistic.
now surrealism and typology. Oct 19-Nov 1. ION Art Gallery, 4/F ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, 6238-8228.
ART Remain Calm The works at this exhibition expresses the simplicity of life through a series geometrical paintings. Through Oct 18. Barnadas Huang Gallery, 61 Duxton Rd., 66354707, www.barnadashuang.com. Free. Kang Jun Young Solo Exhibition Influenced by hip hop and street culture, this artist delves deeper into the theme of “Romantic Love”. He uses grafitti-like drawings on canvas and scribblecentric strokes on large pieces of pottery. Through Oct 24. Gallery Huue, #03-02 Sutton Place, 188 Bukit Timah Rd., 6334-2805. Free. Two Plus Four - Calligraphy Works of 6 Great Masters See magnificient paintings by six great calligraphy artists including Lim Tze Peng, Zeng Guang Wei, Liu Kang, Pan Shou, Wang Rui Bi and Li Jin Yuan. Through Oct 25. Goshen Art Gallery, 03-61 Orchard Plaza, 150 Orchard Rd., 9742-3621. Free. Observations of the Ordinary by Chow3 This photography exhibition involves Chow Chee Yong, ND Chow and Stefen Chow, and centers on the juxtaposition of dreams and reality, as well as
Reverse Exotic Turkish artist Tara Lale’s solo exhibition shows provocative photographic works that illustrate the realities of emotion and self-representation around the role of art in gender and society. Through Nov 7. Yavuz Gallery, #02-23 Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Rd., 6734-3262, www.yavuzgallery.com. Free. Blue White Vermilion The winner of the National Arts Council’s 2002 award, Tay Bak Chiang’s latest body of work involves the fundamental motif of lotus ponds in the presence of traditional Chinese ink paintings. Oct 22-Nov 15. Chan Hampe Galleries, #01-20/21 Raffles Hotel, Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6338-1962, www. chanhampegalleries.com. Free.
Blue White Vermilion
Tomas Saraceno Argentinean artist Tomas Saraceno transforms the gallery space into a labyrinth-like installation which comes replete with spider webs and various symbols drawn from architecture and astrology. Oct 23-Dec 20. NTU Centre for Contemporary Arts Singapore, Gillman Barracks, 43 Malan Rd., www.gillmanbarracks. com. Free. Tomas Saraceno
NIGHTLIFE Jon Bon Jovi Tribute Party The cocktail bar pays homage to the slow rock legend. There are also house cocktails and free drinks for their trivia questions. Oct 16, 7pm. Fresh!, #02-01 The Sultan, 101 Jalan Sultan, 8828-7084, www.facebook.com/ohsofreshsg. Free.
$100 Gourmet
FOOD & DRINK Rum Jam Caribbean restaurant Lime House is hosting Singapore’s first ever rum festival. You can get a crash course on rums by expert Ian Burrell or learn all about pairing it with food at a threecourse dinner. Don’t miss a tasting session comprising rums from the Barbados and an exciting closing party. Oct 23-24. Lime House, 2 Jiak Chuan Rd., 6222-3130. $25-110. $100Gourmet This month’s lineup of international guest chefs include Rolf Fliegauf and Joris Bijdendijk who are pairing up with local restaurants including The Disgruntled Chef, Pollen, Mitzo and Waterfall. Oct
10
24-31 & Nov 7-14. Various venues, www.100gourmet.com. $100-180.
Jazz & Wine The crepe bistro brings upbeat gypsy jazz band The Gypsyfication for a night of wine and jazz. It’s $7/glass and $35/ bottle. Oct 17, 8:30pm. O Comptoir, 79 Circular Rd., 6534-7645, www.facebook. com/OComptoirSG. Free.
Kang Jun Young Solo Exihibition
Sky High Ft. DJ Fudge Veteran French spin artist DJ Fudge, flanked by local DJs Sivanesh and Kaye, brings his signature funk, house and disco sounds to swanky rooftop club Ce La Vi. Oct 24, 7pm. Ce La Vi SkyBar, 57/F Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, 1 Bayfront Ave., 6688-7688. Free. Sho Stomper Hell’s Gate Get dolled up in your sexy-spooky best for a Halloween party with spectacular views. Don’t miss the special Lucifer’s Lust cocktail. Do book ahead. Oct 31, 10pm. 1 Altitude, 61/F 1 Raffles Place, 6438-0410., www.1-altitude.com. $40, incl. a house pour and a Lucifer’s Lust
Bang Bang Fury Road Celebrate Halloween Mad Max style. Expect a heart-thumping post-apocalyptic theme, with Fury Road inspired drink packages like “What a Beautiful Day!”, “Furiosa” and “Immortan Joe”—there’s even a fire guitarist. Oct 31, 10pm. Bang Bang, Pan Pacific Hotel, 7 Raffles Blvd., 8127-2808, www.bangbang.sg. $35. NoPartyHere x The Powder Room: Darius The chic 1920s-inspired cocktail bar brings this French artist who is known for his infectious house music and has remixed the likes of MO, Flight Facilities and Bondax. Nov 5, 9pm. The Powder Room, 19 Cecil St., 8181-3305, www. theblackswan.com.sg. Free.
Halloween Specials at Catalunya The bayside Spanish restaurant celebrates Halloween with four special cocktails like Toil and Trouble and Red Eye, as well as a special spooky menu and desserts for the occasion. Oct 26-Nov 1, 4pm. Catalunya, The Fullerton Pavilion, 82 Collyer Quay, 6534-0188, www.catalunya.sg. Free. 4xFOUR Four culinary superstars, including Michelin-starred chefs Claude Bosi of Hibiscus, Davide Scabin of Combal.Zero and Ollie Dabbous of Dabbous, cook up unique paired menus at this pop-up event. Oct 28-Nov 20. The White Rabbit, 39 Harding Rd., 6736-1458, www.4xfour. sg. $138-288.
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
NoParty Here x The Powder Room: Darius
Bang Bang
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city scape
Charlie Lim
Damien Rice
FESTIVALS
Stay Tuned
Up your culture cred with our guide to all the cool music festivals coming up in Singapore. By Chelsia Tan Singapore Lieder Festival
Nouvelle Vague
S
tarting right now, get your calendars ready for an onslaught of major music festivals for every type of music lover, from classical purists to a capella junkies. And in case you haven’t been in the loop, here are our highlights.
FOR SINGAPORE SENTIMENTALISTS
5th Singapore Lieder Festival (Oct 16-18) Already in its fourth consecutive run, this local-centric showcase by Singaporean art song collective, The Sing Song Club, features a series of three recitals by homegrown composers Dr. Kelly Tang, a Cultural Medallion recipient and Young Artist award winner Dr. Zechariah Koh. This is one event you may want to bring your folks to, as there will be classic favorites like Burung Kakak Tua and Xiao Bai Chuan (Little White Boat). Tickets go from $40 for a fourperformance season pass at bytes. sg. www.theartshouse.sg
FOR FANS OF LOCAL INDIE MUSIC
FOR AUTHENTIC INDIE GEEKS
FOR INSTAGRAMMERS
ALSO, WATCH THIS SPACE...
*SCAPE The Invasion (Dec 5)
Neon Lights (Nov 28-29)
St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival (Jan 30, 2016)
WOAH Fest (TBA)
The best of Singapore’s emerging musicians gather at this free concert slash market in Orchard Road’s youth-centric hangout, *SCAPE. The line-up’s pretty rad—there’s rapper ShiGGa Shay; singer-songwriter Charlie Lim, who has played at venues in Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea and London; rapper and producer THELIONCITYBOY (also known as Kevin Lester); soul singer Michaela Therese among eight others. Adding more buzz to the event is, of course, a makers market featuring artisanal crafts and performances by street performers and buskers. www.scape.sg
This all-new indie music bonanza will host famous and underground acts at Fort Canning Park, such as indie folk band Daughter, hip hop legends Blackalicious, sensitive crooner Rachael Yamagata, Irish troubadour Damien Rice, French bossa nova group Nouvelle Vague and ‘80s disco legends Chic featuring Nile Rodgers. And if you’re a true blue music geek, there’s Kiasmos, Sun Kil Moon, Flight Facilities and Hanging Up The Moon. The event also features food booths accompanied by performance tents and a live street art and culture pop-up. Early bird two-day passes start from $189 from Sistic. www.neonlights.sg
Back for the sixth time at Meadows by the Bay, next year’s line-up includes a couple of bigname headlining acts, as well as artists from Singapore, Australia, the U.S, Canada and the U.K. You may already be familiar with electronic band CHVRCHES, dreampop duo Beach House and electro producer Flume but it’s also a great plaftorm to discover other musicians such as Battles, Big Scary, DIIV and local talents DJ Intriguant, Cashew Chemists and Cheats. Headgears, wellies and flower tiaras are compulsory. Early bird tickets are from $165 at Sistic.www.singapore. lanewayfestival.com
Details about this new festival, organized by Symmetry Entertainment (who brought us Bombay Bicycle Club and Camp Symmetry) and Wanderland Music and Arts Festival, are a little sketchy at the moment, but the event promises to bring a line-up of international, regional and local acts together. For now, they’ve already roped in Death Cab for Cutie (Mar 7, 2016) for a one-night only concert preceding the big show. www.facebook. com/WOAHFestSG
NEWS FROM SGNOW.SG
Whiskey lovers, the all-whiskey festival is back
Tiong Bahru gets its first rooftop bar
Whiskey lovers shouldn’t miss this festival celebrating all things neat and peaty. The sixth edition of Whisky Live (Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, www. whiskylive.sg) will be held over two days, come Nov 28-29. The festival has even swapped its venue to a swish location over at Sentosa’s Capella Hotel and the organizers have promised that it’ll be the biggest one yet, with some 500 bottlings and over 90 different whiskey and spirit brands represented.
Hanging out at cool rooftop bars is fast becoming a national pasttime (after eating and shopping, of course) and Singapore’s notorious hipster neighborhood is finally getting one of its own. Lin will be Tiong Bahru’s first rooftop bar and it’s found on top of Link Hotel (50 Tiong Bahru Rd., 94874290, www.lin.com.sg).
Website of the Year MPAS 2015 Whiskey Live
For more head to sgnow.sg/restaurants
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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
Lin
S I N G A P O R E ’ S H OTT E ST L I F E ST Y L E N E W S
DINING
Best New Bar
Best Restaurant
• Burnt Ends • Jaan • Les Amis • Restaurant Andre • Waku Ghin
20 YEARS
• Club Street Social • Fresh! • Long Play • Shin Gi Tai • Vasco
Best Wine Lounge • Caveau • Naploleon • O Batignolles • Wine Connection Cheese Bar
Best Local Online Store • The Assembly Store • Collate the Label • The General Store • Megafash • Urban Slings
TRAVEL Best Budget Airline • AirAsia • Jetstar • Scoot • Tigerair
ART & STAGE Best Museum
• ArtScience Museum • Asian Civilisations Museum • National Museum • Singapore Art Museum
Best Art Gallery
• Chan Hampe • Objectifs • Opera Gallery • Singapore Tyler Print Institute • Yavuz Gallery
Best Regional Destination • Indonesia • Japan • Korea • Malaysia • Thailand
Open Farm Community
Best New Restaurant
• Cure • Lollapalooza • Maca • Open Farm Community • Neon Pigeon
Little Island Brewing Company
Best Craft Beer Bar • Brewerkz • Jibiru • Level33 • Little Island Brewing Company • Tap
Best Club
IT'S YOUR TURN
Awes prizes ome to b won! e
It’s that time of the year when we put our opinions aside and let you do the talking. A chance for you, our loyal readers, to tell us which you think are the most interesting, innovative and downright awesome individuals, venues, products and services in Singapore. It only takes a few minutes to complete the questionnaire and you stand a chance to win some fabulous prizes including weekend staycations at some top hotels. So take a look at some of the nominees (these are just to get you started, you can vote for whoever you like) and make your vote count.
sgnow.sg/rca Prizes includes:
Bjorn Shen, Artichoke
Best Local Chef
• Bjorn Shen, Artichoke • Bryan Chia, Morsels • Jason Tan, Corner House • Johnston Teo, Sorrel • Sufian Zain, Restaurant Ember • Violet Oon, Violet Oon’s Kitchen
Best Brunch
• Artichoke • Clinton Street Baking Company • Common Man Roasters • Fabulous Baker Boy • Open Door Policy
• Altimate • Attica • Ce La Vi • Kyo • Zouk
Best Party Series
• Darker Than Wax • Endless Summer • Full Steam Ahead • Sundays at the Training Shed • Sunshine Nation Circular Road Block Party
Best Beach Bar
• Bikini Bar • Coastes • Tanjong Beach Club
Best Food Event
• MBS Epicurean Market • Savour • Singapore Restaurant Week • Sustainable Seafood Festival • World Gourmet Summit
Best Drink Event
• Beerfest • GinJubilee • Oktoberfest (Clarke Quay) • Singapore Cocktail Week • Whisky Live • Wine Fiesta
Best Arts Space
The Club
Best New Hotel
• The Club • Hotel Vagabond • Park Hotel Alexandra • The Scarlet Singapore
Best Hotel
Best Rooftop Bar
Best Music Festival
• Baybeats • The Gathering • Laneway • Skechers Sundown Festival
Best Local Attraction • Gardens by the Bay • Night Safari • Underwater World Singapore • Universal Studios
• Forest Adventure • Fort Siloso Skywalk • River Safari • Singapore Cable Car • Singapore Flyer
Loof
• Aliwal Arts Centre • The Arts House • Esplanade • Gillman Barracks • Goodman Arts Centre • The Substation
• Pan Pacific Singapore • ParkRoyal on Pickering • The Ritz-Carlton • Marina Bay Sands • Naumi Hotel
Best Outdoor Activity
Best Buffet
• Colony, Ritz-Carlton • Edge, Pan Pacific Singapore • Lime, ParkRoyal on Pickering • The Line, Shangri-La
Gillman Barracks
HEALTH & FITNESS
• 1-Altitude • Lepark • Loof • Potato Head Folk • Southbridge • Tiger’s Milk
Best Gym
LIFESTYLE
Best Wellness Studio
• Anytime Fitness • California Fitness • Fitness First • Pure • True Fitness • Virgin Active
Singapore The Club Writers Festival
Best Arts Festival
• Affordable Art Fair • Singapore Art Week • Singapore Film Festival • Singapore Night Festival • Singapore Writers Festival
TRENDS & TRENDSETTERS Best Local Startup • 99.co • Carousell • Redmart • Ryde
Best Co-Working Space • The Hub • Workhouse • The Working Capitol
• Breathe Pilates • Meraki Yoga • True Yoga • Yoga Movement
NIGHTLIFE Value d at $1,05 0
PARKROYAL on Pickering, a PARKROYAL Collection hotel A 3D2N weekend stay in a Superior Room inclusive of breakfast for two
Naumi Hotel
Inspirational Local of the Year
Best New Local Store • The Analog Vault • In Good Company • Manifesto • Max Tan • Naiise 28HKS
Best Cocktail Bar Value d at $765
Adrianna Tan
Manifesto
• 28HKS • Anti:dote • D.Bespoke • Jigger & Pony • Manhattan
Ritual
Best Boutique Gym • Body GST • GRIT • Kinetika • R-evolution • Ritual
• Adrianna Tan, Culture Kitchen • Cai Yinzhou, Backalley Barbers • Sonny Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye
A 2D1N weekend stay in a Habitat Room inclusive of breakfast for two
Voting closes Nov 9. Winners announced in SG mid-November.
island
The latest openings and hottest trends in Singapore
WORKSHOPS Get Crafty The maker culture craze is far from over. From now till Nov 28, The Balvenie Connoisseurs of Craft is holding a series of workshops by The Balvenie Craftmen Collective, comprising six local craftsmen from local boutique and artisan champion The General Company. There are classes like carpentry, printmaking, leather crafting, metal work and shoemaking at $120 per slot. And if you’d like to purchase a piece by one of these artisans, a craft market is in the works later this year, with more details to come. www. connoisseursofcraft.com.
DIGITAL Work It
The Hub Singapore has launched a new co-working space with features such as 160 co-working and permanent desks and event spaces to accommodate up to 200 people. Co-workers and booth buddies include international companies like news site Mashable, online payment solutions provider Paypal and local startups Gone Adventurin’ and Our Better World. They’re also launching programs to help independent businesses here and have roped in JP Morgan, DBS Bank and Procter & Gamble as partners. 128 Prinsep St., www.singapore. impacthub.net.
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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
GROOMING Cool Cuts
Trade your metrosexual man-bun for a manly Don Draper cut at Grease Monkey Barber Garage, a relatively new men’s salon. Its store front resembles a sleek tattoo parlor and we are quite impressed by its industrial interiors which features steel fixtures, metal grilles, neon lights, shiny monster bikes and vintage-inspired vinyl chairs. Haircuts start at $34, a cut & wash goes at a flat rate of $45 and regulars pay $30 for a cut. 15 Mayo St., 8717 1515, www.wetheuncouth.com. For more places to get a dapper dude look, turn to page 16.
HOME Play Time
Scandinavian-inspired furniture has been done to death but PLAYplay, a collaboration by furniture store Journey East and acclaimed industrial design agency Lanzavecchia + Wai, is anything but typical. The multi-functional collection is fun and colorful, with quirky retro touches such as a work desk inspired by food stalls in night markets, a dining table that transforms into a ping pong table and a console resembling an accordion, which are all made using Indonesian mahogany. Prices range from $560 for a side table to $2,900 for a console. Journey East, #03-02 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Rd., 6473-1693, www.journeyeast.com.
ADVERTORIAL
CELEBRATING SINGAPORE RIVER Internationally known for their elaborate performance STORIES theatre, La Fura dels Baus will be creating a unique
10 GREAT REASONS TO HEAD TO THE SINGAPORE RIVER FESTIVAL 2015
LA FURA DELS BAUS
Celebrating Singapore’s 50th anniversary, Singapore River One will host the Singapore River Festival 2015 from 23-25 October. Featuring exciting, exclusive (and mostly free!) performances, activities and workshops, the festival is not to be missed. Here are some highlights.
23 OCT to 25 OCT 2015
www.singaporeriverfestival.sg www.facebook.com/singaporeriverfestival Boat Quay Clarke Quay
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CELEBRATING AERIAL ACROBATICS Renowned Spanish performance SINGAPORE theater group La Fura delsRIVER Baus will be performing a locallySTORIES produced showcase tracing Singapore’s
transformation from a fishing village to the modern metropolis it is today. The show’s 50 amateur and professional performers will form a gravity-defying Human Net over the Singapore River, while suspended from a towering 220-ton industrial crane. (Tip: The best views will be from Riverside Point!) Oct 23-24, 8pm and 10pm, Riverside Point, Clarke Quay.
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OPEN AIR WORKOUTS
Join the fitness and wellness sessions along the Singapore River to give your mind, body and soul a good workout. Try your hand at Acroyoga, Parkour, Laughter Yoga, and even Pole Dancing! What’s more? Most of them are free. Oct 23-25, various locations and times. Check out the full line-up at singaporeriverfest.sg.
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FREE BOAT RIDES
Experience the impressive sights and sounds of the Singapore River Festival 2015 by boat, and enjoy a totally different perspective! American Express and SRO are offering free boat rides to all Pioneer Generation Cardholders from Oct 23-25 and AMEX card members from Oct 24-25. For more details, visit singaporeriverfestival.sg/ boatRiders.html. Fort Canning
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ART IN THE ALLEYS
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WORLD-CLASS ART
Be prepared for surprises at every corner as the alleyways of Circular Road are transformed with Urban Artery, a unique street art exhibition by local and international artists. The 10day exhibition will include graffiti, large murals, line drawings and installations, all waiting to be discovered. Oct 23-Nov 1, Alleyways between Circular Road, North Canal Road and Lorong Telok.
At the Asian Civilisations Museum’s River Nights, check out art installations by renowned international artists Cédric le Borgne, Li Hongbo and Pierre and Joël Rodière, music and dance performances by Frontier Danceland, T’ang Quartet and Nadi Singapura and an exhibition by award-winning French fashion house Hermès. Oct 23-24 and 30-31, 7pm till late.
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GUIDED WALKS
There’s more to Singapore’s favorite hangout than meets the eye. Sign up for a guided tour of the Singapore River at fun@singaporewalks. com and learn amazing historical facts and stories that you’ve probably never heard before. Oct 23-25, 5:30-7:30pm, Asian Civilisations Museum, Empress Place, $8.
23 Oct – 24 Oct • 8pm & 10pm Riverside Point, Clarke Quay
23 – 25 OCT 2015
URBAN ARTERY
For 10 days, the alleyways of Circular Road become
Robertson Quay a giant canvas for progressive urban art installations
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by local and international street artists.
A MAKERS MARKET
23 Oct – 1 Nov
Pick up curios and unique gifts at Circular Riverside Makers Market.Road, Spend Boat Quay the afternoon browsing through artisanal treats from gourmet nut butter company RIVERSIDE Hunters’ Kitchen, popsicle brand Neh MAKERS MARKET Neh Pop and more. Pop-up Also, don’t miss showcasing local musical, event amazing performances by Cheating Sons, creative and F&B talent The Steve McQueens and others. Oct 24-25, 5-10pm Robertson Quay. Visit 24 Oct – 25 Oct • 5pm – 10pm La Fura dels Baus singaporeriverfest.sg for full line-up Robertson Quay and performance timings.
COMPLIMENTARY RIVER BOAT RIDES
Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and RobertsonPioneer Quay Generation Cardholders
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Enjoy complimentary River Boat Rides, whilst stocks last! Oct – 25 Oct • 9am – 6pm RIVERSIDE23SKETCHING
Participate in a live sketching event ® American Express Card Members and explore historical sites at the celebrate American Express’ 90th birthday and same time at Urban To Sketchers Sketchwalk. launch iconic of the new Singapore River Walk, The event will bring the you through Express is offering complimentary River Boat buildings and placesAmerican from Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay. Oct 24- Express® Card Members*! Rides to American 25, 3pm, Alkaff Bridge, Robertson Quay. *Terms and Conditions apply.
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For more details on redemption, please refer to www.singaporeriverfestival.sg.
24 Oct – 25 Oct • 9am – 6pm DINING DEALS GALORE
There’s plenty Fort of food and drinksJetty (Behind Canning Acroyoga Liang Court) Clarke Quay promotions at restaurants and bars along the Singapore River. SR Signatures includes everything from bottled beers, SR $10 SIGNATURES $8 drinks from watering holes at Circular at a selection of establishments Dining promotion Road to special meal combos and discounts handpicked by a panel of critics, comprising of their at various eateries. You won’t be short of favourite food and drink that can be found along the dining choices to cap off the evening. For three quays, presenting a unique guide to wine and a full list of participating outlets, go to singaporeriverfest.sg. dining along the Singapore River.
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Jetty (behind Liang Court), Clarke Quay. *Terms and conditions apply
performance in celebration of Singapore’s story, which will be written and produced locally and performed by a cast, including dancers, musicians and aerialists whom will be suspended over the Singapore River.
Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay
FUN STREET THEATER
Free Boat Rides
Stroll down memory lane with a double dose of nostalgia from theater group Paper Monkey Theatre and video and sound artists Brandon Tay and Safuan Johari of Syndicate. Engage in a traditional 30 minute folk tale of a girl named Amrita, or enjoy a multi-sensorial sound and video display depicting forgotten tales of the Singapore River. For more information, go to singaporeriverfest.sg.
SR Signatures at Town Restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
The Steve McQueens as part of Riverside Makers Market
A Whispering Campaign as part of Urban Artery
160 by Pierre & Joël Rodière / Trafik as part of River Nights
Presented by
Supported by
Held in
River Boat Rides brought to you by
Sponsors
BROUGHT TO YOU BY SINGAPORE RIVER ONE
island
Aesop
Alexiares & Ani
Men’s Grooming Bar
GROOMING
Simply Swish A guide to where to get that slick pompadour, a close shave and some good ol’ pampering. By Chelsia Tan BARBERSHOPS
FACIALS & SPA TREATMENTS
Premium Barbers
Urban Homme
The no-frills barber shop at International Building has recently opened another outlet at Orchard Gateway. Like its flagship, the salon offers haircuts and color, cut throatshaves and beard and moustache trims. It comes complete with a hip bar serving icecold beers, wines and spirits if you’re thirsty, of course. Price: From $28 for a hair wash to $110 for a cut and color. Where: #04-12/13 Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Rd., 6702-6228, www.premiumbarber.com.
Truefitt & Hill
This luxe London gentlemen’s barber and perfumer is a champion of tradition, having worked their shears since 1805. If you want a truly elevated grooming experience, pop over to their centrally located second salon at Capitol Piazza. On top of the usual cuts and shaves, opt for their head and face massage, or a spa manicure and pedicure. Price: From $15 for a wax to $160 for hair coloring. Where: #01-61 Capitol Building, 15 Stamford Rd., 6384-1440, www.truefittandhill.com.sg.
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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
Qi Mantra
Truefitt & Hill
One of the few spa, body and skincare specialists just for men, Urban Homme offers an extensive range of treatments such as Intense Pulse Light Therapy, Face Lifting Programme and the Urban Men’s Spa Indulgence, with five different variations to choose from. There are even slimming programs (yup) and a Golfer’s Special foot spa, comprising a hot pebbled foot bath, foot massage, herbal ball treatment and sports massage. Price: From $155 for a 45-min body massage to $500 for a facial peel treatment. Where: #04-47/48 Nex, 23 Serangoon Central, 6284-6166, www.urbanhommeformen.com.
Qi Mantra
Inspired by traditional Chinese treatments, this modern Zen spa focuses on relaxing treatments for undoing those knots in your neck, shoulders and back, “detoxing” massages and facials using acupressure methods. It’s a unisex outfit, and some sessions popular with men include Star Blast, a one-hour full body massage and the O2 Bubble facial, a 90-min treatment.
Price: From $42 for a Footsie Tootsie foot massage to $480 for a Glow Discovery Facial Peel. Where: #03-09/10 Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, 6836-3682, www.qimantra.com. HAIR AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Aesop
It’s an Australian cult favorite that is pretty much a no-brainer for metrosexuals. But if you’re a complete noob, hit up this sleek brand for a one-stop run to stock up on premium botanical-based bath, hair and skincare essentials. Some musthaves include the Moroccan Neroli shaving serum, Geranium Leaf body scrub and oilfree facial hydrating serum. Price: From $21 for Rosehip Seed lip cream to $407 for Parsley Seed antioxidant eye cream. Where: #01-11 Capitol Piazza, 13 Stamford Rd., 6384-5898, www.aesop.com.
Alexiares & Ani
This Singapore-based skincare label produces hypoallergenic cleansers, toners, serums, exfoliators, moisturizers, sunscreens and masks infused with antioxidants, vitamins and clinically tested peptides. Try The Archangel, an antioxidant serum which helps boost the skin against long-term effects of free radicals. Price: From $39 for The Deity mattifying SPF 30 sunscreen to $179 for The Advocate advanced retinol serum. Where: www.alexiares-and-ani.com.
Frank Skincare
Check out this local skincare brand for soothing face and body oils made from natural ingredients such as camellia, argan and jojoba seed sourced from countries like the US, Argentina and Morocco. One of their best-selling products, Lifted Mist, revitalizes tired complexions with bergamot and peppermint. Price: From $38 for a Smooth-Me-Out acne spot treatment oil to $58 for a Super Man organic travel set. Where: www.frankskincare.com.
Men’s Grooming Bar
One to Tang Plaza has a new men’s watch section tucked away at level three and it features 10 permanent hair and skincare brands such as Belif Homme, Biotherm Homme, Clinique, Intelligent Nutrients, Lab Series, Nioxin, Sebastian Professional and SK-II Men. You can either approach the bar’s consultants or browse the products via an iPad, if you’re slightly more reticent. Price: Upon request. Where: L/3 Tangs at Tang Plaza, 310 Orchard Rd., www.tangs.com.
Men’s Bazaar Singapore
There’s no need to make a trip down to the barbershop for cult haircare and styling products. This local website stocks a wide range of pomades, wax, shaving products, shampoos and styling tools from 28 brands like Admiral Pomade, Byvilain, Hanz De Fuko and Mister Pompadour. Price: From $3 for a comb to $87 for a Hanz de Fuko hairstyling bundle. Where: www.mensbazaar.sg
island
FITNESS
Home Run 7 running events in Singapore between now and Standard Chartered. By Shi Min Xie Commando Challenge
SAT, OCT 17
The Commando Challenge’s obstacle courses are based on elite military tests. This may include wading through mud and getting dunked in a sea of bubbles. The extreme commando event requires participants to run with a rucksack. Prices start at $85 for the 5km run and $99 for the 10km run. 9am for extreme commandos, 11am for standard wave. Sentosa Island, www. commandochallenge.sg.
The Urgent Run
SUN, OCT 18 Long distance runners may want to test their mettle over 18 and 32km at the Newton Challenge. Prices start at $48 for the 18km run and $58 for the 32km run. 5am. Big Splash, East Coast Park, 902 East Coast Parkway, www. newtonchallenge.com.
SAT, OCT 24
The 5km New Balance Run features music acts like Attagirl, the Obedient Wives Club and Charlie Lim cheering you on with their music. And if you want to go extra hard, you can challenge yourself to an extra 1km of running, too. It costs $40 per person and $152 for teams.
YOLO Run
5pm. Gardens by the Bay East, 18 Marina Gardens Dr., www.nbrunon.sg.
SAT, OCT 31
The Bedok Reservoir Ultra Marathon is for masochists. Feel the burn and complete 51.6km. Registration is now closed, but go and cheer for those participating and get inspired for your next one. 7am. Bedok Reservoir (behind Blk 739A Bedok Reservoir Rd.), www.bedokultra. com.
SAT, NOV 7
The Urgent Run celebrates World Toilet Day, with all proceeds going to support the World Toilet Organization’s cause for sanitary toilets worldwide. There is a fancy dress option to complete this 5km run. Registration starts at $25. 8am. Angsana Green, East Coast Park, 1220 East Coast Parkway, www. justrunlah.com.
Bedok Reservoir Ultra Marathon
SUN, NOV 8 Dress up as The Avengers with your colleagues and participate in the 5km CSC Run. Hardcore athletes can go for 10 or 21km races. Prices start at $20 for the 5km fun run. 5am. The Float @ Marina Bay, 20 Raffles Ave., www.cscrun.com.
SUN, NOV 22
If you run shirtless at the 5km YOLO Run, X-Change Republic donates a t-shirt to children in underprivileged countries. Registration starts at $55. 8am. Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr., www.yolorun.com.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
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eats
The inside scoop on Singapore’s drink and dining scene
NEW RESTAURANTS
Fresh Faces Put them on your checklist: these are the restaurants you need to check out for your next meal out. By Letitia Tandean Lollapalooza
The Daily Roundup
Open Farm Community
T
here are always so many restaurants opening around town. And with more than half the year over, here are the best openings in Singapore so far this year.
Cure
After heading up Esquina and The Study, Chef Andrew Walsh has opened a bistronomy-concept restaurant. While the clean but welcoming space isn’t anything to shout about, the menu is. It’s ever-changing and works on a degustation basis. During the day there are a la carte and three-course ($55) options, while nighttime sees larger five- ($115) and six-course ($125) meals. The menu includes dishes like quail with garlic milk and leg kiev, as well as scallops with cured duck ham and English peas. 21 Keong Saik Rd., 6221-2189, www.curesingapore.com.
The Daily Roundup
This pretty, pastel-tinged and light wooden space specializes in Brittany-style sweet crepes and savory galettes, with 13 different flavors and toppings like the Nutella-inspired hazelnut crepe ($10) and the salted caramel crepe ($10). If you don’t have a sweet tooth, there are tons of savory galettes made with buckwheat flour. We’re particularly drawn to the delicious chorizo galette ($14) with Iberico chorizo and comte cheese, as well as the fresh Italian burrata galette ($16) with cherry vine tomatoes, arugula salad and pesto. #01-02 The Working Capitol, 1 Keong Saik Rd., www. thedailyroundup.com.sg.
Humpback
Focusing on fresh live oysters from America, namely the country’s western coast off Washington (think Hama Hama and Fat Bastard oysters, from $6), this seafood restaurant also serves dishes like hamachi ceviche ($22), red snapper with sofrito ($18), calamari with creamy potatoes ($14) and addictive charred brussel sprouts ($12). 18/20 Bukit Pasoh Rd., 6750-4461, www.facebook. com/humpbacksg.
Lollapalooza
The sister outlet of Ann Siang Hill’s Lolla, this open concept Scandi-chic restaurant is decked out in light wooden tones. It has a daily changing menu of sharing plates like truffle omelet ($35), hay-smoked lamb rack with gorgonzola ($38),
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but also more adventurous items like veal tongue ($45) and roasted lamb hearts ($18). The space also has a list of wines that focuses on old world varietals. The Working Capitol, 1A Keong Saik Rd., 6221-3538, www.lollapalooza.sg.
Maca Restaurant
This modern restaurant at the cozy Tanglin Post Office serves innovative, contemporary and seasonal sharing plates of smoked swordfish belly with avocado and yuzu ($18), prawn ceviche with black tomatos and kombu ($17), as well as slow-cooked Iberico pork collar ($36). Communal dining is the name of the game at this industrial space, complete with exposed pipes and faded wooden chairs.
Osteria Art
#B1-01 Tanglin Post Office, 56 Tanglin Rd., 6463-8080, www.macarestaurant.com.
Maggie Joan’s
The father-and-son team behind Moosehead has expanded their Mediterranean reach with this hidden restaurant. With a back alley entrance on Gemmill Lane, the modern Mediterranean food by Chef Oliver Hyde, formerly of Pollen, is interesting enough to warrant a visit. There are fresh dishes of yellowtail sashimi with brandade ($22), egg with dukkah and saffron mayo ($6), roast bass with pesto ($28) and grilled Iberico pork jowl with prunes and cauliflower ($34). Plus, the space is pretty lush: dotted with potted plants, ceramicware and chandeliers. #01-01 110 Amoy St., 6221-5564, www.maggiejoans.com.
Open Farm Community
Chef Ryan Clift has teamed up with urban farmers Edible Gardens for this farm-to-table-inspired restaurant. The expansive space houses an herb and vegetable garden, as well as an airy dining room serving hearty pastas, salads and meat dishes. Don’t skip the creamy rigatoni with local mushrooms ($26), as well as the charred lamb rump with garden peas and mash ($32). The place also has space for picnics and a game of lawn bowling or ping pong, too. 130 Minden Rd., 6471-0306, www. openfarmcommunity.com.
Maggie Joan’s
Osteria Art
The il Lido Group’s fine Italian restaurant takes cues from traditional osterias and bars found in Italy. The menu is all about classics with dishes like bollito misto with bone marrow crostini ($23), Romaine lettuce topped with bottarga ($23) and beef tagliata ($38). The sexy and dimly-lit space is awash with lots of dark wood, marble top counters and a storied library-like vibe. If you’re there for something lighter, head to the bar and fill up on antipasti like burrata with grilled vegetables and home-cured salami with a cheese platter. 55 Market St., 6877-6933, www.osteriaart.com.
ADVERTORIAL
An Awesome Night Out on the Singapore River From after-work drinks to live music to the perfect nightcap, here’s a complete itinerary.
6pm Pre-dinner
9pm Live music at The
Start the evening with a stop at this live music and sports gastro bar and be sure to check out their all-week drinks promotions. Feeling famished? Order from their menu of Tex Mex, burger, pizza and all-day breakfast plates. #01-01 69 Circular Rd., 6438-6058, www.heros.sg.
It’s time to rest your feet and chill to slick live pop, rock, hip hop and R&B. This raucous space is also a hot hangout among young professionals, so go early, order a drink and snag a spot before the crowds come in. 11 North Canal Rd., 9822-1789, www.madmenatticbar.com.
7pm Dinner at
11pm A nightcap at
Who can say no to a classic Thai spread comprising signatures like moo ping (grilled pork skewers), khai jiao (omelette) and khao kha moo (stewed pork leg)—and for some really fiery stuff, get the green curry fried rice, tom yum gai (hot and sour chicken soup) and spaghetti red curry. #B1-48 Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen St., 6224-6229, www.thaiaffair.sg.
Round up the evening by heading over to Mogambo, where the specialty is all manner of elaborate shots. If you’re sitting at the bar, ring the big bell to order a round for everyone. For a late-night snack, get their burgers or ice cream sandwiches. #01-01 Canton St., Boat Quay, 6438-9808, www.mogambo.sg
drinks at Hero’s
Thai Affair
Mad Men Attic Bar
Hero’s
Mogambo
The Mad Men Attic Bar
8.30pm Dessert at
+39 Gelato
After dinner, cool your palate by heading to this gelato parlor for a smooth and creamy treat. There are gelato cups and cones, slushes and shakes, frozen cocktails and even cakes to choose from. 29 Circular Rd., www.plus39gelato.com.
Mogambo
+39 Gelato
Thai Affair
BROUGHT TO YOU BY SINGAPORE RIVER ONE
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Holidays, hotels and insider travel news
JAPAN
Good Night, Tokyo
Capca Pucapuca
Sure the city is pricey, but there are an increasing number of cool, affordable accommodations. By Natchaya Angsatitanan Hotel Graphy
Kampai without Crawling Home
At first glance, you could easily mistake the inviting combination of glass and wooden decor at Nui Hostel for one of those stylish cafes in Shimokitazawa. The hostel is loved for its modest rooms and for the cafe and bar lounge on the first floor. The cafe opens from 8am-6pm, serving a seasonal menu of fusion dishes like teriyaki pizza and ginger chicken, while the bar takes over from 6pm and stays open till 1am. Drink as much draft Asahi as you like without worrying about getting back to your hotel thanks to the on-site dormitory (mixed and female) as well as private rooms with views of the Sumida River. Plus, it’s located in Kuramae, a downtown area near Asakusa where creative arts communities meet. Other facilities include shared bathrooms, a kitchen and a library. Price: $31-42/person Nui Hostel & Bar Lounge, 2-14-13, Kuramae, Taito-ku, +81 3 6240-9854. backpackersjapan. co.jp/nui_en/hostel.html
Like a Hipster
Located in the quiet neighbourhood of Higashinagasaki, Capca Pucapuca is also the home studio of sound design artist Daisuke. He runs a funky cafe and bar on the first floor, as well as a homestay on the second floor. You’ll be sleeping on hammocks in a spacious and well-decorated room, sharing small talk with the host and his cool friends, and no doubt drinking at the bar (it stays open from 10am-midnight). Though the neighborhood isn’t particularly well known, it’s two stations away from Ikebukuro, one of Tokyo’s largest metropolitan districts. One thing that might worry travelers is that the place only has a toilet and no showers, but overcome your embarrassment and go get naked in public at the traditional local baths. The bathhouse is only six minutes away on foot and the neighborhood is safe. Capca Pucapuca can only accommodate up to four people, and at least three months of advanced booking is recommended. Price: $23/night www.airbnb.com/rooms/4819904
Future Solutions
Remember that futuristic-looking love hotel in Wolverine (2013)? This is it, and the actual name is Nakagin Capsule Tower. The mixed-use building is one of the earliest examples of Metabolist architecture, completed in just 30 days in 1972. The austere-looking building gives way to an interior that’s very clean, offering small, capsule accommodation originally designed for salarymen in need of bare minimum of living spaces. The location is also great, in the same
neighborhood as the Imperial Palace, Tsukiji Fish Market and Ginza, and not far from Shimbashi station. Book early, as three months of advanced notice is recommended. Price: $105/night www.airbnb.com/rooms/1305889
Minimal to the Max
Not so far from Ueno Zoo is a neighborhood called Nezu, and within three minutes walk from Ueno Station you’ll find Hotel Graphy. Standing out thanks to simple yet smart design, the four-story building also serves as residences. The 400 sq. m. space has been segregated for more innovative purposes, including a common area where guests are encouraged to interact. It serves as a venue for the occasional pop-up store or event. Room types range from single rooms with shared bathrooms to deluxe twin rooms. The hotel also owns a cozy cafe and bar that opens from 7am-11pm, serving both traditional Japanese and fusion dishes. Be sure to check out the rooftop terrace, as well as rent a bike for a little sightseeing around the neighborhood. You can get direct access to Narita Airport in 45 minutes via Keisei Skyliner express train through the station. Price: $163/night (small double room) Hotel Graphy Nezu, 4-5-10, Tokyo-to, Taito-ku, Ikenohata, +81 3 3828-7377. www.hotel-graphy.com
Nakagin Capsule Tower
Meet the Geeks
Japan is famous for its fanboy obsession of pop-culture, and Akihabara is deemed the top destination for those seeking out anime and manga specialists, J-pop idol memorabilia and electrical equipment. It’s also where you’ll find A-POP House, which belongs to two selfconfessed Japanese pop geeks, Riki and Hanzo. While Hanzo is a guru on the anime scene, Riki is the real deal when it comes to A-pop (that’s Akihabara pop culture), and their home is filled with their personal collection. Staying with them offers a real opportunity to talk it out with locals who are happy to share their passion. The place is small yet clean, meeting the most exacting Japanese standards, and is just 15 minutes walk from Akihabara Station. They both work on weekdays, so if you plan to hang out it’s best to plan your stay over a weekend. A few things to consider: you will be sharing the space with the two hosts, and only up to three guests at a time are accepted. At least one-month advanced booking recommended. Price: $35/night www.airbnb.com/rooms/4312280
Nui Hostel
Essentials Singapore Airlines flies direct to Tokyo starting at $558. Other options include ANA and JAL. Singaporean citizens do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Others can apply at The Embassy of Japan. JPY100 = $1.17 A-POP House
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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
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Keemala Phuket
Keemala Phuket (10/88 Moo 6, Nakasud Rd., Kamala, Kathu District, +66 76 358-777, www.keemala.com) is a new all-pool villa resort overlooking Kamala Village and the Andaman Sea that’s just opened its doors. Taking its inspiration from the early Phuket settlers, the resort’s 16 clay pool cottages, seven tent pool villas, seven two-story tree pool houses and eight bird’s nest pool villas are joined together together by a network of jungle walkways. The romantic, nostalgic picture is completed by a lush canopy of trees and a continuous stream-like body of running water that snakes its way through the hilly resort. Rates start at about $562 per night, while the resort also offers a range of holistic retreats starting with the 3-Day Purify (about $1,371 per person or $2,350 per couple). Tigerair, Jetstar, AirAsia and SilkAir all fly direct to Phuket every day.
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21
last word
Michael Meyer American historian and creative non-fiction writer Michael Meyer has written books about rural China and the hutongs of Beijing. Last year, he moved to Tiong Bahru with his wife and young son and has since been observing the layers and idiosyncrasies of life in Singapore. Here, he talks to Mrigaa Sethi about the city’s invisible borders, the difference between being a creative writer and a journalist and why Tiong Bahru is more than just a hipster place. Locals write Tiong Bahru off as the hipster place. But it’s still 80% local with a lot of elderly people who have lived through a lot of eras here.
“You said it’s hard in Singapore because there aren’t a lot of visible borders. But let me tell you: as a gay person, there certainly are. As a woman, there certainly are.”
I’ve done heritage. I’ve lived in Beijing, in the hutong and stuff. I get it. I don’t need a $4.80 coffee to be happy.
One thing the students said to me is: to be a 23 year-old in Singapore is a border right now. There’s a pioneer generation, and there’s a lot of talk of SG100, but what about SG55, because that they’re going to want to buy a home and start a family.
For us, the notion of what Tiong Bahru is didn’t matter. It was, “Oh that school is awesome. We want our kid to go there.” I see everything now through the eyes of a father. It’s not what I think about Singapore so much as what my three year-old thinks of Singapore and what his teachers think of Singapore—how they’re compensated, what training they receive, what options do they have. Cars go really fast in Tiong Bahru. A lot of people in the neighborhood don’t drive, so people come from outside and they drive like they would in their wide open estates in Queenstown. We have a lot of curves, a lot of elderly people walking, a lot of kids everywhere. Singapore is the Orange County of Asia. Malaysia would be LA and Indonesia would be Mexico. It’s an interesting in-between place that rewards deeper investigation.
about SG55?
Because of SG50, people’s idea of history has gone back to 1965. But we have to start at 1500 and move forward. After my talks [at the American Writers Festival in September], I got quite a few emails from people saying,
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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
A lot of people reminisce about the kampong in a way that HDB people reminisce about growing up in an HDB. I’m interested in how a city’s design influences our upbringing and our education and the choices we make.
I’m interested in crime. It’s hard to find crime reports here. I was running in East coast park yesterday and somebody had died and they had police tape around the body. I got home, and I wanted to find out There’s a lot of talk what happened. And that story is not in the paper, it’s not on any of the about SG100, but websites. Where do you find that?
I’m so interested in MRT stops. what If you know why Aljunied is named Aljunied, or why Eunos is Eunos, you know there were Malaysian princes that once owned a farm here and they funded the construction of Victoria Road.
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID
I grew up in a very rural area with woods and creeks. You played outside until your parents yelled for you to get inside. The doors remained unlocked all night. I don’t know if that’s a better way to grow up.
by Kathy Macleod
You read “So and so insulted the modesty of someone else” but you don’t read about ah longs, for example.
My family uses the Green Corridor and my kid loves it. I hope it stays like this. I hope it stays a bit wild and doesn’t become all cemented with drink stands and lights. I hope it’s preserved. When I was a journalist, you’re assigned a story and you say, “Yes boss,” and you’re out the
door and you have a deadline to go solve the puzzle handed to you. I was terrible at it. I was always bad at getting someone on the phone to tell me why the devaluation of the Chinese yuan matters. My conversation with that person would always be like, “What are you looking at right now? What’s on your screen? Where are you sitting? What are you wearing?” I was always more interested in the anthropology of their profession. I play dumb. I wander around and see what catches my eye. But I also like it when someone approaches me and says, “What are you looking for? How can I help you?” I start every conversation with, “Can you help me?” That changes the psychology. People lean forward. And I end every conversation with, “Who should I talk to next?” And I very slowly collect data. It’s not a terribly efficient way of doing it. When you’re a journalist, you’re a vampire. You land in, you take a bite, take your nourishment and fly out. The way I’m doing things, I’m a toothless vampire, being invited in, gumming on somebody for a while and flying away, then coming back again and gumming again. I’m a factual creative writer. My mom read the Beijing book and said, “I don’t get it. Is it a novel or a textbook?” And I said it’s both. You’re using the reporting and fact-checking skills of journalism and telling the story with the devices a novelist uses to keep you turning the page. You’re creating characters, there’s something at stake, there’s suspense created. I’m not on Facebook. I’ve never tweeted. A very important thing about being a writer is sitting in a room by yourself, and I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want to constantly react to the outside.