Gong xi fa cai to everyone celebrating Chinese New Year this weekend! But for those who aren’t (and for anyone who wants to get away from the festivities for a while), this weekend is chock full of parties, with little sprinklings of exhibitions and sports events.
Friday, Jan 27
Chinatown’s Festive Street Bazaar
SHOP
Here’s your last chance before CNY to head down to the annual Festive Street Bazaar in Chinatown, where all five streets that make up the district will host 440 stalls selling festive delicacies and traditional goodies, decorative items, traditional qipao and changshan, and more. Jan 27
PARTY
Learn a thing or two from Gupson Pierre, who’ll be taking over Lime House to hold two salsa classes for Latin and Salsa Fiesta: Reggaeton Edition. Following that, enjoy a night of social dance as DJ May May takes you through a night of bachata, cha-cha, kizomba and of course salsa music. Jan 27
SPORTS
Wrestling enthusiasts, head over to the UE Convention Centre after your reunion dinners to catch the main event for Singapore Pro Wrestling’s Unchained in Changi, as Trexxus takes on The Statement for the SPW Southeast Asian Championship. Jan 27
[SPONSORED]
FOOD
Welcome Year of the Rooster this Chinese New Year at Pan Pacific Singapore, with contemporary interpretations of traditional CNY delicacies at Edge, like a whole roasted suckling pig with chef’s special sauce, baked whole salmon with tom yam paste, and grilled fortune chicken. Or opt for something more Japanese-centric at Keyaki, who’s offering their own take on yu sheng using salmon, tobiko, sea urchin, lobster and more. Otherwise, Hai Tien Lo has a takeout menu with popular goodies like the rainbow kueh lapis, homemade caramel walnuts with sesame seeds, and yusheng platters. UOB Cardholders will enjoy 20% off their total restaurant bill at Edge and Keyaki (30%, if you’re a UOB Reserve, Privilege Banking, Visa Infinite, Empire or Lady’s Solitaire cardholder) and 15% off CNY takeaway goodies from Hai Tien Lo. Terms and conditions apply. More here.
PARTY
CATO’s signature techno night Leftbank will see Jonna, one of the founders of underground house and techno UK label City Fly, helming the decks for one night only. Jan 27
COMEDY
Catch everyone’s favorite drag queen comedian Kumar as he dishes out his usual antics, politically incorrect rants and Singapore issues-based jokes at SandBank. Jan 27
PARTY
If you were heartbroken when Refuge closed on Circular Road, turn that smile upside down. It’s back, this time at Chijmes, and having its Beat Camp night, with DJs Drem and Gravity dropping old school hiphop and R&B. Jan 27
[SPONSORED]
SHOPPING
Besides putting together beautiful bouquets of flowers, Singapore’s leading florist FarEastFlora.com also has a knack of creating hampers. Put a smile on someone’s face this festive season with a selection of CNY gifts and hampers such as the Triple Fortune (three-tiered fountain stuffed with gold and a lucky plant), Perfect Balance (Mandarin oranges with three gerberas and three chrysanthemums), or go big with the Bountiful Festive Delights, which consists of Otard Cognac VSOP, abalone, Buddha Jumps Over The Wall and more. Make your purchase online with any UOB card and receive a 25% discount on selected CNY gifts and hampers. Terms and conditions apply. More here.
EXHIBITION
You probably know Sam Lo a.k.a. Sticker Lady for her witty and subversive placements of stickers with text like “Anyhow paste kena fine” and “Press to time travel”, as well as the spray-painted words “My grandfather road” on roads in the CBD. Take a look at some of her past and present works at Greetings from Singapore. Through Jan 31.
EXHIBITION
Visual artist Nicola Anthony works with local poet Marc Nair to explore the architecture of memory of three huge cities (London, Singapore and Yangon) through artworks that reflect on (and sometimes embed) Nair’s poems in an exhibition called Intersection. Through Feb 11
EXHIBITION
Prolific Burmese artist Htein Lin dives into his past as a political prisoner who was put behind bars for his pro-democracy beliefs at his exhibition, Recovering the Past. Through Mar 5
Saturday, Jan 28
DRINK
If you’re not out visiting relatives (or if you wanna get away from nosy relatives asking why you’re single) on the first and second day of CNY, head over to PS.Cafe for Beers on the Lawn, where they’ll be serving ice cold craft beers and ciders like Cockies’ Surf Coast Blonde, Mac’s Great White Cloudy Wheat and Napoleone Apple Cider. Jan 28-29
PARTY
Local LGBT organization She+Pride is throwing a queer party at Artistry to help you escape from all the hullabaloo that comes with house visiting. This is a “for womyn by womyn” event, with special performances from local acoustic folk musicians, Amanda Tee and Zsa Zsa Scorpion and music by other DJs. Jan 28
PARTY
Award-winning German DJ and producer Sven Vath (or lovingly called Papa Sven by fans) is going to helm the decks at Zouk this weekend. This 52-year-old is regarded as a legend because he’s one of those who helped to cultivate the underground electronic music scene in both Germany and Ibiza way back when. Fun fact: he’s played a full 30-hour vinyl set with only two decks and a mixer. Jan 28
[SPONSORED]
FOOD
If you and your family have a thing for seafood and buffets, combine the two at M Hotel’s The Buffet restaurant, which specializes in seafood hot pots of premium prawns, fresh scallops, sliced beef, lamb ribs and more in soup bases like laksa, fish head and tom yum. Go for the Eight Treasures Reunion Seafood Steamboat, which comes with complimentary dishes like pen cai and baby abalone, depending on the day you’re planning on heading down. UOB cardholders will receive a discount (25% off for the first seating and 20% off for the second seating on eve of CNY, 30% off from Jan 30-Feb 10) on the Eight Treasures Reunion Seafood Steamboat dinner, a complimentary bottle of Italian Prosecco with every four paying adults and 20% off auspicious pen cai and yu sheng (valid till Feb 11). Terms and conditions apply. More here.
PARTY
Here’s an interesting and fresh concept to partying: everyone at Skyline Club and Lounge will enjoy free flow alcohol, as long as nobody breaks the “rules”, which include dressing to theme (oriental, because CNY), arriving before 10pm, not leaving the premises for any reason (not even for toilet or smoke breaks) and not throwing up. Charming. Jan 28
Looking for more parties over Chinese New Year? There’s a couple more. See our recent feature here.
ART
This fifth edition of the Singapore Biennale, titled “Atlas of Mirrors” is showcasing 58 pieces and installations from 60 artists (10 of which are Singaporean) and three art collectives. Now you can rent a bike for free to cycle across the seven different venues. Through Feb 26
EXHIBITION
Marvel’s AVENGERS S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibition is on display at the Science Centre. Pretend you’re a recruit at The Avengers headquarters and go on a behind-the-scenes journey into the lives of Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk, Black Widow and Ant-Man. Through Mar 5
Sunday, Jan 29
DRINK
Go for two hours of free-flow of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s Gingerbread Stout, Singel, Pils and VIPA (Virgindia Pale Ale) at the cozy Good Luck Beerhouse from 6:30pm. Then, at 8:30pm, they’ll be serving special featured beers from breweries like Stigbergets Bryggeri, Thornbridge Brewery and of course, Innocence Brewing. Jan 29
[SPONSORED]
SHOPPING
If your family is kickin’ it old school this CNY weekend, then you’re probably going to be swamped helping out in the kitchen. Make your life easier and check out ToTT‘s range of kitchenware products, or learn new recipes to wow your relatives when they come over to visit by taking up cooking classes that’ll teach you how to make an easy family feast or dishes like crabs 3-ways with mantou. Otherwise, you could always hang out with your closest relatives at their Bistro on Dunearn Road for a nice, quiet evening of catching up. UOB cardholders will enjoy 10% off regular-priced items at the store (use the promo code “CNYWITHUOB” for online purchases; comes with free shipping with a minimum spend of $88), bistro and cooking classes. Terms and conditions apply. More here.
PARTY
Red Baron is throwing a soul street party at their Gillman Barracks outlet, with old school soul R&B, funk, pop and rock music performed by Joe & The Soul Express from 6pm onwards. Jan 29
PARTY
It’s not too late to celebrate Australia Day—book a daybed at Tanjong Beach Club and grab some chocolate lamingtons and barbecued nosh like the Aussie Burger, egg roll and sausage sizzle, paired with bottles of James Squire Golden Ale. Aussie boys Dave Code, Dave Does and Adam Sky are on music duty, spinning top 40s. Oh, there’s also a Thong Throwing Competition. Jan 29
Don’t have a UOB Card? Click here to apply.
