30 awesome things to do in Singapore this week (Feb 5-9)

Now that we’re in February proper, it’s only a hop and a skip away from Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year (yay to the long weekend and ang bao monies!). Until we hit that hectic week, there are many other happenings in town to fill your time with. Apart from a few theater shows, exhibitions and book launches to keep things cultured, there’s also the opening of new party place Wan Nightclub to keep things raucous. Check it out. 

Monday, Feb 5

Diva to the Death

FILM
Chase away the Monday blues at this light hearted pop-up screening of 500 Days of Summer. It’ll be held at Canvas Club, with each ticket including a beer/house pour/soft drink of your choice. Part of the Pop Up Cinema series. Feb 5

FILM
Alternatively, head on over to dependable Blu Jaz Cafe for a screening of Inception and get your mind blown as you wine and dine. Part of the Pop Up Cinema series. Feb 5

THEATER
Just how much do you know about the cultural, social and collective expectations of a traditional Chinese wedding? Visual artist and 2018 Young Artist Award recipient Kray Chen takes that perceived knowledge and puts a twist on the usual rituals in 5 Rehearsals for a Wedding, to shine a light on the anxieties and behaviors that come with weddings of today. Through Feb 11

THEATER/DRINK/FOOD
Watch, dine and be part of the action in the upcoming theatrical dining experience, Diva to the Death. Held at Monti’s At-1 Pavilion, this 105-minute self-styled sexy comic romp showcases two characters with different music backgrounds—jazz and getai—working the crowd and entertaining them while they dig into some Italian/Singaporean fusion dishes. Through Mar 2

EXHIBITION
The problematic issues surrounding climate change and the ocean take center stage at this exhibition presented by the NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore. Featuring contributions by 12 artists, filmmakers, composers and researchers who made trips to islands in the Pacific, The Oceanic focuses on large-scale human interventions in oceanic ecospheres. Through Mar 8

[SPONSORED]

MARKET
The season of reunions is upon us as Chinese New Year is less than a month away. If you’re still scurrying to find some festive goodies and decorative items, look no further than Millenia Walk. Head over to their Spring Festival Fair at the mall’s Great Hall, where you can pick up an array of sauces (like their chili sauce (cilicuka & sambal hijau) and ready-to-cook bak kwa marinade) and crackers from Shermay’s Singapore Fine Food, a couple of CNY-themed knick-knacks from The Little Drom Store to decorate your home with and more. Feb 4-14

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Tuesday, Feb 6

The Advent of Message gallery, featuring works by Shepard Fairey. Photo credit: Marina Bay Sands

COMEDY
Join funny man Wil Sylvince at Hero’s as he tickles your funnybone with a barrage of self-deprecating humor. Feel free to stop by before the show (starts at 8pm) for dinner and happy hour promo deals on drinks till 8pm. Feb 6

EXHIBITION
A cursed gem, a dodo and a giant stuffed sloth walk into a museum; the punchline is that they’re here to stay till the end of April. Treasures of the Natural World , the traveling exhibition from the Natural History Museum in London, makes its first and only stop in Southeast Asia at the ArtScience Museum, bringing over 200 of the London museum’s star artefacts Through Apr 29

EXHIBITION
You’d think a traveling exhibition from the London Natural History Museum would be hard to top, but ArtScience Museum’s upcoming shtick will trace 40 years of street art, from its controversial beginnings as expressions of counterculture, to its current standing as a major pillar of contemporary art. Art from the Streets will feature the works of the world’s top street artists, such as Magda Danysz, Banksy, Shepard Fairey and more. Through Jun 3

ART/FILM
Asian Film Archive’s (AFA) annual flagship and visual art series, State of Motion, is back for its third edition. This time, they’ll be exploring film as a medium of cultural and ideological changes of Singapore during 1955-1965, featuring 10 films that were produced in that decade such as Seniman Bujang Lapok (1961), Hang Tuah (1956) and Hang Jebat (1961). There’ll also be exhibitions, public art walks, panel discussions and guided film location tours to give a deeper perspective on the topic. Through Feb 11

EXHIBITION
Alternative gallerists Kult have collaborated with German cultural organization Goethe-Institut to curate a sartorial exhibition on games and politics as a reflection of the political nightmare that was 2017, and the conversations we should continue to have. Open your mind and have your hand at the Games and Politics over at Kult Studio & Gallery. Through Feb 12

Wednesday, Feb 7

Prudential Marina Bay Carnival

BOOK LAUNCH
The first edition of SQ21: Singapore Queers in the 21st Century by local author Ng Yi-Sheng won The Straits Times non-fiction book of the year in 2006. The book, a collection of coming out storeis, has since been out-of-print for almost a decade. But this latest reprint comes with fresh material, including an interview with Ng himself and a foreword by the book’s editor, Jason Wee. Feb 7

EXHIBITION
Curated by acclaimed art historian Lorand Hegyi, The Artist’s Voice brings together the works of 34 contemporary artists from around the world, to reflect on socio-political issues and the human condition through mediums ranging from sculpture to video. Through Mar 18

CARNIVAL
Get your adrenaline pumping at Singapore’s largest carnival. The massive Prudential Marina Bay Carnival will span across 25,000 sqm (or the size of three and a half football fields) at The Promontory and Bayfront, and boast more than 40 rides and games—most of which are from the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Through Apr 1

EXHIBITION
If you fancy yourself a cinema enthusiast, the Singapore Art Museum’s latest exhibition Cinerama: Art and the Moving Image in Southeast Asia is a must-go. In a series of immersive, multi-medium installations, the exhibition brings together the works of 10 artists and art collectives from across the region. Here are five you should check out. Through Mar 18

EXHIBITION
On the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore, the National Museum of Singapore remembers 1942, with their first large-scale, blockbuster war exhibition featuring more than 130 artefacts from 10 overseas museums and institutions. It’s the biggest collection of war stories to date. Check out the exhibition to explore events and portrayals of World War II beyond just your textbook syllabus. Through Mar 21

Thursday, Feb 8

Temple Cellars

WORKSHOP
Cryptocurrency is all the rage now, and if you’ve ever been the slightest bit interested in learning how it works and start investing, then you’ll want to sign yourself up for this panel. Panellists include the chairman of the board for Access, the Singapore Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Industry Association; a rep from KPMG Cybersecurity Advisory Practice and more. Feb 8

COMEDY/DANCE/CHARITY
Kumar is hosting a one-night-only show in support of Beyond Social Services, an organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged children, youths and families. So do your part too and donate. A minimum contribution of $100 grants you access to the free-standing event held at Zouk. Feb 8

DRINK
Bottle shop Temple Cellars is kicking off a new series of monthly informal drink sessions for those interested to learn more about alcohol. For this first one, Chris Hallberg from The Mad Tapper will be around to share about craft beers. Each $25 ticket includes five to six beer tastings and snacks. Feb 8

BOOK LAUNCH
Local novelist Daren Goh is debuting his newest title, The HDB Murders. Here, he weaves a tale about a minister on a mission to stop people from falling off public flats and to their deaths, all while the nation’s strict regulations impedes him. Be part of the launch event held at coworking space We Work Beach Centre. Feb 8

FILM
In anticipation of anti-Valentine’s Day, The Projector will be screening 1979’s multiple-Oscar winning hit Kramer vs. Kramer. Catch powerhouse performers Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep as a married couple going through divorce, and how they navigate love lost, and later found in unexpected ways. Feb 8, 16

MARKET
Market by Fuego is back for us to indulge in our love for all things good and edible. With a focus on reducing food waste, the market lineup typically showcases food and ingredients grown from artisans around the globe—such as organic teas from Agora Products, and fresh fish from local specialty food shop Kuhlbarra. The sixth edition of the market takes place at Changi City Point over three days. Feb 8-10

EXHIBITION
Lui Hock Seng, an 80-year-old self-taught photographer, will be showcasing more than 30 black and white photographs of Singapore from the ’50s to the 70s’ at Objectifs. It’ll be the first time he’ll be presenting his work; about 60 years after picking up the hobby. Feb 8-Mar 11

Friday, Feb 9

Wan Nightclub

PARTY
Known for tropical smash hit, “The Ocean” which burst through the top tiers of worldwide charts and remained a mainstay anthem since 2016, is dance music maestro Mike Perry. The Swedish DJ/producer will be packing an arsenal of psychedelic hits laden with summery punches and positive vibes at Zouk, including surefire melodies like “Inside the Lines”, “Body to Body” and “Hands”. Feb 9

PARTY
There’s a new party place in town and it’s called Wan Nightclub, a multi-concept establishment located beside Suntec City’s Pasarbella. Be part of their official opening celebrations on Friday as they bring in top South Korean DJ Flash Finger to keep things upbeat all night long. Feb 9

CONCERT
Californian alternative rock band Incubus has been breaking, melting and mending hearts with their music since their formation in 1991. And they’ll be doing that again when they return to perform in Singapore for the third time as part of their current world tour. Expect to sing/scream/cry along to hit singles “Drive”, “Love Hurts”, “Anna Molly” and a whole repertoire of other songs from their 26-year-long career. Feb 9

PARTY
It’s another edition of Midnight Shift at Kilo Lounge, and you know what that means—fuss-free, no-nonsense music for an unadulterated fun night out. Helming the decks this round is Deetron, a Swiss DJ-producer who’s been busy creating soulful techno masterpieces for more than two decades. Feb 9

CONCERT
American singer-songwriter Julie Byrne has been on a roll the past year. And rightly so, because her latest record Not Even Happiness earned her a spot on “album of the year” lists on notable publications like Pitchfork and The Guardian. She’ll be performing for one night at SLED Productions x Decline. Feb 9

EXHIBITION
In a stunning collab between National Gallery Singapore and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, Claude Monet and his contemporaries grace our sunny island with over 60 Impressionist masterpieces in Colours of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musee d’Orsay, featuring works like the dreamy Le Bassin aux nympheas, harmonie rose. Through Mar 11