It won’t be till September that we’ll get another long weekend, which in all honesty is just too damn far away. Good thing July’s unofficially the foodie month of the year, so you get to eat your way through the weeks with all the tummy-filling events happening. There’s at least two happening every day this week until the weekend hits, and not to forget, the first edition of a five-day rum festival and Cirque du Soleil’s new production Kooza begins this week too. Exciting stuff.
Monday, Jul 10
FOOD
Before heading down to National Gallery for Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit, first feast on an afternoon tea set inspired by the artist’s works available just a stone’s throw away at The Courtyard, where you will get to taste (and Instagram, of course) five specially-made sweets that correspond with her artworks, such as a lychee mousse flecked with dots mirroring her Gleaming Lights of the Souls constellation. Jul 10
DRINK
Hop from bar to bar during Destination Beverage’s first edition of Rasa Fiesta Singapura, a week-long rum festival that will celebrate the lifestyle and culture of the Caribbean and South America. Venue partners along Keong Saik and Jiak Chuan will be concocting specially crafted cocktails using their own house rum brand. Jul 10-14
THEATER
For an adrenaline-pumping, high-energy evening, look no further than the highly-entertaining, non-verbal South Korean comedy theatrical performance, CHEF: Bibimbap vs Chilli Crab, making its debut at the Resorts World Theatre. Category 1 ($98) and VIP ($118) weekend ticket holders will even get a special edition chilli crab tart as part of their ticket price. Through Jul 22
FOOD
If you love your oysters and just can’t seem to get enough of it, then head to Greenwood Fish Market & Bistro’s fifth World Oyster Festival, where you can find their seasonal selection of more than 20 types of cult oyster brought in from around the world. And if you can’t make up your mind on which to try first, get the Tasting Platter for $99, which includes their chef’s 16 personal picks of the day. Through Jul 31
ART
This year’s Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA) and The O.P.E.N. will run without a month’s break in-between for the first time, bringing 90 different talks, workshops, plays, films and other performances that continue to push the boundaries. New this year are Open Homes by Jeffrey Tan—a unique theater experience where residents of 30 HDB public housing estates, private condos and landed residences will invite audiences into their homes to share stories—and O.P.E.N. Kitchens, where you can cook with the host, Noorlinah Mohamed, as she shares stories of each dish being prepared. Through Sep 9
EXHIBITION
Robots have invaded the ArtScience Museum and everyone’s invited to take a peek at what the future of cybernetics, artificial intelligence and genetic modification might look like at the HUMAN+: The Future of Our Species exhibition. Come with an open mind as you interact with life-like humanoids and find out how robots are already living among us. Through Oct 15
Tuesday, Jul 11
FILM
If you’re overwhelmed by the huge variety of programs that the Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA) has to offer, start with the big film component of SIFA’s precursor festival, The O.P.E.N., with films like The Other Side of Hope, a story of the unlikely friendship between a Syrian refugee and a restaurateur who lives in Helsinki; On The Beach At Night Alone, which tells the tale of a young actress who contemplates her affair with a married film director, and many more. Through Jul 15
FOOD
Four Seasons Hotel Doha’s Chef Adnan Al Masri will be making his way to Four Seasons Hotel Singapore’s One-Ninety Restaurant to hold his very own Middle Eastern Food Festival featuring home-styled cuisine like Chicken Mosakhan and Lamb Shakriah, traditional claypot eats like Kibbeh Belseneh, charcoal grilled Beef Steak, Shish Taowk, Fish Kebab and more. Through Jul 28
EXHIBITION
Asia’s largest mirror maze has landed in Singapore as a new permanent installation at Science Centre Singapore. The visually-appealing maze features 105 mirror cells, more than 17 interactive exhibits and experiments on light, a bunch of holograms and fake exits. Admission is free but you’ll still have to pay admission charges to the center itself.
THEATER
You can count on W!LD RICE to deliver on high production value and thoroughly localized performances, and that is exactly what you’ll get with Boeing Boeing, the theater company’s fourth rendition of the 57-year-old French farce about a swinging bachelor (Rodney Oliveiro) juggling between three air stewardess girlfriends, now updated to 2017’s world of connected smartphones and social media. Through Jul 22
FOOD
As if Royal Plaza on Scott’s halal buffet restaurant Carousel doesn’t have enough of a spread, it is now introducing food inspired by Taiwan’s night markets to its lineup. The usual suspects like oyster mee sua, crispy chicken thigh with spices and sweet lap cheong are all there to be enjoyed as part of their high tea meals (weekdays $42; weekends $48) happening from 3:30pm-5:30pm daily. Through Jul 31
Wednesday, Jul 12
FILM
If you’re a short films kind of person, the center of photography and film, Objectifs, is holding the second edition of Asian Film Focus, which will feature a selection from India, the Philippines, Vietnam, and of course, Singapore, based on the theme, “Time Machine”. On the line-up for the Singapore contingent is Silent Light, The Lights Went Out, Mama Goes To Swim, and two others. Jul 12-15
FOOD
Goodwood Park Hotel’s annual durian festival returns, unfrazzled by the suspension and food poisoning cases last year, with all-time favorites like durian puffs and crepes and and new creations like a designer cakes shaped after the fruit itself. Through Jul 31
EXHIBITION
Enter the whimsical world of Yayoi Kusama at National Gallery Singapore, the first big-scale survey of her work in Southeast Asia. Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow curated by the Gallery’s Russell Storer and Adele Tan, will showcase more than 120 paintings, sculptures, videos and installations spanning over seven decades–some of which have never been shown before. Through Sep 3
FOOD
The popular Singapore Restaurant Month is now a full-fledged festival, thanks to the Restaurant Association of Singapore bringing together more than 200 chefs who will be preparing a locally-inspired dish at their respective eateries for the very first Singapore Restaurant Festival. Through Sep 30
Thursday, Jul 13
PERFORMANCE
The signature big top circus tent of Cirque du Soleil will be erected once more in Singapore next month, this time, bringing their new production Kooza to our shores for the first time. This will mark the world famous Canadian troupe’s fifth foray here. Jul 13-Aug 20
WELLNESS
Urban Yogis are back with another pop-up yoga at the Marina Barrage with its scenic view and cool breeze. Be sure to make your booking online before turning up as they do not accept cash payment. Jul 13
TALK
Kilo Lounge is hosting the Singapore edition of Story Party (the theme’s about dating), where professional storytellers share true life stories that range from the incredibly hilarious to the downright depressing. You can even submit your favorite dating story anonymously to be read during the show. Jul 13-15
FOOD
The annual claypot menu at Kopi Tiam, Swissotel The Stamford, is back for a season, filled with tried-and-true dishes such as Claypot Chicken Rice ($22), Claypot Fish Head ($35) and Claypot Bitter Gourd Pork Ribs ($24) that are served sizzling and in generous sharing portions. If in a smaller group, the tender Claypot Frog Legs ($26) and satisfying Claypot Seafood Crispy Noodles ($24) are solid choices too. Through Jul 31
FOOD
While there’s an undying love for Goodwood’s durian fiesta among Singaporeans, we’re also excited about the durian offerings at Marriott Cafe. This year, they’re running a durian-centric version of their highly popular local high tea buffet where you can try a slice of their durian strudel, durian swiss rolls and more. Through Aug 9
Friday, Jul 14
FOOD
Singapore-themed culinary event Singapore Food Festival 2017 returns for its 24th edition. Expect the usual chef collabs, masterclasses, food trails and cocktail pairings, as well as the main festival highlight, Streat. Jul 14-30
CONCERT
Join the 62 Singaporean musicians of Base Philharmonic Orchestra and award-winning Australian conductor Jessica Gethin as they tell you the story of classics like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King through their music at the Disney in Concert series. Jul 14-15
FOOD
If you consider yourself a foodie, then you’ll want to check out Singapore Food Festival’s signature event, Streat, where Peranakan chef Malcolm Lee of the one-Michelin-starred Candlenut will join chef Willin Low of Wild Rocket to present contemporary versions of local classics through a three-course mod-Sin and modern Peranakan Tok Panjang menu at Clifford Square. Jul 14-15
FESTIVAL
The 16th edition of Esplanade’s annual alternative music festival, Baybeats, is back. Alongside 23 local bands and musicians performing, five regional bands will also be taking the stage to play everything from psychedelic rock and folk to blues and punk across four stages at Esplanade, including at the new Annexe Studio. Jul 14-16
FOOD/DRINK
What’s better than an evening of pairing hawker food with boutique wines from Australia and New Zealand? Hosted once again by Merchants Wine Store, five carefully curated wines will be paired with delicious hawker fare from Bib Gourmand stalls at Singapore Food Festival’s Hawker Wine Safari. Jul 14-30
EXHIBITION
The latest exhibition at DECK sees two independent photography projects–Nicholas Koh and Jiahui Tan’s Some Other Way and Koh Kim Chay and Eugene Ong’s Singapore’s Vanished Public Housing Estates“–that explore the significance of memory in a country that’s ever-changing. Through Jul 22
FOOD
Ah Hoi’s Kitchen at Hotel Jen Tanglin is throwing a Festival of Crabs where you can feast on not one, not two, but 10 different styles of meaty Sri Lankan crabs. There’s no way to eat all of them (at one go at least), so be smart and get your claws on the Salted Egg and Crispy Yam Crab, Glass Noodles and Chinese Wine Crab or Claypot Crab Beehoon. Through Jul 31
FOOD
After a great first run, local Szechuan cuisine pioneer Si Chuan Dou Hua is bringing back last year’s well-received vegetable-based menu. This time, expect dishes rarely seen in a Chinese restaurant, like the Portobello Mushroom with Truffle and Orzo Pasta served with Szechuan Chilli Sauce, served as part of a course menu ($78-$98) that is filled with meatless (not strictly vegetarian) creations. Through Sep 15
