The weekends went by in a flash and it’s back to the daily grind once again. But fret not, it’s going to be a short one with a public holiday in the middle of the week, filled with a bunch of activities like the Festival of Crabs, the Filipino bartenders’ invasion, a bunch of cultural festivals and even more markets.
Monday, May 8
LITERARY
Begin your Monday with the standing poetry open mic destination: INK happening at Blu Jaz. This is where an aspiring artist can showcase poetry, prose, scripts, music or multimedia or for someone to support local art and literary works. Tickets are $4. May 8
FOOD
While most know Manhattan at The Regent Singapore for their world-class cocktails, not many are aware that the food menu here has been given equally profound attention. They’re having an NYC-themed food menu overhaul as part of their third anniversary. May 8
MARKET
Students from NTU’s School of Art, Design and Media are putting up their graduation show alongside a pop-up market featuring vendors like Basheer Graphic Books, Ask Tony, Just Julia and more. May 5-18
EXHIBITION
Photographer Stefen has teamed up with his long-time collaborator, economist Lin Huiyi, for a project aimed at highlighting social inequality, Equivalence. Earlier versions have been done in Beijing, Tokyo and Hong Kong, and in Singapore’s edition, 1000 aluminium cans from familiar brands like 100PLUS, Coca Cola and Haywards are photographed and presented in a grid. Catch it at Chapel Gallery in Objectifs. Through May 14
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 new creations like a designer cakes shaped after the fruit itself. Through Jul 31
Tuesday, May 9
TALK
The gathering of creatives and noteworthy individuals, Pecha Kucha Night, returns to National Museum of Singapore, where each of them present works in a “20 x 20” format (20 slides for 20 seconds each). Registration is required. May 9
FESTIVAL
The annual open house Pesta Ubin at Pulau Ubin includes a Tua Pek Kong’s birthday festival held over six days. The entire island will be transformed into a colorful cultural ground for the celebrations, with flags and beautiful lanterns adorned at the Ubin Jetty, traditional opera performances at the Wayang Stage near all the bicycle rental stores and lion dance performances. May 9-14
EXHIBITION
Calling all Harry Potter fans—if you’re in withdrawal after reading Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts, time to ooh and aah over some Harry Potter stamps, prop replicas, toys and other memorabilia from private collectors all around the world at the Singapore Philatelic Museum. Through Jun 25
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
Wednesday, May 10
PARTY
Nothing to do over the public holiday? Head over to The Council for their Secret Garden: Vesak Day Special with DJ Amber H, CATS ON CRACK and Julien Brochard. Tickets are $10, and $15 at the door. May 10
CULTURAL
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery prepared month-long activities for Vesak Day, the day marking the birth and enlightment of Buddha. Join in their special guided tour to learn more about the journey of Buddha, or head over to their Vesak fair for sutra writings, snacks and a thrift shop. May 10
FESTIVAL
The annual Singapore Heritage Festival is back this year and Caldecott Broadcast Centre is stealing the limelight as part of the festival’s Takes Over! program, where usually inaccessible areas are now open to the public to visit. A myriad of activities in other neighborhoods including Bukit Pasoh and Little India are happening too. Through May 14
FOOD
The Coffee Lounge at Goodwood Park Hotel may be known for its Taiwanese porridge menu, but from now till the third week of May, satisfy your love for laksa as they create six decadent and delicious renditions using homemade rempah (spice paste), other high quality ingredients and garnished with daun kesum (laksa leaves). Think laksa with crab leg, laksa in claypot form, and the like. Through May 21
EXHIBITION
The photography series “Hong Kong Shop Cats” by Dutch visual artist and photographer Marcel Heijnen has garnered quite a following since 2016. This year, the exhibition will be held outside of Hong Kong for the first time, right here at Artistry. Through Jun 4
Thursday, May 11
DRINK
Located on the fringes of Chinatown, this laundry-themed bar is known for Asian-fusion dishes and innovative cocktails like their red tea rum-based Teh Botol. Three Filipino bartenders will hold court here—including David Ong from The Curator in Manila—for Tres Papas: The Filipino Invasion. The trio will be mixing cocktails with Don Papa Rum. May 11
FILM
The long-running European Union Film Festival (EUFF) returns for its 27th edition with a snazzy new home—the National Gallery. The festival brings together 27 thought-provoking, captivating and hilarious films from across the continent. May 11-21
FOOD
The Clifford Pier at Fullerton Bay Hotel will be playing host to eight of Tiong Bahru’s esteemed hawkers, including the likes of Tiong Bahru Jian Bo Shui Kueh, HarriAnns, Tiong Bahru Teochew Kueh and Tiong Bahru Lor Mee (no, sadly, not the one with shark meat), for two weeks before the beloved hawker center reopens. Through May 14
FOOD
Salon de Royal, a chocolatier cafe from Kyoto that was founded in 1935 is having a pop-up store at Japan Food Town, bringing their limited-edition pecan nut flavored ice-cream that’s specially made for Singapore and other popular sweets by them. Through May 31
EXHIBITION
Eitaro Ogawa and Tamae Iwasaki, the husband and wife duo and their partner, Tomohisa Miyauchi, behind the 700-page soft cover photobook, HDB Homes Of Singapore have turned their project into a photo exhibition at SPRMRKT on 2 McCallum Street. HDB Homes Of Singapore: The Photo Exhibition will showcase selected images from their collection of photos. Through Jun 27
Friday, May 12
FILM
Part of the Alt Screen series of Asian films offering critical perspectives on global issues is Journey to the West, a movie about Chinese tourists visiting Europe for the very first time. The Singapore premiere will be followed by a post-screening talk by Assistant Professor Sin Harng Luh from National University of Singapore. May 12
PARTY
Phat Cat Laundry’s monthly Full Moon Party returns with birthday boy, David Howarth, Erin Khan and Shane O’Neill helming the decks, while Shallum Manguiat Recto from Mandarin Oriental serves you as the guest bartender. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is filling your glasses that night, and you can meet tattooists from Bada Drink Tattoo Firm. May 12
THEATER
Local multidisciplinary arts collective The Kaizen M.D. explores divorce and acceptance from a man’s perspective with their production, Move, As We Move. Tickets are $30, held at Centre 42. May 12-13
CONCERT
The French synth-pop band Yelle‘s that inspired the Tecktonik dance movement that swept Europe (and later, the world) in mid-2000s with their song “A Cause Des Garcons” will be here for two nights, as part of Voilah! French Festival 2017. Tickets are priced at $88 via Ticketbox. May 12-13
MARKET
In collaboration with One Kampong Glam, Fri-nally Fete Street Art Market returns with Mother’s Day Flea Market on Baghdad Street this May. Source out your ideal Mother’s Day gifts at more than 20 stalls selling jewelry, beauty products, knick-knacks, snacks, and more. You can also find cute hair accessories from Ny and Lu and patterned socks from The Alley. May 12-14
MARKET
Not into minimalistic and hipster trends? Dig out vintage goods at Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market where 18 resident booths including batik craftspeople MoroBatik, vinyl collectors Karang Unique and vintage costume jewelry outfit Shoubijoux will be displaying their goods. May 12-14
FILM
Sunset Cinema Tanjong Beach, organized by the same people who do Films at the Fort (and in partnership with Peroni Brewery), is having a multi-day beachside film festival over two weekends featuring blockbusters like Arrival and Jackie, alongside food by Tanjong Beach Club. May 12-14
ART
Kult takes a light jab at fancy art fairs with their own tongue-in-cheek version, The $200 Show: Actually Affordable Art. You can expect to see a variety of artworks spanning across mediums like risograph prints, art on vinyl, resin-cast sculptures and original illustrations from local and international artists like Kult’s founder Mojoko, local multidisciplinary creative agency fFurious and illustrator Mindflyer. Through May 22
Check out other markets happening in Singapore here.
FESTIVAL
Singapore’s only conscious festival Green is the New Black returns for the third year with collaboration with Spark, Asia’s pioneer festival. Expect inspiring talks, live performances from local musicians and buskers and marketplaces where you’ll be able to meet more than 20 makers from around the region, all of whom will be displaying their mindful goods. May 12-13
