It’s that time of the year again when Chinese New Year (where relatives will ask when you’re getting married) and Valentine’s Day—or Single Awareness Day—are around the corner, but don’t fret if you think you’re going to be #foreveralone. There are lots of cool events to meet sensitive people, whether they be film nerds, artsy types or champions of local lit.
Swedish Film Festival (Jan 28-30)
Force Majeure
You’re sure to meet an artsy film geek at the Swedish Film Festival happening at (obviously) The Projector. The opening film is disaster comedy Force Majeure, about a cowardly patriarch’s missteps as his family vacations in the Alps. But you should also be heading to Trespassing Bergman in which famous filmmakers and actors discuss the iconic director’s impact on their work. We bet that there’s someone in the audience who loves film as much as you do. $10.
Zen Pencils (Feb 3)
Photo credit: Morganna MageeThe man behind one of 2013’s best 100 websites (according to PCMag), Gavin Aung Than, will be in town to do a book signing for Zen Pencils Volume 2. Gavin Aung Than’s claim to fame is his comic renderings of famous, inspirational quotes. Go chat up some artistic and entrepreneurial people at Books Kinokuniya. Free.
Valentine’s Day Indie Book Fair (Feb 6)
Booktique is having its own Valentine’s Day Indie Book Fair, where self-published local writers will sell their titles, so it’s time to meet someone who loves local lit like you do. The books include laugh-out-loud funny “Harris bin Potter and The Stoned Philosopher” by Suffian Hakim and “The Black Box,” an illustrated book that tackles depression by Chia Xun An. Cash and NETs are accepted, there, and maybe it’s also a good idea to grab a book of love poems by Keats, too. Free.
Speakeasy: The Valentine’s Day Edition (Feb 12)
This edition of the open mic poetry series at Artistry is a bit different: poets read love poems by other poets, and in previous years, the mix has included Shakespeare, Tupac and everyone in between. All the cute guys/gals here, the ones not dragged by their partners, are likely to be sweet and sensitive. Make it happen!
One By One Metre Space (Through Feb 21)
Meet someone who loves Singapore history like you do at Flaneur Gallery’s One By One Metre Space exhibition, where artists Adrian Tan, Debra Ong, Jennifer Ng, Ling Yang Chang and photographer Mindy Tan will present work in response to the Singapore institution. There will be installation art, Chinese ink, sculpture and videoes, as well as Mindy Tan’s images that capture what it’s like for vendors to sell their wares there. Interested? Read our interview with Tan here. Free.
Bon Iver (Feb 26)
Photo credit: Nikko
Only sweet, sensitive people would head to a Bon Iver concert; his first album, For Emma, Forever Ago was hailed as one of the best break-up albums by Rolling Stone. The one-man band, best known for “Skinny Love” melts hearts with his ethereal tunes and use of synthesizers. Apart from this track, expect other hits like “Holocene,” “Towers” and “Calgary.” Here’s hoping you’ll find someone swoon-worthy in the crowd. $68.
Death Cab for Cutie (Mar 10)
You can be assured that you’ll meet someone with good taste in music at the Death Cab For Cutie’s showcase, which is part of the WOAH Fest sideshow. Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr are performing tracks like “Black Sun” and “Little Wanderer” from Kintsugi, their eighth studio album. But of course, we are also hoping for fan favorites like “The Sound of Settling” from albums like “Transatlanticism,” “We Have the Facts” and “We’re Voting Yes.” $99.
