15 things to see, do, eat and drink in Singapore this week (Nov 23-27)

It’s a big week, what with the opening of the National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore International Film Festival. But if big-deal events aren’t your thing, there are plenty of under-the-radar ones to catch as well, from chef knife fights (sort of) to intimate gin tastings.

 

Mon, Nov 23

FOOD
Bird Bird and Artichoke’s Bjorn Shen (best local chef according to our Readers’ Choice Awards) and Dan Segall (formerly of Ku De Ta and Fat Cow) go head to head in Knife Fight at Neon Pigeon. $5 draft beers, $10 cocktails and snack specials all night starting at 9:30pm.

Tue, Nov 24

ART  
The hotly anticipated National Gallery officially opens today and houses work from the city’s pioneer artists like Georgette Chen and Cheong Soo Pieng, along with a permanent collection of regional pieces. Don’t forget to have a glass of Champagne at restaurant Aura and check out Julien Royer’s new French place Odette.

CONCERT
80s rock band Def Leppard is in Singapore to relive the glory days with hits like “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Love Bites.” 

Wednesday Nov 25

ART
Kandahar Street gallery Intersections is celebrating its third anniversary with Small is Beautiful, a show of small-sized photos, drawings, sculpture, books and other formats by artists from Myanmar, Armenia, Singapore, France and the UK.

CONCERT 
Dancey quarted from the UK, Clean Bandit is on tour to promote their new album, New Eyes, along with renditions of older hits like last year’s “Rather Be.” 

PARTY
Chijmes nightclub Rakes is doing Please Don’t Tell, a hip-hop themed night where ladies get free entry and free vodka 10pm-1am. For gents, it’s $20, inclusive of one drink. 

Thu, Nov 26

FILM
The Singapore International Film Festival opens today with Taiwanese film Panay. The festival will play 146 feature and short films over the next 11 days. Don’t know what to watch? Click here to read about the upcoming highlights.

FILM
The Projector begins its run of the bloody, NC16-rated adaptation of Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth.

DRINK
Gin lovers, pay attention, the people who make Monkey 47 will be at the Working Capitol for a talk and tasting session. Limited seats, so book now.

MUSIC
Local songstress Inch Chua is launching her EP, Letters to Ubin, at Aliwal Arts Centre. The album is the culmination of a four-month residency on the island.

FOOD
Hip new smokhouse and American barbecue joint Meath Smith is doing a $95 set menu for Thanksgiving with all the traditional fixings. 

LITERARY
The Singapore Committee for UN Women is hosting its bimonthly book club in Geylang. This time, they’re discussing Unbowed: A Memoir by Kenyan environmentalist and political activist Wangari Maathai

Fri, Nov 27

CONCERT
The I Love Anisong Concert is part of Anime Festival Asia, bringing in musicians who sang the original soundtracks of various anime. Nov 27-29

PARTY
Blujaz is inaugurating the first of its New Orleans nights with big jazzy bands like Sidewalk Swingers and New Stream Jazz Band. Entry is free.

PARTY
The Sunshine Nation Block Party is taking over Circular Road again from 7pm till 3am, with a slew of DJs headlined by German house prince Lexer. O Comptoir, Marco Marco and Gong will do special $29 menus for the night.