It’s the first proper week of June and we’re so glad we’re getting a mid-week break. Spend it at Istana’s open house or make your way to the Geylang Serai bazaar (ending Jun 5), and as the weekend draws closer, a Japanese summer festival and the start of the Mexican Film Fest awaits. Happy Eid everyone!
PARTY
Boybands are back, well, at least for one night at Nineteen80’s Now that’s what I Call Boyband Music. Jive to your favourite Backstreet Boys, Westlife and NSync hits, in a judgement-free zone that all ’80s kids will appreciate. Jun 4
FESTIVAL
This Hari Raya Puasa, head over to the Istana for their open house, where an exhibition exploring Singapore’s history await. Stay around for other activities too, including a cultural performance and a guided nature walk on the grounds. Jun 5
MARKET
The Geylang Serai Ramadhan Bazaar is back, pasar malam-style, with spreads of open-aired stalls hawking wide varieties of street food. Break fast with your Muslim friends and feast on everything from the classic Ramly burger to refreshing Thai milk teas. In response to the rising concerns around overpriced Instagram food fads monopolising the bazaar in previous years, Wisma Geylang Serai has taken measures to ensure that 60 percent of its stalls will be offering more authentic eats from the bazaar’s heyday—and for the first time in over 40 years, all stalls will be 100% halal. Through Jun 5
FESTIVAL
Because we can’t get enough of Japan summer festivals, Resorts World Sentosa is throwing their first ever RWS Summer Matsuri, where food, drink, film and cultural performances celebrating all things Japan will collide. And luckily for us, the festival starts from 5pm, so the summer heat won’t be too daunting on us. Jun 6-9
FILM/FESTIVAL
Delve into the arts, language and panoptic beauty of Mexico through film, at the Mexican Film Festival 2019, its fifth edition. Expect a wide selection of genres to choose from, including drama, thriller, comedy and horror, all critically-acclaimed and showcasing Mexican culture. Jun 6-12
DRINK/PARTY
Its a Citadelle Gin showcase over at Potato Head, and Balearic music maestro Phil Mison will be in the house to amp things up while you sip on carefully crafted cocktails at the rooftop. Jun 7
FILM/FESTIVAL
State of Motion 2019: A Fear of Monsters, a follow-up to January’s film fest of the same name, will once again bring together a collection of classic Asian horror flicks like 1954’s original Godzilla, OG Malay scare fest Sumpah Orang Minyak, and even newer ones like HBO’s anthology Folklore. Jun 7-Jul 21
FESTIVAL
Immerse yourself in all-things Peranakan at The Peranakan Festival, where cultural talks, a literary showcase and, of course, plenty of Nyonya dishes entice you to learn and indulge in the amazing culture of the Straits Chinese community. Jun 7-Jul 31
FILM/FESTIVAL
Italian cinema reigns at the 2019 Italian Film Festival. This year, check out 11 curated films across two venues—The Projector and Golden Village Plaza. Top picks include Dogman, a well-paced film about a man’s descent into savagery, and Italian box office hit comedy Blessed Madness. Through Jun 7
THEATRE
The longest running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Weber’s The Phantom of the Opera, is back in Singapore. If you missed it the last time it was here in 2013, the musical masterpiece makes its long-awaited return to the Sands Theatre. Through Jun 8
EXHIBITION
Singapore’s Golden Boy street artist Speak Cryptic is holding a solo exhibition at Gillman’s Chan + Hori Contemporary. Open My Heart, Ease My Task, Loosen the Knot on My Tongue takes reference from a prayer of Moses; on this the artist draws to present his collection of drawings, paintings, installations, public art and performance-based work. Through Jun 9
EXHIBITION
New York street art legend Futura is having his debut solo Southeast Asia show Constellation over at Gillman Barracks, starting with a public opening party on Thursday. Expect 30 specially commissioned works at the exhibition, all showcasing Futura’s distinctive abstract graffiti style. Through Jun 9
FOOD
Gemmill Lane’s secret supper series, the Jeremmy & Friends Supper Special at Le Binchotan, is back to satiate your late-night munchies, starting with a bang thanks to a collab with microbrewery Level33. Fill up on elevated comfort favourites and mark your calendars for more guest chef collabs happening on certain weekends. Through Jun 29
PARTY
Beat the heat at a wet and wild extravaganza unlike any other. From Fri-Sun for the whole month of June, the Adventure Cove Waterpark will play host to Splash Bash, where team watergun fights, Zorb ball water races, and lager-than-life ice cream props arrive to take your theme park experience up several notches. Plus, live DJ sets to amp up the fun. Through Jun 30
FESTIVAL
Why go to the beach when the beach is coming to you? At Life’s a Beach Party, the iconic fountain at Bugis Junction will be transformed into a sandy summer lounge, decked with sunbeds, party food vendors, an outdoor cinema and even a bazaar, all to be enjoyed while homegrown musicians Benny and Allie seranade you every weekend. Through Jun 30
DRINK/TRAVEL
The Whisky Festival at DFS is back, this time, with their first-ever pop-up bar (till Jun 10) at Changi Airport Terminal 3. Learn more about the aged spirit while sniffing on vaporizers and sipping on samples of your choice—pick from brands like Bruichladdich, Compass Box and Glenmorangie—all while vibing to live jazz hits on certain dates. Through Jun 30
ART
Next on Telok Ayer Arts Club’s programming is Topographies, a solo exhibition, publication and performance art piece by Jason Lim. He brings his body of work first produced for Kjerringoy Land Art Biennale last year, and mashes it into something new and thought provoking for audiences here. Through Jul 11
FOOD
There never needs to be a reason to gorge on durian, but Goodwood Park Hotel gives a mighty good one every year regardless. Come celebrate their annual Durian Fiesta, this time with six new exquisite D24 durian desserts, four perennial favourites, and a majestic appearance from the Mao Shan Wang in a mousse and a jumbo-sized puff. Through Jul 14
EXHIBITION
Food packaging—beautifully crafted plastic wraps, carton boxes, tin cans and more that inform, entice and make you wanna fork out dough you don’t have. But is that all there is to it? Journey through the history of modern day food packaging in Singapore at the National Museum’s Packaging Matters exhibit, and you just might find a renewed appreciation for all them compelling coverings. Through Sep 15
EXHIBITION
The ArtScience Museum’s next big showcase is a whimsical one sure to be a hit with all audiences. Leading us all through the rabbit hole is Wonderland, which celebrates all the intrigue of Lewis Carroll’s timeless universe, and invites you to step through the looking glass for an immersive museum experience. Our guide to the exhibition here. Through Sep 22
EXHIBITION
Another massive exhibit over at the ArtScience Museum is Floating Utopias, an exploration of the hot-air balloon and how its (literal) ascension has impacted our world. Come discover its storied history through over 40 artworks, including eight large-scale air-filled sculptures. Through Sep 29
