Okay cool, so National Day has come and gone. For a moment it seemed like that was all August was ever going to be, but life carries on and that means more parties, food, and films to catch. Take it slow and visit one of the many ongoing exhibitions once you clock off work, then get your party pants on for the weekend.
Friday, Aug 10
DRINK
Whether you know exactly how to describe its taste (without using the word smooth), or fancy something that’s just easy to drink, Wine Lust 2018 promises to have a little something for everyone. Returning for the second time, the month-long affair presents an outstanding selection of 15 award-winning restaurants, 40 specialist wine events and 500 wine varietals. Aug 10-Sep 10
TOUR
It’s one thing to take a walk through hell at Haw Par Villa during the day, and a whole other experience if you go at night. The twilight tour of Haw Par Villa is back—check out the infamous 10 Courts of Hell, King of Ghosts, the upcoming Hell’s Museum and the Aw family memorials. Aug 10
POETRY
Come together for a night of spoken word and music performances by the transgender and non-binary community, in IndigNation’s third edition of Transit. Aug 10
PARTY
New Zealand-born, Thai-based rising artist Phum Viphurit is only 21, but is already making waves in Bangkok’s indie scene with indie folk hits like “Lover Boy” and “Long Gone”. He’s making a one-day pit stop at Kilo Lounge for a live performance, supported by locally based trio Sobs (Middle Class Cigars). Aug 10.
MARKET
A new month calls for a new Katong Square Lifestyle Market. Head down to the eastside shopping mall for a true blue vintage flea market experience, and pick up anything from vinyl records to retro haute couture. Aug 10-12
EXHIBITION
The World’s Loneliest Bookstore explores what the last bookstore on earth would look like in a post-apocalyptic reality; somehow we aren’t surprised that it’ll be at Gillman Barracks. The exhibition presented by Books Actually and DISINI will showcase a selection of titles from local and international authors, plus set the backdrop for book launches, readings and installations throughout the duration of the event. Through Aug 19
EXHIBITION
The eighth edition of Singapore Art Museum’s annual family-friendly contemporary art exhibition explores the concept of time. Ten artists and art collectives from around the world have taken over SAM at 8Q for Imaginarium: Into the Space of Time, presenting immersive and interactive installations exploring the tales and theories that shape our memories and future. Through Aug 26
EXHIBITION
Peranakan Museum’s latest exhibition, Amek Gambar: Peranakans and Photography, delves into the Southeast Asian history of photography through the pictured lives of the Peranakan community in the region. Through Feb 3, 2019
Saturday, Aug 11
Tony’s Long March. Photo credit: Arts House Limited
FILM
The late filmmaker Tony Yeow was probably best known for producing Singapore’s first and only kung fu film, Ring of Fury (1973). After, he never quite found mainstream success, but the pioneer independent filmmaker remains an important piece of Singapore’s history. Tony’s Long March is an affectionate documentary of the film veteran’s perseverance in Singapore’s film and television scene, at a time when the industry was still struggling to take off. The screening is part of The Arts House’s LumiNation line-up looking at the Singapore identity. Aug 11
PARTY
Dance dance your afternoon away at another daytime R&B rooftop party at co-working space-slash-retro bar 21 Moonstone. Swig cheap beers and cocktails while you chow down on barbecue; as R&B pros DJs Paulsilver and Krumbs provide the soundtrack to your Saturday. Aug 11
PARTY
Berlin-based DJ/Producer Mathias Schober has been turning out sweet mixes of house and deep, futuristic techno for a good decade now, and he’s swinging by Singapore for a guest spin. Over at TUFF Club, let loose on the dance floor with his infectious synth melodies, uplifting sequences and floating guitar layers. Aug 11
TALK
AWARE Singapore is inviting everyone to talk openly on the role of gender in work, care and economic inequality in Singapore today. Come for a panel led by Head of Advocacy and Research at AWARE Shailey Hingorani, Executive Director of Daughters of Tomorrow Carrie Tan, and Dr Teo You Yenn, bestselling author of This Is What Inequality Looks Like, among other leading female figures, as they discuss the many compelling perspectives of mothers juggling work and care. Registration is required here. Aug 11
FILM
Catch one of Studio Ghibli’s most moving works, the 1997 Japanese animated fantasy film, Princess Mononoke. Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan, join the young prince Ashitaka as he embarks on a journey to locate the cure for Tatarigami’s curse. Aug 11
PARTY
It’s good times only at The Refinery, which is teaming up with the Good Times crew for a day-to-night hip-hop cookout. Think hot dogs, beer and cheng tng with DJs Intriguant, Darren Dubwise and MZA on the decks. Aug 11
BOOK
Poet Marc Nair’s newest book Vital Possessions contemplates how city-dwellers negotiate their relationship with nature in a world where growth is both man-made and natural. At the book launch at the Esplanade Concourse, Nair will be performing some of the poems from the book, songs and other monologues set to original music. Aug 11
DRAG
After about an eight-month hiatus, the city’s hottest drag revue Riot! is back at a whole new venue, Hard Rock Cafe. Catch Becca D’Bus and her girlfriend(emies) Elnina, Vyla Virus, Jess Station and more entertain you with blush-inducing humor, fantastic costumes and finger-snapping lip sync numbers. Aug 11
PARTY
Not sure what took em’ so long but it’s high time that Baby Boy, the queer night for lovers of R&B and Hip Hop from from the ’90s to present day, returns. Work that booty or show off your voguing skills right after Riot! to the sounds of everything from Aaliyah to Ashanti, Brandy to Beyonce, Mary J Blige to M.I.A., Missy Elliott to Mariah Carey… you get the drill. Aug 11
PARTY
Shake it like the Brazilians do at an authentic Brazilian street party happening at Kult Kafe. The folks over at Capoeira Art Canarana will be demonstrating the art of Capoeira, a martial art closely tied with music and also Brazil’s biggest cultural export; with performances of Frevo cultural dance and live Batucada drums, plus food and drinks inspired by the South American country. Aug 11
MARKET
The madhouse marketplace that is Carouselland is back, with over 400 booths of new and pre-loved items for you to shop in person, without the fear of encountering Carouhell sellers. Aug 11-12
CONVENTION
You probably need to top up your personal office pantry (a.k.a. your side drawer) with all your favorite munchies since they’re probably already running out since the last World Snack Fair. The convention is back for its fifth edition at Suntec Convention Centre, and will feature more than 3,000 international brands of snacks from 30 countries. Through Aug 12
EXHIBITION
2018 has shaped up to be a fantastic year for Marvel. Besides the two epic movies releasing to staggering global success, they’re also presenting Marvel Studios: Ten Years of Heroes at ArtScience Museum, which delves into the science and tech behind the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe. Through Sep 30
Sunday, Aug 12
Photo credit: Camp Kilo Charcoal Club Facebook
FOOD/PARTY
Dress to the nines, or not; but Camp Kilo Charcoal Club is back with another edition of After Dawn: BBQ Block Party. While you wait in line for your BBQ delights to be ready, dance to the tunes of a yet-to-be-announced lineup of DJs, take part in carnival games like the Ping Pong Toss and Beer Bottle Ring Toss, or check out the Weekend Market. Aug 12
FILM
Check out Wes Anderson’s stop-motion comedy animation Isle of Dogs, a film that follows a young boy who heads over to an island after his dog (and its entire species) was banished after a canine-flu outbreak, at Blu Jaz. Aug 12
FOOD
RWS Street Eats, Resorts World Sentosa’s own heartland-centric gastronomic affair, returns to the Malaysian Food Street. That’s 11 whole days of gorging on some of the best hawkers and eaters from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. Through Aug 19
MUSICAL
We’re just as excited as you are about the return of The Lion King to our shore for its 20th anniversary It’s been more than two decades since the epic musical film about lions in Africa first came into our lives, and again in 2011 when the musical made its Southeast Asian debut. Immerse yourself in the magnificent world of Simba, Nala, Rafiki, Mufasa, Timon, Pumba and company when it returns for a two-month run. Through Sep 23
EXHIBITION
Dutch artist Theo Jansen is sending his prized Strandbeests to our shores. In fact entirely non-living, his world-renowned creatures made of PVC and wood are powered by wind, and spend their days moving gracefully across beaches (hence their name, which translates to “beach animal” in Dutch). Head to the ArtScience Museum for an exclusive look at this new species, where you can look at “fossils” of past beests, and even walk alongside 13 original Strandbeests. Through Sep 30
TOUR
The Singapore Zoo will be transformed into a lush and luminous universe to mark the attraction’s 45th anniversary this year. Experience Rainforest Lumina for yourself, where a whole stretch of tropical rainforest will be lit with multimedia visual effects come nighttime. You can even spend your night there by a campfire, if you so wish. Jul 1 onwards
