There are a lot of hot button topics being discussed on social media and forums; ranging from that new floating rubbish bin in our seas, the home-brewed beer “debacle”, in-facing cameras in taxis and private hire cars, a new head honcho in Singapore’s strongest opposition political party, big brother-esque “smart” street lamps, a certain unwarranted and pointless spiel about a party series written by a seemingly self-proclaimed gatekeeper whose questionable character comes laced with douchebaggery and a tinge of unwanted superiority… we could go on but the weekends are almost here. So forget your worries, whip out your iCals and mark down the best parties, film screenings and markets happening this weekend.
Friday, Apr 13
Swedish Film Festival – Cries & Whispers
FILM
The third Swedish Film Festival taking place at The Projector pays homage to one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, Ingmar Bergman. To celebrate his centenary, acclaimed local filmmaker Kirsten Tan has curated a series of films that best represent his body of work. Through Apr 15
PARTY
Ce La Vi in partnership with Grey Goose is bringing in Germany’s electro house star producer Tujamo for one sensational night filled with hits like “Booty Bounce”, “Drop That Low” and “Dr Who!”. Come with your best pair of dancing shoes on. Apr 13
FOOD/PARTY
Celebrate Songkran, one of Thailand’s most important festivals, with Tamarind Hill’s team of Thai chefs at Talad Tamarind: Celebrating Songkran. For a flat fee, get to savour a handpicked selection of over 25 auspicious and popular creations enjoyed by the locals during the festivities. Besides the delectable cuisine, other highlights include free flow beer throughout the event and a (optional) water fight later in the evening. Apr 13
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. Apr 13
HEALTH
Calling all Star Wars fans who’re looking for a way to stay in shape—sign up for a SaberFit Fitness Class at Safra Toa Payoh, where you can reap the benefits of a full-on, high energy workout while living out your lightsaber-wielding and -fighting dreams. Apr 13
MARKET
A new month calls for a new Katong Square market, which, with its vinyl records and vintage goods, touts itself as Singapore’s only true blue vintage flea market. Resident booths include familiar names like The Retro Factory, Memory Lane and The Great Vinyl Exchange; this month’s market will even feature Victorian era lockets, energy and healing crystals and Art Deco finds. Apr 13-15
FOOD/DRINK/MUSIC
If your Friday nights out on the town have started to feel a little bit too predictable, Friday Night Live‘s the thing you need to spice things up. Come April, Sentosa beach bar and restaurant Coastes will turn your Friday evenings into one filled with live jazz music, good grub, booze and beach vibes as they all come together to make your Friday nights come alive. Apr 13, 20 & 27
DRINK
If you’ve always enjoyed One-Ninety Bar’s L’Aperitivo Hour, you’ll not want to miss this upsized version of the pre-dinner drink tradition. For one evening only, enjoy free flow of Aperol Spritz and appetisers at their al fresco Terraza as a mobile bar, a caricaturist, guest bartender Divyesh ‘Divy’ Chauhan and more keep you entertained. Apr 13
MARKET
The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) turns 80 this year. And to celebrate, they’re throwing an eight-week arts festival to showcase the school’s diverse talents. As part of the festival, a series of festival markets will take place each weekend, featuring craft-makers and jewellers, local fashion labels, original artworks and vintage collectibles. You can even be part of the excitement and book a booth here. Apr 13-Jun 3
FOOD/FESTIVAL
In the lead up to their eighth birthday, Marina Bay Sands will be showing off its culinary prowess with The Signature Series, a week-long celebration featuring their many award-winning celebrity chefs. They’ll be a whole slew of activities including exclusive dinners, special menus, masterclasses and late-night parties, so come with your stomachs empty and your spirits high. Through Apr 15
FOOD
Is Brazilian food the next big thing? Find out for yourself at Fullerton Hotel’s Town Restaurant as owner of the Brazilian Food Research and member of the Slow Food Movement Chef Paulo Machado whips up his favorite native cuisine at their dinner buffet line. Come on Sunday for an awesome superfoods brunch. Through Apr 15
FESTIVAL
If you’re on the lookout for a new, high-valued toy, or just have an eye for the finer things in life, head over to Oneº15 to take a gander at some of the world’s finest superboats at this year’s Singapore Yacht Show. Through Apr 15
FESTIVAL
The Singapore Heritage Festival is back for its 15th edition, and they’re keeping things fresh with a slew of activities like catching a film at a drive-through cinema in Jurong, a whole bunch of food tours, a visit to a local sugar factory, and lots more. Make sure to sign up for their workshops and ticketed activities, or just drop in to their free admission exhibitions and talks. Through Apr 22
FOOD
Ready your stomachs and hold on to your linen napkins, guys—the World Gourmet Summit (WGS) returns for its 22nd edition and naturally, you can expect the very best of international and local chefs from Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, and America taking the spotlight to whip up delicious bite-sized gastronomy and degustation dinners throughout the month. Through Apr 29
FESTIVAL
2018 marks a decade since Singapore and France embarked on formal cultural cooperation and exchange. In celebration of that, the annual Voilah! French Festival Singapore is showcasing the best of French-Singapore partnerships and innovation in the fields of arts, culture and science through a series of events. Through May 5
Saturday, Apr 14
Upstairs at Headquarters
PARTY
The next DJ-producer to helm Headquarters’ cage is one who’s been touted as an integral part of Berlin’s scene. Peter Graser, or better known as Answer Code Request, joined the esteemed label Ostgut Ton, owned by the infamous Berghain, only six years ago. Yet, he’s already become a highly sought after artist, taking his bassy and breaks-heavy techno tunes to clubs and festivals everywhere. Apr 14
MARKET
The trusty Farmers Market at Loewen Gardens returns with a good mix of organic vegetables, wine, olive oil and fresh honey on sale. Plus—the promise of craft beer at this month’s market has our interest piqued. Apr 14
COMEDY
After 20 years as a traveling comedian, you can be sure funnyman and musician Bill Bailey has lots of jokes to tell. He’s back in Singapore once again, this time, as part of his Bill Bailey Live in Asia Tour 2018, where he’ll be tackling politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness with his brand of intelligent humor at the Shanghai Dolly. Did we also mention this will be Shanghai Dolly’s last day of operation? Apr 14
DRINK/FOOD/WELLNESS
Indulge in Tanjong Beach Club’s Beachside Bottomless Brunch, where you can gorge down on endless plates of favorites like baked oysters, beet-cured salmon, seafood ceviche, grilled lamb t-bone steak, roasted corn-fed chicken and more. Add on $35 and you’ll also get free-flow tipples, glasses of rose, bubble and ice-cold beer. They’re even throwing in complimentary yoga, barre and HIIT classes by the beach. Apr 14
PARTY
Head over to Singapore’s first pop-up club, Tuff Club, as special instructor and lauded German DJ-producer, Lauer, lays down his fusion of ’80s-influenced disco sound and house music for your weekend workout. Apr 14
FILM
If you managed to get your hands on Nike’s cool self-lacing sneakers at Dover Street Market Singapore, why not pay tribute to the film series that first featured it? Go on an adventure with Marty McFly and Doc Brown as they find themselves thrown back in the ’50s when an experiment in a modified DeLorean car goes wrong in the first Back To The Future. Apr 14
PARTY
It’s a party over at Jalan Besar as The Refinery teams up with the Good Times crew for a laidback cookout evening of hotdogs, beers, Cheng Tng Gao (a boozy rendition of the local dessert) and music from the likes of DJ Ollie’des, Drem from Matteblacc and RAH from Darker Than Wax/Revision Music. Apr 14
TECH
If you’re one of the owners of those bladeless fans or the super tech-packed hairdryer, then you probably love the brand that made those things a reality. British technology company Dyson will be taking over ArtScience Museum’s Expression Gallery where you can a world of science and technology, and potentially unlock your engineering potential. Apr 14-15
THEATER
Hot on the heels of The Imaginarium of Disco David, local nomadic theater group And So Forth is back with a new pop-up feast planned. Adventures in Grimmsneyland will focus on the darker sides of fairy tales—as evidenced by the reference to the Brothers Grimm, whose folk tales were anything but pleasant—and take audience members through various worlds. Through Apr 21
PERFORMANCE
Pooja Nansi’s Thick Beats for Good Girls is exactly what it says it is—the perhaps unladylike genre of hip hop, served up by literary ladies Nansi and her co-playwright Jessica Bellamy. Presented by Checkpoint Theatre, the all-new production is a two-woman show surrounding what the two call a balancing act; of being a woman, an ethnic or religious minority, and a hip-hop enthusiast all at once. Through Apr 22
EXHIBITION
You’d think a traveling exhibition from the London Natural History Museum would be hard to top, but ArtScience Museum’s upcoming shtick will trace 40 years of street art, from its controversial beginnings as expressions of counterculture, to its current standing as a major pillar of contemporary art. Art from the Streets will feature the works of the world’s top street artists, such as Magda Danysz, Banksy, Shepard Fairey and more. Through Jun 3
Sunday, Apr 15
Centre 42
THEATER
If you’ve ever wanted to thoroughly explore the blue and white heritage buildings along Waterloo Street, this April is your chance to do so. Local theater company The Theatre Practice will be taking its visitors through the buildings in an immersive new show titled Four Horse Road where you can walk through multiple sites located across the three now iconic buildings on the storied street. Through Apr 28
FOOD/MARKET/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 Cosa Nostra DTW, Ramesh K, Orio and Daryl C. Or, you could check out the Artist Market, with vendors hawking anything from plants and skincare to pins and knick-knacks. Apr 15
THEATER
As part of their 15th anniversary celebrations, Esplanade is putting five female artists into the spotlight with five special commissioned works under their developmental theater program, The Studios. Through Apr 29
FILM
Not all films are just about entertaining. Enter Stories That Matter, an annual program held by Objectifs to address critical issues through both film and photography. This third edition’s theme is borders, tackling matters of physical, social and political borders that both define and restrict communities and laying out on the table possible ways of collaboration and change. Apart from exhibitions and seminars, this program will also be screening Singapore premieres of five documentaries. Through Apr 29
EXHIBITION
A cursed gem, a dodo and a giant stuffed sloth walk into a museum; the punchline is that they’re here to stay till the end of April. Treasures of the Natural World , the traveling exhibition from the Natural History Museum in London, makes its first and only stop in Southeast Asia at the ArtScience Museum, bringing over 200 of the London museum’s star artefacts Through Apr 29
