There’s been much ado about New Bahru, an upcoming lifestyle collective by The Lo & Behold Group that sees the former Nan Chiau High School in River Valley crammed with the buzziest in food, retail and wellness.
With all that pending excitement, the wait until its grand opening in September might seem almost interminable – which is why it’s lucky that the powers that be have deigned to give us an aptly called Sneak Peek event in the latter half of June.
For one weekend only (Jun 22 and 23), New Bahru will be working with event and marketing agency PPurpose to host a “moving-in party” filled with workshops, classes, curated menus and experiences.
Visitors with green fingers can look forward to a bonsai wiring and styling workshop with plant design studio Soilboy, where they’ll get a chance to transform a variegated juniper shimpaku from a mere tree into a work of art.
Those with green sensibilities can engage in virtuous upcycling, whether by way of turning an old T-shirt into a bag at Make by Ginlee, a sustainability-focused offshoot of the homegrown womenswear label (free for first 100 customers; promotional price for people thereafter), or at a leather upcycling workshop courtesy of the artisans at Crafune.
For some respite after all the hands-on excitement, kick back with gorgeous lifestyle and design tomes from the shelves of Basheer Graphic Books, one of the last remaining bastions of Singapore’s dwindling bookstore scene, at a cosily appointed living room pop-up designed by Crane Living.
Thereafter, it’s time to turn the excitement back up to 11. We’d recommend a flight of approachably priced makkolli at craft Korean bar Odem, followed by live music in the late afternoon at the cheekily named Co-Curricular Activities act, featuring creative professionals-turned-DJs living out their musician dreams – even if it’s just for one afternoon.
As for the young (or young at heart), they can keep themselves duly occupied at the Oatside Funside Playground, home of Singapore’s tallest outdoor communal slide and, for the duration of the New Bahru Sneak Peek, a fun challenge to collect as many oat milk miniatures as possible within the span of 15 seconds.
New Bahru is at 46 and 58 Kim Yam Road, Singapore 239351.
