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w w w. s g n o w. s g
Your FREE
independent
guide to the
next two
weeks
The modern
Irish experience
has arrived in
Singapore
SG MAGAZINE | ISSUE #676 | APRIL 24, 2015
since
1995
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
McGettigan's Clarke Quay
AWARD-WINNING FOOD, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT &
GENUINE IRISH HOSPITALITY
NOW OPEN!
mcgettigansclarkequay
INTRODUCING HEINEKEN EXTRA COLD
w w w. s g n o w. s g
Your FREE
independent
guide to the
next two
weeks
Come
what May
SG MAGAZINE | ISSuE #676 | AprIl 24, 2015
since
1995
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
what’s on
what’s new
what matters
Photographer and visual artist
Juria Toramae layers the past and the
present in these images of Changi and Tuas.
See aRT , page 10, for interview.
nEighboRhood
CiTysCaPE
dining
TRavEl
What to
Buy in
Everton Park
7 Ways
to Get
Sustainable
Izakaya
Neon Pigeon
is Here
Byron
Bay
Bites
page 3
Sum of All
Fears
12
cityscape
Eco-Warrior Cheat Sheet
6
top 20
10
film
Iconic
Buildings
with a Past
Local Sex
Comedy
Rubbers
11
neighborhood
15
shopping
What’s New at
Bukit Timah
What to Buy in
Everton Park
16
new restaurant
17
drink
Neon Pigeon
Where to Get
Asian Whiskeys
20
travel
23
interview
Great Food in
Byron Bay
Head Honcho of
Maison Ikkoku
Who's in charge?
Publisher & General Manager
Ric Stockfis
[email protected]
Editorial
Managing Editor Mrigaa Sethi
[email protected]
Senior Manager, Media & Marketing
Shernan Plameras
Executives, Media & Marketing
Lee Wee Keong, Roderick Wong,
Joy Yao, Swathi Raj
Dining Editor Letitia Tandean
Lifestyle Writer Joyce See
Design
Associate Art Director Carmen Louise Ho
Senior Designer Fishy Toh
Designer Celeste Chooi
Content Sales & Custom Media
Content Director Clara Lim
[email protected]
Where to find us!
Bangkok
Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd
22/F, Silom Center
2 Silom Road, Bangkok 10500
Tel: 02-624-9696
Fax: 02-237-5656
[email protected]
Shanghai
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Advertising
Director, Business Development
Intan Agustina
[email protected]
Marketing
Marketing Manager
Silver Adrienna Ng
[email protected]
Finance
Finance Manager Lynn Legaspi
[email protected]
Accountant Huang Huiping
Group Directors
Chief Executive Officer
Gretchen Worth
[email protected]
Group Digital Director
Greg Duncan
[email protected]
On the cover Collages by Juria Toramae
Marketing & Admin Assistant
Geraldine Tan
The collective logical reasoning powers of Singapore’s high school
students would be much better applied to some of the nation’s
genuinely impossible-seeming mathematical conundrums.
For example:
Question 1. Cheryl has just bought a $148 ticket to an EDM music
festival for which a total of 14,000 tickets have been sold. Bernard
and Albert have also bought tickets and are flying in from Hong
Kong for the awesome-sounding event. How many days prior to its
slated date will the festival be canceled for drug offences that may
or may not have happened had the festival gone as planned?
Question 2. Cheryl, Bernard and Albert are standing on the corner
of Geylang and Aljunied Roads at 10:40pm, heading home after
exactly two rounds of beer because no one will sell them any
more booze. They see 15 taxis with green lights on. There are 0
other people on the sidewalk hailing for cabs. After how many
attempts at begging will a taxi driver agree to take them home?
Bonus: What time will it be by the time they get into bed and
whine about it on Facebook?
Question 3. A train is leaving Clarke Quay station traveling at
80km per hour. Albert is walking down a crowded train car at 5km
per hour when he spots with great moral indignation Cheryl and
Bernard sharing a single seat and canoodling profusely. The time
is roughly 6:45pm. What time will Albert’s covert photo of the
immoral couple go viral on STOMP?
Please share this widely. Together, we can solve Singapore’s most
pressing and difficult problems.
Who are we?
Published every two weeks (with daily updates at sgnow.sg), SG (previously I-S) delivers
honest, independent and irreverent coverage of the Singapore lifestyle scene. We’ve been
recommending what to do and where to go here for 20 years—and we’ve never been more
excited about the city than we are right now.
The Asia City Media Group
Kuala Lumpur
Pacific Tourism
Communications Sdn Bhd
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issuu.com/sg_magazine
daily updates on news and events
sgnow.sg
Awesome events, cool new places, the very
best of the next two weeks
High-end, hawker and everything inbetween: news on the drink and dining scene
Hot topics, local initiatives and ideas for
making Singapore even better
Because Singapore is only so big: the best
deals and destinations around Asia
Escape the CBD and explore more with our
hyperlocal neighborhood section
SG Magazine is published 24 times a year by Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd., 211 Henderson Road, #07-02, Singapore 159552.
Tel: 65‑6323‑2512 • Fax: 65‑6323‑2779. Copyright ©2015 Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. The titles “SG Magazine”, “I‑S Magazine” and their associated logos or devices, and the content of SG Magazine and I‑S Magazine are the property of Asia
City Publishing Pte Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. SG Magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Contact the Publisher for ad rates and
specifications. All advertising in SG Magazine must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business, copies of which are available upon request. Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte. Ltd., 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968. ISSN 0218-8872
MCI (P) 174/12/2014
free ebook of every issue
Last week, a Singapore high school math problem went viral on
the Internet as people across the world scratched their heads over
Bernard and Albert trying to deduce Cheryl’s birthday. (Why didn’t
they just add her on Facebook and find out there, one wonders.)
giveaways, updates, stories
facebook.com/sgnow.sg
last word
Irreverent interviews with people who make
Singapore great
We hope you like what you see: email us at [email protected] to let us know how
we’re doing.
latest news and trends
@sg_now
see what we’re up to
@sg_now
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
5
up
front
Our biweekly study of the city’s burgeoning
(and dying) trends
Hot: Koalas
be good
chem7
Diliff
hot or not
Singapore’s latest news, numbers and dramas at a glance
Not: Dolphins
All Is Amazing
Four koalas are being flown in on Qantas’s climate-controlled capsules
for a six-month exhibition at the Singapore Zoo in May. Too bad the
dolphins at UWS did not receive similarly posh treatment. See Be Good
(right) for a humane new dolphin tourism venture.
be a doll to dolphins
Partially in response to the poor treatment of
dolphins in captivity, local organization Animal
Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES)
is hoping to start wild dolphin-watching tours
in Singapore waters. Already conducting a
conservation-focused research project around the
Southern Islands, ACRES aims to launch ethical
tours for people to see the
mammals in their natural
habitat. You can donate to
their campaign at
ow.ly/LwgEH.
We
Sg
This week you will mainly love
your city for its...
Hot: Parties on ships
Not: Parties on land
We’re finally over the last-minute cancelation of Future Music and looking
forward to dancing at sea instead, with It’s the Ship (Nov 20-23) and
Shipsomania (Jan 2-6 2016). For tons of cool things to do before that, turn
to SG Now (page 7).
Hot: Asian whiskeys
Local answer to Whatsapp
SingTel recently launched a local (less
cleverly named) app along the lines of
Whatsapp and Skype. Finally catching on
to the fact that no one seems to send regular
text messages anymore, the telco giant’s
new product, Wavee, will allow you to send
messages, pictures and files as well as take
pictures and make calls. The app is available for
both Android and iOS users and all data charges
are waived until Jul 9.
Not: Scottish whiskies
Celebrating the city’s entrepreneurs, start-ups
and innovative thinkers
Can’t find a cab? How about
carpooling with a friendly stranger
going the same way and splitting
the cost? New local startup Ryde
(www.rydesharing.sg) hopes to
promote carpooling in Singapore,
using geo-location and user reviews
to put people in touch. Founder
Terence Zou tells us more.
What’s the RYDE office like?
Think white walls, simple furniture,
glass partitions and lots of sunlight.
We keep our environment clean and
free from clutter so that the ideas
can keep flowing. Besides, we spend
long hours in the office and it’s a
conducive place to be in.
6
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
What apps inspired RYDE?
Airbnb matches people who have
lodging with people who are
looking for one. When people think
of traveling, saving some money
and meeting new people, they think
Airbnb. When people want to move
around daily, want to save a bit of
cash, save the environment and
meet new people, we want them to
think RYDE. We are both part of the
new sharing economy.
Will Singaporeans be into
carpooling with strangers?
Carpooling takes place all the
time in both formal and informal
arrangements in many developed
cities. Today, with geo-location
technology, social networks and
smartphones, the idea of carpooling
makes more sense: along with the
bigger idea of us being part of the
sharing economy. Carpooling is a
great way to save money, make
new friends and reduce congestion.
We are very confident it will catch
on in a big way and it has been very
encouraging with overwhelming
sign ups to date. Mrigaa Sethi
We’re turning 20 this year and
this issue we look at 20 famous
Singapore buildings that once used to
be something completely different.
1 Spruce @ Old Fire Station
Today a laidback cafe, it once used to do important
things...like put out fires.
2 ColBar
This charming and old-timey cafe in Wessex Estate
was once a canteen serving British soldiers.
3 The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
This iconic hotel was once occupied
by the General Post Office.
4 National Gallery
This new art gallery will be
occupying the same space as the
Old Supreme Court and City Hall.
5 MICA
It used to be the Old Hill Street Police
Station, home to Singapore’s first jail.
6 Chijmes
For over a century, this trendy food
enclave was a Catholic convent.
7 Skyve Wine Bistro
This restaurant was the canteen of the old Monk’s
Hill Secondary School. The name seems apt now.
8 The White Rabbit
Before it became a restaurant, it was a chapel.
9 Raintr33 Hotel
This hotel has taken over the
derelict army barracks near the
old Changi Hospital.
10 Old Ford Factory
It was Ford’s first assembly plant
in Southeast Asia. Today, it is home to
images and artifacts from the war.
Japanese whiskeys have been all the rage for a while now, and last month,
Taiwanese distillery Kavalan won Best Single Malt in a global blind tasting,
cementing the age of Asian whiskeys. For more on where to get them,
turn to SG Eats (page 17).
Singapore SparkS
throWback 20
11 Malay Heritage Centre
This building was once Istana Kampong Glam—a
regal Malay palace. It now houses Malay artifacts.
Say What?
The best comments on our
most popular web stories
Philipp Aldrup May I comment, that Rochor
Centre is definitely not a forgotten place,
but full of life! —on “Meet the man whose
mission is to remember Singapore’s
forgotten places”
Isaac HappyFingers To simply put it…the
millennium kids. —on “8 kids (other than
Amos Yee) Singapore should be very
afraid of”
Lynn Sheng Not everybody hands so fast like
u ma —on “Bartenders spend too much
time making one cocktails, says Ethan
Leslie Leong”
Eric Lim Hipster bar —on “Maison Ikkoku’s
getting a second outlet”
Nick Pan Please be the metal bar to my
cable car. —on “Free entry into Sentosa for
the rest of the year”
Be a part of the conversation at
www.facebook.com/sgnow.sg
12 St. James Power Station
It might be a mega club today but way back when,
it was Singapore’s first coal-fired power plant.
13 Black Swan
The Quadrant used to be the HQ for banks.
14 Loewen by Dempsey Hill
The site of a former military hospital, this place is
now home to the Museum of Contemporary Arts.
15 Boathouse
The former Port of Singapore Authority houses
several restaurants and bars today.
16 Peranakan Museum
This museum used to be Tao Nan Chinese School.
17 Singapore Art Museum
One of Singapore’s more prominent museums, it
was once a 19th-century mission school.
18 The Capitol Piazza
It used to house the iconic Capitol Theatre. It’s now
home to a supermall, a theater and a six-star hotel.
19 Asian Civilisations Museum
This museum used to be the colonial-era
Government Office.
20 Gillman Barracks
This former military camp is now home to some 17
international art galleries.
For more lists revisiting Singapore’s history,
visit www.sgnow.sg. JOYCE SEE
The essential guide to what’s on in Singapore
now
Send your events news to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
frI
Apr
24
SAt
Apr
25
fAIrS Kilowax x Beat Bodega
Buy, sell or trade vinyls and music-related merchandise while sipping on craft beers,
cocktails and light bites. There’s also an outdoor sound system playing vinyl-only music,
but the best part is that it doubles up as a party, too. Apr 25, 4pm. Artistry, 17 Jalan
pinang, 6298-2420. Free.
thu
Apr
30
Art Oddlings by Allison M. low
This local artist and illustrator has made a name for herself after exhibiting in Sydney.
She debuts her solo exhibition featuring some 20 drawings. Her striking pieces revolve
around themes of emotional trauma and loneliness, apparent in the disconcerted faces
and bodies. Apr 30-May 10. The Substation, 45 Armenian St., 6337-7535,
www.substation.org. Free.
StAGE Hawa
Written by Johnny Jon Jon and directed by Faizal Abdullah, this Malay language
(with English surtites) production about a recent Islam convert follows Siti on her
journey of self-discovery as she has to make funeral arrangements for a close friend. It
stars Isabella Chiam, Saiful Amri and Al-Matin Yatim. Apr 24-25. The Substation Theatre,
45 Armenian St., 6337-7535, www.facebook.com/hatch.theatrics.info. $24.
SAt
frI
May
2
Apr
24
NIGhtlIfE
Moonbeats Asia x
loof present DJ RAC
portuguese DJ-songwriter RAC has
an infectious sound that has seen
his remixes for bands like Foster the
people and U2 reach No. 1 on Hype
Machine’s charts. Apr 24, 9pm. loof,
#03-07 Odeon Towers Extension
Rooftop, 331 North Bridge Rd., 97739304, www.loof.com.sg. $25-35.
MuSIc Backstreet Boys
put on your ironic and nostalgic hat to see the one of the world’s best-selling boy band
in history. Their In A World like This Tour will have tons of hit classics like “I Want It That
Way”, “larger Than life” and “Show Me the Meaning of Being lonely”. Oh, and did you
know that it’s been 20 years since their first hit? May 2, 8pm. The Star performing Arts
Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 6636-0055, www.livenationlushington.net. $98-198
from Sistic.
frI
StYlE
Samsung Fashion Steps Out
@ Orchard
This six-week fashion exhibition
showcases the latest collections from
local designers like Depression, pleatation
and max.tan. through May 24. paragon
Atrium I, Orchard Rd., www.orchardroad.
org/fso. Free.
SuN
May
1
May
3
Nghiem Minh Nguyen Vo
StAGE Shakespeare in the park: The Tempest
The Singapore Repertory Theatre’s annual outdoor play series is back with
Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Starring the UK’s Simon Robson and Singapore’s very
own Julie Wee, the production also features light and sound effects by awardwinning designers Simon Higlett and Mike Walker. Tickets are at $45 or $55 (on
event day) from Sistic. May 1-24, 7:30pm. Fort Canning park, Cox Terrace,
6332-1200. $45-55. www.srt.com.sg.
MON
Apr
27
fIlM Southeast Asian Film Festival
Although it’s already in full swing, the fifth edition of Singapore Art Museum’s film
festival has more rare documentaries and indie films from the region. There’s still
time to catch films like Vietnamese dystopic tale 2030 and a few others. Book fast,
though. through May 3. Singapore Art Museum at 8Q, 8 Queen St., 6332-3222,
www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/SEAFF. $10 from Sistic.
FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
7
now
SCENE & HEARd
with letitia Tandean
MuSIc
StAGE
concerts
comedy
In Each hand A cutlass Album launch
This instrumental progressive/post-rock quintet is
back with new album, The Kraken. Accompanied by
violinist Josh Wei and cellist Hsiao Shan loh. Apr 24,
9:30pm. Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr.,
6828-8377, www.ineachhandacutlass.com. $25 from
Sistic.
SG PIcK
Open call
full circle
Circular Road’s new tenants include the folks
behind now-defunct The Vault, with a new
venture, refuge (79A/B Circular Rd., www.
refuge.sg) is a sleek lounge-bar playing
R&B and funk tunes. The three-story space
takes cues from old-school American-esque
soul bars. A few doors down, Gong (25
Circular Rd., 8393-2216, www.gong.sg) is an
industrial and open-concept bar with kitschy
musical decor (think cymbals and modish
circular furniture) playing afro, reggae and
jazz music.
hawking Art
Don’t be alarmed when you see paintings
on hawker center walls: it’s all part of a joint
project between three government bodies,
including the National Arts Council. Our
hawker centres—A heritage & Art Project
(www.nea.gov.sg) will paint murals in 40
hawkers centers around the island. Check out
completed works at Amoy Street Food Centre
and Newton Food Centre.
food Where to eat during World Gourmet Summit
The star-studded foodie festival is well underway. These are the essential dinners to attend,
from sake and beer extravaganzas to Mexican street food.
Art
Kirin J Callinan
Known for his intense live sets, this Australian
genre-bending musician’s concerts feature lots
of snarling vocals and jagged guitar sounds in
songs like “Way to War”. May 1, 8pm. Blu Jaz,
11 Bali lane, 6292-3800. $28-35 from Peatix
Sleepmakeswaves
The Australian instrumental rock band performs
their electronic-laced tunes from the ARIA Awardnominated new album, love of Cartography,
supported by up-and-coming local punk-emo quintet
False plaintiff. Apr 25, 6:30pm. TAB, #02-29, 442
Orchard Rd., 6493-6952. $50-60 from peatix.
Singapore through the Glass
Known for remixing classical music, local ensemble
re:mix performs “Singapore Seasons” alongside
four original art videos by local filmmakers. Apr 26,
7:30pm. Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Dr.,
6828-8377, www.singapore50.sg. $15-25 from Sistic.
Discovery Sake
This five-course sake pairing dinner sees each
course paired with sakes like junmai daiginjo
and junmaishu. The menu comprises dishes like
oysters in sea water jelly. $218 per person. Apr
27, 7pm. lewin Terrace, 21 lewin Terrace, Fort
Canning park, 6333-9905, www.lewinterrace.
com.sg.
take 6
With 10 Grammy Awards under their belt, this
wildly popular a capella group celebrates its 25th
anniversary with more amazing vocals and harmonies
fusing gospel, jazz, R&B and pop. May 5, 7:30pm.
Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377,
www.esplanade.com. $58-148 from Sistic.
Shakers & Brews
Ku De Ta teams up with Coedo Brewery for a
beer pairing dinner with plates of beef cheeks
with a Coedo lagerita, and grilled lamb rack with
aged dark lager. $188 per person. Apr 27-28.
57/F Skypark, Marina Bay Sands, 1 Bayfront Ave.,
6688-7688, www.kudeta.com.
Mexican Dream
This culinary and cocktail tour of Mexico includes
dishes like scampi in aguachile with pink gin
and vermouth, and Angus short rib with mole
poblano. $249 per person. Apr 28, 7pm.
El Mero Mero, #01-20 Chijmes, 30 Victoria St.,
6337-1377, www.elmeromero.sg.
IDES x fordham & Grand
The three-night, six-course dinner with
Australia’s “spontaneous cuisine” restaurant,
IDES involves dishes like monkfish with
sancho, as well as a juicy wagyu short rib
with roast celery vinaigrette. $98 per person.
Apr 30-May 2. 43 Craig Road, 6221-3088,
www.fng.com.sg.
D’Bell
At its affordable four-course set dinner,
D’Bell serves up signature dishes including
Hyderabadi masala lamb chop with cloves and
tandoori bread. $65 per person. Apr 30. 43
North Canal Rd., 6536-4046, www.dbell.sg.
World Gourmet Summit runs until May 3. for the full line-up, head to
www.worldgourmetsummit.com. lETITIA TANDEAN
8
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015
Dead celebrities
20 artists hailing from philippines, France, Indonesia,
the UK and Singapore create works based on iconic
celebrities who are now dead. Expect familiar faces
like Kurt Cobain and Basquiat in paintings and
sculptures. through Apr 30. Kult pop-Up, 4A Haji
ln., 9816-1006. Free.
falling Off Plastic chairs
local artist Ian Woo’s solo exhibition features some
of his most recent abstract paintings full of large
and expressive brush strokes. through May 17.
Tomio Koyama Gallery, #01-26 Gillman Barracks, 47
Malan Rd., 6659-7068, www.tomiokoyamagallery.
com. Free.
SG PIcK
Demi lovato
The platinum-selling global artist is back with
recent hits like “let It Go”, “Heart Attack”, and her
newest single, “Nightingale”. Apr 28, 7:30pm.
Suntec Singapore International Convention &
Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Blvd., 6337-2888. $68-228.
www.ACMusicEntertainment.com.
Sphaeras Album launch
The four-man instrumental band melds the math rock
genre with odd time signatures at this album launch
concert, supported by sub:shaman and Silhouette.
May 2, 7pm. The Substation, 45 Armenian St., 63377535. $20 from peatix.
World Gourmet Summit festial
theater
Public Enemy
This satirical production explores politics and
freedom of expression. When the protagonist of
the play finds out that this town’s water supply is
contaminated with bacteria, his decision to report
it turns the public against him. through Apr 25,
8pm. Victoria Theatre, 11 Empress place,
www.wildrice.com.sg. $45-80 from Sistic.
The o.P.E.N.
Singapore International Festival of Arts’
(SIFA) pre-festival event, the O.P.E.N. (Jun
17-Jul 4, www.sifa.sg), brings international
film screenings, world-class performances
and exhibitions to Singapore. The focus is
on younger artists with highlights like Indian
photographer pushpamala N’s exhibition
“The Arrival of Vasco de Gama” and Chilean
director pablo larrain’s trilogy: Tony Manero,
post-Mortem and No. Festival passes start at
$45 from Sistic.
Kumar Stands up for Singapore
Directed by one part of the Dim Sum Dollies, Selena
Tan, one of our favorite stand-up comedians takes
the stage with more jokes based on SIngapore’s
journey from a swampy island to the present-day
bustling city. through Apr 26. Esplanade Theatre,
1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377, www.dreamacademy.
com.sg. $46-116 from Sistic.
music festivals
Motherlanz Music festival
Commemorating all things Australia and New
Zealand, this day-long party has comedy, food stalls,
games and live coverage of Anzac Day Rugby and
AFl. Music acts like Ian Moss, The Jordan luck Band,
Tiki Taane and Ash Grunwald take the stage. Apr 25,
12pm. Wave House Sentosa, 36 Siloso Beach Walk,
6377-3113, www.motherlanz.com. $115.
Pleasantry and Dunce presents channels
& terminals
part fundraiser, part concert, the spotlight is on local
bands Monster Cat, plainsunset, Cashew Chemists
and Anechois, who are gearing up for their first
American tour. plus, you can buy band merchandise.
May 3, 5:30pm. The projector, 5/F Golden Mile
Tower, 6001 Beach Rd. $27-30 from peatix.
musical
Showstopper! the Improvised Musical
Each night features impromptu audience suggestions
that turn into a spontaneous singing and dancing
production. It’s no wonder they have sell-out West
End seasons and a BBC Radio series under their belt.
Apr 28-May 3. SOTA Drama Theatre, School of the
Arts Singapore, 1 Zubir Said Dr., 6594-8411. $58-98
from Sistic.
The Leftover Banquet
Known for his signature works of bald
Asian children in surreal settings, chinese
contemporary artist Zhang linhai shows 15 of
his best works at this solo exhibition. through
May 31. Museum of contemporary Arts, 27A
loewen rd., 6479-6622, www.mocaloewen.
sg. free.
the Sew-Out Show
photographer Kevin Ou collaborated with
local design firm The General Company for 14
photographs of colored lights printed on fabric.
The General Company’s craftsmen will convert
your favorite pieces into accessories like tote bags
and bowties. through Jun 8. TCC The Connoisseur
Concerto, 51 Circular Rd., 6533-9033, www.artmanagement.com. Free.
After utopia
Featuring iconic works from Singapore Art Museum’s
collection, this four-part exhibition examines utopian
and idealistic desires in society. Apr 30-Oct 18.
Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 63323222, www.singaporeartmuseum.sg. Free.
hAPPENINGS
literary
friday Evening lecture: from Syonan to fuji-Go
Fiona Hodgkins’s most recent book From Syonan
to Fuji-Go: The Story of the Catholic Settlement of
Bahau in WWII Malaya has an accompanying lecture
where she’ll discuss the research, difficulties and
why she believes the story has to be shared. Apr
24, 7pm. Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress
place, 6332-7798, www.acm.org.sg. Free.
now
fIlM rEVIEW rubbers
HHHHH rubbers opens in cinemas on Apr 30 and stars Yeo Yann Yann, Julian
hee, Alaric tay, catherine Sng, Martin chin and Ooh Shu An.
Speakeasy #19: featuring Deborah Emmanuel
local actress, writer and musician Deborah Emmanuel,
who has been featured in TEDx Singapore and The
Singapore Writers Festival, hosts a night of poetry. Apr
29, 8pm. Artistry, 17 Jalan pinang, 6298-2420. Free.
conferences
Startup Asia Singapore
More than 200 startups share tips on investments,
media and corporates. Conference and exhibition aside,
there’s a new Night Crawl where you get to meet
new people over drinks. May 6-7. Suntec Singapore
International Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles
Blvd., 6337-2888, www.startupasia.techinasia.com.
$80-650.
sales & fairs
A collection of three stories happening on Valentine’s Day, this local sex comedy stars some
hotshot actors. Household names Marcus Chin (The Wedding Diary) and Catherine Sng (Growing
Up) play an old married couple struggling to rekindle the spark. Golden Horse Award-winning
actress Yeo Yann Yann (Ilo Ilo) plays a lonely thirty-something condom critic trying to seduce
hot, young plumber Julian Hee (Heartlanders 3). Finally, there’s funnyman Alaric Tay (The Noose)
who plays a playboy who wakes up one day to find a condom stuck to his penis.
The film could have easily veered into slapstick territory, and though it does flirt with that,
it stays firmly in the realm of good comedy, made funnier by its unrestrained language and
relatable mix of Mandarin, English and Singlish. The natural acting and great chemistry between
the actors go a long way, too. While there are no NSFW body parts on show, Rubbers still
manages to make us squirm with only clever camera angles protecting the actors’ modesty.
And what comedy is complete without a few unexpectedly touching moments? In Rubbers, this
happens when Chin’s character flashbacks to meeting his wife in their early teens, and when
Yeo’s adorably OTT seduction attempt turns into a heart-to-heart with the sexy plumber about
the pains of involuntary celibacy.
All in all, it is an honest, if heightened, depiction of love and sex in Singapore. Kudos to
director Han Yew Kwang (18 Grams of love) for taking on sex head-on and with refreshing
candor. Joyce See
ART Juria toramae
Boutiques at the Pit Building: the Week-End
Edition
Over 120 independent local labels, jewelry brands,
lifestyle products and home decor collections from
brands like Kala pata, Elverd Designs jewelry and Indi
Nyah scented candles are on sale. There’s also a chillout lounge by Violet Oon’s Kitchen. Apr 25-26, 10am.
F1 pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd., 6884-6940, www.
facebook.com/BoutiquesSingapore. Free.
Parallel presents Alex Niggemann with Zushan
The German DJ takes over the decks for a nhight of
prolific house and techno beats with songs like “Don’t
Wait” and “I Don’t Care”. Apr 25. Velvet Underground,
17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www.zoukclub.com.sg.
$28-33.
Kilo After Dawn
Kilo lounge gets behind this day-to-night outdoor party
held in their lawn with more cool and alternative house
beats, a whole roasted hog, carnival games and an art
market. Apr 25. #02-01 Kampong Bugis, 6467-3987,
www.kilokitchen.com. Free.
Alex M.O.r.P.h.
This trance heavyweight has always been on the
forefront of the dance music scene with hits like “An
Angel’s love”, “Sunset Boulevard” and “The Reason”.
Apr 25, 10pm. Canvas, #B1-01/06 The Riverwalk, 20
Upper Circular Rd., 6538-2928, www.canvasvenue.sg.
$18-25.
fIlM
indie screenings
SG PIcK
Singapore Yacht Show
If you’re into the high life, this luxurious boating
event has a showcase of the world’s finest super
yachts, supercars, jewelry and watches. plus, there’s
Champagne. through Apr 26. ONE°15 Marina Club,
#01-01 Sentosa Cove, 11 Cove Dr., 6305-6988, www.
singaporeyachtshow.com. $48-148.
sports
Games of Yesterday: A historical Workout
A 75-minute nostalgic workout session, it’s all about
kampong spirit with games like hopscotch, skipping,
tag, scissors-paper-stone and chaptek instead of the
usual circuit training exercises. Apr 25, 10am. www.
aileron.com.sg. $45.
Energizer Singapore Night trail
Run using head lamps to guide you through the dark
trails at this three to 18km night race. There are also
carnival activities with games stations and photo
booths. May 2, 3pm. Mandai, Mandai lake Rd., www.
singaporenighttrail.com.sg. $37-65
NIGhtlIfE
Defected in the house with franky rizardo
and Sam Divine
Defected Records DJs Franky Rizardo and Sam Divine,
collaborate to spin their signature modern deep house
beats. Apr 24. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil
St., 6225-6001, www.clubkyo.com. $20-25.
SG PIcK
Singapore Chinese Film Festival
It’s not too late to catch the end of this chinese
language film fest with screenings of new and
classic films, documentaries and shorts like
Wan Jen’s It takes two to tango and a lee hsing
classic, he Never Gives up. through Apr 30.
Esplanade theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377,
www.ntlive.com. $22-27.
National theatre live
pre-recorded screenings of the london Royal National
Theatre’s best stage productions include Shakespeare’s
King lear, international hit War Horse and heartwrenching A Streetcar Named Desire, all in the comfort
of cinema seats. Apr 30-May 2. Esplanade Theatre, 1
Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377, www.ntlive.com. $22-27.
first take at the Substation
The Substation Moving Images showcases the newest
and most promising short films by up-and-coming
local directors. On the roster this month are shorts like
Vengeance and Checkmate. Apr 30-May 2. Esplanade
Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377, www.ntlive.com.
$22-27.
cinema highlights
Our cover this issue features three stunning
panoramas by Moroccan-born Singapore-based
visual artist Juria Toramae. Her new collection
explores themes of identity, memory and place
through a series of visual narratives where
old photographs create surreal memories of
Singapore’s landscape.
What were the methods you used to
create these images?
The images were made through compositing—
archival components were hand-colored and
merged with my own photographs. Every
component is deliberate: reflecting flaws,
imperfection of memories gathered from
interviews, local literature and past news
articles.
tell us a bit about the idea behind
these images.
The idea for the images was born out of my
interest in restoring displaced memories,
especially those in the form of photographic
artifacts. I realized that the more we look into
these artifacts, the more displaced we became.
To make sense of this, I felt compelled to weave
individual memories according to their respective
place of creation as if time in that particular place
has collapsed. In some way, it’s an attempt to
make the past less foreign.
What drew you to these images of the sea?
The sense of perpetuity. The sea has been the only
constant in our ever-changing landscape.
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015
I Am Hardwell: United We Are
currently DJ Mag’s no. 1 DJ in the world, this
Dutch electro-house DJ-producer brings his tour
with hits “Spaceman” and “Never Say Goodbye”.
May 9, 6pm. Gardens By the Bay, 18 Marina
Gardens Dr., 6420-6841, www.zoukclub.com. $98
What are you working on next?
This series is a work-in-progress. I’m hoping
to cover the entire coastline as well as other
inaccessible islands.
the Age of Adaline
A young woman (Blake lively), born at the turn of the
20th century is rendered ageless after a fatal accident.
She questions her immortality and independence when
she thinks she may have met her match in Ellis Jones
(Michiel Huisman). Also stars Harrison Ford. Opens
Apr 30.
cymbeline
This blockbuster cast, including Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris
and Dakota Johnson, portrays a take-no-prisoners
faction war between dirty cops, an outlaw biker gang
and a drug kingpin. Opens Apr 30.
What are your thoughts on Singapore’s
relationship with nostalgia?
It is normal. We just need to be mindful of the
present, too, as Singapore continues to change.
Juria toramae’s exhibition, Points of Departure, is at the Promenade (10/f National
library Building, 100 Victoria St., 6332-3255, www.toramae.com) through Apr 28. free.
MRIGAA SETHI
10
Danny collins
Starring Al pacino, Jennifer Garner, Annette Bening and
Christopher plummer, this film is about singer Danny
Collins who is still riding high on hits from his heyday
when things come to a halt. He seeks inspiration in a
letter written to him by John lennon. Opens Apr 23.
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s g n ow. s g
NEigHBoRHood gUidE 4 reasons to go to
Upper Bukit Timah
Necessary Provisions
Cover Up
SG Magazine covers celebrate local artists, photographers
and illustrators and their remarkable depictions of Singapore.
Roti Prata
They look so good, we’ve even started hanging
them on our walls.
To suggest someone we should feature or to partner with us
on this initiative, email [email protected]
Bukit Batok Nature Reserve
Carpenter and Cook
Upper Bukit Timah is a stretch known mostly for nature reserves and roadworks (thanks to an
upcoming MRT line). The area will probably blow up, Holland Village-style, once the MRT stations are
up and running. But in the meantime, there’s plenty in store now.
Nature calls
Even though Bukit timah Nature reserve is partially closed for the next year or so, there’s
still Bukit Batok Nature Park (Bukit Batok East Ave. 2, 6471-7300, www.nparks.gov.sg) and the
picturesque little Guilin. The latter looks like a scene straight out of China, with towering granite and
tranquil lakes.
legendary suppers
Now that the hoarding has been lifted from the Cheong Chin Nam stretch, we remember why this
strip is still a popular supper spot. long-time favorites Al Ameen (2-4 Cheong Chin Nam Rd., 64648052) and Al-Azhar (11 Cheong Chin Nam Rd., 6466-5052) pander to our late night prata and Milo
dinosaur cravings, while in Beauty World Center and along lorong Kilat, there is a cluster of Korean
eateries that serve up authentic dishes.
THIS WEEK, WIN A
NIGHT OF PARTYING
IN STYLE AT ZOUK
WORTH $1,500
cute cafes
Of course, no up-and-coming hood is complete without its Instagram-worthy cafes. There’s the quaint
carpenter and cook (19 lorong Kilat, 6463-3648, www.carpernterandcook.com) that’s decked out
in vintage furnishings, while deeper into the residential estate you’ll find Necessary Provisions (21
Eng Kong Terrace, 9231-7920, www.necessaryprovisions.com) which checks all the hipster boxes:
industrial-chic decor, indie magazines on display and craft beer on the menu.
It’s our 20th anniversary, but we’re giving
you the presents! Follow us on Facebook
(our calendar is packed full of awesome
giveaways!) and expect loads of amazing
treats including a grand suite hotel stay in
Hong Kong coming your way.
A brand new mall
Regular heartland malls can be pretty yawn-inducing, but not the airy new hillV2 (4 Hillview Rise,
www.hillv2.com.sg), which boasts some serious contenders on the food front, like Dean & Deluca’s
third outlet and Joyden Canton Kitchen for seriously good Cantonese food. On the drinking front,
there’s the much-loved Wine Connection and German bier bar Starker. Joyce See
facebook.com/sgnow.sg
hipsters and heartlanders
live in happy harmony.
Where
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
s g n o w . s g
FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
11
city
scape
ENVIRONMENT
Eco-Warrior
Cheat Sheet
7 ways to live more sustainably—and support local businesses—
in Singapore. By SG Editorial
3
Or try growing
your own
4
Recycle and upcycle
everything
Nong by Edible Gardens is a
pioneer of urban farming in Singapore
and their online store has everything
from self-watering pots (from $36) and
chicken manure ($2.90) to gardening tool
sets ($5.60) and planting mixes ($4.90).
Super Farmers (www.super-farmers.com)
is another local online retailer of urban
farming supplies like compost mix ($3.50
per pot), non-GMO seeds ($2) and starter
kits ($12), all geared towards growing
food in small spaces.
And we’re not just talking paper
and plastics. Repurpose your clothes, or
at least repair them instead of throwing
them away. Get some ideas with upcycler
and blogger Agatha Lee of Green Issues
by Agy (www.greenissuessingapore.
blogspot.sg) who does regular workshops.
The next ones are on May 16 and 29 at
National Design Centre.
Can’t be bothered? Then there’s
homegrown mobile app Carousell
(www.carousell.co), which got a huge
injection of funds late last year to expand
throughout Asia. The easy-to-use app lets
you sell the stuff you don’t have the heart
to send to a landfill.
5
Buying from eco-friendly labels
doesn’t mean adopting an Earth
Mother look. There are plenty of super
chic ethical designers in Singapore.
Saught (www.saught.com.sg) does
minimalist, striking rings, earrings and
necklaces made using scrap metal and
unexploded ordnance salvaged from
Cambodian landmines. For clothes,
there’s local eco-friendly line Zhai (www.
zhai.com.sg), which does garments and
accessories made from bamboo fibers for
both men and women.
Bamboobee
6
Kranji Countryside Farmers’ Market
E
arth Day may be over, but thanks to
a growing number of eco-conscious
local businesses, there’s always
a good reason to try and live a more
sustainable lifestyle. Here are (at least)
seven ways to start.
1
Reduce your energy
consumption
12
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015
Ok, it might take you some
courage to turn off the air-con. But in the
meantime, how about dabbling in solar
energy? Online retailer Greenpal Store
(www.greenpalstore.com) sells water
filter pitchers (from $45.50) and reusable
plastic bottles ($8.60), but their star
product is the Changers Solar Starter Kit
($250) that charges mobile phones and
tablets using solar energy.
Skip fast fashion
2
Eat more local veggies
Singapore is far from growing all the
food it needs, but making a conscious
effort to buy locally grown produce at
least some of the time will go a long way.
The Kranji Countryside Farmers’ Market
(www.facebook.com/farmersmarketsg)
happens every quarter and brings together
shoppers and Kranji’s farmers. Pick up fruits,
veggies, goat’s milk and other food grown
and raised on the island. The next one is on
the weekend of May 30-31.
Outside that, there are tons of organic
farmers in Singapore, including Quan Fa
Organic Farm (35 Murai Farmway, www.
quanfaorganic.com.sg), which does free
delivery for orders over $50, and Fireflies
Health Farm (Lot 75 Lim Chu Kang Lane 2,
www.firefliesweb.wix.com), which has a
retail area on-site.
Travel green
Using Airbnb as a general model,
new local startup Ryde (www.
rydesharing.sg) puts you in touch with
people who are going the same way so
you can catch a ride. For more on this cool
new venture, turn to Upfront (page 6).
Or use this excuse to finally get a
bike: local store Bamboobee (www.
bamboobee.com.sg) stocks eco-friendly
bamboo bicycles. What’s more, they come
in a Build-It-Yourself (BIY) starter kit that
consists of seven bamboos, making it easy
to put this bicycle together from scratch.
7
Learn about local
green businesses
In writing this story, we stumbled
upon all sorts of local enterprises
with ethical, environmentally friendly
missions. There are tons more out there.
For a start, mark EarthFest (Sep 26,
www.earthfestsingapore.com) on your
calendars. Held at the Marina Barrage,
it will gather some 50 eco-friendly local
businesses like Popaganda, VeganBurg
and the Dorsal Effect for a mega
sustainability festival, with live music,
interactive kiosks and of course, no plastic
bags or disposable plates.
Edible Gardens
Zhai
Q&A
How can Singapore get
more sustainable?
“A recent public perception
survey showed that 7 in
10 are concerned about
climate change but less
than half feel that they
can do something about it.
Our individual actions may
seem insignificant but the cumulative effect
is not.”—Yuen Sai Kuan, Director, Corporate
Affairs Division, National Climate
Change Secretariat
“Currently, the
environmental message
is not strong or concerted
enough to counter
emotionally-driven
advertisements to buy
the latest, trendiest bag,
clothing, shoes or watch. In countries like
the US, NGOs get together to talk about their
strategies. I think it would be a good idea for
an international NGO staff member to train
Singapore-based NGOs on campaigning.”
—Olivia Choong, Green Drinks Singapore
“Conservation and heritage
can provide clues to our
future green environments,
and we as a studio are
naturally part of this
process. We are currently
working on a 247-acre
master plan in a 100-year old former colonial
town in Johor—embracing the past as well
as balancing new technologies is the future
of hybrid green urban planning.”—Jason
Pomeroy, eco-architect, Pomeroy Studio
“Singaporeans can
ask their government
representatives to revamp
the waste management
system so that the recycling
rate goes up and organic
waste is not incinerated or
ending up in landfills. Secondly, Singaporeans
can ask for a faster transition to carbon neutral
energy sources. Right now over 95% of our
energy is from fossil fuels, which is obviously
unsustainable.”—Michael Broadhead,
Director, EarthFest
SPECIAL EDITIONS
Definitive, pocket-sized guides to the best of our city
June
SG Heroes
A celebration of all the people that make
Singapore great
August
Upco
ming
!
Made in Singapore
Inspired home grown designs from big brands to
boutiques—retail, fashion, tech, home decor and more
September F1
All the promos, parties & special packages on the most
exciting weekend of the year
October
Top Tables
The city’s finest restaurants on a plate
November Best Bars
Your complete guide to Singapore’s nightlife scene
All guides are also available for digital download
Contact us now for early bird advertising discounts, valid till end April only.
Special packages if you book more than one guide.
Call 6323 2512 or email [email protected]
FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
13
island
The latest openings and hottest trends in Singapore
TECH
Don’t H8
The wireless headphone game is heating
up and this sexy pair from Bang & Olufsen
takes it to new heights. Made from anodized
aluminum and leather, the BeoPlay H8
comes in two colors, a gray-hazel version
and the sweet gold-beige Agrilla Bright,
and are clearly built to last. It’s not short
on tech, either—it comes with active
noise cancellation, high-quality Bluetooth
streaming and gesture controls—though we
wish the touch pad worked a little bit better
so we wouldn’t end up calling our friends by
accident. $698 at Bang & Olufsen, #01-05
Grand Hyatt, 10-12 Scotts Rd., 6737-7500,
www.beoplay.com.
FITNESS Because I’m Happy
If you need to keep your funky sock game up while
you’re working out, Happy Socks has you (literally)
covered. The new Athletic line is part of the Spring/
Summer 2015 collection and, being their first sportspecific socks, fittingly focuses on fitness-related features
like increased arch support and sole cushioning. You’ll
still be the dapper dandy as you sweat it out in 12
different patterns like stripes and polka dots. $24/pair
at Hvper Sports, #03-303 Marina Square, 6 Raffles Blvd.,
6337-2028, www.happysocks.com.
14
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015
HOME Brakig Out
Ikea has finally brought in the limited edition Brakig
collection, which is the result of a collaboration between
the Swedish home furnishing giant and Danish design
agency ArtRebels. Think mid-century-inspired color palettes
and harlequin patterns, with some geometric shapes
thrown in for good measure. Prices are affordable: $12.90
for lampshades and $19.90 for a set of two coffee cups
with saucers; $59 for a quilt cover set and $129 for a
clothes rack. $6.90-699 at Ikea, 317 Alexandra Rd.,
6786-6868, www.ikea.com.
STyLE Tokyo Drift
Cycling meets street style with this New Balance and
Tokyobike collaboration. The C-series “urban cycling
shoes” feature understated monochromatic matte
colors and bike-friendly features like reflective safety
strips, neoprene tongues and ankles for a secure fit
and a hidden pocket in the tongue to keep laces away
from bike chains. There are even matching bikes at
Tokyobike’s Haji Lane store. $149-169 at Leftfoot
Entrepot, #01-19/20 The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd., 6734-3227
www.leftfoot.com.sg.
island
NEIGHBORHOOD
Everton
For Ever
This hot little estate is rife with
great food. But there’s a lot more
going on here, too. By Aaron Khoo
Jotter Book
A Few Good Men
The noveau-quaint neighborhood is famous for its lunchtime food options, including The Provision Store. But there
is plenty else too. Here are four other things to do (other than eat).
Get pretty
Old-school barbershop A Few Good Men (#01-20A
5 Everton Park, 9085-8920, www.facebook.com/
afewgoodmen) was opened in January by the folks
behind The Redundant Shop. It’s a mix between newand old-school barbershops and nicely replicates the
atmosphere of them. Prices start at $15-20 for a shave
and $25-35 for a haircut.
Beauty by Kew (#01-47 2 Everton Park, 6534-8255,
www.beautebykew.com) is a ladies-only “beauty bar”
focusing on organic treatments and products. They’re the
local stockist for cult brands like Black Chicken Remedies
from Australia and Canada’s Yum Gourmet Skincare.
Facials start at $90 for a 60-minute Organic Deep Pore
Cleansing Facial, $260 for an anti-wrinkle Cucumber Apple
Mint Engergizing RF Facial and go up to$650 for the topend Factional Skin Resurfacing Treatment Facial.
Pick up some leatherworking skills
Cool Everton wouldn’t be complete without a bike shop
and this nondescript place fits the bill. You’ll see their
Papillionaire bikes parked in the area, but that’s not
what Jotter Book (#01-22 5 Everton Park, 9634-7742,
fb.com/mygemstudio) is primarily about. Instead, twin
brothers Joe and Clive Chow run a leatherworking studio
called Second Kings out of the space, where you’ll find a
selection of their handcrafted small leather goods
(from $80) and tote bags ($89-120). They also make a
range of aprons that are popular with Malaysian cafes
and even hold leather craft workshops ($89-$99 per
person, Fri-Sat) there.
Pimp your kitchen
Nylon Coffee Roasters (#01-40 4 Everton Park, 62202330, www.nyloncoffee.sg) has been in Everton long
enough to be considered a pioneer. The coffee is
excellent, but they also stock a range of coffee brewing
accessories. From bean grinders ($75) and pocket
weighing scales ($26.50-50) to filters, scoops and coffee
drinkware ($7-$32), you’ll find everything you need to
make a similarly-serious cuppa at home.
Nylon Coffee Roasters
Health food shop Eden’s Kitchen (#01-34 5 Everton Park,
6100-9507, www.edenskitchen.sg) is a huge proponent of
superfoods that are easily included in your diet. They’ve
got a range of premium, locally-processed coconut oils
($9-75) and organic green teas from Japan ($18-$96),
as well as snacks like cocoa nibs and nut butters.
Get utilitarian chic
Multi-label store The Redundant Shop (#01-22 5 Everton
Park, 6707-2005, www.redundant-shop.com) has also
been in the area for a while. Imagine a Monocle-esque
store without the borderline-absurd price points. You’ll
find a whole range of personal accessories here: Protesta
jewelry ($79-88), Cote & Ciel bags ($239-399) and even
Vanmoof bicycles ($1,188-3,888) with matching helmets
that look like slightly-oversized hats. Oh, and magazines
like Apartmento ($33.90) and of course, Monocle.
The Redundant Shop
NEW SHOP Naiise
The buzz: Known for statement tees and
locally-designed products, online design retailer
Naiise has opened a brick-and-mortar store
in the space formerly occupied by accessories
retailer Aurora Wild. The store is slated to
remain open until Mar 2016—so we’re not too
sure about calling it a pop-up—making it a bit
more permanent than their previous outings.
The vibe: Though they hardly touched the
fittings of the previous tenant, Naiise has
managed to transform the space with its
product selection and decor. The store has a
cool, futuristic vibe with polished tile floors, gray
cubbyholes and mirrored surfaces. You almost
can’t tell that it used to be a shoe store.
The goods: There’s a range of products here: from
homeware to apparel and fashion accessories
to stationery and even food. Local designers
are more than well-represented with an ample
selection of men’s and women’s accessories.
You’ll find stuff like Propaganda mugs ($15.90),
Coat nail lacquers ($25), HappySocks gift
boxes ($50), Status Anxiety Ivy wallets ($89),
Tokyobay Obi watches ($120) and the creepycute Sleeping Grizzly Bear bean bag ($329).
Why you’ll come back: Because the brand is
known for carrying quirky products, it’s always
nice to be able to see and touch the items before
buying them. With all the fun stuff they have in
store, it’d be hard not to drop by after browsing
through the racks at COS, which is just opposite.
Open daily 10am-10pm. #01-03 Westgate, 3 Gateway Dr., 6702-3248, naiise.com. AARON KHOO
FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
15
eats
The inside scoop on Singapore’s drink and dining scene
NEw RESTAURANT
All of the Lights
The much-awaited modern Japanese izakaya
Neon Pigeon (1A Keong Saik Rd., 6222-3623, www.
neonpigeonsg.com) has finally opened its doors as a
part of co-working space The Working Capitol. The hip
and raucous restaurant has a menu full of small plates
like chilled cucumber with goma and chili peanuts ($8),
a toothsome bone marrow dish with crispy garlic ($18)
and sweet-smoked baby back ribs ($18). Drinks-wise,
there’s a small list of Japanese-inspired cocktails like
The Green Hornet ($18) made with tequila and wasabiinfused honey, as well as a special in-house Neon
Pigeon junmai daiginjo sake ($28).
EVENT It’s a Wrap
American chain Baja Fresh Express (#01-13A The Sail, 4
Marina Blvd., www.bajafresh.com/singapore), known for
its fresh take on hearty Mexican food, opens a new outlet
in the CBD. On the menu are classics like the Baja burrito
(from $12.95) with your choice of chicken, pork carnitas,
steak, shrimp or fish, as well as soft steak and carnitas
tacos (from $5.95). Plus, there’s an alfresco area that’s
great for beers (from $10.95) and margaritas (from $10.95).
Their grand opening is on Apr 27, with free burritos
between 11:30am and 3pm.
16
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015
dRINK Cordially Yours
Here’s how to spruce up a basic gin and tonic: Hendrick’s
gin has launched a new cordial to complement its cocktail
recipes. Made by Master Distiller Lesley Gracie, Quinetum
is based on the quinine plant (a key ingredient in tonic
water) and comes with hints of lavender, orange blossom
and rose petal. While you can’t buy it yet, bartenders at
cocktail bars like Tess Bar, Jekyll & Hyde, Ah Sam Cold
Drink Stall and Jigger & Pony are already experimenting
with the concoction.
NEw MENU On the Table
Rang Mahal’s casual dining offshoot Table by Rang
Mahal debuts a refreshed a la carte menu of Indian
street food from its former sister restaurant Vansh.
Dishes include lamb biryani ($24), Mumbai Frankie ($15),
a spicy roll stuffed with potatoes and onions with chaat
masala, as well as sampler platters of kebabs ($24)
where you get a combo of murgh angar, chicken cubes in
a yoghurt-chili marinade; malmali seekh kebab, minced
lamb with bell peppers; and basil fish, a tandoor fish
cooked with basil and chili.
eats
dRINKS
Asian Flush
Skip the Scottish whiskeys and head straight for the Japanese and Taiwanese stuff. By Letitia Tandean
Q&A Khoon Hui of
Quaich Bar
Bincho
what are the major
differences between
Asian whiskeys and
Scottish whiskies?
Japanese whiskeys
are very trendy,
approachable, easydrinking and good
as a starting point. It’s something everyone
can enjoy as it has more rounded and softer
flavors that are great for beginners. However,
Scottish whiskies have a wider variety of
taste and generally more complex in terms of
flavor profiles.
The Auld Alliance
A Taiwanese whiskey was recently crowned
the world’s best single malt whiskey by the
World Whiskies Awards. Made by Kavalan
distillery, King Car Solist Vinho Barrique
snagged top spot for its creamy, hot brown
sugar-like taste. Here’s where you can find
it and other Asian whiskeys in Singapore.
The Auld Alliance
The whiskey specialist has one of the largest
and most comprehensive collections in
Singapore. Aside from the usual Scottish
and Irish varieties, the bar has a sizeable
collection of Japanese whiskeys, too. Bottles
include rare 90s Karuizawa and Hanyu
Ichiro’s Joker Card series and can cost as
low as $16 per glass.
#02-02A Rendezvous Hotel, 9 Bras Basah
Rd., 6337-2201, www.theauldalliance.sg.
Bincho
Saha
This Japanese restaurant and bar isn’t just
good for grilled chicken. And while they’ve
covered the classics like Suntory and Hibiki,
the are rare bottlings like Ichiro’s Malt Card
series and a 1982 Kawasaki in the cabinets,
too. While the 17-year old Taketsuru is $17
a pop, most glasses are upwards of $20.
#01-19, 78 Moh Guan Terrace, 6438-4567,
www.bincho.com.sg.
On top of making wines and rums, India also
distills its own whiskeys. The gastronomic
Indian restaurant carries three different
bottlings of Amrut whiskeys: cask strength,
fusion and sherry matured that are priced
from $16-22 per glass.
9A duxton Rd., 6223-7321, www.saha.sg.
La Maison Du Whisky
Known as that whiskey bar near Zouk, this
place carries a small selection of Japanese
whiskies like Hibiki, Yamazaki and
Taketsuru that all hover in the $20 region.
The forte here is that you can ask for
whiskey flights so you can taste all sorts of
blends in small portions.
#01-09/10 waterfront Plaza, 390A
Havelock Rd., 6732-3452, www.
whiskystore.com.sg.
This Robertson Quay bar and retail shop has
bottles from all over the world, but it’s the
only place you’ll be able to find bottles from
the award-winning Taiwanese distillery. The
classic wooden bar stocks Kavalan King Car,
Vinho Barrique and even the Peaty Single
Cask. Bottles start at $120.
#01-10 The Pier at Robertson Quay,
80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6733-0059,
www.whisky.sg.
Quaich Bar
what should you look for in a whisky?
Look for complexity, layered flavors and
character like smokiness, tropical fruits,
nuttiness, oiliness and more. A good whisky
has lingering flavors and aromas. Japanese
whiskeys tend to have a better balance
without any defining characteristics that
make it so popular among the younger
crowd these days—unlike Scottish whiskies,
which tend to be very strong in qualities like
peatiness or smokiness.
what’s the biggest differences between
Japanese and Taiwanese whiskeys?
To make a comparison to wine, French wines
are traditional and have a pedigree, much
like a Scotch whisky. New world wines and
whiskeys became popular because they are
easier to drink, but the biggest difference
would be that Taiwanese whiskeys are
trendier in terms of tastes. They experiment
with fruitier aromas.
Steps to tasting a whisky?
Drink it the way you like it but always swirl,
look and nose through all of them before you
taste anything. Take it neat first and then add
water to taste again. Letitia Tandean
Hungry?
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singapore—from brunch
places to late-night hot spots
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Your guide to some 200 affordable eats, hidden finds and mid-range gems all across Singapore.
Download the ebook from sgnow.sg/eats and read it on the go
NEw RESTAURANT Adrift
The buzz: You might have had a sneak peek of his food at the
Epicurean Market but Californian chef David Myers’ East-meetsWest small plates restaurant has finally opened in the hotel
lobby of Marina Bay Sands.
The vibe: It’s much cozier than photos will have you think. The
bar area is more enclosed and dim, but the main dining room
is airy and spacious. While there are normal dining tables, the
suspended sofa-like seats near the windows are comfier. Plus,
the music is a playlist full of indie rock, funk and downtempo
electronic tunes, adding to the casual and laidback vibe.
The food: The menu can be tricky to navigate but is divided into
categories like bar snacks, bread-centric dishes, protein-forward
options and the “Nomadic” experimental options. While the
spicy caramel popcorn ($9) debuted at the Epicurean Market last
year, the version on the menu is slightly sweeter. What’s also
great is the buckwheat-fried chicken with honey mustard ($18),
fried three times for maximum crunch. Mains include the iberico
pork with salted plum with sweet potato ($36), which is tasty
and tender, though the Asian salted plum touch doesn’t intrigue
enough. The same can be said for the beef tartare on baguette
($26) that’s super fresh but needs a healthy dose of seasoning
to offset the egginess.
The drinks: The cocktail menu steals the show for its finesse
and balance. Choose from drinks like the Mexican-inspired
Torchlight ($23) made with tequila, lime, honey, cholula
and cayenne; and their take on a Singapore Sling ($23) with
homemade liqueurs, gin, pineapple and lemon. A standout is
the Penicillin ($23) with Scotch, lemon, ginger, honey and an
Islay float that is tart but full-bodied at the same time. Wines by
the glass start at $18.
why you’ll be back: It’s a great place to park yourself for afterwork snacks and drinks, more so than dinner. But if you are so
inclined, be sure to take friends in order to sample more plates
as portions aren’t huge.
L/F Marina Bay Sands Hotel Tower 2, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-5657, www.marinabaysands.com. Open daily noon-2am.
LETITIA TANDEAN
FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
17
eats
Send your food news to [email protected]
NEW AND NOTED
with Letitia Tandean
The Naked Finn
Jamie’s Italian
Orchard Invasion
Jamie’s Italian gets an Orchard outpost:
Jamie’s Italian Forum (#01-01/04 Forum
the Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Rd.). In
addition to classic items like pastas and
grilled meats, it’ll serve thin-crust pizzas
like the Italian Hot, topped with salami,
spicy meatballs and jalapeno chilies.
Raising the Bar
The short-lived replacement of Boat
Quay’s Spiffy Dapper, Saint Monica’s
gives way to Kacang Putih (61 Boat
Quay, 8233-9810, www.kacangputih.
sg). Retaining the same dive-y vibe, this
bar shakes up craft cocktails in a dim
environment with mismatched decor.
And yes, you’ll get to snack on kacang
putih. Refined cocktail bar Maison Ikkoku
plans to open a new restaurant and bar,
Fort by Maison Ikkoku, come May.
Housed in Fort Canning’s The Legends,
the 30-seater will push out Western
plates with a cocktail pairing menu.
Spiffy Dapper
Arty Party
Gillman Barracks isn’t only for worldclass galleries. Recently, there’s been
some exciting movement happening
in the area. Seafood restaurant, The
Naked Finn (Gillman Barracks, 39
Malan Rd., 6694-0807, www.nakedfinn.
com) moved into a bigger space over
at Block 39, complete with a tank for
140kg of lobsters and a herb wall. Their
old space has been transformed into
neighborhood watering hole Nekkid
(Gillman Barracks, 41 Malan Rd., www.
nakedfinn.com). The bar expands on
the restaurant’s popular sorbet-based
cocktails and comes with a choice list
of small bar bites. Not too far away
is Artistry’s new offshoot, Red Baron
(Blk 45 Malan Rd., 9637-9201). The
cafe and bar is decked out in cuboid
light wooden furniture with lots of red
touches and offers a menu of craft
beer, sodas, cakes and savory snacks.
Foodie gossip
For weekly updates on new restaurants, bars and events on The
Dish. Sign up at sgnow.sg/newsletters
LUNcH dEAL Ginzawa
The deal: Formerly occupied by Sushi Kuu,
it’s now a semi-fine dining Japanese restaurant
that has a little bit of everything. Lunch is
all about don sets that include choices like
sanshoku takara don ($65) with sea urchin
salmon roe and chopped fatty tuna and kuro
buta zaku don ($35) with braised black pork
belly. The most appetizing of the lot is the
tokusen tokkai chirashi don ($50), overflowing
with 11 types of sashimi including kinmedai,
fatty tuna belly, sweet shrimp and uni. Each
set comes with miso soup, chawanmushi and
dessert.
why it’s worth it: It may seem steep for a rice
bowl, but you’re paying for the ample portions.
Sashimi isn’t leftover scraps but properly
sliced pieces of premium fish, while the Palais
Renaissance setting is chi chi, complete with
slate walls and attentive service.
#01-07 Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Rd., 6736-0100, www.ginzawa.com. Lunch
available daily from noon-3pm. LETITIA TANDEAN
18
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015
1 HARBOURFRONT WALK, VIVOCITY, #1 165-167 SINGAPORE 098585 / TEL: +65 67335500
@jamiesitaliansg
Friends
visiting
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Send them this nifty guide! From a primer
on ordering kopi to the best drinking and
dining spots in the CBD, we show you how
to navigate the city like a pro.
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Traveling to Thailand?
To celebrate its 55th anniversary, Thai Airways
brings you Essential Eating in
Bangkok, an insider’s guide to the best
restaurants and bars in town. Don’t
miss the curated collection of fine
dining, casual restaurants and bars with
personality—and of course, tips from
local experts. There’s even a section on
the best seafood in Hua Hin and Lanna
cuisine delights in Chiang Mai. Download
the guide at is.gd/BKessentialeats.
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19
escapes
Holidays, hotels and insider travel news
Tallow Beach
DESTINATIoN GUIDE
By Bay Love
4 ways to get the most out of Northern New
South Wales. By Ric Stockfis
Bangalow
The Roadhouse
D
owntown Byron Bay may no longer be quite the laidback, hippy-dippy enclave
it once was, but all the backpackers in the world can’t spoil the natural beauty
of this part of the coast and its hinterland. Unlike the neighboring Gold Coast,
you’re never far from stunning ocean views, rolling countryside, sleepy townships and
some ridiculously good meals. Here are the best ways to soak it all in.
com.au). Mullimbimby, with a counterculture reputation to rival Byron, is even
more sedate. Milk and Honey (59a
Station St., +61 2 6684 1422, http://
milkandhoneymullumbimby.com.au)
serves some of the country’s best pizzas.
1
3
Freakishly good food
Byron is the epitome of the healthconscious, outdoors Aussie lifestyle,
with even the gnarliest old surfers
knocking back gluten-free pancakes
and kombucha tea after their pre-dawn
patrol. But the sheer enthusiasm for
living well means that what could come
off as preachy is in fact all rather fun.
Case in point: The Roadhouse (6/142
Bangalow Rd., +61 4 0335-5498, www.
facebook.com/TheRoadhouseByronBay),
whose hipster crew of fermenters and
foragers “dedicate their lives to sourcing
the highest grade, naturally grown local
produce” but also stock the largest whisky
collection in the country and turn the place
into a serious bar after dark. We had a lot
of good meals across Byron (with Harvest
in Newrybar (www.harvestcafe.com.au)
deserving of special mention), but nothing
that came close to dinner here. Marvell
Street Roasters (2 Marvell St., +61 4 02912465, www.marvellstreet.com) is great for
coffee, if you happen to be downtown.
Marvell Street Roasters
2
Arcadia House
Fantastic farmers
markets
You can’t bring it home with you,
but there’s nothing to stop you gorging
on fresh produce straight from the source.
Byron hosts its own farmers market on
Butler Street every Thursday morning, but
the real action is out in the townships of
Bangalow (every Saturday morning on
Byron Street) and Mullimbimby (every
Friday morning at the Show Grounds).
Bangalow is a charming—and now rather
chi chi—hamlet 20 minutes by car, so
popular that you’ll have to fight for a
brunch table at Utopia Cafe (13 Byron
St., +61 2 6687-2088, www.utopiacafe.
20
SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015
Byron Bay
Multiple music festivals
Aside from the sheer frequency
with which festivals take place,
the setting and the acts they draw are
remarkable. Highlights include Byron
Bay Bluesfest in April (www.bluesfest.
com.au), this year headlined by Lenny
Kravitz and The Black Keys; the three-day
Splendour in the Grass in July (www.
splendourinthegrass.com), which last year
hosted Outkast (AC/DC is rumored to be
up this year); and the smaller, alternative
Mullum Music Festival in Mullimbimby
in November (www.mullummusicfestival.
com).
4
ESSENTIAlS
Amazing wildlife
Byron is Australia’s easternmost
point (it’s open ocean all the way
from here to Chile) and the waters around
here teem with marine life. Humpback
whales migrate right past the Cape Byron
headland, and Whale Watching Byron
Bay (9 Marvell St., 1 800 243 483, www.
byronbaywhalewatching.com.au) offers
guaranteed sightings on 12-person boat
expeditions from June to November
(89AUD ($94) per person). Even just
walking around Cape Byron, we watched a
pod of dolphins playing close to shore for
half an hour.
To get even closer to the action, join
a scuba or snorkel trip out to the nearby
Julian Rocks, rated one of the top five
dive spots in all of Australia and home to
more than 1,000 species of fish, including
leopard sharks and nurse sharks, as well
as three species of turtle. Sundive (Shop
8, 9-11 Byron St., 1800 008 755, www.
sundive.com.au) heads out there daily,
with dives starting at 95AUD ($100),
including equipment hire.
Scoot
GETTING THERE
Scoot (www.flyscoot.com) is the only
airline to fly direct from Singapore to the
Gold Coast, with overnight flights every
Friday and Saturday. It’s a 7.5 hour flight,
followed by an easy 45-minute drive to
Byron. Return flights start from around
$425 including taxes.
WHERE To STAY
Book ahead, as Byron gets very full at
weekends. We really liked Arcadia House
(48 Cowper St., +61 2 6680-8699, www.
arcadiahousebyron.com.au), a beautiful,
whitewashed old Queenslander (the raised
timber bungalows characteristic of NSW) in
Old Byron, a 10-minute walk from the
beach and from town. Rates start from
135AUD ($142)/night. More upmarket,
and only a short stroll from the stunning
sunsets of Tallow Beach, is the rainforestencircled The Byron at Byron Resort and
Spa (800 321 -1098, www.smithhotels.
com/luxury-hotels/the-byron-at-byronresort-and-spa), where rates start from
$318 excluding tax.
VISA
Visitors from most countries need to apply
for a visa before their trip. Europeans are
eligible for the free eVisitor pass, while
Singaporeans, Americans and certain other
nationalities can apply for an ETA. Find out
more at www.immi.gov.au.
EXCHANGE RATE
1AUD = $1.05.
escapes
Send your travel news and promotions to [email protected]
ESCAPE ROUTES
with Joyce See
datai langkawi
Hotel indigo Bangkok Wireless Road
THAilAnd
Bangkok Chic
Southeast Asia gets its first Hotel
Indigo, the cool younger sibling in the
InterContinental Hotels Group, with
the opening of Hotel Indigo Bangkok
Wireless Road (81 Wireless Rd., +662
207-4999, www.ihg.com) in the heart of
Bangkok. This modern 192-room boutique
scores major points on the style front—
all its rooms come with locally-inspired
art, floor-to-ceiling windows and sleek
bathrooms with rainforest showers. The
opening rates see rooms starting at
THB3,700 ($156) and are available from
now till Jun 30.
STAYCATiOn
Cruisin’ Along
The 202-room Park Regis Singapore
Hotel (23 Merchant Rd., 6818-8888,
www.parkregissingapore.com) is offering
a themed staycation that involves a
sunset cruise along the Singapore River,
cocktail-making classes or a yoga class,
depending on the period of your stay.
Also included is a free upgrade to the
Quay Room that opens up directly to the
hotel’s pool. Plus, you’ll also get discounts
at the hotel’s restaurant and those in the
nearby Clarke Quay area. The package
starts at $290 per night and is available
for stays until Sep 2015.
lAOS
Wheely Spicy
Travel around the scenic Luang Prabang
on bike with SpiceRoads’ (www.
spiceroads.com) new four-day cycle tour
happening from May 2-5. The tour goes
along the Mekong River, with pitstops
Insider
travel tips
Park Regis Singapore Hotel
at local villages and time for a dip and
splash at picturesque waterfalls like the
three-tiered Kwang Si falls. This tour isn’t
super intense so as long as you’re a fit
and confident rider, you’re good to go. It
costs US$595 ($811), and includes shared
accommodation, meals, drinks and snacks
while riding.
MAlAYSiA
THE KITCHEN TABLE PRESENTS
SEAFOOD
FROM
THE
HEART
FEAT.
CELEBRITY CHEF
PETER KURUVITA
CHANGE THE WAY YOU ‘SEAFOOD’ WITH PETER
KURUVITA ON 22ND & 23RD MAY. SAVOUR THE
FRESHEST CATCH OF THE SEASON AS YOU VIEW THE
SPECTACULAR SUN SET ACROSS THE MARINA.
lush langkawi
WHERE: THE KITCHEN TABLE
Set amid Langkawi’s thick tropical
rainforests, the 125-room Datai
langkawi (Jalan Teluk Datai, +60 49500500, www.dataihotels.com) overlooks
the Andaman Sea and has been hot since
it opened a few years ago. Plus, the beach
along the gorgeous Datai Bay has been
named one of the “Top 10 beaches in the
world” by National Geographic. Now, the
resort has rolled out a deal that includes
free guided nature walks, discounts on
spa treatments, and food and drink items.
It’s only open to Singapore and Malaysian
residents and is valid until Dec 22, 2015.
Rooms start at RM955 ($356) per night.
WHEN: EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY
TIME: 6PM - 11.30PM
PRICE: SGD 85++ PER PERSON
FOR RESERVATIONS
+65 6808 7268
[email protected]
PRICES ARE IN SINGAPORE DOLLARS, SUBJECT TO 10% SERVICE CHARGE AND
7% GOODS AND SERVICES TAX.
Malay Mojo
It’s been a sad period for Malaysian
aviation, so here’s a bit of good news. The
Malaysian government has announced
the launch of (the oddly named) Flymojo
(www.flymojo.com.my), a new privatelyowned airline that will be flying both
domestically and around the region. The
airline will be based primarily in Johor’s
Senai International Airport, making
it the first airline to use Senai as its
headquarters. The first flight is slated for
oct 2015.
Sign up to Escape Routes, our weekly
travel newsletter at sgnow.sg/newsletters
FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
21
IS Magazine-April 2.pdf
1
15/4/15
2:06 pm
Week of Apr 24 © 2015 Rob Brezsny
fREEwIll ASTRoloGy
TAURUS (ApR 20-MAy 20): I usually have no objection to your devoted concern
(I won’t use the phrase “manic obsession”) with security and comfort. But there
are rare phases in every Taurus’s life cycle when ironclad stability becomes a
liability. Cruising along in a smooth groove threatens to devolve into clunking
along in a gutless rut. Now is such a phase. As of this moment, it is healthy
for you to seek out splashes of unpredictability. Wisdom is most likely to grow
from uncertainty. Joy will emerge from an eagerness to treasure the unknown.
parties
and
park
connectors.
Y
GEMINI (MAy 21-JUN 20): There may be a flood-like
event that will wash away worn-out stuff you don’t
need any more. There might be an earthquake-type
phenomenon that only you can feel, and it might
demolish one of your rotten obstacles. There could be a
lucky accident that will knock you off the wrong course
(which you might have thought was the right course).
All in all, I suspect it will be a very successful week for
benevolent forces beyond your control. How much skill
do you have in the holy art of surrender?
CANCER (JUN 21-JUl 22): What is your biggest excuse?
Or rather, what is your thickest, sickest, more debilitating
excuse? We all have one: a reason we tell ourselves
about why it’s difficult to live up to our potential; a
presumed barrier that we regard as so deeply rooted
that we will never be able to break its spell on us.
Maybe it’s a traumatic memory. Maybe it’s a physical
imperfection or a chronic fear. In accordance with the
current astrological omens, Cancerian, you’d be wise to
do an audit and reassessment of your own lamest excuse.
I suspect you now have insight about it that you’ve never
had before. I also think you have more power than usual
to at least partially dismantle it.
lEo (JUl 23-AUG 22): If you were a supporting character
in a popular TV drama, the producers would be cooking
up a spin-off show with you in a starring role. If you
were in an indie rock band, you’d be ready to move
from performing at 300-seat venues to clubs with an
audience capacity of 2,000. If you have always been just
an average egocentric romantic like the rest of us, you
might be on the verge of becoming a legend in your own
mind—in which case it would be time to start selling
T-shirts, mugs and calendars with your image on them.
And even if you are none of the above, Leo, I suspect
you’re ready to rise to the next level.
s g n o w . s g
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ARAB STREET/KAMPONG
GLAM · Artistry Cafe · Working
Title · BEACH ROAD · Blu Jaz
· The plaza l1 Office lobby
Reception · BOAT QUAY ·
Enoteca l’Operetta · Harry’s @
Boat Quay · Southbridge · The
Arts House at Old parliament
· Timbre @ The Arts House
· london · O Comptoir ·
BUGIS · Hood Bar and Cafe ·
Essensuals by Toni & Guy @
Bugis · K Suites @ Bugis+ ·
Stuttgart Blackforest Boutique
S-Cafe · Tony’s pizza @ Bugis ·
BUKIT TIMAH · The Great Beer
Experiment @ pasar Bella ·
CHINATOWN · Ô Batignolles ·
The Chamber · The Muffinry
· Wa-Cafe · Morsi & Sorsi ·
CITY HALL · Smoothie King @
Suntec City · The Soup Spoon
@ Suntec City · The Soup
Spoon @ Raffles City Shopping
Centre · Barossa @ Esplanade
· Coffee Club @ Millenia
Walk · Outback Steak House ·
paulaner Brauhaus · Timbre @
The Substation · Ice Cold B’s ·
Brotzeit @ Raffles City · Coffee
Club @ Raffles City Shopping
· MICA Office lobby Reception
· The Substation · Front
Row · loof · Dome Café @
Singapore Art Museum · privé
CHIJMES · WineBos · CLARKE
QUAY · Brewerkz · KURO
Restaurant + Bar · Ricciotti @
The Riverwalk · Wings · The
Central l1 Customer Service
· Crazy Elephant · DEMPSEY ·
Taphouse by Brewerkz · Jones
The Grocer · White Rabbit
· House, Barracks & Camp
· Dome Café @ Dempsey ·
Red Dot Brewhouse · DHOBY
GHAUT · Kith Café @ park Mall
· Dôme @ plaza Singapura
· EAST · SandBank · Tolido's
Espresso Nook · The Tuckshop
· City Square Mall Customer
Service Counter · loysel’s Toy
· Morsels · HARBOURFRONT ·
King louis · prive Bakery Café
· Brotzeit @ Vivo City · Coffee
Club @ Harbourfront Centre ·
HOLLAND VILLAGE · The Coffee
Bean & Tea leaf @ Holland
Village · Barossa @ Holland
V · Harry’s @ Holland Village
· Wala Wala · Fosters - An
English Rose Café · MARINA
BAY · Carnivore Brazilian
Churrascaria @ Marina Bay
Sands · Erwin’s Gastrobar ·
The Coffee Bean @ Marina
Bay Sands · Bazin · Salad Stop
@ MBFC · Smoothie King @
MBFC · MOHAMED SULTAN /
ROBERTSON QUAY · Kith Café
@ Watermark · Harry’s @
pier Robertson · Blow+Bar ·
Wine Connection Cheese Bar
@ Robertson Walk · Wine
Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro
@ Robertson Walk · Toby’s
Estate · En Grill and Bar ·
Singapore Repertory Theatre
· NOVENA · Kitchenette
ORCHARD · Active life Center
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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015
· ION Concierge counter · The
Marmalade pantry · Balaclava
· Coffee Club @ paragon ·
Dome Café @ paragon · Dôme
@ Scotts Square · pS.Cafe @
paragon · The Coffee Bean &
Tea leaf @ paragon · Dome
Café @ Shaw House · Saveur
· Sky pilates · Smoothie King
@ Centerpoint · Essensuals by
Toni & Guy @ Orchard Central
· Hansel · lawry’s The prime
Rib · leftfoot @ Cineleisure
· Rockstar by Soon lee ·
RAFFLES PLACE · &SONS @
China Square Central · Impact
MMA · The Bank Bar & Bistro
· Coffee Club @ One Raffles
Quay · 1-Altitude · Coffee
Club @ Raffles place Square
· Impact MMA @ Shenton
House · The Coffee Bean &
Tea leaf @ Republic plaza ·
The Exchange · The Royal Mail
Restaurant & Bar · True Fitness
@ Chevron House · Dome Café
@ UOB plaza 1 · Salad Stop @
One George Street · Boathouse
· Kinki · Capital Square · Simply
Sandwich · RIVER VALLEY ·
Erwin’s Gastrobar @ Valley
point · Five & Dime · Bangkok
Jam · The Coffee Bean & Tea
leaf @ Great World City · True
Fitness @ Great World City ·
Tony’s pizza @ River Valley ·
SENTOSA · Kith Café @ Sentosa
Cove · Hard Rock Café RWS ·
iFly @ Sentosa · The Coffee
Bean & Tea leaf @ palawan
= new venues
Beach · Tanjong Beach Club
· Wave House Sentosa ·
SOMERSET · Smoothie King
@ 313 · Actually · Editor’s
Market@Somerset · Dean &
Deluca · Ice Cold Beer · No. 5
Emerald Hill · Oriole Café & Bar
· Brotzeit @ 313@Somerset
· Jibiru · KpO Café Bar ·
porterhouse Butcher Bar · Toni
& Guy @ Mandarin Gallery ·
TANGLIN · The Coffee Bean &
Tea leaf @ Forum Galleria · K
Suites @ Orchard parade Hotel
· Hard Rock Café · TANJONG
PAGAR · Jekyll and Hyde ·
Foodology Fresh · GAEST ·
Kyo · 137 Telok Ayer Street
level 1 Reception · The Ogilvy
Centre · Boulevard · pacific
Coffee Company @ Reddot
Traffic · The Coffee Bean &
Tea leaf @ CpF Building ·
Red Dot Design Museum ·
The Coffee Bean & Tea leaf
@ International plaza · The
Coffee bean & Tea leaf @ Fuji
Xerox Tower · Broth · latteria
Mozzarella Bar · Sprmrkt ·
TIONG BAHRU · Tiong Bahru
Bakery · Coq & Balls · Forty
Hands · Books Actually · WEST
· Curbside Cafe & Wine Bar ·
Skyve Elementary Bistro & Bar
· Salad Stop @ Fusionopolis
· One Rochester · Nosh
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issuu.com/sg_magazine
VIRGo (AUG 23-SEp 22): Free at last! Free at last!
Thanks to the Lord of the Universe or the Flying Spaghetti
Monster or a burst of crazy good luck, you are free at
last! You are free from the burden that made you say
things you didn’t mean! You are free from the seductive
temptation to rent, lease or even sell your soul! Best
of all, you are free from the mean little voice in your
head—you know, the superstitious perfectionist that
whispers weird advice based on fearful delusions! So now
what will you do, my dear? You have escaped from the
cramped, constricted conditions. Maybe you can escape
to wide-open spaces that will unleash the hidden powers
of your imagination.
lIBRA (SEp 23-oCT 22): “To me, there is no greater
act of courage than being the one who kisses first,”
says Libra actress and activist Janeane Garofalo. I can
think of other ways to measure bravery, but for your
immediate future, her definition will serve just fine. Your
ultimate test will be to freely give your tenderness and
compassion and empathy—without any preconditions
or expectations. For the sake of your own integrity and
mental health, be steadfast in your intention to always
strike the first blow for peace, love and understanding.
SCoRpIo (oCT 23-NoV 21): It will soon be that time
when you are halfway between your last birthday and
your next birthday. I invite you to make this a special
occasion. Maybe you can call it your anti-birthday or
unbirthday. How to celebrate? Here are some ideas: 1.
Imagine who you would be if you were the opposite
of yourself. 2. Write a list of all the qualities you don’t
possess and the things you don’t need and the life you
don’t want to live. 3. Try to see the world through the
eyes of people who are unlike you. 4. Extend a warm
welcome to the shadowy, unripe, marginal parts of your
psyche that you have a hard time accepting, let alone
loving. 5. Any other ways you can think of to celebrate
your anti-birthday?
SAGITTARIUS (NoV 22-DEC 21): As I climb the first
hill along my regular hike, both sides of the path are
dominated by a plant with glossy, three-lobed leaves.
They’re so exuberant and cheerful, I’m tempted to
caress them, even rub my face in their bright greenery.
But I refrain, because they are poison oak. One touch
would cause my skin to break out in an inflamed rash
that would last for days. I encourage you, too, to forgo
contact with any influence in your own sphere that is
metaphorically equivalent to the alluring leaves of the
poison oak.
CApRICoRN (DEC 22-JAN 19): Today, the French
Capricorn painter Henri Matisse (1869-1954) is regarded
as a foremost pioneer of modern art. Some critics say
his innovative influence on painting nearly matched
Picasso’s. But during the first part of the 20th century,
his work often provoked controversy. When a few of his
paintings appeared at a major exhibition in Chicago, for
example, local art students were shocked by what they
called its freakishness. They held a mock trial, convicted
Matisse of artistic crimes and burned his painting Blue
Nude in effigy. I don’t expect that you will face reactions
quite as extreme as that in the coming weeks, Capricorn.
But it will make sense to express yourself with such
forceful creativity and originality that you risk inciting
strong responses.
AQUARIUS (JAN 20-fEB 18): Leonardo da Vinci had skills
in many fields, ranging from botany to engineering to
cartography, but he is best known as a painter. And yet
in his 67 years on the planet, he finished fewer than 40
paintings. He worked at a very gradual pace. The Mona
Lisa took him 14 years! That’s the kind of deliberate
approach I’d like to see you experiment with in the
coming weeks, Aquarius. Just for a while, see what it’s
like to turn down your levels of speed and intensity. Have
you heard of the Slow Food Movement? Have you read
Carl Honore’s book In Praise of Slowness? Do you know
about Slow Travel, Slow Media, and Slow Fashion?
pISCES (fEB 19-MAR 20): Modern movies don’t scrimp
on the use of the f-bomb. Actors in The Wolf of Wall
Street spat it out 569 times. The word-that-rhymeswith-cluck was heard 326 times in End of Watch,
while Brooklyn’s Finest racked up 270 and This Is the
End erupted with an even 200. But this colorful word
hasn’t always been so prominent a feature. Before
1967, no actor had ever uttered it on-screen. That year,
Marianne Faithfull let it fly in the film I’ll Never Forget
What’s’isname. In the coming weeks, Pisces, I invite
you to break a taboo that’s maybe not as monumental
as Faithfull’s quantum leap, but still fabulously fun and
energizing. Be a liberator! End the repression! Release
the blocked vitality!
ARIES (MAR 21-ApR 19): If you’re stumped about
what present to give someone for a special occasion,
you might buy him or her a gift card. It’s a piece of
plastic that can be used as cash to buy stuff at a store.
The problem is, a lot of people neglect to redeem their
gift cards. They leave them in drawers and forget about
them. Financial experts say there are currently billions
of dollars going to waste on unredeemed gift cards. This
is your metaphor of the moment, Aries. Are there any
resources you’re not using? Any advantages you’re not
capitalizing on? Any assets you’re ignoring? If so, fix
the problem.
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Ivan Loh
last
word
Ethan leslie
leong
Before elegant craft bartending, there was circus-y flair
bartending, and Ethan Leslie Leong was its king. The
cheeky head honcho of Maison Ikkoku has come a long
way since juggling shakers and consulting at Singapore’s
high-end clubs, but he’s still got plenty of edge. Here he
tells Letitia Tandean about the glory days of bartending
in Singapore in the 90s, his brand new bar at Fort Canning
and his tumultuous beginnings in Malaysia.
Back in the ’90s I was training as a chef, but I got
tired of cooking and moved into the bar industry.
Within a year, I represented Singapore in the 1997
world finals of a flair bartending competition in
Birmingham. I was nervous because the night before
I had just won the competition in
Singapore and the next day, I was in
Some
Birmingham doing the world finals.
The people were exactly like
soccer fans. It looked like a stadium
with two big screens and a thousand
people watching. They even brought
air horns while you were doing your
shift. I never expected it to be so grand.
I cooked in a Chinese restaurant first and then moved
to a Western steakhouse. I could turn over 500 people in
one lunchtime service. I could handle sirloins, tenderloins,
lamb, pork chops in all sorts of doneness from rare to
medium-well and well done.
bar owners
open a bar just so they
have a place to drink
their own cocktails.
Back then there weren’t many cocktail bars. It was
all about showmanship and how you treated your
guests. We were like rock stars. When we walked in a
bar, everyone shouted and the girls would clap and try
to get our attention.
We could get a stranger to lie down on the bar top,
put cream on their bodies and get another person
to take shots. It was like we were magicians who
hypnotized strangers to do crazy things.
Bartenders now spend too much time making
one cocktail. Let’s be sensible: if one drink takes 20
minutes, you have to also be sensitive towards your
customers’ time.
If I had to cook a meal for a first
date I would cook steak, paired with
a cocktail like a Negroni.
I tell my staff that they have to
balance everything. If you’ve eaten
too much carbs, you better go to the
gym. If you’re not spending time with
your family, you better take a full day off, or if you haven’t
spent time with your girlfriend, give her a call. It’s called
balancing skills and it translates to balancing cocktails, too.
I decided to design [new bar] Fort myself without ever
studying interior design or graduating from an arts school.
You just have to go through many sleepless nights and
keep on thinking and rethinking the structure, layout and
design. The tough part is that once it’s built, you can’t ever
change it.
Some bar owners open a bar just so they have a place
to drink their own cocktails. You should just buy the bottle
and drink it at home. It’s less investment. But they just
want a place to treat their friends at a bar because it’s the
cool thing to do.
I was born in Malaysia but on Mar 15, 1993, my
mom bought me a one-way train ticket to Singapore
with $300. I just packed three sets of clothes and a pair
of slippers and she sent me off. I was only 17 years old.
I’ve been through all the hardship and all the traditional
Chinese family drama. I got beaten when I didn’t go to
school, so I started working in a Chinese restaurant on
Mountbatten Road.
Working in a Chinese restaurant, I had to kill 120
pomfrets, chickens and ducks every morning. In those
days, the restaurant business was good, and they asked
me to kill a lot of things that the supplier delivered
each morning.
The world’s most expensive cocktail wasn’t my idea.
A club director wanted me to create a drink because the
big spenders were buying too much Champagne, and
they couldn’t keep up with demand. When he asked
me to create an expensive cocktail, I thought it would
be just another expensive cocktail. Then he told me,
“$35,000 per glass.”
I was in the Maldives to consult for a cocktail bar
recently. I thought to myself, “What the hell is this
island?” Because everything was white: the sharks
were white, the stingrays were white, even the unagi
was white.
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ThaT’s whaT she said
by Kathy Macleod
kathymacleod.blogspot.com
FRIDAY, ApRIl 24, 2015 SG MAGAZINE
23