It’s time to rejoice. After a short hiatus, Singapore is finally reopening again. We can now go to the gym for a good sweat session and dine in restaurants – albeit, only in groups of two for now. But with the vaccination programme ramping up, hope is on the horizon. Of course, there’s no shortage of things to do in Singapore. Hiking is all the rage these days and you can spend some time immersing yourself in nature at one of Singapore’s lush hiking trails.
If it’s new exhibitions, family-friendly programmes, theatre performances and dining menus you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered with these coolest new things to do in July. Don’t forget to snap some pictures for the ‘gram.
Things To Do
Progressive Art Programmes @ Canvas Ark
If your child has always wanted to try their hand at art classes, now’s a good time as art school Canvas Ark at SAFRA Toa Payoh has a special promotion for SAFRA members from July to August. Their Progressive Art Programmes (Term 4) are going at only $86.25 per month (8 lessons; U.P. $345), inclusive of material fees. With three programmes catering to kids aged 4 to 12 – namely Art Explorer, Art Seeker and Art Adventurer – you’ll find that each programme is designed to nurture the different stages in your child’s art discovery journey.
Promotion ends 31 July. For more info on courses and schedules, go to safra.sg/canvasark
Nirvana Fitness @ SAFRA Mount Faber
Get up and stretch with yoga classes at SAFRA Mount Faber, open to all ages and genders. The class is an uplifting blend of Yoga Stretch, Pilates Toning and Detoxification Breathing Fitness to Music exercises. Come with a positive mindset, relax and strengthen your body and mind through uplifting positive music, simple-to-follow toning exercises and breathing techniques.
$42.80 (SAFRA Members) and $53.20 (Guest) for 4 lessons; more info at www.safra.sg/whats-on/nirvana-fitness
Vulnerable x Picturing The Pandemic: Checkpoint Theatre And National Museum Of Singapore Collaboration
Culture vultures would love this collaboration between Checkpoint Theatre and National Museum of Singapore. Extracts of Checkpoint Theatre’s newest 8-part podcast, Vulnerable, will be included in an accompanying audio trail of the exhibition Picturing the Pandemic: A Visual Record of COVID-19 in Singapore.
Written and performed by Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips, Vulnerable chronicles her experience as a young freelance creative weathering the pandemic, while living with congenital heart disease. Cheyenne sheds light on some of the unseen struggles faced by Singaporeans with her compelling yet humorous account of finding comfort amidst uncertainty. The audio experience joins the work of several local photographers – Bob Lee, Brian Teo, Edwin Koo, How Hwee Young and Zakaria Zainal − and two filmmakers – Adar Ng and Dave Lim – who were commissioned by the National Museum to visually document how Covid-19 was experienced in Singapore.
Till August 29, National Museum of Singapore; more info here.
Faghag
Have you missed going to the theatre? Here’s good news! Wild Rice reopens the Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre with Faghag, which will run till 25 July. Written by and starring one of Singapore’s most beloved actresses Pam Oei, Faghag documents Oei’s journey as an LGBTQ+ ally and activist. In fact, it was written in the run-up to the 10th anniversary of Pink Dot in 2018.
“Faghag will make you laugh and lift your spirits, but it also doesn’t shy away from exploring the discrimination that my friends continue to suffer in Singapore – the place we call home,” Oei says.
Tickets from $40 till 25 July; more info here.
Don’t Call Him Mr Mari Kita
Also coming up in August is Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita, a musical tribute to Zubir Said, composer of our National Anthem, Majulah Singapura. From 4 to 8 August at Wild Rice @ Funan, look forward to rare musical gems and beloved classics from the Zubir Said songbook, brought to you by Julian Wong and his band!
SAFRA members get 10% Off Category 1 Tickets with promo code: SAFRALOVESMARIKITA
Tickets from $40; more info at safra.sg/promotions/wild-rice-funan
Virtual Realms: Videogames Transformed
There’s a cool new exhibition at the ArtScience Museum – Virtual Realms: Videogames Transformed makes its international debut in Singapore. The exhibition showcases videogame creativity in six new installations that reshape how games can be experienced in virtual and physical realms. Virtual Realms was co-curated by celebrated game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi in collaboration with the Barbican in London, and is a co-production with ArtScience Museum and Melbourne Museum.
The new artworks presented in Virtual Realms are conceived by some of the world’s leading videogame developers including Kojima Productions (makers of Death Stranding), Enhance (Tetsuya Mizuguchi and team behind Rez Infinite), and thatgamecompany (authors of the game, Sky: Children of the Light) – so this is an exhibition gamer geeks shouldn’t miss.
Tickets at $16 for Singapore Residents and $19 for Standard Tickets; more info on tickets and restrictions here.
Otah & Friends Volume 2: Blast Off & Volume 3: Grocery Run
Adorable otter Otah & Friends are back with volumes two and three of exciting, immersive fun for the whole family. This time, the otter-themed experience takes over Gardens by the Bay and Suntec City. Race against time in a mission to find seven secret tools to launch a rocket into space in Volume 2: Blast Off, or amp up your grocery shopping with Otah at Suntec City’s North Wing. Shuffle down the aisles of Chongkee’s supermarket and fill your trolley to the brim with the freshest produce for Otah’s tea party.
Volume 2: Blast Off and Volume 3: Grocery Run is officially open to the public from now till 3 January next year at Gardens by the Bay’s Supertree Grove (beside Supertree Food Hall), and within Suntec City’s North Wing respectively. Volume 1: Playdate is still open to visitors at SAFRA Punggol’s atrium.
Tickets at $24 per person and $19 per person for groups of five; more info at www.otahandfriends.com
Dining
Burger King’s Plant-Based Whopper
Burger King’s beloved classic, the Whopper has been given a more sustainable twist. The fast food chain has caught up on the alternative meats train with its new plant-based Whopper. Sandwiched between two of their signature sesame buns is a flame-grilled soy-based patty from The Vegetarian Butcher. The burgers will contain all the toppings found in the regular Whopper, including lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, ketchup and conventional egg-based mayonnaise – which means it’s vegetarian but not vegan-friendly. The plant-based patty was initially released in Europe in 2019 and includes soya, wheat and spices among its ingredients.
$6.90 a la carte at all Burger King outlets
Minions High Tea At 2am:dessertbar
Renowned chef and artist Janice Wong has teamed up with Illumination and Universal Brand Development for six weeks of sweet and silly respite from June 22 to July 31. Indulge in a unique high tea experience at 2am:dessertbar inspired by the beloved, blue overalls-clad Minions from the most successful animated franchise of all-time.
The family-friendly high tea experience features a brand-new assortment of edible canapes in Minion yellow inspired by the franchise’s beloved characters, including Orange Blossom Macarons, Kevin’s Popcorn Caramel Bon Bon, Stuart’s Lemon Tart, Banana White Bean Snow Skin Mooncakes and Gru’s Bao. Get artsy with the Passionfruit and Peppermint Chocolate Paint and Crayons that are edible yet fun.
Available till 31 July every Tuesday to Sunday from 3pm to 6pm at $55 per adult and $40 per child under 12; more info at www.2amdessertbar.com
Shopping
Hawker Wars
Here’s something perfect for gatherings at home: a hyper-local card game that celebrates the various elements of our uniquely Singaporean Hawker Culture. Hawker Wars is the latest card game brought to you by Singapore’s best-selling local game, The Singaporean Dream. The aim is to take on the role of a hawker and compete with other players to cook as many dishes and earn the target points as fast as you can. Will you be crowned the ultimate hawker towkay? We’ll see. Get your hands on the newest addition to your card game collection for only $20 on Shopee.
Available at shopee.sg
Onitsuka Tiger’s SAGAWA Collection
Need a pop of colour to brighten up your days? Look no further. Onitsuka Tiger has just launched its latest SAGAWA collection which features a burst of colour with unique tie-dyed apparel handcrafted in Japan. The pieces can take you anywhere from the office to the streets and even to the gym. Prices start from $169 for a graphic tee and go up to $249 for a colourful sweat top.
Available at www.onitsukatiger.com/sg/en-sg
Gorilla Mobile
Singapore welcomes its latest telco startup. Gorilla Mobile will be the first in Singapore to run on a Service-On-Demand model. This model provides access to a full suite of services, anytime, without a contract, subscription fees or activation charges – so you only pay for what you use, ensuring a fair and modular way of using and paying for mobile services.
Customers can sign up for Gorilla Mobile’s Switch25 Mobile plan – which costs S$25 – through the Gorilla Mobile website.
More info at gorillamobile.sg
