Cool new hobbies for you to pick up
Grab anyone off the street, or even ask your GrabCar driver. Chances are they’re also professional part-time cafe hoppers. But we’re looking for more than just brunch food on our feed this summer. We get off living vicariously through your exciting snaps and posts on social media.
So here’s our list of new hobbies that have Demi Lovato’s “cool for the summer” approval. Instead of lazing at home watching reruns of Descendants of the Sun, these 16 things will keep you very entertained.
1. Ditch paint-by-number cheater kits, and paint watercolors legit
Source: @nataliestudio
You’ve got a few months to this year’s Colour Run, so take to splashing some colours on canvas. Painting takes a steadier hand and better aim, but with enough practice you’ll be unleashing your inner Monet. And you’re spared from running the 5K.
Also we’ll have none of these DIY numbered painting kits. Our eyes ain’t got time for this shiz.
Check out @nataliestudio for watercolour inspo or Natalie’s site for her watercolour workshops.
Get started here.
2. Bounce off the walls with the powers of parkour
If Marvel’s recent Civil War movie’s done anything, it’s inspired us to pick up the gravity-defying moves of Parkour. You’re not a true fan till you start pavement prowling and building jumping like Captain America and his friend Bucky.
Break down your walls of uncertainty with Glen The Traceur – a fancy French term for professional parkour practitioners. Meanwhile: kids, please don’t try these stunts at home, you’ll need a professional.
Get started here.
3. Flock together for the bird version of X-Factor
Easily dismissed as a pastime for uncle hobbyists, just take a second to hear us out. Get yourself a warbling merbok or don’t. There are no bird-owning requisites to join the club. Strike up coffee-shop conversations and listen to stories from another generation.
A little birdie told us that just like dogs, birds also have to be taken for walks. To find out more, walk on down to moe formal societies like Kebun Bahru Bird Singing Club, or just informal gatherings at Blk 440 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, and Blk 154 Serangoon Ave 1. Or, just walk around your neighbourhood and head towards the direction of noisy cawing birds.
These clubs are mostly run by uncles, so good luck finding full internet details and we’ll wait for your tweets about the experience!
4. Learn a lot about lattes
If you can’t beat that caffeine addiction, join the baristas in fueling it. Level up from cafe patron to a patron of fine latte art. You’ll never see your frothy cuppa joe the same way. Plus, you get to drink all the lattes you mess up!
If nothing gets your hands more unsteady than a portafilter, the only remedy is more cups of coffee! Don’t worry, it’s a learning journey. Because if this vending machine can do it, so can you.
Get started here.
5. Make your Houdini debut by escaping rooms
Yoshizawa san, Mastermind behind legendary Tokyo horror house project – “6 EXITS” Source
Calling for Houdini-level escapist artists! Escape rooms islandwide are out to challenge you. You will neither be held captive in straightjackets nor handcuffed, but virtual lives are on the line here. If you have Sherlock’s knack for cracking cases and you come alive with close brushes with death, try some of the rooms for size.
So many rooms, so little time.
Get started here, here and here.
6. Become a martial arts mixologist
With MRT molestation getting rampant these days, you’ll want to be proficient at self-protection. Sketchy alleys or dodgy tinder dates will no longer faze when you’re a mixed martial artist.
MMA brings you the best moves from Muay Thai to Jiu-Jitsu, and is the perfect excuse to get physical with your chiseled instructor – if you know what I mean.
Get started here.
7. Try your luck with Astrology
How very Virgoan of you, judging this hobby like it’s a voodoo-hoodoo. Go down to Little India to hear from streetside gurus or take an astrology crash-course from May Sim, Asia’s first graduate from the International Astrology Academy. Think Professor Trelawney from Harry Potter, but predictions with slightly more “academic accuracy”.
Easily confused with astronomy, Astrology is NOT the scientific exploration of the galaxy, but the study of celestial objects as a method of gaining insight into worldy affairs. Whether you start astrology as a hobby, it’s your self-fulfilling prophecy. But we foresee a 50% possibility.
Get started here.
8. BYOBing – Brewing Your Own Booze
Spare yourself the hustle for your favorite bar’s happy hour and BYOB. Like these guys, turn your passion into your pet-project, homebrewing will feed your summer buzz.
Your regular Tiger Beer auntie may get suspicious of your sudden disappearance, but all will be forgiven once she’s tasted your craft creations. Pick up your kit from Homebrew Co-op, where owner Neo gives great beer advice backed up with work experience at Brewerkz. But for auntie-killing hacks, you’re on your own.
9. Take your chances with contract bridge
Mothers usually go silent when their kids make declarations to be professional card-players. But as long as it’s a hobby, you won’t risk rabble-rousing your extended family.
Be it Dummy, Opening Lead, or Declarer, you’ll find out how these roles fit into a game of bridge. Take professional Contract Bridge (or, just Bridge) classes and astound your buddies with the tricks up your sleeve. Learn from Singapore’s Contract Bridge Association, because Contract Bridge for Dummies is a rather long read.
Get started here.
10. Learn a whole new language with your hands
So you’ve mastered the Singlish Coxford dictionary. It’s a sign to start learning something new: Singapore Sign Language. Get your most talkative friends onboard for Singapore Association for the Deaf’s “no-voice” lessons. You not only get to rest your ears, but a chance to connect with a community that shows love through action, and not speech.
Once you’ve learnt the basics, test our your newly acquired SgSL skills with deaf counter staff at KFC.
Get started here.
11. Ignore common scents and create your own signature smell
Some find the scent of a brand new MacBook simply irresistible. So for an exclusive exhibition, Apple created a spray-on sensation. Yes, this really happened. Talk about love at first smell, when year-old spritzed products could smell just like when they first emerged from the box. Too bad we can’t get this scent off the Apple Store.
But don’t sweat it, with a hobby like perfume-making, you can recreate anything from the new car smell to a coffee fragrance to keep you perky in the mornings. Why overstay your good graces flipping books at Popular Bookstore, when you can recreate the smells comfortably sitting down.
Get started here.
12. Get some summer lovin’ with speed dating
If you’re feeling the summer “urge for a merge” and ready to purge yourself of dating app mismatches, speed-dating could be for you. This matchmaking style predates the Tinder era, as dating companies like CompleteMe offer games and activites for you to get to know that special someone while doing something fun. With 1-to-1 rotation over some board games, you get some real personal interaction.
Get started here.
13. Investigate creepy paranormal activity
If there’s something strange in the neighbourhood, who you gonna call? Ghostbustersss. While we’re freaking about black figures sparking off mass hysteria in Malaysia, the Society for Paranormal Activity (SPI) ghost hunters are already all over it.
Check out the SPI website or the Singapore Ghost Hunting Club’s page, and you might find a hunting trip or two. Do it while it’s bright outside, so you’re not too paranoid.
Get started here.
14. Pull off Pinteresting denim upcycling projects
Calling all people who believe dull denim deserves a second chance. You’re going to love denim upcycling. It’s like recycling, but like, more upz. Breathe new life into your old jeans and turn no-gos into chic boho.
Amaze your friends with denim designs fit for the runway, or a construct a rodeo themed gift for Dad. Even us regular humans can skilfully pull off pinteresting projects.
Get started here.
15. Feel like royal-tea while sipping the Queen’s fav beverage
Singaporeans love themselves some bubble tea. Specifically any kind of red, black, white or green tea topped with Gong Cha Milk. However, those don’t seem like the stuff Queen E would fancy.
We can all have a more naunced palate, because why else would trendy local tea purveyors like Gryphon and TWG stock boxes of tea bags going for a whopping $20 bucks each? You’ve got to train the tongue to taste the tea, but you’re not obliged to pretentiously lift your little pinky. Let’s not be royal pains in the arses.
Whether you prefer oaky Chinese or smooth Japanese, find a tea combi that fits you to a T.
16. Get fly being your own Cheerleader
OMI, we think we’ve found ourselves some cheerleaders. Cheerleading is definitely something spectacular to add to your Instagram feed. And there’s something for every age group – daredevil stunts like mid-air flips can be caught by both adults and teenagers.
It’s not just a sport, it’s literally a high-flying community. Immerse yourself in the cheer camaraderie and brush shoulders with hot local Cheerlebrities at Legacy All-Stars Cheerleading Team.
Get started here.
You’ll still have time to cafe-hop after your new hobby
You’ll be hungry and parched after all these activities and even though we hate to admit, we still need our egg benedicts and lattes. We’ve featured the newest cafes to check out and compiled our very definitive list of cafes you need to check out once in your lifetime.
If Starbucks won’t cut it, check out the best themed cafes in Singapore or if you want to expand your cafe horizons, cross the border for these JB cafes. This oughta keep you busy all summer!
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