Christmas festivities may be over, but that doesn’t mean things are going to get dull. With a new year comes a new range of activities to look forward to, whether you’re an art buff, gym rat, or party animal. And if you’re into that whole “new year new me” mantra, this is the perfect time to try something out of your comfort zone.
Here’s what you’ll want to mark down in your January 2019 to-do list:
Image credit: @thekavehq
Partying at Clarke Quay? Mainstream. Grooving along in the woods is what the cool kids do. Kave HQ is a hidden nightlife spot in a foresty part of Central Singapore. It’s so secret, in fact, that you’ll have to be picked up by the organisers in a vintage Beetle or Kombi van, and get ferried while blindfolded. No peeking!
Taking the stage are local indie bands, with some of the past lineups including Disco Hue, Kin Leonn, and Giants Must Fall.
Image credit: @thekavehq
Tickets cost about $30 and have to be bought in advance. Stay posted on their Facebook or Instagram pages for more details on their next event.
Find out more here.
Image credit: Singapore Art Week
Art comes in many forms, and you’ll get to explore these during Singapore Art Week – an entire week dedicated to art exhibitions, installations, workshops, and demonstrations. Among these are art walks through Little India and Queenstown, as well as the display of Tapestry of Scenes of Singapore – a series of watercolour illustrations of various scenes in our Little Red Dot.
Image credit: Singapore Art Week
Image credit: Singapore Art Week
Date: 19-27 January
Venue: Various locations. Check out the programme booklet and calendar here.
Price: Mostly free
Website
Calling all yoga enthusiasts: enjoy 2 days of non-stop pretzel action at Yogafest, where there will be over 20 90-minute mass workouts conducted by experienced yogis from around the world. Some names to note are Sean Phelps from USA, Fee Zard from Australia, and our very own Yang Jiamin.
Image credit: @ziqziqqy
Your ticket will entitle you to:
Each day’s activities will vary, so check out the schedule to take note of the classes you wish to camp for. Get your tickets here.
Date and time: 12 Jan: 12PM-9PM | 13 Jan: 9AM-6PM
Venue: Urban Park @ Tanjong Pagar Centre
Price: from $68
Website
Singapore’s largest carnival is back for its second run for a whopping 3 months, with thrilling rides and games spanning across the open space outside Marina Bay Sands. Apart from last year’s favourites like Mach 5 and ring toss, new rides have also been brought in, all the way from Europe.
When you’re done with the excitement, head over to their food stalls for yummy grub like churros and meatballs.
Find out more in our article here.
Date: Until 24 March 2019
Time: 4PM-11PM
Venue: Bayfront Event Space
Price: FREE (individual game ticket prices apply)
Website
Still suffering from post-holiday blues? Bring yourself on a mini trip to France with Virtually Versailles, A Digital Exploration at ION Orchard for that last taste of “vacationing” before the work year kicks in full swing.
Apart from reading detailed explanations on the history of the palace, you’ll also be able to “tour” the vast gardens of the grounds on a virtual bike ride.
But the grand highlight would be a 360-degree digital projection of 5 of the palace’s opulent rooms – so realistic that you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the real thing.
Date: Until 6 January 2019
Time: 10AM-10PM
Venue: ION Art (Level 4) and ION Sky (Level 56)
Price: FREE
Website
Join Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece Puzzle Hunt, an exciting AR quest in Sentosa. Armed with an augmented reality app on your smartphone, you’ll be trawling the island to solve clues to help your crew escape.
Image credit: One Piece Puzzle Hunt
This can be played alone or with a group of any amount of people – but of course, it’s more fun when you have friends along! Plus, you’ll get to split the cost of the game set among you.
Image credit: One Piece Puzzle Hunt
The mission can take up to 2 hours to complete, but if you somehow find yourself stumped, you can return any other day during the event’s run period to pick up where you left off.
Date: Until 13 February 2019
Time: 10AM-7PM
Venue: Sentosa (registration is 1 minute away from Beach Station, in front of iFly)
Price: $30 per game set
Website
Kumoya is switching things up again with yet another adorable character pop-up, and this time it’s themed after Pusheen the cat.
As usual, expect creatively-plated dishes, from Japanese curry to ebi burgers and multicoloured truffle pasta, and end it off with a cutesy pastel dessert.
Date: 6 January – 31 March
Time: Sun, Tue-Thurs: 12PM-9.30PM | Fri-Sat: 12PM-10PM
Venue: Kumoya
Website
If you think golf is but an old man’s game, that impression is sure to change when you step into Holey Moley, Singapore’s first-ever mini-golf cocktail bar. Their 27 themed stations double up as photo spots, with pop-culture references to franchises like Game of Thrones, The Simpsons, Pacman, and more.
To amp up the fun, they serve crazy cocktails at their bar area, as well as 1-metre long pizzas.
Find out more about Holey Moley in our article here.
Image credit: Eaglewings Cinematics
When the regular cinema is too ordinary for a date, but GV Gold Class is too pricey, hit middle ground with Eaglewings Cinematics – Singapore’s newest cinema which offers a premium experience at relatively wallet-friendly prices.
Image credit: Eaglewings Cinematics
All theatre halls are kept small for the best viewing experience, and there are even massage chairs for you to relax on while waiting for your movie to start. The Premium halls are outfitted with lazyboy recliners so you can make yourself at home and stretch those legs out without a care.
Apart from the latest Hollywood blockbusters, Eaglewings Cinematics also screens wholesome faith-based inspirational films.
Find out more here.
Venue: King Albert Park
Price: from $9.50 for adults, from $6.50 for students
Website
You’ve probably read The Little Prince at least once during your childhood. Now, take a trip back to those carefree times with The Little Prince: Behind the Story, an exhibition at the Philatelic Museum with stamps, author illustrations, and sculptures featuring the whimsical characters of the novel.
Look out for The Little Prince In The Dark Collection, a series of glow-in-the-dark sculptures based on the book quote, “It is only in the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye”.
Date: Until 17 March
Time: 10AM-7PM
Venue: Singapore Philatelic Museum
Price: FREE for Singaporeans and PRs
Website
Some join runs for the race packs, others simply to get active in a fun way. With Run For Light, you’ll be getting both while contributing to Guide Dogs Singapore, a charity organisation that helps the blind.
Choose between a 5KM Fun Run or a 10KM Individual Open, or further empathise with the visually impaired by taking part in the Blindfold Walk as a pair – where either you or a friend gets blindfolded while the other takes the lead.
All participants for any category will be given a return ferry ticket to Batam, along with an event tee, finisher medal, and goodie bag.
Date: 26 January
Time: 5PM-10PM
Venue: Punggol Waterway (Punggol Town Square)
Price: From $38 for 5km Fun Run. View their full list of rates here.
Image credit: @theexperimess
So, it turns out that IKEA isn’t the only place to hunt for tables and chairs for your upcoming love nest. Behind the unassuming, industrial facade of Tan Boon Liat Building is a paradise of almost 40 furniture and lifestyle stores waiting to be discovered.
Even if you aren’t moving in anytime soon, it’s a great place to browse for items that thousands of other Singaporean households don’t already own – especially if you’re a fan of rustic, industrial, or minimalistic home decor. But of course, quirkier modern pieces are stocked up on too.
Image credit: @bohemianinsingapore
Find out more here and check out a list of noteworthy vendors here.
Singapore’s first Starbucks Reserve opened in 2017 with special brewing methods and Nitro Cold Brews. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the casual coffee chain has recently sprung up with a new boutique store at Tampines Mall – and it’s super gorgeous.
This Starbucks outlet has 2 storeys and floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as fancier coffee machines. Best part is that it’s open for 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, with a closing time of 11PM on other days.
Find out more here.
Clocking in those miles on the treadmill or circling the same old park route can get pretty stale. Switch it up by taking a scenic running route in the Central Business District instead.
It’s not entirely a concrete jungle – you’ll find yourself enjoying tranquil greenery and waterside views as you sweat it out, while still being conveniently close to MRT stations, malls, and eateries.
Find out more about these routes in our article here.
Image credit: i Light Singapore
i Light will be back at the end of this month to dazzle us with its beautiful light installations. One of the more noteworthy pieces is Keys of Light, where colourful animations will be projected with the pressing of piano keys.
Image credit: i Light Singapore
The event will stretch across the CBD area, from Marina Bay to Clarke Quay, featuring over 30 incandescent installations – giving you plenty of ground to cover over one weekend.
Image credit: Martens Visser
Image credit: i Light Singapore
Date: 28 January – 24 February
Time: Sun-Thurs: 7.30PM-11PM | Fri-Sat: 7.30PM-12AM
Venue: Various locations in the CBD. View the festival map here.
Price: FREE
Website
Image credit: Sean Cham
The yearly Singapore Fringe Festival celebrates a range of art disciplines, from theatre and dance, to visual arts and music. One of the highlights this year includes This Is Where by Sean Cham, a photo series displayed across selected JCDecaux bus shelters featuring migrant workers against the areas they’re often hidden behind.
Image credit: @m1sff
Date: 16-27 January. Check out the event calendar here.
Venue: Various locations. View the event maps here.
Price: FREE
Website
If you’re a freelancer sick of getting chased out of cafes when you’re trying to get work done – or just need a change of environment – consider a co-working space instead. There are plenty of cool ones in Singapore with open concepts and catalogue-worthy decor, where you’ll get to interact with like-minded creative people.
Some of them even provide free drinks and have chill areas with foosball and video game consoles. Watch your productivity soar as you tap along on your keyboard in these non-stifling spaces!
Find out more about these co-working spaces in our article here.
No worries if you’re still in a holiday mood, ‘cause there’s lots of fun happening with the dawn of 2019. Take a breather during weekends with these events and activities, and you’ll feel fully charged up to tackle the new work year.
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