It’s clear as day that we as a nation have a collective obsession with visiting craft markets; if we didn’t, organisers wouldn’t be incentivised to hold one every week. From Public Garden to Boutiques Singapore, even though they’ve become so commonplace as of late, the hordes of people they draw are no joke.
Specifically, it is the dudes tagging along with their SOs to these conventions who are drawing the ire of convention-goers. They’ve been observed to stand around idly while their partners shop, clogging up the already-narrow aisles, making the shopping experience borderline unbearable.
Today, we’re doing you girls a favour; here are some spots you can drop your BF off at in Suntec City while you hit up the convention halls for your favourite ling ling long longs. Do your part to spread the word, and perhaps we won’t have to deal with inadvertent shoulder charges and deadlocked human traffic the next time a fair rolls around.
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Now, this one’s a no-brainer. Suntec City has perhaps the 2 largest arcades in the whole of Singapore, and both of them are run by Cow Play Cow Moo.
If your partner’s all about walking the talk, task them with winning a plushie at the Clawlosseum. Found on Level 3, it boasts almost 450 claw machines, all stocked with all kinds of prizes, so spending an hour or 2 here is no trouble at all. This one’s perfect for TCG fans too, as a few machines here are packed with Pokémon TCG products to snag.
The prize store’s selection is massive, if you’ve got the tickets to spare that is.
Image credit: Cow Play Cow Moo via Facebook
For motorheads, Cow Play Cow Moo’s flagship store located on B1 is the place to be. They’ve got plenty of racing simulators here so you can burn some rubber virtually with games like Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune and Initial D The Arcade. There’s also a healthy collection of rhythm games to groove out with, such as Maimai, Chunithm, and Sound Voltex.
Standing around listlessly at a convention isn’t going to burn those calories, so pop by New Balance’s Suntec City outlet to get kitted out for a run. You heard right – this particular outlet hosts complimentary running shoe trials, where you can take a pair of shoes and head out for a jog to clock in your KMs.
Simply book a session online, head down to get fitting guidance to your running preferences in-store, and off you go on a 60-minute, self-guided run around Suntec City and Marina Bay. They’ve got plenty of models to choose from, from everyday beaters like the Ellipse to ones you’d don on race days like the SuperComp Rebel.
You’ll want to dry yourself off before reuniting with the missus though, unless they’re okay with hanging out with a sweat-drenched partner afterwards.
Book a complimentary running shoe trial with New Balance.
So you’ve got time to spare while your partner’s living lavishly with their slaphappy spending. As such, head on over to the mall’s iconic Fountain of Wealth to recoup some of your losses; remember now, your money’s their money too.
Image credit: Explorest
In case its name didn’t clue you in, this impressive fountain is a symbol of wealth and life, and there’s a particular ritual you can perform here that can allegedly make wishes come true. Encircle the fountain clockwise 3 times to imbue yourself with positive “qi” energy, then stretch your right hand out over the water as you make your wish.
You’ll be able to walk close enough to the fountain to do this during 3 sessions, lasting from 10am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm, and 6pm to 7.30pm. Time your visit well, and with a stroke of manifested luck, you just might be able to fund your partner’s convention haul.
Of course, Suntec City wouldn’t be a true blue mall in Singapore without the inclusion of a UNIQLO outlet. Although the store recently downsized last year to make way for a new Chinese restaurant right beside it, it still stocks everything you’d need to put together every Singaporean male’s favourite fit: AIRism tees, in all sorts of shades too.
In all seriousness, the Japanese clothing retailer has some stylish pieces to build a solid wardrobe rotation with. So, while your partner’s stumbling in pint-sized changing rooms in the convention centre next door, do yourself and them a favour and pick out something else to wear other than that accursed oversized tee.
But we all know how efficient guys are when it comes to shopping for clothes, so do come up with a back-up spot where you can while away the remaining hours.
While you’re perusing the booths of international artistes over at Public Garden, your partner explores the best everyday goods Japan has to offer over at Don Don Donki. Those who love going on grocery runs can attest to how magical the Japanese supermarket is, with their huge range of exclusive products that you might only be able to purchase overseas.
Moreover, the Suntec City outlet boasts an in-house eatery, Japanese Hamburg Steak TOMI which whips up yummy, freshly grilled beef and pork patties. There’s a dine-in area here too, so you can grab a seat and enjoy the impressive array of ready-to-eat meals sold at Don Don Donki.
Should all else fail, the restaurant also sells affordable liquor like beer, sake, and highballs. Knock back a few of those and a can of Strong Zero, and watch the time fly by in a drunken stupor.
If you resonate a little too hard with Sabrina’s Manchild, then drop yours off at SuperPark. This 2-storey playground underwent a big makeover last year, and is just the thing to keep little ones and kidults alike entertained for hours on end. Divided into 3 zones with 40 activity stations, there’s no shortage of fun to be had here.
In particular, have a go at the Super Floor, SuperPark’s take on the popular Floor is Lava game; this one’s a full-body workout, so expect to work up a sweat. Meanwhile, scale the walls of Super Climb, 2 of which are embedded with obstacles with difficult holds that could pose a challenge to even seasoned rock climbers.
Meanwhile, the Trampoline Platform is where you can jump to your heart’s content, and footie fans can put their skills to the test at Super Soccer by having a kickabout and scoring virtual goals. Just don’t forget to pack a pair of grip socks.
Image credit: Teo Heng KTV
When it comes to killing time, hitting up the karaokes in Singapore is a surefire way to burn a few hours, especially in good company. Teo Heng KTV is one of the most popular karaoke chains in Singapore, and they’re known for their reasonable rates and packages.
Conveniently, they’ve got an outlet in Suntec City, and prices start at just $13/hour for a coszy Small Room. Unfortunately for your partner, they’re going to have to fly solo for this sesh as you’re busy dealing with the convention chaos, but hey, at least they’ve got the whole room to themselves.
Just don’t be too surprised when you catch them crooning to a melodramatic JJ Lin or Eric Chou tune; after all, you’re the one who has forsaken them in pursuit of adorable trinkets.
With how overstimulating conventions in Singapore can get, taking matters into our own hands by implementing self-imposed crowd control is one way to keep things civilised. Until these markets come up with a BF drop-off point of some sorts, keeping your partner busy with these spots within Suntec City is one way to curb the crowds.
[Suntec city explorer]
For more things to do in malls:
Cover image adapted from: Explorest, New Balance
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