The long and fruitful partnership between the National Museum, the Singapore International Film Festival and the Goethe-Institut has spawned two exhibitions which showcase not just the art of film and video, but also, more importantly, that art should not just be confined to dusty museums but should be something everyone can relate to.

This thought will not be the first to spring to mind with some of the dark pieces on offer at the Animated Films from Germany exhibition. About Germany’s innovative cinematic animation art, a combination of film screenings and exhibition of materials from those films showcase some of the most visually arresting animation to grace these shores. Some of the highlights include Die Gesterbahn (Ghost Train) which is a delightfully grotesque and macabre take on the story of Orpheus venturing into the underworld to find his beloved. How art and animation work can add and inspire each other can be seen in another highlight—Der Rabe (the Raven)—whose expressive graphics provide an interesting visual interpretation of one of the most forlorn poems of all time, “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. What makes these animations so potent, like the best of art, is that they are not (overly) pretentious, but rather, they cut across language barriers and are something which everyone can revel in, be they German or Hokkien (OK, maybe not quite, but you get the idea).

A point which can be seen in the 40 Years of German Video Art exhibition. Consisting of 28 hours of 59 different works spanning four decades from 1963 to 2003, it highlights how media art is not stuck in an editing room bubble, but, rather, is part and parcel of the political and cultural movements of the age. See media art’s experimental nature of the 1960s which perhaps echo the great liberal movement of that age or how the technological development in video and the punk culture of the 1980s influenced German video art.

Do not expect any Disney-eske animations and art here, but, like Disney, this is a must-see for the animation connoisseur or the layman.

After hours of being cooped up in a cubicle or being yelled at by your bosses, a drink is what you need—urgently—so that you can keep your sanity. (Well, even if you don’t have a cubicle or an over-demanding boss, you know you still deserve a good drink for some reason or another.) And if you work in the very heart of the CBD area (you know, the Shenton Way and Raffles Place vicinity), check out our list of hot picks to get a quick chill time after or during work. Don’t get stressed—get drunk.

Rogues

#01-42/45 146 Market St., 6557-0040.
Open Mon-Wed 11am-midnight; Thu-Sat 11am-1am.
Decked in scarlet hues, the first floor of this glass-encased restaurant and bar is trendy, sophisticated and plush. Head upstairs for a more comfy and casual rooftop bar. There’s no lift, so try not to get drunk and roll down the stairs. Signature drinks include the Rum and Jam Cocktail and the Breakfast Cocktail.

Best time to come: Evenings on Wed, Thu and Fri are ideal. Rogues will be serving guests complimentary mini burgers and vodka shots during this period, though the exact times they will be served are not fixed yet.

J Bar

9/F, M Hotel, 81 Anson Rd., 6421-6233.
Open Mon-Thu, Sat 5pm-1am; Fri 5pm-2am.
Popular J Bar still draws the crowds because of its intimate and loungy vibes, making it a good place to wind down with colleagues and catch up on the latest gossip. Hang out at its patio or simply chill out at its cozy semi tatami space which has scenic views of the port. The duo Vibe dishes contemporary, soul, R&B and jazz from Mon to Wed while the band By Definition plays rock, alternative and pop from Thu to Sat.

Best time to come: Between 5-8:30pm is good. You’ll get to enjoy the one-for-one deal for house pours and selected bottles. Martinis and Mumm’s Champagne are going at one for one all night too.

Harry’s Bar @ Raffles Quay

#01-01 Robinson Tower, 30 Robinson Rd., 6324-8076.
Open Mon-Thu 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am.
When neckties begin to seem more like a noose, its time to head over to Harry’s Bar @ Raffles Quay. Sprawl-friendly sofas and comfy chairs make up the seating arrangement here. And with food meant to line the stomach and a reasonably priced bar on offer, this is a great place to loosen those neckties and have that post-work pint or two with friends.

Best time to come: With a happy hour from 11am-9pm everyday where drinks are cheaper, and a crazy hour from Mon-Fri 5-7pm, where its one-for-one on house pours, wine and spirits for $10, anytime of the day is good.

Superfamous

67 Chulia St., 6223-0038.
Open Mon-Fri 9:30am-midnight.
An alfresco bistro cafe by day and a bar by night, it’s a 1,000 sq. ft. space with clean, minimalist furnishings and breezy vibes. And to up its hip quotient, owner Michel Lu has recently launched new menu items to tantalize the taste buds of the lunchtime crowd, and a decent selection of single malt whiskies to sate the thirsty.

Best time to come: Arrive between 5-7pm on weekdays and enjoy a complimentary mini Wagyu burger with every drink you order. And best of all, grab a glass of champagne or martini at only $10 before 9pm.

Post Bar

G/F, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, 1 Fullerton Sq., 6877-8135.
Open Mon-Fri 3pm-2am; Sat-Sun 5pm-2am.
Loved for its killer mojitos and shaken martinis, the stylish Post Bar, which comes revamped with a cool alfresco space last Nov, is still a classic favorite among expats, PMEBs and the well-heeled. Latest happenings in this bar include the introduction of two new cocktails—Monte Carlo Hairpin and Fullerton Hairpin—to kick off Formula 1 Grand Prix 2007.

Best time to come: Thu nights. Not too packed and not too empty, Post Bar attracts a good crowd at this time, radiating a feel-good buzz that’ll keep conversations at your table going.

Cuvée

#01-22 Republic Plaza Tower 1, 9 Raffles Place, 6438-0591.
Open Mon-Fri 11am-9pm.
Found right at the heart of rat race central, Cuvée has an extensive wine list that reads like a who’s who of the wine world. Alongside that, they have a menu prepared by one of the best chefs in Singapore, Felicien Cueff of Tower Club.

Best time to come: Anytime, but for those wanting their hard-earned dollar to go that bit further, come after 5pm where you can indulge in a set of three mini beef sandwiches for $10. On Tue and Wed after 5pm, enjoy a glass of wine for just $5.

Good excuses to get off work early for a drink

Biddy Low, 27, Teacher
“You can always say you’re going for a business meeting!”

Jessie Song, 24, Analyst
“I need to clear the excess cash in my wallet.”

Iswardy Hamzah, 25, Investor/Chef
“Complain to your boss that you have a really bad stomachache. Even if you’re asked to go to the doctor, it’s hard to get detected.”

Ian Toh, 22, Teacher
“Just tell the boss the truth. Any humane and logical boss will allow it. Everyone has needs. Or, invite him along to the bar. And dump him halfway there.”

Lin Jun Jie, 26, Manager
“My neighbor just informed me that my cat jumped out of the window.”

Wine is no longer just for expats—these days everyone is into a good drop. And to satisfy the growing market for those wanting to know more about their vino vino, several restaurants round town are holding regular wine dinners starring guest wine makers and speakers. Here’s how you can get in on the action.

LE PONT DE VIE

Where: 42 Waterloo St., 6238-8682.
When: This is a new restaurant already has two wine dinners under its belt. Since they are so young, they’re not sure how often they’ll hold wine dinners, so join the mailing list for more info.
Why you should go: As you would expect from a French restaurant, the wine list is populated with vintages from the most prestigious names in wine-making, and expect their wine dinners to be a celebration of French wine. Last year they hosted a Bordeaux wine dinner with Monsieur Lemaitre from Cadillac Leda. All is not just old world here though—the wines featured in the last wine dinner in Jan hailed from the Wyndham Estate, the home of Australian Shiraz. With the food on the five course menu tailor-made for the wine and a small and intimate location, wine-dinner maniacs can rejoice.
Price: Around $100.
How to find out more: Look up the website at www.lepontdevie.com.sg or join the mailing list by sending an email to [email protected].

FRIENDS AT CHOMP CHOMP

Where: #01-01A Serangoon Garden Village, Maju Ave., 6289-2600.
When: Around once a month. Private wine dinners are also available on request.
Why you should go: The food at wine dinners here is all about the wine. Crafted specifically to complement and bring out the varied and intricate flavors of the individual wines, the food is prepared to be clean and subtle in taste. This love and enthusiasm for wine can also be seen in the truly varied natures of wines that are on show at the wine dinners here. At Friends, wine connoisseurs can expect more interesting vintages to be featured to delight and challenge their palates. Past wine dinners have included anything from a vertical tasting of Leasingham wine of differing vintages, to an organic wine dinner featuring Rosnay of Australia, to a Lanson champagne dinner.
Price: $79.90 to $89.90 for a five- to seven-course dinner.
How to find out more: Email [email protected] to get on their mailing list.

FLUTES AT THE FORT

Where: 21 Lewin Terrace, Fort Canning Park, 6338-8770.
When: Around four to five times a year.
Why you should go: As you can expect from a place whose menu boasts a fine selection of Modern Australian dishes, the wines featured at the wine dinners here hail mainly from the new world, especially from Down Under. Such established new-world wineries like the Kay Brothers and Torbreck have hosted wine dinners here where the winemaker introduces and explains the wines to the guests. As you would expect, the food is made specifically for the wines featured and all this fine dining and wining is normally done within the cozy part of the restaurant which is the Fire Chief’s retreat.
Price: On average $150 including food and wine.
How to find out more: Check out the website http://www.flutesatthefort.com.sg for more information and to sign on to the mailing list.

MAGMA GERMAN WINE BISTRO

Where: 2-4 Bukit Pasoh Rd., 6221-0634.
When: Once or twice a month. Private wine tasting is available on request.
Why you should go: For a wine tasting dinner Deutschland style, this is the place to go where the owner is German, the chef Austrian (OK, so almost German), and the place represents over 20 wineries from all over Germany. Wine dinners here comprise five to seven courses of excellent German food to accompany six to eight German wines for tasting. Wines chosen for the dinners in the past have been based on regions and grape varieties such as the perennial favorites, the reisling and pinot varieties. Those who choose to further their knowledge of German wines will also be able to enjoy five percent discount on all the wines (about 150 labels) at the shop. This is by far the best place to go if you like your reislings or eisweins.
Price: Normally between $69-79 for a five course dinner.
How to find out more: Check out the website at www.magmatc.com or join the mailing list by sending an email to [email protected].

LA STRADA RISTORANTE

Where: #02-10 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6737-2622.
When: A wine dinner is held every three months where the winemaker is flown over to discuss the featured wines. The restaurant also has an ongoing wine dinner menu.
Why you should go: At the quarterly wine dinners, the winemaker gives guests a first hand account of the wines from the vineyard that is being featured. Past wines that have been on show have hailed from France or Italy. But what makes this restaurant stand out are the other monthly wine dinners on offer. The Resident Sommelier handpicks a glass of wine to specifically accompany each course of the menu degustazione, and is available to discuss with patrons his choice of wine for a particular dish—making this a good way to understand more about how food and wine can work so beautifully together. For those who can not distinguish their Bordeaux from their Burgundy, the ongoing wine dinner is a non-intimidating and great way to start.
Price: Ongoing wine dinner is $135 for five courses and five glasses of wine. The wine dinner held every three months starts from $180.
How to find out more: Check out the website www.lesamis.com.sg to find out more and to sign up to the mailing list.