Concerts

Let British's well-loved all-male acapella vocal ensemble serenade you at Christmas with The King's Singers.

If your favorite thing about Christmas are all the vintage carols, take your family to Gaudete, Gaudete! Christmas Through the Ages.

Nobody really goes caroling in Singapore so if you want to go the whole nine yards this Christmas, there's A Celebration of Carols: Christmas Concert of the International Festival Chorus on December 10.

Local acts like The Pinholes, Black Forest and Natalie Hiong headline Happy 3+65 A New Year Countdown Show.

A local pianist will be playing a series of recitals for Christmas Winter Wonderland featuring Sammin Ang at Palais Renaissance—definitely a great moodlifter.

Musicals

Kumar and gang play out their own versions of popular TV shows in their yearly shindig Crazy Christmas.

Classes & Workshops

If you need a crash course on how to stuff a turkey and other domestic stuff, this Christmas Feast Cooking Class is for you.

Sales & Fairs

Don't leave your Christmas shopping to the last minute, especially with the fabulous Vue Privee Art & Wine Christmas Sale happening.

Happy Holidays in the New Downtown will feature loads of activities such as drinking games, musical performances and of course retail deals at the Marina Bay Link Mall. Through December 31.

Christmas Alive @ Marina Bay (through January 2, 2012) means you can score free drinks, a collectible umbrella and free bus tours just by shopping.

One of Singapore's top nightlife spots will turn into a festive playground with Clarke Quay's Christmas Bazaar happening on December 9.

Xmas & Xmas Eve: Dj Gigs

If dancing like crazy is your idea of a successful party, go outta whack at Heidi (CAN) & Magda (GER).

Spend your Christmas Eve in a trance with Ferry Corsten (NED).

Some heavy digital tunes are the order of the Christmas night as Dubfire (USA) helms the decks.

There's something for everyone at Dimitri From Paris's gig, with funk, disco and hip hop playing all night long.

This month's regular +65 night at Home Club will happen on Christmas Eve—come see local thumpers Nez and Nuance throw it down.

Xmas & Xmas Eve: Parties

If remixed carols (or anything house and techno) aren't your idea of a great night out, pack into Ku De Ta for A Gold Dust Christmas (December 24), featuring hip hop and r'n'b.

Ladies in need of a better reason to head out other than Yuletide cheer can head on to the All I Want for X'mas: Ladies Night Special at Attica for free champagne and standard housepour.

Dress up as your favorite super villain (Penguin is not an option) for Butter Factory's The Darknight party.

For a party called The Snow Ball, it's only natural you dress up in your most angelic (Read: All white.). Homegrown beatboxer Dharni Ng will be there.

Get upclose and (hopefully) personal with American house DJ and record producer Ian Carey at Avaland Presents X Feat. Ian Carey—this one has an all-black dress code.

If you're more into live music, The Arena's house band will be performing the latest hip hop and r'n'b music at The Arena All Stars countdown gig.

Trilogy Presents Chillogy can mean an hour-long free flow of tequila cocktails—just be sure to come early dressed in white.

Fans of St James Power Station will do well to spend their Christmas Eve at the Complex-Wide Christmas Eve Countdown, which features all-night drink deals.

If you've been keeping that special studded vest for a suitable occasion, it's time to take it out for Zirca's big night, Under the Ice.

Dining Deals

Christmas @ Durty Nelly's (December 8) features a fun Yuletide-themed dinner—goes great with their ice-cold draught beer.

Christmas @ Ballymoons (December 9) means there's a special (what else?) Christmas-themed dinner and special 'Six in the City' drinks promos to be had.

Spend Christmas @ Muddy Murphy's (December 9) and enjoy mains like roasted stuffed turkey breast and traditional roast beef for dinner.

Christmas @ Penny Black joins in the fun with festive $10 (sambuca and jaegerbomb) shots, as well as their Pink Elephant Sparkling Rose wine going at $45 a bottle.

Sight-seeing & Other Fun Stuff

Take Tumblr-worthy shots on your Instagram app at the annual Christmas in the Tropics Light-Up, which lasts through January 2, 2012. P/S: Tangs Orchard is looking exceptional this year.

Christmas Alive @ Marina Bay (through January 2, 2012) means you can score free drinks, a collectible umbrella and free bus tours just by shopping.

If you haven't been, you should get onboard the Christmas HiPPO Light-Up Tour. There's really no better way to see all the Orchard lights.

If you're one of those people who get excited by Disney, A Fairy Tale Christmas at Resorts World Sentosa (through December 31) should be right up your alley.

The Night Safari joins in the year-end fun with Mystika, a special season that will last through December 31.

Go check out The Jewel Box Hilltop Celebrations to see what their 3D Video Mapping Christmas Show is all about—after a lovely cable car ride of course.

From December 9-25, join in the Yuletide fun at Christmas Merriments at Clarke Quay, which includes the Heineken Social Christmas Tree complete with a virtual choir.

New Year's Eve & Day: DJ Gigs

You want house music on New Year's Eve, you go to Martin Solveig (FRA), who's playing at Zouk that night.

Syndicate's Darren Dubwise and Home incumbent Jerls will be leading the I ♥ DUBSTEP: NYE Dubpocalypse Special.

New Year's Eve & Day: Parties

You know you love Tanjong Beach Club—so why don't you bid farewell to 2011 with them? Syndicate and DJ Has will be at the New Year's Eve's Countdown Party @ Tanjong Beach Club, as will a terrific BBQ.

If you're not into digging your toes into the sand, maybe the New Year's Eve: Countdown Party @ Overeasy against the city backdrop will be a better option.

Party with Macy Gray, plus Broadway regulars Michael Falzon and Dale Burridge at Capella under the Stars—NYE Party 2011.

The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown offers it all—great live entertainment and a spectacular view of the fireworks display.

Feeling jaded? The Clarke Quay New Year's Eve Countdown is one way you can pretend you're not in Singapore with its New York-inspired lineup.

We're not really into foam but if you are, the Siloso Beach Party 2011 is a good bet.

The I Love New Year Countdown Party at Clarke Quay will be hosted by 91.3 FM DJs Jeremy Ratnam and Cheryl Miles, and will pyrotechnic displays and performances by Madonna impersonator Chris America.

A funky neon theme is in order at the I Love Ku De Ta New Year's Eve Party led by DJ Titus.

The Bedsty gang know how to throw a bona fide hip hop bash and Good Times NYE is a good one to kick the year off to.

With many hotels now offering special packages for local guests, and with the hectic Christmas season now firmly upon us, it’s the perfect time to pack an overnight bag and check into a home not so far away from home for some serious battery recharging. Here are some of our top picks:

The Fullerton Hotel

The “December Specials” package valid through December 30 costs $298 per night in a Courtyard room including a $88 dining credit and river boat ride.

Mandarin Oriental, Singapore

The “Spa Escape” package is $1,300 for two nights, valid though March 30, 2012.

Marina Mandarin Singapore by Meritus

The “Healthy Indulgence” package costs $498, valid Fri-Sun & eve of/public holidays through December 30.

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

The “12 Joys of Christmas” package starts from $400 for one night in a Deluxe Room through December 30, and includes breakfast for two adults and two kids, upgrade subject to availability, discounts at Millenia Walk and the chance to win a return stay.

Shangri-La Hotel

Their “Weekend Escapade” package available through December 31 starts from $370 for a Deluxe Room in the Tower Wing for Friday-Saturday check-in, with check-out on Monday.

The Quincy Hotel

The “Qool Weekend” package, including yoga/foot reflexology, baking classes, a movie night, a bottle of red wine and a late check-out time of 3pm, costs $328 per night and is valid till January 1.

The Scarlet

Two staycationer packages—”Come Away With Me” ($258) and “Suite Attraction” ($550-950), valid Friday-Sunday and eves of public holidays except Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Wanderlust

“Whimsical Weekday Promo” is available Sunday-Thursday at $298 or Friday-Saturday at $388.

M Hotel

The “Weekender’s Escapade” gets you 20 percent off rates, so you only pay $168 for Superior or $192 for Deluxe rooms; valid Friday-Sunday & eve of/public holidays through February 5.

Pan Pacific Singapore

The “Weekend Getaway” offer starts from $205 and gets you 18 percent off the best available rate for a two night stay with a Friday or Saturday check-in.

Capella Singapore

No specific staycation package, but a Premier Garden room (the cheapest) starts from $509 for a Friday night in December. Somewhat more extravagant is their “Christmas Treasures Hamper” package ($15,000), which includes a night in the Colonial Manor, a yacht cruise, dinner for 10 and a $5000 donation to charity. To inquire call 6591-5036 or email [email protected].

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore

Available through December 31 are the “Spa Package” (from $928 for two nights) and “Weekend Package” (from $398 per night for two).

The Fullerton Bay Hotel

The “December Specials” deal, valid through December 30 (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), costs $398 a night for a Deluxe Room and includes a river boat ride and $68 dining credit.

Hotel Fort Canning

Available through December, the “Bubblelicious” package, which comes with a bottle of Champagne and a rose petal bath, is available from $348.

Pan Pacific Orchard

The “Superstyle” staycation (from $428) includes a night’s stay in a Pacific Club room plus a Shopping Survival Kit by HannaLB.

(USA) Directed by Bruce Robinson. Stars Johnny Deep and Amber Heard.

“The Rum Diary, based on another literary punch-out by gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, was made three years ago, shelved in some musty editing room where unreleasable movies go, and looks it. The dust still shows.”—Rex Reed, New York Observer

“Felt like a movie suffering from a hangover of its own. This may be an attempt to bring an early Thompson work to the screen, but instead of feeling fresh, it has the dispiriting taste of residue.”—Robert Denerstein, Movie Habit

“The Rum Diary is a talky, pretentious send-up of the island-getaway adventure—Graham Greene by way of Donald Trump.”—Glenn Lovell, CinemaScope.com

“In the time it takes to watch The Rum Diary, you could walk halfway across the Isle of Wight.” —Charlie Lyne, Ultra Culture