It's a short week, but there's plenty packed in. Here are the highlights.

Mon, Aug 3

FILM
First Take showcases the newest and most promising short films by upcoming film directors based in Singapore. 

COMEDY
Start the week on a light note with Muddy Murpy's weekly Laugh-In Comedy where local talents perform stand-up sets.

Tue, Aug 4

LITERARY
Hong Kong-based human rights advocate Robert Godden talks about the human rights of migrant workers and contemporary forms of slavery at IPA PLUG & PLAY: Visualising Social Stories. 

WELLNESS
Head for an evening of meditation with Evening Guided Meditation Session meant for all levels. Plus, it's held at Kilo so you can pop by for drinks and light bites afterwards, too.

Wed, Aug 5

EAT
Restaurant Ember collaborates with wine distributer KOT Selections for a Biodynamic Wine Dinner. The four-course meal has dishes like tataki of bonito and pan-grilled quail paired with wines like 2012 Alain Chabanon Campredon and 2013 Vincent Gaudry Sancerre.

DRINK
Learn to make blackberry whiskey sours and apple-cinnamon martinis with Ethan Leslie Leong of Maison Ikkoku and Fort at this fresh fruits-themed Master Mixology Class.

Thu, Aug 6

FESTIVAL
This year's Singapore Festival of Arts features musicals, film screenings, stand-up comedy acts and dance marathons across seven weeks. Don't miss Kumar's Living Together, rooted in Singapore's multi-racial and multi-national housing landscape; and Cabanon, a circus installation. 

OUTINGS
The Esplanade hosts its own National Day Celebrations to include dance and music performances by local bands like The Freshman and Kon-Fusionz, as well as a interactive art installations. There's also a local entrepreneur bazaar with brands like BooksActually and Popaganda. 

MUSIC
The Black Swan's Powder Room has local jazz and soul songstress Alicia Pan performing at The Alicia Affair. She'll be performing neo-soul and R&B tunes with her band.

PARTY
Hot DJ of the moment Zedd comes to Zouk to play an electrifying set of EDM and Top 40s favorites like "Clarity" and "I Want You To Know" with Selena Gomez. 

MUSICALS
A coming-of-age story inspired by the tumultuous lives and times of Sigapore's first-generation artists, Nanyang The Musical depicts an up-and-coming painter from Xiamen moving to Shanghai to advance his artistic career. 

Fri, Aug 7

ART
A collaborative effort among 10 local artists like Audrey Yang and Pamela Ng, RememberingLKY: A Tribute to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew commemorates the late Minister Mentor through paintings. For something way edgier, head to street artist Samantha Lo's (SKLO) pop culture-inspired exhibition The Limpeh Show that charts LKY's career and life. 

DRINK
Hopscotch hosts an SG50 cocktail night with locally-inspired cocktails and barbecue fare. Cocktails go for $15 and there's a free punchbowl to dig into as well. 

OUTINGS
The Marina Barrage is home to a giant picnic with Families for Life. The carnival-like picnic has impressive aerial displays, food trucks and games. If that's not your thing, head to Botanic Gardens' SG50 Concert in the Park Series where you can catch outdoor movie screenings, concerts and a live telecast of the National Day Parade.