5 Singapore stories you may have missed this weekend (Sep 5-7)
From a showy display of Lamborghinis to battered jazz singers and Ikea's viral Bookbook commercial, it's just another weekend in the sweltering city.
1. Unfortunately for javaheads and pastry lovers, the first edition of the "world's first cafe-hopping event" was met with more ire than caffeine-fuelled highs. Despite the organizers' efforts to rescue the weekend festival, Cafe Fest ended up being a cacophony of complaints ranging from lack of discounts, to VIP tents occupied by non-VIPs, to non-pass holders choping what little Danish rolls were present. In a statement released on the official Cafe Fest Facebook page, the organizers expressed their sadness saying, "We are working to find a solution to this. We came in with good intentions and wanted to throw a festival that everyone would enjoy."
2. For a place crowned as this year's "World's Most Expensive City", we're awfully intolerant of vast displays of wealth. The weekend saw a stampede of bulls (and by bulls we mean Lamborghinis) down Orchard Road. Naturally, some people expressed disdain for such an outright show of wealth and noise pollution, but what's the use high property and shopping prices if we can't flaunt a super car or twenty? Watch the original video, here.
3. Being a jazz singer may now come with an occupational hazard warning. It seems like some people, namely Australian Aaron Jeremiejczyk, like to go around punching these soulful crooners. The altercation supposedly happened in Sentosa's Beach Station this past March after local singer Dawn Ho told a group of Aussies to stop verbally abusing cabbies. He pursued her and proceeded to punch her in the nose and now, there's a trial.
4. It seems like yogis are not quite so "Om" when it comes to their favorite yoga studio closing down without warning. Affinity Yoga issued a rather surprising statement about suspending classes indefinitely due to teachers' desertion. Customers have now lodged police reports over the sudden shuttering of its two studios in Telok Ayer and River Valley, citing prepaid membership fees amounting to thousands of dollars as their main concern.
5. Seen Ikea's Bookbook? The Swedish fast furniture giant's latest commercial that parodies Apple's "over the top" but minimalist product ads has officially gone viral. Set against a pristine white backdrop, it's really just about Ikea's new catalog and how intuitive and simple its features are. Best part is that the commercial is made in Singapore. Watch it here.
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