29 unmissable things to do in Singapore this week (Nov 26-30)
Drink up and make your last week of November count at these festive markets, exhibitions and more
Had your shopping fix over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend? Well, keep going, as there're plenty more markets and festivals ready to part you from your dollar dollar bills. Biggie exhibitions like National Gallery's Minimalism and Sentosa's Island Lights continue on, but don't miss out on smaller but equally important ones too, like the roving hawker culture exhibit that is now more pertinent than ever. Are our hawkers being short-changed and overworked? We'll let you be the judge. It's the last week of November guys, make it count.
EXHIBITION
Get some sand beneath your feet while putting some art on your Insta feeds at Island Lights 2018, where massive neon light art installations are taking over sandy Palawan Beach till the end of the year. While you're there, get snacks from the food kiosks and throw some shapes as live bands bring the tunes. Through Dec 31
EXHIBITION
Diner/bar/community space Telok Ayer Arts Club's next showcase, tell me how they kiss you, tell me how you kiss, is gonna be a raunchy one. Spanning multiple mediums, the eight-week exhibition features three local artists who will be presenting ceramic sculptures, paper drawings and photography accompanied by artist-led events and live music. Go for a sex toy workshop, listen in on an artist talk, or just chill with a themed cocktail (like the cheeky A Whole Lot of Head, a creamy, frothy take on the classic Ramos Gin Fizz) in hand. Through Jan 12, 2019
EXHIBITION
Celebrating our hawker culture and protecting the men and women toiling behind each stall has never been more pertinent. Pledge your support to induct this beloved part of our everyday life into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the travelling Our SG Hawker Culture Exhibition popping up at various hawker centres and community venues around Singapore. Through Jan 31, 2019
EXHIBITION
The ground-breaking Minimalism: Space. Light. Object exhibition spanning National Gallery Singapore and ArtScience Museum traces the origins and evolutions of the Minimalist art movement, in more than 150 works loaned from all over the world. Check out our quick picks here. Through Apr 14, 2019
THEATRE
If your words were the only thing a little girl could hang on to in this maddening world, what would you say to her? Find out in Charlie, a one-on-one interactive performance piece by artist Victoria Chen, where you, the audience, is the only one who will know the outcome of your words. Through Dec 7
FESTIVAL
The massive Christmas Village at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza is back for the second time, and this year, they’re running it for longer. Over 42 days, there’ll be plenty to do, eat and drink thanks to a collab with Timbre. The homegrown F&B and music group will be in charge of the Food Village, where food kiosks by the likes of New Ubin Seafood and Two Wings will be set up. There'll also be a Craft Beer Bar and performances from Timbre’s musicians too, naturally. Take a ride on the beautiful duplex carousel before you head home. Through Dec 26
A Land Imagined
FILM
The island’s undisputed film event of the year, the Singapore International Film Festival, returns with another 100 or so critically acclaimed films—including Singapore’s own A Land Imagined by local filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua, which won the top prize at Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival 2018. Nov 28-Dec 9
FOOD
Unique pop-up dining concept HUSH20 is holding dinner party series The Alps, where each night, small groups of diners get to enjoy modern European cuisine, free flow raclette and all-you-can-drink wines, all set in an intimate space at Duxton Plain Park. Through Nov 28
EXHIBITION
This Christmas, the S.E.A. Aquarium is getting a glow-up, literally, as it gets transformed into a luminescent underwater world filled with glowing animals, stunning light art installations, and a first-of-its kind underwater LED dive appearance. Check out five different zones and interact with the displays while going oooh and ahhh as illuminated sea creatures swim by. Through Jan 6
MUSIC
Barely a year after their Eternal Asia Tour, dashing Danish pop-rock trio Michael Learns to Rock is back in Singapore, this time with their Still Asian Tour (cute). Expect to rock out to all the well-loved MLTR classics, including “25 minutes”, “Sleeping Child”, and “Out of the Blue”, as well as hits from their 9th and newest album Still. Nov 29
MARKET
Sentosa's inaugural Christmas fair will kick off your Christmas shopping in style. Hawking a solid medley of Christmas gifts and trinkets, there will be a careful curation of over 30 vendors gathering at W Singapore offering bubbly, tea, jewellery, art, fashion, bags and even furniture. Santa may even pop in for a surprise. Nov 29
MARKET
Shop for your Christmas gifts while supporting local brands at the first Distrii Christmas Holiday Bazaar, a two-day gathering of over 20 independent vendors offering crafts, homeware, pastries, clothing and more. Conveniently held within co-working space Distrii's level two event hall in Republic Plaza, it's perfect for a quick retail therapy sesh during lunch hour. Nov 29-30
FESTIVAL
The definitive way to get into the festive mood is a trip to Christmas Wonderland, now back for its fifth edition bigger and better. The European-style festival once again features giant luminaire structures, giant Christmas trees, Yuletide performances, markets, rides and more. Be sure to get lost in the 22-metre high luminarie mirror maze, making its debut appearance here. Nov 30-Dec 26
PARTY
A Fung Kee Hotdogs and NINETEEN80 collab? Sounds like a recipe for an epic night. Over two Fridays, get to have some of the best grub in town paired with unadulterated Negronis and 8bit arcade games, all while DJ Joshua P dishes out soul and funk. Nov 30
DRINK
The best craft beer bar on Haji Lane has turned two, and everyone's invited to the party. Good Luck Beerhouse is all about spreading the love for the brew, so they're taking this opportunity to offer all pints for just $10 all night. A few lucky peeps even get to enjoy two hours of free-flowing taps for just $22 – head over to their event page to find out how. Nov 30
HEALTH
Is Movember still a thing here? Perhaps not. But regardless, one of the best gentleman’s barber in town, Truefitt & Hill, will be opening a pop-up shop at W Singapore for one day only offering free services ranging from beard trimming to hot towel shaves. Just pay as you deem fit, with all proceeds going to the Movember Foundation to aid in their mission in tackling men's health issues. Nov 30
DRINK
The last day (and Friday) of the month calls for a big blowout, and The Big Ole' Switcheroo is set to deliver. New-to-the-scene bartenders from LuLu's Lounge will be invading Keong Saik craft beer haunt The Guild to offer up their unique concoctions from 7-11pm, while the reverse happens with a tap takeover at LuLu's from midnight. Come thirsty. Nov 30
MARKET
All you Etsy addicts, the Etsy Craftivist SG market is back. This is the highly-anticipated, third edition, and remains an encouraging space for our burgeoning local creatives and crafters. The emphasis is on bespoke products, so don't be shy to request for more than a little customization (that the vendors will gladly deliver). Merch you can snap up include paper crafts with embroidery, personalized engraving on metals, and totebags with hand-drawn designs—all handmade and #MadeinSingapore. Nov 30-Dec 1
PARTY
It's the biggest Council Weekender yet. Expect a two-day shindig set to keep you reeling all weekend, where electronic music artists the likes of Headless Horseman, HAAi and Myle will set the dance floor ablaze at eclectics haunts such as Headquarters and pop-up night spot Tuff Club. Nov 30-Dec 1
CONVENTION
It's the 10th anniversary of the C3 Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2018 and you know they're going to make it epic. Indulge in Japanese pop culture in this three-day celebration of anime, cosplay and gaming filled with Singapore exclusive product premieres as well as a stellar artist line-up at the I Love Anisong Concerts. Nov 30-Dec 2
Gin Lane Singapore 2017
DRINK/PARTY
Asia’s premier gin festival, the East Imperial Gin Jubilee, will be making its triumphant return to Singapore. For nine days, bartenders from participating bars will be concocting their best versions of G&Ts, where you then get to vote via social media which one is most deserving to be crowned the best. We’re most looking forward to the real highlight of the annual festival, Gin Lane, where gin brands and bars will banding together for a pop-up street party along one of Singapore’s alleyways. Nov 30-Dec 8
FOOD/DRINK
It's dining enclave Dine at Stevens' first year anniversary and all 11 establishments are coming together for a month-long celebration. Throughout the month of November, get to enjoy signature eats and drinks from each restaurant or bar for just $11. Through Nov 30
THEATRE
After being murdered earlier this year in Shakespeare in the Park's Julius Caesar, Jo Kukathas will see more blood at the Singapore premiere of Guards At The Taj, staged by the Singapore Repertory Theatre. The award-winning play by American dramatist Rajiv Joseph is a dark comedy revolving around a myth behind the Taj Mahal's legendary construction—one that may or may not diminish its rep as a Seventh Wonder of the World. Through Dec 1
THEATRE
Hard to believe it’s been 15 years since Wild Rice first blessed us with Christmas pantomimes. This year, the theater company is taking a step back from Chinese folk stories, and putting a local spin on a hallmark Christmas tale instead with A $ingapore Carol, a reinvented take on A Christmas Carol, complete with laughs, love, and some obvious cha-ching. Through Dec 15
Make a date with the local plays and productions happening till the end of the year.
THEATRE/FOOD
Remember how the toys all came to life in the story of The Nutcracker? Now you too can play a part in the magical Christmastime tale, as immersive theatre company Andsoforth brings the classic story to life in their latest theatrical feast, Marie and The Nutcracker. Journey through four rooms in a secret location with The Nutcracker himself, defeat the Mouse King, and reap your sweet rewards in the Kingdom of Sweets at the end. Through Jan 6
EXHIBITION
Local artist John Toh is showcasing watercolour pieces of iconic Singapore landmarks old and new, such as Temple Street, Keong Saik and the Supertrees, in a new solo exhibition titled Cityscapes, Ancient and Present. Held at Pan Pacific Singapore's public art space. Through Jan 28, 2019
EXHIBITION
Peranakan Museum's latest exhibition, Amek Gambar: Peranakans and Photography, delves into the Southeast Asian history of photography through the pictured lives of the Peranakan community in the region. Through Feb 3, 2019
EXHIBITION
From Cold Storage to Tiger Balm, come chart the evolution of print advertising in Singapore from the 1830s to 1960s at Selling Dreams: Early Advertising in Singapore. Aside from just print advertisements, the exhibition at the National Library also includes interactive multimedia stations for you to experience life as a consumer in early Singapore. Through Feb 24, 2019
EXHIBITION
Trace the Polaroid camera’s fascinating history at the National Museum of Singapore’s latest exhibition, In an Instant: Polaroid at the Intersection of Art and Technology, featuring over 200 Polaroid artefacts and artworks from the original collection. Through Mar 31, 2019
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