Singapore’s reputation as a hotbed for startups is spreading fast, which means capacity turnouts at the likes of Mobile Monday and Web Wednesday. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of new initiatives combining short, snappy presentations and fun, quickfire introductions; tailor-made for a generation who’ve grown up watching TED videos.

Creative Mornings Singapore
Started in New York by hot-favorite blogger Tina Roth Eisenberg, this free, monthly lecture series recently arrived here looking to catalyze the growth of the local creative community. The first event featured a 20-minute talk from art director and designer Felix Ng, filled with entertaining anecdotes about starting a creative business here—well worth the early start to the day for the brand managers, art directors and marketing professionals in attendance. Follow them on Twitter to get info on their next session.

Green Drinks Singapore
Held every last Thursday of the month, the free informal talks by this non-profit environmental group count discussions, documentary screenings and workshops as part of their program. The group is already popular around the world, with a presence in over 800 cities, and offers a launchpad for Gaia-focused ideas and products. Email Olivia or call 9688-7449 for more info.

House of Genius
Started in Denver, this informal meetup brings together 15-18 diverse audience members and three business presenters once a month. Each speaker shares a specific problem their business is facing before opening the floor for attendees’ questions and insight, with introductions happening only after the sharing session is over. For an invitation to their next event (May 16, 6.30-9.30pm) register at their website and indicate if you want to be a Contributor or a Presenter.

Kennel Nights
This free monthly storytelling session organized by co-working space Kennel is a little different from the rest. Mystery speakers (you can be one, too) turn up to tell a melancholic, motivational or even horrifying tale of their success before opening the floor for a heated discussion. Themes like personal truth and positivity are announced in advance. Log on to their Eventbrite page to find out about the next event.

Science Café
Every last Thursday of the month, this free discussion session at The Pigeonhole encourages you to meet up and talk shop with science professionals on timely topics like GM crops. It’s organized by an informal group that promotes talks on rationality and science, called, rather delightfully, Drinking Skeptically. Their next event is scheduled for May 31, 7.30pm.

MAY

Pulilan Carabao

May 14-15. Pulilan, Philippines
This Filipino town gives its water buffalos a full service during Pulilian Carabao, with a mud bath, shave and skin cleanse, all in order to honor patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. The animals end up being paraded through the streets donning fruit and colorful garlands alongside symbolic floats, giving thanks for the year’s bountiful harvest in this riotous explosion of color and humanity.

Kanda Matsuri

May 15. Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Shinto monks mounted on horseback, various cultural floats, and energetic crowds flood the many districts of Tokyo, with the main item on display being the portable Kanda Myojin shrines. This spectacle, also referred to as Tenka Matsuri, with Tenka meaning Shogun, is an extravagant ceremony that was performed in the famous Edo castle half a century ago. Visit the Kanda Matsuri museum to learn more (2-16-2 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku).

Hong Kong International Art Fair

May 17-20. Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. www.hongkongartfair.com
The 5th installment of ART HK welcomes 266 galleries from all four corners of the globe. Alongside the established galleries, the Asia One section showcases solo exhibitions by galleries in the East, from Turkey to New Zealand. Finally, the Art Futures section is reserved for galleries opened after 2004 and showcases 1-2 artists who are 35 or younger. Tickets priced at S$250 for general admission.

Utopia Music Festival 2012

May 5-6. Sydney, Australia. www.utopiamusicfestival.com.au
If your soul yearns for the heavy rumble of deep bass and shrieking treble, then head down under for Sydney’s electronic music romp. Featuring 16 local DJ’s spinning everything from hard dance to happy hardcore, this festival will be heavy enough for even the most seasoned dub step fan. The lineup includes Brennan Heart, with her hit “Life We Dream of,” Coone and Art of Fighters. Tickets are sold nationwide at Moshtix and cost $79 for general entry.

Audi Fashion Festival Singapore

May 16-20. Singapore. www.audifashionfestival.com/2012
The Audi Fashion Festival pushes the envelope with a much-anticipated collection featuring superstar stylist Nicola Formichetti’s recent designs for Thierry Mugler, the couture dresses of Roland Mouret, plus a slew of local solo and group shows by the likes of RAOUL, alldressedup, Mae Pang, Max.Tan and PARCO next NEXT. Expect catwalk fashion shows, over-the-top after parties and certainly enough bubbles and vino to keep the models happy. Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, make sure to be seen in the Tent@Orchard if you’re interested in rubbing shoulders with Singapore’s elite. Ticketing information TBA.

Beijing International Automotive Exhibition

Apr 25-May 2. China International Exhibition Center, Beijing. www.china-autoshow.com
With major auto companies putting China at the top of their lists this year, Beijing is the new Geneva when it comes to showing off cutting-edge technology and innovative concept cars. This mammoth auto show will see the China International Exhibition Center crammed with products from some 2,100 companies, with 990 vehicles on display, 89 of which will be making their world debuts.

June

Dragon Boat Festival

Jun 23. Beijing, China
Falling on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the dragon boat races are a widely celebrated event, which combines cultural celebrations, fit guys and a keen competitive spirit. Commemorating poet and patron, Qu Yuan, the story goes that after he fell into the Miluo River, the people of Chin launched their boats towards Qu Yuan and threw rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo in the water to deter the carnivorous fish of the river from eating him. During the festival, expect to try zongzi, a glutinous, pyramid-shaped rice treat, filled with a variety of tasty items and stuffed in a bamboo shoot. The festival is popular all over Asia, and will be celebrated in multiple cities.

Shanghai International Film Festival

Jun 16-24. 29 Weihai road, Shanghai. www.siff.com
Now in it’s 15th year, SIFF is one of the biggest festivals in Asia, well known for its Golden Goblet and International Student Shorts Awards. This year’s lineup includes six classics from Polish auteur Krzystof Kieslowski (The Decalogue and Three Colours), who died 15 years ago in Warsaw, when the festival first started.

Cooly Rocks

Jun 1-11. Gold Coast, Australia. www.coolyrockson.com
Over 80,000 people will gather for a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s featuring greasers, hot rods, pinups and rockabilly cool on a massive scale. The event culminates in a final weekend where all the streets are closed and 200 stalls are erected throughout the city. Think of it as the vintage Ratchada night market on steroids.

July

South Korean Boryeong Mud Festival 2012

Jul 14-24. Boryeong, South Korea
Held in the town of Boryeong, South Korea, this festival was originally formed to highlight the cosmetic benefits of the local mud on the skin, due to the minerals contained in the earth. Recently, the festival has exploded with tourists, as it’s an opportunity to get down and dirty and play in the mud. The 4-day festival is held at Daecheon beach and it’s suggested you go during the week to avoid the crowds. It’s a bit like Songkran, only a whole lot messier.

Fuji Rock Festival

July 27-29. Niigata Prefecture, Japan. www.fujirockfestival.com
Taking place at the Naeba Ski Resort, this three-day event features over 200 Japanese and international artists and is the largest outdoor musical event in Japan (and Asia). On for its 16th year, the Fuji Rock festival will feature major international acts such as The Stone Roses, Radiohead and The Shines. Make sure to bring a tent and some ca-mping supplies, because you’ll want to be in a Woodstock mood for this event set among the dramatic hills of Niigata. Ticket set at ¥16,800 (B6,310).

What: Tandem skydiving (Skydiving for amateurs)
Where: Thai Sky Adventures, 142/162 Soi Banluekanka, Sukhumvit Rd. Pattaya, 085-900-3412.
Price: B9,950 per jump, no training needed.

What: Wakeboarding
Where: Taco Lake, 175/1 Km.13, Bangna Trad Rd., 02-316-7809.
Price: Cable rates B300 for two hours, B500 for all day, 1 year unlimited pass B7,500. All day wakeboard and binding rental B200.

What: Bungee jumping
Where: Pattaya Jungle Bungee Jump, 25/5 Moo 12, Chonburi, 087-150-1166.
Price: Starts from B2,000 for a 165 ft. jump including insurance.

1.) Cindy for Jantzen’s latest swimwear collection, Birds of Paradise, mixes high-waist bottoms with line pattern tops in tropical vibrant tones, B4,550. 5/F, Central Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., 02-793-7777. BTS Chidlom
2.) Tops & Bottoms by Phuket Mermaids’s black bikini piece with a playful design, B1,990. 1/F, Cloud 9 at Gaysorn Shopping Centre, 999 Ploenchit Rd., 02-656-1389. BTS Chidlom.
3.) Greyhound’s latest swimwear collection is all about the high waist 1940s look, available in pink and navy blue, B3,995. 1/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-690-1000. BTS Siam.
4.)Topman’s latest swim shorts collection plays off two shades of color. Available in red and blue, B1,390. 1/F, Central World, Rama 1 Rd., 02-264-5555.
Local swim trunk brand Timo’s new Editions piece is available in blue and yellow, B3,000. 2/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-690-1000. BTS Siam.
5.) Ripcurl’s latest collection, the Mirage Flex Crew Boardshort might not look water-friendly at first glance, but it actually uses lightweight, waterproof fabric, available in red and light-blue at Ripcurl counters nationwide , B2,595. 1/F, Siam Center, Rama 1 Rd., 02-658-1000. BTS Siam.

Taiwan

The food: The island’s climate is sub-tropical, allowing for a bounty of great agriculture produce, from rice to seafood. Taiwan’s cuisine is characterized by stews (mostly with lamb) and the use of wheat flour dough instead of steamed rice, as seen in xiao long bao.
The place: Ran Nam Toahu Yung Her (also Taohu Yung Hoe or He) certainly looks exotic with its food stuffs stacked up behind the cashier and an open kitchen that allows for plenty of banter in languages we can’t begin to comprehend. The stews are pure meaty bliss. The chunks of beef or goat (B150 for a bowl of noodles) are buttery soft without having lost their consistency, their juices preserved in the thick, herby broths in which they are cooked. Another must-try is the xiao long bao (B155)—the dough is very thin and the soup is naturally sweet.
Ran Nam Toahu Yung Her, 68 Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Rd., 02-635-0003. www.sukanyayonghe.com. BTS Chong Nonsi. Open daily 11am-10pm.

Hainan

The food: Hainan or Hai Lam is a small island in the South China Sea, where seafood reigns supreme. Just like other Asian cuisines, there’s a big focus on noodles and rice, the most famous specialty being Hainanese chicken rice. The original dish, Wenchang chicken, is now popular through Southeast Asia, where it’s often called Hainanese chicken rice (we, of course, call it khao man gai) and comes with subtle variations.
The place: Despite moving from Ploenchit to the edge of Bangkok, Suan Sone’s air-con shophouse is still home to some of the best and most authentic Hai Lam noodles (B50) in the city—a thicker, shorter version of our sen lek noodles. The soup they are served with comes with a choice of beef or pork. Both meats are very tender and juicy. Of course, they also do the Hainanese chicken rice (B40).
Suan Sone, 103-105 Pracharat Soi 7, Bang Sue, 02-587-5344. Open daily 8am-6pm.
The other place: Located on a quiet bend of the Chao Phraya River, Kuan Ah is about as stylish as a cafeteria, more function than fashion. The focus here is obviously on the food, which is terrific, the kind of confident, presentation-be-damned cuisine you can only get in places that have been in business this long. We do recommend the pae toon ya jeen (goat stew with Chinese herbal medicine, B300 for small), another famous Hainanese dish, which is very addictive.
Kuan Ah, 884/9 Rama 3 Rd., 02-682-7747-8. Open daily 10am-10pm.

Tae-Jiew

The food: Tae-Jiew, Teochew or Chaozhou is commonly known for the lightness and subtlety of its flavor. In the region of Chaoshan, the cuisine is more about stewing, braising and steaming. Located close to the ocean, steamed fish in soy sauce is a big classic there. Other famous dishes are goose in five spices, fish balls and oysters.
The place: With its typical red and gold color scheme, Lim Kwong Meng (a.k.a. “the 1999” restaurant) serves a variety of perfectly executed traditional dishes ranging from roast suckling pig to hue sae—raw sliced fish sprinkled with white sesame and dipped in sweet-and-sour sauce.
Lim Kwong Meng, 294 Chulalongkorn Soi 5, Rama 4 Rd., 02-216-8065. www.lkm1999.com. Open daily 11am-2pm, 5-10pm.
The other place: Another Tae-Jiew kitchen, the venerable institution Yim Yim has been around for some 80 years—a sign it is some of the best Tae-Jiew food you’ll get in Bangkok. We recommend ham with goat skin served with canned asparagus and a mayonnaise dressing with crunchy sugar. The meat itself, with that thin layer of goat’s skin, once plunged into the accompanying rice vinegar, is a pure delight—robust, meaty, but lean. The goat skin is flavorful without being smelly, thanks to very careful washing. Yim Yim is also famous for its chicken soup, a wonderfully flavorful broth—just don’t be shocked if a foot or head sticks out of your bowl.
Yim Yim, 89 Soi Yaowaphani, Yaowarat Rd., 02-224-2203-5. Open daily 11am-2pm, 5-10pm.

Szechuan

The food: Szechuan cuisine is perhaps the strongest in character—pungent and spicy due to its wide use of chili and garlic to increase your body temperature in the cool weather. The techniques used are mostly stir-frying and braising. Dishes like mapo doufu (stir-fried tofu in chili and bean curd sauce) and gong bao chicken (sweet and sour stir-fried chicken) have become famous worldwide.
The place: Ta Yang or Giew Jeen is a small shophouse that looks like a photocopy shop with its decrepit glass front. As its name represents, Giew Jeen or wonton is the highlight here, as well as the mapo doufu, whose strong flavors manage to balance spicy, sweet and salty. Another must try is their fried eggplant. You’ll spot every table ordering one plate because of its appetizing smell and silky texture.
Ta Yang, 5/4 Soi Ngamduplee, Rama 4 Rd., 02-679-7019. Open daily 10:30am–2pm, 5pm-9:30pm.

Hotel Spot: Four in One

Feeling lazy? Now at Silk Road (3/F, Plaza Athenee, 61 Wireless Rd., 02-650-8800. www.plazaatheneebangkok.com), you can discover four Chinese regions’ cuisines in one setting. Covering Szechuan, Hong Kong, Cantonese and Beijing, expect dishes like fried Maine lobster with Szechuan bean curd and sautéed blue crab with marinated pork sauce. Through Jun 30.

On May 12-13 (12-4:30pm), Café Brio at the lobby of the Grand Copthorne Waterfront will be serving lunch and high tea buffets featuring barbecue items such as prosciutto wrapped with cantaloupe, jumbo king prawn with asparagus spear and mild spicy tomato cream sauce, and crispy pork belly with Thai chili sauce. Mothers will take home a goodie bag and stand a chance to win attractive lucky draw prizes. $52 per person and $92 with free flow of sparkling wine, house wine, beer, juice and soft drinks (excludes additional charges). Book by April 29 and enjoy a 20 percent early bird discount.

On May 12-13, Bontá Italian Restaurant & Bar will have a special Mother's Day menu featuring trout, homemade angelhair pasta and braised Wagyu beef cheek. $88++ with coffee or tea.

From May to July, District 10 Bar & Restaurant will give a couple of classic dishes a blue spin to represent tranquility and stability, which are said to be mommy-like traits. Expect blueberry pancakes with maple syrup, penne with blue cheese sauce and cherry tomatos, as well as three blue curacao-based cocktails: Nutty Sea, Barrio 10 and Long Beach.

If you just want to get out of the city for a bit, The Glass House at Hotel Fort Canning is a great option. There'll be an instant photo booth set up on Mother's Day (May 13), as well as a special buffet lunch (available 12-3pm for $68++ per adult) featuring Asian favorites such as sushi rolls, pan fried carrot cake, Singapore laksa, roasted spring chicken, assorted nyonya kueh and even an ice kacang station. Moms dine free with a UOB credit card (minimum four paying adults).

Planning to spend the weekend in Orchard? Goodwood Park is offering special Mother's Day menus (May 12-13) throughout the hotel, with a lunch/high tea buffet (12-2:30pm, 3-5:30pm; $54) at the Coffee Lounge serving items like pork knuckle with fermented beancurd and chicken curry with bread. A four-course set lunch ($88) and six-course set dinner ($118) will also be available at Gordon Grill, with everything from cold angel hair pasta with abalone, caviar and white truffle vinaigrette, to slow-cooked ibérico pork loin with savoy cabbage, apple puree and natural jus. You may want to take home the hotel's signature durian mousse cake ($58-155) too to celebrate.

Dinner at the airy Graze at Martin No. 38 gains a refreshing experience with executive chef Chris Donnellan's special Mother's Day creations: the eight-hour slow-roasted lamb with portobello mushroom mousseline, sweet corn puree and confit shallots ($38), as well as the Spanner crab omelette with black truffle salsa ($27). Moms will receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco or mocktail.

For a quiet and relaxing Sunday brunch, head to Graze at Rochester Park for their charcuterie and seafood platters. Special dinner menus will also be available, with highlights such as crispy barramundi and roasted lamb leg. Mothers celebrating with family will enjoy a complimentary Mimosa.

Thai restaurant Kha will make an exception for Mother's Day in Singapore and open that Sunday (May 13) with an attractive set menu for four and a special one-day-only item: the mother-in-law eggs with chili jam, traditional Thai sauce nam prik plaa and herbs. Moms enjoy an anti-oxidant mocktail on the house.

Aside from a menu featuring dishes popular with the ladies (they're Thai crabmeat salad, soft shell crab vermicelle in hotpot and seabass fillet with black pepper sauce if you're interested), Lerk Thai is also offering 90% off the Mother's Day set menu ($198) for 90-year-old mothers, while 100-year-old mothers dine for free.

Chef Laurent Peugeot will be whipping out recipes from his own mother's collection for LP+Tetsu's elaborate Mother's Day dinner menu (May 12-13; $150++ per person). If you haven't experienced Chef Peugeot's adventurous culinary style, this will be a good time to try, with Japanese favorites such as tairagai and itoyori fillet, scampi and French mainstays veal and Brillat-Savarin cheese as highlights. Moms also receive a heart-shaped chocolate cake and attendance to a free cooking demo in June.

From May 12-13, Intercontinental Singapore will host buffet high tea and dinner, as well as set menus special for Mother's Day. The high tea buffet (12:30-4pm; $42) at Olive Tree will feature Indian food, dim sum and local delights such as Teochew porridge and kueh pie tee, while the dinner buffet (7-10:30pm; $58will consist of a fresh seafood selection, assorted maki roll and sashimi, plus Olive Tree's signature drunken prawns in herbal broth. If your mom loves Cantonese fare, pick a set menu (11:40am-3:30-pm and 6:30-10:30pm; $288-988 for up to 10 persons) at Man Fu Yuan, which includes longevity buns.

For large families, we recommend checking out the TungLok Group of restaurants, which will make available special menus for the period of May 1-13. Lao Beijing ($168-688 for up to 10 persons) will have traditional roast Peking duck and Beijing-style sweet and sour fish amongst other things, while LingZhi ($168-578 for up to 10 persons) will serve signature vegetarian dishes such as chilled chlorella lace noodles served with spicy sauce and chilled bird's nest with apricots. Our Muslim friends may want to indulge in some hearty Indonesian fare at Garuda Padang ($30-112 for up to 4 persons) with beef rendang, ketupat and gado gado, as well as deep-fried mackerel with belado sauce as highlights.

From 12pm onwards on May 13, Picotin will be serving a special Mother's Day lunch menu ($55++ per person), featuring goat's cheese salad, lobster bisque, grilled salmon, roasted lamb and desserts like banoffee pie and rhubarb tart.

If your mom loves Penang cuisine, treat her to a buffet at Copthorne King's Hotel's Princess Terrace, where she can pick from dishes like double-boiled chicken with ginseng and herbal soup, assam laksa, Hokkien prawn mee soup and kueh pie tee. Available on May 4-6, 11 and 13 for $48-58. 

At Putien, you can pick from six set menus ($128-578++ for up to 10 persons), all prepared in the traditional, healthy Putien way with only one deep-fried dish per menu. Enjoy delicacies such as double-boiled duck soup with abalone and cordyceps, braised abalone with oyster mushroom and broccoli and hot yam paste with pumpkin, accompanied by "Mazu Ping An" noodles (available with every menu)—a significant Fujian dish for longevity. Available May 1-14.

Mothers dine free (with every three paying adults) at the Concorde Hotel's Spices Cafe, where they've got the Weekend Afternoon Tea Buffet (noon-4:30pm) and International Buffet Dinner (6:30-10pm) May 12-13. For $50-68++, you can savor dishes such as Pacific clam marinated in Thai sauce, fresh tiger prawns with French bean salad and four treasure soup of abalone. Mom also receives a free serving of whole baby abalone with sea cucumber, fish maw and mushroom at dinner.

Another good option is The White Rabbit's Mother's Day Brunch ($98), available from 10:30am-1pm for the early-risers and 1-3pm. Expect items like gazpacho with prawns, buttermilk waffles and bouillabaisse, as well as a spread of desserts including Baileys bread and butter pudding, and mango-passion fruit mousse.

Just want a simple brunch? Check out our list of brunch places for special occasions. Or take her out to one of Singapore's best spots for high tea. 

More Neighborhood Guide:

- HONG KONG —Tai Ping

- SINGAPORE —Tiong Bahru

Eat

Antipodean Cafe

20 Jalan Telawi 2, +603-2282-0411
This modern Kiwi/Australian style cafe uses the very best coffee blends produced by Indonesian-based franchise Merdeka Coffee. They back it up with a solid menu of brunch/breakfast classics in a simple café setting. The buzz does mean it can be hard to get a seat.

Chawan

69-G Jalan Telawi 3, +603-2287-5507
Half coffee specialist, half upmarket mamak (the Malay equivalent of a street-side 24-hour diner), Chawan has a devoted crowd who come for the impressive range of coffee and inviting, affordable traditional Malay menu. For a light snack, try the Keropok Lekor, a popular doughy finger food. To wash it down, order kopi hang tuah, Penang’s regional rocket fuel.

El Meson Espanol

61-63, Jalan Telawi 3, +603-2282-8290. www.elmeson.com.my
A bar vibe, thanks to a vibrant color scheme and quirky touches, make this place a good spot to enjoy the decent wine menu while snacking on small plates and hearty Spanish classics like rabbit stew and Iberico cheeks.

F by Buffalo Kitchens

69-1, Jalan Telawi Tiga, +603-2201-9307
Head up the graffiti-covered wooden stairs to find this very contemporary French/Italian eatery, with an eco-touch. They use recycled furniture and flooring, make all their own sauces and have a very impressive wine list. We love the large open kitchen and the great vantage point offered by the al fresco balcony.

Les Deux Garcons

36 Jalan Telawi, +603-2284-7833
If you’re into exquisite looking patisseries then this is the place to come. Only open a couple of months, the wonderfully understated little store has a very chic atmosphere and a beautiful selection of desserts, including their best-selling macaroons.

The Social@Bangsar

57-59, Jalan Telawi 3, +603-2282-2260. www.thesocial.com.my
A favorite for its al fresco seating out on the terrace and laid-back ambiance, this local hot spot is at its best on lazy Sunday mornings and after work. They have a good choice of imported beers and an Asian/inter mix of gastro pub style grub.

Plan B

Bangsar Village 1, G5, Ground Floor No. 1, Jalan Telawi. www.thebiggroup.co/planb
Currently the hippest spot in the hood, Plan B is a modern coffee shop cum bar and deli. Good bistro style food, big sofas, a nice outdoor terrace and a seasonal selection of single origin beans make this a top spot to hang.

Nirawa Banana Leaf

43, Jalan Telawi 3, +603-2287-8445
A non-descript shop house that’s always overflowing onto the street with hungry punters enjoying the authentic Indian and Penang-style fare. Don’t miss the dishes served on banana leaves (fried fish, crab, chicken and more) which are eaten by hand and come with additional refills.

Shop

Ben’s General Food Store

Bangsar Village 1, Ground Floor, Jalan Telawi. +603-2284-8790. www.thebiggroup.co/bgfs
While the classy all-white bistro, with its fresh pastas and salads, is well worth a visit, we really love the food and drink store next door. From Wagyu beef and imported pasta to fresh olives and St Agur blue cheese, this place is all about the best in imported and organic food.

C Zip Lee Book Store

No. 1 & 3, Jalan Telawi 3. www.cziplee.com
This book store has been in Bangsar since 1968 but while it has recently moved out of its lovely original building, it has just headed up the street to a larger premise. Thankfully it’s still packed with a huge range of titles; they’re especially good for non-fiction stuff like travel and cooking. The selection of stationery is just as impressive.

Pantry Magic

49, Jalan Telawi Tiga, +603-2201-1578
OK, we know that there are branches in Bangkok but they’re in malls and not in a beautiful terraced shop house with its own quaint country kitchen vibe. Inside you can browse a huge range of high-end kitchen ware from copper pans to retro scales. They also run occasional cooking classes if you want to learn how to use this stuff.

Juice

46-46-1 Jalan Telawi 5, +603-2283-5811. www.clotinc.com
The KL branch of a chain out of HK, Juice is a long-term resident in the Bangsar community where it serves up urban fashion and sportswear by the likes of Nike, Converse and CLOT in an uber cool showroom.

Blueberry Boutique

8, Jalan Tewi 4, +603-2283-1663
This tiny little store is easy to miss, but it’s worth hunting out for fans of distinct vintage styles with a cute girly touch and lots of bright colors. They stock a wide range of women’s wear, from retro skirts and tailored dresses to shoes and bags.

Om Art

4G, Jalan Telawi, +603-2201-9588
Another new arrival, this gallery space has been open for six months. They have a specific focus on Chinese art featuring both local and Taiwanese artists.

More Neighborhood Guide:

- HONG KONG —Tai Ping

- KUALA LUMPUR—Bangsar

Eat

Open Door Policy

19 Yong Siak St., +65-6221-9307
A newbie from chef-owner Ryan Clift of the Tippling Club, who’s partnered up with Spa Esprit and Harry Grover of 40 Hands, this casual bistro is already drawing in the crowds.

40 Hands

#01-12, 78 Yong Siak St., +65-6225-8545
Unbeatable coffee and a convivial vibe (they’re packed every weekend) continue to make this year-old joint the place to see and be seen in.

The Orange Thimble

#01-68, Blk. 56, Eng Hoon St., +65-9750-3989
A great place for brunch or an espresso. Highlights include its Breakfast Burger and the BBC (bacon, brie and cranberry), with artworks adorning its wall and a nice open space out back.

Drips

#01-05, 82 Tiong Poh Rd., +65-6222-0400
This old-school-styled café and bakery is one of the newer additions here, dedicated to whipping up sweet and savory treats as well as coffee standards.

Foodie Market Place

225 Outram Rd., +65-6224-3290
A great alternative to Cold Storage, with friendlier service to boot. Cheese, ice cream, yogurt and coffee grounds are well-stocked at this new spot—great if you’re passing through at the end of the day.

Shop

Books Actually

9 Yong Siak St., +65-6222-9195
Embrace your inner bookworm at this delightful indie store. They stock the widest collection of Singaporean literary publications including some out-of-print titles. And they also host the fortnightly Babette’s Feast literary get-together.

Strangelets

7 Yong Siak St., +65-6222-1456
Having moved from Amoy Street, Strangelets is still one of the best spots in town for cool lamps, accessories, bags, notebooks and other unusual objets d’art.

Bhutan Shop

1D Yong Siak St., +65-6236-0750
Dedicated to all things Bhutan, this space carries a small selection of contemporary works by Bhutanese artists (with 20 percent of sales donated to help transport children’s books to Bhutan’s rural schools), organic teas, handmade bags and other lifestyle products. They also organize specially curated tours of the country.

Nana & Bird

#01-02, 79 Chay Yan St., +65-9117-0430
What started out as a pop-up concept store is now a staple among trendy young things. Highlights here include accessories by local brand By Invite Only and ready to wear by emerging Guangzhou label aijek. It only opens on weekends, 11am-7pm.

White Canvas

#01-41, 78 Guan Chuan St., +65-6220-8723
Setting the tone here since 2009, this truly indie gallery is a friendly and welcoming space showcasing emerging local and regional artists. Currently on show through November are the watercolor works of Ong Kim Seng.

Flea & Trees

#01-10 Blk. 68, Seng Poh Lane, +65-8139-1133
Opened just last month, this is a treasure trove of eclectic, mostly one-of-a-kind, vintage furniture, clothes, accessories, books, ceramics, homeware and magazines. It’s founded by designer Terence Yeung and his wife Bella Koh.

Recreation

Thrive

72 Seng Poh Rd., +65-9687-0854
Not just a regular fitness center, newbie Thrive specializes in workouts that focus on natural human movement patterns, with personal trainers watching over your every move (in a good way). Rates start at S$96 (B2500) for an introductory session.

Stay

Nostalgia Hotel

77 Tiong Bahru Rd., +65-6808-1818
Quaint and charming (even if the rooms are incredibly small), locals often come here to watch football at the alfresco bar Potion out front. You should, too.

INTERVIEW: Kenny Leck

Owner, Books Actually

Why open a shop here?
Because the rent was dirt cheap one year ago. I can’t be more brutally honest than that.
How is this a great neighbourhood?
It has always been great, even way before the gentrification. Just ask anyone who has lived in the area for at least five years. It could be the great variety of food, proximity to town and the CBD, friendly neighbours or just the relaxing atmosphere that is inherent within the TB estate.
Are you worried about the evolution of the neighbourhood?
Yes. We hope to see a balance between the gentrification and the original “oldness” of the estate. We hope to remain a neighbourhood bookstore that serves the residents here.

INTERVIEW: Maria Ng

Co-owner, Orange Thimble

Why did you choose to open a shop here?
When we started it was a relatively quiet neighborhood. But we felt that given the uniqueness of this historical enclave it would only be a matter of time before it became a hotspot.
Why is this a great neighborhood?
The space. The people. The uniqueness created by the many different stakeholders here. The government has taken a lighter touch and allowed the place to evolve in its own unique way. A new generation of Singaporeans has begun to appreciate the old, especially those who are educated or have travelled extensively overseas. Expatriates have also discovered that TB is a very convenient and increasingly exciting place to stay, work and enjoy.
How has the neighborhood changed?
There is danger of it becoming another Dempsey Hill [a popular Singaporean lifestyle destination dominated by cafes and restaurants, with a limited life outside the commercial spaces]. But I don’t think this will happen. Tiong Bahru is 90 percent homes (it has 700 residential units) and 10 percent business. So business will never dominate. As more entrepreneurs come here—I heard 2 more bakeries are coming soon—it will make Tiong Bahru even more attractive. Yet, because of how it is constructed, the neighborhood will always be quietly charming. The business areas are tucked away very neatly. Home as a sanctuary is only a door away. And evolution is good.

More Neighborhood Guides:

- SINGAPORE —Tiong Bahru

- KUALA LUMPUR—Bangsar

Shop

Start From Zero

18A-B Tai Ping Shan St., +852-2858-9001, www.startfromzero.org
Street artists Start From Zero have a dark, sleek corner store selling framed graphic posters of their work as well as men’s fashion and accessories.

Tallensia Floral Art

G/F, 6C Tai Ping Shan St., Sheun Wan, +852-2239-4300
More than just a flower shop, Tallensia Floral Art holds what they call “flower jamming” sessions every Sunday from 2-5pm. They’ll provide a glass container, and you can pick from among any of the colorful blooms in the shop to put together your own flower arrangement. It’s HK$380 (B1,500), but at the end of the afternoon you do get to take home your fragrant creation.

Chum5

5 Tai Ping Shan St., Shueng Wan, +852-2548-2888
This little shop sells over-the-top footwear imported from Taiwan, Italy and the US. Think colorful high heels for women as well as cloth shoes for gents that tend toward the hipster end of the spectrum.

Haji Gallery

G/F, 24C Tai Ping Shan St., Sheung Wan, +852-2891-1164.
This modest gallery-slash-boutique, was among the first ripple of lifestyle stores to make the street the quiet-yet-quirky haven it is today. Owned by a former radio DJ Mini Choi and her artist husband, it aims to provide a platform for newer artists to display their work. Stop by and browse the latest exhibition (currently a photography show, with prints going for a very reasonable HK$500 a pop) or to pick up trinkets created by local artists and designers, like postcards, bags and T-shirts.

Eat

Teakha

Shop B, 18 Tai Ping Shan St., Sheung Wan, +852-2858-9185
This small and cozy teashop and store is newly opened, offering delicious scones and fragrant teas. The teas are artisanal and organic, while the products include ceramic cups, handmade crafts and one-of-a-kind clothing, mostly with Chinese elements. Owner and manager Nana Chan says she prefers including products which have a story behind them.

Homei

22 Tai Ping Shan St., Sheung Wan, +852-2857-9991
Reckoned to be one of the smallest cafes in Hong Kong at less than 150 sq feet, this petite-yet-friendly café, sat next to Haji Gallery whips up homemade cakes and biscuits. Don’t forget to try the freshly-made ginger citron tea.

Knockbox Coffee Company

Shop B, 14 Tai Ping Shan St., Sheung Wan. [email protected]
This micro-sized café with a few stools is a heaven for both coffee enthusiasts and amateurs. Knockbox has 4-5 specialty coffees on the menu picked to provide a diverse flavor. Live a little and order the Coffee Grand Slam and you’ll get three cups of coffee, which could mean (1) three different coffees, (2) the same coffee for three, or (3) all the same bean but three different brews.

Interview: Patrick Tam

Owner, Knockbox Coffee Company
Why did you choose to open your shop here?
We found the neighborhood by pure coincidence. During the initial set up we shared half a shop with our friend, who is a fashion designer. We wanted a space to set up a brew bar where local coffee enthusiasts can gather and share their skills and experience about coffee. As one of the first batch of locals to have enrolled into the SCAA Q-grader exam to become a professional cupper, this space was useful for me to roast small batches of specialty coffee to grade and judge.
How has the neighborhood changed recently?
It’s undergoing a lot of change. From a remote, tucked away neighborhood famous for cemetery services and a killer plague in the 1940s, it has become a hotspot, attracting artistic types to set up galleries and designer-warehouses. I think the main reason is simply its proximity to the Soho district, which means easy access for expats, yet the tucked away location means lower rents and a quieter ambience.
And are you worried about its evolution?
It’s always a compromise between better accessibility and the price of rent. We have already witnessed the closure of individual traders who were selling extraordinary, one-of-a-kind products due to increases in rent. With the probable construction of an uphill escalator, the neighborhood will soon be crowded with pedestrians. When that happens, chain stores might start to compete with us for space and ultimately we’ll be forced to move.

Interview: Nana Chan

Owner, Teakha
Why did you choose to open your shop here?
The area best represents the Teakha spirit I am trying to convey, which is a slower, simpler lifestyle so lacking for Hong Kongers today. I love this neighbourhood for precisely its non-Hong Kong-ness. The fact that you can still find old cobblers, steel makers, antique dealers and coffin shops a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Central. The way shop owners and residents alike can mingle around the streets the way real neighbors used to interact. The mix of expats and local Chinese residents, and the greenery surrounding it.
How has the neighborhood changed recently?
The area has changed a lot and so far for the better. New interesting independent boutiques and galleries pop up every few weeks but I dread the day it will become like another Soho as the area is gradually bought out by developers.

There’s a new hot spot emerging in Siam Square. Siam Vintage, opened for less than a month, is a gallery-like space hidden on the second floor of the building situated between Soi 9 and 10. Ignore the Greyhound-esque café by the entrance, the shops within are all about clothing and accessories you won’t find anywhere else. Think an artsy renovation of Bonanza, only it’s one fourth the size and a lot more hip.

Outcast Store

Selling products from the likes of Nike, Converse and Casio, this store may look mainstream. But take a closer peek and you’ll see that everything is a limited edition or special import from Japan. Sneakers from colorful Air Walks to leather boat shoes start from B2,000 and watches from Casio and Boy London from B3,500. Our favorite is the G-Shock GA 100 watch for B5,500.
Open daily from 11am-9pm. 089-107-2282

Muse 21

Don’t be surprised by the owners’ accents, as they are from Taiwan. Their products, too, hail from Taiwan but also from Korea. The shop’s sophisticated décor is all wooden showcases and dark colors to highlight their range of jewelry and gadgets, such as extravagant iPhone cases ranging from superhero themes to crystal studded designs and Lady Gaga tributes starting from B300. Necklaces, rings, and bracelets in faux silver and gold finishes sit alongside roses and skulls crafted as pendants or tiaras (starting from B100). But our favorite has to be the red rubber echo chamber for mobile phones that effectively projects the sound to great effect, B950.
Open daily from 11am-9pm. 080-282-8480, www.facebook.com/MUSE21.Jewelry.Gadgets

ZM Bangkok

With its messy fashion atelier vibe, men and women’s wear and accessories shop ZM Bangkok immediately stands out from the strip’s neatly decorated stores. Inside, warm vintage tones meet ethnic details, such as white and beige t-shirts featuring batik textile prints and native patterns inspired by temples in Thailand. Men’s and women’s tops start from B350, while unisex shopping bags, available in leather, canvas and patch work, start from B750. Leather iPhone sleeves in light colors from B400 are also available but we’ve set our sights on a black leather patch shopping bag for B950.
Open daily from 11am-9pm. 081-992-9901, www.facebook.com/zhowcase

Onion Store Bangkok

If you notice a flock of girls jammed into this shop, it’s because the owner of this space happens to be the new guitarist of Slur, Sorasak House. Begun as an online store, Onion sells imported accessories from the United States and the UK such as resolutely retro sunglasses, shoes, and Urbanears headphones. Sunglasses from Alexander Hi-Tek and Quay start from B800, preppy canvas bags starts from B1,090, suede shoes from B1,790 and t-shirts in pastel colors featuring animal logos from B650. Of course, not everything is quite this cheap, with a pair of gorgeous Henry Holland by Le Specs sunglasses going for B2,990.
Open daily from 12pm-9pm. 081-174-4108, www.onionbkk.com

Kincucino Café

With its Industrial revolution theme combining raw brick walls, wooden tables and wire lamps hanging from the pipes, dining in Kincucino Café is a bit of a trip. While serving Italian and Japanese fusion dishes starting from B120, their colorful desserts are the standouts: lemon tarts, Panna cotta and mini-cupcakes from B100. The orange light fused with the gloomy atmosphere makes it perfect for after work drinks as they also have live music every Friday and Saturday night. Do try the Ginza cocktail (mixture of soju, Japanese gold sake, lychee syrup, shredded ginger, lemon skin and red grape syrup) B200—after a couple you should be set for the night.
Open daily, 3pm-10pm. 083-494-5000

Siam Vintage: 2/F, Siam Square between Soi 9 and 10, Rama 1 Rd., Open daily 11am-9pm. BTS Siam.