When your smartphone runs out of power, or when you’re bored in a meeting and your iPhone Doodle app won’t load, you’ll realize that there are just some situations when nothing’s quite as reliable as pen and paper. Instead of settling for flimsy jotter book material, check out these inspiring stationery stores that go where QWERTY keypads can’t.

Cityluxe

A great place for colorful fountain pens, leather-bound journals and classy desktop accessories. The Renaissance-style leather-covered notebooks ($34-69) come in a variety of rich colors, pens ($225-450) are handcrafted out of solid aluminum blocks. We also like the chic lizard print namecard holders by Luxo ($36), and the Axel BETA inkless pen ($38), which writes on both regular and glossy paper, and doesn’t smudge.

Prints

With two outlets in the CBD, Prints is a hit with corporate types. The gorgeous range of fabric hardcover journals ($19.40-29.90) is well worth a look—they’re thick enough to last you through the year. The store also scores points for its chic, minimalist décor—think floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves stacked according to color. Scrapbooking options (albums costs $41.90-79.90) are also set up on an island display like a mini paper market.

Kikki.K

This classy Swedish establishment stocks diaries and planners for just about everything—fashion, moments of inspiration, meals, chores and habits. It also carries an impressive variety of folders ($12.90 upwards) for sorting important documents, letters and recipes, ready-made wedding invitations and menu cards, among many others.

Smiggle

The Australian brand’s first Asian franchise opened here just three months ago and offers an assortment of colorful pens (Rainbow ballpoint scribblers, anyone?), notebooks with wacky illustrated hard covers ($9.95 each) and quirkier items like egg-shaped speakers ($24.95). Predictably, the store draws a fair number of squealing school kids so enter at your own risk.

Woodwould

This store is all dark parquet flooring, lacquered brown shelves and row upon row of paper accessories. There’s an interesting variety of journals, albums and sketchbooks, as well as 60s-inspired accessories ($8.90-14.90 for their vintage music range) like a tape dispenser and memo holder shaped like a vinyl record. Also worth a look are their planners ($20-28)—particularly good for inspiring you to keep that journal you’ve always talked about.

Lantern

Named after “Red Lantern Pier,” which just so happens to have been the landing point for Singapore’s first immigrants, this seems like an appropriate place to give a nod to history while celebrating the present. An urban oasis tucked away on top of the luxury boutique Fullerton Hotel, it boasts a splendid panoramic view of the Marina Bay precinct, and provides the ultimate exotic lounge-lizard setting for you to watch the parade in style. Plus, if it all gets a bit too much, you can cool off with a splash in the 25 meter pool, although rules dictate you have to be staying at the hotel to use it. Bah humbug.

Ku Dé Ta

We know, we know, we’re stating the obvious. But how can we talk about views of Marina Bay without mentioning the great Ku Dé Ta? Perched atop one of the most truly unique pieces of grand architecture, you can’t fail to enjoy the spectacle of the parade unfold below. With two packages on offer, you can choose between drinking in the club lounge from 4pm onwards, or scoffing the set menu in the restaurant. Plus, in case National Day wasn’t enough of an excuse to dress up in red and white, you can take advantage of the strict dress code, dust down the glad rags and look faaabulous, dahling. The set menu costs $288 per person, while the cover charge for the club lounge will set you back $150 (includes one drink.)

Boathouse

The masterminds behind Prel.ude rooftop bar are throwing Singapore a 46th birthday party for you to eat and drink the night away while watching, er, the official parade. We aren’t knocking it though; as you munch your way through their special four-course dinner and take advantage of the free flow house wines and Heineken, you’ll get the best view of the fireworks exploding over your head, making you feel as though they’re literally falling on you. Tickets cost $188 per person, and there’s also a live DJ to get you in a celebratory mood.

Video, an Art, a History 1965-2010

Who cares if the world of banking lost another number crunching serf? Switch off the news and turn your attention to a humorous critique of contemporary Singapore society. Lee Wen’s spectacular interactive video art installation World Class Society delivers that. In a sepulchral room imbued with white and designed like a prison cell, one visitor at a time watches, through a white cloth tube, a close-up of Lee Wen dressed like a typical civil servant, delivering a glib speech replete with the phrase, “World class.” You also receive a badge if you fill up a questionnaire; how Singaporean is that?!
Through Sep 18 at Singapore Art Museum

Dazzle: Tribute To Iconic Buildings In Singapore

Who said sequins are just for drama queens like the Dim Sum Dollies and Kumar? Upcoming local artist Simon Lim, a Peranakan, was so inspired by the intricate beadwork created by his ancestors that he incorporates them on his paintings of iconic Singaporean buildings like the Supreme Court. Lim thinks that by imbuing them with glittering little beads, more women can appreciate the architecture of the buildings; something he feels is a predominantly male terrain.
Through Aug 16 at Société Générale Private Banking Gallery.

One

To commemorate Singapore’s 46th birthday, local artist Kelvin Tan examines the crux of Singaporean identity in One, inspired by rojak and nuances of contemporary society. He presents effusive Pop Art mixed-media installations comprising techniques like screen printing, traditional painting, stenciling and relief. Iconic national symbols are remixed in migraine-inducing fluro hues . So you can expect former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew making a funky Banksy-inspired cameo on a wall (certainly more fun than watching him in his angelic whites on television during the National Day Parade).
Through Aug 9 at Esplanade Tunnel

• Ayam Penyet Ria
• Ban Leong Wah Hoe Seafood
• Kha
• Greenwood Fish Market
  
• One-Ninety
  
• Relish by Wild Rocket
• Sabai Fine Thai on the Bay
  
• The Seafood International Market & Restaurant

The coming seven days include two very important occasions: International Beer Day (Aug 5) and National Day (come on, we don’t have to tell you do we?). So what better way to celebrate than with a different Singaporean beer for every day of the week? After all the quality craft beers we’ve had in recent months, it’s time to revisit some true red-and-white classics (and sample others we’d sensibly tuned out). Happy holidays!

Baron’s Extra Strong Brew

11.8%, $6.90 for a 500ml can
There are boys, there are men and there are lunatics who base their beer purchases solely on the number before the “%” symbol. It pours a mystifying hazy gold, exudes a sickly, boozy odor and tastes like a combination of orange juice and an orange shot into your face with a cannon.

Baron’s Strong Brew

8.8%, $6.50 for a 633ml bottle
A potent fruitiness dominates, and while pleasant at first, it becomes overpowering as the beer warms. Somewhat mild for a beer of its strength, but too many will still leave you writhing in bed the next morning.

ABC Extra Stout

7%, $6.40 for a 633ml bottle
Creamy and opaque, deep brown in color with aromas of cocoa and roasted malt, this bold but balanced stout will put hair on your chest and meat on your bones (sorry ladies).

Tiger Crystal

4.3%, $3.40 for a 300ml bottle
Plain, simple and slightly sweet without the hoppy kick of a regular Tiger, its lack of flavor is easily addressed by jamming a wedge of lime down its neck.

Tiger

5%, $4.80 for a 633ml bottle
Bready and sweet with a creamy head and a well-balanced hop flavor that dances about like a national flag fluttering in the breeze. This is one brew that lives up to the hype and promotional budget. An export we can be proud of.

Anchor Smooth Pilsener Beer

4.5%, $3.80 for a 633ml bottle
Malty and crisp with subdued bitterness and a light body, a taste of this doesn’t quite make you feel like the rugged seamen its name suggests, but it goes down pretty smoothly.

*I-S PICK* Raffles Export Lager

4.5%, $3.50 for a 500ml can
Pale, similar to the man for whom it’s named we imagine, Raffles raises a few questions: “Why are our lagers, export lagers and pilseners so similar?”, “What does a certain grand dame think of its name and palm symbol?” and, most importantly, “Why isn’t this beer being promoted more?” It’s drinkable, matches Tiger pound-for-pound and is our new first choice when it comes to budget drinking.

* This feature was in no way paid for, sponsored by, done as a favor for or otherwise affiliated with Asia Pacific Breweries. The fact that they control the entire domestic beer market (a Beeropoly?) is a happy coincidence. But if you’re reading this fellas, and feel like sending us some samples, we’re quite partial to Tiger or Raffles. You can keep the Baron’s for yourselves. Thanks muchly.

A quick 2-hour flight from Bangkok, Shenzhen is famous for its choice of super well-done knock-offs. But with world-class galleries, artist villages, amusement parks, mega-malls and even military museums, there’s a whole lot more to offer than fake designer bags.

Clamber around on a decomissioned Soviet aircraft carrier

Fans of military history should definitely make a trip out to Minsk World, arguably one of the strangest theme parks you’re likely to find in Shenzhen—trust us, that’s saying something. Minsk is the name of an old Soviet-era aircraft carrier, which is now docked here as a permanent exhibition space, showcasing various artifacts such as planes, helicopters and army kit. Visitors are free to roam around the flight deck and on certain floors of the vessel. For a small fee, you can even take a boat ride round the starboard side to get a glimpse of The Minsk in all its glory. Staff march around dressed in military-like uniforms, and stage musical performances throughout the day.
Jinrong Rd., Shatoujiao, +86-755-2535-5333, www.szminsk.com.

Ride the rollercoasters

Shenzhen’s answer to Dream World, Happy Valley is a massive amusement park divided into nine zones: Sunshine Beach, Shangri-La Woods, Typhoon Bay, Goldmine Town, Playa Maya Water Park (open in the summer only), Happy Times, Mount Adventure, Spanish Square and Cartoon City. There are more than 100 amusements here, including several large rides that are not for the faint-hearted. Our personal favorite is the River Rapids Ride, where you don a raincoat and get pelted by other visitors armed with water cannons as you float by. There’re also the obligatory street-side performances to watch out for, including acrobatics, extreme sports, break dancing and magic displays. Entrance is RMB170 for adults and RMB85 for children over 1.1 meters tall.
Overseas Chinese Town, Nanshan District, +86-755-2694-9184, sz.happyvalley.cn

Go nuts for knickknacks

Give your home a revamp by heading to mega mall complex Yizhan Centre for some stylish knickknacks and decorative items. These large multi-level shopping towers have virtually everything, from cushions, lamps, crockery and accessories to whimsical pieces, such as a life-sized horse sculpture donning a lampshade as a hat. Be sure to keep your eye on the prize because you can easily get lost in the maze of shops. Unlike Luohu, shopkeepers here are much more friendly and easygoing, but be sure to haggle down inflated prices.
Yizhan Centre, Meiyuan Rd., Luohu District, www.yizhanzx.com.

Enjoy a taste of Europe

You could lose yourself for days at OCT East—a massive entertainment theme park covering over nine kilometers of lush greenery in Dameisha, a beachy resort town in eastern Shenzhen. Combining two theme parks, three “scenic” towns recreating historic European towns (hence the full name: Overseas Chinese Town), and four resort hotels, a temple and an ancient Mandarin mansion to boot. For a break from the kiddie rides and swan-shaped paddle boats, go for a game of golf at one of the two 18-hole golf courses, take a dip in the onsite hot springs or unwind with a steaming cup of Chinese tea surrounded by a tea plantation inside the Tea Stream Resort Valley.
OCT East, East Dameisha, Yantian District, +86-755-8888-9888, www.octeast.com.

Get lost in geek heaven

SEG is the biggest electronics mall in the area. Be warned that means there’ll be a lot of hawkers out front determined to sell you pirated software and laptops. Once inside, you’ll find a large variety of more genuine products. The first two floors sell electronic components like switches, tapes and conductors—so stay away unless you’re a serious nerd. Instead, head up to the third to eighth floors for laptops and computer accessories like hard drives, memory sticks, GPS receivers and MP3 players. On the fourth floor, you’ll find products from big brand names like Samsung and Sony. Be warned: they aren’t necessarily as cheap as you’d expect. Don’t forget to bargain, bargain, bargain.
46 Huaqiang Bei Lu, Futian

Get a portrait made

If your walls at home are looking plain, hop in a cab and head out to the Dafen Art Village. Consisting of several blocks lined with galleries and workshops (some of which serve excellent coffee), this is the place to come for oil paintings for just about any occasion. You’ll find many reproductions of modern Chinese artworks as well as abstract pieces, replicas of works by everyone from Da Vinci to Liechtenstein, paintings suitable for kids’ bedrooms and landscapes. Don’t see something you like? You can have a painting commissioned based on a photograph or picture. Prices are extremely reasonable too.
Longgang, Buji (say “Dafen Youhua Cuun” to your taxi driver; it should take about half an hour from Luohu in a cab).

Sink a couple of pitchers

Local beer Kingway is brewed in Shenzhen, and unusually for a Chinese beer, a) there’s no formaldehyde in it and b) it’s drinkable. And at this open-air beer garden behind the brewery itself, the beer is incredibly cheap and sold by the pitcher. It’s a beer garden-cum-hawker center, with some decent basic food available to those who want it—but the beer definitely takes pride of place in between the satay sticks and the dice games. Getting there is a taxi ride and a bit of luck, as it’s actually in a large open space surrounded by buildings.
1 Buxin Dongchang Lu, Luohu, +86-755-2551-6328

Soak up some culture

A quintessential part of the OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (O-CAT), this gallery is located right next to the renowned He Xiangning Art Museum. The 3,000 square-meter space, with a modern exterior made of hexagonal glass steel, was renovated from an old warehouse, and is one of China’s most prominent venues to showcase cutting-edge design ideas.
9009 Shennan Rd., Overseas Chinese Town, Nanshan District, +86-755-3399-3222, www.oct-and.com.

Get your drink on

A shopping complex in the city center, Coco Park is one of the hippest spots in town. Besides countless shops and restaurants, the entire east side of Coco is a bar street with massive open-air drinking areas, popular among youngsters and expats in town. You’ll have no problem finding bars of different styles and vibes; get some friends together and there will be a sizzling party that goes from a quiet post-dinner catch-up to after-midnight mayhem.
Fuhua 3rd Rd., Futian District.

Essentials

Thai Air Asia (www.airasia.com) flies from Bangkok to Shenzhen daily. A roundtrip ticket is from B8,900.

Tropical garden-esque and village-themed, The Nine is a semi-outdoor complex with three sections: the Market Village, the West Village and the East Village. Seri Market dominates the Market Village and features the same concept food stalls as we’ve seen before at Paradise Park (out on Srinakarin Road). But while The Nine has numerous exciting options for eating and drinking, it just can’t complete on the shopping front.

The fashion options are a bit dull as most shops are just fancy brandnames, except for Dress Up (D106), Mr. & Mrs. Brandname (D108), All About Accessories (E101) and Korenya (F103), which sells imported fashion from Korea. You might also want to stop by at Abicus Art & Design (E111), Something Nice (C108/1), Toto (E190) or Daiso for home décor shopping, but don’t expect the same selection and variety as you get at CDC (Viphavadi Rangsit Rd.). There are also a couple of spas, nail and hair salons, a pet store, a dental clinic, and gardening-slash-outdoors stores, most on them on the top floor.

But food is what brings some spirit to this new mall. There are eight cafes with outdoor seating, five bars, 28 restaurants, 24/7 food and more. Once again, Japanese restaurants rule the plates. Tokyo Town (B201-B201/1), on the 2/F, is comprised of six restaurants serving sukis, sushis and of course, sake. Several ramen shops like Basaraka (D203) and Konaya (D101) are also worth a visit. For Thai, go to Reun Mae Louis (C204-205), Nai Meng Ba Mee Poo (D202), or Khun Nine (H204) which serves Thai stuff like spaghetti sai oua and roti with chicken curry filling. Toh Tiew Toon (A204) follows the deluxe sliced and steamed beef noodle soup trend, offering choices of meat from wagyu and angus, to premium sirloin pork. A simple bowl starts at B75 and can costs up to B350 depending on your selection of meat and toppings. (There are also shabu sets available.) Finally, King Pin (H101) serves American dishes 24-7 and Farm Design (D102) makes cheesecakes (starting B95 a piece) according to a recipe that originated in Hokkaido.

At night, beer lovers can party at the new branch of Est. 33 (G101-103) or the new beer-bar contestant, Einstein Café (C202) offering the typical Hoegaarden and Stella along with modern Thai dishes. But if wine’s more of your thing, make a choice between Club 99 (H201-203), or the tres chic Wine Bistro (G201).

Definitely more of a place to hang out, eat and drink than a shopping paradise, The Nine is nonetheless a welcome addition to the barren lands of Rama 9 Road.
999, 999/1-4 Rama 9 Rd., 02-716-7999. www.thenine.co.th. Open 24/7

1.) Minute Maid

B18 for a 300ml bottle
A nice, undiluted color, but we found it too one-dimensionally sweet, without any of the slight tang that natural oranges possess. In fact, it reminded us of the drink Tang from when we were children, which might be the sort of consumers who will enjoy this most. They did go through the trouble of adding some natural pulp to this sugar bomb, and even though it isn’t all-natural, we can totally imagine picking this up and sipping as we go. Call us crazy.

2.) Malee 300 ML

B30 for a 300ml box
Again, this smells a bit like Tang, even though it’s meant to be 100% orange juice, and it tastes a bit weird, like overripe oranges or orange liqueur—a bit fermented and alcoholy. It also has a fair amount of pulp, but unlike the other contestants in this test, the effect is much less textured.

3.) Freshie

B135 for a 400ml bottle
This juice, squeezed daily at the Gourmet Market at Paragon, takes a way more refined palate than ours. Most of our panel was weirded out by the strange, rock salt aroma, the slightly-over-the-hill taste and the relative absence of sugar. One reviewer said it reminded them of natural orange juice at their grandmother’s home. It tasted almost like it had been pressed too hard, releasing some of the less sweet flavors of the white rind and seeds.

4.) Spring Valley

250 ML B60 for 250ml bottle
Unlike the other contenders, this one had a yellow, not orange, color, even though the consistency was suitably rich, not diluted. The aroma reminded us of hotel breakfast or airline orange juice, both pleasant memories. The flavor is a touch sour, which is nice, but we were surprised that such a thick consistency produced a juice that didn’t taste that orangey. Not really bursting with flavor.

5.) Tipco

B18 for a 250ml carton

Ah, that’s what we’re talking about. This 100% orange juice tastes pleasantly like it’s been cut with a bit of lime. It’s packed with dense orange flavor, a nice tart note and has loads of pulp. Very nice. The boxy container makes it difficult to stick in your bag and save half for later, but oh well.

6.) Tropicana Twister

B18 for 350ml bottle
Well, we can’t expect much from this drink, which only contains 20% orange juice: it smells fake, tastes fake, is very watery and sugary. It might feel like a more refreshing drink at first, but after a whole bottle of this, the sugar might just make you parched again.

They heard ya when you said you wanted kickin’ girl group Warpaint back in Singapore so be sure to catch their gig!

Catch “The Beautiful Ones” as they roll into town for their long-awaited stage comeback, Suede—The Greatest Hits Live in Singapore.

DJs KFC, Brendon P & Has make it a National Day to remember at the Tanjong Beach Club’s 12-hour celebration, Majulah Massive.

Say goodbye to your week at Zouk on Ed Banger Night feat. Busy P, DJ Mehdi, Sebastion & Breakbot—pow!

Portugal DJ Carlos Fauvrelle whips up something mean out of tunes by Roger Sanchez and Danny Tenaglia.

If you’re a fan of one-man shows like Emily of Emerald Hill, here’s something else for you to chew on—Ivan Heng as a wealthy but troubled man in The Weight of Silk on Skin. Part of the Man Singapore Theatre Festival.

See indie rock trio Two Door Cinema Club perform live in Singapore.

Daniel Radcliffe may not be the one playing a stable lad with a fetish in the Asian staging of Equus, but that doesn’t make it any less engaging.

Meet DC Comics artists and experience first-hand some of Asia's hottest new toys at this year's Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention. 

At the Voyage Night Festival, the museums of Singapore's Civic District will open their doors to an unusual kind of nighttime revelry. 

Browse all things to do in Singapore this month

Best for Fruit Lovers: Mango cheesecake from Something To Go
$8 per slice, $30 for a 500g cake

If you're a fan of crisp-based cheesecakes, this is just the ticket. Not only do you get a satisfying crunch and welcome contrast with the super moist and smooth cheesy filling (there's Philly cream cheese and sour cream in there), the subtle mango flavor is a pleasant surprise and doesn't overwhelm the natural tartness of the cheese.

Best for Traditionalists: Marble cheesecake from Classic Cakes
From $4.80 per slice, from $45 for a 1kg cake

Chef and owner Charles Quek sure knows how to make 'em. Both the blueberry and American are commendable efforts, but it's the marble rendition that makes us weak in the knees. Instead of the usual digestive biscuit base, there's a light chocolate sponge cake in its place that plays off the rich cocoa flavor and scrumptiously smooth and tangy cheese filling wonderfully.

Best for the Adventurous: Pumpkin cheesecake from Hummerstons
$10.90 per slice

We won't bore you with all the details about what goes into making this baby, although we will tell you it has something to do with slow-roasted pumpkins and a crisp, homemade rosemary-scented base. The result is an incredibly dense and satisfying slice of nirvana (that reminds us of Thanksgiving). Certainly explains why it's on the expensive side of things. Is it worth it? Abso-bloody-lutely.

Plus: Our favorite places in Singapore to get fruit pies

Best for Chocoholics: Maltesers cheesecake from 1-Caramel Dessert Boutique
$6 for mini cake, $85 for an 8 inch cake

You'll need an extra session at the gym to work this off. Start with a coffee crumb base, top that with Horlicks-cheese filling, spread on a luscious Valrhona Manjari 64% cocoa ganache, and stud with Maltesers (who can say no to chocolate-covered balls?). It's as sinful as it sounds, but so worth the calories.

Best for Lightweights: Berry cheesecake from Shira's Choice
$4 per slice, $28 for 700g cake

At this month-old bakery, Shira makes all her goodies from scratch and to order. The fluffiness of the cake and Cointreau-spiked mixed berry compote make for a dangerous combination-you face the very real danger of inhaling two or even three slices in one sitting. Or maybe we're just greedy when something's this good, and affordable to boot.