One of the biggest culprits of air pollution is the putrid emissions of cars. For each liter of petrol burned by an engine, three kilograms of air pollution that contain the harmful nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide are released. Let that percolate in your brain for a while—three whole kilograms worth per liter. And just to reiterate the scope of ruin that most of us are a part of practically every single day, we’re talking about the discharges of just one car here.

Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself that, hey, tough luck, driving is a necessary evil. After all, what else is a city dwelling, constant commuter to do? Daily life does have to go on, we agree, but there are alternatives to the usual ways of getting around. Environmentally friendlier modes of transport are becoming more accepted and commonplace. They’re not the norm just yet, but we’re all starting to wise up to the need to keep it green.

So, if you’re still unsure of what you can do, here are some ways to travel smog-free.

I Want To Ride My Bicycle

To most people, waking up an hour or two earlier in the morning so you can ride your bicycle to work, instead of driving, sounds insane beyond belief. So, if reducing air pollution isn’t enough of a motivation, think of it this way: It’s also a great reason to finally get all that exercise you’ve been complaining you never had the time for!

If you’re worried that storage might be a problem, there’re a couple of solutions to that. First off, you might want to check out the JZ88, a foldable bike designed specifically for city living that’ll set you back $668. When collapsed, the JZ88 can fit practically anywhere, even under your desk, so you’ll never have to worry about lugging around a clunky piece of metal. You can pick up one of these babies at Joo Hong Leong Co. (#01-170, Blk. 116, Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, 6253-2151).

But if you have a soft spot for said clunky bike, parking doesn’t have to be a hassle either. Cadence Bikes (#01-01 and #02-01, 27 Seah Street) offers bike storage and even shower facilities (for the sake of your colleagues — can’t have you walking into the office smelling like you just cycled to work). Just give Jason a call at 9107-0401.

Alternatively, you could streamline things and strap on a pair of in-line skates. A pair of GEO 2, one of the latest models from in-line skate pioneer Rollerblade, will ring up at $233, and you can pick them up at Skateline (#04-37A, Peninsula Shopping Centre, 3 Coleman Street, 6339-7707).

Pooling Resources

If you’re still reeling from the mere idea that it’s possible to wake up earlier than the wee hours you’re already struggling with, there’s always car pooling. It’s a simple idea, really. All you’ll need are a few neighbors who work in the same vicinity, or some colleagues who live near you, to share a ride to the office. It’s that easy, and you’ve instantly reduced the number of cars on the road during those awful peak periods by four.

Aside from cutting back on the use of petrol, if enough people went the car pooling route, imagine how much less jammed the expressways would be in the mornings and evenings.

If you love to sing along to the radio on the way to work and don’t want an audience, however, there’s also car sharing. Set up by NTUC in May 1997, car sharing is similar to other forms of public transport, in that if you’ve signed up as a member of the scheme, you have 24-hour access to cars available at many locations around the island. Car sharing makes more ecological sense than actually owning a car, simply because you’re using the car only when you really need to. And what’s more, this scheme won’t burn a hole in your wallet, since you pay only when you drive.

For more on car sharing, you can head down to their administrative office (#05-07, NTUC INCOME Tampines Junction, 300 Tampines Ave. 5, 6788-8788) or, for a complete list of rates and some basic information, check out http://www.carcoop.com.sg.

Green Machines

Clearly living up to its name, Smart Automobile took a huge step towards cleaner transport when it launched a fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered Mercedes Benz cabs in December last year. These vehicles operate on natural gas, which cuts carbon dioxide discharge by more than 20 percent as compared to vehicles that run on petrol. The CNG cabs also significantly reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and reactive hydrocarbon—the main cause of smog.

The catch, however, is that the CNG cabs will set you back 60 cents more with each trip—the flag down rate being $3 instead of the usual $2.40. The reasoning behind the pricier fare is that there is, thus far, only one refueling station on the entire island. The good news is that, since they first hit the roads, the cabs have been getting the good word from passengers and drivers alike, encouraging the National Environment Agency to provide $2 million to build three new CNG stations, so there is hope for cheaper rates eventually. In the meantime, what’s an extra 60 cents, right?

For those of you who still feel the need to own a vehicle, hybrid cars are the way to go. Already boasting a huge following in the US, cars such as Toyota’s pioneering Prius and, more recently, the Honda Hybrid Civic have been slowly making an impact on the local market.

Using an electric motor to start up the engine and travel at low speeds and a petrol motor for higher speeds and acceleration, the hybrids have been proven to reduce emissions greatly, as compared to their conventional counterparts.

They’re certainly pricier than your regular cars (Honda’s Civic Hybrid, one of the most affordable of its kind, goes for around $80K), but with the Land Transport Authority’s rebates of 40 percent of hybrids’ open market values extended to the end of 2007, there’s that added incentive to pick them up.

Foot Soldier

It’s literally as easy as putting one leg before the other, yet very few people seem to realize how simply walking could work for the environment. Imagine, for example, the reduction of emission you produce each time you take a stroll to the supermarket or the neighborhood interchange, instead of driving. It’s a small step, sure, but every little bit does count.

Like biking and in-line skating, walking is a boon to your health and wallet too. A pair of running shoes from Royal Sporting House (#B2-15/23, Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd, 6538-8888) will definitely set you back less than what you’d spend on petrol in the long run, and you get to stretch those legs that spend almost every day cooped up under an office desk. Hop to it.

The Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF, Apr 13-29) has come a long way. From its early days in 1987, when the festival was first held at Golden Mile Complex (yes, that’s where erotic films are screened today), to its many screenings in defunct theaters such as The Majestic, Capitol Theatre and The Alhambra in the ’80s and ’90s, the festival has been known among avid movie fans as the place to catch arthouse and little-known Asian and international films.

Fast forward to 2006, and the festival is almost two decades old, and holds fort as one of the premier film festivals in the region. Apart from showing an average of over 150 films in its two-week run, it also presents The Silver Screen Awards, where Asian actors and directors are acknowledged for their achievement in film. Some of the names that have been recognized by the awards in the past include Japanese director Aoyama Shinji (Eureka) and Indonesian actress Dian Sastrowardoyo (Whispering Sands).

But beyond obscure Asian talents, the festival has also presented a slew of more well-known Asian and international films over the past 19 years—including many from The Coen Brothers (Raising Arizona), Tsai Ming Liang (What Time Is It There?), Lars Von Trier (The Idiots), Edward Wang (Yi Yi) and Jafa Panahi (The Circle). Indeed, the SIFF is well regarded for its quality programming that balances art and commercial viability. While most of the films that are showcased in-competition for the Silver Screen Awards are more obscure, films from the other categories, such as French Panorama, British Cinema and US Independents, are more recognizable, with brisk ticket sales.

Judging from the line-up this year, however, it seems that there are more little-known arthouse flicks than there are international critics’ picks. It is not entirely surprising, of course, considering that local film distributors such as Lighthouse Pictures, Festive Films, Shaw Brothers and Cathay have been bringing more and more popular arthouse films into local cinemas over the past two years. And what with the advent of Cathay’s The Picturehouse recently, which exclusively screens arthouse fares, the SIFF must stay ahead of the curve by bringing in a more novel and surprising selection. “What the SIFF has always been good at is spotting different film trends … and this year is no exception,” says its Director Philip Cheah. “I went to Manila twice in 2005, and what I’ve noticed is the rise of the digital format there among the new wave of Filipino filmmakers. The burgeoning Scandinavian cinema is also one to look out for,” he adds.

Despite a relatively tighter budget of $800,000 this year, compared to 2000-2004’s $1 million, the festival has still managed to come up with a strong, albeit more esoteric, selection. “Content wise, we’ve always been surprising. Audiences should select films based on their instinct, and not what foreign reviewers tell them to watch. The local eye is an interesting one, but the locals don’t trust their own eyes. So they often wait for the foreign eye to tell them what to see. What the festival has been doing is emphasizing the local eye,” asserts Cheah.

With that in mind, here are some of the highlights from this year’s festival according to Cheah, as well as interesting picks that I-S will make a beeline for.

Digital Revolution

Three strong digital films from the Philippines are showing in-competition for this year’s Silver Screen Awards, with two of them international premiers. Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.’s Pepot Superstar (Apr 25, 9:15am) is set in the ’70s and should be an enjoyable romp. It’s about a 10-year-old boy called Pepot who dreams of becoming a star. Whenever he is not in the streets begging for money, Pepot sneaks his way into the local cinemas, losing himself in celluloid where his fantasy is much sweeter than his reality.

John Torres’ Todo Todo Teros (Apr 26, 9:15pm) is a surreal film about an artist turned terrorist—a must-watch for its sardonic content. Cued mostly from found images made by the director’s close friends, including many musicians and performance artists, Teros is not only a comical farce, it’s also an innovative work of art that challenges the stereotypes of filmmaking.

Meanwhile, Raya Martin’s black-and-white silent movie, A Short Film About Indio Nacional (Apr 24, 9:15pm), should be compelling for its political content, which tells of the bloody emergence of the Philippines from Spanish rule in the 1890s.

More digital films from the Philippines: Magdalena The Unholy Saint (Apr 23, 9:15pm), which explores the difference between sin and salvation through the life of a prostitute, and Lav Diaz’s 10-hour Heremias (Apr 14, 11am), the concluding chapter in the famed director’s uncompromising trilogy of epics after Batang West Side and Evolution of a Filipino Family.

A for Arabia

There is also a slew of quality Arabic films in this year’s selection, co-presented by the National Museum of Singapore. “There’s certainly more happening this year in the Arabic movie industry, following Paradise Now, which was nominated at this year’s Oscars for Best Foreign Film,” says Cheah. Not only will newer Arabian films such as Bader Ben Hirsi’s A New Day in Old Sana’a (Apr 26, 7pm) and Josef Fares’ Zozo (Apr 14, 2pm) be showcased, one of the forefathers of Palestinian cinema, Michel Khleifi, will also have three of his films screened at the festival.

Some of the best from this category: Old Sana’a is the winner of Best Arab Film at the Cairo International Film Festival 2005, and tells of a groom who unexpectedly falls in love with a low-class orphan gypsy. Zozo is a more riveting tale of a 10-year-old who must travel from Beirut to Sweden during times of war. Iraq: The Song of the Missing Men (Apr 22, 7pm) is a documentary that tells of the common Iraqi identity, and how intellectuals, mullahs and priests live their lives. The rare showing of Michael Khleifi’s works is also essential: The cult Wedding in Galilee (Apr 15, 9:15pm) from 1986 centers on political upheaval between an Israeli governor and head of a Palestinian village, while Tale of the Three Jewels (Apr 16, 11am) from 1995 is a scandalous mix of documentary and fantasy, and centers on the love between a gypsy girl and a 12-year-old boy.

Northern Exposure

This year’s line-up includes some strong Scandinavian features, especially those from Denmark and Norway. Watch out for Danish director Lars Von Trier’s much-anticipated Manderlay (Apr 16, 4:15pm), the follow-up to the brilliant Dogville in 2003. Fans of sexy thrillers must check out Norway’s Next Door (Apr 14, 9:15pm) by Pal Sletaune, which follows the explicit journey of a man and his relationship with two wild women. The animation film Grandpa is a Raisin (Apr 28, 9:15pm) should also be a delightful watch, as it is a charming tale of a grandfather who must prepare his granddaughter to play in the snow.

The Danish film selection also offers good choices to catch. The gritty Angels in Fast Motion (Apr 15, 7pm), by Ole Christian Madsen, tells of a young and restless trio—Maria, Allan and Steso—and how drug abuse leads them to the brink of the abyss.

The Asian premieres of Flies on the Wall (Apr 28, 7pm) and Lost and Found (Apr 20, 9:15pm) are also top-notch. The former is a thriller that centers on a documentarian who discovers the dark secrets of the city of Ravnsborg, while the latter is a bittersweet tale about an aging toy-seller and his relationship with his estranged family.

Not To Be Missed

For a good mix of arthouse flicks with commercial sensibilities, these recommendations are surefire hits: Touted as notorious local filmmaker Royston Tan’s (15) quietest film yet, 4:30 (Apr 29, 7pm), which premiered at last year’s Berlinale, stars Korean actor Kim Young Jun and newbie child star Xiao Li Yuan. 4:30 boasts hardly any dialog, and centers on the alienation and detachment of Xiao Wu, a child from a single parent family. Wu leads a barely meaningful life, and finds solace in a mysterious Korean tenant Jung (Kim), who also faces restlessness with his life. Watch this one to see how Tan has grown as a filmmaker.

The quirky but politically-charged The President’s Last Bang (Apr 14, 7pm) from Korea has been compared to Stanley Kubrick’s classic Dr. Strangelove in terms of plot and black humor. Director Im Sang-Soon’s quirky thriller centers on a secret service agent Ju, who is assigned to kill the president, but the plot soon spirals out of control over the course of a single night.

Famous Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano (Last Life in the Universe) also tries his hand at directing in his much anticipated first effort, Tori. Comprising of five shorts, Tori (Apr 27, 9:15pm) is a “visualization of dreams through live action and animation,” and consists of “Sword of Mind,” about a calm samurai on the verge of revenge; “ATO,” which depicts graffiti art and skateboarders; and “Bird,” about a lively and spiraling bird—you have to watch this one for yourself.

Fans of famed Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami (A Taste of Cherry) shouldn’t miss his subtly funny Men at Work (Apr 27, 7pm). This quirky film centers on four friends who encounter a strange, enormous rock during a failed skiing trip. When they attempt to move it, their personalities clash, resulting in various issues such as betrayal, defeat and eventually, hope.

But for something more bizarre, we recommend Guy Maddin’s Cowards Bend The Knee (Apr 23, 9:15pm), with its bizarre storyline and brilliant visuals. This definitive film from the always unpredictable Maddin, whose last film is the equally far-out The Saddest Music in the World, centers on an abortion gone awry, which later turns into a murder most foul—you wouldn’t want to miss this one, or any of the recommendations here for that matter.

Visit www.filmfest.org.sg for more ticketing and venue details.

We thought we’d save everyone time and the hassle by uncovering some of the funds, grants and scholarships out there for the taking. In all cases, to be eligible you must be a Singaporean, Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) or a Singapore registered organization. For the full, unedited version of this list, visit our website www.asia-city.com.

The Arts | Design | Architecture | Film
IT | Media | SMEs | Tourism

THE ARTS

Get up to $50,000 to create a masterpiece for the stage. $$$

What It’s Called: Project Grant.
Who Offers It: National Arts Council (NAC).
What You Get: Up to $50,000 per financial year, the sum total of its Project Grants and SIA-NAC Travel Grants.
Who is Eligible: Practicing artists and non-profit arts groups who wish to organize specific arts projects or events, including individuals who are recognized by their peers as practicing artists or arts administrators; non-profit registered organizations. The only exception to the above is made for local publishing houses applying under the Publisher’s Grant Scheme.
How They Assess: Artistic merit of the proposal; track record of achieving artistic excellence; commitment to sustaining and advancing the art form in the Singapore arts scene; caliber of artists and personnel involved; demonstration of good planning, sound budgeting and effective use of resources.
Requirements: Application form and relevant budget form (visual Arts Burget Form, Conference Budget Form).
Closing Deadline: At least two months before start of project.
Contact Number/Website: 6746-4622, Eliza Tan 6837-9859, Alan Oei 6837-8465, www.nac.gov.sg/vis/vis02.asp.

Live the life of a bohemian art student in Japan. $$$$

What It’s Called: Takashimaya-NAC Scholarship.
Who Offers It: NAC.
What You Get: Tuition fees, living allowance, return airfare, book and warm clothing allowances up to a maximum of $100,000. Also includes a one-year Japanese language course prior to the commencement of the diploma course.
Who is Eligible: An outstanding student who wishes to pursue a Diploma programme in the applied or media arts disciplines in Japan. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 years and should have obtained a GCE ‘A’ Level certificate or a diploma qualification in an appropriate field.
How They Assess: Applicant’s artistic achievement; track record of arts activities and relevant experience; applicant’s creative potential and commitment to contributing towards the development of the arts in Singapore; benefits and value of the arts training to the applicant and to the development of the arts in Singapore.
Requirements: Application form, registration with NAC, supporting materials, including letter of reference.
Closing Deadline: Jul 15 each year.
Contact Number/Website: Anthea Neo 6837-9513, Avin Lee 6837-9857, www.nac.gov.sg/vis/vis03.asp.
Need To Know: Successful candidates are required to fulfill a two-year service commitment within a five-year period, in any work on a full-time basis in connection with the arts in Singapore after the completion of their course.

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DESIGN

Become the next Philippe Starck by studying design overseas. $$$

What It’s Called: DesignSingapore Overseas Scholarship.
Who Offers It: DesignSingapore.
What You Get: Tuition fees of up to $40,000 per year, subject to a maximum of $100,000 for study in industrial design, visual communications, multimedia design, fashion, architecture, interior design, landscape design, urban design, or design management from DesignSingapore Council.
Who is Eligible: Applicants must have already gained admission in an institution for full-time undergraduate or postgraduate studies in an appropriate field. Proof of acceptance from the institution must be submitted with the application.
How They Assess: Applicant’s creative and academic potential; potential to be a leader in the design community; applicant’s achievements, track record and relevant experience; passion for design; benefit and value of the studies to the applicant and to the development of the design industry in Singapore.
Requirements: Application form along with other supporting and supplementary documents.
Closing Deadline: Apr 30 each year.
Contact Number/Website: 6837-9686, www.designsingapore.org/Default.asp?Page=180.
Need To Know: Upon returning from their studies, scholars are required to work in Singapore in a design-related field for two years. Scholars need not start their service commitment immediately upon graduation, but can choose to do so over a five-year period.

Invite the world’s design mavericks to judge your very own national design competition. $$$

What It’s Called: Inter-design Development Scheme.
Who Offers It: DesignSingapore.
What You Get: Every dollar in the form of cash raised by the applicant from corporate/industry sponsors will be matched by the DesignSingapore Council up to a maximum of $50,000 per project. Conceptual support is also included.
Who is Eligible: All Singapore-registered or incorporated design or design-related industry support organizations, trade and industry associations, education institutions and companies. Projects to be supported include design platforms such as festivals, conferences, forums, workshops, seminars, exhibitions, competitions, awards and publications. These platforms should be conducted in Singapore.
How They Assess: Whether or not the projects are new initiatives; cross-disciplinary and/or promote cross-organization collaboration; contribute to development of talents for the design cluster, development of design/design-driven products and services, and enhancing Singapore’s profile as an international center for design creativity.
Requirements: Project proposal via Annex A form.
Closing Deadline: Apr 15, Jul 15 and Oct 15 each year.
Contact Number/Website: 6837-9686, Aaron Hung 6837-9346, www.designsingapore.org/Default.asp?Page=163.
Need To Know: The project must commence within three months upon receipt of the Letter of Offer from DesignSingapore Council. Projects should be completed within one financial year.

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ARCHITECTURE

Uncover your neighborhood’s architectural heritage by publishing a book. $$$

What It’s Called: A+UDE Promotion Programme.
Who Offers It: Urban Redevelopment Authority.
What You Get: Funding for up to 50 percent of the projected expenditure cost.
Who is Eligible: Private organizations, individuals or groups who with outreach activities in the areas of architecture and urban design. Events can include: A one-off activity open to the public, like exhibitions, tours, lectures, conferences, workshops and forums; a one-off publication of a book, catalogue or brochure, like research reports, monographs, critical analyses, photographic collections and architectural/place guides; a multi-media production for television, film and video media; historical/archival research, theoretical expositions, research by design and site investigations; or design competitions encouraging wide participation and awareness.
How They Assess: The activity should be innovative so as to complement or advance existing theory and practice; of robust intellectual content so as to generate and deepen discourse on selected issues of architecture and urban design; able to cultivate and profile Singaporean works, places or personalities and fuel the growth of the local professional communities. It should demonstrate a strong marketing strategy and commitment to making the work accessible to a wide range of audiences with appropriate publicity and participation channels to stimulate public interest and discourse.
Requirements: Application and budget forms with evidence of co-sponsorship.
Closing Deadline: Jul 14 and Jan each year.
Contact Number/Website: Yap Lay Bee 6321-8179, Phua Beng Kiat 6321-8262, www.ura.gov.sg/cudd/a%2bud/index_flash.htm.

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FILM

Launch your career as the next Ang Lee by turning your ideas into film. $$$$

What It’s Called: Film Incubator Program.
Who Offers It: Singapore Film Commission (SFC).
What You Get: $50,000 cash, $50,000 facilities and consultancy. Each year, a maximum of five emerging filmmakers will be selected to turn their scripts into a feature film.
Who is Eligible: Completed scripts for feature film projects of between 75 to 90 minutes; half of creative team must be citizens or PR; preference given to teams without prior feature film projects; preference given to teams demonstrating majority Singaporean and/or Asian technical, artistic and creative content.
How They Assess: Two different stages–Development and Execution. Development: applications assessed by an international script-reading panel as well as by representatives from Media Hive and SFC. Short-listed projects will be developed and led by an experienced industry practitioner (consultant producer), who will go through with the filmmakers the various areas of story development, production planning, directing, casting and marketing planning. Execution: Filmmakers will go through the actual pre-production, principal photography and post-production of the feature film up till the presentation of the final product. The consultant producer will be available for advice and guidance throughout the entire development and production process.
Requirements: Script synopsis, shooting script, production budget, production schedule, cast list, resumes of key cast and crew, post-production schedule, location breakdown and clearances, writer agreements and release, among other things.
Closing Deadline: Throughout the year. The FIP is administered by the Digital Media Academy and an application fee of $50 is required.
Contact Number/Website: 6223 4420, www.sfc.org.sg/funding/funding.shtm.

Travel the World Screening Your Celluloid. $$

What It’s Called: Overseas Travel Grant.
Who Offers It: SFC.
What You Get: Up to 100 percent of the two-way economy class travel costs to attend international film festivals/competitions from SFC. One applicant per film title per overseas event, max. of four overseas events per film title. Up to 100 percent for the following qualifying costs incurred for a single event: production of video/film materials and/or publicity materials for participation at an international film festival/competition, where the cost exceeds $150; freighting of film prints to an international film festival/competition upon selection by the festival/competition organizer, where the cost exceeds $150.
Who is Eligible: All Singapore-based filmmakers who are Singapore citizens or PR involved in creating the selected film.
How They Assess: Objectives of the intended travel and/or production of materials; artistic quality and standing of the film and applicant; merit and prestige of the proposed festival/competition; benefits to the applicant and to Singapore film industry as a whole.
Requirements: Completed application form and CV; invitation letter from festival/competition organizer; information on proposed festival/competition; an estimated cost breakdown for the production of video/film materials and/or publicity materials.
Closing Deadline: One month before start of film festival/competition.
Contact Number/Website: 6837-9943/9944, www.sfc.org.sg/funding/funding.shtm.

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IT

Walk and breathe the hallowed air of Silicon Valley. $$$

What It’s Called: National InfoComm Scholarship.
Who Offers It: Infocomm Development Authority.
What You Get: Full scholarship/bond, including annual allowance, return airfare, warm clothing allowance, medical insurance and visa fees, as well as partial scholarships.
Who is Eligible: Full-undergraduate studies: Outstanding ‘A’ level or polytechnic results, good co-curricular activities record. Partial-undergraduate studies: Male applicants must have completed NS, undergraduate pursuing an infocomm-related degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, electronic and electrical engineering, or a hybrid combination of information technology and another non-infocomm subject at NTU, NUS or SMU and advancing to your final year of studies in academic year 2006/07, outstanding semester results, good co-curricular activities record.
Requirements: Five years with participating company or as an infocomm professional for overseas scholarship; three years with participating company or as an infocomm professional for local scholarship, one year with participating company or as an infocomm professional for partial scholarship.
Closing Deadline: Apr 7 each year.
Contact Number/Website: 6211-0920, www.ida.gov.sg.

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MEDIA

Spend the summer in school hobnobbing with industry mavericks. $$

What It’s Called: Capability Development Scheme.
Who Offers It: Media Development Authority (MDA).
What You Get: Sponsorship up to 50 percent of qualifying expenses, maximum of $15,000. Qualifying expenses: course fees, return economy airfare, accommodation, subsistence allowance.
Who is Eligible: Open to all Singapore-based media companies and recognized talents with at least six years of media-related working experience but without the support from a Singapore-based media company.
How They Assess: Course must not have commenced at time of application; trainee’s professional achievements, track record and relevant experience; benefit and value of course to the trainee, recipient company and the development of the media industry in Singapore.
Requirements: Application and CV, portfolio, information on proposed program, budget for the duration of the program, proof of admission into a course or letter of acceptance to an attachment program.
Closing Deadline: One month before start of course.
Contact Number/Website: Rohaya Yusoff 6837-9786, www.mda.gov.sg.

Be the master of the next generation Lara Croft. $$$$

What It’s Called: Digital Content Development Scheme.
Who Offers It: MDA.
What You Get: Up to 50 percent of the total qualifying cost of the project maximum of $150,000 from MDA. Qualifying expenses: manpower cost, hardware and software, intellectual property rights.
Who is Eligible: To seed the development of original and innovative ideas and concepts into real content products. These include pilot episodes for original animation, technical demo for game series and interactive media projects. Projects should be related to animation and visual effects, computer gaming or interactive digital media content. Content product should be original and exportable to international markets. Projects must not have commenced at the time of application.
Requirements: Application form and company’s proposal plus supporting documents like storyline, treatment, synopsis of series, draft script of first episode, character/game bible, artwork or visuals, production budget, production schedule, experience, track record, management, shareholdings and ROC of company, biographies of above-the-line team, among other things.
Closing Deadline: Two month before start of project.
Contact Number/Website: Games: Shannon Low/Philip Tan 6837-9755/9927. Animations: Ervin Ann 6837-9342, www.mda.gov.sg.

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SMEs

Launch your career as a tycoon with a $1 million investment. $$$$$

What It’s Called: Growth Financing Scheme.
Who Offers It: Economic Development Board (EDB).
What You Get: Potentially, every $2 raised by the growth company from third party investors will be matched by $1 from EDB, subject to a maximum of $1,000,000 under both the SEEDS and Growth Financing Programmes. Minimum investment from third-party investors is $500,000. Both EDB and the third-party investors will take equity stakes in the company in proportion to their investments
Who is Eligible: Qualifying companies: Those engaged in the development of new or better products, processes and applications in manufacturing and services sectors; innovation can be in technology and/or business models; where product development has been completed with early customer and revenue results. Qualifying third party investor(s): Either corporate or individual(s), preferably professional investment entities with track record in venture financing; Investor(s) must not have prior interests in the growth company; at least one corporate investor must be a legal entity with a min. paid-up capital of $500,000. Qualifying business activities: Substantial innovative or intellectual content; high potential for international market.
Requirements: Application form with supporting documents and one softcopy of this form in the original Microsoft Excel file format.
Contact Number/Website: 6832-6832, www.edb.gov.sg.

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TOURISM

Bring in your favorite international brand and become the next Melwani. $$$$

What It’s Called: Investment Allowance Scheme for Flagship Concepts.
Who Offers It: Singapore Tourism Board.
What You Get: The Investment Allowance (IA) scheme under the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act is a further capital allowance of 30 percent on qualifying equipment costs incurred within a set period and reduces tax liability.
Who is Eligible: Retail, F&B and flagship entertainment concepts.
How They Assess: To qualify for the scheme, new flagship projects must be first of their kind in Southeast Asia and have wide international appeal, catering to both local and international visitors in general. Such projects should enhance Singapore’s attractiveness as a tourist destination. The scheme is open to domestic flagship concepts as well.
Requirements: Contact officer-in-charge at STB and discuss details of the proposed project, after approval of which, an application form will be prescribed by them.
Closing Deadline: At least two months before start of project.
Contact Number/Website: 6736-6622, Elizabeth Chong, Sector Planning 6831-3546, http://app.stb.com.sg/asp/ina/ina055.asp.
Need To Know: Qualifying projects must be completed within two years from the date of approval of application.

Gather your inspirations and host a convention. $$

What It’s Called: Convene-in-Singapore.
Who Offers It: NAC with Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau.
What You Get: Up to a $5,000 per project, depending on the nature and scope of the project as well as the availability of funds.
Who is Eligible: Organizations, societies and clubs who want to organize an international arts conference, convention, meeting or event in Singapore which will promote the city as an ideal meeting place and arts hub. Singapore-registered organizations, clubs and societies engaged in propagation of the arts and which have successfully won a bid to host an international arts meeting or conference in Singapore.
How They Assess: Significance of the event being held in Singapore; commitment to sustaining and advancing the arts in Singapore; profile, quality and size of convention; demonstration of good planning, sound budgeting and effective use of resources.
Requirements: Application form.
Closing Deadline: At least two months before the event.
Contact Number/Website: Adrian Cheong 6837-9576, Dinah Ng 6837-9577, Doris Fernandez 6831-3685, www.nac.gov.sg/sch/sch08.asp

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DIARY OF A (SORT OF) NON-SMOKER

Week One

Used to smoke 1.5 packs per day. As of now, will be cigarette-free.
I am very determined that I shall quit smoking. I threw out all my lighters, cigarettes, ashtrays and cigarette butts (you never know how desperate you’ll get). From this day on I’ll have beautiful skin, white teeth and I won’t wheeze while trying to put my shoes on. I’ll be a glorious supermodel. I will start walking one kilometer every morning at 6:30am. I feel good. I can’t wait to tell everyone about the brand new me.

Later in Day One

Lasted only 10 minutes on my walk and had to rest. I tried watching American Idol without puffing away at 30 cigarettes. It just wasn’t the same. But it’s only the first day after all. I’ll be better tomorrow.

Week Two

Number of real cigarettes smoked: Zero. Number of imaginary cigarettes smoked: 2,159.
I’m feeling quite sanctimonious. I told everybody I was quitting and all were impressed. This now means I can eat all the chocolate I want.

I’ve been looking at myself in the mirror every five minutes to see if I look 10 years younger, if my teeth are any lighter, or if my skin is any better. People at work say I look a lot fresher and that I’m glowing (come on, it’s not like I’m pregnant) but I think they’re lying. I know for a fact that my butt is definitely at least five centimeters wider since last week. How can it be possible to put on this much weight in one week?

I might need glasses because everything looks like a cigarette. My favorite perfume is cigarette smoke. Thank goodness for those chocolates.

Week Three

Cigarettes smoked: 1 pack.
I was doing really well. Then I suddenly decided I had to have two cigarettes. I went to 7-Eleven and bought a pack and smoked five in a row. I came back to the office, told my office neighbor that I had smoked one cigarette, and she forced me to give the cigarettes away. When my boss found out, he was so mad he threw a pen at me. I promised that it was the last stick I was going to have.

Now I can’t stop. I’ve been hiding out and smoking with a mint in my mouth and a bottle of perfume in hand so no one will know. But every time I return to my desk, there is a photocopied newspaper article on quitting via laser treatment staring back at me.

I am on my way to quitting, it’s just that I’m having a little setback. I’m definitely going to quit tomorrow. Then I’ll have a healthy body, more money, and all those wonderful things. This is only a temporary lapse.

Week Four

Cigarettes smoked: So many I have lost count.
This was supposed to be my glory week: Week Four of Quitting Smoking. Now I’m sneaking at least 1.5 packs a day. It’s like the whole world is disappointed with me. My boss says he’s really annoyed that he has to spend so much time listening to my whining. My office neighbor casts looks of pity at me.

I was exercising but now I can’t bring myself to look at my new running shoes anymore as it’s too depressing. The only reason I still swim every day is so that I won’t forget that I actually do have lungs in my wheezy chest. Why is it so difficult? It’s not like I am smoking crack.

Week Five

Cigarettes smoked: I can’t be bothered to count. But I have gone up in strength.
I am imagining myself lying full of needles in an acupuncture studio in Chinatown and being rid of this smoking addiction. And if that doesn’t work, then I will next try acupuncture combined with hypnotherapy. I am willing to try any form of torture necessary. It’s just that I’m too busy at the moment to actually do it.

I should never have told anyone at work that I was quitting. My colleagues have plastered my entire cubicle with information on how to quit smoking. And the one who is giving me the hardest time is a smoker himself.

The entire exercise plan has collapsed. My shoes still look brand new and the hand weights I bought haven’t even been taken out of their plastic pack. Plus I’m eating all that extra junk I was using as a reward for quitting. Not only am I a smoker, but now I’m a fat one as well.

Just Do It

Quitting smoking using sheer willpower alone is notoriously difficult. Thankfully there’s now an array of different sources smokers can turn to for help with stubbing out the habit.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture focuses on applying pressure to the pressure points that will circulate qi to calm the nervous system. This helps to treat cravings, irritability and restlessness. Physicians treat patients according to their specific smoking habits, so treatments are designed specifically to suit individual needs. Registered TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) Physician and Acupuncturist Amy Liang (Kiat Siong Clinic and Acupuncture, Blk 465, #01-30 Crawford Lane, 6733-0777) suggests that initially the patient should have three visits on three consecutive days for 30 minutes. After this, treatments should be twice weekly. Liang charges $35 per treatment. Treatments that also incorporate weight management cost $48.

Laser Therapy

A bit like acupuncture without the needles, laser therapy works on a similar philosophy to the older science. A laser is applied to pressure points on the ears, nose, hands and wrists to stimulate the release of endorphins. The idea is to give the smoker feelings of relaxation, calm and well-being, thus reducing stress levels and the urge for a cigarette. Phoenix Laser Therapy Centre (26/F, Tower B, Ngee Ann City, 391B Orchard Rd., 6836-9305) claims their Quit Smoking Program is completed after only three hour-long sessions over three days. But quick fixes don’t come cheap: The total cost for the sessions is $640. Counseling is provided.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

The way the Nicorette products work is to provide low levels of clean nicotine (nicotine without the harmful tar and carbon monoxide of cigarette smoke, the primary causes of cancer and cardiovascular disease), to help smokers curb their withdrawal symptoms.

There are three kinds of product. The Nicorette Gum is a sugar-free gum that can be consumed whenever cravings are experienced. The gum releases nicotine into the bloodstream through the mouth’s lining. They are available in two strengths. The 2mg product costs $19.90 for 30 pieces, and $58.80 for 105 pieces; the 4mg product costs $29.95 for 30 pieces, and $88.20 for 105 pieces. A full course of the gum usually takes around 16 weeks to complete.

The Nicorette 16-Hour Patch is designed for use throughout the day, so it’s put on in the morning and taken off before bed. It delivers a controlled dose of nicotine throughout the day, and as the smoker is slowly weaned off them, dose levels should be decreased. It’s available in three doses ($34.65 for seven 15mg patches; $31.50 for seven 10mg patches; $28.90 for seven 5mg patches) and it’s recommended that these are used for about 12 weeks.

To address the behavioral aspects of smoking, the Nicorette Inhaler allows smokers to still mimic the hand to mouth inhaling action of smoking, through a mouthpiece with a replaceable cartridge of nicotine. The amount of nicotine released is about eight to 10 times less than that in a cigarette. It’s recommended that six to 12 cartridges be used per day for a minimum of eight weeks, and then the number should be reduced. A box of 18 cartridges costs $26.25. None of the Nicorette products should be used for longer than six months.

Hypnosis

The theory behind using hypnosis to quit is that it puts the smoker in a state whereby the conscious mind is bypassed. By changing habits in the subconscious, it is supposed to be easier to change conscious behavior. But success depends largely on the smoker’s willingness to go into a hypnotic state. Certified Hypnotherapist El Solaris RP (9615-3348) suggests social smokers will need two sessions ($330) to stop smoking, while other smokers will need four sessions ($660). Single sessions are also available ($200).

The past decade has seen the health, fitness and beauty industries grow and join forces to make us look gorgeous and slim. Where we used to go to the doctor only when we were sick, now a visit to a general practitioner can be for purely cosmetic purposes. Cosmetic surgeons are employing the appearance of spa and aesthetic studios, and joining forces with spa owners to pool their resources and attract more customers. These industries, which survive on touting their ability to make us look and feel younger, fitter and better, have undergone a makeover to make themselves more attractive—and we can’t get enough of it.

I Feel Good

Recognition has grown over the last decade that we need to take better care of ourselves, both physically and mentally. Taking a mental break from the stress of corporate life is something we are getting better at, even if only briefly and infrequently. And that’s where the spa industry kicks in.

Spas are everywhere, so much so that even our concept of the word “spa” has changed. Whereas 10 years ago a spa treatment was something for tai tais or for extremely special occasions, now spa massage packages start from just under $100 and we use them more regularly. Just a few years ago, it was only the big glitzy establishments, such as Spa Botanica and RafflesAmrita (which opened in 2002 and 2000 respectively) that would call themselves spas. Now, every mum ’n’ pop place down the road is using the word.

Or you can just do-it-yourself, thanks to the enormous range of DIY spa treatments available off the shelf. Most spas now sell their own range of products—exfoliating scrubs, cellulite creams, toning and moisturizing masks—so that what was once a rare luxury can now be purchased in most beauty salons and even supermarkets.

Indeed, health is no longer the territory over which the medical profession reigns supreme. More alternative therapies, previously pooh-poohed by medical doctors, are now accepted parts of everyday life. Osteopaths and chiropractors abound, and acupuncturists and reflexologists are not just catering to the Chinese market anymore. We recognize health is more than just prescriptions and pills—and are willing to look into every avenue to get it.

Let’s Get Physical

Finally, we have a fitness industry here. Previously slothful Singaporeans, who would prefer to take a 45-minute bus ride or catch the MRT to avoid a 10-minute walk, have taken to exercise like ducks to water.

Don’t believe us? The Singapore Sports Council recently revealed that the number of Singaporeans doing exercise at least once a week has gone up by 10 percent since 2001. And the boom in gyms, yoga, Pilates and dance studios is testament to the fact that we like to work up a sweat, if only for reasons of vanity.

Gyms have consolidated their place in our lives with the arrival of giants like California Fitness, Planet Fitness and Fitness First. Over the years, gym workouts have changed too. Far from being just about muscle men pumping iron, gyms are now more specialized. There are women’s-only gyms and fitness centers (such as Amore Fitness and Go! Fitness) while others, like Virtual Fit and Phillip Wain, offer more new age classes such as martial arts, yoga, Pilates and even fusion salsa dance classes.

This is a trend sweeping the industry. Yoga has become a huge money-spinning industry since big boys True Yoga and Pure Yoga established themselves in town in the last 18 months. Rather than being considered something just for hippies, yoga and Pilates are now cool ways to build muscle strength and tone the body—yoga was the tenth most popular sport in Singapore in a recent National Sports Participation Survey.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Beauty products are no longer considered “hope in a bottle.” Now you can pay cold hard cash to get rid of that cellulite or eradicate the crow’s feet. Doctors have moved in to carve out their slice of the lucrative cosmetic market, and we can’t hand over our bucks fast enough. Yes, there was plastic surgery 10 years ago, but only people like Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson could afford it. Now getting a little “work” done is something one barely bats a new double eyelid at—for instance, breast enhancements would cost around $600 less today than they did 10 years ago.

The encroachment of general practitioners onto a field that, up until very recently was dominated by plastic surgeons, means that competition is fierce, prices are falling and everyone is striving to make procedures quicker and less invasive. The advent of non-invasive aesthetic treatments has made cosmetic improvements more accessible than they were 10 years ago, lessening the stigma of seeking medical help for beauty treatments.

For example, what is commonly known as microdermabrasion (previously called dermabrasion) existed 10 years ago, but the techniques doctors use to perform it nowadays have changed. Previously, the procedure involved some trauma as patients were required to go under general anesthetic. Today, patients can leave immediately after the procedure. Fewer “accessories” (like anesthetic and follow-up visits) also mean costs are cheaper. So what used to cost $600-$700 and require a hospital visit, now costs around $300 and can be done in a day in a doctor’s consultation room.

And this is essentially the biggest change to the health, beauty and fitness industries in the past decade. The merger of the three into one giant wellness industry. The lines between health, beauty and fitness have become increasingly blurred. Aesthetic clinics are locating themselves opposite spas, we seek beauty treatments from doctors rather than beauty therapists, and having a massage is recognized as having health benefits for mind, body and soul.

In a clever marketing strategy, this consolidated wellness industry is attracting a wider customer base, thus encouraging consumers to spend more. Those who don’t like to think of themselves as vain can justify a facial for relaxation purposes, while the spa-like environment of an aesthetic clinic keeps the medical aspect of the procedures less prevalent in the minds of patients. Like a well cut tai tai, the face of the wellness industry is getting sharper, more streamlined and is definitely making itself more attractive.

Nothing gets us out of the office faster than news of a good party in town. It has been a fun 10 years of boozing, grooving, attempts (sometimes futile) at getting the number of the cutie sitting next to us, and (alright, we admit it) making a total mess of ourselves. Getting all emotional and nostalgic, we, veteran clubbers at I-S, pat our beer (and champagne) tummies sentimentally and reminiscence on how the after dark hours in Singapore have evolved. With 24-hour club licences now the norm, the partying continues.

In the beginning: Zouk

This is the venue that has packed in clubbers and emerged virtually unscathed from all its ups and downs, including 1995’s controversial drug bust that had it temporarily closed. Fast turning 15 and recently revamped, the heaving and successful Zouk has placed Singapore on the global club map with its showcase of DJs and talents from here and abroad, including names such as Dave Seaman, Yousef and Paul Oakenfold. It remains one of the driving forces in local nightlife. From faithful punters grooving away at the pumping dance floor to the sleek and professional clientele chilling out at Velvet Underground, Zouk is the club every cabbie and every clubber knows by name. Now and forever, amen.

1995-1996: Boat Quay

When we wanted to get away from all the dancefloor action at Zouk, we went over to Boat Quay for a little down time. The longstanding and world renowned Harry’s Bar was, and still is, a surefire bet for accomplished live music sets, and so is Molly Malone’s for a good pint of beer. Although when we felt like boogieing again, we visited the wild and now defunct Escobar for energetic Latin-American tunes and mango Margaritas—filled with anyone and everyone from PMEBs, expatriates and moderately trendy locals. Man, those were the days.

1997-1998: Emerald Hill

For years, Orchard Road has had several nightspots for us to quench our thirst after a hard day’s shopping. One particular enclave is the row of watering holes housed in quaint Peranakan-style shophouses owned by the Emerald Hill Group. We toast loudly to the existence of Ice Cold Beer, No. 5 Emerald Hill, and Que Pasa.

1999-2000: Mohamed Sultan

Small actions say a lot. And in the case of Mohamed Sultan Road, one small action completely changed the face of this once quaint and quiet street. In 1991, Peter Wong set up the small and now defunct watering hole called Front Page. Then Simon Lim started Wong San’s, and soon bars and clubs started mushrooming in the area almost as fast as we could gulp down mugs of beer.

The area exploded around 2000 with the opening of Madam Wong, Sugar, Eden, Nox, Lush and Amoeba. Lapping up the wonderful progressive music and the posh décor of these clubs, party animals like us happily lived it up at the 31 clubs on Singapore’s hippest street. It’s high human traffic meant some clubs, such as Madam Wong, Wong San’s and Amoeba, were as congested as the CTE during peak hour. Today, Eastside and The Siam Supperclub still have their groove on in the area.

2001: Robertson Quay and Club Street

Just a stone’s throw from Mohamed Sultan, Robertson Quay became a hip place to hang out at when the modish Orb, funky Milk Bar (remember those?) and The Liquid Room became popular. Many party goers are still digging the progressive cuts and the very dark house spun at The Liquid Room.

Club Street has also been witness to the opening of several stylish and intimate party venues. Together with posh restaurants, clubs and bars such as Beaujolais Wine Bar, PinkK, Barrio Chino and Bar Sa Vanh gave the area a laidback but sophisticated vibe. Nowadays, it is still the place we head to when we want to lounge on cozy sofas and rest our tired three-inch heels.

2001-2002: One Fullerton

Even as it was dubbed by many opinionated clubbers as a Zouk-wannabe (which we partially agree), sleek Centro was also packing them in 2001 through 2002 with a selection of superstar DJs such as James Lavelle, Chris Coco, Roger Sanchez and Nick Warren. It was the period when big international DJ names were de rigueur, and Centro certainly cashed in on the trend with a respectable line-up. But it wasn’t long before expensive DJs became passé, and even Centro’s sister outlets such as the Velvet Underground-influenced Lola and the trendy chill-out haven Embargo couldn’t pull in fickle local punters. That said, Centro was utterly memorable while it lasted—gyrating on its ample platform were some of the highlights in our decade-old nightlife diary.

2003: SARS year

Not much happened, really.

2004: Emerald Hill, again

New dance clubs such as Rouge and lounge bars Alley Bar and Acid Bar open up and become hits with nightlife enthusiasts looking for new hotspots to party at. Rouge is good for its quality house sounds, while the easy vibes at Acid bar attract beautiful executives.

2005: Clarke Quay

Who would have thought the family-oriented Clarke Quay of the ‘90s and early ‘00s would evolve into a burgeoning nightlife and dining area today? While one or two edgy underground DJ gigs were held at the mostly R&B establishments there a few years ago, the old Clarke Quay has since moved on, and is more cosmopolitan today.
There are several notable clubs here: Attica’s clientele includes models, socialites and fashionistas. As such, it is the place to head to if you choose to groove with eye candy to house music. We find Forbidden City equally sinful, with its exotic and chic Chinese décor. Gotham Penthouse is another party venue we’ve indulged in for thumping house music. Last but not least, the sprawling Ministry of Sound (MOS), which opened in December 2005, has been bringing in international acts such as Jack McCord, Damian Saint and Buff Wise, creating waves­—and very long queues—in our nightlife scene.

The good thing about Clarke Quay is that it houses good live acts venues as well. The 1NiteStand Bar & Comedy Club showcases international comedians regularly, Crazy Elephant dishes out soulful blues and rock numbers, while Crazy Horse Paris welcomes everyone (above 21 years) with open arms to learn about “the art of the nude.”

The crowd has become more eclectic of late and we gladly note Clarke Quay is still pulsating with great music and great hangouts, and is very much alive.

2006: Orchard

Laidback and trendy bars Balcony at Orchard Road and Loof at Odeon Towers are in right now, with their cool downtempo music selection, yummy finger food and unique settings. Balcony is located at hip shopping center The Heeren, while Loof is Singapore’s first upmarket rooftop bar that plays host to the latest, trendiest parties in town. It seems that partying at the heart of town is rocking again. Yeah!

The Upper Crust

Perhaps the greatest change to our dining scene in the last decade has been the emergence of independent fine dining restaurants. Independents really started to take root in Singapore with the likes of Michelangelo’s, which opened in 1995, Da Paolo’s Il Ristorante (1996), and Senso (2000). Now, many of our best fine dining institutions, such as Saint Pierre, Garibaldi and Shiro, are independently owned, stand-alone restaurants that have distinguished themselves from the five-star hotels with their own loyal customer base, innovative cuisine, ambiance and personality. Indeed, the market for fine fare is so lucrative that the World Gourmet Summit has become a flagship event, also celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

Winos

Drinking wine as part of our meals is something that has become the norm over the last 10 years. It seems that with increasing variety and competition bringing forth decreasing prices, and growing general knowledge about wine, we have incorporated a drop of white or red into our lifestyle in a way never seen before. Now many restaurants—Asian included—have extensive wine lists indicating which wines to enjoy with your meal. Retail wine bars now abound (such as  Wine Network, The Wine Co. and Wine Connection) beside long-standing wine drinking establishments such as Que Pasa.

Hubs and More Hubs

In the past, we used to make our way to isolated restaurants with little or no surrounding competition. But the late ’90s and early ’00s have seen the emergence of a new type of urban development: the dining neighborhood. Areas such as Club Street, Ann Siang Hill and Duxton Hill were among the first to become attractive destination dining precincts. Now we have Greenwood Avenue, Chip Bee Gardens and more. Look out for the latest development—Rochester Park, home to the new “it” spot for outdoor drinks, One Rochester, plus new restaurants North Border, Min Jiang, and others like Da Paolo and Graze opening soon.

Cafe Culture and Gourmet Delis

Over the last 10 years our kopitiams have found some fierce competition with the arrival of lattes, cappuccinos and short blacks into the caffeine-induced mindset. As if to prove the popularity of European-style coffee, chains such as Starbucks and Spinellis arrived on our shores in 1996 and jostled for space beside homegrown giant Coffee Club. And the kopitiams are fighting back with kopiccinos and other innovative new hybrids.

Sandwiches are finding a new lease on life too. Since 1997 and 1998, respectively, Cedele and O’Briens have been trading on the good name of their whole wheat or rye sandwiches jammed full of interesting fillings.

To make your own great sandwich one needs a good deli, and luckily the past decade has seen a growth in these as well. We’re no longer limited to old standby Jason’s. Along with places like Cellar Door and Culina, we now have delis such as Da Paolo Gastronomica and Something to Go that specialize in charcuterie and gourmet takeaway meals. Bunalun has gone so far as to specialize in organic produce, and is one of the new breed (including Lazy Gourmet and Ricciotti) which also features a little restaurant area. For the office worker with no time to cook (but who still wants to eat well), we’re grateful chefs have figured out there is money to be made out of good gourmet food to go.

The Top 10 from 10 Years

Here are our I-S picks for the top 10 restaurants that have had the greatest influence on Singapore’s restaurant industry in the last decade (listed in no particular order).

Les Amis

There is no doubt that the Les Amis group is the giant in Singapore for fine French fare. Other fine dining chefs owe Les Amis a debt of gratitude as in 1994 it became one of the first restaurants to show there is a market here for haute cuisine.

Club Chinois

The ever-expanding Tung Lok Group changed our perceptions of Chinese food by successfully bringing modern Chinese cuisine to Singapore in 1997. Club Chinois was so successful that it spawned two more hits, My Humble House (2002) and Space @ My Humble House (2004)—plus a slew of competitors.

Crystal Jade

Love it or hate it (we fall into the former group), Crystal Jade is the undeniable giant in the Chinese restaurant stakes, rivaled only by the Tung Lok Group. With their delicious xiao long bao to consistently great dim sum, this restaurant chain dominates the Chinese restaurant market.

Mezza9

The Grand Hyatt’s darling was one of the first restaurants to bring hotel dining to new heights. Opened in 1998, it introduced us to the hybrid menu concept, where, under one roof, diners are able to sample high quality fare from around the world.

Chatterbox

It remains to be seen whether the loss of Chef Steven Low in November 2005 will affect the success of Chatterbox, but this restaurant was the one to bring local hawker food into the five-star hotel market with its famous chicken rice.

The Line

Several years after Mezza9’s debut, Shangri-La’s The Line brought the fading hotel buffet back to life with fresh food in a chic environment. The Line spawned a number of copycats, and one of the biggest dining trends of 2005.

Michelangelo’s

It was Michelangelo’s that transformed the Chip Bee Gardens area into the trendy and sophisticated part of Holland V. Chef Angelo D. Sanelli’s dominance is proven by his other ventures on the stretch, Sistina, Original Sin and the Bent Fork cooking school.

The Marmalade Group

The true impact of Marmalade is in the success of the entire group since it launched the original Marmalade restaurant on Purvis Street in 1999. From Toast to the glamorous Pierside Kitchen and Bar and über chic Marmalade Pantry, The Marmalade Group has formulated just the right combination of trendy modern tastes with classic Western favorites to capture taste buds in every price range.

Saint Pierre

Since 2000, Chef Emmanuel Stroobant’s innovative flair has made his restaurant a leader in delighting Singaporean palates with truly creative cuisine, consistently resetting the bar on what can be done with traditional food with every new seasonal menu.

The Cliff

Dining neighborhoods might be the trend, but it was The Cliff that brought destination dining into the spotlight in 2002. The food is great, but going to this restaurant is about so much more: the scenery, the views and atmosphere. 

We’ve been through a lot (and we mean A LOT) of arts performances, films and exhibitions through our decade of existence, and it’s about time that we came up with a list of some of the best and worst that we’ve seen. After all, we’ve spent a good portion of our lives catching these shows to disseminate the good and the bad to our readers, so here’s our list of the most memorable from the last 10 years. 

Best Local Play, Ever: Lear (1999)

Sumptuous costumes, set design, music and lighting make this one of the most beautiful and compelling Singapore plays. Ong Keng Sen’s Lear also successfully toured Japan to critical and commercial acclaim.

Worst Follow Up Play, Ever: Desdemona (2000)

After adapting Shakespeare’s King Lear for Lear, Ong’s controversial follow-up a year later, Desdemona, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, was dubbed as one of his most incohesive and indulgent.

Best Gay-Themed Plays: Autumn Tomyam (2001) and Asian Boys Vol. 1 (2000)

Before the onslaught of B-grade gay plays in 2002 through 2004, the sensitive Autumn Tomyam by ACTION Theatre and Asian Boys Vol. 1 by The Necessary Stage (TNS) showed that they were more than skin deep with numerous funny and sensitive moments.

Most Underrated Play: Comic Potential (2002)

Fiction Farm’s play was the local equivalent of the Razzies. But the leftfield pairing of actors Hossan Leong and Jamie Yeo made this comedy thoroughly entertaining—in an oddball kind of way.

Worst Musical: The Seventh Drawer (2001)

Touted as a serious musical (whatever), this experiment gone awry by Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble had Forever Fever’s Glen Goei singing off-key. Enough said.
Worst Play Adaptation From an Award-Winning Novel: Mammon Inc. (2002)
ACTION Theatre’s adaptation featured bad acting, dull costumes and ridiculous sets trying to be futuristic. Really, what a joke.

Most Painful Play to Watch: The Beginning of the End (BOTE) (2002)

Shocking, juvenile and extremely trying, we just couldn’t wait for TNS’ The Beginning of the End (BOTE) to just, well, end.

Most Competent Film: Perth (2005)

There is no such thing as a best local film (sic), but Djinn Ong’s Perth comes close. A compelling lead by seasoned thespian Lim Kay Tong carries this thoroughly consistent and involving film.

Most Overrated Film: Be With Me (2005)

Never mind that it showed at Cannes, this exploitative and pretentious drama about old and handicapped Singaporeans by Eric Khoo looks more like a TV melodrama.

Most Wannabe Film: Chicken Rice War (2000)

It looks more a music video crossed with elements from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and every other romantic comedy you’ve ever watched. Oh yeah, this film by CheeK had the worst acting from model Lum May Yee too.

Most Unoriginal Film: Homerun (2003)

Jack Neo’s remake of the superior Iranian film Children of Heaven by Majid Majidi is an utter letdown.

Biggest Waste of Government Money for an Exhibition: Lim Tzay Chuen at the 51st Venice Biennale (2005)

His no-show of the Merlion at the Venice Biennale has to be the biggest joke on us. What were our organizers thinking funding this giant Emperor’s New Clothes?

Most Under-rated Local Artist: Suzann Victor (2000)

Her brilliant swinging chandelier work, ‘Dusted By Rich Manouevre,’ as featured at LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts’ Text & Subtext exhibition and at the 49th Venice Biennale, was fragile yet dramatic, poignant yet original and daring; as are all her installation masterpieces. What a shame she has abandoned us for Australia.

Best New Art Gallery: Utterly Art

Opened in 2000, this groovy little gallery should be lauded for sticking its neck out and supporting unknown local artists when everyone else plays it sooooo safe.

Biggest Loss to the Local Dance Scene: Kuik Swee Boon

His consistent stand-out performances, conveying strength and masculinity combined with beauty and passion, are sorely missed and have yet to be matched by any other local male dancer. Singapore’s loss is Spain’s gain.

If you really want to see just how much the times have changed over the last decade, take a good hard look at the evolution of technology, both in terms of its capabilities as well as its place in our daily lives. A lot of the gadgets and services that most of us take for granted today couldn’t even have been imagined 10 years ago.

Technology was developing at a ridiculously rapid pace between the late 1990s and early 2000s. The difference may not be immediately obvious for those who were in the thick of it, but hindsight, as they say, is 20/20, so prepare to be haunted by the ghost of technology’s past.

Dot Com Ka-Boom

In 1995, the Internet had a handful of users, but was still more comparable to HAM radio than any other media outlet. Hardly anyone had an email address, and the number of websites was just a tiny fraction of what we have today—which is not surprising, given that our connections then were crawling through phone lines. 

Fast forward to two years later, and everyone was clamoring for an email address, trying to figure out how to create websites and to register their spot online. Communicating internationally via electronic means was soaring in popularity, resulting in large numbers of users flocking to chat services like IRC and early incarnations of instant messengers like ICQ. Sites like Amazon and eBay began making a killing as people turned to online shopping. And, of course, there was all that porn to discover. 

Dialups were still the main form of connection to the Net, but this would change within the next few years with the advent of Cable and DSL connections, which most users still utilize today, but wirelessly.

Like any media revolution, however, there’s bound to be a glut. With everyone trying to get rich quick online, the market became saturated which resulted in the notorious dot com crash of the late 90s. People eventually (almost) recovered but realized that making the Internet work for them was going to involve more than just a snazzy name.

By last year, most people couldn’t even fathom what life was like before the Internet. Today there is virtually nothing that can’t be done online. Practically everyone has at least one email address. Technorati.com currently tracks 29.8 million web logs (or blogs) worldwide. Communication has advanced to the point where instant messaging is making way for Voice over Internet Protocol. Shopping online is the norm. And now, with the faster speeds, people can download music, watch television and play video games online.

Walk The Talk

The term “pagers” seems so ancient now, doesn’t it? But before everyone and their grandmas were sporting mobile phones, beepers were the gadget du jour. That isn’t to say that mobiles weren’t around already. More for the older towkays than anyone else, mobiles back then were so chunky you could kill a person by hitting them over the head with one, and sported nothing more than a tiny analog screen.

But when Nokia and Motorola started incorporating elements of style and user-friendliness to these phones, such that even the most technologically incompetent could operate one, pagers started showing the first signs of demise.

By the end of the 1990s, it wasn’t uncommon to find businessmen and teenagers using the same mobile phone model. Pagers still had their place with a select few, but were already beginning to phase out. They did their best to stay relevant with the introduction of alphanumeric message functions, but how could that compete with the ease of the mobile’s short message service (SMS)?

This, of course, brings us to where we are now: phones that have advanced to the point where they seamlessly integrate mobile communication with other media like wireless Internet capabilities, video and photo functions and even MP3 players.

It’s the Music That We Choose

Back in 1995, Sony was king of the hill. With cassettes facing their final death throes and portable CD players becoming the way to listen to music on the go, Sony’s Discman—like its predecessor the Walkman—was the brand name that most consumers associated the format with. Even the company’s big push for the MiniDisc format towards the end of the decade couldn’t stop the Discman and its competitors.

Then came the iPod. Apple broke the mould when this little wonder (well, it didn’t start off so little) of portable music arrived in the early 2000s. Using the format that was most popular at the time, the MP3, Apple dominated the market—and arguably still does—beating other companies vying for a piece of the MP3 pie, including Singapore’s very own Creative Technologies. Only recently has Sony come back to the fight with its new Walkman.

So influential was the advent of the MP3 player (combined with the need to combat illegal P2P file-sharing services) that Apple and other companies like the reformed Napster began successfully selling music online.

CD players, like the portable cassette players before them, struggle to keep up. They are surviving because many people still buy CDs. MP3s may be the most popular way to listen to music, but it seems that, for now at least, music fans still love the actual act of CD shopping and holding the cover in their hands.

The Games People Play

In the early-1990s, three words most commonly graced the lips of the gaming world: Sega, Nintendo and Doom. PC games such as this popular first-person shooter ruled the market for the earlier half of the decade, and arguably shook up Sega and Nintendo’s comfortable gaming console niche, which still dished out simplistic, 16-bit side scrollers at the time.

Finally, with the arrival of Sony’s Playstation in the mid-1990s, gamers could kiss cartridges goodbye forever. Graphics to absolutely die for, extremely addictive games like the Tomb Raider and Resident Evil series, and non-linear gameplay made Playstation the most popular console of the 1990s.

PC games, of course, didn’t slacken behind, constantly keeping up with computer system upgrades to create the best games possible. These days, PC games rank as some of the most popular, with cult favorites like the Battlefield series of first person shooters and the role-playing game (RPG) phenomenon World of Warcraft.

On the console front, Playstation has already gone through several variations. Likewise, its biggest competitor, Microsoft’s Xbox, has just released its most recent breakthrough, the Xbox 360. Sega and Nintendo tried their best to keep up, but these days, gamers don’t talk about them as much as they used to.

The unpredictability of the ever-changing fashion scene has been constantly spurting out new trends. Whether it was a pair of ’80s punk-inspired tapered pants (that cut off all blood circulation to your upper body) or an oversized pink Baby-G you still fondly wear to sleep, fashion items made you feel like a superstar at some point. Here are some of the more interesting fads we picked out from the last 10 years—fashion faux pas or otherwise.

1995: Affordable “Brands”?

To eliminate that question, designers craftily splashed their names all over their products, making them rather pricey. Those who could afford them were promoted to the “in” crowd while the rest compensated by cheating. A slew of stores like Factory Outlet, Labels for Less and Esprit allowed for the masses to own designer labels minus the designer prices. Cool? We think not.

1996: Designer Fever

The billboard-sized brand label took over and sneakily infiltrated the minds of even the most fashionable. To wear one was a sign of status and those who couldn’t afford them the year before, saved up enough to be seen in the latest Guess, DKNY, Armani Exchange and Moschino tees. Fortunately, the obsession died down when pasar malams (night markets) started flaunting the latest branded collection.

1997: Gee, Baby

These enormous wrist buddies transformed even non-watch wearers. While the masculine G-Shocks were perfect for the macho men, pretty Baby-Gs came in a wide range of delicious colors that girls and women went gaga over. Casio created quite a cult following that still boasts a faithful bunch of groupies even today.

1998: Color Me Khaki

Snug and roomy, khaki pants graced every closet as the comfort item. Khaki specialists, Dockers, hooked the slightly uppity market while brands like Giordano satiated the khaki craze without burning a hole in the pocket. That, of course, would not be a problem if you were a fan of the (then) new breed of multi-pocketed khaki (cargo) pants. Remember those? We try not to.

1999: The Heat Is On

What was in this year? Oh yeah, bold prints married with loud colors worn two sizes too big. In the spirit of Aloha, Hawaiian shirts fashioned the beachwear culture. Surf brands like Quiksilver, Billabong and Roxy catered to surfer wannabes, while Oakley, Mambo and Tannlines complemented the beach fashion. The otherwise acceptable style fad only became distasteful when forced into unlikely scenarios: in clubs and on old uncles with thick gold bracelets. Yikes!

2000: The Future’s So Bright, You’ve Gotta Wear Shades

The new millennium brought new opportunities and challenges. To stay and look cool under pressure, getting framed was one of the answers. UV protection aside, these face accessories exuded stylish aloofness. From Audrey Hepburn to Nicole Kidman, sunglasses were a fashion statement that screamed wanting to be seen without being seen—geddit?

2001: These Sneakers Are Made For Walking

Sneakers were no longer functional apparel for the working class. With endorsements from celebrity brands like Miu Miu and Gucci, walking away from sneaker fashion was a huge mistake. Even if your heavy duty walking routine involved just 15 minutes in town, you had to be sure of being spotted in snazzy ranges from the likes of Diesel, Adidas, DKNY and Converse—to name just a few.

2002: Flipping Over Flops

Fondly known as slippers to non-fashionistas, flip-flops follow in the comfort item turned trendsetter clique. Slipping into a comfy yet trendy pair of soles from Havaianas, Toss, Mambo, Camper (we used to love those Twins series) and Song+Kelly was soooooooo in. While these light as feather footwear remain a trend today, 2002’s other trend, camo-inspired clothes, was not hot enough to last till now.

2003: Denim Lovin’

Levi’s super low jeans, anyone? Engineered to form a perfect mould for the lower half, super low jeans made every female feel sizzlingly sexy. The everyday essential for men also allowed for various cuts to suit their individual styles. Hot favorites included Diesel, Tsubi and Evisu. But this sizzle did fizzle when women distastefully let their denim ride too low, exposing eyesore butt cracks. Ouch!

2004: To a Tee

Casual tees with audacious messages became the easiest form of self-expression. Local and export cult brands such as MHI, PAM, Tsubi, A Bathing Ape, Tonite and Silas rendered these expensive graphic t-shirts a high fashion force to be reckoned with. Not to be outdone, affordable tees with cheeky slogans flew off the shelves from Singapore’s favorite street apparel havens, The Heeren and Far East Plaza.

2005: Put a Cap on it

When Pharrell and Justin Timberlake burst onto the MTV screens with their slick moves and trucker caps as their crowning glory, history was made. From Ashton Kutcher to Colin Farrell, fashion had reached its peak with hip trucker caps that spelled bad boy like no other. But we’re now at 2006? Trucker caps? Nah.