Jul 10: Ronan Keating Live in Bangkok

The biggest promoter in town, BEC TERO, kick off this live music season with a concert from sensitive Irish pop crooner Ronan Keating. After starting out his career as a member of the boy band Boyzone in the late 90s, Keating really shot to fame with the single “When You Say Nothing at All,” which featured on the soundtrack for the super-soppy rom-com hit Notting Hill (1999) and can still be heard being belted out in karaoke bars across the Kingdom. After splitting with his band, Keating went on to release a string of commercially successful pop albums, Ronan (2000), Destination (2002), Turn It On (2003) and Bring You Home (2006). Despite reuniting for a tour with the other Boyz, he’s now back with a fifth solo studio album, Fires, which he’s promoting with his first world tour in many years. The Fire Live in Bangkok concert will also feature local pop singer Two Popetorn as warm-up act.
Where: Impact Arena Muangthong Thani
Tix: B2,500-4,500 from Thaiticketmajor.com
Brought to you by: BEC TERO Entertainment

Aug 7: Peace

While Godung eventually took the credit for Brit-rock upstarts The Vaccines rolling into town earlier this year, the gig was initially teed up by Dudesweet before they handed over the reins. Apart from that, and organizing a DJ set by Ladytron’s Ruben Wu at Badmotel back in March, things have been pretty quiet on the gig-front for Dudesweet. (They did, of course, throw a rather dazzling Great Gatsby-themed bash just last month.) But now our favorite party people are back, and they’re bringing over fresh-faced, fashion-conscious British rockers Peace. The four-piece, made up of Harry “Harrison” Koisser, brother Samuel, Douglas Castle and Dominic Boyce, have been hotly tipped for the top since their first release, “Bblood,” saw them named one of NME’s Ones To Watch in 2012. Later Madchester-influenced singles “California Daze,” “Bloodshake” and “Follow Baby” have also cranked the hype machine in to overdrive. Support on the night will come from local art-rockers PLOT (search YouTube for their crazy recent single “Mai Sa Nid Ya Len”) signed to the SO::On Dry Flowers label. If you can’t wait till August, you’ll be pleased to know that the Dudesweet Party is set to shake Cosmic Café this weekend.  
Where: Sonic Ekkamai
Tix: Early birds B1,000 from www.dudesweet.org and B1,200 on the door. Limited to 350 tickets only.
Brought to you by: Dudesweet

Aug 14: Japandroids

If there was an award for 2013’s most enthusiastic concert promoter, Lullaby Entertainment would be a shoe-in (rivaled only by Popscene). After kicking off the year with singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata (Feb 28), they enjoyed a busy April welcoming Japanese post-rock veterans Mono (Apr 3) and TOE (Apr 20) as well as UK indie-pop trio Delphic (Apr 29). But the best is still to come, in the form of Canadian rock duo Japandroids. Formed in 2006 by Brian King (guitar and vocals) and David Prowse (drum and vocal) with the intention of playing with the same ferocity as a five-piece band, the duo’s much-lauded last album, Celebration Rock, was included as one of Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2012. That album’s scorching single “The House That Heaven Built” was also named the fifth best song of 2012 by online tastemaker Pitchfork.
Where: Route 66, 29/33 RCA Block B, Rama 9 Rd., 02-203-0936. www.route66club.com
Tix: B1,400 from Thaiticketmajor.com
Brought to you by: Lullaby Entertainment

Aug 10:  Kap Bambino

Now four years old, Popscene have been on a real roll of late. On top of the countless up and coming local acts they’ve put on at venues all over town, this year has seen them bring over some extremely impressive international bands. Thee Oh Sees, King Khan & BBQ Show, Cold Cave and Dead Elvis—are hardly household names but they all boast some serious scene cred and some great live performance pedigree. Whether you want scuzzed-out, psychedelic rock or brooding post-punk, Popscene’s generally got you covered, with an emphasis on crowd involvement (and crowd-surfing! see interview, this page) and crazy-if-you-miss-it prices (B400-500). And the next gig could be the wildest yet. Kap Bambino are a French electro-punk duo who’ve been likened to an even more aggressive Crystal Castles. And with her edgy outfits, raw vocals and smeared make-up, frontlady Caroline Martial is every type of effortless cool.
Where: TBA
Tix: TBA
Brought to you by: Popscene, tinyurl.com/plta68d

Sep 26: Justin Bieber

Even though the Bieb has already confirmed his performance for the Singapore F1 on Sep 23, we are still waiting for a final affirmative on his visit to Bangkok. Still it does seem like the rumors are true, American pop heartthrob Justin Bieber is headed to Bangkok. According to his official site, the Justin Bieber: Believe Tour will roll into town on Sep 26 at Impact Arena Muangthong Thani. The people behind the show are none other than Thailand’s first official Bieber fan site Thaibeliebers.com. Ticket prices and details will be announced soon. Keep an eye on BK+ for updates.
Where: Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, 99 Popular Rd., 02-833-4455.
Tix: B2,500-6,500 from Thaiticketmajor.com  
Brought to you by: The Thai Beliebers

Aug 24: Sonic Bang

After Ronan Keating, next up for BEC TERO is the Sonic Bang Music Festival. We’ve got to say that when we first caught wind of the event, we had high, high expectations—especially given it’s close proximity to Japan’s massive Summer Sonic music festival. While it isn’t quite the wet-dream musical line-up we’d envisaged, the list of 30 international and local acts spread across six stages is nothing to scoff at. The confirmed artists includes major international acts Jason Mraz, Pet Shop Boys, Pitbull, Placebo, Ash and Owl City, Asian heavyweights Scandal (Japan), Epik High (Korea), Miyavi (Japan), Love Me Butch (Malaysia), Jam Project (Japan) and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (Japan), as well as local bands Slot Machine, Flure, Tor Saksit, Stamp, Lipta, Room 39, Scrubb, Gale, Sugar Eyes, Buddha Bless, Southside, Kratae & Baitoey R-Siam, DJs Jay Montonn Jira, Ono, Bee Futon, Suharit Siamwalla and Seed Norasete. Let’s hope this is a sign of Bangkok becoming a music festival destination to rival Singapore and Japan.
Where: Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, 99 Popular Rd., 02-833-4455
Tix: B4,000 and B5,000 for VIP tickets (inclusive of two drinks, festival T-shirt, lounge, and fast-track entrance at every stage) from Thaiticketmajor.com
Brought to you by: BEC TERO

Nov 6: Wild Nothing

The dream-pop lovers Have you Heard? gave us wild hopes last month when they hosted a night devoted to Wild Nothing’s latest EP, Empty Estate, at Rehab Bar. Could it be that they would bring the American band to our shores? Indeed, front man Jack Tatum has just been booked to perform in Bangkok this November. And of course, the band will be there, too: Nathan Goodman (guitar), Jeff Haley (bass), Kevin Knight (keyboards) and Jeremiah Johnson (drums). Expect songs from the new EP together with favorites like “Shadow” and “Paradise” from album Nocturne (2012) and “Live and Dream” from debut album Gemini (2010).     
Venue: Tickets details will be announced via www.facebook.com/HaveYouHeard.Live
Brought to you by: Have You Heard?

Nov 28: Two Door Cinema Club

After having to cancel their Primal Scream concert on May 10 (through no fault of their own, it must be said), the Godung team hit back with the news that many dek naew were waiting for: Two Door Cinema Club are coming to Bangkok. The Northern Irish trio of Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird and Sam Halliday quickly caught the attention of indie kids the world over with their debut album, Tourist History (2010), which contained bouncy and melodic tunes like “What You Know” and “Something Good Can Work.” After opening for bands like Delphic, Phoenix and Foals, their second studio album, Beacon (2012), cemented their place as darlings of the hipster crowd. Support in Bangkok will come from Malaysian rockers Kyoto Protocol and local indie act Tabasco, who we’ve previously dubbed as the “Thai version of Two Door Cinema Club.”
Where: BITEC Bangna, 88 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 1, 02-749-3939, 02-361-1916.
Tix: B2,000-B2,500 from Thaiticketmajor.com
Brought to you by: Godung.com

Acer Iconia W3

The Budget Basic

Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 8-inch (1,280x800 pixels) 1.8GHz Atom Z2760 Dual-core processor on Windows 8, 2GB ram, 32GB and 2MP camera.
Highlights: Can be paired with a Bluetooth keyboard dock and comes with a free Office license (Word, Powerpoint, Excel).
Price: B12,900

Surface RT

The Quasi Laptop

Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 10.6-inch (1,366x768 pixels) Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3, Windows RT, 2GB ram, 32GB memory with micro SD and 720 pixel camera.
Highlights: The NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor which supports heavy-duty gaming and the sleek design featuring a Vapor Magnesium casing and a built-in kickstand. The multi-task function allows two apps to run at the same time, and there’s also a free Office license.
Price: From B16,500

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (RUNNER UP!)

The Creative Genius

Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 8-inch (1,280x800 pixels) 1.6GHz Quad-core processor on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, 2GB ram, 16GB memory with micro SD up to 64GB and 5MP camera.
Highlights: The most powerful processor of the bunch, with practical functions like handwriting recognition (turns your handwriting into typed words), Air-View (lets you preview content by using the S pen) and Multi-Window function (splits the screen in two for multitasking).
Price: B15,200

iPad Retina (WINNER!)

The Popular Kid

Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 9.7-inch (2,048x1,536 pixels) Dual-core A6X with Quad-core graphics, IOS 6, 1GB ram, memory from 16GB and 5MP camera.
Highlights: Noticeably clearer retina display, smooth A6X chip performance, good quality 5MP camera and practical built-in applications like Keynote, Facetime and Newsstand. And, of course, you still can’t beat the App Store’s selection.
Price: B16,500

Asus Nexus 7

The Sleek Geek

Work HHHHH
Gaming HHHHH
Music HHHHH
Movie HHHHH
Specs: 7-inch (1,280x800 pixels) NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.2GHz, Android 4.1, 1GB Ram, 16GB and 1.2MP camera.
Highlights: Good gaming NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, long battery life of up to 9 hours and a pretty accurate virtual keyboard.
Price: Price TBA

Tech Know

The must-have free tablet apps right now

Lighting

Angus Hutcheson,

founder/chief designer of Ango furniture designers

“One criterion for lighting the main living area is to have a couple of good sources of background lighting so that the mood can be varied by using them in different combinations with table lights, (1) floor lights and pendant lights. Another technique I like is to use exterior (2) lighting usually at a low level, which  illuminates the interior via glazed doors or glass block panels, maybe with plants used to partially diffuse the light. This helps to achieve a sense of perspective and enhanced depth. Try Nest table lights, cascadence ceiling lights, small hanging ceiling lights and three stone floor lights. Try G/F, Crystal Design Center, Praditrmanutham Rd., 02-102-2282.

Built-ins

Vasu Virajsilp,

co-founder of VaSLab architecture firm

“The walls in your condo play a huge role when it comes to space. One of the techniques is to have full-height storage walls with a built-in cabinet attached to them instead of having a big storage room. Using vertical space efficiently will keep a condo space neat and clean. At the same time, it maximizes the space we need horizontally. Frosted glass doors can be used for the cabinets; (3) they will make the room lighter by their reflective and translucent characteristics.”

Color

Rattapol Sakdamnuson,

Editor-in-chief of Room Magazine

To increase space, the walls of your room should be in light tones like white, grey or pastel which makes the room look brighter. Avoid using dark tones on areas like ceilings, but use them in certain areas of the room to add boldness. Another trick is using two shades of color on your wall by applying the dark color on the lower part going up to about 90 centimeters while painting the rest of the wall with light tones, like dark green with pastel green (4).

West Indian

The food: The most popular West Indian cuisine comes from Goa, which draws on Portuguese, Hindu and Muslim influences. When the Portuguese colonized the region some 400-500 years ago, they introduced a number of spices to the local food, the most important being chili. This legacy can be seen in a dish like vindaloo, which is derived from the Portugese carne de vinha d’ alhos (pork with garlic and wine), a fiery and flavorful affair. Also, due to its coastal location, the cuisine here features lots of fish and coconuts.
Have it at: Gaggan (68/1 Langsuan Rd., 02-652-1700. Open daily 6-11pm) has an unusual, modern take on this curry. Here, the sous-vide Iberian pork comes in a vindaloo reduction. It won’t taste particularly like what you’d get in India, but you can be assured of a very flavorful dish. Otherwise, try Bawarchi (InterContinental, Ploenchit Rd., 02-656-0102-3. Open daily 11am-midnight) for the traditional version of the dish.

East Indian

The food: The cuisine, derived from the Chinese community who lived in Kolkata, in East India, has spread throughout the world. The cooking techniques are similar to those used by the Chinese but with more spices added. Familiar dishes include fish in honey, chicken momo (chicken dumpling) and honey pepper cottage cheese, which have become favorites worldwide. The region is also famous for its seafood curries and grows lots of fruits and rice.
Have it at: Dragon Express (68 Sukhumvit Soi 21 [Asoke], 02-204-0588-9. www.dragonxpress.com. Open daily 11am-12pm) has all the aforementioned dishes (B109-B129) with delivery available until midnight. As for the curries, try the Bengali doi maach at Indus (71 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-258-4900. Open daily daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30pm-11pm).

South Indian

The food: First and foremost, this is the land of the vegetarian. There’s also a really big focus on rice, which forms the basis of almost everything, including the popular papadum (flatbread) and rasam (spice soup and tomato). As with other regions, spices play a big part here, particularly in Hyderabadi cuisine, where the biryani is a bit spicier than elsewhere.
Have it at: Rang Mahal (26/F, Rembrandt, 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-261-7100. Open daily 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-11pm), whose biryani dish is made the original way—coating the meat (they also have the vegetarian version) in many homemade spices before putting it on a layer of rice and steaming it in a really tight clay pot. Also, drop by Shri Ganesha (392/23-24 Sukhumvit Soi 20/1, 02-258-1425. Open daily 10am-10pm) for the dahi vada (lentil donuts dunked in spiced yogurt) which are a great light, yet complex, appetizer and the wonderfully crispy rava masala dosa (oniony rice crepe with spicy potatoes). Both are made to order and come with the fiery Southern dish sambhar (lentil soup with vegetables) and chutneys.

North Indian

The food: Now the most ubiquitous style of Indian cookering found globally. The food here is characterized by its richness and use of dairy—both milk and cheese befitting their cold winters. Popular examples include chaat (tangy vegetarian salads involving tamarind, yogurt and cilantro chutneys) and rogan josh (mutton cooked with thin dark sauces).
Have it at: Saras (15 Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-401-8484. www.saras.co.th. Open daily 11am-11pm) serves a typical Punjabi farmer’s dish, sarson ka saag (mustard leaves and spices) with makki ki roti (corn flour flatbread). Another top choice for Northern cuisine is Hazara (29 Sukhumvit Soi 38, 02-713-6049. www.facebars.com. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-11pm); try their tender and complex rogan josh amid the stunning décor.

Song: Would You Mind?

Artist: Part Time Musicians feat. Chladni Chandi
Label: Rats Records
After their debut single “Vacation Time” hit number one at Fat Radio’s Top 40 chart last month, the folk-trio Part Time Musicians have quickly released their second single, “Would You Mind?” Featuring Chladni Chandi’s frontman Chawalit “Yong” Saowapakpongchai, on violin and guest musician Noparuj Satjawan on sitar “Would You Mind?” is an upbeat jaunty number, that has enough quirky-edges to avoid being too cutesy and exciting at the same time.         

Song: “Fon Tok Kuen Fah”

Artist: Valley Runner
Label: Independent
Last month when we introduced Secondhand Strings’ “Into the Wild,” a single from Bedroom Studio’s Movie to Music Project, we also came across another single that caught our fancy. Inspired by Pen-Ek Ratanarueng’s action-drama Fon Tok Kuen Fah, Valley Runner has created this acoustic number about a guy who will stop loving his girlfriend when it’s “fon tok kuen fah” (raining upside down).

Song: “The Ballad of a Man and His Sorrow”

Artist: Kobe
Label: Independent
Kobe, an independent group made up of L.J Bain Chompoowong (vocal and guitars), Tawan Chiraseepanya (bass and vocals) and Ayu Charuburana (drums and vocals), has finally released another single “The Ballad of a Man and His Sorrow.” This new installment is more melodic than their usual rock style, and is actually quite pop-inspired. As the title suggests, the song depicts a man sorrowful over his past, but the overall mood hints at a happier ending.

Song: “Teenage Love”

Artist: Gramaphone Children
Label: Kitsch Cat/Vinyl Hub Studio
After DJing at many hipster venues like WTF and Badmotel, Jaree Thanapura aka “Gramaphone Children” has just released his new  track “Teenage Love.” The single’s heavy use of synths and electro-triged vocals transports us back to the 80s, but its catchy chorus really leaves us wanting more.

At the heart of Chinatown, Amoy Street’s a real convenient spot for CBD folk to eat. But unlike fancier parts of the neighborhood that focus on fine-dining (think Bukit Pasoh) or drinks (Club Street), the area’s got all sorts of diverse options to take you through the day: French pastries for breakfast, generous sandwiches or inventive hawker fare for lunch, some serious sweets to perk you up mid afternoon, and as night falls, slick cocktails and comforting Italian dinners. It’s pretty much a Swiss army knife for folks who eat out.

Sarnies

On offer at this cute café is everything you need for a great weekday lunch: A perfectly seasoned chicken sanger packed with guacamole and bacon ($13.90), refreshing lemon-mint iced tea ($7) and a super dense chocolate-y brownie ($4). The servers are real friendly to boot.

Sophie Bakery

This first Singapore outlet by the French bakery chain is a convenient place to pick up pain au chocolat ($2.50) or—even better—plush white chocolate-studded buns ($1.90) for breakfast, and crusty baguette ($2.90) to go with dinner.

Truffs

For those who deem themselves true-blue dark chocolate aficionados this spot—owned by chocolatier Teng Ei Liang—is the place to be. The handmade truffles ($3), the signature chocolate cake ($11/slice, $85/whole), and espresso- and Earl Grey-infused chocolate tarts ($7/slice, $50/whole) are all delish.

The Market Grill

The industrial looking space features an open-concept kitchen, and can get pretty warm at times (ventilation isn’t great). Still, it’s worth braving the sweltering heat for executive chef Colin West’s soul satisfying menu of American grills. We reckon the burgers—hand-formed to weigh 150g each—including the CW Burger Breakfast ($21), a beef patty with a sunny side up egg, bacon and aged cheddar are the best in town.

A Noodle Story

This unusual hawker stall, setup by Shatec-trained chefs Gwern Khoo and Ben Tham—who have worked as top restaurants like Iggy’s, Waku Ghin and Restaurant ANDRE—offers Singapore-style ramen ($5/small, $6/medium, $7/large), which incorporates flavors from local dishes like prawn mee and wonton mee as well as sous vide cha-su.

more places to eat in Tanjong Pagar

Matt’s The Chocolate Shop

Owned by Matthew Chow, this narrow minimalist store with all-white furnishings offers a menu that’s just as spare as the decor. The focus is simple ganache-topped chocolate cakes, which come in two sizes: Individual minis ($4) and 1kg-whole cakes ($48).   

Burlamacco Ristorante 

The more-ish beef tripe stew in tomato sauce ($18) and homemade pastas including linguine with lobster in spicy arrabbiata sauce ($26) at this Tuscan joint keep regulars coming back for more. The restaurant also houses a pretty floor-to-ceiling wine cellar with a collection of over 120 Italian labels (from $12/glass, $68/bottle).

Flying Squirrel

Local music act Jack & Rai, and Jack’s wife Angelina, run this cozy Japanese eatery hidden away on a side alley. To eat, there’s selection of fusion Japanese bites such as soba pasta ($16), featuring tomato-sauced noodles and breaded fried shrimp, as well as more traditional offerings like the sashimi platter ($42), and salmon and ikura chirashi ($13).

Jigger & Pony

Colorful and friendly, with red and yellow booth seats and a collection of vintage liquor posters on the walls, this welcoming cocktail spot offers a grid-like menu of tipples including classics like the negroni ($20) and new inventions such as Little Red Dot ($22), made from Tanqueray Ten gin, raspberries, lychee liqueur, grapefruit juice and Indian rosewater.    

Beng Hiang Hokkien Restaurant

This Hokkien establishment is a real institution, having been around for more than 30 years. It’s the perfect place for an old school Chinese meal, featuring classics like fried hokkien noodles (from $7), crisp fried prawn balls (from $8) and oyster omelette (from $12).

more places to eat in Tanjong Pagar

STREET by 50 on-ear headphones
$270 from DG Lifestyle
50 Cent’s latest creation through his company SMS Audio is a series of lightweight but durable, and unendingly stylish headsets. These on-ear ones come with a removable cord with a three-click mic, a soft cleaning cloth and their own hard-shell case.

Creative Sound Blaster EVO Wireless Headset
$229 from sg.store.creative.com
Being able to go wireless is great, but not when you have to compromise on sound quality. Homegrown tech hero Creative’s new baby uses the same powerful 400mm drivers as its EVO Zx, which is not yet available in Singapore.

Sony Bluetooth headset SBH20
$78 from Challenger
Handy like the iPod shuffle MP3 player, this NFC-enabled wonder clings to a rotatable clip so you can wear it many ways.

El Gaucho Argentinian Steakhouse

Arriving in Bangkok from Vietnam late last year, El Gaucho features two levels—a bar plus outside deck downstairs, and a main dining area upstairs. Amid an upbeat Latin soundtrack, the vaguely Argentinean-themed joint serves up signature dishes like homemade chorizo (beef or pork, B790). As for your mains, the beef is mainly imported from Australia and the US and ranges from a simple B900 rib eye to a B4,390 wagyu filet mignon.
8, 8/1-7 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-255-2864. Open daily noon-midnight

The District

This new upscale steakhouse is all about American-style grilling. The District’s modern and elegant setting takes its cues from New York while all the cuts of beef are from Queensland, Australia. The menu is brief, but the aim is to be a steakhouse where you don’t have to spend quite as big as elsewhere. The beef here is not all priced at B2,000-plus; rather, expect to pay around B1,350 for the tenderloin (180 grams).
2/F, Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, 2 Sukhumvit Soi 57, 02-797-0000. Open daily 6-11pm

Peter’s Pan

Not exactly a new place, but Peter’s Pan has just moved from Chaengwattana to chase more of the spotlight in town. The comfy and homey space is decorated with the owners’ personal antique collection. The kitchen serves American-style steak, with recommendations including prime ribs (B1,500) and surf and turf (B1,800). There’s also a three-course set lunch at B490.
2/F, Mille Malle, Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-663-4560-1. Open daily 11am-2pm; 5-11pm

Avenue New York Grill

While it may look like a French-style bistro, Avenue New York Grill is a real deal steakhouse. The brief menu is replete with classics. The steaks are pretty affordable, too: wagyu beef flank steak (B495), Thai tenderloin (B395) and Australian tenderloin (B850). Drop by during happy hour (6-7pm) for the buy-one-get-one-free deal on beers and a complimentary steak sandwich.
156 Sukhumvit Soi 16, 086-050-6355. www.steakhousebangkok.com. Open daily 11:30am-2pm; 6-11pm

Jin Vondervic:

Tailor house calls for the busy man

Looking to get a new suit made? Jin Vondervic is a reasonably priced tailoring service that delivers straight to your door. The shop keeps up-to-date with the latest styles from the runway, from minimal, dandy formals to casual-looking suits and tailored pants. A full suit (jacket, pants and shirt) starts from B4,700, which includes out-of-store body measurement service and a one-time fix on the tailoring. You’ll get your order within seven days, and for those in a rush, it’s an extra 20% charge for three-day delivery.
Order online at www.facebook.com/jinvondervic, 089-891-8139.

Sitapisha:

Style and skin for sassy ladies

Sitapisha does understated women’s day and work wear with playful details that accentuate the female curves while showing some skin. Think cropped tops in pastel and basic tones with details like bare shoulders, ruffless and textured bottoms. The emphasis here is on high-waisted shorts and skin-baring tops that keep to a minimal yet sassy style through the use of light fabrics like satin. Tops start from B990 and shorts from B1,390.
Order online at www.facebook.com/Sitapisha, 081-904-1313.

Sasi:

Feminine elegance with a splash of color

Finalist of the 8GG Magazine New Born Search 5 competition, Sasi does women’s wear with an emphasis on three principles: clean, colorful and feminine. You can expect a vibrant and sweet color palette on designs that don’t show off too much skin, but feature hidden details, like open back dresses, cropped tops and dresses and skirts with side cuttings. Think pieces like textured jumpsuits, light dresses in vibrant tones and short-length dresses in candy colors. We like the combination of simple designs in bold tones with the subtle sexy details. Prices for tops and dresses start from B2,000.
Order online at www.facebook.com/bysasithailand,  088-482-8828.

Wood Dock:

Preppy must-haves for the guys

Wood Dock has guys’ fashion needs covered from head to toe. The shop stocks urban men’s apparel—shirts, t-shirts, pants, belts and shoes, you name it, all designed by the owner. Think products like plain-colored shirts, colorful chinos in tones like scarlet and mustard, preppy canvas belts and shoes in tones like navy and grey. We particularly like their printed t-shirts with trippy prints. Shirt from B790, chinos for B990, shoes from B1,800 and t-shirts for BTK.
Order online at www.facebook.com/pages/WOOD-DOCK/343795512372434, 086-002-5661.

Sheep:

Fun glasses and tees

Started by two friends, a copy writer and a designer, Sheep does unisex eyewear, t-shirts and accessories. Quickly gaining popularity on Facebook thanks to its retro eyewear with nice details—and reasonable price tags—products here are updated fast with new collections of sunglasses and spectacles released on a tk basis. Accessories like iPhone cases, hats and t-shirts are also available in themes like the current “Anti-Tee” that sees plain-colored tees with bold slogans starting with “Anti.” Accessories and eye wear start from B490 and t-shirts are B290.
Order online at www.facebook.com/sheepstudiobkk

Can you go wrong with a burger-and-beer combo? Thought not. Each pint of Brewerkz's American pale ale goes a mere $5 with purchase of their famed Cowboy burger as part of their Red, White and Brewed promo.

If pale ale is just a bit too fancy for your tastebuds, there's plenty of good old Budweiser and Jim Beam at Blu Jaz, Muzium and Piedra Negra's Post-July 4 party. There's even a taco bar that will take care of those post-drinks cravings.

Or go for bourbon, beer pong, fried snacks and hip-hop jams at Tanjong Beach Club's Stars & Stripes do. Yep, it’s pretty much a frat party at the beach—good times.

And because there are few activities more patriotic than downing copious amounts of Bud via a bong, check out The Budweiser Beer Bong Challenge final showdown. Sweet land o’ liberty, indeed.