Throwaway Lines

With the New Year already here and Chinese New Year almost upon us, everyone’s busy clearing out the boring and old to make way for the shiny and new. Getting rid of all the negative energy that’s built up in the last 12 months and replacing it with something altogether more positive and productive. Or, as the process is nowadays known: Goodbye Candy Crush, hello Candy Crush Dreamworld.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2014 Jan 9 - 23:00

Bottling It Up

After the worst riots here in 40 years, the government moved quickly to enact an alcohol ban in Little India, citing the problems caused when large groups of men gather to drink cheap liquor on the street on Sundays, starting fights and generally making a nuisance of themselves. In some quarters the new rules were judged reactionary, if not a little racist. Thankfully, the Body Of Over Zealous executives (BOOZE) this week stepped in to clarify the rules about when, where and why you’re allowed to drink in public here.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Dec 26 - 23:00

Love the Way You Write

With the winner of the 2013 Bad Sex in Fiction Award just announced (congrats to Manil Suri for this gem in The City of Devi, “...only Karun’s body, locked with mine, remains... In celebration of her breakthrough fourth star, statisticians the world over rejoice”) we can finally reveal our own submission*:
 

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Dec 12 - 23:00

November Reigns

Time for the latest instalment of our occasional (and only occasionally funny) news quiz. How closely have you been paying attention to what’s been going on this month?

Which Internet-famous Singaporean with a superhero name has been jailed on theft and drug charges?
1. Batman bin Suparman
2. Downey bin Ironman
3. Daredevil

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Nov 21 - 23:00

The Ties That Bind

So the Minister for Social and Family Development, Chan Chun Sing, says pro-infidelity website Ashley Madison (tagline: Life is short, have an affair) is not welcome in Singapore. "Promoting infidelity undermines trust and commitment between a husband and wife, which are core to marriage," he says. A Facebook group petitioning against Ashley Madison's plans to launch here next year garnered more than 25,000 likes in less than a week.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Nov 7 - 23:00

Out of the Box

Real-life escape games are suddenly all the rage, with the likes of Freeing SG, Lockdown and Real Escape popping up all over Singapore. We spoke to the Executive Escaper behind the phenomenon to
find out more.

I-S So what’s the deal?
Ex Esc Basically you pay us money and we lock you in a room.

I-S We pay you?
Ex Esc Yes. Then you have to find your way out.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Oct 24 - 23:00

To mark our 18th anniversary, we asked 18 of the city’s coolest personalities—and some of our awesome readers—to tell us what they love most about the city.

“The local arts scene has really taken off over the last two years with the whole region looking into Singapore.”
Aidan Bamrah, founder, Sideshow
 
 
 
“The people, landscape, architecture, museums and art scene are all so colorful and vibrant!”
Alan Koh, Marketing Manager, Affordable Art Fair
 
 
 
“Lians are very particular to Singapore. Other countries can have Lians but they’re not real. Ours are as real as they get.”
Troy Chin, comic artist
 
 
 
“Singapore is developed enough to give me choices, young enough to let me create my own way, home enough to make me want to make a difference. ”
Tracy Phillips, Director, Present Purpose
 
 
 
“It’s great that we have some control here—otherwise we’d be barbaric and going crazy.”
Jasmine Tuan, owner, Blackmarket
 
 
 
“We are definitely getting our sexy back with so many things to do here.”
Charlotte Nors, Executive Director, Singapore Repertory Theatre
 
 
 
“There is something about our dialects that is warm and familiar, even if I don’t speak any of it.”
Anthony Chen, filmmaker
 
 
 
“I’ve managed to set up a few businesses over the last few years and the city is very supportive of new ventures.”
Ian Tan, Program Director, Ritual
 
 
 
“Singapore is a small country but we are very productive people.”
Alvin Tan, artist, :Phunk Studio
 
 
 
“We have a diverse range of people and food from all around the world. We also love the culture, atmosphere, architecture and history of Chinatown.”
Julian and Christian Tan, owners, Lucha Loco
 
 
 
“Our arts scene is struggling but I like that it’s very passionate with more and more artists coming together.”
Weish, singer-songwriter
 
 
 
“Being a very young city, things are always progressing. The city is very energetic and vibrant, with stuff happening all the time.”
Cynthia Chua, owner, Spa Esprit Group
 
 
 
“Singapore has come to an age where it has matured enough to articulate how it feels, and music is a great way to express oneself here.”
Danny Loong, Chief Creative Director, Timbre
 
 
“Money is part and parcel of our daily life.”
Kenny Leck, owner, BooksActually
 
 
 
“My greatest inspiration is our people and their quirks and eccentricities.”
Samantha Lo, aka SKLO, street artist
 
 
 
“I like the fact that even though chicken rice didn’t come from Singapore, we made it our own, and made it better.”
Pat Law, founder, Goodstuph
 
 
 
“I love the trees, I love the flowers, I love the bougainvilleas as you drive into Singapore from the airport and I love the rain trees that you see everywhere.”
Timothy Chia, Head of Marketing & Events, Zouk
 
 
 

“The National Parks Board has done a most brilliant job with our beautifully manicured parks, catchment areas and connecting ridges.”  
Michael Roche, Managing Director, Lushington Promotions


Find out what our readers love about Singapore!

 

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We Can’t Work It Out

EDITOR’S NOTE
This column was supposed to be a wry reflection on the crazy, amazing evolution of Singapore in the 18 years since I-S began. However, following recent changes to employment laws to protect the local labor force, the magazine will henceforth be written not by the people most willing or best qualified to do it but instead by the first Singaporean to walk through the door. This week, we welcome Edward Tan, a charming old taxi uncle who simply got lost looking for a bathroom.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Oct 10 - 23:00

Expect the Unexpected

Car prices have been falling in Singapore. But where does this rank in the bigger picture of things you would never expect to happen? We’ve put together a cut-out-and-keep scale for future use.

BIT OF A SHOCK, BUT I KIND OF SAW IT COMING

HOLY HELL, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Sep 26 - 23:00

Repressed Memories

Another slap in the face to Singapore this month, with Kanye West making a surprise guest appearance at the wedding of the grandson of Kazakhstan’s President and Repressor-in-Chief Nursultan Nazarbayev. Elsewhere, Dennis Rodman was back in North Korea to hang with his “pal” Kim Jong-Un, a.k.a. the guy who had his ex-girlfriend executed by firing squad in August.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Sep 12 - 23:00