Deanna Teng

It's the second last week of September but things don't seem to be slowing down, especially not with the iconic Formula 1 race happening at the end of this week. If you didn't manage to secure your tickets, we've included the perfect spot to party at instead. And trust us when we say you won't be hungry or thirsty these next few days – the largest food truck festival is happening at Sentosa plus, it's finally Negroni Week. There are also plenty of nocturnal events to stay out late for, and a ton of cool art exhibitions to visit. Scroll down to find out more. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Singapore after dark and The best art exhibitions in Singapore

Races, raves, romps under the moonlight, revisiting childhood joys, and relaxation — it’s a mixed bag of events this September. The annual F1 Singapore Grand Prix is back for another edition, with musical acts like Disclosure, Thirty Seconds to Mars and BabyMonster to look forward to. If you didn't manage to score tickets, party it up at Lap 62 instead, a mega Grand Prix watch party. For those who just can't seem to sweat out the dancing fever, Groovedriver Festival's eurobeats, throwback hits, and EDM sound will be the cure. On the flipside, have some PG-rated fun at various Mid-Autumn Festivals across the island. Or relive your childhood memories at a special Lego exhibition and bubble-themed party. When all's said and done, rest up at IKEA's first Rest Festival, where snoozing doesn't always mean losing. RECOMMENDED: 101 things to do in Singapore and 7 very demure, very mindful things to do in Singapore

It's the final week until the Singapore Grand Prix and it's time to rev up for non-stop parties and festivals islandwide. Groove to throwback hits or get down on the dancefloor with events by EATMEPOPTART and GrooveTop. Have your cameras ready to capture stellar photos at the nocturnal wonderland of illumi, set to open its doors this week. Or get cheery at the sight of 5000 sunflowers at a floral showcase spanning across Changi Airport's four terminals. Grab some grub at Savour Park, Singapore's largest food truck festival. There'll also be plenty of shopping to do at MUJI's pop-up market and Curio City at SAM. RECOMMENDED: These are the best things to do this F1 Season and the best supper spots you can head to for late-night dining afterwards

Matcha has always been a favourite amongst Singaporeans, but you can’t deny there’s been an increase in people opting for matcha lattes in cafés as of late. Plus, with more cafés that specialise in matcha drinks popping up around town, we figured it’s about time that we put together the best spots to grab a matcha latte, be it at a café or a hawker stall.  RECOMMENDED: The best brunch spots in Singapore and The best hidden cafés in Singapore

Though Singapore is barely discernible on the map, our small island is far from lacking in diversity. We’re constantly exposed to the beauty of other cultures, which ensures that our food scene is never boring. Rather, it’s a vital component of our cultural heritage, with our hawker culture even listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. It's no wonder we never run out of options for meal times, with so many different cuisines available for the choosing.On the flip side, this abundance of cuisine has also caused us to lose sight of once-popular heritage foods. These traditional recipes are often complex, involving labour-intensive processes and years of practice to perfect. As the younger generation increasingly aspires to white-collar jobs rather than toiling for long hours in the kitchen, it’s no wonder that few are left to uphold and preserve traditional recipes, and why many foods have faded into obscurity.  Though it’s unfortunate that you won’t find many of these heritage foods left in Singapore, we invite you to take a trip down memory lane and uncover these hidden gems before they vanish from our  food scene entirely.RECOMMENDED: Makan Spotlight: Laksa and Makan Spotlight: Kueh

National Day is just round the corner! In honour of Singapore's 59th National Day, everyone's hopping on the bandwagon to celebrate this special day. A multitude of events are taking place across the sunny island, and everyone is invited. Look forward to exciting online and offline programmes at museums and cultural institutions, concerts featuring your favourite local stars and NDP classics, yummy food deals, and more. Squeeze into your red and white ensemble with pride and check out these National Day events. Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Singapore newsletter for the best of the city straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: The guide to National Day and the best places to catch fireworks for free on National Day in Singapore  

Get loud at Singapore’s first celebration of its best progressive rock artists at Odyssey: Progressive Rock Festival happening on September 21. Rock out to seven homegrown acts and hear how they push the boundaries of the rock scene and tell their story through music – featuring Falling Islands, VYLT, rathmock, We The Villains, Sangriento, Taledrops, and MYTH. Sounds to expect include high-energy dark synth and horror synth, an experimental mix of modern rock and alternative neoclassical melodies, deathcore, symphonic metal, and plenty of atmospheric soundscapes. Check out the list of acts and get your tickets here.

With a viral Boiler Room set under her belt, French DJ-producer CARAVEL makes her TUFF CLUB debut on September 21. Popular in the European scene, you’ll find this talented artist playing at clubs and festivals on the other side of the pond, curating parties as well as being a resident of Synoid, a Berlin-based event series. Expect a night of endless partying to her dynamic mental, groovy, and hard techno sound. Läbraatz will be there to welcome you when doors open past midnight. Get your tickets here.

Few people know that among Singapore’s many vegan food options, one of the community’s best-kept secrets is nestled inconspicuously among the shophouses along Neil Road. Step into Ahimsa Sanctuary, a Bali-like haven for delicious vegan eats that’s smack dab in the busy city and wallet-friendly to boot. Setting the scene for a perfect escape is the swaying ferns in the café’s courtyard, ornate teak wood furniture, and an indoor skylight casting a glow throughout the space. Ahimsa Sanctuary’s menu mainly consists of inventive bagels and burritos, sourdough plates, and a grain bowl option. The remaining bulk of the menu features smoothie and acai bowls, and plenty of coffees, teas, and fresh juices. The Nourish Bae-rrito Bowl ($11.90) is a Mexican-inspired grain bowl, with a base of lemon herb quinoa served with quintessential Mexican toppings like guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, and tortilla chips. The vegan twist comes in the form of perfectly grilled and juicy slices of lion’s mane mushrooms seasoned with a tandoori-style marinade. A squeeze of lime and a quick mix makes for the most refreshing and delectable twist of flavours – the guacamole’s creaminess isn’t cloying thanks to the tortilla chips, the salsa and lime give off a zesty tanginess, and the chillis and mushrooms are spiced perfectly. We insist that this dish is a must-try, not only for its excellent and addictive taste but also for being the most value for money.  A table favourite is the BLT Bagel ($13.90), but no

If you’re planning to catch the Olafur Eliasson: Your Curious Journey exhibition that’s running until September 22, make a pit stop and head to CURIO CITY at the Singapore Art Museum. The two-day curated market marks the closing of older exhibitions and celebrates the opening of new ones, so there’ll be plenty to see and do. There’ll be live music from international DJs and musicians, as well as from recognisable names like Shane2Sweet with his hip hop tunes. If you prefer something hands-on, head to the 40 different craft workshops on-site. Make your own terrarium or learn how to craft leather while the young ones have fun with slime. Though some workshops do cost extra, kids under 12 get free entry to the event. Head here to sign up for the available workshops. Make sure to support local vendors selling goods like upcycled fashion and handmade crafts. When all’s said and done, refuel with Burmese or vegan food and sip on craft beverages – we guarantee you won’t go hungry. Tickets go for $5, so get them here.

Party up this weekend with EATMEPOPTART’s latest edition of Off With Your Head on September 14 at Phil’s Studio. For its second instalment, you can expect resident DJs weelikeme and KiDG to drop all manner of noise – indie sleaze, alt rock, electro, hyperpop, remixes, and more. Round up the gang and be ready for an endless night of fun, guaranteed to be Wonderland-style crazy. Grab your tickets here.

During the pandemic, many started home-based businesses to earn extra income. Despite the return to normal post-pandemic life, it’s clear that the trend of starting such ventures is here to stay.  You’ll find one such recently opened home business in the heart of Joo Chiat, an area historically known for its Eurasian and Peranakan influences. Kopi Khoo is a home-based coffee takeaway kiosk that operates from richly detailed Peranakan-style wooden windows that lead straight into the family kitchen. In every sense of the phrase, it’s literally a hole-in-the-wall along an alleyway in Tembeling Road, just in front of Haig Girls’ School. You might miss the kiosk if not for its distinctive wooden shutters protruding from an otherwise plain wall – that, and the huge green directional banner hanging a couple of metres away. Though we’re there on a weekday morning, we’re surprised to see steady streams of customers continuously flocking to the kiosk. From the crowd of families and office workers patronising the small store, it’s clear that its virality on social media has helped with business. While we queue, we see a grey-headed bespectacled lady taking orders and chatting amicably with customers. Kopi Khoo is family-run and was initially started by a mother-son duo. On the weekends, more family members come down just to help with business.  Kopi Khoo’s menu is tidy and no-frills, serving only eight options. You can expect coffee staples like iced Americanos ($3.50), hot cappuccinos

Kick off the September party season with a groovy day-to-night rooftop party. No, we’re not talking about Lap 62, a mega Formula 1 watch party at HighHouse. If you’re looking to party in the heart of Orchard, head to Trifecta for a night of epic beats by GrooveTop – featuring some of Singapore's most exciting DJs from Sunny Side, Last Saturdays, and Secret Pals. They’ll be bumping everything from funk, house, hip hop, UKG, disco, and plenty more. The sundown party starts at 4pm and when it’s over, head to the after-party from 10pm to 1am. If you’re feeling peckish, make a beeline to Yeastside for fresh sourdough bakes.Many other events are lined up at Trifecta this season, so find out more here. And be sure to get your tickets quickly here.

Where will both gamers and melomaniacs be on September 13? The answer: an orchestra performance of music from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the Japanese fantasy media franchise. The world tour lands in Singapore for one night only, so strap in for an electrifying medley of arrangements from Square Enix’s hit video game series. Over 100 musicians from the Singapore Metropolitan Festival Orchestra and chorus, led by renowned conductors Arnie Roth and Eric Roth, will be playing beloved scores and exciting new pieces. Accompanying the thrilling compositions are stunning, high-definition video scenes created exclusively for the event. Immerse yourself in this sensational multimedia concert experience, featuring one of the world’s most visionary games of all time. Tickets are selling quickly so get them here.

Throw it back to the late 90s and early 2000s this weekend with Soul Therapy – a night that promises the best R&B and hip hop hits straight out of the golden age. Hosted at Here Kitty Kitty in Clarke Quay, Soul Therapy invites you to gather the gang and dance the night away from 10pm until late.We’re talking about nostalgic and timeless anthems from the likes of TLC, Aaliyah, Usher, Mario, Missy Elliott, and Jay-Z. On this special night, the founding DJs of Therapy Room, in collaboration with  Soul Ties, will return to their roots of spinning hip hop and R&B. Shaun, the co-founder of Therapy Room, will even be bringing back his hip hop persona as DJ Flirt for the night. With such expertise behind the booth, you can be sure that you’ll be grooving to the freshest beats only. Get your early bird tickets here.

From September 8 to 22, celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with a slew of dazzling lights, music, and cultural performances at the scenic Jurong Lake Gardens. This year’s Lights by the Lake not only looks good, but will also make you feel good since it’s held in conjunction with the President’s Challenge. Enjoy music under the moonlight on September 14 with the 21st edition of NParks Concert Series in the Park: Rockestra, where you’ll get to sing along to a selection of Mandarin and English songs sung by local artistes. Floating lanterns, new designs inspired by origami, and mesmerising light and projection mapping shows are just some of the sights to look forward to. Plus, take part in cultural showcases and music performances, and enjoy some family-friendly fun with carnival games. There’s even a free movie screening and plenty of delicious carnival food to keep you fueled. Find out more here.

It’s not every day that we fall in love with a pastry so delicious that we finish the whole box before even getting a chance to share it with others – that’s until we tried the Italian sfogliatelle at Keedo Keedo. This quaint, family-run pastry shop tucked away in Curbside Crafters at Bugis specialises in this dessert that’s a rarity  in Singapore. Comprising a light, crisp, and strudel-like baked pastry made from layers of tissue paper-thin dough, it is also known as a ‘lobstertail’ in New York. This name, introduced by Italian immigrants, comes from the ridges of the pastry when baked. While it’s traditionally piped with a mixture of semolina and ricotta cheese for a rich and tangy filling, the New York variation is filled with custard instead. Keedo Keedo’s sfogliatelle takes inspiration from the latter. Expect six Japanese-style custard cream flavours: dark chocolate ganache, peanut butter, pistachio with orange, strawberry, Fujisaki apple with cinnamon, and French vanilla with maple. Keedo Keedo’s baking process begins three days beforehand. Gerald, its founder, explains that this process allows for the extensive folding and resting needed to create the countless layers within the pastry. This results in an earth-shatteringly crisp and buttery shell. Having learned the recipe from an Italian baker and friend, bakers at Keedo Keedo make the desserts as close to the traditional version as possible, adapting it slightly for local tastes.We first try the French vanilla with

What could be more exciting than this: delicious Mexican eats, free-flow frozen cocktails, wine and beer, fun party games, and the chance to meet the possible love of your life? That’s SinglePore Saturdays at Chico Loco—a thrilling dating mixer for 25 to 30-year-olds in Singapore. Get to know each other over food and fun at this romantic speed-dating event on September 7 from 8 pm until late. While September’s event is geared towards heterosexuals, the November edition will welcome all singles, regardless of preference.To ensure everyone gets a possible match, only 50 spots are available, with an equal number of tickets on sale for men and women. And don’t worry, there’ll be ice breakers and a matchmaking quiz at the start to help get the ball rolling. Make sure to secure your spot here.

A special someone’s birthday bash is coming very soon and you’re cordially invited. From August 20 to September 22, Disney will work its magic to transform VivoCity’s Sky Park on level three into a spectacular beach party celebrating Donald Duck’s 90th Anniversary. The celebration comes just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival too, so grab your family and friends for some fun photo opportunities at six Donald-themed zones. Photograph: Brand Cellar Pte Ltd Snap some shots with the birthday duck himself at ‘Dive into Fun’, where a hilarious 3.5 metre tall display features Donald beak-down and excitedly tearing into a present.  Photograph: Brand Cellar Pte Ltd But the larger-than-life displays don’t end there. Be awed by the magnificent 7.5 metre tall Donald-themed boat at ‘Ahoy! The Celebration’. You won’t miss it docked on the rooftop, complete with dazzling lights, colourful banners, and Donald himself lounging on a floatie. Photograph: Brand Cellar Pte Ltd And what’s a Disney-themed birthday bash without the whole gang? Capture all the best memories in the vibrantly illuminated ‘Tunnel of Joy’, that’s shaped like oversized lifebuoys. Spot your favourite Disney character – whether it’s Pluto or the Chip and Dale duo – and grab a photo with them at this neon-lit spot.   For those who prefer something more low-key, take some special prints home from the photo booths outside Food Republic on the same floor. The Mid-Autumn Festival calls for mooncakes, so find Disney-themed

Singapore Night Festival is certainly hitting the mark on its theme of play this year with its recently unveiled experience, Pixel Paradise. Inspired by the Peranakan Museum’s beaded objects and nostalgic pixel video games, the experience will feature playful art and gamified experiences along Armenian Street from August 23 to September 7. There will be both free and ticketed offerings, and these are just some that we’re looking forward to. Photograph: Clare Chong, Jennifer O’Connor, Taufiq Hidayat, Jaymi McManus, Kin LeonnBetween Threads Catch a glimpse of the Between Threads interactive art installation that’s inspired by an unfinished beaded panel from the Peranakan Museum. A vibrant projection designed by five artists will be mapped onto the museum’s facade, making for the perfect photo opportunity while celebrating the artistry of the Peranakan community.Flex your gamer skills at the Passport to Paradise experience and be among the first to play ASTRO BOT, a thrilling space adventure game designed by PlayStation. You might even stand a chance to snag a PlayStation 5 when you head down from August 30 to 31 and September 6 to 7. Photograph: Peranakan MuseumPixel Boulevard Step out of the digital world of video games and become a real life game player at Pixel Boulevard. Interact with characters and complete challenges with other players at businesses around the village to stand a chance to win prizes. Live music performances by emerging and established musical talents

If you’ve ever scoured social media for must-eats while in Japan, you might’ve come across the famous beef katsu chain, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu, which has over 70 stores worldwide. Photograph: Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu The restaurant is famous for its thick and lean-cut slabs of marbled beef that has an exterior coating of its signature koromo batter, consisting of a blend of bread crumbs, flour and egg wash. The cutlets are then deep-fried to achieve a perfect medium rare, for a tender bite with a satisfying crunch on the outside. Think pork tonkatsu, just the beef version. At Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu in Singapore, you’ll get to choose from a variety of cuts like sirloin, chuck, tenderloin, tongue, and top of the line wagyu. There will also be a half-and-half option of sirloin and tenderloin for those feeling undecided. But that’s not all. If the Singapore outlet is anything like its Japanese counterparts, you’ll even get the choice to grill the cuts on a hotplate if medium-rare isn’t your speed. It’s perfect for the ‘gram and your stomach. Photograph: Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Don’t miss out on the flavourful accompaniments that pair perfectly with the freshly fried gyukatsu, some of which include the Kyoto-style curry sauce, dashi soy sauce, and sansho pepper salt. However, many might still agree that the best and most Japanese way to have it would be with a perfectly cooked onsen egg cracked over it, which you’ll get with every set purchased. If you’re as excited as we are