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We supposed you've been introduced to our new series where we bring you a daily dose of the things we’re loving right now including food, music, movies, workouts and more – all of which you can also experience from the comfort and safety of your sweet digs during this circuit breaker period. If you haven't, welcome.
The series features additional ideas you can add on top of the 28-day plan we’ve set up to keep you busy and entertained throughout the month. We first kicked off the series on April 13 with our favourite mee rebus from Yunos N Family, a synth-driven hip-hop collab by local rappers Fariz Jabba and Omar Kenobi, and an intense HIIT workout by Barry's Singapore – you get the gist.
Now that the Monday blues are gone, let's continue keeping the good times rolling with more new, cool things to check out without leaving your natural habitat – bed hair included. Apple TV+'s recent announcement about its free streaming of originals just made movie nights a lot more exciting, local author Cyril Wong's livestream event last week had us wanting more, and our urge to splurge on under-the-radar brands is made possible with Boutique Fairs Singapore's online takeover.
What we're watching: Apple TV+ originals
There's no denying that our stay-home routine now includes binging on documentaries (Tiger King, anyone?), movies and TV shows. With a catalogue of titles at the tip of our fingertips, we're definitely spoilt for choice. Narrowing things down, we're checking out Apple TV+. The streaming service is offering a collection of award-winning and acclaimed original series and films to stream for free for a limited time only. And you don't even need a subscription too. All you need is an Apple ID.
We're pressing play on The Elephant Queen, a cinematic, genre-crossing wildlife documentary narrated by award-winning actor Chiwetel Eljiofor. The critically acclaimed show follows Athena, an elephant who leads her family across the grasslands and woodlands to seasonal waterholes. Check out the trailer above. We're also locked into Dickinson, a comedy series starring Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld. The GLAAD Award-nominated comedy looks into the constraints of society, gender, and family from the eyes of a rebellious young poet Emily Dickinson. Did we also mention Wiz Khalifa's guest appearance?
Other free Apple TV+ titles include Little America, Servant, For All Mankind, Snoopy in Space, Helpsters, and Ghostwriter. Get started at apple.co/FreeForEveryone or via the Apple TV app.
Photograph: Epigram Books
What we're reading: This Side of Heaven by Cyril Wong
If local author Cyril Wong's live reading and discussion session on BookActually's Instagram Live last weekend got you wanting more, you're in luck. You can now order yourself a copy of This Side of Heaven from Epigram Books or BooksActually, and have it delivered straight to your doorstep without leaving your favourite reading spot.
A real page-turner, Cyril's new novel allows us to escape reality for a good few minutes, transporting us to a surreal Utopia where a comedian, a nun, a reality TV star, and countless others cross paths after a nuclear disaster. But it's not all dandy – the clock ticks in paradise and the period of their transit in the Garden gets shorter by the minute. Little do they know that sinister plans by the architects of Heaven await. No spoilers – you'll just have to read to find out what happens next.
Photograph: Facebook/Arvossa
What we're shopping: Boutique Fairs Singapore
There's one other place to discover local and international brands under one roof, it's at Boutique Fairs Singapore. Due to the current sitch, this year's Spring/Summer edition is happening online instead. Working as an online shopping site, the Boutique Fairs Singapore website offers a variety of products ranging from wardrobe must-haves and jewellery to home decor and food and drink. Plus, you contribute to charities, NPOs, VWOs and social enterprises by bagging their cool wares – keep an eye out on brands marked with a heart-shaped symbol.
While it lacks the opportunity to interact with designers and makers IRL, it still makes a great place to discover your new favourite brands, and splash some cash. You know we are.