The best things to do this weekend (May 27-29)

From old-age traditions to modern updates, culture continues to evolve with each generation. To represent and "re-present" culture for every generation, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre's annual Cultural Extravaganza is back to engage the young – and the young-at-heart – with an exciting lineup of programmes that showcase traditions and values in creative, innovative formats. From major music performances to intimate workshops, the family-friendly event has something for everyone. Look forward to Windward Side of the Mountain, a production set in urban Asia. This cross-disciplinary play follows a group of sojourners on their uncharted adventure, and it celebrates warmth, strength and will of humanity. Sing along to jazzy renditions of Chinese pop songs at the Jazz It Up! 2022 event featuring Mandopop veteran Jimmy Ye and award-winning producer Serene Koong. 

Fan favourite popup Kinokuniya is making a comeback at Isetan Scotts. The supermarket will be offering an extensive range of produce air-flown directly from Japan. With over 180 products, expect delectable goodies like the Strawberry Butter Jam and Premium Truffle Soy Sauce. Sweet tooths can also look forward to the all-new Cheesecake Flavoured Ruskooks. Attendees will also receive a free foldable eco-bag with any purchase of Kinokuniya products.

For a quick getaway, book a stay at The Barracks Hotel in Sentosa with its all-new heritage safari experience. Opt between two thematic trails - Colonial Architecture Tour and Cultural Gems - that offers five different itineraries. You will also have the opportunity to go on a guided tour in the Barracks Jeep and explore the colonial monochrome buildings that were once home to the British armed forces. That’s not all. You also get a personalised safari shirt from Joe’s Tailoring complete with customisable name mono, buttons, thread colour and barracks embroidery.

There's more to learn yet about our sunny little island, and shining the spotlight on Singapore travel history is Singapore HeritageFest. Last year, the festival brought to light interesting tidbits about our healthcare and food heritage – and this year, we're shifting focus to our travel history and natural heritage. 

From May 2 to 29, the festival is bringing us more than 100 heritage programmes in collaboration with festival partners. Expect exhibitions, guided tours, hands-on workshops and virtual programmes. Each touches on Singapore's past and present as a travel hub, and the flora and fauna that define our natural landscape. 

Some highlights: watch our travel and natural history intersect at the Homeground exhibition, featuring an exhibit inspired by the KTM trains that used to run from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station; learn about early European immigration and its influence on local trade, economy and culture with a guided tour at the Eurasian Heritage Gallery; explore one of Singapore's largest mangrove riverines on the Lower Khatib Bongsu trail; enjoy poetry alongside the vibrant sights and sounds of historic Katong with Ethos Books; and more. 

Programme registration for Singapore HeritageFest 2022 has already begun. To find out more about what's on, simply head to sgheritage.gov.sg.

For brunch this weekend, we recommend Miss Fitz’s Mediterranean boozy brunch. The restaurant offers free flow champagne for $48 and a selection of wines, spirits and beers for $68. So gather up your drinking buddies and make use of this three-hour free flow boozy deal. For food, tuck into menu items like the MF Turkish Breakfast featuring eggs, hummus, olives, cucumber, tomato, feta and sourdough, and Greek yoghurt with fresh berries. 

Stellar tunes and a refreshing beer in hand – what more can one ask for? From April 30 to June 26, Tiger Crystal Fire Stages will be bringing 25 live music acts over 20 shows to Timbre+ One North and Timbre+ Eastside, a collaboration that promises rocking good nights by some of the best artists in the local pop and indie scene.

The Covid-19 pandemic has stifled live music acts for too long, but this beer and music festival is set to bring them roaring back to the stage. There's something for everyone – groove to the best of soul and R&B with The Souls of Singapore; enjoy The Eagles' greatest hits performed by Johnny Come Lately, Cactus Cactus and Terrestrea; relive 70s and 80s hits with Reverie & Friends; or original songs by RENE, M1LDL1FE, Benjamin Kheng and more. 

The bands are just as stoked as we are. “There's nothing like playing in front of a crowd. The energy of being both excited and scared, the unfiltered reaction, the chaotic give and take - we're stoked to experience it again at Tiger Crystal Fire Stages!" said local band Terrestrea. 

And it's not called Tiger Crystal Fire Stages for nothing – Tiger Crystal beer will be flowing at the Timbre+ venues. And you can even get the party started early with $5 off a draught at participating outlets islandwide or $20 worth of Timbre vouchers for every purchase of a 2x10 pack of Tiger Crystal cans at participating retailers. 

For the full Tiger Crystal Fire Stages line-up, visit firestages.tigerbeer.com.

Take part at the annual Decathlon Run this May 2 to 29. The event will return as a hybrid and physical event - comprising a 5k virtual run where participants can do anywhere at their own pace, and a 7km physical run starting from the Decathlon Singapore Lab. Participants are required to download the MyRaceGate app to record their timings for both of the runs. Upon completion, you will receive a $20 Decathlon shopping voucher!

How about spending the weekend pigging out? 7-Eleven has taken things up another notch with its new menu of Korean-inspired ready-to-eat bites to satisfy your love for Korean food. On the menu: the iconic Samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Shop), with tender chicken thigh, sticky rice, jujube, and American Ginseng, Gilgeori Toast, where lightly fried chicken is tossed in sweet and spicy Yangnyeom sauce, wrapped with shredded purple cabbage in a tortilla, and Chicken Bulgogi Onigiri, featuring marinated roasted chicken with authentic gochujang sauce from Korea. Round up the satisfying meal with the 7CAFÉ iced banana milk or banana latte.

Earth Day happens later this month on April 23, and eco-conscious brand Oatside has paired up with local cafes to bring oat milk to your coffee. The oat milk brand will be promoting a more sustainable dairy alternative by teaming up with Park Bench Deli and PPP Coffee. Over the weekend, oat milk will be served at no extra cost, in all milk-based beverages. Other like-minded lifestyle brands have also curated a series of weekend activities such as kintsugi classes - the Japanese art of repairing damaged goods with gold. Other activities include farm tours and cooking workshops. More details here.

For Earth Day, catch movies that remind you of the collective responsibility to Mother Earth. The Projector is bringing you a screening of Bigger Than Us. It tells the story of Melati and fellow activists across the globe, rising up to fix the world. The film also touches on topics like human rights, the climate, freedom of expression and social justice. At a time where things appear to be falling apart, these young people show us how to live and what it means to be in the world today.

For the partygoers, St James Power Station is known to be one of the most happening party spots in Singapore until 2018, when the building began undergoing restoration works. The newly furbished building now houses a heritage gallery in one of its distinctive chimneys and a heritage trail that displays maritime artefacts. The heritage trail starts at VivoCity, where you will learn about the history of the Keppel area and St James Power Station. Along the way you’ll get to see a ​​harpoon gun, originally from the Soviet ship that used to dock in Singapore during its expeditions to the Indian Ocean. The heritage gallery has an intricate 3D artwork of the complex system of water, steam and electricity of the original power station. Kids can also enjoy an animated augmented reality video series that combine oral history, interviews and archival film footage to make the past come even more alive.

Now, you can float over Singapore thanks to Singapore’s very own hot air balloon operator, Ballons du Monde. Rides are now available for bookings on their website. Each ride will set you back for $265 per person, with a maximum of three in a group. For a 50-minute ‘Ballons du Monde experience’, expect a short introduction to ballooning, a five to seven-minute flight where you get to experience the city skyline while high up in the clouds and a celebratory toast after the flight. Also, rides are subjected to weather conditions, so your booking may be rescheduled accordingly. 

Head over to Ballons du Monde’s website to find out more about the ride. We’d say book the evening slot as the experience gets extra magical when you get to witness the sunset and a panoramic view of the cityscape.

Kids and those young-at-heart, this upcoming exhibition in Singapore is for you! From March 12 to July 3, this interactive LEGO exhibition will take you on a journey through some of the world’s famous landmarks from the Leaning Tower Of Pisa to Mount Rushmore to Mona Lisa – merging the love of travelling and LEGO together.

Housed at the Science Centre Singapore, Brickman Wonders of the World  features over 1.4 million individual LEGO bricks and takes over 205 days to assemble them. Here’s a chance to witness over 50 jaw-dropping creations of the world’s most iconic landmarks and discover how each of these epic masterpieces are brought to life through arts, technology and science; no passport required!

A few notable landmarks to look out for when you visit include the Great Pyramid of Giza, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Taj Mahal and the Mount Rushmore National Monument. Explore other large-scale LEGO brick masterpieces such as the intricate RHS Titanic, Great Wall of China, Tokyo Subway Map, the Great Barrier Reef and the Golden Gate Bridge. 

​​Seven restaurants in Singapore have placed in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022, as recently announced at their awards ceremony. 

For the fifth year running, Odette (#8) has been named The Best Restaurant in Singapore. They also received the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, as a nod towards the team’s warm and professional manner. Other restaurants to look out for include Meta (#20), Les Amis (#23), Zén (#37), Labyrinth (#40), Burnt Ends (#41), and Cloudstreet (#44). Meta had also won the American Express One To Watch Award.

For other accolades brought in by local restaurants, Cloudstreet pastry chef Maira Yeo has brought home the Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Award. She’s best known for her “CCB” – crackly chocolate brownie cookies, which came about while home-baking during the pandemic.

Missed the iconic Ramadan bazaar in Geylang Serai where you would get your fix of Ramly burgers, roti john and keropok lekor? The popular Ramadan night market will make a comeback this year – after a two-year hiatus – but there will be some tweaks. This year's affair will see 40 stalls comprising only eight food stalls and 32 non-food stalls. 

Initial reports about its return already hinted that the bazaar this year would be a scaled-down affair to control crowds and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Still, we can't help a tinge of disappointment that the bazaar is not returning at full capacity – previous events were exciting and upbeat affairs with over 100 stalls and loads of snacks and interesting bites. To keep up the festive mood, the Ramadan bazaar this year will be fashioned after a fairytale blossom garden theme. Stalls will be transformed into a whimsical garden, complete with lush colours and floral design elements. 

We encourage you to head down to show your support to the participating stalls anyway. Just remember to observe prevailing Safe Management Measures to keep yourself and others safe. Virtual Reality Capability technology will also be in place to help control crowds and keep things moving seamlessly – so expect QR codes, e-menus, queue card systems and more. 

Mambo Jambo, an identity synonymous with Zouk, is back this weekend after a gruelling period of uncertainty. So put on your dancing shoes and come spirited as resident DJs Jeremy Boon and Hong will dust off their decks and ignite the stage at Capital Kitchen. Get ready to boogie down together with your friends!

XM has opened its first-ever flagship store, bringing the most extensive collection of statue collectables in Singapore. Look forward to browsing a wide range of high-quality collectibles inspired by cinematic universes including Marvel and DC. You can also cop collectibles from Godzilla, Transformers and even Ultraman. The DC-themed pod houses XM’s unique Samurai line - Batman Shogun, Joker Orochi, Catwoman and more. The Marvel pod houses fan favourites including Magneto, Wolverine and even Professor X. Expect to see characters from the Avengers - Iron Man, Captain America and Thor on the Marvel showcase as well.

We all know that the pandemic hasn’t been at all friendly to our neighbourhood hawkers – some of our favourites have shuttered their businesses in the last two years. But from March 16 to May 29, we can head down to Raffles Singapore to best experience the hawker fare we’ve missed. Their breezy alfresco garden, Raffles Courtyard, will now be home to some of our little red dot’s best food from 5pm to 9pm. 

Dig into fare by some popular hawker stalls such as Luckmeow of Maxwell Food Centre, Mr Tersmell, Empress Place Teochew Beef Kway Teow, Seafood Pirate and Yap's Noodles. From now to June 23, they’ll also be collaborating with Four Pillars Gin, an award-winning gin distillery from Australia’s Yarra Valley, for a line-up of gin-based summer cocktails. With Raffles Hotel’s colonial architectural backdrop, a bevy of shared cocktails and happy hour deals, there’s every reason to head down soon.

Singapore's bar scene has blossomed tremendously in the past couple of years. Not only do we have some of the best bars in Asia, we also have plenty of local talent flying our flag high and big overseas names landing on our shores with exciting new concepts. Click through for a look at some of the new bar openings in town, along with a refreshed menu at familiar joints. This month, visit a Japanese inspired cocktail bar, raise a toast at this cosy bar – only if you can find it, and more. 

The highly anticipated annual Durian Fiesta is back and running for its 39th consecutive year. Those who’re ardent fans of the stinky fruit will know that Goodwood Park Hotel and durians are synonymous, and to some, even a household brand for any durian snack cravings. Until May 1, expect an exquisite lineup of eight new indulgent handcrafted creations that star the choice D24 durian. 

Our top pick is the D24 Crystal Apricot Dome ($18). Sink your fork into a velvety D24 mousse dome and unravel layers of apricot compote, flourless chocolate sponge, and a chocolate-y biscuit base. Other commendable attempts include the flaky D24 Strawberry Mascarpone Filo Tart ($19) and the D24 Raspberry Sacher Bar ($19). 

The titans are taking over Singapore from Feb 19. Attack on Titan is the best-selling dark fantasy manga and anime series written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama that has garnered a huge fanbase around the world. It is set in a world where humanity lives in cities protected by three walls from gigantic man-eating humanoids. The fantastical theme, unique plot and nuanced characters have made this anime a global cultural phenomenon – especially in Singapore. 

Now fans can delve deeper into this fictional world at Attack on Titan: The Exhibition, organised by SpaceLogic at the ArtScience Museum. The start of the exhibition is happening after an 11-year publication run and the manga's recent conclusion that marked the end of an era. The fourth and final season of the anime TV series will also coincide with the run of the exhibition, making it quite a bittersweet experience for the fans. 

Visitors can check out over 150 artworks by Hajime Isayama that range from the manga's earliest days to the present, as well as exclusive new pieces that have not been displayed anywhere else in the world. Get up-close and personal with Isayama's drafts and sketches of Titans, characters and objects from the manga from his archives, step into his thought process when creating this sprawling dystopia, and also experience a battle sequence set in the Great Titan Theatre. 

The former POMO mall at Dhoby Ghaut is now a compact cyberpunk-inspired lifestyle destination called GR.id. Spanning across six levels, the mall is an eclectic mix of  various tenants categorised into three different concepts — eater-tainment, edu-tainment, and retail-tainment. Foodies can look forward to a wide range of restaurants, Chong Qing Xiao Mu Deng for hotpot, Asian Tapas and Japanese Fusion Dishes from Kamikaze Asian Tapas Bar and authentic Korean corn dogs from CHUNZ. Engage in fun activities with your friends with a friendly dart competition at Darts Legend or live action role play at Loading (LARP Game). There’s also a weekend pop-up flea market — Fleawhere by INVADE, selling an array of local artisan products.

Strap up and get ready for a fun off-road adventure at Mud Krank - Singapore’s first and only ATV trail riding facility for families. Channel your inner Mad Max on the ATV and ride the 4x4s through the muddy obstacle courses. Little ones can also have a go on the junior ATVs that they can manoeuvre on their own, without adult supervision. While kids have to stick to the circuits within the arena, adults can choose to go on or off-track around Kranji Gallop, which has a much bumpier trail that will put your riding skills to the test. Also, remember to wear shoes and covered clothes to protect yourself from the dirt and prolonged exposure to the sun. 

For parents looking to introduce their kids to swimming, enrol them in Happy Fish Swim School at Bedok. The Bedok outlet boasts a large heated indoor pool so you won’t have to worry about shivering every time you plunge into the water. The upgraded facilities include more seating areas around the pool and more lessons for adults and older children to pick up swimming skills. For those waiting for their children to be done with class, you can head to the reception area that offers complimentary WiFi and free flow of hot beverages and water.

As they say, the fun never stops on Sentosa Island. This year, explore a new side to the island with the SentoSights series of sustainability- and heritage-themed tours to mark the island’s 50^th birthday.

Comprising of more than 10 unique guided tours in partnership with Monster Tours and other travel partners, this series will bring you on a journey through gems both familiar and hidden, including Fort Siloso, Fort Serapong, Tanjong Rimau and the Imbiah and Coastal Trails.

Expect fun elements such as game-based exploration, magic demonstrations and night-time forest walks. Put your thinking hats on for a puzzle hunt through Fort Siloso, be bedazzled on a 'magic' tour through lesser-known sites on the island, or test your observational skills as you learn all about bird species on an introductory birdwatching tour.

Also, don't forget to make space in your Sentosa itinerary for more new attractions. The newly-launched SkyHelix Sentosa, Southside, and Oasia Resort Sentosa will be joined by Singapore’s first villa-only hotel Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa, and perfume concept store Scentopia. To stay updated on all the Sentosa Golden Jubilee celebrations, visit sentosa.com.sg/jubilee.

Learn more about Chinese traditions, folk beliefs and traditional art at a special exhibition by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (SYSNMH) titled Nian Hua: Of Deities, Guardians and Auspicious Art. Presented in collaboration with the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum, it includes close to 70 artefacts from various provinces in China, alongside curated prints from the National Museum of Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum and Singapore Art Museum collections. 

The spotlight is on 'nian hua', or 'new year prints', which are vividly rendered woodblock-prints depicting gods, deities and other figures from Chinese mythology and religion. These were pasted on doors to usher in the Lunar New Year, and to seek blessings for the household. Artefacts date as far back as the Qing dynasty and up to the 1980s, showing the evolution of the art and craft of 'nian hua' alongside modern interpretations from local artists Justin Lee and John Soo.

While the art and practice of 'nian hua' has faded from Singapore and much of Southeast Asia, the existing works allow us to glean much about traditional Chinese values, beliefs and customs. Go through the four sections of the exhibitions and get acquainted with door deities and guardians, kitchen gods, 'nian hua' calling for blessings in the bedchambers, and wishes for prosperous, long lives. Along the way, you'll meet familiar figures too, such as General Guan Yu and Tua Pek Gong. 

Following Nian Hua: Of Deities, Guardians and Auspicious Art, homegrown master craftsman Jim Wong Pui Fatt will also be running woodblock-printing workshops catered to all ages. Children and adults alike will have the chance to carve their own simple woodblocks stamps, print them onto thin sheets of rice paper, and use these prints to decorate traditional lanterns.