From Taylor Swift concert tickets and the Presidential Elections to a couple of personal milestones, here’s 2023 in review.
It’s the time of the year when we revisit our top moments of 2023. Forgot what made this year tick? No worries! We’ve condensed all the action to keep you in the loop. Here’s our recount of 2023’s year in review.
The year in review: Singapore’s top moments in 2023
1. We launched a podcast!
We’re starting the list on a high note. This year saw many exciting moments for us including the launch of our new Honeycombers podcast! Honey bees Sufyan and Ashe spill the tea on all things Singapore – from the hottest happenings to hidden gems. Join us for quick bites of info on the go, and let’s navigate the little red dot together.
2. Barbie mania hit us hard
Did you dance the night away while channelling Barbiecore and crushing hard on Ken? You weren’t alone. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie wasn’t your typical ‘plastic fantastic’ tale – it delved into the real stuff, tackling expectations on women, challenging the patriarchy, and celebrating the rollercoaster that is the female experience.
3. Presidential Elections
The Presidential Elections were held in Singapore on 1 September 2023, contested by three candidates: Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Ng Kok Song, and Tan Kin Lian. But it didn’t go down without some interesting moments. In the end, the pineapple prevailed as Shanmugan won by a landslide at 70.41% of the votes.
4. Scandals in politics
Mmm-mmm, what do we have here? Nothing like a little drama in politics to interest the apathetic. Remember Cheng Li Hui, the ex-MP from Tampines and Tan Chuan-Jin, the former Speaker of Parliament, who made waves in July? They hit the news when they both resigned because of an ‘inappropriate relationship’.
Two high-up members of the Workers’ Party (WP) also called it quits. Leon Perera, a member of parliament, and Nicole Seah, the president of the youth wing, owned up to being more than just colleagues after a video went viral, catching them holding hands.
5. The devastating Israel-Hamas war
The armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups took a turn for the worse on 7 October, with clashes in and around the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the Israel-Lebanon border. It marks the fifth war of the Gaza-Israel conflict. The current situation has resulted in a significant civilian death toll, internal displacements, and accusations of war crimes on both sides. The conflict is ongoing, with global protests calling for a ceasefire and the United States supporting Israel.
6. We said hello to new attractions
We continue to debunk the notion that Singapore is boring with our top new attractions and openings. Highlights include Bird Paradise, Coach Play Singapore Shophouse, Tiny Away Escape at Lazarus Island, Tipsy Unicorn and Roller Mania 3.0, just to name a few.
7. It’s concerts galore
RIP to our bank accounts ‘cos we were spoilt with countless international acts gracing our city this year. From concerts to theatre shows and musicals to stand-up acts, there were plenty! We can only imagine what’s to come next year.
8. The turmoil of securing Taylor Swift concert tickets was real
Only Swifties will remember the emotional turmoil they experienced as they tried to get their hands on the Eras Tour tickets, happening in March next year. From camping out at SingPost to applying for credit cards to get first dibs on tickets, it was a sight to behold. As we countdown the days, here’s where we think Taylor Swift should visit during her stopover in Singapore.
9. We celebrated 100 years of Disney
Disney fans were treated to countless events in celebration of the brand’s 100th anniversary. We started the year with Disney-themed activities at Jewel Changi Airport and Frozen, the hit Broadway musical, followed by cool pop-ups and immersive experiences.
10. The bed bug infestation put a stinger on our travel plans
Following reports of these critters causing chaos across Europe, they soon set their sights on South Korea (which is very close to Singapore, yikes!). Though they’ve gone all out with pest control and inspections in public spots, we have to stay prepared in case the infestation hits our city. Stay safe with these pest control services.
11. We welcomed new (and refurbished) hotels in Singapore
Has anyone else noticed a surge in hotel openings this year? We’ve got newcomers like Pullman Singapore Hill Street, Mondrian Singapore Duxton, Como Metropolitan Singapore, The Singapore Edition, Pan Pacific Orchard and Artyzen Singapore arriving in Singapore. Mandarin Oriental also reopened after a six-month renovation, Marina Bay Sands newly configured some of its rooms and suites, and The Robertson House got a rebrand. Hey, we aren’t complaining about it – more staycay options for us!
12. TOW with Matthew Perry’s farewell
Fans of Friends were devastated to hear about the untimely passing of Matthew Perry. He was found unresponsive in his home’s hot tub and passed away on 28 October. You’ll know by now that he was fondly known as the sarcastic and hilarious Chandler Bing on the hit American TV sitcom Friends. Revisit the good, the bad, and the inspirational lessons we learnt following his death.
13. Shanti Pereira solidified her spot among Singapore’s greatest athletes
It was a great year for our sprint queen as she broke national records in the 100m and 200m races, securing two golds at the SEA Games and another two at the Asian Championships. The pinnacle came in October at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where she not only ended a 49-year medal drought with a 100m silver medal but also secured Singapore’s first Asian Games athletics gold since 1974 in the 200m race.
14. We welcomed more restaurants, cafes and bars…
Hold your forks, because Singapore’s F&B scene brought the flavour party once again with new restaurants, cafes, and bars. From international franchises setting up shop to catching the latest trends, and local maestros spreading their culinary wings – we’ve been indulging in a gastronomic extravaganza.
15. …But we also said goodbye to others
As we welcomed the newcomers, we also bid a fond farewell to popular establishments. This year, we said farewell to Wimbly Lu, Wheeler’s Yard, Rider’s Cafe, California Republic, and Barood, among others.
Oh, what a year it’s been. What was your favourite moment in 2023?
