You've hit the jackpot. Here's our mega list of all the exciting things to do this month
Guys, you might want to sit down for this. We’ve hit the sixth-month mark already! Remember it was January 2019 a minute ago *sense the hyperbole*. We’re hyperventilating and making staunch mid-year resolutions to seize the moment, party like it’s our birthday, travel everywhere, absorb art like a sponge and live the good life. Are you with us?
Travel: June Holidays and mid-week offs!
We’re forever waiting for an excuse to pack up and escape. With the school holidays kicking off and a perfectly placed Wednesday PH (Hari Raya Puasa on 5 June), it’s go time. Month-long travels or short 72-hour getaways in Southeast Asia as long as you’re satiating that wanderlust… Send us a postcard, will you?
Drink: Best of Beers craft beer party at Wheelock Place
21 – 23 June
Here’s one way to cool down in the blazing heat. Wheelock Place is throwing a craft beer party and everyone’s invited. Sip on a curated mix of local and international cold brews at amazing prices brought to you by the folks at The Great Beer Experiment. Pair it with succulent roast pork from Uncle G’s Handmade and you’ve got the perfect combo! Finally, move along to the beats of vinyl lover DJ Rico as he spins the greatest dance-worthy tracks. It is a party, after all.
Best of Beers, 4pm-10pm, Wheelock Place, Level 1 outdoor area (take the Marks & Spencer exit facing Orchard Boulevard)
Feast: Durian high-tea buffet at Marriott Cafe
All month
In case you didn’t know, the durian season is currently taking over our lives, and if you’re an avid durian lover, now’s the best time to feast on the king of fruits. Marriott Cafe brings its much-awaited durian buffet to the table with hot and cold dessert, savoury dishes and a live crepes station. Don’t skip the durian tarts and durian banana smoothie (at an additional $5++) which were unanimous favourites – or try the durian red bean pudding and durian rojak for a different take on this misunderstood fruit. There’s also a seafood market with poached prawns, maki and sushi, nasi lemak station and other local delights like laksa, chicken rice and carrot cake to fill you up. Go ahead and cancel those dinner plans.
Durian high-tea buffet at Marriott Cafe, 3 June to 31 July, 3pm-5.30pm, Monday to Friday: $45++ per pax; $27++ per child; Saturday – Sunday: $48++ per pax; $30++ per child; Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865
Culture: The Peranakan Festival
7 June onwards
Put on your best nyonya kebaya and get ready for buah keluak overload – The Peranakan Festival is back for a third run, featuring a massive lineup including a gala dinner, a baba Nyonya literary festival, special promos for halal Peranakan cuisine, masterclasses, a pop-up exhibition, a bazaar, workshops and cultural talks. It begins with the much-anticipated gala dinner featuring the crème de la crème of the Peranakan dining scene. 11 celebrity guest chefs including Aziza Ali, Devagi Sanmugam, Damian d’Silva, Elizabeth Chan, Liza Kassim will be serving up a delectable 13-course dinner. Don’t worry if you can’t make it for the gala; there are plenty of events to keep you cultured all through the next couple of months.
The Peranakan Festival, 7 June to 31 July, 11am to 6pm, Claymore Connect, 442 Orchard Road, Singapore 238879
Watch: Inala – a Zulu Ballet
19 – 22 June
This one’s a sight to behold. Straight from London’s West End, Inala is the multi-award-winning Zulu ballet that everyone’s raving about. The Southeast Asian premier With only five performances from 19 – 22 June, it’s your only chance to catch Grammy award-winning South African choral legends Soweto Gospel Choir with award-winning choreographer Mark Baldwin OBE. The impressive theatrical experience
Inala – a Zulu Ballet, Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 4 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018973
Feast and party: W Singapore’s Bubbles Brunch Beats
29 June
Now here’s the kind of Saturday brunch we stand by. If three-hour brunches are too mediocre for you, hop on board W Singapore – Sentosa Cove’s extravagant ‘Bubbles Brunch Beats’ for 10 hours of drinks, feasts and pool-side chills spread across W Singapore’s three iconic venues. We got an exclusive first-hand experience, and let’s just say we’re still recovering from it. The brunch begins with a welcome Aperol Spritz at the Woobar. But the real party kicks-off at the kitchen table which transforms into a day-time club complete with dancers, black lights, groovy tunes and hosted by the glamorous Mona Kee Kee.
Be prepared for never-ending refills of wine, bubbly and cocktails (the espresso martinis were too good!), alongside a massive spread of antipasti, crustacean delights, chilli crab, braised short ribs, grilled lobster, pizzas and a dessert that looked like art on a plate. Recover from the food coma poolside with more drinks (still free-flow btw) while lounging on a giant inflated flamingo float. It felt as though we were transported to a beach vacay for a second… Finally, end the night with another round of cocktails including Roku gin and tonic, cheeky speciality cocktails and gourmet canapes till 10pm at Woobar. Word of caution: you gotta pace yourself to last all 10 hours, so take your time with the drinks. On the bright side, at least you’ll have all Sunday to recover from this boozy brunch.
Bubbles Brunch Beats, 12pm-10pm, $325 for Ballistic Pass (Brunch, Lounge, Party); $250 for Blast Pass (Brunch, Lounge); $75 for Blink Pass (Party) W Singapore Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way, Singapore 098374
Event: Pink Dot Singapore 2019
29 June
Say aye if you believe in the freedom to love? This month, head down to Hong Lim Park to celebrate love at Singapore’s biggest LGBTQ-affirming event. Wear your pinkest outfit and support the movement that stands for an open, inclusive society (read these real stories). While the no-foreigners rule at Pink Dot still holds, there are tons of Pink Fest events that everyone can attend.
Pink Dot Singapore 2019, Hong Lim Park New Bridge Rd., Singapore 058284
Experience: 22 Stories
All month
We love an immersive, theatrical, artsy and OOT experience and Andsoforth’s got it all. Spread across 22,000 sq ft, navigate through 22 Instagrammable rooms and travel through ‘four lands’ – Grimmsneyland, Land of Nights, Storyland and Wonderland. You might just bump into characters and scenes from your favourite childhood stories.
Andsoforth’s 22 Stories, PeopleUp @ Pandan 200 Pandan Gardens, Singapore 609336
Art: The Singapore Pavilion
All month
An acrylic cloud, interactive installations and a multi-sensory projection of lights, sounds, images and scents? Count us in. After a successful run at the 16th Venice Biennale, the No More Free Space? Singapore Pavilion brings it home for a month-long pop-up. Discover how the ideas of innovative architectural designs come to life while borrowing natural resources like light, air and water, in 12 Singapore-based projects.
The Singapore Pavilion, 9am-9pm, National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 188969
Read this for more art exhibits to check out this month.
Experience: Gardens by the Bay’s Scentsational Orchids
All month
Wake up and smell the… orchids. Imagine getting notes of citrus, coconut and aromatic spices from our national flower. Gardens by the Bay is shining a spotlight on a small group of orchids with its new Scentsational Orchids display. Discover 1500 orchids of over 58 species and varieties with various scents including coconut, cloves, cinnamon and mint. The display is split into four scented categories – delicate floral, sweet floral, spicy floral, and intense floral – so take your time with it. Don’t leave without getting a whiff of the five fragrance boxes featuring scents like pepper, tom yum, and bubble gum…
Gardens by the Bay’s Scentsational Orchids, till 22 Sept, 9am-9pm, Cloud Forest, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Feast: Mao Shan Wang madness at Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta
All month
Love it or hate it, you sure can’t ignore it! It’s the season of durian and Goodwood Park Hotel’s Durian Fiesta is getting an upgrade with Mao Shan Wang madness featuring the Mao Shan Wang mousse cake ($72 for 500 grams) and Mao Shan Wang power puff ($22.80 per piece). Mainstays like D24 mousse cake ($14 per slice and from $79 for whole cakes) and D24 ice cream ($20 per 16 oz tub) will also be available.
Durian Fiesta 2019, 15 March – 14 July 2019, visit the deli at Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221 or order online.
What you missed!
Experience: Rewild Our Planet
Till 2 June
Tell us you’ve watched the Our Planet documentary about the world’s incredible species and most at-risk habitats. Hop over to the ArtScience Museum for an immersive and interactive exhibition that’ll take you inside the documentary. Using IMAX style projections with spatial soundscapes and a soundtrack narrated by the great David Attenborough, visit the most remote forests and vast ice caps in this AR social experience.
Rewild Our Planet, ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Arts: Singapore International Festival of the Arts
Till 2 June
If all things theatre, dance, music, film and visual arts give you life, block out your calendar; Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA) is back with its 42nd edition. There’s an interesting lineup of performances, screenings, artists talks and workshops that’ll pique your interest.
Culture vultures, dive into a medley of shows like Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and Shiro Takatani’s concert (if you were lucky enough to bag tix), hypnotic music and choreography led performance titled Crowd, several indie screenings and even the closing concert by Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Grab your tickets to these immersive performances stat but also don’t forget to check out the free programmes and art installations like De Relaxerette, where you can settle into an afternoon nap on a revolving hammock-Ferris wheel. Plenty to do here.
Singapore International Festival of the Arts, various locations and timings.
Eat: Geylang Serai Bazaar 2019
Till 5 June
Almost at the tail end of Ramadan. Have you been to Geylang Serai Bazaar yet? The bazaar is working extra hard to bring you an authentic experience. About 60% of the stalls will be serving up delish traditional Malay and Indian Muslim treats. Plus, all food vendors are halal-certified, Muslim-owned or fulfil a halal criteria set by consultants. Wanna try some traditional food? Hop over to find out what to eat at the Geylang Serai Bazaar!
Geylang Serai Bazaar 2019, 32 Onan Road, Singapore 424484
Party: Ice Cream Sundays x Mugic: Haw Par Thrilla
8 June
Our fave party collective is at it again. This time, they’re bringing the spooks on with party at Haw Par Villa. You heard us right! Get your Asian thriller vibes for a Saturday night blowout. Will it be weird? Hell yeah and it also promises to be freaking fun!
Ice Cream Sundays x Mugic: Haw Par Thrilla, Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118628
Concert/dance: Ultra Music Festival 2019
8 – 9 June
Are you down for Ultra? Back for the fourth year and bringing some of the biggest names in electronic dance music to town, Ultra Music Festival never disappoints. Spend the weekend tripping out to music from the likes of Skrillex, Martin Garrix, Porter Robinson and others. The night promises incredible dance music, ear deafening beat drops, and definitely plenty of fun!
Ultra Music Festival 2019, 1 Bayfront Avenue Singapore
Watch: Phantom of the Opera
Till 8 June
Have you watched Gaston Leroux’s novel comes to life yet? Feel your emotions rise and fall with the haunting love triangle that ensues together with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phenomenal score. Fun fact: It’s been over 30 years since this musical first opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London!
The Phantom of the Opera, Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 4 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018973
What you missed!
Watch: SRT Presents RSC Live
12 – 14 June
KC Arts Centre has seen many a SRT play. But how about experiencing theatre in a different way? This June, you can catch screenings of plays by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), one of Britain’s most renowned theatre companies. Watch the famous productions of The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet and Othello on the big screen followed by a sharing session hosted by a Shakespeare theatre veteran.
SRT Presents RSC Live, KC Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Road Singapore 239035 Merbau Rd, Singapore 239035
Eat: Feast with your dad on Father’s Day
16 June
Turns out there’s a day for everything and everyone! Now that you treated mum to a day out on Mother’s Day, it’s time to feast with the fam once again. This time to celebrate good old dad on Father’s Day. We’re talking bottomless brunches, big fat breakfasts, hearty roasts and massive seafood spreads that will fosho get your dad’s seal of approval. Check our Father’s Day dining guide for the full scoop.
Eat: Nadodi X OLA Cocina Del Mar Indian and Peruvian dinner collab
12 June
Want to take your love for Indian cuisine to the next level? Put aside that plate of roti prata (for now!) and try traditional South Indian dishes with a Peruvian twist. For one night only, Chef Sricharan Venkatesh,f Chef de Cuisine of Nadodi – a South Indian fine dining restaurant based in Kuala Lumpur, will be joining hands with Chef Daniel Chavez, Head Chef of OLA Cocina Del Mar in Singapore for a gastronomical experience. The menu will focus on the use of grains in dishes like biryani and arroz con pollo – combining distinct Peruvian flavours and regional South Indian dishes into various ways. Count us in!
Nadodi X OLA Cocina Del Mar Indian and Peruvian dinner collab, 7pm, $138++ per pax, 12 Marina Boulevard #01-06 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3, Singapore 018982
