Author: Ian Lim

This Singaporean’s LEGO Replicas Of Local Icons Will Give You A Serious Case Of Nostalgia

We’ve all played with LEGOs at some point in our lives. However, for this man, LEGO is a career and a way of life.

Meet Jeffrey Kong, a Singaporean brick artist and founder of Artisan Bricks. He makes replicas of local landmarks, food and items out of LEGO bricks and parts.

Each piece he makes catches every detail of the original.

With multiple awards under his belt, Jeffrey has been creating with LEGOs for almost half a decade now and his works look so much like the original, you have to do a double take just to be sure.

Building Classics Brick By Brick

Jeffrey’s creations are small yet complex and most of them evoke a sense of nostalgia in most Singaporeans.

Here are some of our favourites.

How many of these things can you identify? We love the replicas of the Toa Payoh Dragon Playground and the floppy disk.

For those of you who are confused as to what this is, it’s a replica of the classic Overhead Projector (OHP). This was before overhead projectors were really overhead and hung from classroom ceilings.

Most Singaporeans who were in school before the millennium would know that this was a staple in every classroom.

Machines and pencils made out bricks, we get it. But how he made a mooncake out of LEGO bricks is simply mind-blowing. The craftsmanship is so detailed and accurate. We are in awe.

This is the most adorable replica of a neighbourhood we’ve ever seen. It’s honestly quite difficult to not gush about these creations.

Now, isn’t this a familiar sight? The little pieces of “laundry” is what really completes this replica.

Does this look familiar to you? Yes, it’s the red mailbox found in old homes in Katong!

This is, without a doubt, our favourite. The ability to capture the essence and details of The Fullerton Hotel, one of the most iconic buildings in Singapore’s cityscape, is truly a commendable feat. Mr Kong, you’re the real MVP.

Jeffrey does commissions as well; so if you’re looking to have something made out of LEGO bricks, he’s the perfect man for the job.

You can contact Jeffrey here and find more of his creations on Instagram, Facebook and on his website.

Also read Oktoberfest Asia Is Back And Our Livers Are Ready For Free Flow German Beers

(Header Image Source: Artisan Bricks Facebook)

Oktoberfest Asia Is Back And Our Livers Are Ready For Free Flow German Beers

We hope you’re thirsty because Singapore’s largest and most authentic Oktoberfest event, Oktoberfest Asia, is back for its 5th iteration. It’s time for a liquid buffet!

Located at the city centre on Tan Quee Lan Street from 19 – 21 October, Oktoberfest Asia 2017 will be held in a specially erected, fully air-conditioned marquee in Bugis.

In addition to being accessible for all, the marquee has decorations and an atmosphere just like any Oktoberfest in Munich!

Authentic German Food And Free Flow Beer

Now, for the good part!

Beers from Bavaria and other well-known German breweries will be served, giving festival-goers a chance to enjoy an endless flow of beers from Paulaner Bräuhaus and Weihenstephaner.

There will also be festival beers brewed specially for Oktoberfest.

And what German festival is complete without German food?

Festival-goers get to indulge in class German delicacies such as Pork Knuckles, Crispy Pork Porchetta, Grilled German Sausage Medley, Homemade Sauerkraut and more!

Psst, we heard Irvin’s Salted Egg will be at Oktoberfest Asia 2017 too!

Be entertained throughout the night by the Original Hofbrauhaus Band, straight from the beer halls of Munich as you chug beer and stuff yourselves with sinful German food.

They’re back once again, bringing traditional festival folk music and a fresh take on hits that are trending on the charts.

Regular tickets go for $100 per person and includes free flow beers and a free serving of the Oktoberfest Asia dinner platter.

VIP tickets go for $160 per person and includes free flow beers, a VIP goodie bag, access to the VIP area and bar, and unlimited access to the Oktoberfest Asia Gourmet Buffet.

You do not want to miss out on this 3-day liquid buffet festival!

Save $10 per person when you purchase your tickets here!

Oktoberfest Asia 2017
Venue: Tan Quee Lan Street (nearest MRT: Bugis)
Date: 19 – 21 Oct 2017
Tickets: Regular Ticket: $100, VIP Ticket: $160
Website

Also read Foster The People To Perform One Night Only Concert In Singapore In January 2018

(Header Image Source: oktoberfestasia.com)

We Found Some Mad Local Talent On This Streaming App And You Better BeLive It

With the rise of social media, sharing bits of our personal lives has never been easier.

If you’re a millennial, you’re probably familiar with the wonders of live streaming apps such as Instagram Live, YouNow, and Periscope. Maybe you’re even a live streamer yourself!

While each is unique in its own way, our favourite for discovering local talent has to be BeLive.

BeLive is a local live streaming app, and some great undiscovered talents are on there, streaming their performances. Think of it as busking – but online.

Here are some of the talents you should keep your eye – and ear – out for on the app!

With 9.1K subscribers on YouTube, Yokez is an independent singer-songwriter and keyboardist with an incredibly impressive portfolio.

She mainly covers Chinese songs and sings a mean cover of “Let’s Not Be Friends In Future” by Eric Chou. Yokez is always chatty on stream and bursts into songs that are mentioned by the people watching her livestream.

Always funny, always entertaining.

Performing LIVE at: @yokezofficial

2. Marcus Lee Jun Wei

Marcus was the 2nd runner-up in Campus Superstar 2 and also the lead frontman of indie rock band “Exdee”. He is also the lead singer of the 3-piece acoustic group “Footprint” and also currently under the mentorship of local rapper Shigga Shay.

Being a versatile performer, Marcus covers a wide range of genres from pop, jazz and rock, to ballads and 90’s classics.

You can listen to him cover both English and Chinese songs on his streams. His cover of “Back At One” by Brian McKnight has us melting.

Performing LIVE at: @leejunweimarcus

3. Veekher Wong

With 5.5K followers on BeLive, Veekher is not a stranger to livestreaming.

She enjoys performing English and Chinese songs on BeLive. We love her cover of Jay Chou’s “Love Confession” with Yokez. She’s also friends with Marcus Lee and he usually shows up in her streams.

Veekher usually streams at least once a week on BeLive as she enjoys how interactive the app is, compared to Facebook Live or Instagram.

Performing LIVE at: @veekherwong

4. Delvina See

Delvina performs at *SCAPE with her siblings as a group known as thez3n. Their vocal harmony really shines in their rendition of “A Little Happiness” by Hebe Tian.

She has also been streaming on BeLive since 1 September 2016 and streams regularly to just hang out and chat with her viewers or sing.

Singing and chilling, sounds like a friday night at your favourite bar.

Performing LIVE at: @sdelvinaa

5. Sophia Tay

Sophia is an aspiring singer-songwriter who sings both English and Chinese songs and also busks along the stretches of Orchard and Somerset.

If you’re lucky, you might even catch her streaming live from some of her gigs!

We love that she does the mouth trumpet thing that Nathan Hartono does as well.

Performing LIVE at: @sophiataymusic

6. Brendon Chua

Did you know Brendon is the frontman of the local Alternative band, “The Façade“?

He also streams alone on BeLive, jamming and singing and it’s really vibey. He covers English songs, though he spends most of his time strumming on his guitar. We’re not complaining though, he’s a sight for sore eyes.

You can also check out his band’s YouTube covers here.

Performing LIVE at: @brendonclf

7. Chow Jia Hui

Jia Hui started streaming on BeLive since 6 July and sings regularly on her streams. She enjoys singing and performing and BeLive provides a platform for her to interact with other users with the same interests.

Also, she does mean acoustic renditions of Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and James Arthur.

So if you’re looking for a hilarious streamer with a wicked sense of humour and great music, don’t miss out on Jia Hui’s livestreams!

Performing LIVE at: @chowjiahui

8. Tessa Lee

Tessa enjoys doing covers and regularly shares snippets of her covers on Instagram and Instastories but took to BeLive to be able to stream and perform live.

We are obsessed with her cover of “Rockabye” by Clean Bandit and “Location” by Khalid.

She streams quite regularly so don’t miss out on her acoustic renditions of hit songs!

Performing LIVE at: @tessawoohoo

With these talented musicians streaming and performing on BeLive, don’t say Singapore has no talent.

Catch these performers live on stream and if you like them, leave them some gifts!

Download the app on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store today!

Also read It’s Time, Imagine Dragons To Bring Their ‘Evolve’ World Tour To Singapore In January 2018

(Header Image Source: @chowjiahui)

From Snacks To Hijabs – Here Are 10 Of Our Favourite Vending Machines In Giant’s Vendmart

For those of you who think that vending machines are only for drinks, think again.

Giant has partnered with local companies in a first-of-its-kind initiative to launch VendMart, a cluster of the largest and widest range of vending machines under one roof in Singapore.

This Giant collaboration (see what we did there?) is an effort to showcase the many unique and innovative vending machine concepts created in Singapore. Giant has also included its own “Mystery Box” vending machine among the lineup.

So let’s dive in; we’ll show you some of our favourites!

So Many Vending Machines, So Little Time

1. Giant Mystery Box

For the low price of $10, you could walk away with an iPhone 8. Yes, we said iPhone 8. Yes, we know that this is a vending machine. No, we’re not lying.

In addition to Giant household appliances and kitchen gadgets, Giant has included one iPhone 8 in this cash-only Mystery Box vending machine from October to December 2017. Don’t say we bojio.

2. Tenacity Toys

Stocked with toys from Funko POP!, Tomica, Dorbz, Metacolle and Rock Candy, you’ll be able to find Star Wars, Marvel and DC character products in this cashless vending machine.

Prices start from $11.90 but that’s not the only amount we’ll be spending for the blind-packaged DC character figure boxes.

3. Asian Foodbox Powered By No Signboard Seafood

Close your eyes and imagine tze char in a vending machine. Okay, now open your eyes.

Meet the Asian Foodbox, which sells ready-to-eat hot meals such as hokkien mee and fried rice served with No Signboard Seafood‘s signature chilli crabs that have been deshelled.

Prices start from $4.50 and the machine is cashless-payment only.

4. Ninja Oden By No Signboard Seafood

If you’re not familiar with Oden, it is a hearty winter dish that includes fishcakes, daikon, konjac, and eggs simmered in a light dashi broth. Think Lok Lok, Japanese style.

This cashless vending machine sells ready-to-eat canned oden from $4.90 so you don’t have to bring out your steamboat pot.

5. Healthy Snacks By BoxGreen

For all the vegans and healthy snackers, BoxGreen‘s vending machine sells guilt-free, healthy snacks which range from vegan, gluten free, to under 120 calories.

Prices start from $4.90 and the machine does not accept cash because deforestation is an actual thing.

6. Shiok Pizza

Never in my life would we expect to see a cashless Pizza vending machine. But this is a real thing now. And we’re not even sorry to be cheating on Pezzo.

Halal-certified pizzas from $16? Goodbye Pezzo.

7. Men’s Grooming Products By SGPOMADES

This cashless vending machine looks more stylish than we do. SGPOMADES‘ cashless vending machine sells hair and grooming products for men. Like all stylish men, it accepts cashless payment only.

8. Halal Islamic-Related Products By Vibes Mastery

This cashless, fully Halal vending machine offers essential oils, teas, snacks, hijabs, and even jubahs from $8.50! Clothes in a vending machine! Now that is a new concept.

9. Farmily By Farmily

This first-of-its-kind vending machine dispenses gardening tools and seeds, perfect for those with a green thumb. Prices start from $12.

Please note that the seeds only accept cash.

10. Fish Food By Dajana

With prices from $2, this cashless vending machine sells fish food for tropical fish, goldfish, bettas, and more!

From now till December 2017, VendMart will be housed at Giant Hypermarket at Tampines and IMM Jurong.

Don’t miss this limited time vending machine shopping experience!

VendMart
Giant Hypermarket Tampines
Address: 21 Tampines North Drive 2 #03-01 Singapore 528765
Opening Hours: Sun – Thu: 8am – 12am, Fri – Sat: 8am – 2am
Contact no.: 6788 5919

Giant Hypermarket IMM
Address: 2 Jurong East Street 21 #01-100 IMM Building Singapore 609601
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 9am – 11pm, Fri & Sun: 8am – 11pm, Sat: 8am – 12am
Contact no.: 6564 3811

Also read You Can Jalan Jalan Down Memory Lane At This Nostalgic Festival Of Eats And Treats

(Header Image Source: Giant Singapore)

It’s Time, Imagine Dragons To Bring Their ‘Evolve’ World Tour To Singapore In January 2018

Fans of Imagine Dragons, brace yourselves. The Grammy Award-winning band is returning to Singapore on 7 January 2018 for a ONE NIGHT ONLY concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium!

Since their full-length debut in 2012 with their multi-platinum album, “Night Visions”, Imagine Dragons has captured fans worldwide with their anthemic alt-rock music.

With multiple Billboard-topping hits under their belt, the Grammy Award-winning band will be bringing their music to Singapore once again, following the debut of their 3rd studio album, “Evolve”.

The band will be performing hits such as “Whatever It Takes”,”Believer” and “Thunder” from the “Evolve” album as well some of their old favourite singles such as “It’s Time”, “Radioactive” and “Demons”.

Ticket prices start at $98 for Cat 7 tickets to $228 for Cat 1 tickets.

Tickets can be purchased online Also read Tickets For Taeyang’s ‘WHITE NIGHT’ 2017 World Tour Are Now On Sale!

(Header Image Source: cidentertainment.com)

You’re Not Going To Need A Wallet At This New ‘Smart’ Hawker Centre At Jurong West

Yishun step aside, Jurong West has gotten its own ‘smart’ hawker centre.

Located at Jurong West Street 61, next to Pioneer Mall, this 500-seater ‘smart’ hawker centre has 34 food stalls and a 14-stall wet market.

This is Singapore’s 2nd “smart” hawker centre after Yishun Park Hawker Centre.

A Smarter Hawker Centre

Jurong Hawker Centre has self-payment kiosks that accept cash. It also offers 8 other cashless payment options such as Apple Pay, Paywave and EZ Link Payment.

Diners also get to enjoy free wi-fi.

The food centre also has 3 tray-collecting robots to increase the efficiency of clearing tables and also to help diners who might not be able to carry their tray to the Tray Return Area.

Keeping Hawker-Fare At Hawker Prices

Aside from being a ‘smart’ hawker, this hawker centre is managed on a not-for-profit basis.

As such, each cooked food stall in this complex sells 2 regular-portion dishes at $2.80, ensuring there is a cheap option at every stall.

With 34 different hawker stalls, there is no shortage of variety and cuisines for diners to choose from.

The hawker centre will also be used to host community activities such as fairs, flea markets and music performances, in an effort to make it a natural gathering place for residents to dine and bond.

Also read You Can Jalan Jalan Down Memory Lane At This Nostalgic Festival Of Eats And Treats

(Header Image Source: Ekfigo Chua Facebook)

Tickets For Taeyang’s ‘WHITE NIGHT’ 2017 World Tour Are Now On Sale!

Attention all BIG BANG fans!

Taeyang will be performing in Singapore for ONE NIGHT ONLY on 27 October as part of the Asian leg of his ‘WHITE NIGHT’ World Tour and tickets are now on sale!

The multi-talented singer will not only be performing tracks from his latest solo album, he’ll also be serenading you with some of his biggest hits such as ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips (눈.코.입)’ and ‘Wedding Dress’.

If You Love Tori-Q And Satay, You’ll Love This Kushiyaki Bar That Serves Grilled Skewers

‘Kushiyaki’ is a term that many people in Singapore are not familiar with.

Don’t worry, we will explain. Kushiyaki essentially refers to skewered food that is grilled.

Grilling brings out the natural flavours of the food. It caramelises the sugars in vegetables and marinated meat tend to take on a distinctive roast aroma and flavour.

Enter Kimoto Gastro Bar. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant bar located at The Sail@Marina Bay serves up a wide range of skewered meat and vegetables, tempura, rice bowls, and an extensive menu of saké to go with the food.

This quaint bar may be small but their food is big on flavour.

Stick After Stick Of Deliciousness

Now, this is the fun part. The food!

The Buta Bara (Iberico Pork Belly) is a must-try. The iberico pork belly is brushed with a special sauce before being grilled to caramelised perfection. We promise that this will disappear from the table faster than you can say “Buta Bara”.

New on the menu is this Kimoto original, the Unagi Riceball. Generous amounts of grilled fatty unagi is wrapped in a toasted riceball and is served with their special sauce, bonito flakes and a dollop of tobiko mayo.

This delectable creation is crispy and packed with flavour. We love how umami the unagi is when paired with the special sauce. However, it is quite a hassle to try and get rid of the toasted rice from your teeth afterwards.

It is still a really good riceball though, so do give it a try!

Another Kimoto original, the Crispy Fried Squid is an addictive bar bite that is fried to perfection, yet tender and moist on the inside. This is a hot favourite on the menu so order fast or it might just run out!

The Uzura Tamago (Quail Egg) is a mini ramen egg. The yolks are not fully cooked so it’s still a bit runny and the umami is concentrated. Each bite of the quail egg is akin to setting off an umami bomb.

Grilled and simply seasoned with salt is the Zucchini kushiyaki ($4.50). It looks underwhelming but don’t let that fool you. We never knew zucchini could be this good.

When you finish your food, don’t just leave the skewers lying around. Kimoto provides these cups for you to leave your finished skewers. Handy!

For those of you who are craving something a little more familiar, Kimoto has that covered.

The Tempura Moriawase comes with battered prawns, shitake mushroom, brinjal, sweet potato, carrot, and interestingly, chicken breast!

The chicken breast is tenderised before being coated in tempura batter and fried. The result is a flat, tender piece of chicken breast that just melts in your mouth.

Kimoto also has a rather extensive saké menu, because no decent japanese bar serves food without alcohol. Prices for the saké go from $70 to $1688. Yes, $1688. If you’re not sure about the drink pairing, feel free to ask the friendly staff for recommendations!

All in all, Kimoto Gastro Bar is a great spot to unwind with friends, with great food, great saké and reasonable prices for quality food.

Kimoto Gastro Bar
Address: 6 Marina Boulevard #01-15 The Sail@Marina Bay Singapore 018987
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm; Sat – Sun: Closed
Contact no.: 6222 7588
Website

Also read 21Moonstone Lets You Revisit Your Youth With Arcade Games, Cheap Booze, And Old School Snacks

(Header Image Source: Kimoto Gastro Bar)

21Moonstone Lets You Revisit Your Youth With Arcade Games, Cheap Booze, And Old School Snacks

Singapore has seen its fair share of bars situated in odd locations, from Smoke & Mirrors, the rooftop bar at the National Gallery Singapore, to The Library, which is hidden behind a bookcase.

Enter 21Moonstone, a bar located on the 9th floor of an old office building.

Situated on the 9th floor of Poh Leng Building at 21 Moonstone Lane (hence the name), this space is a creative co-working studio by day and a beer house by night – at least on Fridays and Saturdays.

A drastic change of pace from the trendy bars and swanky watering holes of Singapore, this bar is laidback and arty.

Think: exposed ceilings, mismatched lights, furniture, floorboards, art scattered around the space, and a giant traditional Chinese signboard!

Did you know most of the resources here are crowdsourced or donated by users of the space?

If you need some air, there is also outdoor seating (and standing) for you and your friends to make yourselves at home.

Great Minds Think Alike

21Moonstone was the brainchild of 4 friends who realised that they needed a communal space not just to work at but to hang out at.

Founded by Yang Er Tan, Jeremy Lim, Vincent Ho, and Narelle Kheng (of The Sam Willows!), each of them brings their own experience and knowledge to the table.

Welcoming freelancers, artists, photographers, and other creative minds, their intention is to establish a safe space for exchanging and generating new ideas.

Where Artistry Meets Celebrity

Considering that one of 21Moonstone’s founders is a celebrity in her own right, the place is no stranger to celebrities.

Drop by for some good, cheap alcohol, and who knows? You may even bump into some familiar faces!

21Moonstone is all about creating a casual setting for big groups of friends to chill and unwind. There’s even an old school arcade machine and card games you and your party can help yourselves to!

21Moonstone’s menu is straightforward, with a trim list of beers, ciders and a secret food menu.

You can’t go wrong with a bottle of Asahi ($8 per bottle) beer. If you’re looking for a change, we hear the Westmalle Trappist Dubbel ($12 per bottle) is founder Jeremy Lim’s personal favourite.

If you get the munchies, the bar offers old school snacks such as Muruku Ikan and Super Ring. Comfort foods such as nachos, seaweed chicken and luncheon meat are also available!

Because most of the food served here are simple finger foods, we recommend you come after dinner. Otherwise, there’s a good Fishhead Steamboat/Tze Char place downstairs called Tian Wai Tian where you can fill your stomachs before you go to 21Moonstone.

A low-key bar that’s big on good vibes, end your week on a good note at 21Moonstone!

21Moonstone
Address: 21 Moonstone Lane, Poh Leng Building, #09-01, Singapore 328426
Opening Hours: Fri – Sat: 8pm – 12am
Contact no.: 9187 0898
Website

Also read Laneway Festival Singapore 2018 Reveals Lineup Including The War On Drugs, Wolf Alice, And More

(Header Image Source: @jemplify)

The Flagship Gong Cha Outlet Has Been Spotted And We’re Choking On Our LiHo Pearls

Oh. My. God. Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

There has been a Gong Cha outlet sighting in Singapore!

Located at Singpost Centre at Paya Lebar, the flagship outlet is still undergoing renovations in preparation for a December 2017 opening.

Since announcing their eventual return to the Singapore market back in June, Gong Cha has been quietly planning their much-anticipated comeback.

On 26 September, Gong Cha began its recruitment via a Facebook post and that was the last we heard from them.

And today, we have this! A physical Gong Cha outlet!

Gong Cha may not have a specific date of return yet, but they sure know how to keep us in anticipation.

Do stay tuned for more details in the near future!

Also read 5 Taiwanese Bubble Tea Shops To Satisfy Your BBT Cravings Before Gong Cha Makes Its Return

(Header Image Source: Gong Cha Facebook)