Category: Uniquely Singapore

Stressed? These Products Will Surely Help You Feel Better

Being stressed out can be quite a bummer. No one likes to be constantly worrying about their decisions, or having their nerves on the edge. Especially in sunny Singapore, where it’s a competition to perform and excel from an early age at school, we’re no strangers to that uncomfortable feeling.

Get some breathing space with Headspace

[caption id="attachment_4777" align="alignnone" width="700"] Image Credit: Apple and Android devices, and is free for the first 10 days. It should be noted, however, that Headspace can be quite pricy after the initial trial version expires, as you will need to subscribe if you wish to continue using the app.

A year’s worth of subscription costs about $95 USD, but unlocks hundreds of hours of meditation content. So if you happen to find yourself more serene after the free trial, perhaps subscribing will be a small price to pay for a more healthy body and mind.

3. Stress detecting technology

With the recent strides in modern technology, these products are specially invented with your stress levels in mind. It’s like your own personal therapist that you can carry around where you go!

Keep track of your health while on the go

[caption id="attachment_4778" align="alignnone" width="700"] Image Credit: Fitbit[/caption]

The newest fitness trackers from Fitbit, Apple and others boast a wide array of helpful technology and sensors to monitor your daily health. This is especially useful when you’re putting in overtime at work.

From continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking or step counting, these products provide you with useful insights on when your stress levels are at its peak. By utilising the measurements given, you can begin making healthy changes to your daily routine.

In fact, a Fitbit user Image Credit: Audio-Technica[/caption]

When you just need a moment of silence with your favourite tunes to get back your groove, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones will be a good investment. Leave distractions in the background as you listen to relaxing playlists done up by Spotify or Apple Music, which are specially tailored to boost your concentration and focus for a more productive day.

Sennheiser and Plantronics are brands well-known for their noise-cancelling headphones, but they tend to cost a bomb ($200 or more) for average users. For a cheaper but effective alternative, consider brands like Audio-Technica or Sony. Most electronic stores will sell these brands, but if you’re looking for a particular model, your best bet would be to head online to local seller TREOO.com to find what you’re looking for.

Spotify is free to download on various devices, but to avoid the annoying advertisements, and enjoy high definition quality, the subscription will cost you $9.90 a month.

Image Credit: Image Credit: WABA Fun[/caption]

Does squishing plasticine get your mind off things, but you hate that oily feeling on your fingers? Make the jump to kinetic sand. It shares the same flexibility as modelling clay but keeps your hands clean! Made up of 98% pure sand, it was designed for relaxation purposes for both young and old!

What’s more, the sand only sticks to itself, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up remaining residue. Of course, it’s best if you just wash your hands after playing with it. You can never be too sure!

Kinetic sand can be bought at a few selected stores in Singapore, most notably at .

(Header image credit: Because The Weather Has Been Such A Beach, We Need To Chill At These 5 Cool Beaches In SG

CURATE: Asia’s 1st Showcase Restaurant For Michelin Star Cuisine In SG

Sentosa draws in throngs of visitors for its beaches, marine attractions, and of course, the popular Universal Studios theme park. But come April, you might have another reason to head to this popular island. CURATE promises to be Asia’s first Michelin Chef showcase restaurant where you can taste the finest culinary creations of visiting Michelin-starred chefs, right within the tropical paradise that is Resorts World Sentosa.

Not to be confused with your typical Michelin-starred restaurants (although those are worth visiting too of course!), CURATE is unique in that it allows customers to savour multiple Michelin-starred chefs’ creations through their Art at Curate series. Each series will see a different chef helming the kitchen at CURATE, with the restaurant being a stage for them to showcase their best works of culinary art.

And as with any fine-dining affair, you can expect the highest quality wines to go with your meal as well. In partnership with the influential wine authority, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Art at Curate will have the expert wine reviewers from their team hand-pick the best wines to complement each meal.

CURATE’s debut showcase will feature La Calandre’s chef, Massimiliano Alajmo. Being the world’s youngest chef to be awarded the coveted three Michelin stars when he was just 28 years old, Alajmo has a knack for bringing out the truest flavours of the ingredients that he uses to create multi-sensorial dishes in his distinctive style. Along with his love for exquisite seasonal ingredients and flair molecular gastronomy, you’ll be in for a gourmet treat at the inaugural series of Art at Curate.

If you’re into gastronomic adventures, you’ll probably like this. And don’t be surprised to find yourself coming back for multiple return trips to taste the creations that other guest chefs have in store for you too.

Prices start from $220-280 for a four-course lunch, $290 for a champagne brunch, to $380-480 for an eight-course dinner. CURATE accepts advanced bookings only, book your tickets here. 

CURATE is located at 8 Sentosa Gateway #01-231/232, Resorts World Sentosa.

(Header image credit: original image by Resorts World Sentosa, edited by author.)

Also Read: A 3 Minute Rundown Of Timbre’s Newly Launched Container & Food Truck-Style Food Court

9 Chillout Spots In Jurong You Need To Call Your Own

Jurong? Let’s see. It has IMM, Bird Park and uhhhh, Science Centre?

Not exactly one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Singapore, the impression of this industrial area can be kinda vague. What else is cool in Jurong besides Snow City, right? But after a little digging, we realise that there are a few gems buried in the sands of the Wild West.

So chin up Westsiders, from tucking into bingsus to throwing electronic darts, listed below are nine chillout spots you can proudly call yours.

1. Coffee Nowhere

Coffee… no where? Now here? What is going on here.

Located within Nanyang Community Centre, we think this café is a hidden gem. Besides serving up a great Cappuccino ($5.80), this café also offers desserts such as waffles with ice-cream. So if you’re looking for a cosy café to host your coffee talks, look nowhere else because great coffee is now here in the West. Well, we did our best.

Coffee Nowhere
Address: 60 Jurong West St 91 #01-03, S649040
Operating Hours: Daily 10am-10pm

2. One Ice Café

If you are into all things Korean, One Ice Café is your perfect dessert stop. Not only does it offer a decent range of bingsus, but it also offers these ice-y desserts that are one of the most affordable around. So if you’re looking to chill (literally), give its Oreo Bingsu ($6.80) or Patbingsu ($6.80) a go!

One Ice Cafe
Address: JCube, 2 Jurong East Central 1 #02-67, S609731
Operating Hours: Daily 12pm-10pm

3. Toby’s The Dessert Asylum

Sorry Eastsiders, you can no longer call Toby’s The Dessert Asylum your asylum. Besides whacky desserts such as the Split Personality (vanilla ice-cream, cendol, red bean & gula melaka) and Artic Bombshell (chocolate ganache, vanilla ice-cream, chocolate cake & meringue), this eatery also serves a mean Smoked Duck Pizza. So if you’re looking for a place to have your meal and dessert, Toby’s is definitely the place to be.

Toby’s The Dessert Asylum
Address: 8 Boon Lay Way #01-35, S609964
Email: [email protected]
Operating Hours: Daily 11am-10pm

4. Idle bar

Prepare for some serious secret spilling heart-to-heart talk with Idle’s free-flow drinks. With drinks including gin, vodka, whiskey, bourbon and even beer, we highly doubt you’ll be leaving the bar without at least a confession or two.

Idle
Address: 13 International Business Park #K2-01, S609932
Tel: 9233 7533
Email: [email protected]
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 5pm-12am

5. Jurong Country Club

Looking for something a little less wild? With its alfresco seating and quiet atmosphere, Time Out Pub located within the country club offers the ideal setting for overdue catching up sessions. If not, sip away at a couple of cold ones whilst enjoying the pub’s occasional live band performances or lounge by the pool and feel your tension melt away.

Time Out Pub
Address: 9 Science Centre Road, S609078
Tel: 6560 5655
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-1am, Sat 4pm-1am, Sun 5pm-12am

6. iDarts

Too stuffed for drinks? Bond over a game of darts at iDarts and try your hand at electronic darts. Getting a bullseye may not be easy but hey, it’s the fun that really counts. So if you’re looking for something interesting to do, why not try iDarts?

iDarts
Address: 2 Jurong East Central 1 #01-17A, S609731
Operating Hours: Sun-Thu12.30am-1am, Fri & Sat 12.30pm-3am

7. Ice Skating

If you’re dressed in a pair of jeans, we say go for this fun-filled activity. Sure, you may fall a couple of times but your friends will be there to pick you up. We think. Tough luck if they don’t. Okay seriously though, ice-skating is a pretty sweet group activity. If you’re in luck, you may also catch some ice-hockey hunks teams in action. Yes, we have an ice-hockey team.

The Rink
Address: 2 Jurong East Central 1, Level 3, JCube

8. Jurong Eco Garden

Surrounded by lush greenery, the Eco Garden is the spot to chill for nature lovers. There’s even a lookout point that serves as an animal crossing. Besides strolling through the garden, grab a couple of drinks and simply make any space your own chillout spot!

Jurong Eco Garden
Address: 101 Jln Lekar S698953

9. Chinese Garden

Don’t roll your eyes because not only is Chinese Garden surrounded by breathtaking architecture, but its tranquil atmosphere also provides us the much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Experience a little slice of ancient China as you sit amongst the Garden’s towering pavilions and stone bridges. Quite a calming experience, we must say.

Chinese Garden
Address: 1 Chinese Garden Road S619795

The next time someone jeers at dear old Jurong, feel free to take this article and shove it in their faces show them its awesomeness. There is more to Jurong than just IMM, Bird Park and Science Centre okay.

Also Read: 7 Insanely Cool Places To Chill At In Yishun That You’ve Not Heard Of

An Underground Bar Event With Complimentary Drinks? Basement Seah Damn Happening Sia!

It’s been a looong week and Friday can’t come soon enough. We understand the wait for the weekend can be painful. In fact, the day before TGIF is usually the worst. But instead of staying down, we’re going to get you pumped for TGIF with some after-work Thursday chill and booze. Nobody said you had to wait till the weekend to have fun, right?

Mr Punch Public House

Introducing Mr Punch Public House, a quirky yet cosy bar we recently stumbled across. Tucked away in the basement of the Museum of Toys is this unassuming gastropub, with its vintage décor and cosy ambience. It exuded the kind of odd familiarity that quickly put us at ease.

Mr. Punch Public House is a concept inspired by the puppet show ‘Punch & Judy’ (the younglings will probably have no idea what this is) with the Public House being Mr. Punch’s last destination as a world-traveller. So this bar is akin to Mr. Punch’s treasure trove of memories; pretty interesting concept, we have to say.

Basement Seah

Every Thursday from 7pm to 11pm, the bar transforms into a cosy dinner spot that takes you back to the ‘60s. Known as Basement Seah, this retro themed night will have you immersed in both fun and nostalgia as the DJ puts a modern spin on some of the era’s most popular swing music. That’s right, a live DJ. Who knew you could enjoy great music, booze and feel cosy all at the same time?

Drinks

Mr. Punch Public House offers an extensive drinks menu that includes the unique Cocktail World Tour, a curated series of international cocktails carefully thought out by its bartenders. From Malaysia’s Jungle Bird ($17) to the Russian Cocaine ($14), we’re pretty sure you’ll find a cocktail or two that suits you. If you’re more into wines, we bring good news. Simply RSVP at 8339 8966 with your email address and quote DISCOVER MR PUNCH to receive a complimentary glass of wine this Thursday, 14th April 2016!

Food

Feeling peckish? There is a brand new sharing menu that offers an electic mix of cuisines. Start with the Platter ($35/three dishes) and choose from dishes such as freshly Grilled Tiger Prawns, deliciously marinated Marmite Glazed Squid Rings, and tender Slow-Cooked Pork Belly. Though not included, we thought the unique Potato Chip Chicken (potato chip breaded chicken) makes a great tapas.

Looking for something a little more filling? Give its signature Herb-Crusted Barramundi ($29) or its Bacon-Wrapped Venison Loin ($45) a try. Though slightly pricier, we’re confident that the dinning experience at Mr Punch will be value for money.

Whether you’re looking for a unique yet cosy bar to take your after work conversations to or a place for an evening of pre-TGIF fun, Basement Seah@Mr Punch Public House is definitely the place to be. Remember, simply RSVP at 8339 8966 with your email address and quote DISCOVER MR PUNCH to receive your complimentary wine! 

With its great ambience, refreshing music, lip-smacking food and free booze, if you’re not reaching out for your phone to RSVP now, we’d do it for you.

Basement Seah @ Mr Punch Public House
Address: 26 Seah Street S188382
Tel: 8339 8966
Email: [email protected]
Operating Hours:
Basement Seah
Thu 7pm – 11pm
Mr Punch Public House
Mon-Thu: 3pm – 11.30pm
Fri: 3pm – 2am
Sat: 11am – 11.30pm
Sun: 11am – 6pm

Also Read: A 3 Minute Rundown Of Timbre’s Newly Launched Container & Food Truck-Style Food Court

Don’t look down! 6 Sky-High Places In Singapore With Incredible Views

We often complain that there’s nothing much do in the city. Weekends can get a little routined (shopping, eating, shopping). Well, if you look for the right things at the right places, you might find something a little different. When you’re tired of the same old view, it’s time to look upwards (not down!) and check out these 6 spectacular sky-high places in Singapore!

1. Fort Siloso Skywalk, Sentosa

If you think Sentosa is all about the beaches, this 11-storey high scenic aerial walkway will prove you wrong. Known as the tallest skywalk tower in Singapore, its distinctive S-shaped design is created to minimise heat and vibration. With a length of 181-metres long, the aerial walking trail allows visitors to enjoy a different view on each side: treetops, the sea, and also the rooftop of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa!

Both Fort Siloso and the skywalk are free admission for all and there are guided tours for those who are interested to know more on the history of Fort Siloso. Free entry, good ventilation and only a 5-minute walk away from Fort Siloso, this is a great place for family adventures, friendly hangouts and dates too!

2. The Pinnacle @ Duxon

Ever wonder how Singapore looks like from the view of an award-winning building? Just head to The light and sound show (free entry) which plays twice daily at 7.45pm and 8.45pm. Admire the gardens as the large canopies come alive at night, accompanied by music and sparkling lights. Entry fee of $5 for adults and $3 for kids to the skywalk seem reasonable for an exceptional experience of a lifetime.

Also Read:

What’s Down This April: Rooftop Disco Party, Gourmet Feasts, Kampong Memories & More

Fancy a tiki-themed disco party at a hipster rooftop bar? Or indulge in the best of gourmet Japanese cuisine? Expect to have fun drinking, eating, partying, and more this April!

TK Disco (13 Apr)

Having launched its revamped rooftop with a tiki disco party, Potato Head Folk has made it a monthly disco affair due to popular demand. If you haven’t experienced chilling out at their rooftop with fairy lights and the night sky above your head, what better way than to join the party? Head over on 13th April for TK Disco, a tropical party with shots, skewers, cocktails, and a live tiki band.

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TK Disco by Potato Head Folk
Time: 7pm till late
Address: Potato Head Folk, 36 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089143
Phone: +65 6327 1939

iPose uSketch weSip (14 Apr)

If you haven’t figured out what it means, this is a cocktail and art event at Hotel Vagabond, where you can get your portrait drawn by emerging artists from Pinacotheque gallery’s Uncanned Art project.  As the event name suggests, you’ll be posing, and the artists will be sketching, and everyone will be sipping on cocktails as the sun goes down. Sign up here.

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iPose uSketch weSip
Time: starts at 6.30pm
Address: Hotel Vagabond, 39 Syed Alwi Rd, 207630
Phone: +65 6291 6677

Gourmet Japan 2016 (20 Apr- 31 May)

Gourmet Japan is back for their 5th edition with an impressive list of chefs from top restaurants who will demonstrate their culinary prowess during this month-long festival of gourmet Japanese fare and innovative drinks. Whether it’s a cocktail dinner, teppanyaki feast, or modern Japanese cuisine, their exclusive dining events will also feature the best wines, sakes, and whiskies. Details of individual events on their website.

[caption id="attachment_5217" align="alignnone" width="500"] Image credit: Gourmet Japan[/caption]

Gourmet Japan 2016
Date: 20 Apr – 31 May
Time: Mon – Fri, 9am – 6pm
Contact: 6319 2153

Kilo Under Pressure (28 Apr)

We reckon almost every Singaporean out there is a foodie. But if you’re a foodie who can also whip up your favourite cuisine, Kilo Orchard will welcome you into their kitchen for Kilo Under Pressure (which is back back after a hiatus) at the end of this month. You’ll have full reign of their kitchen to cook for an entire restaurant of guests – it’ll be like running your own restaurant! 

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Kilo Under Pressure
Address: 181 Orchard Road, #02-16/18 Orchard Central, 238896
Phone: +65 6884 7560

Heritage Fest 2016 (29 Apr- 15 May)

Curious about the evolution of our street food? Or how a legendary swordfish story relates to Bukit Merah? Then you’ll have to check out the events at Heritage Fest 2016, where you can experience kampong life in an interactive exhibition, relieve the memories of olden-day attractions like the Great World Amusement Park, and much more. This seems like an intriguing and informative festival, if past editions are any indication!

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Whether you’re in to parties, food, or culture, there seems to be something for everybody this April. Which of these events will you be checking out?

(Header image credit: original image by Kilo, edited by author.)