Tag: chinese new year

Traffic Forecasts For 2nd Link & Woodlands Causeway This Chinese New Year

If you’re heading to Johor Bahru (JB) this Chinese New Year, you’re definitely not alone. Welcome to the club for all motorists who will be utilizing the Causeway and the 2^nd Link. Like Sun Tzu heading to war, it’s best to enter JB with a solid strategy…by arming yourself with these.

We’re referring to these amazing traffic jam forecasts we’ve uncovered! This way, you’ll be able to plan your entry into JB with maximum efficiency.

Be assured that this forecast is pretty accurate, as the reference data is based on the traffic statistics in Chinese New Year 2016.

2 days before Chinese New Year – 26 January 2017 (Thursday)

As the eve of Chinese New Year is on 27 January 2017 (Friday), most Malaysians tend to return home the day before, which is 26 January 2017. This explains the spike in the traffic from Singapore to JB at both the Causeway and the 2^nd Link, which will start to build up from 2 pm onwards. It’s best to be a bit more kiasu (aka wiser) and set off earlier if you can.

Eve of Chinese New Year – 27 January 2017 (Friday)

On Chinese New Year’s eve, set your alarm clock to ring even earlier. As you can see from the graphs, traffic flowing into JB will build up as early as 4am. However, it’s possible that traffic may ease before evening as most people would already be at their reunion dinners.

Chinese New Year – 28, 29 January 2017 (Saturday, Sunday)

In the mornings of the 1^st and 2^nd day of Chinese New Year, we can expect traffic to be at a low volume. However, the trends show that traffic will start increasing around noon at both sides of the border, probably due to Malaysians visiting Singapore or PRs returning home early.

Last day of the Chinese New Year Holiday – 30 January 2017 (Monday)

On the last day of the holiday, it is expected that many will be returning to Singapore in preparation for work the next day. It appears that the 2^nd  Link will be more affected as most of the people travelling back from the North of Malaysia will choose this route. In this case, it’s best to take the Causeway!

One day after the Chinese New Year Holiday – 31 January 2017 (Tuesday)

Given that it’s a work day, most people would already have arrived home the day before (30 January 2017). However, it’s not uncommon for some to take a day off or two. As such, do note that there may be more traffic heading into Singapore after lunch hour, especially on the 2^nd Link.

We hope that these forecasts do come in handy. Share this information with your friends and loved ones so they can enter JB or Singapore quickly and with ease.

Everyone gets frustrated in a jam, but don’t forget that safety is paramount. Drive safely!

Information credit and for real-time traffic forecasts at the Causeway and 2^nd Link: causewayjam.wordpress.com

Header image credits: HD Wallpaper

Also, read Savvy Local’s Guide: Fill Your Calendar To 15 Jan With These Must-Not-Miss Events!

Huat Ah! 8 Restaurants To Book For Your CNY Reunion Dinner 2017!

That’s right, it’s that time of the year. Christmas and New Year have barely passed and here you are, planning for another big family gathering – CNY reunion dinner. Tables at the ever-popular restaurants are definitely filling up and you are starting to feel the heat. Why does Chinese New Year have to be so darn close to Christmas!?

Well have no fear, because obviously, we are here to save you from the festive stress (as much as we can). Whether you’re looking to book a restaurant or are in search of one that’s different from the usual go-to restaurants, listed below are eight restaurants to host your CNY reunion dinner at!

1. Tiffany Café & Restaurant

Situated at Furama City Centre is Source: Singsaver[/caption]

At $59.80++ for lunch and $69.80++ for dinner, embark on a gastronomical journey and indulge in festive dishes such as Braised Eight Treasures Chicken in Claypot and Torched Pacific Wrasse with Ebiko Wasabi Hollandaise & Chili Thread.

Enjoy a slate of discounts that include 20% off the first reunion seating (5.30pm – 7.30pm) and 30% off the second reunion dinner seating (8pm – 10.30pm). What’s more, there is a one-for-one credit card promotion running from 16^th January – 11^th February 2017! (excluding dinner on 27^th January). How awesome is this?

Tiffany Café & Restaurant
Address: Furama City Centre, 60 Eu Tong Sen Street, S059804
Tel: 6531 5366
Email: [email protected]

2. Mitzo

Located at Grand Park Orchard is Source: Mitzo[/caption]

Besides the popular Pearls of Prosperity Kanpachi Kigfish Yu Sheng, pamper your family with the Prawn/Lobster Grouper Fortune Pot, Lobster Fried Rice with Pork Liver & Preserved Sausage and Fish Maw Soup with Pumpkin, Bamboo Pith & Chicken. The CNY reunion dinner menu will be available from 14^th January to 11^th February 2017.

Do also take the opportunity to sample Mitzo’s artisanal cocktails such as the Spring Blossom, a smoky and sweet mescal cocktail.

Mitzo
Address: Level 4 Grand Park Orchard, 270 Orchard Rd S 238857
Tel: 6603 8855
Email: [email protected]

 3. Ban Heng

With five outlets in Singapore, Source: Ban Heng[/caption]

This year, Ban Heng Group offers a mouth watering Reunion Dinner Set menu that features dishes such as the Salmon Yu Sheng, Suckling Pig, Herbal Chicken and Wok-Fried Spare Ribs. Indulge in this reunion feast at a price ranging from $498 to $998 for a family of ten!

CNY reunion dinner on 27 January is available with two seatings from 5.30pm to 10pm.

Ban Heng
For locations and contact information for a specific outlet, click 4. Yan

Fans of Cantonese cuisine would have heard of this one. Located at the iconic National Gallery Singapore, Signature Shun De Style Yu Sheng with Yellowtail Fish & Golden Flakes
Source: Yan[/caption]

At prices from $118++ to $268++ per individual, indulge in dishes such as the Signature Yellowtail Fish Yusheng with Golden Flakes, the new Doubled-boiled Chicken Soup with Black Garlic Sea Whelk and the return of the popular Danggui Roast Duck and succulent Baked Half Lobster with Supreme Stock.

Prices may seem a little steep but for Yan, we’d say it’s worth the splurge. Yan’s CNY menus are available for lunch and dinner, from 9^th January to 11^th February 2017. Two reservation slots for dinner at 5.30pm and 8.15pm are available on Chinese New Year Eve.

Yan
Address: National Gallery, 1 St Andrew’s Road #05-02, S178957
Tel: 6382 5585
Email: [email protected]

5. Moi Lum

A traditional Chinese restaurant that is almost a decade old, Source: Openrice.com[/caption]

In light of Chinese New Year, Moi Lum has provided three (not very) different menus to cater to the size of your company. At ($80+/pax, $388+/6pax, $568+/10pax), indulge in dishes such as the Prosperity Abalone, Sautéed Broccoli with Scallops & Prawns, Braised Shark’s Fin Soup with Crab Meat and of course, the Majestic Roast Chicken.

Available from 18^th January to 27^th January 2017, the menu is available for both lunch and dinner. Lunch will be held from 11.30am – 3.30pm, whilst dinner will consist of two seatings; 6pm – 7.50pm and 8pm – 10pm.

Moi Lum
Address: 38 Maxwell Road S069116
Tel: 6226 2283
Email: [email protected]

6. Xi Yan Shaw Singapore

Hailing from Hong Kong is the much-acclaimed Roasted Herbal Chicken
Source: Xi Yan Shaw Singapore[/caption]

For really affordable rates, you’ll get to enjoy dishes such as its signature Prosperity Yu Sheng, Roasted Lychee Duck, Stewed Pork Belly in Sour Plum & Black Vinegar Sauce and Fried Pork Trotter Chestnut Bee Hoon.

Needless to say, Xi Yan Shaw Singapore enjoys overwhelming popularity during Chinese New Year so we’d start making our reservation now if we were you. Do note that Xi Yan Shaw Singapore will be closed on 28^th and 29^th January 2017. 

Xi Yan Shaw Singapore
Address: Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road #03-12/13, S228208
Tel: 6733 3476
Email: [email protected]

7. Golden Peony

Award-winning Chinese restaurant  Roast London Duck
Source: Golden Peony[/caption]

At $1198++ for a table of ten, enjoy an eight-course meal with dishes such as the Signature Roast London Duck, Fortune Glutinous Rice with Assorted Chin ese Sausages and Fried Nian Gao with Sweet Potato and Yam.

Looking to accommodate a smaller company? Golden Peony offers another option where you get to enjoy dishes including the Fortune Salmong Yu Sheng, Braised Pork Kunckle served with Seasonal Vegetables and Steam Nian Gao with Coconut Flakes at $100++ per person.

The CNY menu will be available for both lunch and dinner, from 10^th January to 11^th February 2017.

Golden Peony
Address: Conrad Centennial Hotel Level 3, 2 Temasek Boulevard, S038983
Tel: 6432 7482
Email: [email protected]

8. Jade

If you’re looking for an elegant, minimalistic restaurant that serves great food, Jade at The Fullerton is your answer.

At $68+ per person, you’ll get to enjoy a 5-course menu consisting of a medley of gourmet plates. Start off with the Eight Happiness Gold Rush Yusheng, served on a platter with the cutest rooster accompanied by raw salmon slices, house-made champagne jelly and drizzles of olive oil and pineapple dressing.

After which, tuck into the Poached Cockscomb-shaped Chicken Dumplings, Stewed Chicken and Crab Meat Duo with Red Wine and Chinese Wine in Claypot, where the Chef Leong Chee Yeng showcases his Cantonese rendition of the Surf and Turf.

Jade
Address: The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square S049178
Tel: 68778188

So there you have it, crisis averted. Of course, with just three weeks left to go, we highly recommend you to get started on those reservations because whilst we can help, we cannot ensure a table for you.

Also, read The Prosperity Burger IS FINALLY BACK!

7 Family-Friendly Restaurants That Are Open This Lunar New Year

Many restaurants here in Singapore begin to close their doors as the Lunar New Year festive season close approaches. This leaves many of us at a loss as our once abundant range of food options slowly dwindle away. If this is sounding familiar to you, then fret not! You won’t go hungry this New Year as we’ve compiled a list of 7 well-known eateries that will gladly welcome you and your family as we welcome in the Year of the Monkey.

1. COCA Restaurant 

If you’re looking for a place to satisfy your steamboat craving this Lunar New Year, look no further. With three locations around the island, Thai restaurant chain COCA offers you steamboats with a traditional taste. COCA is especially well known for its sauce – a secret family recipe that has been carefully passed down through the generations.

Address:
COCA Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
#04-23 Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238872

Opening Hours:
1115 – 2230

2. Din Tai Fung 

When convenience comes into play, why not head to one of the many Din Tai Fung outlets open this Lunar New Year? With 13 years of experience under their belt, you’ll not go wrong with their platter of dishes that also features the sumptuous Xiao Long Bao. Do also try their modern take on the Yu Sheng, served with Tender Smoked Unagi and topped with Fried Salmon Skin and Pine Nuts.

Address:
Central
Paragon
290 Orchard Road #B1-03 Singapore 238859

North
Nex
23 Serangoon Central #B1-10 Singapore 556083

East
Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5 #02-01 Singapore 529510

West
JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road #02-07 Singapore 608549

Opening Hours:
1100 – 2200

3. The Kitchen Table

Should you feel a little more generous this year, round up your family and head to The Kitchen Table – an international buffet concept managed by the W Hotel Group. It ensures to disappoint with its six live cooking stations that ensures both freshness and quality. As such, it comes with a little more hefty price at $98 per pax, but with an extensive spread ranging from dim sum, crisp salads, succulent seafood and crackling wood-fired pizza, The Kitchen Table definitely does not disappoint.

Address:
21 Ocean Way
Singapore 098374

Opening Hours:
0600 – 2300 

4. Jumbo Seafood 

Famous for their well-known Singapore Chill Crab, JUMBO Seafood opens its doors to customers this Lunar New Year. Head down to one of its 4 outlets to have a taste at their carefully prepared CNY Set Menus, and treat yourself to a Fesitve Pen Cai and Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng while you’re at it!

Address:
Dempsey Hill
Block 11 Dempsey Road #01-16
Dempsey Hill, Singapore 249673

Opening Hours:
Monday to Fridays: 1200 – 1500 (Lunch), 1800 – 0000 (Dinner)
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday: 1200 – 1500 (Lunch), 1730 – 0000 (Dinner)

5. Paradise Group 

 This Lunar New Year, Paradise Group aims to present diners with an array of dining choices ranging from Crabs and Lobsters at Seafood Paradise to Dim Sum at their Canton Paradise. With over thirty restaurants scattered across the island, you will definitely be spoilt for choice with the Paradise Family as we usher in the Year of the Monkey.

Address:
Taste Paradise
No. 2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard #04-01
Singapore 238801

Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday: 1130 – 1500, 1800 – 2300
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday: 1100 – 1630, 1800 – 2300

Address:
Canton Paradise
112 East Coast Road
i12 Katong #B1-15
Singapore 428802

Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday: 1100 – 2200
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday: 1030 – 2200

6. The Roti Prata House 

The Roti Prata House offers some of the best Roti Prata’s available here in Singapore, with its crispy yet flaky external. Their prata comes in a variety of flavors as well – from the typical egg prata to more interesting creations like the chicken floss prata. They also offer Indian Delicacies like Briyani, Maggi Goreng, and Masala, and you’re guaranteed to find something that suits your taste palette here.

Address:
246 Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574370

Opening Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 0700 – 0200
Friday – Sunday: 24 Hours

7. SPIZZA

Fancy some authentic Italian Pizzas instead? Try SPIZZA, a pizza parlor that promises to deliver affordable yet authentic thin-crusted-wood-fired pizzas and tasty Italian dishes. Try this month’s special Prosperity Pizza topped with Chicken Sausage, Pork Floss, Pineapple and Parsley. Also in lieu with the festive season, SPIZZA’s latest promotion offers a complimentary 10-inch pizza to parties in a group of 4 adorned in the auspicious red!

Address:
SPIZZA Club Street
29 Club Street

Opening Hours: 
Monday to Friday: 1200 – 1430 and 1800-2230
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: 1200 – 2230

6 Places To Donate Your Things This Chinese New Year

Its the season of Spring Cleaning in the homes of many as the year of the monkey is close approaching. This year, instead of throwing your unwanted goods out, why not give it away? There are tons of charity stores that are in need of items to pass on to the needy, or to sell at their respective thrifts stores for funding. From clothes and books, to even your used undergarments, here’s a list of charities that you can do good with this upcoming Lunar New Year:

1. The Salvation Army 

Goods donated to The Salvation Army are processed by their social enterprise arm, Red Shields Industries. Their job helps ensure that the donated items are in a good enough condition to retail at their family thrift stores located across the island.

Items Needed: 

• Clothing
• Shoes
• Bags
• Toys
• Books
• Kitchen Utensils
• Small House Appliances
• Electrical and Electronic Items

In lieu of the overwhelming donations received for the coming Lunar New Year, The Salvation Army has also opened a drive thru donation booth at their Tanglin Road outlet.

Address: 356 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247674 (Beside No 1 Kay Siang Road and opposite Grace Assembly of Church/ Crescent Girls School)

Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10am – 6pm and Friday – Saturday, 10am – 9pm

Website: 

2. Dignity Mama 

Dignity Mama allows parents with intellectually/ physically challenged children an opportunity to work together and run a business in the form of a secondhand bookstore. Books donated here help sustain these stores that give and equip children with disabilities the chance to stand on their own two feet.

Items Needed:

• Storybooks
• Comics
• Management Books
• Encyclopaedias
• Magazines
• Art & Craft Books
• Autobiographies

Before donating, please ensure that the items are in a presentable enough state to be sold to members of the public

Address: 1 Lower Kent Ridge Road #01-39, One @ Kent Ridge, Singapore 119082

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 1100 – 1900

Website: 

3. Dress For Success

Following their mission to empower women to achieve economic independence, Dress For Success is looking for clothes to pass on to a lesser privileged woman to wear for job interviews. They believe that the right outfit can give a woman the confidence to enter or return to the workplace, and make a great first impression to land a job that could change her life.

Items Needed:

• Interview and Work Appropriate Dresses
• Interview and Work Appropriate Tops (Jackets, Blouses, Blazers, Cardigans/ Sweaters)
• Interview and Work Appropriate Bottoms (Skirts/ Pants)
• Interview and Work Appropriate Shoes
• Interview and Work Appropriate Accessories (Jewelry, Belts, Shawls/ Scarves)
• Handbags (Briefcases, Portfolios or Work Appropriate Bags)

Address: 8 Burn Road #11-05, Trivex Singapore, Singapore 369977

Opening Hours: By appointment only. Call +65 65093471

Website: https://singapore.dressforsuccess.org/get-involved/donate/

4. MINDS Shop

With 5 thrift stores under their name, the MINDS Shop serves as an avenue for their intellectually disabled clients to interact with customers. Their stores are home to a wide range of products, from furnitures to apparel that all deserve a new lease of life.

Items Needed: 

• Clothes
• Bags
• Books
• Small Furniture
• Household Items
• Toys

Before donating, please ensure that all items are in a usable, good condition.

Address: MINDS Shop @ Margaret, 800 Margaret Drive, Singapore 149310

Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 1000 – 1500.

Website: 

5. Pass It On

Pass It On allows donators and receivers alike to post items that they would like to give or receive on the website’s home page. Their aim is to provide a meaningful way to distribute unwanted, albeit useful items to benefit the needy.

Items Needed: 

• Home Appliances
• Home Furniture
• Medical Aids
• Mobility Aids
• Learning Aids

To donate, add your items to the list and wait for someone to contact you.

6. Uplift in Bras

Intimate garments such as bras are something that Singaporeans tend to take for granted. However, many women in third world countries are unable to afford bras, and often go most of their lives without. Here come Uplift in Bras, a charity organisation that collects your old bras to send to various NGOs and support groups. These organisations will in turn will distribute the items to underprivileged ladies and disadvantaged communities.

Items Needed: 

• Any style bras
• Nursing, maternity or breastfeeding bras
• Mastectomy bras – with or without prosthesis/ gel/ etc.
• Nursing pads – disposables or reusables

Please ensure that bras are relatively clean and not torn with clasps broken, and are meant for daily wear.

To donate, email [email protected] for the donation address, or whatsapp +65 82561848 for more information.

Website: 

(Featured image credits: Shutterstock)