Bishan’s Carnival This Weekend Offers Food, FREE Workshops, And Black Panther Screening

Bishan is probably one of the best neighbourhoods to live in Singapore. With 2 intersecting MRT lines that lead to town and the ulu West side of Singapore, nowhere is too far when you live in Bishan.

This weekend, Bishan will be having their own festival, complete with food, a retail market, workshops, games, live band performances, and even a movie under the stars!

Here’s what you can expect at the Craving Communities Festival!

Eat, Play, Create

Happening this weekend, 23 to 24 June 2018, the Craving Communities Festival is a short but fun-packed festival for the whole family.

What To Eat

I’m not kidding. I mean, just look at the food that’ll be available at the fair.

Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah is known for their traditional handmade authentic popiah and kueh pie tee.

If you’re not familiar, they’ve been making their famous popiah rolls for over 70 years and no one makes better popiah skin. In recognition of their rich history, they’re even included in the National Heritage Board’s historical food trail!

You might also recognise some of these vendors who were also at Artbox Singapore 2018 as well as Market On Wheels that’s ongoing at Bugis until 8 July!

That’s right, The Swag Social will also be running a booth with Carrot Cubes, serving up cheesy popcorn chicken, fries, Earl Grey Milk Tea, and traditional handmade carrot cakes with a twist!

Fish Sh-nack will also be making an appearance with their very own Crispy Fish Skin snacks in 4 flavours and their Fish Sh-nack Donburi.

If you’re sweating buckets in this heat, cool down with modern “sng baos” (ice slushie packs) from Coldshave! Available in unique flavours such as Avocado, Yuzu Longan, and Watermelon Strawberry!

What To Shop

What’s a festival without a flea market?

Shop for little knick knacks from the Craft Market.

Little locally-inspired and designed bits and bobs from Handy Dandy SG (@handydandysg), handmade bath soaps from Allet Soap (@alletsoap), candles and diffusers from Sally’s Room (@sallysroom), cute art illustrations and postcard from Laugh & Belly (@laughandbelly) and more!

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BeKZFQ8g7RT/?taken-by=alletsoap

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Keep your eye out for the amazing pastries from Edith Patisserie (@edithpatisserie)!

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What To Do

It’s a COMMUNITY festival; there’s something for everyone in the community.

Try your hands at Tote Bag Block Printing, Terrarium-building, Wood Slice Painting, and Calligraphy at any of the 4 free hands-on workshops!

WAKANDA FOREVER!

Gather the family and head down to the Craving Communities Festival this weekend!

And they say that there’s nothing interesting in Singapore. Pffft.

Craving Communities Festival
Venue: Open Field between Bishan Library and Junction 8
Date: 23 – 24 Jun 2018
Opening Hours: Sat: 11am – 10pm, Sun: 11am – 8pm
Old Chang Kee Set To Unveil 2 New Exclusive Curry Puff Flavours On Curry Day 2018

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This Brush Lettering Class Gives You Hope Even If You Have Ugly Handwriting

It’s probably safe to say we’ve all seen pictures of brush lettering.

A trend that’s taken flight in weddings, hipster cafes, and that’s seen on many a motivational quote on Pinterest, many of us find ourselves wishing we too could write such pretty calligraphy! If you’re anything like me, this would promptly lead you down two trains of thought: (1) it’s probably really expensive to learn and (2) I won’t be able to master it anyway.

That’s certainly what I thought, until I came to Witty Studio and tried their Watercolour Brush Lettering Class.

Learn calligraphy without breaking the bank

A relatively new brand, Witty Studio was started up by the friendly, approachable Priscilla.

With her classes priced at just $95 per person per session (and $85/person if you bring a friend), this 4.5h workshop is much more affordable compared to most calligraphy classes, which typically costs between $100 – $150 for a shorter duration of 3 hours.

A warm welcome

The workshop is held at Stamping Ground Coffee, a shared space that houses 3 concepts: coffee, flowers, and space. Stepping through the Stamping Ground doors, you immediately feel inspired and excited by the vibrant, unique space.

When I arrived at the workshop, I was pleasantly surprised to find that we were each given a pretty lace coaster with our names written on it in brush lettering! Pretty and Insta-worthy, this wasn’t the only bit of personalisation done by the team at Witty Studio – everyone also received a small motivational quote card and place card so that people seated at the same table could easily mingle and interact with each other.

Some of the returning students also got birthday cards, which was a sweet touch!

All the materials we would need for the class were set at our assigned spot: a set of worksheets, a brush, a personal palette, and a bunch of water colour papers for us to do any of our rough work. There were also sharing sets of water colour paints at each table.

The next thing you notice when you enter the class is FREE FOOD. Small finger foods like mini donuts, bite-sized pizza coins, brownie cubes and small packets of gummy candy were also neatly displayed, free for students to eat!

Picking up the basics

Once every one of the 20+ students had arrived and had settled down, the class began, but not before Priscilla told the class to “take as many Instagram photos as you want. Nobody is going to judge you here!”

After Priscilla gave a short demonstration on the basic techniques of brush lettering, we started practicing on our own.

From vertical lines, we went to simple alphabets like ‘j’ and ‘c’. After filling our water colour papers with our crummy paintwork, we got the hang of it – some of us faster than others, but we got there eventually!

Fun fact: ‘r’ and ‘s’ are the most challenging alphabets to master – I can testify to this.

After that, we started working on our worksheets, and the three teachers went around demonstrating the motion of different alphabets. They were very patient with us and their instructions were easy to follow.

Like doing primary school penmanship, we wrote each individual letter 7-10 times and got the hang of writing each alphabet. From lower case alphabets, we graduated to upper case alphabets, and finally to full words (this was the tough part).

Once we were done with our alphabets, we were ready to move on to watercolour flowers!

One of the teachers came around to demonstrate it to us and the effect was super pretty!

We experimented with different colours and techniques of creating the beautiful watercolour flowers. Again, practice makes perfect, and eventually, we created some not fantastic, but not altogether terrible flowers. There were some really talented folks in the class who managed to create Pinterest-worthy flower wreaths and borders in just one lesson – we’re not kidding!

Talent definitely comes into play a little bit when it comes to how quickly you pick up the skill of writing and painting, but even for the most talentless student (i.e. me), you can still create some pretty decent work if you put your mind to it – even in the short 4.5 hours. From there on, it’s just practice, practice, practice, and you’ll get there.

Create your own masterpiece

All this learning and practicing culminates in one thing – creating your own masterpiece.

With your masterpiece, you get free reign to do whatever you want. You can paint a quote, a word, a whole sheet of flowers, etc. Use whatever you’ve learnt in the class to create something to call your own and to take home!

Some of our classmates created some incredible final products, proving it’s actually possible to create a real masterpiece, even after just one lesson.

Take your final product to the “flatlay table” and show off your handiwork on your Instagram!

Fun, easy, and oh-so-worth it

When class ended, we were bummed that it was over. We hardly felt the time pass and we were just getting good at our flowers and brush lettering! But the class imparted in us all the basics so it’s definitely possible to take what you’ve learnt, practice at home and become good in your own time.

That said, we enjoyed ourselves so much that we would definitely be back for a second lesson! After all, practicing around fun, like-minded people beats going at it alone in the quiet of your room.

Returning, more advanced students are given separate tasks and are taught different techniques, so you will definitely get your money’s worth on your second class, and subsequent sessions as well.

Aside from your masterpiece, you get to take home all the little cards and knick-knacks that have been personalised for you, as well as all the materials you were given at the start of class. You’ll also be given a brand new set of watercolour paints so you can put to practice all the things you’ve learnt at the workshop!

We absolutely loved the energy and vibe of the workshop – the quick friendships that formed between students, the camaraderie between the patient, fun-loving (and sometimes cheeky) teachers and students, and the fact that you can learn and have fun at the same time here. Unlike a class where you work silently to master a skill, here, you’re chatting, popping gummy candy into your mouth, and having fun while learning an interesting skill!

The workshop definitely proved one thing, which is that no one is beyond hope when it comes to brush lettering.

To sign up for a class, either send a direct message to Witty Studio’s Instagram or email Priscilla directly at [email protected]! Witty Studio conducts classes once a month, so be sure to sign up early to secure a spot!

Also read We Tried Glamping For The First Time And It Was As Awesome As It Looks

Going To Singapore Coffee Festival? Here Are The Details You Need To Know

The very first Singapore Coffee Festival (SCF) is finally here at F1 Pit Building!

Set to take place from 10 to 12 June (11am-9pm), this three-day event boasts over 100 exhibitors from the coffee and cafe industry. If you want to learn how to make a decent cup of coffee at home, or want to sample top coffee roasts from around the word, this is your one stop shop!

But what else is happening and where to get tickets? Don’t worry, we’re here to answer your brewing questions.

1.Getting there

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To get to F1 Pit Building, you can take the MRT to Promenade (Exit A – 0.38KM to venue), Nicoll Highway (0.94 KM to venue) or Esplanade (0.98 KM to venue).

Alternatively, you can take the bus (click General: 1-day access, workshops and lab sessions, music stages, SCF tote bag full of goodies ($18)

Grab your tickets now HERE. Do note that you need to bring the printed ticket as a proof of purchase to be exchanged for a spiffy non-transferable wristband at the venue entrance.

Do note that the festival may be a ticketed event BUT drinks, food and certain workshops are chargeable (A cuppa coffee starts from as low as $4). 

3. What to expect?

5 Free Events & Shows All Lovers Of Japanese Culture Must Attend!

If you love Japanese culture, from the traditional to the mainstream to the sub-genres, then don’t miss out on 6828 8377

Cloth Koinobori

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Do you know that in Japan, the carp is a symbol of courage, strength and success? According to one Japanese legend, the carp, which swims upwards, is thought to become a dragon as it beats the oncoming current. In the past, and now kept as a tradition, the families of the Samurai warriors would fly koinobori — carp streamers — as a way of honouring their children who are on the battlefield.

In this workshop, you will learn to make koinobori — carp streamers — and design it with stamps and paint. This event will take place on the 21st of May 2016 at 4 PM, and will last for an hour and 30 minutes. No advance registration is needed.

Cloth Koinobori
Date: 21 May 2016
Time: 4pm
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Address: Theatre Meeting Point at Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Tel: +65 6828 8377

Kumihimo Bracelet Braiding

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Looking for something new to adorn your wrist? What about a hand-made kumihimo bracelet? Kumihimo, a traditional Japanese technique of braiding, was previously used by Samurai warriors to lace their armour, and today, people use it for many other functional and decorative purposes! For example, you can use it to create belts and friendship bands, if you are interested.

This workshop will take place on the 22nd of May 2016 at 3 PM and 5.30 PM. Each session will last for an hour and 30 minutes. No advance registration is needed.

Kumihimo Bracelet Braiding
Date: 22 May 2016
Time: 3pm and 5.30pm
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Address: Theatre Meeting Point at Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Tel: +65 6828 8377

Kuruma Ningyo Puppet Theatre

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If you have never seen Japanese puppet theatre, despite previous trips to the Land of the Rising Sun, what are you waiting for? Created more than 150 years ago, at the end of the Edo era, Kuruma Ningyo is a style of puppetry that is considered a National Intangible Folk Custom Cultural Asset of Japan. Plus, before each show, the performers put on a sanbaso, a dance meant to bring luck, success and good bounty to its audience!

The show will take place on the 17th of May 2016 at 5.15 PM, 7.15 PM, and 8.15 PM. Each show will last for 30 minutes. No advance registration is needed.

Kuruma Ningyo Puppet Theatre
Date: 17 May 2016
Time: 5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.15pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Address: Concourse area at Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Tel: +65 6828 8377

Kimono Lessons

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If all you know about the kimono is that it’s worn by ladies… then you’ve got a lot to learn! Different styles of kimono are worn during different occasions and seasons. For example, the kimono worn by a woman during a tea ceremony is quite different from the one donned on to perform a traditional dance. Not only will you learn about the appropriateness of various kimono at different events, you will also learn how to wear them properly at this event.

This workshop will take place on the 22nd of May 2016 at 4 PM, and will last for an hour. No advance registration is needed.

Kimono Lessons
Date: 22 May 2016
Time: 4pm
Duration: 1 hour
Address: Concourse area at Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Tel: +65 6828 8377

With these free events happening at the Esplanade, it is so much easier (and more affordable) to fall in love with Japanese culture. Head on down to learn about Japanese culture and traditions this week. Also, don’t forget to check out the Japanese funfair that will be happening soon!

Also read: Keong Saik Carnival: The Event All Hipsters Shouldn’t Miss