The best things to do this weekend (Aug 19-21)

Outdoor movie venues are all the rage this year, from Hendrick’s Sunset Cinema to Cinewav Movies in the Sky. Joining the list is Films at the Fort, presented by Casillero Del Diablo. This delightful open-air outdoor cinema experience makes a comeback to Fort Canning Park this year. Running from August 10 to 21, enjoy wine and gourmet food while watching new releases, old classics and even music to get the audience going.

One of our favourite things about National Day is the dazzling light-up of cultural monuments around Singapore. You can expect the same display to happen this year at the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct, where six historical and culturally significant landmarks will come alive with the National Flag colours of red and white for the third year running. At night from August 1 to 27, head down to catch the National Museum of Singapore, Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Central Fire Station, The Cathay, National Design Centre, and Stamford Arts Centre come aglow. The light-up will happen every night from August 1 to 27 (till August 10 for the National Museum of Singapore) – so grab your friends, family, and camera, and join the festivities. 

From August 4 to October 31, head down to The Gallery @ ARTDIS to celebrate Singapore's 57th year of independence through 44 paintings illustrating the past, present, and hopeful future of our nation. Presented by ARTDIS, a charity dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities through art, Unseen Singapore gathers the work of 16 talented artists with disabilities to capture Singapore's rich heritage and culture through paintings of its landmarks, icons, and people. The paintings on display are also up for sale in person or on the ARTDIS website. 

Sunday brunch is no casual affair in the house of Estate. Pulling out all the stops, Hilton Orchard’s residential all-day dining restaurant delivers a mouth-watering international spread that satiates all ages. With buffets making their highly anticipated comeback, this grand Sunday champagne brunch ($158) of epic proportions makes for an indulgent afternoon. Word of advice? Wear looser pants cause you’re gonna need them – it is after all Estate’s largest buffet spread yet. Expect a dazzling spread of succulent seafood, including giant tiger prawns, snow crabs, red-hued yabbies, fat scallops and a live oyster station. 32 varietals of artisanal cheeses and cold cuts also make an appearance – and of course, a $30 for free-flow champagne. Got the kids in tow? There's even a kid-friendly zone with magic shows and activities to keep the tots occupied. Book here. 

Using the biological nervous system as a metaphor for society, The Studios 2022, presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, is centred on the concept of collective care, exploring themes of family, love, mental health, ageing and grief. 

The opening of Esplanade’s Singtel Waterfront Theatre later this year has given the platform the opportunity and space to evolve from 2023 onwards. This final season of this iteration, The Studios hopes that these programmes will help you perceive refreshing new ways of living and relating. 

The Studios 2022 runs from July 28 to September 24, with ticketed productions in the Esplanade Theatre Studio, workshops in the Esplanade Rehearsal Studio as well as free talks at library@esplanade. Tickets available here.

If you love to reminisce about the good ol’ days, then the National Museum of Singapore’s newest exhibition is right up your alley. Of / On: Everyday Technology that Changed Our Lives, 1970s-2000s, will bring you back to a time when nary a smartphone was in sight. Instead, explore immersive sets built around the common spaces of yesteryear and reconnect with the gadgets that shaped the lives of people in post-independence Singapore.

The experiential showcase is built around four thematic zones: Work in Progress, Hello Mobile, The Art of Living and Game On. Together, these four zones take you from the office, to shops, and to home, each anchored by technological icons of the past. And we say ‘experiential’ because you’re free to interact with the artefacts, replicas and interactives at Off / On – clack away on the typewriters, pick up the telephone receiver to listen to re-enacted conversations, take a black and white photo, try out old school video games, or play with a replica cassette player.

“Through the Off /On showcase, we invite visitors to reconnect with these technologies, while inspiring conversations and curiosity among the younger generations unfamiliar with them, says Priscilla Chua, Senior Curator, National Museum of Singapore. “As we are more ‘switched on’ now than ever before, the indispensable role of technology continues to shape and change the way we live, work and play, and we hope visitors will share their unique stories and experiences with us.”

And as much as Off / On is a blast to the past, some of these interactives also make use of unique digital and gamification elements to make the experience more engaging for visitors. Just visit go.gov.sg/offon to get a unique QR code to access exclusive digital games such as the ‘Fastest Typist’ game, pop quizzes, and bonus educational content.

Adding to the fun is an after-hours escape game on selected weekends during the exhibition’s run. Pre-register in groups of 3 to 10 participants to explore the showcase space after dark, while “journeying through time” in the gallery to complete a mission: uncovering a secret device that will help prevent a shutdown of the world’s technology. More registration details will be released soon.

Of / On: Everyday Technology that Changed Our Lives, 1970s-2000s is the second edition of the Collecting Contemporary Singapore initiative, that is working to better reflect Singapore’s national identity as it grows and evolves. The exhibition runs from June 10 to October 30 and is free to enter for Singaporeans and PRs. For more information, visit nationalmuseum.sg.  

For the partygoers, St James Power Station is known to be one of the most happening party spots in Singapore until 2018, when the building began undergoing restoration works. The newly furbished building now houses a heritage gallery in one of its distinctive chimneys and a heritage trail that displays maritime artefacts. The heritage trail starts at VivoCity, where you will learn about the history of the Keppel area and St James Power Station. Along the way you’ll get to see a ​​harpoon gun, originally from the Soviet ship that used to dock in Singapore during its expeditions to the Indian Ocean. The heritage gallery has an intricate 3D artwork of the complex system of water, steam and electricity of the original power station. Kids can also enjoy an animated augmented reality video series that combine oral history, interviews and archival film footage to make the past come even more alive.

​​Seven restaurants in Singapore have placed in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022, as recently announced at their awards ceremony. 

For the fifth year running, Odette (#8) has been named The Best Restaurant in Singapore. They also received the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, as a nod towards the team’s warm and professional manner. Other restaurants to look out for include Meta (#20), Les Amis (#23), Zén (#37), Labyrinth (#40), Burnt Ends (#41), and Cloudstreet (#44). Meta had also won the American Express One To Watch Award.

For other accolades brought in by local restaurants, Cloudstreet pastry chef Maira Yeo has brought home the Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Award. She’s best known for her “CCB” – crackly chocolate brownie cookies, which came about while home-baking during the pandemic.