Timbre Arts House

The Arts House is situated at the beautifully restored Old Parliament House, Timbre has great company surrounded by important buildings of arts and history such as the Asian Civilisation Museum (ACM) and Victoria Concert Hall.

Timbre showcases numerous music bands on a nightly basis and promises to provide memories of joy and smiling faces.

With the backdrop of the Boat Quay River, this place is spectacular just before the sun goes down, which, is ideal for couples or singles seeking a romantic setting.

We recommend this venue for product launches, parties of all kinds as well as solemnizations and small weddings.

For info call +65 6336 3386 or click here.

Source: Timbre Arts House

The Blue Ginger

The inspiration behind our starting -blue ginger- cannot be fully explained without first sharing with you aspects of Peranakan culture.

As a Peranakan, the signature of a well-bred -Nonya-, or Straits Chinese lady, was how well one could cook.

It was often the matriarch of the family who would bring the entire family together, over a mouthwatering spread of spicy and aromatic dishes.

This venue is a charming place ideal for solemnizations, client schmoozing, DnDs, birthdays, hen parties, family and friend gatherings as well as press conferences.

For info call +65 6222 3928/9755 8603/9635 0983 or click here.

Sources: The Blue Ginger

1 TWENTYSIX

A chic getaway in the East, 1 TwentySix is the first seafronting chic chill-out concept introduced by One Rochester's team.

From the sleek floor-to-ceiling glass windows and curvilinear bar in the restaurant, to lush foliage and contemporary furniture outdoors, its sleek architectural design reflects today s cosmopolitan lifestyle living.

Wine and dine or simply sip and slip away into the sunset evening by the beach.

Recommended for birthdays, hen parties, weddings, solemnizations, product launches, DnDs & networking.

For info call +65 63482126 or click here.

Source: 1 TWENTYSIX

Azzucar

AZZUCAR! Latin soul Party is the newest Latin club in town.

If you are into quality music, energetic live performances, Latin beats, dance, a different experience, just good entertainment, or all of the above, just hit AZZUCAR!

CUBANIA at AZZUCAR! is the only all Cuban band in Singapore, comprising of 8, highly multi talented musicians hand chosen by Morales, the owner himself.

This venue offers entertainment like none other and is very ideal for birthdays, parties of all types, DnDs, product launches, press conferences, and team building events as well.

For info call +65 6336 8718 or click here.

Source: Azzucar


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Far East Gem Institute

“Practical and updated knowledge for current gem identification industry… highly recommended in the National Council of Jewellery Valuers magazine in Australia” — Kym Hughes, president of Australia's Nat'l Council of Jewellery Valuers

IN THE world of gemologists, Tay Thye Sun is the real thing. A graduate of the Gemological Institute of America and president of the Singapore Gemologist Society from 1993 to 2003, Mr. Tay has saved many a client from purchasing fake items. Flying off to far-flung locations to appraise stones, upon the request of his well-heeled international clients, is just part of his job.

Mr. Tay draws from this expertise in the day-to-day operations of Far East Gemological Laboratory and Far East Gem Institute, which he has founded.

The Institute has trained staff from reputable companies such as Chopard, Bvlgari, Mont Blanc, Lee Hwa, Soo Kee, On Cheong, and Poh Heng.

Mr. Tay’s courses are attended by buyers, appraisers, bench jewellers, supervisors, and sales associates in the jewellery industry — such as Kym Hughes, a president of the National Council of Jewellery Valuers in Australia, who today gives us her recommendation. James P. Ong

Who are you recommending today?
Far East Gem Institute for their courses in gem/gem stones identification.

What do they offer?
Gem stone and gem identification courses as well as gemstones and jewellery trading.

How good is it?
Friendly lecturer. Good student-to-lecturer ratio. Complex topics are made easy to understand for layman. Practical and updated knowledge for current gem identification industry. Modern lab equipments for hands-on purposes.

How did you discover it?
Lecturer Mr. Tay Thye Sun is a figure of authority in the field of gem identification and trading. He has also been highly recommended in the NCJV (National Council of Jewellery Valuers) magazine in Australia.

What makes it different from other establishments that offer the same course?
The specimens and gems covered in this course are detailed and precise. For example, similar courses conducted in Australia seldom have jade specimens, as they are hard to come by in Australia.

What's the most important lesson that you learned from them?
I am a registered gem valuer in Australia. I am required to ascertain the value of different kinds of gems and gemstones. This course has definitely enhance my knowledge especially in Jade Specimens.

How much does the course cost?
Around $600 — which is relatively cheap. Courses of similar nature in Australia would probably cost twice as much.

Source: Far East Gem Institute

Blackmarket

"Blackmarket recognises, embraces and gathers Singaporean talents in one rocking boutique"
— Jasmine Tuan, Zouk senior media designer

WHEN it comes to cutting edge fashion, Jasmine Tuan knows whereof she speaks. Jasmine is Zouk's senior media designer and she has been organising the club's popular Flea & Easy bazaar that takes place once every three months. She's also a presence in Blackmarket, a new fashion boutique on 19 Jalan Pisang which sells works by either independent or up and coming designers from Singapore and the region. It's a veritable fount of inspiration to people searching for creativity that is more spontaneous and less formulaic. If for nothing, take a look at the chandelier that's made from used Orangina bottles, and the video installation that works like a security camera.

What would you like to recommend today?
Blackmarket at 19 Jalan Pisang (along Victoria Street).

What makes it special?
Blackmarket (boutique) is a project of Blackmark (a local design studio). It recognises, embraces and gathers Singaporean talents (in terms of fashion, art and design) in one rocking boutique.

What sets it apart from others offering the same thing?
You find unique one-off designs by Singapore fashion talents. Most boutiques in Singapore carry international labels only -- they fail to realise that some local labels are actually of the same standard, if not better, as international labels.

Blackmarket, on the other hand, puts the spotlight on our local labels. It also carries selected regional and international labels alongside. Visitors who come to Singapore can go to Blackmarket to check out a variety of fashion, art and design created by our local talents.

Exactly how good is the service?
Excellent!

Is there a good time to go?
Blackmarket is open from
12pm-9pm daily

Blackmarket
19 Jalan Pisang,
Singapore 199084,
Tel. No: +65 6296 8512

View original article for Blackmarket.

Wala Wala Café Bar

“On a scale of 10, Wala Wala would garner an 8. The waiters and waitresses do their job with professional efficiency, working quickly and without gripe.”
— Seow Xian Yong, student

ALL work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. You’ve heard these words before, but they seem to have become even truer in the context of today’s world. Every single day, we are consumed with deadlines, on top of our day-to-day job obligations. Even students, like Seow Xian Yong, 22, are not spared from this grim reality. Text and inteview by Benjamin Chan.

A current full-time IT & Networking degree student at MDIS, Xian Yong is plagued by project deadlines and assignment on a regular basis. Project meetings, presentations, lectures are just part and parcel of his everyday life. However, he seeks comfort in the knowledge that each passing day is another day closer to a night out at Wala Wala Café Bar.

Situated in Holland Village, Wala Wala plays host to people from all walks of life. On weekdays, the crowd is young professionals and working executives. On weekends, it’s university students winding down after a hard week in school. Good live band music, a fantastic selection of tasty finger foods and perfectly baked, thin-crust pizzas make Wala Wala one of the best places in town for a night’s out.

What would you like to recommend today?
Wala Wala ― more affectionately known to locals as Wala. One of the most popular, impossible-to-miss café bars located in the heart of the ever-popular Holland Village.

How did you discover it?
My friends and I have been shuttling back and forth between other establishments when we decided to check what Wala had to offer. The first thing that captured our attention was the pizzas, which are to die for. When we moved up to the second floor, we caught the absolutely fantastic live band, which belted timeless classics and modern songs.

What sets it apart from other establishments that offer the same thing?
What cements Wala in the hearts of many has got to be the fantastic offering on their menu. Their Buffalo Wings and Calamari Rings are, again to die for, and can be seen on the tables of many patrons. Couple that with good drinks and good music, and you have a winning combination.

Exactly how good is their service?
On a scale of 10, they would garner an 8. The waiters and waitresses do their job with professional efficiency, working quickly and without gripe. At times, however, it can be hard to grab hold of any staff given the sheer number of patrons.

Is there a good time to go there?
It’d be good to be early as it tends to get really crowded as the night wears on. Ideally 8pm would be a good time as you’d get to enjoy the “acoustic happy hour” before the main act starts at 9.30pm.

View original article for Wala Wala Cafe Bar.

iShop by Club21

“The customer service is top notch with very helpful guys and gals on standby to answer any questions that you have…” — Paddy Tan, BAK2u CEO

PADDY TAN, 30-something CEO of BAK2u, lives in the now — and by “now” we mean the Age of Internet where everyone spends more quality time with his gadgets that with his loved ones.

BAK2u, a Singaporean company whose main clients are companies based in Europe and America, specialises in mobile security. One of their products is the Verey I, a software that tracks lost cameras, iPods, iPhones, PDAs, computers, or Blackberrys and notifies their owners once the gadget has been found and used by someone else. Paddy’s company has also created applications for the iPhone which are still pending approval.

Paddy made the brave switch to Apple computers some eight years ago and has not looked back since. In Singapore, he gets his Apple fix from iShop by fashion merchandiser Club21. We couldn’t agree more. As we ourselves have realised, iShop, located at hip Orchard Cineleisure, is not just a retail space — it’s a lifestyle. Text and photos by James P. Ong

What would you like to recommend today?
iShop by Club21. This is Asia’s largest Apple Premium Reseller for super cool-looking Mac products and accessories. It’s located at Orchard Cineleisure near the Somerset MRT.

How did you discover it?
I was window shopping at Cineleisure and was drawn by the very cool remixes played in the store. Went in to have a look and found all these Apple machines in there. I was still using Windows OS then and was increasingly frustrated about all the shutdowns and crashes.

What sets it apart from other establishments that offer the same thing?
The Apple machines are all placed on the tables for you to play with, test, and basically to have fun with. The customer service is top notch with very helpful guys and gals on standby to answer any questions that you have. Also the environment and atmosphere just make you wanna visit frequently with very nice remixes play in the store. No pushy staffs, no gimmicks, just a pure showcase of why many love Apple products.

Exactly how good is their service?
If given 10 as highest, I would go 9 for it. I bought a MacBook Pro and due to a corrupted update, I sent in the machine but informed them that I need it urgently back as I’d be traveling the next day. They loaned me a MacBook for my trip.

Is there a good time to go to your recommendation?
From its website, the opening hours are 11.30am - 9.30pm

View original article about iShop by Club21.

Hachi Tei Japanese Cuisine

“It does not not charge GST nor service charge. The food is good and cheap."
— Leonard Png, blogger

MEET the talent behind the blog "The Chronicles of Leonard". His name is Leonard Png, 30, and he works as a laboratory executive at NTU.

“I blog almost everything under the sun, mostly about myself, my thoughts, the food I ate, the movie I watched, the places I went to, the events I attended, the countries I went to, the photographs I took, rants, occasionally gossips,” says Leonard.

Here, he recommends his favourite Japanese restaurant in Singapore.

What would you like to recommend today?
Hachi Tei Japanese Cuisine.

When was the last time you visited it?
19 July 2008, wanted to go on National Day but they were closed for business on public holidays.

What's unique about it?
It does not charge GST nor service charge. The food is good and cheap. You'll have a (house) heartwarming meal as the female boss will be walking around to chitchat with you, ask you how's the food. The female boss is super-duper friendly. Like dining in Taiwan.

What else do they offer?
I guess just Japanese food.

Who should we look for?
Cherine, the lady boss. Reason as per mentioned above. Hard to miss her.

Any dish which is your favourite?
My favorite is sashimi, thus i'll recommend the Sashimi Set that I ate. The sashimi is very fresh, it's served as per ordered, not watery at all. My friend said that once you had tried their Chirashi Don, you won't wanna try another place's Chirashi Don, how true, only my friend know as I yet tried it myself. Interview by Sabrina Ong

View original food review on Hachi Tei Japanese Cuisine.

Best Furniture Stores

“Lifestorey carries well-known designer brands like Kartell, Sintesis and Jongform” — Victor Loh, interior designer
By Ronald Wan

TO MOST, home is where the heart is. For interior designer Victor Loh, home is what he conceptualises, designs and believes in. Victor is an interior designer by training and the co-owner of Design Rebirth, an interior design firm. The firm’s projects include mostly residential and show flats (www.designrebirth.com). We asked Victor, who has eight years of experience in interior design, which interior design shops and showrooms he frequents:

Goodrich Global (8 Changi South Lane, #01-01 Goodrich Gallery; Tel. no: 6788 6868): Goodrich Global offers an extensive collection of wallcoverings, fabrics, carpets and laminate floorings to cater to every living space possible. The company has grown to become a leading supplier of interior wall-coverings in Southeast Asia today.Victor says, “All the wallpapers and wall coverings I use for my homes and projects come from Goodrich. They offer a comprehensive range of wallpapers in every style and material. And they are gorgeous.”

Lifestorey (#02-33D Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade; Tel. no: 6732 7362): Homeowners who are design-savvy and pay attention to interior décor magazines will know a thing or two about Lifestorey. It is the go-to shop for snazzy and stylish home furnishings and accessories that help define the designer and mod look in most pretty houses. “Lifestorey carries well-known designer brands like Kartell, Sintesis and Jongform. For the latter, I always get the nice modern lounge sofa sets. You can’t go wrong when you come to Lifestorey.”

Space (9 Raffles Boulevard Millenia Walk Level 2 Tel: 6415 0000): Space specialises in furniture that are strong in design, quality and aesthetics. The company has since become the most progressive retailers of contemporary design in Southeast Asia. The showroom in Singapore carries furniture and accessories from well-known brands like Kartell, Poliform, Louis Poulsen, Fritz Hansen and Flos. In short, Space is synonymous with style and substance. Victor reveals, “I come here for the Kartell chairs and lighting as well. Space is known for famous quality products that are strong in design.”

Plaats (Temporary location on 96A Rangoon Road): Plaats functions like an intellectual movement. Or a graphic design outfit. Either way, check out their website for more abstract information (www.plaats-make.com). Victor says, “Plaats actually consists of three designer friends working together. I know them from school days and they have so much creativity and potential. The objects and products they offer are simply out of the box.”

View original article of the Best Furniture Stores in Singapore.