From The Straits Times    |

June’s here and you’re sweltering in the heat. Sure, you have the ice kacangs and the llao llao to cool you down, but there’s still more that you can do to be the coolest (not literally). The arts scene in Singapore is more lively than you think and they’ve got the most exciting things for you to do and we guarantee by the end of June, you’ll be a whole lot cooler!

BUBBLE BRUNCH BEATS FEATURING DAVE DOES

Brunch is like breakfast and lunch, but better. The “Bubble Brunch Beats” is the time for you to indulge yourself in all everything brunch from pancakes and bacon to eggs and sandwiches. The menu includes Pancakes & Turkey Bacon (we told you so), Beef Brisket with Cheddar, Honey Mustard and Zucchini, and more! Your brunch won’t be completed without a glass (or two) of Perrier-Jouët and tunes from Singapore’s leading DJ, Dave Does.

Come down to the Gallery & Co. Cafeteria + Outdoor Bar on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at 3pm for three hours of good food, good champagne and good music.

PERRIER-JOUET CHAMPAGNE MASTERCLASS

Have you ever wondered what makes a glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut taste so good? Or why is the Grand Brut, the Belle Epoque and the Blason Rosé tastefully different? Well, one option is to take a tasting class, or masterclass, in this case. Accompanied by delightful desserts, sommelier James Ting will demonstrate and explain the types of aromas and flavours that bring out the delicate notes of the champagne. At only $70, you can be a step closer to calling yourself a sommelier (just a little bit). At the Gallery & Co. Cafeteria on Friday, June 17, 2016, you can join James Ting at either 6.30pm or 8.30pm for the Perrier-Jouët Champagne Masterclass. Who wouldn’t want up for an evening of desserts and champagne? No one, that’s who. Sign yourself up at http://pjmasterclass.peatix.com

Gallery & Co. Block Party with Perrier-Jouët featuring Daryl C & Kaye (Darker Than Wax)

It’s not summer if there’s no party, and you can get just that at the Gallery & Co. Outdoor Bar on Friday, 17 June 2016. The Block Party will start at 9pm until late and will be filled with funk, soul and jazz-infused deep house music by our very own local collective, Darker Than Wax’s Daryl C and Kaye. And of course, it is not a Block Party without the bubbly. And what’s better than Perrier-Jouët? Sip on the delicate notes of the champagne under the stars at the Gallery & Co. Block Party for cool people with cool people.

SINGAPORE IMPROV FESTIVAL

You know the anger and frustrated feeling you get watching your favourite soap opera because of the countless yet predictable horrible decisions the protagonist made? At one point, you probably thought that you would’ve made a better actor or director when given the chance. Well, the chance is here! For the first time in Singapore, The Improv Company (TIC) presents the Improvised Theatre Festival! At this festival you can be the one making the calls. A team of improvisers, performers and actors will perform according to the crowd’s suggestions. You can turn them into a comedy, a romance story or even a musical! This improvised performance will be set-less AND script-less! So say it and it shall be done!

Be part of this epic show at only $25 at Centre 42 from June 3 to 5! Tickets are available at sgimprovfest.peatix.com and for more info, go to festival.improv.sg!

NANTA (Cookin’)

A night of rhythmic beats, fast-paced antics and culinary delight? You can only get them at NANTA! If you’ve not heard of this internationally renowned non-verbal musical already, four chef-performers from South Korea will impress you with their samulnori (traditional Korean percussion music) skills using knives, food and chopping boards as their instruments. Food will fly and knives will be on fire as they rush against time to pull together a banquet for a surprise wedding ceremony. This high-energy and comical performance will leave you laughing, anxious and hungry. So remember to eat before the show! (Trust us.)

Catch the quads at the Resorts World Theatre from June 3 to 5, 2016. Tickets are available at www.sistic.com.sg/events/nanta0616.

MUSINGS

In collaboration with the Organisation of Illustrators Council, Noise Singapore brings you Singapore’s renowned female illustrators AnnGee, Mightyelloe (Adeline Tan) and MessyMsxi (Tan Zi Xi) for a session of fashion, print and ethereal, quirky illustrations.

Get your tickets at http://peatix.com/event/171868 for a sharing session of how these ladies work across different mediums and platforms on June 11, 2016 at *SCAPE Gallery. For more information, go to https://www.noisesingapore.com/Happenings/2016/6/11/Noise-Sessions-x-OIC-Singapore-Musings.

SINGAPORE COFFEE FESTIVAL

It’s either a hit or miss when it comes to coffee. But if it’s a hit with you, you just got lucky because for the first time ever, Singapore will be having its first coffee festival! Taking place at the F1 Pit Building, there will be over 100 exhibitors from the coffee and café industry for coffee lovers and drinkers to learn about what makes a good cup of coffee, whether you’re into the frappes from coffee chains or the good ol’ kopi-o from kopitiam. The Singapore Coffee Festival is where you can catch baristas challenge showcases, educational talk sessions from experts and also create conversations with café owners and wholesale retailers. Who wouldn’t love chatting over good, aromatic coffee?

Head over to the F1 Pit Building on June 10 to 12, 2016, for a weekend of food, entertainment and of course, coffee. The festival starts at 11am and goes until 9pm and admission costs from $15 to $40. For updates and more information, go to http://sgcoffeefestival.com.sg/

TWENTY-SOMETHING THEATRE FESTIVAL

Founded by a fifty-something theatre-maker Tan Kheng Hua, this festival celebrates the creative spirit and voice of twenty-something theatre makers in Singapore. Thanks to a grant from the National Arts Council, Tan Kheng Hua was able to conceptualise the festival, where these twenty-somethings will be given a chance to stage their original productions. Catch various plays by headliners Irfan Kasban’s “Trees, A Crowd…” and Joel Tan’s “Café”, Q&A sessions from the founder of Carousell, musical performances and more from our ever so talented twenty-something artists. 

They will all take place at the Goodman Arts Centre from June 9 to 19, 2016. Tickets are available at http://20something.peatix.com/. For more information (schedule, ticketing, lineups), go to www.goodmanartscentre.sg/events/the20somethingtheatrefestival/

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, THE ART OF SCIENCE & GEMS

With the perfect blend of art, craft, history and geoscience, this exhibition will take its visitors through a dramatic journey to discovery of the relationship between the science of mineralogy and the art of crafting of the finest jewellery and gems. Only here you can explore both the artistic skills and scientific processes that take place in the creation of exquisite jewellery. Over 450 selected pieces of jewellery from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection will be displayed over seven themes showcasing the poetry and ingenious craftsmanship of the Maison: Couture, Abstractions, Influences, Precious Objects, Nature, Ballerinas and Fairies, and Icons.

The exhibition will take place at the Singapore ArtScience Museum until August 14, 2016 from 10am to 7pm. Tickets are available at http://www.marinabaysands.com/museum/van-cleef-and-arpels.html and take a beautiful visual tour of the exhibition at http://www.artscienceofgems.vancleefarpels.com/#/home

MODERN TIMES

ShanghART Singapore presents “Modern Times”, a group exhibition by artists such as BIRD HEAD, Ji Wenyu, Liu Weijian, Zhu Jia and more. The artworks will showcase the once upon a time, an era of industrialism and machinery where we so highly praised for gorgeous products, and the struggle to survive the modern industrial era.

Catch this exhibition of contrasted styles and colours in artistic creation at the Gillman Barracks now until July 10, 2016, from 11am to 7pm. For more information, go to http://www.shanghartsingapore.com/gallerysg/exhibitions.htm

DIALOG BY ZUL MAHMOD

Dialog is an exhibition that will challenge the way we listen to our environment and our ideas of territory, control, transmission, sight and sound. There will be two looped compositions of interactive sounds triggered from solenoids (electromagnets that generate a controlled magnetic field) hitting on copper pipes of different lengths and thicknesses.

Experience spaces through sight and sounds at the exhibition, supported by ARTFACTORY at the Esplanade from now until July 10, 2016. Go to https://www.esplanade.com/festivals-and-series/visual-arts/2016/dialog for more information.

Want more? Read up on 3 new brunch menus you must try this weekend!; 5 delicious alternatives to another boring Sunday brunch!; Where to buy the latest patisserie crazes like salted egg yolk, chilli crab croissants and more in Singapore! and What to eat at the new PasarBella Suntec City gourmet food court!