From people to trends in nightlife, arts, entertainment, style, tech, travel and more, here are your picks for the best in city living, Singapore style. We salute...
NIGHTLIFE
X-Factor Club: Zouk
The always trendy (and perpetually packed) Zouk edged out everyone else to clinch the coveted title of X-Factor Club. Always on the pulse of “what’s hot” in the clubbing circuit, it has brought an onslaught of quality and edgy international DJs such as Justice, Richie Hawtin and Kitsune to our shores. The Zouk management is very elated to receive such support from our readers. Marketing Manager Tracy Philips says, “It’s great because X-Factor is not something you can fake, force or even try to articulate. It’s also impossible to pin point (Zouk’s X-factor) down to any one thing, that’s why they call it the X-Factor!”
Outdoor Party of the Year: Zoukout 2007
The mother of outdoor dance parties clinches this award by a landslide. Last year’s surreal offering boasted a stellar lineup featuring the likes of Carl Cox, Booka Shade and Steve Aoki, drawing a record number of 20,000 hot and sweaty revelers to Sentosa for the music marathon. If you didn’t get enough of that, brace yourself for December 13 where the good folks at Zouk promise to bring you a Golden Experience’ at Zoukout 2008—featuring a bigger and meaner lineup. Think Dirty South, Erol Alkan, Nouvelle Vague, Sasha and more...oooh, we know you can’t wait.
Most Happening Theme Night: Mambo Jambo
Who didn’t see this one coming? With its unique combo of cool and cheese, Zouk’s midweek shindig, Mambo Jambo—Singapore’s Most Happening Theme Night, according to you, has been entertaining crowds for the last 16 years. Don’t deny it; we know you’ve been to one to display silly dance moves to “Forever Young” and “Square Rooms,” like we have.
Local DJ Who Gets You onto the Dance Floor: Aldrin
Who else but one of Singapore’s prominent spinmeister Aldrin to clinch this award. He really does get us on the dance floor to shake our bon bons till the lights come on. Just go to one of his One nights and see for yourself. He’s the man and you, our readers are spot on. Aldrin chats to us about his latest X-factor projects and work method:
You did a track “Singapur” for label Great Stuff, along with a slew of other producers for an Olympic themed album. How did that project come about?
I’ve been getting promotional music from Great Stuff Records and have been supporting a lot of their releases. And since I started building up a catalogue of original productions and remixes, I guess it was only natural of the label to ask me to submit a track since it wanted to release an album featuring artists from all over the world. It was also a great opportunity for me to try out a different music direction, as I’ve been producing more progressive and electro sounding tunes.
All of your tracks have a really considered, contemplative quality to them. How do you go about starting work on a track?
There’s no hard and fast rule, but usually it all begins with a drum loop and a bass line. Once a catchy bassline and rhythm is formed, the rest of the ideas just start coming in naturally.
Best New Bar: Helipad
With its very own helipad-cum-alfresco lounge, Helipad emerged the winner of Best New Bar, thanks to its spectacular view, great atmosphere, beautiful people and cool drinks like cocktails. After all, the people behind the defunct dance club Liquid Room are behind this place, so expect nothing less than a quality time here.
Tipple of the Year: Cocktails
We predicted that cocktails would have a renaissance in good old Singapore, and you’ve decided that we’re right. Bartenders are now known as mixologists and everyone is going premium —using fresh fruits and ingredients; and places like Klee, The White Rabbit and the Tippling Club are raising the bar with their delicious and heady concoctions. We’ll drink to that.
Best Happy Hour: Morton’s
Who can resist Morton’s complimentary yummy filet mignon steak sandwiches when you order their world famous martinis at rock bottom prices from Mondays to Fridays, 5-7pm. Enough said.
DINING
X-Factor Restaurant: The White Rabbit
In case you’ve been hibernating under a rock somewhere, you must have heard of The White Rabbit in Dempsey: A cool restaurant housed in a renovated Ebenezer chapel. The grub here is great (it got a four-star rating from us), the ambiance is old-world and the service is spiffy. “We’re very flattered to receive this accolade. The White Rabbit is the culmination of a lot of hard work and all of us have put a lot of heart into creating this exciting dining experience,” says marketing executive Cheryl Ho. Coming up in the next few months—plans to push its outdoor bar scene with theme nights like “To Hare Is Human Saturdays”—groovy, baby.
Best New Restaurant: Forlino
Any restaurant with il Lido behind it can’t be that far down on the cool scale. Boasting the twin forces of iL Lido’s Beppe power duo De Vito and chef Osvaldo Forlino, this new eponymous restaurant looks set to be the next big thing in the dining scene (which probably explains its win). We seriously dig the fine Italian chow, excellent service and ambiance. “I guess our location is surely a major factor [contributing to our win], but I am sure I-S readers trust us to come up with great service and an authentic experience,” says De Vito. Keep an eye on this one. It’ll get even better in time to come.
Vegetarian/Organic Restaurant with the Most Bite: Original Sin
Debunking the “vegetarian food is boring” theory for what seems like yonks now (11 years to be precise), Original Sin completely deserves this award in our opinion. Fans of Original Sin swear by the deliciously light, addictive vegetarian Mediterranean cuisine, which they keep coming back for again and again. “Original Sin has always attracted a diverse clientele—our concept is unique, and the cuisine is consistently flavorful, fresh and value-for-money,” says culinary director and co-owner Marisa Bertocchi.
Most value-for-money: Astons
Yeah, we know. In a time of skyrocketing prices and tightening belts, Astons remains a sturdy option for those looking for a good meal at an affordable price (read: Everybody). If you don’t mind waiting in line along with the truckloads of people queuing, you’ll love its yummy steaks, grilled fish, spicy seafood marinara and black pepper chicken. With 10 outlets to its name (and counting, with its biggest outlet at Sembawang Shopping Centre opening in December), Astons is big on value and low on price.
Best Alfresco: il Lido
One of the coolest restaurants to open up in Sentosa before the current slew of dining establishments mushroomed, il Lido straddles its dual functions handsomely and is the perfect choice for a pre-dinner drink and romantic dinner with its elegant, stylish ambiance. But aside from that, it’s still pretty hard to beat this restaurant’s gorgeous view.
Coolest Café: PS Café
Time has not changed PS Café’s status of being the king of café cool. PS has gained a brand new buzz recently due to the opening of its third outlet at Palais Renaissance, which has an interior we totally dig. Although all three outlets (in Dempsey, Orchard and Palais Renaissance) offer distinctly different vibes, the cheery service, fab desserts, cool crowd and air of casual chic remain the sturdy trademarks of this stalwart café chain.
Most Extensive Wine List: The Wine Company
One of the earliest Dempsey tenants, The Wine Company stocks a wide variety of quality wines from international wine-producing countries. It is known in particular for the excellent grade of its South African wines and friendly service, and our readers totally dig this familiar wine bar despite the stiff competition from many other wine establishments out there. “Our business principle is based on good wine, good food and top-class service tagged with a price that’s right. It is an uphill task because we sacrificed our margins in order to up our service,” says owner Belinda Lim on the win.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
X-factor Film of the Year: The Dark Knight
Who would have thought that a comic adaptation about two men dressed up as a bat and a clown could be so much fun? No surprises here as Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight takes the cake for X-factor Film of the Year, with its flawless special effects, Heath Ledger’s now-legendary performance as the Joker (call us sadistic, but we especially loved the pencil trick), and especially its ominous examination into the human psyche.
Local Film of the Year: Money No Enough 2
We’d hate to say that it was for lack of competition that this second installment to 1998’s Money No Enough came out tops. After all, the all-too-familiar portrayal of the three financially forlorn brothers in the comedy did hit a note with the real life struggles of Singaporeans trying to cope with rising inflation. Well if you can’t beat it, laugh it off.
Best Cineplex: Golden Village VivoCity
Housing the 602-seating GV Max, which contains Asia’s largest movie screen at 22.4 meters (the length of two standard SBS-Transit buses combined), this is the perfect place to soak up the buzz as you wait to catch the premier of the year’s biggest blockbusters. The superior digital sound system also amplifies every swish and swoosh of a flying bullet, and the generous leg room ensures you don’t have to play footsie with your neighbor.
Favorite Festival of the Year and Concert Worth Paying Top Dollar for: SingFest
By all accounts, SquishFest, sorry we mean SingFest, was a booming success, drawing a staggering 17,000 music-lovers with its lineup of mostly Billboard A-listers including Jason Mraz, Travis, One Republic, The Pussycat Dolls and Alicia Keys. However, Michael Hosking, director of concert organizer Midas Promotions, takes us behind the scenes and tells us what it really cost them to stage SingFest.
How is it financially feasible that Midas Promotions charged what it did, for the number of acts fan gets to see at SingFest?
It’s not! We actually lost a lot of money—a festival usually takes three years to break even. It is definitely not feasible. On the first day we only sold only half the tickets. Maybe with sponsorships, we might break even faster. We didn’t have enough financial support.
What do you think are the ingredients for a successful concert?
Simple—you want to be able to get tickets hassle-free, make sure you get a good view of the stage, and that the artist is singing all your favorite songs.
What does it take to do the job that you do?
A great deal of stupidity. Seventy-five percent of concert promoters go bankrupt after their first show. You cannot go into the business expecting to get high profits right away because it never happens so fast. You need to have passion for the industry. If you fail, you still need to deliver the best possible show that the audiences have paid for. You’ve got to have nerves of steel, loads of money, good organizational skill and guts.
Most Rockin’ Live Band: Electrico
Album of the Year: We Satellites by Electrico
If there’s one act that epitomizes the contemporary music scene in Singapore, it’s the quartet Electrico. Formed in 1996, the band has been a mainstay on the local music charts thanks to its brand of melodic yet grungy pop-rock tunes, which is taken a notch higher with their brand new album We Satellites. We chat up frontman David Tan about what the ingredients to the group’s success are, and what went into the making of their darker third album.
How do you feel about winning an I-S Readers’ Choice award?
It’s an honor. We aren’t very competitive by nature, but we believe in bringing good music to people for them to enjoy and have fun as much as we do on stage!
What do you think is the key factor that has helped Electrico be successful?
We’ve learnt a lot over the last couple of years about the music industry—from touring, meeting people and other bands, and playing all over the world, which we’ve applied to what we do now. Besides that, one has to be determined to keep going, make sacrifices and understand the people whom you work with.
Can you tell us more about the creative processes and inspirations that went into producing We Satellites?
It was a very liberating process, because we wrote this album collectively from scratch...from guitar riffs, piano lines or just simple drum loops. We Satellites is more soulful and it reflected the state of things the band was going through during the time. Also, the break from last year gave us lots of space and time to explore our sounds and evolve.
STYLE
X-Factor Local Fashion Designer: Ashley Isham
London-based fashion maestro Ashley Isham takes the title of X-Factor Local Fashion Designer. Mega stars like Mariah Carey and Kylie Minogue are big fans of his gorgeous creations, so we know that our readers have hit the bull’s-eye when they decided to put him on the fashion throne.
Best Fashion Trend: Leggings/Tights
Who would have thought that something from the ‘80s would make a comeback (thanks, Madonna, for your “Hung Up” MTV)? Tights and leggings are replacing stockings and pantyhose (or pants altogether in some cases) as the legwear of choice for fashionistas who want to pick up the pace and add some drama to their outfits. Leg lengthening opaque black is the most popular look in tights, but colored opaque, pin-striped and patterned tights are also a neat twist on the trend and our readers have it down pat.
Favorite Shopping Mall: VivoCity
Boasting 1,100,000 square feet of retail space, more than 300 stores and restaurants, Singapore’s largest cinema complex, a Sky Park, two foodcourts and a killer design by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, it is no wonder that VivoCity is a clear favorite among our readers. Its myriad selection of boutiques, eating places and lifestyle stores also earn it bonus points.
Best New Shop: Comme des Garçons Guerrilla Store
Never mind that you’re going to have a good workout climbing up the never-ending staircase to find this little non-descript boutique. Never mind that the store doesn’t stay in one place for more than a year. Yes, we know that it has been around for quite a while but every incarnation of the store is always new, creative and yes, very cool. “The creative spirit of Comme des Garçons has always been captivating, intriguing and inspirational to those who understand,” says Theseus Chan, the man behind the store. So learn well young fashion Padawans out there, as our readers have voted.
Brand That You Will Actually Splurge on: Louis Vuitton and Zara
From oh-so-lovely monogrammed bags and accessories which have seen the touch of designers and artists like Stephen Sprouse, Marc Jacobs, Takashi Murakami and recently Rei Kawakubo, to high fashion and runway pieces at low prices, French fashion house Louis Vuitton and Spanish high-street brand Zara are your top choices for this one. See the long queues and crowds when something new arrives at either of these stores and you know you’ve got this one right.
TECH
X Factor Gadget: iPhone
The moment it was unveiled a year ago, tech geeks the world over were awed by its full touch-screen platform and simplistic design—signaling a new era in mobile telephony. People flocked to Sim Lim Square to get their mitts on the elusive iPhone even before it official landed on shelves here. With so much fervor surrounding this gadget, it is no wonder that our readers and the entire free world unanimously decided to award it this illustrious honor.
Best New Handphone: Samsung Omnia
Dubbed the “iPhone Killer” by well-informed tech geeks, Samsung’s Omnia shows that a Mobile Professional 6.1 device can beat another known brand’s touch screen phone offering. And it’s loaded with a five megapixel camera with a ton of options, features, a video camera and every trimming except the kitchen sink.
Coolest Laptop: MacBook Air
It’s the thinnest, and, if we may say so, sexiest laptop around today. The MacBook Air clinched the award for Coolest Laptop. This anorexic baby can even fit into a manila envelope and even slide under a door. How cool is that?
Best Digicam: Sony Cybershot
Although Sony doesn’t always make the cheapest digital cameras on the market, they do make some of the best. Sony’s Cybershot line’s super stylish and always high-tech cameras get our readers’ votes for being the best. Its latest image-grabber—the T500 packs in both pictures and 720 pixel high definition video. Big camera power in pocket-friendly form—our readers really hit the nail on the head with this one.
HEALTH
X-factor Workout: Yoga
Kickboxing is great for blowing off steam after a stressful day at work while Pilates is an excellent core strengthening workout, but the winner—as the enrollment rates of the many yoga studios here attest to—is yoga. Not only does this workout burn calories, it also sculpts your body, strengthens your spine, improves your posture and breathing and helps you to become more calm, focused and balanced. And with yoga studios like Simply Yoga and Bikram Yoga packin’ em in more than ever, yoga is certainly the way to go.
Gym Worth Sweating it Out for: Fitness First
First opened in the UK in 1992, Fitness First is now the world’s largest gym chain with over 550 clubs and 1.5 million members worldwide. Its motto “Real People, Real Results” resonates for anyone and everyone, and with nine outlets here in Singapore, there is no reason to be out of shape.
Best Spa: Spa Botanica
We’re not the only ones who think this is the best spa in town. Since it’s opening in 2003, this spa in Sentosa has won the Singapore Tourism Board award for Best Spa Experience four times. Pamper yourself with treatments like Tropical Glow and Javanese Lulur here, which we and our readers are totally into.
Best Yoga Studio: True Yoga
This place has it all covered, they offer yoga classes for all levels of practitioners and all types of yoga: Ashtanga, hatha, vinyasa, kundalini, power yoga, yogalates, hot yoga, even prenatal yoga and yoga for kids. True Yoga sees yoga not just as exercise but as a way of life and all their instructors have been trained in India with at least 10 years of yoga experience, so you can rest assured you are in great hands.
Best Aesthetician: Dr. Georgia Lee
This mother of two, entrepreneur and professional doctor has become a celebrity of sorts here. The media love not only her great work in aesthetics, but her charisma, glamorous good looks, impeccable fashion sense and dazzling personality. If anyone can sell beauty, it’s Georgia Lee.
Why do you think you were voted best aesthetician?
I think my patients are biased towards me, but I have been told that I can relate to people from various walks of life—the young, the mature, the homemakers and the fashionista.
What makes a good aesthetic practitioner?
Someone who listens, does what is needed for the patient and compromises it with what the patient wants. Also being able to plan the minimal number of treatments to give the patient the best results.
TRAVEL
Budget Airline of the Year: Tiger Airways
With one-way flights for as low as $0.04, you can probably travel more often than you can afford to have Starbucks for breakfast. This regional budget airline is rigorous about quality control and one of its aims is to ensure that flights do not leave the departure bay more than 15 minutes later than the scheduled time, which is totally admirable, if you ask us.
Best Business Class and Airline of the Year: Singapore Airlines
Beside’s the fact that there is never a hair out of place on the petite SQ girls that bring you your drinks, the standard of service, comfort level and quality of food and entertainment on a Singapore Airlines flight is really top tier.
Their A345 aircraft that flies daily from Singapore to New York and LA is the first all business class carrier, and it also has the biggest business class seats in the world. The seats recline 180 degrees to become a bed, and you also have iPod and iPhone connection, 108 movies, 180 TV programs and 700 music CDs. With so much entertainment, we, and our readers, won’t mind not landing.
Best Airport for Shopping: Changi
With over 200 retailers under the roofs of its three terminals, you can find shopping that spans categories like electronics, fashion, watches, jewelry, books and more. Changi is also home to duty free retail giants Nuance Watson and DFS where liquor and tobacco products are up to 60 percent cheaper than stores downtown, while perfumes and cosmetics are up to 40 percent cheaper—and definitely more competitive than those from our neighboring airports (yes, we’ve checked).
Coolest New Boutique Hotel: Naumi
Nestled within the CBD, this 40-room haven functions more like a personal condo than a regular hotel. Great for the world-class business traveler who enjoys some privacy, the rooms come equipped with 50-inch plasma TV, espresso machines, kitchenette, a bath menu that includes skincare brands such as Molten Brown, Dr. Hauschka and Decleor and an overall uber chic decor. We like.
Best All-time Holiday Resort: Banyan Tree
Its flagship resort opened in Laguna Phuket in 1994, and since then, Banyan Tree has not looked back. Their resorts are romantic, luxurious and exotic, with the aim of providing a peaceful sanctuary for rejuvenation and the balance of mind, body and spirit. It also has various green initiatives which help both the environment and the indigenous people living and working at the resort sites—which further contribute to its appeal among many savvy travelers from around the world and, yes, you our readers.
PEOPLE
X-factor Personality: Mas Selamat
No surprise that Mas Selamat has snagged this category; the term X- factor is defined as “the unexplainable element of a person’s attractiveness,” pretty much like the unexplainable mystery
of his continued “at-large” status.
Favorite and Trendiest Local Celebrity: Fiona Xie
Arguably TV’s most talked about and hottest actress under 30, Fiona Xie bagged two of our most superlative (but no less important) awards yet.
She talks to us about the win:
Why do you think you’re so popular?
Im honoured by this laurel and would like to thank everyone for their love and support. God has been my beacon of light to shine forth and to find joy and peace in all that I do. And now I just need to pray against bankruptcy for all the coffee bribes that will result in my being voted for!
Anything you’d like to say to our readers who voted for you in our Readers’ Choice survey?
Go easy on the alcohol! But on a more sober note, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Weirdo of the Year: Steven Lim
It’s hard finding a proper weirdo in Singapore, but it’s harder still being one. Enter stage right: Steven Lim. The one-time eyebrow plucker has hung up his time-honored tweezers and moved on to running his own talent agency, and is very much comfortable in his own skin, thank you very much. We had a short chat with the man.
How do you feel about getting this award?
I am very happy and honoured that your readers have chosen me for this. At least people know who I am and still remember me.
Why do you think you won this award?
I think people voted for me because I do things differently from what normal people would do.
What is your X-Factor?
I would say that I am friendly and humorous. People who know me know that I’m actually more a funny person than a weird one.
