Author: Nicole Lam

It’s no secret that the Arts scene in all its shape and form has taken a huge hit during the time of COVID-19. With all the safety measures in place to ensure the safety of patrons, the idea of a dance festival might not seem plausible. But it’s through these trying times that perhaps our creative spirit shines brighter than ever. We’ve already seen how three of Singapore’s theatre bigwigs pivoted for an unexpected collaboration, The Pitch. Following in the same spirit of creative pivots is this year’s da:ns festival 2020. From 12 October 2020 till 31 October 2020, da:ns…

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Since the release of Enola Holmes on Netflix, I’m reminded about my deep-seated love for mysteries. The meticulous hunting for clues and then finally stringing all the disparate pieces together and shouting ‘j’accuse’ rather dramatically. Instead of the aloof British detective, let’s step into the shoes of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective. From 12 December 2020 till 13 June 2021, the famous Orient Express will be making a pit stop on the West Lawn of Gardens by the Bay. This Pop-Up attraction, ‘Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express’ will trace the legacy of this famous train with…

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Studio Ghibli was once an underground cult favourite for cinephiles and I was one of those die-hard fans. Just to prove it, I have acquired (rather shamelessly) an extensive collection of merchandise from a number of their films. I’m no casual watcher. Well, the popularity of the animation studio has soared over recent years and has become what is any serious cinephile nightmare: mainstream. I do have a love-hate relationship when any of my cultural pursuits become mere entertainment for the hoi polloi. Still, more interest means more money which in turn, means places like Studio Ghibli can still produce…

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After listening to the podcast Something Private, a podcast about all things related to the vagina, your girl has been enlightened. Here are just a few facts I’ve learned: Surprise! The vagina is not the same as the vulva, though most people seem to use them interchangeably. Plus, there is nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to female masturbation, in fact, it’s a healthy release (pun, completely and totally intended). These are just some of the topics Nicole Lim, the host of podcast Something Private, discusses along with her guests which range from philanthropic heiresses, doctors focused on…

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Seeing as Ms Rona is still not done with her world tour, we’ve been embracing the new normal of wearing face masks to keep us safe. We’ve seen the works, Under Armour has invented the UA Sportsmask that is water-resistant and allows breathability when exercising. Or the quirky, playful masks from WHENIWASFOUR to really show off your personality. Here’s another one to add to the list, MASKFONE is a wireless headphone and facemask all rolled into one. This mask has a built-in microphone, earphones and elastic ear hook ensuring you don’t need to take off your mask when you’re taking…

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The iOS 14 update has sent us all in a frenzy, with new secret functions, double-tapping ease but most of all the new widgets. Home screen layouts have flooded the internet, and I’ve got to say I’m smitten. I spent the better part of my day making my home screen look, as the kids say ‘aesthetic AF’ and I have no regrets. Android users are probably scoffing at us because this kind of customisation has been around since forever for them. You know what they say if you can’t beat ’em, join them. Before you get started, you will need…

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Like a pair of quintessential blue jeans, you can never go wrong with a pair of Superga sneakers. The moment the Italian shoe brand burst onto the fashion scene, it quickly became part of the Singapore streetwear lexicon. With a number of successful collaborations with Drea Chong, Love, Bonito and Paper Bunny to name a few, Superga sneakers are a staple in every wardrobe. For the sneakerheads out there, it only gets better. Superga is having an online-only sale from the 24 September to 28 September 2020 with up to 70% off their sneakers. If you’ve been eyeing the Superga X…

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The day arrives, the morning is sombre as though the sky knows that today is THE DAY. You reach the main hall and nervous familiar faces look back at you. The principal gives a vague and somewhat encouraging speech about the future or whatever. After all, you’re not really listening. Your form teacher tries to keep a poker face and all you want to scream at her is, ‘HOW DID I DO???!!’. Then, I wake up and realise that I’m 25 and will never have to face a day like that again. Well, that was until someone discovered that aside…

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It appears that our favourite Italian plumber is going to have his moment on the silver screen. Yes, Nintendo has confirmed that a Super Mario Bros. CG movie is in the works. If you know me, I spent a large part of my childhood with Mario going down fluorescent green pipes and trying our darndest to defeat Bowser to save Princess Peach. With the onslaught of Mario-themed items, it’s clear we still can’t get enough of this guy. While Nintendo is keeping mum about the project we do know that creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto is part of the production…

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Technology has been both a boon and a bane to us all. We love it and can’t imagine our lives without it. At the same time, we are completely helpless without it. If you’ve watched any episodes of Black Mirror on Netflix, you’ll know how technology can take a dark and even sinister turn. I mean, this A.I generator is already making the moves on my job. Well, hopefully, we humans can still outsmart technology by making it work for us rather than against us. I’ll admit with Google Street View, I’ve had fun virtually walking through the random streets…

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Hi, I’m addicted to my phone and at alarmingly serious degree. My right-hand feels weird without the familiar weight of my iPhone and action of my thumb constantly scrolling through social media feeds. I think I even sleep with my phone in my hand. Yes, it’s a real problem. Technology has certainly taken over our lives and some at a harrowing rate indeed. The Light Phone is about to change all of that. This credit card-sized phone goes back to basics (sort of like your classic Nokia, circa 2000), with only four core functions such as calls, messages, an alarm…

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Given the slew of live-action remakes of late and the disappointments most of them have been, something has to be said about this live-action mess. And that is: Not everything has to be remade into a live-action series. In fact, some amazing animated series can just stay exactly that, an animated series. We all remember the Avatar: Legend of Aang fiasco. There is much to be admired about animated features—the drawings, the vivid colours, complex world-building and of course, talking animals. After all, we are here to watch the trials and tribulations of an exiled prince reclaim his throne, not…

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Looking for love in the 21st Century is hard enough, throw in a global pandemic and well, we can all give up hope of looking for bae. Starting 12 September 2020, everyone’s favourite app for love (even just for the night) Tinder will be launching Swipe Night. This worldwide event will allow you and 57 Million users to go on a 7-minute post-apocalyptic adventure where you will get to decide the outcome of the narrative. Here is where it gets interesting, players will be confronted with moral dilemmas that will impact on what happened next. You’ll have to be quick…

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Since we are all grounded in Singapore for the time being, I don’t know about you but I’m running out of activities and fun stuff to do on our sunny little island. I can only pretend Sentosa is Bali so many times. Well, here is an interesting one that will make you feel like the cultured cat you aspire to be. Fever Candlelight Concerts take it old-school and instead of a normal concert hall with classical music, you are surrounded by the romantic soft glow of candles (electric, of course). Revel in the likes of Beethoven, Chopin and Vivaldi while…

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Say ‘Abercrombie’, and instantly images of ripped abs mingled with that signature heavy perfume comes to mind. Here’s another one for you, have you ever wondered why ION Orchard always smells so good? That is all the secret (or not so secret) power of perfume. It turns out your olfactory senses are a lot more sensitive and important than you think. When it comes to perfume, no one knows it better than the CEO of Maison 21G, Johanna Monange. With more than 20 years in the perfume industry working with industry giants such as Lancôme, Johanna can take a whiff of…

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