First Round Bar - Awesome Little Chilling Corner with Karaoke

I just found a really awesome Watering Hole where I can just chill, party or sing. Hidden at a corner of the second floor of the quiet, quaint, humble-looking 2 Havelock Building, First Round Bar is like that hidden gem where the owner and service crew are so friendly, helping me with my numerous requests to change the setting of the karaoke system to suit my preferences. In fact, the owner is so chilled that I thought he is a very helpful patron there 😆 And they even have dices here for patrons to play with.

Slightly dark with blue overhead light, luminous cool bar counter and high tables with comfy plush high chairs, the place oozes a cool yet cosy charm. I immediately feel at ease here to start singing despite being here the first time.

The drinks here consisted of a good selection of mixers, classic cocktails and some specials, like the dangerous Long Island Iced Tea. Taste so smooth, with a hint of aroma of tea, this drink is so easy on the palates that one can down several glasses of this awesome drink. But it is very potent where one will get happy very easily after one glass. Highly recommend to try it ... with some caution 😉

Ricky Gin is so good too, with a good balance of sweetness, bitterness and smoothness.

I also love the smartphone menu of the karaoke system where I can easily navigate through it and set my preferences, after getting advice from the owner. I have a blast singing here.

I want to be back here to sing again, enjoy the vibe here and try the drink Flaming Lambooooo!!

Thoughts: Awesome Place to Unwind, Chill, Drink, Have Fun and Sing

2 Havelock Road

#02-11

Crab Set Go - Hearty Good Food

Enjoying crabs in a frills-free, chilled environment sounds like a great idea to me since it means more wallet-friendly bills while enjoying this delicious premium crustacean. And I found such place in the name of Crab Set Go, set in the quiet, somewhat historic building of 2 Havelock.

The price of the crabs is so affordable that I want to immediately order some without even feeling a pinch on my wallet. But since I have something on later and was with someone, I go for the other faster options available from the menu. There are soft-shell crabs dishes, for some briny goodness of crab at super affordable prices, American style appetizers, various pasta dishes and grilled dishes.

The food here is very flavourful and hearty, especially the Grilled Sakura Pork. I’m so surprised a humble-looking restaurant in a super humble-looking building can serve such awesome grilled food.

And given the nice homely service here, I’m definitely be back to try the main star here: the crabs!

Grilled Sakura Pork is so juicy and tender, with an iota of firmness for a good bite. The slightly charred exterior juxtaposing with the juicy core makes me go, “Excellent texture!” The taste is great too, being packed with flavours. A must-order here.

Tom Yum Soft-Shell Crab Pasta is unique, in a good way, where it actually tastes refreshing and creamy at the same time. The aroma of lemongrass, the zest and the slight spiciness lift up the creaminess of pasta. Soft-shell crab is soufflé-crispy and briny sweet, going well with the pasta.

Crispy Onion Rings, with the light lovely pungency of onions, go so well with the cheese sauce.

Thoughts: A Good Place to enjoy Good Hearty Meals at a Good Price

2 Havelock Road

#01-02

Summer Social Event by The Other Me & Merry-Go-Round

Ever since I signed up to be in the mailing list of The Other Me, this lovely boutique takes me on a journey of sensory experiences to appreciate the finer or delicate things in life through various events they host. Yes, it's a must to sign up for their mailing list to get access to special exclusive events. And their shop is like Naughty Little Wonderland, where items of pleasure and sensuality can be found here, plus curated lingerie and choice clothing.

The ladies here are so friendly and awesome, all up to talk about intimate subjects, if you want. Their cosy space can be reserved for exploration of their items on sale here, with some ladies' talk added in between. Couples or guys are welcomed too.

And this time, Julius Toh, owner of Merry-Go-Round bar, also Brand Ambassador of Copenhagen Distillery, is invited to host the Gin and Spirits Tasting at The Other Me. And it is unexpectedly such an awesome event. The hosts are wonderful and thoughtful, giving us generous pours of spirits, and helpings of smoked salmon, cookies and premium chocolates to pair with.

What is even better is that Julius is very candid in sharing his knowledge and really goes into details on the making of each spirit, letting us gain a newfound appreciation of Copenhagen spirits. The founder of the distillery is actually a chemist who is passionate about spirits, thus using his expertise to create unique and distinctively Danish spirits. And both processes of distillery and aging are done by the distillery, thus creating products that fit the founder's vision.

Best of all, we get to try the new make of the distillery, which is something that most distilleries will never let outsiders try. So I feel so special to be able to try it, and it's so good. I immediately comment that the new make alone makes attending thsi event all worthwhile.

I'm so glad that I decide to go for this enriching event despite it being on a weekday. Totally worth it!

Aquavit, which is made from dill, is light and easy to drink, great for any occasion. Yes, this is the first time I try Aquavit, a rare spirit, and I like it, especially the long pepper one, whose spicy, peppery taste makes it exciting.

Gin, another clear spirit, is made from Juniper instead, thus featuring a stronger herbal taste.

Bay Leaf Gin is spicy in taste with pronounced herbal notes.

Orange Gin has surprising balanced taste that is so easy on the palates. It is smooth and has floral citrus aroma to balance the taste of Juniper. So uplifting and sweet. It’s easy to love this spirit and I love this.

Angelica Gin has angelica, a famous Chinese medicine herb, infused into the spirit. The interesting thing is the angelica in thus gin was picked in Denmark. Talking about truly Danish! I’m amazed by the umami and light herbal taste in this gin. This is so good too.

According to Julius, most distilleries will not let the public taste their new make, the distilled spirit before aging, because it is too harsh and too strong. But he confidently let us have an exclusive taste of Copenhagen’s new make to build our confidence on how good the spirits are, at their raw form. And yes, it’s so smooth and easy to drink. Now I’m all eager to try their whiskies.

The whiskies are aged in Virgin cask made specifically from Hungarian Oak, which is denser and stronger, in order to take the rapid change in internal pressure due to aging in accelerated style, via temperature rotating between 17 to 30 constantly. The alcohol % varies for every batch because the founder will taste every batch and determine at which stage is the taste optimised and then packed accordingly. Now I'm really impressed.

Raw Edition, made from 100% Danish barley, tastes intense, smooth and sweet, packing a high ABV of 59%. I love this. By the way, all attendees were asked to guess the ABV of this spirit. My guess was 60%, the nearest to the answer 😁

Rare Edition tastes fresh and sweet, easy on the palates.

Refined Edition is full of nuances, due to the use of smoked danish barley and being aged in a barrel that was infused with herbs and various produce of Denmark. The infusion actually took 7 years while aging in the cask took 3 years, due to accelerated aging. That's some dedication to creating a whisky that is packed with the taste of Denmark. And it works totally for me. I love the different layers of subtle flavours floating in this drink. And yes, I got a bottle of this. 

Coffee spirit is very unique where there is a lovely rich earthy aroma of coffee without the caffeine.  Great for enjoying in the afternoon for high tea, or at night without worrying about the caffeine affecting one's sleep.

Thoughts: True Enjoyment for the Senses and Appreciation of Finer Things in Life

Sufood - Clean, Clear, Light and Delicious

Actually, I don't feel really well, so I decide to dine at Sufood, a Taiwanese vegetarian restaurant, for a filling yet light and easy dinner. And I end up getting a delicious, satisfying, light, flavourful meal here. In fact, I feel better after a dinner here!

Yes, this is the best vegetarian food restaurant, where all vegetarian ingredients are served as ... vegetables, without me feeling that I'm eating only vegetables. If anyone wants me to recommend a place serving, cleaning, healthy and delicious food, this is the one.

Wafu Yuzu Potato Salad is creamy, due to the potato, and zesty, due to the yuzu and cute bite-sized fruits, whihc is a lovely combination.

Mulberry Cider is surprisingly sweet and refreshing, with hint of the zest. So good that I can finish this whole jar.

Soft yet crunchy breadsticks that can be paired with the light creamy sauce. Sea grapes has the briny sweetness, together with the zest of the clear sauce and refreshing element of shredded turnip, totally whets the appetite. 

Pickle, another zesty appetite-whetting goodie.

Tofu with vegetable sauce is refreshingly tending towards earthy tones while retaining the freshness to open up the palates.

Butterfuly Pea Flower Cooler is gorgeous and a good thirst quencher,

Double-boiled Cordyceps with White Fungus and Black Garlic is so so good because this is full of goodies and tastes so nourishing, featuring the savoury herbal taste of double-boiled Chinese soup.

Peppery Golden Quinoa Risotto has awesome texture, having the starchy and slightly chewy bite due to the mix of fluffy risotto and quinoa. Pumpkin adds a nice sweet earthy savoury goodness to the grains. Absolutely hearty treat.

Rosy White Fungus with Peach Gum is such a cooling nice dessert that also tastes nourishing. I especially love the gelatinous yummy peach gum added in this.

Thoughts: Healthy, Natural and Absolutely Delicious

252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Shopping Centre #02-19

BL4CK M1RR0R by Degenerave

Germany has Berlin Warehouse Rave, Singapore has Geylang Warehouse Rave, which is BL4CK M1RR0R event, courtesy of independent organiser, Degenerave. This rave feels so underground, exclusive and focused on raw, aggressive, high BPM, mechanical, heart-pounding Industrial Techno. It’s specially crafted for those who want to be connected to darkness and grittiness of Industrial Techno subculture through music, movement and fashion.

Yes, fashion. I absolutely love how the majority of attendees are dressed for the rave. Edgy outfits, Cyberpunk inspirations, goth with industrial elements, all are so on the point for an underground warehouse event. Me wearing my leather jacket.feels like I belong here. The attendees here look so cool and like they are craving for some blood, but they are generally friendly, sweet and helpful.

Located in a warehouse-like building in Geylang, the space is small yet it is exactly what we need to immediately feel the energy of the DJ and raving energy spreading through the crowd quickly. Almost everyone on the dance floor is committed to music and movement. It is one of a kind euphoric experience when almost everyone in the room starts to dance harder at the drop. And need a break? Just few steps to the outside. So this layout creates a conducive environment where the two ecosystems (movement, socialisation) are nicely separated. I love it this way.

The music is a blast: heavy kick drums, mechanical sounds, tension and release, high BPM, high energy and high variation. It’s unapologetically hard, with hints of metal influences, and I love it.

Now I’m looking forward to more events from Degenerave already.

The euphoric moment when the drop hits. Where the crowd responds to the furious beats as a collective.

DJ T.HIRST

DJ Labraatz

Dj God Reset

Thoughts: Truly Underground, Raw Indulgence, Commitment to the Music and Movement

Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest

I never thought that I will enjoy a ballet performance so much, given that I’m not into passive activity, until I come to Dracula ballet performance. I decided to buy a ticket for this because well, a performance filled with darkness, intrigue and gothic elements does appeal to me. And this show actually exceeds my expectations to grab my attention every second. The production of this show is simply awe inspiring.

I feel like I step into another world during this performance due to the incredibly impressive sets packed with dark, unworldly and gothic influences, immersive gothic experience, top notch atmosphere, brilliant use of lighting, gorgeous, totally on-the-point costumes, gothic music and spectacular performances. 

The permanent fixtures of the show are the two gothic grey brick pillars: one with a gothic stained glass clock, another with a tunnel at the top at first, morphing into a bell later.  These set up that dark gothic feel right at the beginning, and as gateways for the performers to enter and exit as required by the storyline to create smooth transitions between movements.

The first scene starts with the woods: lonely, desolate. Then the stage transforms into a town by the woods that is shrouded in fog, which is festive and cheerful. The high point comes with the appearance of the Dracula Castle, which is so incredible, foreboding, dark, grand and menacing. There are dungeon-like gates, tunnels to crypts, candlelights, grey brick walls and the impressive gothic window with stained glass. Through the colour of light shedded through the stained glass, from white, yellow purple to red, the mood changes. A romantic moment between the couple turns into horror and inescapable fate when the music changes and the light shedded turns into red.

The music also heightens the mood: being dramatic during the fight, cheerful during a wedding, gothic music in Dracula castle, creepy and menacing oozing through when horror is near, tragic when the cruel inevitable fate comes.

The whole show feels like graceful storytelling, where the choreography, plus the movements and expressions of the performer, showcase the different moods, thus making it possible that I understand what’s going on without a word. Despite knowing that this is a performance on stage, the show manages to make me feel moments of dread when the townfolks venture into Dracula's territory. Top notch.

Got to say that the ghostly performers’ ghoul and light movements totally convey that creepy and "I'm everywhere" feel. Their costumes have a unique contrast of rugged seams and bodice sewn with crystals to create that ethereal yet ghoulish feel. The costumes have that realistic style of the gothic era while having the light flowy skirts to showcase the beautiful ballet movements of the performers.

Absolutely a wonderful show that brings me to a gothic world.

Thoughts: Fantastic show that truly combines Beauty, Tragedy, Drama, Grandeur, Horror and Darkness.

An Idiot’s Guide to Wine

I had been to a couple of comedy shows, and I have to admit that I laugh more watching the videos of the shows than at live. So I kind of stay away from such shows after a while. Then comes “An Idiot’s Guide to Wine”, where attendees get to enjoy six wines with the comedy show that doles out interesting tidbits about wine.

The stories about the wines are interesting. The wines are pretty good. Some laughters along the way. I mer two lovely friendly ladies who make this experience even better. I love the stories related to wine told and the facts about wines revealed l. But I also realise I need subtitles to catch the jokes. There’re times where I go, “What did he say?” It’s more of how I’m wired rather than a gauge on the host’s ability.

All in all, good, relaxing and intoxicating fun.

Thoughts: Relaxing, Interesting and Fun