What exciting happenings are taking place in and around the island this week? Read on to find out
Now that the spooky season is over, it is time to plan for Thanksgiving. After all, Singaporeans have much to be thankful for, living daily in peace and comfort. To make an occasion out of it, consider ordering a traditional roast turkey for the month-end. The Mandarin Cake Shop at the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, is offering succulent big birds ($220+ each, serves six to eight) as well as honey-glazed bone-in ham ($320+, also serves six to eight). The former comes with apricot and chestnut stuffing as well as all the requisite trimmings, including sprouts, cranberry sauce and giblet gravy, while the latter is perked up with tangy pineapple sauce. All you need to do is invite your loved ones over and perhaps hunt down the island’s best pumpkin pie for dessert. Both the ham and turkey need to be pre-ordered, with collection from Nov 25–29. (singapore.mandarinorientalshop.com)
If your palate is infinitely more Asian, mosey on over to Mashi no Mashi, which recently reopened at 3 Pickering St, Nankin Row. For those not in the know, the intimate noodle bar is part of the world-renowned Wagyumafia F&B empire founded by rockstar chef Hisato Hamada. Specialising in ramen, the new premises blend a modern industrial aesthetic (think black steel frames and concrete finishes) with the brand’s vibrant signature yellow accents. Patrons are encouraged to congregate around a custom L-shaped bar to slurp down bowls of the rich and robust Ultra Ramen, washed down with crisp, cold Suntory Highballs, dispensed on tap. Visitors to the island should not miss the Singapore-exclusive Wagyu Bak Kut Teh, which is priced at $19.65, in homage to the republic’s independence. (mashinomashi.sg)
Happening over the weekend is the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) 2025, taking place from Nov 7-16. It has grown into one of the world’s few multilingual festivals. Now in its 28th edition, this year’s SWF revolves around the theme Shape of Things to Come, which focuses on identity, heritage, and the future. There will be special guest speakers, a new Sci-Fi Spotlight track and, given the auspicious year, an SG60 Homage Festival Track that will honour writers, editors and publishers who have shaped the local scene across all four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. SWF is organised by the Arts House Group. (singaporewritersfestival.com)
See also: A celebration of taste and technology: Why V-ZUG is the choice for the festive kitchen
Still crooning strong at the age of 89, British balladeer Engelbert Humperdinck comes to town for a one-night-only concert at the Star Theatre on Nov 3, part of his global The Last Waltz Tour. And if you think only seniors might be keen on this, you would be wrong. The legendary performer is cultivating a whole new generation of fans after being featured in Marvel’s hit Moon Knight series and the Brad Pitt film Bullet Train. Brush up on your golden oldies and get ready to sway along to iconic hits, such as Release Me, Quando Quando Quando and A Man Without Love. (thestar.sg)
See also: Pascal Raffy
For an equally, if not more powerful musical experience, the faithful might be thrilled to know Hillsong London makes Singapore their very first stop on their 2025 Asia Tour. Designed to unite people from all backgrounds and ages through music and faith, join in Hillsong’s famous evenings of live praise and worship as people come together to seek hope, healing and renewal. (ticketmaster.sg)
If you have yet to visit India’s famed pink city of Jaipur in princely Rajasthan, get some inspiration for that bucket-list trip by stopping by Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome. Happening from now until Nov 16, recreated displays of great monuments old and new, such as the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, the Panna Meena Ka Kund baori (stepwell) and the Patrika Gate, are set amid fields of vibrant sunflowers. Titled Sunflower Surprise, the immersive exhibition, presented in collaboration with the High Commission of India in Singapore, was conceived to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Besides regular sunflowers, there will also be several other varieties to admire, including those with rich crimson brown hues and even with feathery petals. All that is missing from this exotic scene now is a peacock and a pachyderm. (gardensbythebay.com.sg)
The holidays are also looming, and if you have yet to plan any getaways, heave a sigh of relief as Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas returns to Singapore. From now until March 2026, book a berth for weekend escapes and longer adventures alike, which range from three-to-five-night getaways to eight-night journeys spanning Penang, Phuket and Bali. The cruise ship also offers enough diversion to keep you onboard for days, including 17 dining options, a skydiving simulator, an all-glass observation capsule and SeaPlex, an indoor activity space with everything from bumper cars to arcade games and roller skating. Special vacation packages are also scheduled for Christmas and the New Year. (royalcaribbean.com)
