The best things to do in Singapore this week (Apr 15-Apr 21)

You’ve heard the songs, you’ve seen a recording of the show on Disney+, and now the famous Broadway musical, Hamilton, is finally coming to Singapore. The musical is inspired by the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and examines themes of ambition, human relationships, and political power. Hamilton made its Broadway debut in 2015, and was awarded with 11 accolades, including the prestigious Best Musical award at the 70th Annual Tony Awards.

CQ @ Clarke Quay is the place to be this week. From April 17 to 21, the riverside destination buzzes with CQ Streetfest, a showcase of thrilling performances from world-renowned street artists. Catch mind-boggling feats: UK escapologist Rob Roy Collins with straitjacket escapes and handcuff challenges, comedic stunt performer Richard Garaghty with hilarious juggling routines and unicycle tricks, or the beguiling Satya Bella with mesmerising hula hoop sequences. The line-up continues with acrobatic feats, aerial silk displays, and even live dancing and DJ mixing mashups. It’s five nights of nonstop entertainment for the family – and it’s all perfectly free. 

Discover the artistry of Leo Hee Tong, a renowned Singaporean painter, through NAFA’s upcoming exhibition Memories of Time: Leo Hee Tong 时光印迹： 梁其栋. Featuring around 50 paintings spanning his early and recent career, the showcase will take place at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Galleries from April 16 to 28, 2024. 

Explore Leo's life, memories, and imagination through his artwork, offering a glimpse into his journey as an artist. This exhibition marks Leo's sixth solo show in the last decade and holds significance as his first at his alma mater. Leo's artistic roots trace back to his time at NAFA, where he studied under the mentorship of Cheong Soo Pieng, a pioneer artist. Later, Leo expanded his artistic horizons at Ashiya Art College in Japan, where he encountered diverse artistic influences.

Looking back on your secondary school days as an adult can be jarring, with questions like “Why did I do that?”, and “Why were we put through such stressful times?” popping up in your head. Checkpoint Theatre’s upcoming production, Secondary: The Musical, is an exploration of secondary school life through the eyes of Lillin, a young teacher, and three of her students, Ming, Omar and Reyansh.

Directed by Huzir Sulaiman, Secondary delves into the nitty gritty of Singapore’s education system and societal values, as well as the ups and downs of being a teenager struggling to juggle various challenges presented both at home and in school. With a score written and composed by weish, Secondary promises to be an uplifting and emotional experience like no other.

Catch folk singer-songwriter lewloh at an intimate unplugged concert inspired by the Tiny Desk Concerts by NPR. Things are kept small and cosy for this performance: the audience is capped at 30 people, who will be seated in floor cushions. It's the perfect setting for lewloh's mellow and delicate tunes, which carry his (sometimes painfully) honest lyrics on love and heartbreak. Tickets start at $65 – book them here. 

As they say at OverEasy, something's always cooking. This time, it's a slow and sensual jamfest at Slow Jamz Sunday, a collaboration between OverEasy and GrooveTop. Book a (free) spot at OverEasy's scenic venue to wind down to sexy R&B tunes by GrooveTop DJs Ash Ghazali, Dee and DREM, before easing into a bevy of all-American classics by OverEasy. Do make your reservations ahead – and kids are welcome too.

Ice cream fans, it’s time to mark your calendars for April 16 as Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day event is making its annual return. On this particular Tuesday, the ice cream parlour will be giving out free scoops of their icy cold treats – the perfect way to beat our tropical heat. 

As usual, there will be a variety of flavours to choose from, though the list has not been announced. We’re guessing you can probably expect some classic favourites such as chocolate chip cookie dough to make an appearance. The event will be held from 12pm to 8pm, while stocks last, so show up early to avoid disappointment.

We all know that maritime trade is a cornerstone of Singapore's economy, but not many of us are privy to its history and the way it works. At the 18th edition of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW), you'll have all your questions answered on a series of exciting tours – including one that will take you out to sea. There are three land tours to enjoy, at the Singapore Maritime Gallery, on the Maritime Heritage Trail, and on the Maritime Evolution Trail, which will teach you all about our maritime technologies, early seafarers, and behind-the-scenes happenings at key maritime landmarks. Most exciting are the Sea Exploration Tour and the Raffles Lighthouse Tour, which will bring you on a voyage to offshore islands to observe harbour activities firsthand. 

Find out more about Singapore Maritime Week 2024 here.

Step into the Himalayas at Cloud Forest’s latest floral display, Azaleas of Shangri-la. Inspired by the utopia, Shangri-La, from the fantasy novel Lost Horizon, the floral display features over 15 varieties of azaleas in pink, red, yellow, orange, and cream, accompanied by stunning replicas of Himalayan architecture and artefacts. Additionally, explore a collection of traditional medicinal herbs and indigenous flora native to the Himalayas, including cordyceps, saffron, and rhododendrons, for a truly enchanting experience.

Find out more about Azaleas of Shangri-La here.

Viewing blossoming sakuras in Japan is right up there on many Singaporeans’ bucket list. If you have no plans to make a trip this cherry blossom season, then you’ll be glad to know that there’s a great alternative here in Singapore. The ninth edition of Gardens by the Bay’s sakura floral display is back this March – along with a slew of vibrant programmes showing off Japanese art and culture. Head to the Flower Dome to view cherry blossoms set in a tranquil garden landscape, with a replica of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) forming a stately backdrop to the blush-pink flowers.

Film fanatics, don’t miss out on ArtScience Museum’s upcoming exhibition Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful. Curated by ACMI (Australia’s National Museum of Screen Culture), Goddess will uncover 120 years of moving image history featuring stories, costumes, sketches, interactive experiences, as well as the pillars behind these wonderful masterpieces. Indulge in a special collection of over 150 costumes, artefacts, and objects, curated to depict captivating visual stories of women in film. Dive into never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage, archival materials, projections, and authentic costumes to reveal the untold stories of these stars.

Wild Wild Wet is hosting the first-ever Songkran Kids Festival, where children of all ages can partake in dance workshops, water gun battles, and an inflatable obstacle course. The water park will feature colourful, life-size gummy bears decked out in Songkran-inspired pail hats for your little ones to take pictures with, as well as a DJ booth where they can pretend to spin tracks. Big-ticket Splash holders can groove out on the dance floor to electronic music with DJ Joeru, and kids above the age of 12 will get to try their hand at DJ-ing and master the art of scratching the board.

You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here.

Among the numerous districts in Singapore boasting rich histories, Changi indisputably makes the list and stands out as one of the places with the deepest roots. The newly-launched Changi Heritage Trail by the National Heritage Board casts a spotlight on Changi’s wealth of historical narratives often overlooked by many. On the trail,  explore iconic landmarks and listen to stories from the community – from the hardships endured by prisoners of war during the Japanese Occupation, to the cultures of the kampongs in the area. 

Before setting off, don’t forget to download the Changi Heritage Trail’s companion guide and map for easy navigation.

Explore a curated selection of 30 paintings by artist Cheong Soo Pieng, completed from the 1950s to the 1980s. Visitors can venture through the space segmented into three sections that will answer the following questions: “What makes a painting?”, “When is a painting complete?”, and “What is painting?”.

This exhibition is a special one as it is the first in Southeast Asia to utilise material analysis such as x-ray scans and infrared photography to unveil fresh insights into Cheong’s artistic processes. Visitors will be able to dive into Cheong Soo Pieng’s art journey and learn more about the ins and outs of his practice such as materials used, art approaches, and untold stories and ideas.

In celebration of beloved anime series Naruto’s 20th anniversary, Naruto: The Gallery will be making its global debut at Universal Studios Singapore. Expect to see a miniature recreation of Konohagakure, as well as exclusive video works of iconic scenes from Naruto. Official merchandise will be sold alongside the exhibition, and you can try dishes like Naruto’s favourite Ichiraku ramen at the special pop-up Naruto: The Gallery Café located at KT’s Grill.

Every day, we stroll through familiar streets without grasping the profound history they conceal. Join Oh! Open House for a curated art walk through the Kampong Gelam neighbourhood. Get your steps in as you uncover the history of this lively district. 

The guided tour will not only lead you through historical landmarks but also introduce you to local businesses, hidden gems, and 11 distinct art installations exclusive to the area. Beyond delving into the past, you'll gain insights into the present-day communities and individuals shaping the character of this vibrant neighbourhood.

Book your slot here. 

The romantic season of spring is washing over Raffles Hotel’s grand lobby yet again with the comeback of their highly-anticipated sakura afternoon tea, which consistently garnered great hype in earlier editions. This year’s version introduces delectable new morsels inspired by the chef’s own virgin sakura experience in Japan, including cold bites like the kanikama hosomaki roll, salmon sushi roll with avocado, and tamagoyaki with ikura and Japanese pickles. The sweet treats have also received an upgrade visually, with cherry blossom motifs and attractive shades of pink seen in items like the sakura tea strawberry tartlet and sakura coconut sable.

Ride Singapore Cable Car's new and futuristic SkyOrb cabins in celebration of its 50th anniversary. These cabins sport a unique spherical shape and an edgy chrome finish – a first in the world. What's more, they have glass-bottomed floors so that you can look straight down at a stunning view of the harbour. And at nightfall, a ring of light around the cabin window will illuminate the cabin with a futuristic glow. You might find yourself breathing easier in these SkyOrb cabins, as window louvres have been added to the front and rear windows to improve air ventilation.

The SkyOrb cabins have already started taking guests. Purchase your tickets at the Singapore Cable Car Mount Faber and Sentosa Station ticketing counters, or top-up your existing ticket to upgrade one way of your round-trip to a SkyOrb cabin experience.

Japanese artist Hiroshi Senju pays homage to planet Earth through his depiction of rainbow waterfalls on large-scale canvases. Standing before his expansive paintings, one can almost sense the cascading water and feel the mist in the air, as if standing before real waterfalls. Experience these painted waterfalls firsthand at the Sundaram Tagore Gallery and don’t miss the chance to meet the artist during the Q&A session alongside Art Historian Dr. Marius Kwint, happening on March 9, 3 to 5pm.