Great New Places

The 1872 Clipper Tea Co. at ION Orchard has a new look! Go experience their new tea bar and revamped menu.

The new and improved version of their tea bar at their flagship ION Orchard store is now open and the store includes a dining area so that their customers can enjoy freshly brewed specialty tea and sweet treats in the outlet.

In 1872, a young man named Balage Porolis de Silva embarked on a journey into the world of luxury. He set up a jewellery boutique along High Street, Singapore, presenting not only the finest gems, but also serving the best Ceylon tea to his customers. Hailing from Sri Lanka where having tea is a daily ritual for relaxation and enjoyment, he wanted to enhance his customers’ appreciation of jewellery with tea.

Gradually, the B.P. de Silva brand name grew in reputation and became synonymous with artistry and craftsmanship. The family continues to extend the very same values and philosophy of fine jewellery into tea, elevating tea beyond a simple beverage to a premium gift. This led to the creation of The 1872 Clipper Tea Co., whose name pays tribute to the historic Clipper ships that raced to carry chests of the freshest teas to all corners of the world, at the same time acknowledging the year they planted their roots in Singapore.

Today, The 1872 Clipper Tea blends are widely appreciated for its consistency in quality, signature aroma and refined taste.

Maggie Joan’s celebrates three years of being the underground place to go to with a new chef, revamped menus and refreshed interiors.

Located in the alleyways behind Amoy Street, Maggie Joan’s is a unique concept; a Modern European restaurant with a distinct underground character, reflected in edgy industrial décor and a hidden, nondescript entrance.

Maggie Joan’s cuisine has flair & finesse and is unremitting in its quest for artisanal flavours.

The restaurant is named after the 2 grandmothers of co-owner Daniel Ballis because it seeks to embody the women’s big-hearted stance on good food and social bonding that makes it warmly appealing to a contemporary audience.

To serve their members and guests even better, SAFRA Mount Faber have announced that they will be upgraded between July 2018 to June 2019 to provide a refreshed experience and more offerings as an executive lifestyle club for NSmen.

The enhancement works will begin later this month and will see the entire club take on a fresh industrial chic look with new facilities and amenities by mid-2019.

Anticipate new dining options, such as a drive-thru Fatburger outlet.

Expect dedicated co-working spaces fully equipped with high-speed wi-fi, video projectors, and other workplace resources. And more but of course!

For more information and a list of affected facilities as they embark on upgrading works, click here.

2 Telok Blangah Way

Tel: +65 6278 6011 Email: mtfaberclub@safra.sg

One of the few landmarks on Waterloo Street, the 148-year old Sri Krishnan Temple reopens after four years of restoration works costing nearly $4 million.

The shrines, ceilings, temple dome and pillars were all upgraded in the renovation. Intricate decorative works on the pillars required two sculptors working on them on-site over 3 years.

One of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, Sri Krishnan Temple's recent consecration ceremony called Maha Samprokshanam (done every 12 to 15 years) was attended by some 10,000 devotees.

152 Waterloo Street

Tel: +65 6337 7957 Email: srikrishnatemple@hotmail.com

(Photo Credit: Joseph Nair & SgHindu)

Trapizza is a casual Italian eatery located on Siloso Beach, just a 5-minute walk away from Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa.

After a 6-month transformation, the revamped eatery presents a revitalized dining experience for diners of all ages – with a bigger dining space inclusive of a water play area and a bolder menu with authentic, hearty Italian fare and creative reinterpretations of classic cocktails.

Long-time fans of Trapizza can also look forward to its signature wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas, pastas and desserts.

The regional art scene is set to become more vibrant with the major revamp of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM).

SAM’s museum programming will continue throughout the revamp which is likely to cost around $90 million. Internationally renowned SCDA Architects have been appointed to manage the redevelopment of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) buildings.

SAM opened to much fanfare in 1996 in a converted museum space that once housed the former Saint Joseph’s Institution and has not upgraded its premises since. The upcoming building works will address the growing needs of contemporary art in Singapore and focus on improving the visitor experience at SAM. The project is targeted for completion in 2021.

SAM currently occupies two separate buildings – the former St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) along Bras Basah Road - a gazetted National Monument, and the former Catholic High School, located along Queen Street. The redevelopment plans include the creation of a fully contiguous museum, more spaces to accommodate museum-based learning opportunities, as well as the infrastructure to display large-scale or technologically- demanding artworks.

SAM’s museum programming continues to take place at SAM at 8Q till end of January 2019. Thereafter, members of the public can look forward to pop-up contemporary art projects at partner venues, as well as co-curated and touring exhibitions by SAM.

Prior to the commencement of the building works, a series of archaeological activities will take place at the former SJI building during Singapore Heritage Festival 2018, as part of the National Monument’s bid to deepen the public’s understanding of its history, which dates back to 1855.

71 Bras Basah Road and 8 Queen Street

Tel: +65 6589 9580 Email: enquiries@singaporeartmuseum.sg

One Michelin-starred restaurant Labyrinth launches its next phase of evolution with a fresh angle to the cuisine, a refocused interior and a stunning new menu.

Labyrinth, located at The Esplanade, explores the finest produce sourced in Singapore through a cuisine of stunningly inventive flavour harmonies. Helmed by celebrated Chef Han Li Guang, the dishes of Labyrinth draw inspiration from childhood memories and an in-depth understanding of local ingredients and traditional kitchen techniques, to bring to the fore the essential character and nuance of each core flavour.

Dining at Labyrinth is thus a sensorial experience in which the palate is seduced, and the curiosity holistically engaged by the stories that come with each ravishing plate of food. View their menu here.

8 Raffles Avenue, Unit #02-23 Esplanade Mall

Tel: +65 6223 4098 Email: reservations@labyrinth.com.sg

Originally established in 2006, Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnana Muneeswarar Temple (AVGMT) in Sengkang town has reopened after a year-long renovation costing over $4 million.

The renovated temple has a new facade, a multi-purpose hall and other upgraded facilities.

AVGMT is an amalgamation of three Hindu temples - the Arulmigu Velmurugan Temple, the Sri Krishna Bhagwan Durga Parameswari Devasthanam and the Sri Mariamman Muneeswarar Temple.

Read more about the temple here.

50 Rivervale Crescent, Sengkang

Tel: +65 6294 6739 Email: avgmtemple@gmail.com

For great margaritas and delicious Mexican food, you must check out the newly-refurbished Margarita's at Dempsey Hill!

Margarita's is a hidden gem located in the area that offers a wide range of authentic and succulent Mexican cuisine.

With an unyielding passion for exciting, yet clean and authentic flavours, founder and owner and chef-to-date, Andy Yap, is the brainchild behind Singapore's first Margarita's restaurant. From its humble beginning at Faber Drive in 1988, Margarita's rapidly expanded to the East Coast, and subsequently blossomed as a hidden gem at Dempsey Hill.

Dempsey Hill Road, Unit #01-09 Block 11

Tel: +65 6471 3228 Email: margaritas.dempsey@gmail.com

The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, a 164-year-old national monument and one of the oldest temples in Singapore, was recently re-sanctified in a consecration ceremony called the “Maha Samprokshanam” which is done once every 12 years.

Major redevelopment works at the temple, costing S$4.5 million, were recently completed.

The temple had to invite foreign experts to help in the restoration as certain specific skills were not available here. A team of 20 highly-skilled artisans, known as sthapathis, were flown in from India for the job.

In 1978, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was declared a National Monument by the Preservation of Monuments Board. The temple also underwent major facelifts in year 1987, 1992 and 2005.

The history of Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple dates back to the late 1800s. Read more about its rich history here.

397 Serangoon Road

Tel: +65 6298 5771 Email: sspt@heb.org.sg

The National Archives of Singapore (NAS) building is undergoing renovations and will reopen at the end of this year. The building, which was originally the Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), will also have its Oldham Theatre expanded from a 44-seater to seat 135.

NAS houses the collective memory of our nation. This memory allows current and future generations of Singaporeans to understand our different cultures, explore our common heritage and appreciate who we are and how we became a nation.

As the official custodian of the corporate memory of the government, NAS manages public records and provides advice to government agencies on records management. From government files, private records, historical maps and photographs to oral history interviews and audio-visual materials, NAS is responsible for the collection, preservation and management of Singapore's public and private archival records, some of which date back to the early 19th century.

NAS’ repository of archival materials makes it an important research centre for those in search of information about the country's history.

Great World City of Allgreen Properties is set to undergo its first major refurbishment in 20 years while the mall remains open.

Estimated to cost more than $50 million, works will be carried out over two years and should be completed by the third quarter of 2020.

Aside from typical upgrading of façade, skylights, flooring and ceiling for a refurbishment; Allgreen will also reconfigure the escalators and interior walkways to enhance navigation and accessibility of consumers. It also plans to connect the office’s lifts to the mall’s third level.

Uniquely-designed dual-level retail pods in the foyer of the mall are also part of the renovation plan, which are among the first for shopping malls here in Singapore.

The mall will also house some 50 new tenants. And the F&B offerings will increase from the current 20 per cent to 30 per cent of net lettable space when works are completed.

Shoppers can look forward to an enhanced shopping experience at Great World City in the near future after its transformation.

Sit back and relax with a refreshing cocktail and jive to music on the al fresco deck of the revamped Bar Canary at Grand Park Orchard.

Bar Canary is an uber-chic poolside bar where you can go barefooted on the lush turfs and chill under the stars. Enjoy great beats and also not forgetting "boozy pops" (a union between a cocktail and a popsicle) which are made exclusively for the bar by local frozen treats creator, Popaganda.

Tampines Regional Library was the first regional library under National Library Board (NLB) and it covered a floor area of 6,208 square metres back then. The all new Tampines Regional Library at Our Tampines Hub has unveiled on 5th Aug, and spans a floor area of 12,600 square metres.

More than 400,000 books are available in the nation's four official languages. The library will also feature a Singapore collection of more than 12,000 books by local authors.

The new Tampines Regional Library is the largest of its kind in Singapore, and spans five floors with dedicated spaces for children, teens and adults. Other than books and library programmes, visitors can also enjoy facilities such as the PIXEL Labs@NLB maker space, an indoor playground (opening in October) and a culinary studio.

The National Library Board (NLB) is partnering with the People’s Association Culinary Studio to hold cooking classes there. The studio will also showcase a digital display of recommended books, as well as cooking videos to facilitate learning.

Bukit Panjang Public Library will re-open on 1 July 2017 with double the floor space and a brand new look!

The library will have new services, including an immersive storytelling room for children. There will also be customised reading spaces for patrons of all ages.

The library's new Children’s Zone, will pilot the Stories Come Alive Room. Be ready to step right into a storybook, complete with changing scenes, sounds and animations! Enjoy an immersive storytelling experience when the library re-opens.

1 Jelebu Road, Unit #04-16/17 Bukit Panjang Plaza

Tel: +65 6332 3255 Email: enquiry@nlb.gov.sg

Located within Compass One shopping mall, the newly revamped Sengkang Public Library covers an area of 2,136 square meters.

New areas in the library include the Early Literacy Area where families can read and bond together, the Tween Space targeted at children aged 10 to 14 and a dedicated Adults section for quiet reading.

Sengkang Public Library has a total collection size of 125,000 books, magazines and audio-visual items. This includes items from the Adult, Young People and Children's collections. All items in the library can be loaned out by library members.

The collection covers a broad range of subjects for leisure reading and stocks popular reads for all ages. Popular fiction, liifesyle reads, mgazines, award-winning books for children, as well as picture books are very well-received by library users.

1 Sengkang Square, Unit # #03-28 & #04-19 Compass One

Email: helpdesk@library.nlb.gov.sg

After over a year of restoration and upgrading works, the iconic Sultan Mosque - located at the heart of Kampong Glam - now comes complete with a rejuvenated look as well as new and expanded amenities.

Some of these include elderly friendly features such as two new lifts, each located at the south of the mosque's main building and the other at its annex building. This will enable elderly congregants as well as those with special needs to gain access to its higher floors.

Works to restore and upgrade the mosque started back in August 2014, and cost an estimated S$3.65 million.

3 Muscat Street

Tel: +65 6293 4405 / 6293 4043

The Trick Eye Museum at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has refreshed their exhibits with six new themed zones in time for the school holidays.

In a new exhibit like "Overcome the Supernatural", visitors will be able to "levitate" and pose with skeletons and vampires. If you are not a horror movie fanatic, then "Escape into Fantasy" where you can "ride" a unicorn and dance with fairies.

With the new 4D element, one of the things that visitors can do is to undergo a quick head-scan on "Dancing Star" where they can view an avatar of themselves dancing in different traditional costumes on-screen.

In the lead up to Singapore’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2015, the National Museum will be undergoing another timely revamp so as to better share the Singapore Story and to celebrate the multiple voices in the nation’s historical narrative and the many facets of the multicultural “everyday heritage”.

The refreshed National Museum aims to be a museum for the people – a civic space where guests will enjoy visiting, allowing for reflection on what Singapore has achieved in the past and inspiring confidence in the future. It therefore aims to connect well with you through greater interactive and participatory experiences as well as enhanced coherence and integration of its narratives and displays.

The revamp will present a more comprehensive overview of Singapore’s history and development as a country in its galleries and spaces, which includes developing the nation’s post-1965 chapters that many Singaporeans can personally relate to. The galleries will be expected to re-open in the second half of 2015.

The existing office space on Level 3 of National Museum will be converted into a new Wing, called PLAY@NMS, which stands for “National Museum Singapore”. It will be a multi-sensory environment dedicated to children, with interactive exhibitions that encourage learning through play. Programmes thoughtfully curated based on the collections in the National Museum’s permanent galleries will be made available, to stimulate the young visitors’ natural curiosity and creativity. PLAY@NMS will be a multi-purpose space for interactive exhibitions, workshops as well as educationalplay.

93 Stamford Road

Tel: +65 63323659

TAG : Revamp