It’s not often that a weekend presents us with a clear theme to explore, but there’s only one word on our minds at the moment: craftsmanship. It’s a fitting undercurrent for the last weekend of November, before holiday shopping reaches a head and the gifting season gets fully underway, offering us a chance to revel in expertise and passion.
Start with a celebration of the craft of film at the Singapore International Film Festival, back for its 36th edition, and unwind with a gastronomic tribute to the masters of Impressionism at the Fairmont Hotel. Round out your weekend in the epicentre of the city, where two renowned watch and jewellery brands have constructed temples of precision and craftsmanship. Whether you want to cross a few items off a luxury wish-list or just need a moment to appreciate the finer things in life, read on for GRAZIA Singapore’s roundup of the best this weekend has to offer.
Friday Night: Celebrate The Power Of Cinema At The Singapore International Film Festival
Singapore’s longest running film festival, going strong since 1987, is back for another year of storytelling. The prevailing theme for the 36th Singapore International Film Festival is female-led stories and boundary-breaking narratives, and the eclectic film selection delivers on both fronts. The festival opens on 26 November with Girl, a powerful and poignant directorial debut from famed Taiwanese actress Shu Qi which won her the Best Director prize at the Busan International Film Festival. Aside from a vast collection of Asian cinematic gems, keep an eye out for two buzzy indie films that find themselves in Oscars conversations already: Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, and Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, starring Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard.
The Singapore International Film Festival will run from 26 November to 7 December.
Saturday Afternoon: Let Loose At The Soundwave Takeover Of W Sentosa
The upside to Singapore’s one-note weather is that even during the holiday season, there’s no shortage of bright and sunny afternoons to spend lounging by the pool. The W hotel is bringing us a golden chance to do just that this Saturday. Soundtracked by DJs Victor Trixter and Taz Angullia, the hotel’s Wet Deck will transform into a tropical poolside party venue with hand-crafted cocktails inspired by Korean flavours. Whether you plan to spend the afternoon right in front of the DJ booth, or lounging in a cabana, Sound Wave is the place to be.
Sound Wave Takeover will be held on 30 November at Wet Deck, Sentosa, 21 Ocean Way, Singapore 098374.
Saturday Night: Discover The Art Of Watchmaking In A Lange & Söhne’s New Boutique
Even a budding watch enthusiast would be able to tell you what sets A. Lange & Söhne apart in the world of horology—quiet precision, technical mastery, a commitment to innovation without compromising on heritage. But words can’t hold a candle to setting foot in the brand’s new duplex boutique, a space that incorporates their values into every square inch. The two-storey boutique balances minimalism with fine detail, much like one of the brand’s quietly eye-catching displays. On the lower floor, some walls are lined with iconic ranges like the Lange 1 and Odyssey in spare glass cases, while another displays a ten-metre installation featuring Zeitwerk movements. Descend a stunning spiral staircase designed with Bauhaus clarity, and you’ll enter a private salon replete with a hidden bar. All in all, the space is a loving tribute to craftsmanship, and a fine place to spend a weekend afternoon.
The A. Lange & Söhne boutique is located at Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, #02-04/05, Singapore 238801.
Sunday Afternoon: Blend Art And Gastronomy At This Impressionism-Inspired High Tea
This weekend offers a doubly engaging escape into a paint-stippled world of art and indulgence. Begin with the National Gallery’s Into the Modern, a sweeping showcase of Impressionist art curated in conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and continue your journey into the world of Impressionism with an art-inspired afternoon tea at the Fairmont. Hosted by cocktail bar Anti:Dote, the experience offers a range of sweet and savoury delights inspired by the colours and composition of Impressionist masterpieces. Think a smoked salmon rillette that takes inspiration from Monet’s coastal landscapes, or a cocktail titled The Liquid Abstract exploring an interplay of light and colour.
An Impressionist Afternoon Tea will be available until 31 January at Anti:Dote, Level 1, Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560.
Sunday Night: Enter Van Cleef & Arpels’s Enchanted Forest At ION Orchard
The Germans aren’t the only ones celebrating their craft in Singapore this month. French high jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels also enjoyed a grand opening this November, unveiling an enchanting new duplex boutique overlooking Orchard Road. Fashioned to resemble a dreamy wonderland, the space blends the brand’s classic French influences with subtle local tributes like tropical flower motifs. Van Cleef & Arpels’ stunning Treasure Island collection, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, will be displayed for the first time in Singapore, alongside other high jewellery and watchmaking creations.
The new Van Cleef & Arpels boutique is located at Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, #01-19, #02-09, Singapore 238801.
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