21 New Things To Do In February 2023 - Free tokidoki Pop-Up, ARTBOX, Chatuchak SG, Seaside Cinema & More
February is the month of love and those of you in relationships are probably planning for your Valentine’s Day dates. As for those who are happily independent, this is still a good chance to spend time with the people you care about, be it your besties or your family.
Whatever your relationship status - single, taken, or “it’s complicated”, here are 21 new things to do this February 2023 in Singapore including a free Yayoi Kusama exhibition, a scenic Seaside Cinema full of romantic vibes, and large-scale food & shopping markets i.e. ARTBOX and Chatuchak Singapore.
#1: Get snap-happy at 29Rooms, a funhouse full of interactive Instagram spots
Photo from 29Rooms
Following the Museum of Ice Cream in Singapore comes yet another Instagram-worthy attraction hailing from America. The brainchild of New York digital publication Refinery29 - which is under VICE Media Group - 29Rooms has, well, 29 rooms full of eye-catching and immersive set-ups that’ll bring out your inner child.
Photo from 29Rooms
Photo from 29Rooms
From bouncy disco balls to a pink carousel and blue skies with puffy white clouds, there’s tons to explore in this vibrant funhouse. Singapore’s edition follows a “Lost & Found” theme, and happens to be the exhibition’s first international launch outside of USA - lucky us!
Photo from 29Rooms
#2: Fuel your love for collectible figurines at The Art of DEVILROBOTS
Photo from @lucify_gazette via Instagram
Photo from DEVILROBOTS
Even if you’ve not heard of the name DEVILROBOTS, you're probably aware of their most famous creation, To-Fu Oyako, a big-headed tofu man with a perpetually worried facial expression. This Japanese toy collective is also responsible for other cutesy characters like BOXY, Evirob, and MIMILA.
Photo from DEVILROBOTS
This year, they’re celebrating their 25th anniversary with a pop-up at Funan titled The Art Of DEVILROBOTS, where you’ll get to admire their collectible figurines, artwork, and original sketches. Also on display special Merlion-inspired renditions of To-Fu Oyako figurines and 20 different MIMILA bunnies imprinted with local artist Rex Lee’s black and white doodles!
Photo from To-Fu Okyako by DEVILROBOTS
The Art of DEVILROBOTS
Date: Until 5 February 2023
Time: 2pm - 9pm daily
Location: BLAXK by ActionCity at Funan
Price: FREE
Website
#3: Transport yourself to Bangkok with Chatuchak Night Market Singapore
Photo from Chatuchak Night Market Singapore
Bangkok is just a 2-hour plane ride away, so shuttling over for a quick weekend getaway is no biggie. But if you’re saving your leave and moolah for a bigger vacation elsewhere, you can still get a taste of Bangkok-style feasting and shopping at Chatuchak Night Market Singapore - set to make a big comeback after being cut short in 2020 no thanks to Miss ‘Rona.
Photo from Chatuchak Night Market Singapore
Out of the hundreds of vendors on site, over 50 of them will be specially flown in from Thailand, so you’ll get to feast on authentic Thai nosh including Rod Fai Kway Teow, Roti from the province of Satun, Thai Otah, and of course, Cha Yen and Cha Chak (Thai milk tea and teh tarik).
Photo from Chatuchak Night Market Singapore
The stalls will be set up in rows of colourful tents across the sprawling carpark of The Grandstand, and there will also be long picnic benches where you can sit down to savour your food. Admittedly, this isn’t the most convenient of locations, but you can take advantage of the free shuttle bus services from Sixth Avenue and Botanic Gardens MRT stations. Those who are driving get to enjoy all-day free parking.
Chatuchak Night Market Singapore
Date: 7 February to 2 April 2023
Time: Tuesdays to Sundays, 4pm - 10pm
Location: The Grandstand South Carpark
Price: FREE
Website
#4: Thrift clothes & buy handmade crafts from The Hammock Market
Photo from @kets.knit via Instagram
Every flea event or pop-up market starts to look the same after a while, with their rows of tables or pushcarts, but The Hammock Market is here to switch things up. As its name suggests, this weekly event that will be held on all Saturdays in February will have its vendors displaying their wares in hammocks for a novel experience, and they aren’t the same ol’ brands you normally see either.
Photo from @jellycaricature
The vendor list is currently still being finalised, but as a rough gague, some of the items on sale during January’s run included: Crochet bags, cup holders and rings from Kets Knit, cute ebi fry-themed badges and stickers from Sad Shrimps, and live-drawn manga-style caricature portraits by art collective Jelly Caricature - among many others. Stay tuned for more updates via The Hammock Market’s Instagram page.
Photo from @sadshrimps via Instagram
The Hammock Market
Date: 4, 11, 18 & 25 February 2023
Time: 11am - 6pm
Location: Aperia Mall, Level 1 Atrium
Price: FREE entry
Website
#5: Bond over board games & food at the revamped 24-hour Settlers Cafe
Photo from Settlers Cafe
Settlers Cafe, Singapore’s first-ever board game cafe, has shifted from their original premises to a new home at Serangoon Road, and with this move comes a grand revamp. Trading out the previous brown, woody look, the cafe now sports a monochromatic theme that looks brighter and fresher. Right in front of the entrance is an al fresco dining area, where chandeliers with potted plants incorporated into their design hang from the ceiling.
Photo from Settlers Cafe
Inside is a communal space with marble tables and a full shelf of board and card games for you to challenge your friends with. These include party games, 2-player ones, strategy games, co-operative games, and so much more. Rates are $7/hour per person, with at least 1 food/drink item per person required, but the number of games you get to play within your session are unlimited.
Photo from Settlers Cafe
For a mini party in a space all to yourself, book one of their three Private Rooms which can fit up to 12 persons. You’ll either have to pay an hourly rate per room, or meet a minimum spend on food and drinks (from $300 to $500, depending on room capacity) to use the room for 4 hours at no additional cost.
Photo from Settlers Cafe
Settlers Cafe
Address: 562 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218178
Opening hours: 24/7
Telephone: 8045 8000
Website
#6: Get retro-style portraits at Say Chunkie! Studios from just $19
Photo from Say Chunkie! Studios
Ever looked at your grandparents’ old portraits from when they were young ‘uns like you, and wished you could be as swaggy as them? Check out Say Chunkie! Studios, a new 80’s style photography studio with old-school-style portraits complete with a soft film-like effect. But unlike the serious, formal shots from the yesteryear, these come with a cheeky twist, thanks to quirky props like a giant longevity peach bun and giant carp that you can actually sit on.
Photo from Say Chunkie! Studios
While you’re at it, pose with props like plastic fish and lobsters, and don a retro-inspired outfit for maximum vibes. Ah mah is sure to approve.
Prices start from $19 per person depending on how many people are in your group - the more there are, the cheaper it’ll be per pax. This is just a limited-time venture and there are currently no plans for extension, so make your booking before the studio ends its run.
#7: Staycation like a princess at The Serangoon House
Photo from The Serangoon House
Setting themselves apart from the sleek, modern hotels like voco, Pullman, and Hilton comes The Serangoon House - a new hotel in Singapore with a colonial Indian theme. All their 90 rooms have a princess-worthy four-poster double decker bed, decorated with ornate curlicue patterns and floral motifs.
Photo from The Serangoon House
Similar gilded details are also found in the mirrors, vanity tables, and stools within the rooms, creating a stunningly royal ambience. These are complemented with The ensuite bathrooms are also similarly gorgeous, in either a luxurious emerald hue or darker marbled tones.
Photo from The Serangoon House
While there, have a meal at GupShup, the hotel’s in-house restaurant. True to the theme and location, they’re dishing our flavourful Indian nosh, from all-time classics to street food and unique beverages.
Photo from The Serangoon House
#8: Get colourful with tokidoki’s free KAWAIIMPRESSIONISM exhibition
Photo from ART NOW
We’re surprised that not many have heard, given that it’s been up for over 2 months now, but tokidoki artist Simone Legno’s KAWAIIMPRESSION exhibition is currently in Singapore - with zero entry fees, no less. This happens to be his first solo painting exhibition in Asia, set up in conjunction with the launch of the limited edition tokidoki Donutella with Her Bunny figurines for the Year of the Rabbit.
Photo from Klook
Photo from Klook
Only 200 pieces of the figurine are available, and we’re not sure if they’ve already been snapped up by tokidoki superfans, but in any case, it’s still worth heading down to this free-entry pop-up that features over 50 paintings by the Italian artist himself, done in his signature vibrant Harajuku-esque style.
Photo from ART NOW
A good number of these art pieces are of his female characters, where they’re depicted in a manner that represents freedom, sensuality, and femininity - all with a playful touch.
Photo from ART NOW
KAWAIIMPRESSIONISM
Date: Until 26 March 2023
Time: 12pm - 7pm daily
Location: Art Now Gallery at Raffles Hotel
Price: FREE
Website
#9: Sing along to Disney’s Frozen musical
Photo from Disney
Let it go? Never! Frozen is one of Disney’s most well-loved Princess franchises, and the musical production based on the film is finally taking the stage in Singapore after gaining hit status on Broadway and touring all over the world. This is the musical’s first and only stop in Southeast Asia and it’ll be running for just 1.5 months. Snag your tickets ASAP and get ready to be enthralled by the dazzling costumes, intricate wintry sets and song and dance sequences.
#10: Visit Sneakertopia Singapore, a massive sneaker & street culture fest from USA
Photo from Sneakertopia
Hypebeasts and hypebaes, this one’s for you. Hailing from America, Sneakertopia is said to be a massive sneaker and street culture exhibition, featuring some of the world’s rarest shoe designs along with edgy art installations. One example is a Nike optical illusion that looks like random shapes hanging from the ceiling at most angles, but transforms into the silhouette of a shoe when you stand at the right spot.
Photo from Sneakertopia
As Sneakertopia themselves would say, the event is “one part pop art gallery, one part insanely huge sneaker closet, all parts jaw dropping” - we’ll take their word on that! Feast your eyes on pairs upon pairs of limited edition sneakers - most of which are already out of production - along with specially-customised versions of popular sneaker styles.
Photo from Sneakertopia
There will also be plenty of larger-than-life photo spots, so make sure you’re dressed for the cam! Don’t be surprised if you suddenly get the urge to expand your own collection of kicks after visiting.
Photo from Sneakertopia
Sneakertopia
Date: 25 February to 30 July 2023
Time: 10am - 7pm daily
Location: ArtScience Museum
Price: $18 for Singaporean adults
Website
#11: Drop by the hidden Yayoi Kusama art exhibition at Orchard
Photo from Opera Gallery
We’re sure you’ve heard of the Yayoi Kusama x Louis Vuitton collaboration, but we betcha didn’t know that there’s a hidden art exhibition in town with the Japanese artist’s kitschy works - including the famous yellow pumpkin with black polka dots, one of her most iconic motifs ever created.
Photo from Opera Gallery
Titled A New World, this pop-up at ION’s Opera Gallery also includes the sculptures by late French-American artist, Niki de Saint Phalle. Combined, these pieces by the two female artists bring a splash of bold colour meant to evoke a sense of liberation.
Photo from Opera Gallery
A New World - Yayoi Kusama & Niki de Saint Phalle
Date: Until 5 February 2023
Time: 11am - 8pm daily
Location: Opera Gallery at ION Orchard
Price: FREE
Website
#12: Be fascinated by razor blade sculptures at The Gillman Barracks
Photo from Sundaram Tagore Gallery
The Gillman Barracks never fails to impress with its multiple galleries housing art exhibitions that get refreshed every so often, and one that’s caught our eye this month is Melancholy, located at Sundaram Tagore Gallery within the compound. At first glance, the glinting silver sculptures just look like futuristic installations molded from metal, but what they actually are is far more impressive: Hundreds of razor blades.
Photo from Sundaram Tagore Gallery
These sculptures take on the shape of clothes, bags, and baby items, along with everyday objects like buttons and zippers built to supersized proportions. There’s more to this exhibition than just the technique of joining the razor blades together; The razor blades themselves are a reference to both a common childbirth tool as well as the violence against women in Bangladesh, where the artist Tayeba Lipi is from.
Photo from Sundaram Tagore Gallery
The childhood-themed sculptures reflect the addition of a baby boy to her family during the pandemic despite the losses, while the everyday items bring attention to the “small, intimate stuff” surrounding her during the lockdown.
Melancholy by Tayeba Begum Lipi
Date: Until 25 February 2023
Time: Tuesday to Friday: 11am - 6pm | Saturday: 11am - 7pm
Location: Sundaram Tagore Gallery at Gillman Barracks
Price: FREE
Website
#13: Get inked by these visiting Korean tattoo artists
Photo from @e.ple_tattoo via Instagram
Korean tattoo artists are arguably some of the best in the world. Without booking yourself a whole flight to Seoul or another major city, get yourself inked by some of these skilled needle masters with at least 9 of them making a trip to Singapore for guest work this February 2023.
Photo from @uweoljansang via Instagram
All of them have their own design specialties, from semi-realistic fine line florals to vibrant “crayon-style” animals and super delicate ornamental tattoos made with the thinnest and most precise lines. Some of them can also do pet paw-traits!
Photo from @tattooist_yun via Instagram
As they’ll only be here for a certain period of time, slots are limited, so book your appointment fast to avoid missing out! If all else fails, you can bookmark this list for future reference for your upcoming trips to Korea.
#14: Take cool #reflectiongram shots with a mirrored installation
Photo from National Gallery Singapore
You’ve probably flocked to the National Gallery for events like Light to Night and Singapore Night Festival, but aside from those pop-ups that draw crowds by the thousands, it’s also worth checking out the lesser-hyped ones that are part of the museum’s common spaces.’
Photo from National Gallery Singapore
OUTBOUND is a series of commissions by local and international artists, and instead of being placed in a specific gallery, they’re scattered across transitional areas in the building - think entrances, walkways, stairwells and windows. The next time you drop by, keep your eyes peeled for these oft-overlooked pieces and you’ll get to view the museum from a different perspective.
Photo from National Gallery Singapore
Some of these include Nowhere, a mirrored installation on Level 4 perfect for #reflectiongram shots, and Forum for Drone Speech - Singapore Simulations on Level 2, comprising of a mishmash of mediums including holographic prints, wire mesh, audio recordings and birdsong.
OUTBOUND
Date: Ongoing
Location: National Gallery Singapore
Website
#15: Delight in cute bunny-themed floral displays at Dahlia Dreams 2023
Photo from Gardens by the Bay
The annual Dahlia Dreams at Gardens by the Bay is in full bloom again, and with this year being the Year of the Rabbit, their floral displays have gotten an extra cute bunny-themed twist that you’ll find endearing no matter which year of the lunar zodiac you’re born in.
Photo from Gardens by the Bay
There’s also a sub-theme of Aesop’s famous tale, The Hare and the Tortoise. But instead of following the original fable, where a haughty hare challenges a tortoise to a race and loses, GBTB’s version is a more heartwarming one, where the two critters join hands and work as a team to reach the finishing line together. Aww.
Photo from Gardens by the Bay
Along the way you’ll spot traditional Chinese pagodas, willow trees, festive couplets, and a twisty magnolia tree amidst the warm-hued Dahlias.
Dahlia Dreams 2023
Date: Until 26 February 2023
Time: 9am - 9pm daily
Location: Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay
Price: $12 for Singaporean adults
Website
#16: Eat, shop, & play at ARTBOX Singapore’s first air-conditioned edition
Photo from ARTBOX Singapore
Bangkok’s trendy night market ARTBOX unfortunately didn’t survive the pandemic, but at least we have its Singaporean offshoot. But it’s not the hot and sweaty affair you might expect - ARTBOX Singapore 2023 is going to be held in air-conditioned comfort at Singapore EXPO so you can stay cool even if the sun is scorching outside.
Photo from ARTBOX Singapore
The premise is the same as always: Good food, products by small local brands, and live music performances to chill out with. We also heard that there’ll be stage games where you can score yourself some prizes, a pink dining area, and tons of lit photo spots.
Photo from ARTBOX Singapore
#17: Test your wits in an Alice in Wonderland escape game
Photo from Cluedupp
Tumble down the rabbit hole with the Alice in Wonderland Experience, an outdoor escape game from USA and Canada that’s now making its stop in Singapore. Happening on 1 day only, this immersive challenge will have you testing your wits to search for clues and solve puzzles. Participants are encourage to dress according to the theme, as there will be prizes to be won for the Best Themed Dress, as well as other categories like Fastest Team and Best Team Name..
#18: Catch movies at a pet-friendly Seaside Cinema with free photo prints
Photo from Cinewav
Cinewav’s Seaside Cinema is back at Marina @ Keppel Bay for multiple rounds of movie screenings throughout the month of February! Recliner seats are provided so you can lean back and relax - all you need to do is to bring your own earphones for this silent experience, and any food and drinks if you wish to have some munchies. Pets are welcome too!
This month’s screenings are in collaboration with Love, Bonito - so you’ll enjoy discounted Love, Bonito gift cards as part of your ticket bundle. The local fashion brand will also have a pop-up booth there so you can shop for seasonal outfits and have fun with free photo prints.
Movies available for booking include: 500 Days of Summer, Pride and Prejudice, Jimami Tofu, Yesterday and more. Specifically, the love story Far from the Madding Crowd will be screened on the 14th - perfect for a unique Valentine’s Day date! Check out the full lineup here.
Seaside Cinema
Date: 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 24 & 25 February 2023
Time: 7.45pm
Location: Marina @ Keppel Bay
Price: From $35 | From $80 with Love, Bonito gift card
Website
#19: Experience the Disney100 magic with photo spots & a sakura-themed merch store
Photo from Changi Airport Group
The Disney100 light shows at Jewel Changi have ended, but the magic continues with a series of photo spots with scenes from your favourite Disney and Pixar films such as Snow White, Toy Story, and Up. These are scattered across the Forest Valley and Canopy Park.
Photo from Changi Airport Group
There’s also a Disney Year of the Rabbit Tsum Tsum pop-up store, clad in a pink sakura theme. Here’s where you can pick up Disney goodies like plushies, home items, and apparel, including CNY exclusives that you won’t be able to find elsewhere!
Photo from Changi Airport Group
#20: Swoon over your fave oppas with BTS: Yet To Come
Photo from BTS
The hottest K-pop boy group has - excuse the pun - yet to come to Singapore for a while now, but here’s the next best thing: BTS: Yet To Come in Cinemas. This is a screening of their massive Busan concert from last year - re-edited and remixed with unique close-up angles that you won’t be able to witness in person. One of the dates is set aside for “Light Stick Screenings”, where you’ll be given free reign to go all out with BTS’ signature ARMY Bomb.
Best part? All tickets come with a free limited edition commemorative item!
#21: Discover treasures at the new Peranakan Museum & join their street party
Photo from Peranakan Museum
It’s been 4 long years of renovation work but the Peranakan Museum is finally re-opening this February with 3 floors of galleries dedicated to Peranakan culture, including its lesser-known aspects and hidden stories. There will also be new treasures on display, either acquired or kindly donated by members of the public after being passed down in Perakana families for generations. The colonial building’s facade is looking good too, with a fresh coat of sky blue and mint green paint!
Kicking off the grand re-opening is a bangin’ Armenian Street Party, held over 3 days from 17 to 19 February from 5pm to 10pm with performances, fashion showcases, a makan market, and craft workshops.
Peranakan Museum
Address: 39 Armenian Street, Singapore 179941
Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday: 10am - 7pm | Friday: 10am - 9pm
Telephone: 6332 7591
Price: FREE
Website
