City buzz

OFF-TRACK SHOWSTOPPERS

MUSIC

F1 Concerts

THE Singapore Grand Prix isn't just for those who like fast cars; the off-track concerts are attractions by themselves too if this year's line-up is anything to go by.

Headlining the Padang stage which has been revamped for an improved concert-going experience are Kylie Minogue (Friday), Queen + Adam Lambert (Saturday), Bastille (Saturday), Halsey (Sunday), and Imagine Dragons (Sunday), who will rock race fans before and after the days' respective main events.

Playing the Zone 1 Village Stage and Zone 4 Esplanade Outdoor Theatre are KC and the Sunshine Band (Friday and Saturday) and Pentatonix (Saturday and Sunday).

Flying the Singapore flag over the three days are homegrown music acts Gentle Bones, Charlie Lim & The Mothership, Take Two, Aarika Lee & the Next Movement, and Zsa & Amanda.

A selection of Zouk DJs will also be spinning tunes to keep the party spirits high long after the last car has sped past the checkered flag.

By Dylan Tan

ENTERTAINMENT

F1 Party

IF you're not into the dust-wrenching high-voltage action of the Grand Prix but would love to rub shoulders with the men in racing helmets, Amber Lounge is your best bet. Established in Singapore the same year as the Night Race, this party destination is popular with celebrities and drivers, with 19 of the latter attending last year's event.

Sonia Irvine, the founder of Amber Lounge, says: "While working as a physiotherapist for the Ferrari team, a group of us including six F1 drivers wanted to go out and party in Monaco, but there wasn't a suitable place. So I had the idea of creating Amber Lounge for VIPs and celebrities, and it opened in Monaco in 2003."

Last year saw APL.DE.AP from The Black Eyed Peas on deck, and this year, Ms Irvine shares that American singer-songwriter Kelis will be performing.

Around 2,000 guests are expected over this Grand Prix weekend.

By Avanti Nim

DINING

Braci

ITALIAN serial-restaurateur Beppe De Vito has struck again, this time with a modern Italian restaurant and rooftop bar in Boat Quay named Braci, which means "ember" in Italian.

Its menu is inspired by charcoal, and this is the main cooking method used in the restaurant's kitchen, which features a Josper oven and a shichirin grill.

For instance, the Piedmontese Beef Rib Steak (S$138 for 1kg, serves two) is oven-grilled at 350 degrees Celcius, while the Pork Cheek (S$68, serves two) is slow-cooked for four hours before it's finished off over the charcoal.

Of course, an Italian restaurant has to have its staple of pastas, and Braci's offerings include a homemade Tagliolini (S$38) with red prawn tartare and baeri caviar.

And for the undecided diner, perhaps the five-course omakase Surprise Menu (S$100) featuring highlights from the a la carte selection might be the way to go.

By Rachel Loi

OKTOBERFEST

Hop on the Erdinger BARcycle

DRINKING at the bar counter is so last year. Erdinger, the world's most popular brand of wheat beer, is introducing the BARcycle to Singapore at this year's Oktoberfest.

The BARcycle is a mobile counter-top bar that comes equipped with a beer dispenser that offers complimentary tasting portions of four varieties of Erdinger wheat beer: Oktoberfest Brew, Weissbier, Dunkel and Alkoholfrei.

Drinking on the BARcycle will be literally a moving experience, as it moves from one spot to another, picking up party-goers along the way. The BARcycle seats 15 people, and is open to anyone who meets the legal drinking age. You can stay as long as you want on the BARcycle, but remember, you are expected to be cycling while chugging down the beer.

The Erdinger BARcycle will make appearances at Suntec City, Clarke Quay Central and The Star Vista. At each of these malls, there will also be beer gardens set up, just like how it is done in Germany.

By Tay Suan Chiang

ART EXHIBITION

"Why are we doing what we are doing?"

A GROUP photography exhibition by seven contemporary artists explores the creative process of their art form, questioning everything from the technical aspects to subject matter.

What with the rapid development of the Internet and technology, there's no need to learn the intricacies of operating a camera or printing a photo. One can easily use a smartphone and instantly view the output on the screen.

These and other issues will be discussed by the group, comprising Agan Harahap, Angki Purbandono, and Iswanto Soerjanto from Indonesia; RongRong & Inri, Usami Masahiro and Yamamoto Masao from Japan; and Robert Zhao from Singapore.

By Cheah Ui-Hoon

CRAFT WORKSHOPS

Learn bookbinding

DO you want a supple, calf-skin leather-bound journal? Learn to bind your own leather wraparound books at The Thistle Bindery's workshop on Sept 17, 11am-1pm.

Organised in collaboration with Noise Singapore 2016, participants will learn to differentiate types of leathers, sew papers together using a firm long stitch binding to create a text block and encase the text block with your unique leather wrap.

The S$40 fee includes journal paper, decorative papers and other materials to bind one single-section case-bound book and the usage of bookbinding tools during the workshop.

Since the Thistle Bindery moved to its permanent home at Hong Lim Complex (#03-57, Blk 531, Upper Cross Street), it's also built up its collection of bookbinding equipment, materials and tools for workshop participants to purchase.

By Cheah Ui-Hoon