Hi,

Welcome to Singapore. Are you on vacation here?

I recommend checking out:
—Haji Lane, the coolest new street for shopping. Check out the Commes des Garcon guerilla shop, fronted by Theseus Chan, design genius.
—Club Street — has some cool shops also, like Front Row, Wild Child, and Venue.
—Cream, on Purvis Street designer furniture heaven. They also sell Boffi kitchens.
—You should meet the guys setting up Singapore’s first contemporary arts “Biennale”. Here’s a link to ther website. Singapore Biennale
—Homespun is a great shop in the Arts House at the Old Parliament House (literally, the original parliament house turned into an arts centre). This shop specializes in locally designed products. Check out designer Alvin Chua’s kopitiam chairs for two.
—Hotel 1929 is worth a visit as well as the owner’s new, soon-to-be-opened hotel, the New Majestic (just around the corner from 1929). Eat at Ember in the 1929 hotel.
—Also eat at PS Cafe, the “in” place to eat and be seen in. The house it’s in is stunning. A glass, fronted 50’s modernist homage.
—The Hermes store on Orchard Road (Liat Towers) is currently having a cool art exhibition.
—So too is the Earl Lu Gallery at Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts (90 Goodman Road). It’s of 5 amazing British designers.
—You should meet Patrick Chia, the furniture designer; Phunk, graphic designers; and Wykidd Song, fashion designer. Also Kelley Cheng, editor of Ish magazine and editorial director of Page One Books.
—Call Design Singapore, the government agency promoting design.
—Check out cult designer Hanson Ho’s latest offering under his “rabbit” line… one of a kind T-Shirts that are being exhibited in design galleries. Email him at hanson55@singnet.com.sg.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your stay in our country!

Aun