For folks who don’t celebrate the Lunar New Year, or simply don’t have much visiting to do, how do you kill time over the long weekend if most shops and businesses taking their well-deserved breaks during this festive period? Huat do you do if your favourite stores or cafes are closed? If you haven’t a clue, read on.

Main photo: Yudhi Aristan/@aristan89

There’s a myriad of Insta-opportunities at the rooftop of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre’s (SCCC) roof garden. We’re talking giant pineapples, mega mahjong tile installations and more. Of course, it’s not just about photos — you’ll also get to learn about the history of Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore.

Huat Huat Land is on from Jan 1 to Feb 8, open 9am-11pm daily (including public holidays), at the SCCC Rooftop Garden, 1 Straits Boulevard Singapore 018906. Free admission. More info at https://www.singaporeccc.org.sg/event/huathuatland/.
Photo: Jason Lim/@jsnjnr

Do your memories of CNY include the massive disappointment of trotting to the supermarket for snacks to munch on while watching movie re-runs at home, only to find out they’re all closed? That’s no longer the case, with most supermarkets staying open this CNY — some have even extended their opening hours.

Giant: All outlets will stay open throughout CNY. More info here.
Cold Storage, Market Place and Jason’s: All outlets to stay open throughout CNY eve and CNY (Jan 24-26), except for branches at One North, Marina Bay Link Mall and Takashimaya, which will be closed on the first two days of CNY. More info here.
FairPrice: 24 FairPrice stores that will stay open 24 hours throughout Chinese New Year from Jan 24 to 27, including: Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 Blk 215, Clementi Ave 2 Blk 352, Sengkang East Ave Blk 279 and Yishun Ring Road Blk 414. On the first day of the Lunar New Year (Jan 25), 114 FairPrice outlets will remain open, and 147 FairPrice stores open on the second day of CNY (Jan 26). More info here.
Sheng Siong: All stores will open on CNY eve until 4pm, with the exception of its Penjuru outlet. On Jan 25 and 26, 23 stores will open from 8am-6pm. More info here.

Photo: Pexels

Today at Apple sessions will continue as usual, rain or shine or Chinese New Year. From now until Feb 8, there are a plethora of free (!) photography-related workshops held daily (yes, even on CNY eve and on the first and second days of CNY) at Apple stores at Orchard Road and Jewel Changi Airport.

The Photo Skills: Create Shareable Moments This New Year sesh is part of the store’s Modern Traditions festive line-up. The half-hour hands-on class, happening several times a day at Apple Orchard Road and Apple Jewel Changi Airport lets you in on secrets to take winning, unique shots, whether it’s a family picture or a snapshot of the pineapple tarts you don’t want to eat.

If you’re looking to up your iPhone-tography skills, and snap beautiful pics like these featured above (yes, believe it or not, these photos were #shotoniphone), you know what to do.

Photo Skills: Create Shareable Moments This New Year is on until Feb 8 at Apple Orchard Road and Apple Jewel Changi Airport. Daily, times vary. Free admission, but registration is required. More info at https://www.apple.com/sg/today/collection/moderntraditions/.
Photos: Javan Ng/@javan, CR Tan/@xlbcr, Jason Lim/@jsnjnr

Gather the clan, escape nosy relatives or just channel your inner Ariana Grande at a karaoke sesh. After all, karaoke chains will remain open throughout Chinese New Year.

Karaoke Manekineko: All nine outlets will stay open throughout Chinese New Year with regular opening hours. But take note: All outlets will be shut for a short break on CNY eve from 5-8pm, except for the Cineleisure outlet. More info here.
HaveFun Karaoke: All outlets will operate as usual throughout CNY, with extended hours at its Downtown East branch (till 2am) on Jan 25-26. Closing times for its other outlets over CNY: 313@Somerset closes at 5.30am, the Bugis branch shuts at 3am, and HaveFun Toa Payoh@SAFRA operates till 1am. More info here.
Party World KTV: Slightly different opening times. Liang Court outlet opens 8pm-6am on CNY eve (Jan 24), 6pm-6am on CNY Day 1 (Jan 25), usual hours (2pm-6am) on Jan 26-27. Tanjong Pagar outlet opens 6pm-3am on Jan 25, usual hours on Jan 26-27. More info here.
Photo: HaveFun KTV

The first of five Istana Open Houses this year is on the second day of the Lunar New Year (Jan 26). Celebrate the Year of the Rat with lion dance performances, busking acts and Chinese drums and dance performances at the Istana. And if you’re in the mood to snoop around, we mean, explore, there are guided tours of the Istana main building, where collections of state gifts are on display, as well as nature guided walks by NParks every hour from 10am-4pm (separate charges apply). There’s also the debut of i’mable gift market which will hawk artisanal products such as leather products, homeware, jewellery and artworks crafted by people with disabilities.

The Istana Open House is on Jan 26 (Sun), 8.30am-6pm, at The Istana, 35 Orchard Rd. Free entry for Singaporeans and Singapore PRs; $2 for all other visitors. Entry to Istana grounds via main gate at Orchard Road. More info at https://www.istana.gov.sg/.
Photo: Istana

Skip the bak kwa and get your dose of vitamin Sea at Tanjong Beach Club’s Australia Day soiree on Jan 26. Chinese New Year and chilling out are two things that don’t go together — not unless you’re luxuriating at a beach club with a cold beer in hand, battling it out at beer pong, or just boogieing on the beach.

Tanjong Beach Club and its surrounds tend to pack in the crowds over long Lunar New Year breaks, so best to go early to chope a spot, or a daybed if you’re feeling fancy. Daybed packages start from $350 for 4-6pax. Ten per cent of sales of the day will be donated to organisations in support of the Australian bushfire relief efforts.

If you love the dazzling Future World exhibition at ArtScience Museum, you’ll love this new digital exhibition at Gardens by the Bay (GBTB) even more. #Futuretogether at GBTB is an immersive exhibition of seven digital art installations, and is the brainchild of art collective, teamLab. They’re the maestros who brought you the Insta-worthy sparkly backdrops and installlations at ArtScience Museum. What’s even better? There’s free entry for Singapore residents once #Futuretogether at Gardens by the Bay officially opens on Jan 16, 2020. Click here for a preview of the exhibition.

Catch #futuretogether outdoor exhibits from Dec 15 to Jan 15, 2020 at 7pm-12am at Bayfront Plaza at Gardens by the Bay. Admission is free.

#futuretogether officially runs from Jan 16 to Mar 15, 2020, 9am-9pm (indoor exhibits) and 7pm-12am (outdoor exhibits). At Bayfront Plaza at Gardens by the Bay. Admission is free for Singapore residents (additional charges apply for certain exhibits) and $10 for standard tickets. Advanced tickets to the exhibits can be booked at www.gardensbythebay.com.sg.

Photos: Gardens by the Bay, teamLab

Discover how Disney magic comes to life for the first time in Singapore at ArtScience Museum’s latest exhibition which reveals behind-the-scenes secrets behind 90 years of animation history. Pore over 500 art pieces — original drawings and concept art included — curated by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library. The exhibition also features interactive features such as projections, audio-visual displays that will take you on a walk down memory lane. The icing on the cake is the debut of original artwork from the upcoming, highly-anticipated Frozen 2. For more pix and info, click here.

Oct 26 to Mar 29, 2020, ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Ave, S018974. Tickets from $12. More info at https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum/disney-magic-of-animation.html

Since its inception here in 2016, Tokyo-based interdisciplinary collective teamLab’s super photogenic dreamscapes have become a must-see for visitors, Singaporeans and ’gramaholics, of course. Who doesn’t love traipsing around in the trippy Crystal Universe? But if you’ve visited ArtScience Museum’s permanent exhibition once and think you’ve seen it all, think again.

Future World has just been refreshed and with an all-new gallery and two new artworks for your viewing — and Instagramming — pleasure. You’ll find the all-new features in the City in a Garden gallery, one of four galleries (Sanctuary, Park and Space complete the line-up). If you haven’t realised by now, City in a Garden is a riff on Singapore’s Garden City status and the theme of integrating nature back into the concrete jungle, and takes you through fields of flowers, lush meadows and even an aquarium. Find out more here.

Future World: Where Art Meets Science is on at ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. Open 10am-7pm daily (last admission 6pm). Tix and info at www.marinabaysands.com.

Photo: teamLab