1. SINGAPORE: INSIDE OUT

After successful runs in Beijing, London and New York since April, creative cross-disciplinary showcase Singapore: Inside Out will finally be presented at home.

The showcase attracted more than 40,000 people in the three cities, including partner events which were held at the same time. For example, the New York edition was complemented by a Singapore hawker fare pop-up.

From today to Dec 6, head down to Tan Quee Lan Street in Bugis, where a 30m-by-25m modular scaffolding structure will be erected in a field. It will be illuminated by LED lights at night.

The objective is to "showcase the vibrant and creative facets of Singapore... beyond our reputation as a business city", says the Singapore Tourism Board, which leads the project.

It highlights works by 20 artists and their communities, such as illustrator Speak Cryptic's Kamar Kamillion, an on-site interactive installation for the public to draw and doodle in a bedroom-like setting; and Bank Of Kinetic, a group multimedia installation by 50 creative studios.

The 10-day affair in Singapore will include new features, such as a poetry slam event. The overseas editions ran for five days each.

Taking place in Tan Quee Lan Street between 6 and 10pm over two weekends - today to Sunday and Dec 4 to 6 - the hometown edition of Singapore Takeout will feature more than 10 celebrated local chefs showcasing creative interpretations of Singaporean favourites such as chilli crab and bak kut teh.

Participating chefs include Wayne Liew of Keng Eng Kee Seafood and Yew Eng Tong of Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora, who in 2012 edged out competitors from nine countries to take the gold medal in the Asian qualifiers of the Bocuse d'Or cooking competition.

Dishes are priced between $2 and $15 and the menu is different for both weekends. One of the standout dishes is Chilli Crab Ice Cream Sandwich - the brainchild of chef Han Li Guang of Restaurant Labyrinth and chef Liew. Featuring deep-fried soft-shell crab and chilli crab ice cream in a steamed mantou bun, it offers a new perspective on what is often known as Singapore's national dish.

Clearly, Singapore: Inside Out and Singapore Takeout have the makings of the perfect homage to the little red dot. After all, what could be more Singaporean than getting a healthy dose of culture with a side of chilli crab?

2. JUBILEE WALK

An 8km-long heritage trail linking the National Museum of Singapore to Gardens by the Bay and covering 23 historic and iconic spots in Singapore's civic district and the Marina Bay area will be launched on Sunday.

The trail celebrates how Singapore has come so far despite the odds, thanks to Singaporeans working together, says the SG50 Programme Office.

While the official launch is on Sunday, primary school pupils have received activity sheets to encourage them to explore the trail with their parents.

Trail markers on Jubilee Walk will highlight other historically significant sites such as the Peranakan Museum, which was formerly Tao Nan School; and Fort Canning Park, where relics uncovered suggest that Singapore has been a trading hub since the 14th century.

The trail also goes to the Jubilee Bridge, a 220m-long bridge linking Esplanade promenade to Merlion Park.

The pedestrian bridge, which forms part of the 3.5km Marina Bay waterfront loop, will be officially launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday.

To commemorate the launch of the Jubilee Walk, the People's Association and The New Paper will also hold the SG50 Jubilee Big Walk on Sunday. It covers a 5km portion of the trail and 25,000 participants are expected.

Registration for the walk has closed, but those interested in the self-guided trail can pick up maps and booklets from museums in the area or go to the National Heritage Board website (www.nhb.gov.sg).

Those who want a more interactive experience can download the Singapore Time Walk app, which lets them explore some of the trail stops in an experiential manner. Developed by Google, the app for Android phones and iPhones allows users to overlay historical images and animations onto the current site using the phone's camera.

The National Heritage Board plans to organise free tours by volunteer guides next year.

3. SG HEART MAP FESTIVAL @ FLOAT

After a year-long initiative, the SG Heart Map project has collected more than 80,000 personal stories of spots in Singapore which represent home to the contributors.

Fifty of the most endearing places have emerged, based on the frequency of mentions, creating a first-of-its-kind, crowd-sourced "heart map" which includes Changi Airport and Toa Payoh, the first satellite town in Singapore.

The SG Heart Map Festival, which started yesterday and runs till Sunday, will bring to life some of these stories with the help of seven artists from the visual and literary scenes .

These include Wordplay! A Literary Playground, a showcase of 20 works of poetry and prose by 10 established Singapore writers such as Cyril Wong and Verena Tay, led by independent bookstore BooksActually's founder Kenny Leck.

Children will enjoy the see-saw, merry-go-round and bouncy castles at the "playground", which fits the project's theme of childhood memories.

Another project is led by designer William Chan, co-founder of Phunk Studio. His film, A Beautiful Day, documents the 50 places as they transition from day to night.

It comprises an animation that will be screened on the exterior of a specially constructed dome on The Float @ Marina Bay as well as an accompanying short film that will be screened inside it.

Chan, 41, says the film aims to take "audiences on a visual journey through the many places that trace the progress of Singapore".

There will also be a light and pyromusical show each night from 7.45pm and outdoor movie screenings from 8pm of movies such as Cheah Chee Kong's Chicken Rice War (2000) and P. Ramlee's Ali Baba Bujang Lapok (1960).

For those keen on some grub, head to the food street for snacks such as hotdog prata wraps and Peranakan desserts.

4. SHARE THE HOPE

The National Gallery Singapore, which houses the largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian art, officially opened its doors on Tuesday and celebrations will last till Dec 6.

One of the key highlights takes place from today till Sunday - a massive celebration titled Share The Hope.

The Padang will be abuzz with family-friendly activities as part of a three-day Art Carnival which will be divided into five tented spaces with art activities and installations related to themes.

For example, in the Adversity & Conflict tent, learn how to find food in a war scenario, facilitated by urban-farming advocates Super Farmers.

Makan Memories, in the Passion & Love tent, is an interactive performance about memories associated with food.

For 10 minutes every hour from 8 to 10pm, the facade of the former Supreme Court and City Hall will be transformed into a giant canvas of light, sound and visuals. The two buildings house the Gallery.

Sponsored by luxury jewellery brand Cartier, the multimedia projection is inspired by artworks in the Gallery, such as Cheong Soo Pieng's 1978 painting Drying Salted Fish.

With these activities, it is hoped that the three-day carnival on the Padang "extends the art experience beyond the walls of the Gallery", making art accessible to more people, says Ms Suenne Megan Tan, the Gallery's director of education and programmes.

Also officially launching today is the 290m-long Art Connector, a permanent covered walkway linking City Hall MRT station to the Coleman Street entrance of the Gallery.

Its design incorporates portraits drawn by the public, collected from November last year in a campaign titled Portraits Of The People.

In the Gallery, there will be other programmes happening till Dec 6, including sketching workshops and theatrical and dance performances.

5. PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS

Three new public sculptures by home-grown artists commissioned by the National Arts Council's Public Art Trust will be unveiled later this month as part of the Jubilee Walk to commemorate the Golden Jubilee year.

Located in the civic district and Marina Bay, these have been selected from an open call for proposals conducted in June last year and are meant to bring art closer to Singaporeans.

24 Hours In Singapore by sculptor Baet Yeok Kuan consists of five steel spheres which incorporate recordings of daily life in Singapore, such as the sounds of traffic in the heartland and MRT trains. It is located near the Asian Civilisations Museum.

At Queen Elizabeth Walk near the Esplanade, a stone-and-steel sculpture reinterprets the national symbols - the five stars and crescent moon. Titled The Rising Moon, it is created by sculptor and Cultural Medallion recipient Han Sai Por and artist-architect Kum Chee-Kiong.

Appearing to rise out of the water nearby is Cloud Nine: Raining by Tan Wee Lit, a sculptor and head of the Faculty of Visual Arts at the School of the Arts Singapore. The sculpture alludes to Singapore's journey to attaining water selfsufficiency and its importance to the country's survival.

Noting its unique location, Tan, 37, says: "What better way to celebrate this progressiveness than to have it monumentalised as this strange sculptural installation of a rain cloud floating over the Singapore River."

For more information on the artworks, go to www.nac.gov.sg

6. THE FUTURE OF US EXHIBITION

What would Singapore's newspaper headlines be like in the future? What would our roads look like?

Contemplate the future in Singapore with a new exhibition, The Future Of Us, at Gardens by the Bay from Tuesday.

The three-month-long free exhibition draws upon Government research papers and masterplans as well as ideas collected from youth seminars and Our Singapore Conversation, a national initiative led by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat which started in 2012.

It comprises six interactive zones, four of which will be housed in four purpose-built domes.

For example, Theatre Of Generations shows how people live in 2030 and Home Tomorrow gives a glimpse into future schools, homes and offices. Blue Skiesis designed to look like a galaxy and visitors are encouraged to pen their thoughts about Singapore's future, which will be weaved into a constellation of wishes from others.

"The exhibition hopes to get Singaporeans thinking about how they can contribute to Singapore's future by providing glimpses into the possibilities and plausible scenarios for the future," says its creative director Gene Tan, who is in his 40s. He is from the Centre For Liveable Cities, which is leading this exhibition.

Those keen to delve deeper into the issues surrounding the future can check out a component of the exhibition, The Marketplace, where conversation sessions on various themes will be held.