Wednesday's top pick

STARS - LIVE!

Keep a date with Stars, a critically acclaimed Canadian indie band whose music has been described as 'beautiful' and 'eloquent' with lush instrumentation and nuanced vocals. Last year, they released the grand and mysterious album, In Our Bedroom After The War.

Where: Esplanade Concert Hall MRT: City Hall When: Wed , 9pm Admission: $71 - $151 Tel: 6348-5555 Visit www.sistic.com.sg

Art

MAN, HEROES, MYTHS & GODS

An exhibition of the wild and imaginative works of contemporary Thai artists Jirapat Tatsanasomboon and Kamol Tamseewan.

Where: Mulan Gallery, 02 -33 Tanglin Shopping Centre. Tanglin Road MRT: Orchard When: Till Thu , 11am - 6.30pm (Mon - Sat), 1- 6pm (Sun) Admission: Free Tel: 6738-0810

PERCEIVING TRANQUILITY I (ART OF BUDDHA)

Chinese painter Chen Yun Xiao's fascination with the art form of the Buddha inspired his first series of works.

Where: Alliance Francaise, SG Private Banking Gallery, 1 Sarkies Road MRT: Newton When: Thu - Jan 21, 11am - 7pm (Mon - Fri) 11am - 5pm (Sat), closed on Sun & public holidays Admisssion: Free Tel: 6833-9314 Info: E-mail AFexhibitions@alliancefrancaise.org.sg

THE SPLENDOUR OF SHOUSHAN STONE CARVINGS

This exhibition features the Shoushan stone carvings by master artists Lin Hengyun, Lin Wenju and Lin Dong from China, who excel respectively in carving bears and the underwater world, par-relief carving, and stone figurines.

Where: Loong Hua Arts & Crafts, 05 -27 Paragon Shopping Centre, Orchard Road MRT: Somerset/Orchard When: Till Sun , 11.30am - 7.30pm daily Admission: Free Tel: 6736-3339

Charity

LAUNCH OF GOOD LIFE RECIPE BOOK WITH A HEART

Buy a copy of the Good Life Recipe Book at FairPrice supermarket or hypermarke and help raise more than $100,000 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund which helps needy schoolchilden. The book contains 16 innovative recipes by local celebrity chefs, including Violet Oon, Chan Kwok, Sam Leong, Angelo Sanelli and Chookiat Kantha. A FairPrice and Peter Knipp Holdings collaboration

Where: All FairPrice supermarkets and hypermarkets in Singapore When: While stocks last Price: $12.80, or $3.90 with purchases of $25 and above Tel: 1800-5522-722 (9am - 5pm on weekdays)

WILL THE BULL CHARGE IN THE YEAR OF THE OX?

Get insights from Hong Kong's Feng Shui Grand Master Raymond Lo for the coming Chinese Year of the Ox. For each premium ticket sold for this session, Singapore Pools will donate $50 to the President's Challenge for more than 40 charities.

Where: Singapore Conference Hall, Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall, 7 Shenton Way MRT: Tanjong Pagar When: Thu , 7.30 - 9.15pm Admission: $20 (standard ticket) & $68 (premium ticket) Tel: 6786-6688 Info Visit www.singaporepools.com.sg

KIDZ 4 KIDZ MYSTAMP

Pay $20 for a limited-edition of the Kidz 4 Kidz MyStamp charity stamp sheet featuring the children of celebrities such as Zoe Tay. The money will help special needs children at Asian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA).

Info: The stamps will be available at all post offices here till Jan 31. Place your order by visiting http://shop.vpost.com.sg

SALE OF CARDS FOR CHARITY

Buy Chinese New Year greeting cards from the Singapore Cancer Society at $1.10 each. Fifty cents will go to the Singapore Cancer Society Cancer Treatment Fund.

Tel: 6421-5859 Info: E-mail aeran_lee@singaporecancersociety.org.sg for inquiry and to purchase. View the greeting cards on the Singapore Cancer Society website - www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg

Chinese New Year

LUNAR RETAIL FAIR

View the 2009 Year of the Ox Almanac Coins issued by the Monetary Authority of Macau and minted and marketed by The Singapore Mint at this Lunar Retail Fair at Suntec City Mall's Tropics Atrium.

Where: Suntec City Mall, Tropics Atrium MRT: City Hall When: Till Sun : 11am - 9pm daily Admission: Free Tel: 6825-2668

ROADSHOWS BY SINGAPORE MINT

There will be various roadshows around Singapore showcasing the 2009 Macau Year of the Ox coins, which present the Chinese zodiac animals in a modern style as well as 12 heritage sites of Macau.

Where: HDB Hub, MRT: Toa Payoh When: Till Jan 24: 11am - 8.30pm, Jurong Point, Level 1, MRT: Boon Lay When: Till Jan 24, 11am - 8.30pm, Parkway Parade, basement, MRT: Eunos, Till Jan 24, 11am - 8.30pm Bugis Junction, Level 1 MRT: Bugis When: Till Jan 24, 11am - 8.30pm, Ang Mo Kio Hub, Basement 1 MRT: Ang Mo Kio When: Thu - Jan 24), 11am - 8.30pm, Compass Point, Level 1, MRT: Sengkang When: Thu - Jan 24, 11am - 8.30pm, Suntec City Mall, Tropics Atrium MRT: City Hall When: Jan 12 - 24: 11am - 8.30pm Admission: Free Tel: 6566-2626

TELL YOUR FORTUNE: AN OX-PICIOUS YEAR OR NOT?

Are you a born leader? If you were born Year of the Ox, you may find that you have similar traits with the United States President-elect Barack Obama, who is strong, spirited and highly motivated. Have your fortunes read at Fraser Centrepoint malls using methods such as palm and handwriting reading, tarot card reading and fengshui reading.

Where: Northpoint, Yishun MRT: Yishun When: Sat & Sun , 1, 4 & 7pm (Personal Fengshui Reading) Where: Compass Point, Punggol MRT Sengkang When: Jan 17 & 18, 1, 4 & 7pm (Palm Reading), Jan 23 & 24, 1, 4 & 7pm (Personal Fengshui Reading) Where: Anchorpoint MRT: Queenstown When: Sat & Sun , 1, 4 & 7pm (Palm Reading), Jan 17 & 18, 1, 4 & 7pm (Tarot Card Reading), Admission: Free Tel: 6754-2300 (Northpoint), 6881-2707 (Compass Point), 6475-2257 (Anchorpoint)

Info: Shoppers who spend $50 at any of the malls can win a Chevrolet Spark car in a lucky draw while those spending $100 can redeem a limited edition Chinese New year traditional Japanese gift-wrapping cloth (Furoshiki) to wrap Mandarin oranges. Spend $120 and get a limited edition Tiger Glass or spend at least $1,500 to receive a coveted Guess watch worth $195.

OX-PICIOUS LUCKY DRAW

Spend $50 at China Square Central and you stand to win the top cash prize of $888 in the shopping centre's Ox-Picious Lucky Draw.

Where: China Square Central, 18 Cross Street, junction of China Street & Cross Street MRT: Chinatown/Raffles Place When: Till Jan 24, 10am - 10pm Admission: Free Tel: 6327-4810

Class

YMCA ADULT INTRODUCTORY EPEE

Learn the basics of fencing to enhance your powers of concentration and think fast on your feet. The instructor is Russian coach Maria Bobok.

Where: YMCA of Singapore, Orchard Road MRT: Dhoby Ghaut When: Wed , 7.30 - 9pm Admission: $140 (four sessions) plus annual subscription of $21.40 (adult) & $10.70 (youths under 21), including equipment and apparel rental Tel: 6586-2323 Info: E-mail melissaseet@ymca.org.sg

BASIC WATERCOLOUR PAINTING FOR SENIORS

If you are aged 50 and above, you can sign up for this class to learn basic water colour painting under Madam Rosma Mahyudin Guha, a member of the Singapore Watercolour Society and committee member of the International Women's Art Association.

Where: Centre For Seniors, Junction 8 Office Tower, 10 -02, 9 Bishan Place MRT: Bishan When: Thu , 10.30am - 12.30pm Admission: $48 (eight sessions) Tel: 6478-5010

Club

CITIBANK SINGER - SONGWRITERS: DAPHNE KHOO

Rock out with singer-songwriter Daphne Khoo, a Singapore Idol alum and the former lead singer of indie band West Grand Boulevard. She is Power 98 Singapore Music Award 2008's Best Breakout Solo Artist with her debut album, Desperate. Presented by Jack & Rai.

Where: Timbre@ The Substation Garden, 45 Armenian Street MRT: City Hall When Wed, 7.30pm Admission: Free (pay for drinks) Tel: 6338-8277 Info: www.timbre.com.sg

Contest

SEARCH FOR A SINGAPORE FAMILY

Wanted: a Singaporean family embodying strong family values to show Australians families a different approach to parenting in a new television series based on the BBC series, The World's Strictest Parents. The producers want to place two headstrong Australian teenagers in a family here for eight days to experience a different set of rules and way of life. The ideal family should have school-aged children living at home, with at least one teenager aged 14 to 18, and have a strong and clear command of English. For details, visit www.acastofthousands.com.au/singapore, or e-mail nicole@acastofthousands.com.au Submit applications by Jan 31.

WHAT WILL WE DEFEND?

What do you hold dear in your heart and would defend with your life? Declare it in this Online Video Contest with a short video clip of under two minutes. Participants stand to win the top prize of a MacBook laptop worth $1,588. Organised by Singapore Press Holdings' RazorTV and NEXUS, the central co-ordinating agency for National Education.

Info: Submit entries by Feb 15. Make sure your final video file is in 3GP, AVI, MPEG or WMV format and no bigger than 5MB. Visit www.whatwilludefend.sg/takepart to submit your video and then vote for the best of the rest that Singapore has submitted for the competition by Feb 28.

M1 Singapore Fringe Fest

FROZEN ANGELS

What impact do developments in stem cell research and artificial intelligence have on human life and relationships? Playwright Haresh Sharma explores these issues in a thought-provoking play directed by Alvin Tan.

Where: National Museum of Singapore, Gallery Theatre, Stamford Road MRT: Dhoby Ghaut When: Wed - Sat , 8pm, Sat & Sun , 3pm Admission: $30 Tel: 6348-5555 Info: Visit www.singaporefringe.com or e-mail info@singaporefringe.com

MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

Don't break down if someone breaks your heart. Be positive and get ideas on how to overcome broken relationships through art creation at this quirky museum.

Where: Esplanade, Jendela MRT: City Hall When: Wed - Jan 18, 11am - 8.30pm daily Admission: Free Tel: 6828-8377 Info: www.brokenrelationships.com

WITHIN. WITHOUT

Explore the emotional and psychological aspects of an individual within a family unit in this contemporary dance by 2007 Young artist Award recipient Kuik Swee Boon.

Where: Esplanade Theatre Studio MRT: City Hall When: Wed - Thu , 8pm Admission: $20 & $30 Tel: 6348-5555

LOOMING MEMORY

Set in Greece and Australia, this play is about one man's struggle as he grows up with his heart in two parts of the world. The play won the Best Production and the 2007 Blue Room Theatre Awards in Australia.

Where: Guinness Theare, The Substation, Armenian Street MRT: City Hall When: Wed & Thu , 8pm Admission: $20 Tel: 6348-5555

DAYS WITH MY FATHER

This exhibition is a heartwrenching and yet hopeful account of British photographer Phillip Toledano and his father as they struggle to make sense of the latter's short-term memory loss.

Where: Esplanade Tunnel MRT: City Hall When: Wed - Jan 18, 6am - midnight daily Admission: Free Tel: 6828-8377 Info: www.dayswithmyfather.com and www.mrtoledano.com

MUTSUGOTO

This interactive installation inspired by long-distance relationships invites couples to experience an intimate communication over a distance, using digital media and textiles. By Tomoko Hayashi. Stefan Agamanolis and Matthew Karau (Japan & Scotland).

Where: Old School, The Hall (the former MGS Girls' School), 11 Mount Sophia Road MRT: Dhoby Ghaut When: Wed - Jan 18, 11am - 7pm daily Admission: Free Tel: 6440-8115 Info: info@singaporefringe.com

TRACES OF LOSS

This new installation work by Iris Buchholtz of Germany based on the memoirs of her grandfather, is about history, migration, the passing of time, memory, success and failure, loss and vulnerability, life and death and human existence in its emotional diversity.

Where: Old School, The Hall (former MGS Girls' School), Mount Sophia Road MRT: Dhoby Ghaut Where: When: Wed - Jan 18, 11am - 7pm daily Admission: Free Tel: 6440-8115 Info: info@singaporefringe.com

STILLS FROM THE FAMILY LIVING (ASIAN PREMIERE)

French photographer Frederic Naucyciel lives with some families in cities for between 36 to 48 hours to reenact scenes in their daily lives for this exhibition.

Where: Old School, The Art Studio, Mount Sophia Road When: Wed - Jan 18, 11am - 7pm daily Admission: Free Tel: 6440-8115 Info: info@singaporefringe.com

A LIGHT SLEEP

Japanese photographer Shigeaki Iwai collaborated with Singaporeans - including the recording of lullabies sung at various homes - for a work about Singapore's multicultural communities.

Where: The Substation, Gallery, Armenian Street MRT: City Hall When: Wed - Jan 18, 11am - 7om daily Admission: Free Tel: 6440-8115 Info: info@singaporefringe.com

Open House

REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC 2009 OPEN HOUSE

Get insights into the polytechnic's 30 diloma courses at this Open House at Republic Polytechnic's Open House on Wednesday.

Where: Republic Polytechnic, 9 Woodlands Avenue 9 MRT: Woodlands When: Wed , 10am - 6pm Admission: Free Tel: 6510-3000 Info: Visit www.rep.sg/openhouse

EXPECT, EXPLORE, EXCEL (PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE OPEN HOUSE 2009)

Secondary three and four students checking out Pioneer Junior College can play Hoop Classic 3-On-3 Basketball or try out other sports such as rugby, netball, floorball, volleyball, tennis and archery.

Where: Pioneer Junior College, 21 Teck Whye Walk MRT: Choa Chu Kang When: Thu , 9.30am - 3.30pm Admission: Free Tel: 9741-8860 Info: www.pioneerjc.moe.edu.sg

Show

A LIFE NO LESS ORDINARY

The ordinary lives of people with HIV/Aids in the face of challenges and discrimination are captured in this first Aids photo exhibition launched by the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Held in collaboration with the Deputy Picture Editor of The Straits Times Stephanie Yeow, and the Chief Photographer of Lianhe Zaobao Lee Tiah Khee.

Where: Central Lending Library, Level B1, National Library, Victoria Street MRT: Bugis/City Hall When: Till Jan 15, 10am - 9pm daily Admission: Free Tel: 6332-3255

Talk

LEADERSHIP IN CHALLENGING TIMES

Learn to stay ahead of these challenging times at three ST701 workshops at the Singapore Press Holdings New Centre. Designed for leaders, from supervisors and project leaders to heads of departments and senior management, these workshops are conducted by trainer Manoj Sharma, a world-class organisation strategist.

Where: Singapore Press Holdings News Centre, 1000 Toa Payoh North MRT: Braddell When: Jan 20, 9am - 5pm (Knowing the Global leadership Game in Challenging Times - Transformational leadership Through the Storm) When: Jan 22, 9am - 5pm (Knowing Transformational leadership in Volatile Times - Leading Yourself, leading Your Teams and Leading Leaders) When: Feb 19, 9am - 5pm

Knowing Transformational leadership Communication In A Disruptive Future- Transforming Your Leadership Communication Style) Admission: pay an early bird fee of $359 with GST (ST701 member) and $419 with GST (non-member) per workshop or a special bundle price of $588 (usual: $718) for ST701 member and $712 (usual: $838) for non-member for any two workshops or special bundle price of $861 (usual: $1,077) for ST701 member and $1,043 (usual $1,257) for non-member for all three workshops by Jan 15, after that pay $419 with GST (St701 member) and $489 with GST (non-member) per workshop Tel: 6319-55924 (office hours) Info: Visit jobs.st701.com or e-mail st701@sph.com.sg

Theatre

CINDERELLA

The international tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella featuring Tony Award winner Lea Salonga. Directed by Bobby Garcia of Disney's Beauty & The Beast fame.

Where: Esplanade Theatre MRT: City Hall When: Till Jan 22, 8pm, also 3pm on Sat & Sun Admission: $38 - $183 Tel: 6348-5555

Voting

MMSING TALENT CONTEST (VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE SINGER)

Vote for your favourite online singer in the MMSing Talent Contest and he or she might be richer by as much as $20,000. This online singing contest is organised by Stomp, Asia's No 1. social networking and citizen-journalism website.

Info: You can vote until March 31, Visit www.stomp.com.sg/mmsing3 and click on the relevant button to vote. The first prize for Category A for online singers aged more than 15 is $20,000 while the top winner in Category B for those aged under 15, will take home $3,000

Web

CHAT WITH STAR BLOGGERS

Want to know our star bloggers better? Chat with them from 9 to 10pm.

Info: Visit www.stomp.com.sg/starblog

Compiled by Magdalene Lum

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