VivoCity - Singapore's Biggest Mall

Year of the Rabbit at Vivo

2011-01-27T02:55:00.000-08:00

I don't have much patience for shopping and prefer to do it online, but each festive season, I enjoy looking at the creative window treatments. If you want to feel the festive spirit and don't want to jostle with the crowds at Chinatown, I would say come to VivoCity. There's a quite a festive buzz here and 'rabbits' everywhere.

Loved the traditional chinese paper cutting design at Marks and Spensers for the Year of the Rabbit. Simple and not garish is what appeals to me. It makes me wonder who all these window dressers are. There are some really creative ones out there.

The delicate detail.

A bit of bold red against pretty lavender is quite a new colour combination, but it works.

This window display at the Fox clothing store reminds me of the rabbit on the moon from Chinese legends. I like the brush stroke fonts.

One of the temporary kiosks selling stuffed bunnies.

Loved the Decor at the entrance to Tangs. The floral treatment is so pretty. Tourists and locals alike could not resist a photo op with the Tangs bunny.

I hope the National Geographic store doesn't go out of business. It's quite empty and I suspect it's because the stuff here is quite expensive.

The decor here is simple, discrete and beautiful. Just a row of traditionally shaped Chinese lanterns.

Loved the Chinese style clouds at the Gap Store. I was just thinking about the Easter Bunny versus the Year of the Rabbit, Bunny. The difference here is there are no multi-coloured eggs and the rabbits are mostly red. It made me wonder if Easter bunny decor could be recycled. It looks like everything is new here though.

Another traditional looking Rabbit, but in yellow, at Timberland. A store I quite like, but I can't afford anything from here right now.

CNY 2011: Chinese Arts & Crafts Fair

2011-01-27T02:51:00.000-08:00

I was excited to see the Chinese Arts & Crafts Fair with vendors mostly from China at the central court at Level 1. Took some photos, but I think you would enjoy heading down to check it out yourself.

I was most intrigued by a simple hair device that was demonstrated on a pretty little blonde girl. Within seconds her hair was transformed into a beautiful intricate bun. I think it works best on thick straight hair, you should definitely go check this out soon. The special Fair for Chinese New Year will last till 21 February 2011.

The After:

The Before:

Another thing that fascinated me was the Sugar Art booth. The lady used melted sugar to produce the most intricate Chinese style lollies.

There were more than 30 little booths to check out I think and this kind of event is fun for both tourist and locals. I loved the traditional red thermos that was being sold here. In the 70's this type of beautiful thermos was used to store water that as boiled in a kettle. I still recall the whistling of the kettle on the stove as a young child. It's amazing how memory includes not only pictures, but sounds.

I thought this man looked chic with his newsboy cap. Is that what you call it? Anyway I'm guessing he's from fashionable Shanghai.

Beautiful, intricate paper cuttings.

I wonder if the little girl who had her hair done, bought a Cheong Sam to go with her elegant hairdo.

Santarinas

2010-12-22T20:14:00.001-08:00

Happy Studying

2010-12-22T20:13:00.001-08:00

I don't think you will see a sign like this in any other country. The kids in Singapore need to constantly swot for exams. It's due to people in Singapore being kiasu (Singlish for afraid to lose out). Kids also prefer to study at cafes instead of at the library or at home (probably due to insufficient space or noise from the TV). Saw this at one of the two VivoCity Starbucks Cafes. Yes, there are two Starbucks outlets in one mall and within close proximity too. Being someone who likes the coffee, I'm not complaining.

The signs are basically telling students they are more welcome before noon and in the early evening, before the work crowd makes their way out to the malls. Smart move Starbucks. They realize they should not alienate their future potential addicts, *ahem* I mean customers with a no studying sign. The kids would then just move to Coffee Bean or Tully's.

Architectural Curves

2010-12-22T20:11:00.000-08:00

I do love the feminine curves of the Vivo City Building. The Japanese architect did a great job.

The idea of a sprawling viewing deck and playful structures are appealing to me as well.

Is the skinny snowman being cleaned or transformed with lights?

A glimpse of Sentosa's Resort World.

Taking a cable car used to appeal to me, but now they just make me feel claustrophobic. I'd rather just take a tram/train there.

Baguette: Healthy Vietnamese Style Sandwiches

2010-12-22T20:09:00.000-08:00

The decor at this little cafe located at VivoCity is inviting with all that red. They do say in food psychology that colours like red, orange and yellow stimulate the appetite.

I had a mini grilled chicken baguette which was so good. If I had to eat healthy I could definitely do it eating Vietnamese style sandwiches like these. I liked the crunchy slices of carrots and red pepper and the sandwich has a sweetish sauce that went very well with the grilled chicken.

My partner had the 6 inch Saigon Baugette (S$5.80) which is a ham sandwich, but he wasn't too impressed. He felt that the portion size in terms of the 3 ham slices was not enough and he also thought the the vegetables were undercooked. He added that the bread was too hard and dry. He might know better than me, as he's had the real stuff in Vietnam, while I haven't. I still think I would have a sandwich here again but this time 2 minis as 1 is definitely not enough. It's only S$2.90, but it'll leave you hungry unless you're tiny and waif like and hardly eat anyway.

The bagettes were very neatly and attractively wrapped.

They have a loyalty card system with 1 stamp for every S$6 spent, which means you get a free meal worth S$6.90 but only when you've spent S$56. Work that out. Also note that the card expires in 4 weeks so unless you have lunch here 2-3 times a week, you can forget about the free meal. If this was at an office location, it might definitely work. It's also great if you want to eat healthy and you can have wholemeal bread by adding 40 cents.

This is actually their 3rd location and you can check out their other locations here.

Baguette - The Viet Inspired Deli
1 Harbourfront Walk
Vivocity #01-163
S(098585)
Tel : 64931426

Health Promotion Board Helps You Eat Healthy

2010-12-16T19:33:00.001-08:00

Saw this exhibition at VivoCity. Interesting panels in the form of giant shopping bags, about what's healthy and lower in calories. I would pick the Korean rice over everything else. That's yummy. Subway sandwiches are good too.

Bagette - Viet Inspired Deli

2010-12-16T19:31:00.000-08:00

I want to try out this Vietnamese Bagette place one day. It's new at VivoCity, although I have seen a small take-away outlet at Raffles City some time ago.

A Japanese Restaurant I always pass by, but haven't tried yet.

Yummy Curry Rice at Food Republic

2010-12-16T19:29:00.000-08:00

The fried kway teow was not so great. It was somewhat dry. The curry rice was good, but somehow better at the Wisma Atria branch. I still prefer Food Republic over other Singapore Food Courts.

Photos with the Panasonic Robot

2010-12-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

Wonderful Views of Sentosa in the Rain

2010-12-16T19:24:00.001-08:00

This is the only mall with an actual view of Sentosa, the cable cars, ships and the water and that's what makes it so great.

Gift Ideas: Calendars and Spicy Chocolate at Marks and Spensers

2010-12-16T19:23:00.000-08:00

Actually you probably could find these Roald Dahl Calendars at any Marks and Spensers.

Also saw some interesting spicy chocolate. I don't care for white chocolate though and I have a preference for milk chocolate although dark chocolate is supposed to be good for you.

Pretty Vintage Cards at PageOne

2010-12-16T19:20:00.000-08:00

Pretty vintage cards.

Gosh, Singapore is so low down on the list of happiest countries in the world. Denmark is looking real good.

Christmas and Santa at VivoCity

2010-12-16T19:18:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't you just buy the biscuits for the tin. Who doesn't love vintage Santa and a tin that looks like a retro radio? Marks and Spensers is defintely one of the best places for x'mas snacks and goodies.

So many pretty tins to choose from. What a great gift - biscuits plus the tin where you can store your precious momentos.

Christmas candles to add to the festive mood. Don't you just love the scent of burning candles. I just love looking at the flickering lights - so magical.

At the atrium there were Christmas decorations galore.

There was even an x'mas tree at Food Republic.

How magical the tree would be at night, all lit up.

Asian Santa at the Page One Bookstore.

Pretty baubles hang from the ceiling.

I had to make a Starbucks stop.

I Must Visit VivoCity One Day Soon

2010-11-24T23:21:00.001-08:00

VivoCity turns 4 on 1st December and the mall is actually organising fireworks at 9pm at the Promenade. I wonder if the place will be very crowded. It's mid week and a Wednesday so it may not be as bad as the weekend, but then again it's the school holidays!

Silk Air Nepal Passport

2010-10-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

There's a contest SilkAir has been promoting called SilkAir Explorers. It's good to know that SIlkAir flies to Kathmandu in Nepal. For those who don't know, SilkAir is Singapore's regional carrier and flies out of Singapore to countries in Asia. The plane is smaller than the usual Singapore Airlines planes and you can't get a 2 seater as they are 3 seats on either side of the aisle. The only qualm is this seating configuration, but I guess it can't be helped on a smaller plane. It's great when there are 3 people travelling together though.

All these images were so new to me that I did not recognize them as Nepal at first as I have never been there.

]

The was a mime artiste standing so still he blended into the Art.

Found more information on this marketing website.

Singapore - SilkAir has rolled out the second phase of its "Explorers" campaign, erecting life-sized journals in key areas of the city as part of the activation phase of the event.

The engagement activity aims to encourage people to submit their travel stories and tips on the campaign's site, which entitles them to win a year's worth of air tickets and SGD 2,000. It will last from 4 September to 8 October. It will run at 313 @ Somerset, at the Atrium, Marina Square, Marina Court, Vivo City, East Court, Chevron House and Column Space.

At the engagement booths, each journal is designed uniquely and has its own elements. For example, the Kathmandu journal has a talent painted over to blend in with the design of the journal to interact with the public. SilkAir crew and brand ambassadors were also present to speak to passers-by about the display and campaign and distribute flyers. Traditional Nepalese music was also played in the background.

Done by creative agency JWT Singapore, the activation is part of SilkAir's overall campaign which was launched earlier this year, and aims to use real experiences and traveller's insights to promote SilkAir's destinations. This was done on the basis of their research that showed people relying more and more on personal recommendations for holidays and trips. The idea behind the campaign is to support the notion that SilkAir helps to uncover the insights into undiscovered Asia.

Tom N Toms: Spicy Tuna Sandwich and Lasagne

2010-10-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Here we are again at the Tom N Tom's at VivoCity.

I decided to try something new today. My verdict? I would definitely have the spicy tuna sandwich again. It was healthy and yummy too. And yes, it was actually spicy.

B liked the lasagne and it looked delicious with all that cheese. I wish they had a vegetarian version as I don't take beef.

The coffee is good too, but I much prefer Tully's.

The muffin was a tad too dry. I'll skip this next time and stick with the cinnammon pretzels for dessert.

Food Republic

2010-10-25T09:31:00.001-07:00

I really like the Hainanese Curry Rice here, but the photo I took of the food made it look like slop. B told me don't put that on your blog - it looks awful. So I'll just leave you with blurry photos of the food court. I really like this food court which you can find at Wisma Atria as well. The decor here is pretty with all the lanterns. You can have some of the best hawker food in air-conditioned comfort, and that I like, although the prices are almost double of what you would pay in the hawker centre. I prefer the Wisma Atria branch somehow, especially when it's not crowded. The food there is slightly better maybe because it was the original branch? I'm not sure.

Tom N Toms: Cinnamon Pretzels

2010-10-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

The best item at Tom N Tom's is the cinnamon pretzel which is what we had. You can read about my last visit to the VivoCity branch here. I've also been to the Tom N Tom's at Icon Village. B really likes the pretzels and the relaxed, not too crowded vibe here and that's why we keep returning.

They were too generous with the sprinkling of cinnamon sugar, but you could always tap the excess sugar off. A little taste of the sweet cinnamon is all you need on the fresh pretzel. Another thing I like are the bite site pieces.

We also had iced earl grey tea and a hazelnut latte.

There were two new items on the menu, but this time I did not cave in and order an item just to blog about it. Will look forward to reading my fellow bloggers' reviews about it instead.

My First Time Trying Paella (Spanish Rice Dish): Serenity at VivoCity

2010-10-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Paella is a spanish rice dish and saffron adds a wonderful gold colour to the rice. We had the seafood paella which was very expensive for a very small portion, but it sure was good. I found it really tasty and it reminded me of claypot rice a little. We had the seafood version, where the rice is cooked in the seafood broth and is extremely full flavoured. If you haven't had paella before you should definitely try it at least once. The potato appetizer was delicious with the sour cream and another sauce I could not identify. The only disappointment was the service and prices. When we first entered the place the service was welcoming, but later when we didn't order too much it was a bit on the uppity side. When we asked for water, they asked us whether we wanted sparkling or still and since those were S$5, we ordered a drinks instead and I had a pineapple juice for S$6. Only later did we realize that they do serve free water. I really don't like restaurants forcing you to order drinks when we would rather spend our money on the food. The decor here was authentic and lovely. I especially liked the blue lamps.

The bill in Singapore dollars came to a whopping S$76.30, double the price of most fancy dinners:

Patatas Bravas = $10.80
Paella Valen = $43
Perrier = $5
Pineapple Juice = $6
Service = $6.50
Tax = $5

The name Serenity reminds me of Seinfeld, and George Costanza's dad screaming "Serenity Now". Only Seinfeld fans will get it.

Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant
No.1 Harbour Front Walk
#01-98/99
Vivo City
Singapore 098585

Tel: 6376 8185

Curvy Architecture and iPad Ads

2010-09-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

The curvy architecture at VivoCity makes the mall pretty attractive. The apple green theme is so vibrant and I really like it. Also iPad adverts were all over the escalators and at Apple authorized dealers you could see people clammering over them.

Pacific Coffee Company

2010-09-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Pacific Coffee Company has a great view of the sea and plush velvet seats. The air-conditioning is set to a super low temperature because of the hot air that come in each time the door is opened to the outside seating area. It does get really chilly if you sit away from the door. I like the cushy sofas and the lamps and dark wood add a cosiness to the place. The drinks sure are expensive. I didn't like the orange juice (S$4.80) they served which didn't taste fresh, and much prefer the one at Starbucks, probably because it's sweeter. Me and my sweet tooth again. Stuck with the water (S$3.50) because when I last had coffee here I found it weak. Maybe I should give it another chance. Anyway this is a good place to surf the net , chat or sit and read. I like that the newspaper and magazines (mostly travel ones) are provided.

Pacific Coffee Company
1 Harbour Frontwalk
#02-148 VivoCity
Singapore 098585

Marche at VivoCity

2010-09-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

Update: Need to try the food here again. Prepared to give it another shot since I love the ambience so much.

The Marche at VivoCity's rooftop terrace is perpetually filled with diners, with a high proportion of families. This place seems to be very kid friendly. I used to be more impressed, but the quality of the service was not as polite or warm as it used to be, when the Swiss management was around. The food servers speak to you very abruptly. The quality of the meal we had also disappointed as we had expected the high standards we used to get.

The food is presentation is pretty, but my friend's rosti was too oily. He revealed that his meal was loaded with too much butter. I usually wouldn't complain about too much butter, but he said that it marred the taste. My Movenpick ice cream with crepe was good, but I regretted allowing them to put the chocolate sauce over it. The warmed up chocolate sauce just tasted really off somehow to me. The crepe used to come with custard filling but now you only have the option to add cheese filling, so I went with the plain version. Well maybe we just picked the wrong items. I have had excellent hot cross buns, mushroom soup and cheese filled hotdogs during my previous visits to other branches, so I'll definitely give it another shot. Ordering the wrong items is an expensive mistake as these are the prices in Singapore dollars:

1 Plain Crepe = $5.50
2 Scoops of Ice cream = $8.90
1 Plain Roesti = $5.50
1 Veal Sausage = $6.90
with GST or the goods services tax, the bill came to S$28.70
on the receipt is says cheerily in Swiss and English: Of Weder Luege/ See you soon again....and they probably will.

The Swiss decor is as lovely as ever, with the cheery painted wooden cows inviting you from the outside. The exterior is glass which allows in natural light and the interior is filled with light woods. The display of the pastries and food at the different stalls is the best in Singapore. There used to be a copycat restaurant called Village which in my opinion was a terrible imitation of Marche. They have since close operations. I think it never really pays to copy someone to such a full extent - they even had their own cows!

I love the table reservation signs at this place with their cow motif. Maybe we should have this at foodcourts instead of the unsightly tissue packets that office people use. But then again people might just ignore the signs, but somehow tissue packets and umbrellas can't seem to be ignored. These days even expats have caught on, and I saw a guy reserving a few seats with his umbrella! I originally thought that a Singaporean had placed an umbrella there, but realised it was him when his friends soon joined him and he removed the choping (pronounced cho-ping and was used in primary school to usually mean reserving a seat) device.

Marche Singapore
Vivocity #03-14
Singapore 098585

Tel: 6376 8226

Skinny Snowman Looks Out to Sea

2010-07-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

When my cousin visits from Perth, she loves going to two malls in particular - ION Orchard and VivoCity. VivoCity used to be her #1, but I think it may have been bumped by ION. I like VivoCity mainly because of all the space (which is rare in Singapore malls which tend to be extremely crammed), and the excellent sea views. The skinny snowman is pretty cool too.

I hope the resorts world people don't get sore at me, but the resorts world at Sentosa (where our other casino is) is not as attractive looking as the Marina Bay Sands. I kind of think it's an eyesore. It doesn't quite add to the scene the way the striking Marina Bay Sands building does. Once I get there though, it's a pretty fun place - especially the Universal Studios and the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel.

World Cup Fever at VivoCity

2010-07-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

Took some photos of how Singapore shops are capitalizing on the biggest event this year - the World Cup. I had no telecast so I didn't watch it, but i did catch the finals - Many are now suffering withdrawal symptoms. No more excitement other than the Orchard Road Flood.

Some of the displays at VivoCity (our biggest mall) during World Cup Fever. I snapped photos of some cute and quirky ones.

I loved the artistic Nike football figure made up of these suspended yellow balls. Yellow is always so bright and cheery in an art installation.

All the soccer jerseys were lined up to tempt fans. I am sure these jerseys are very expensive.

Clothing store, Ted Baker, had a super cute and funny display. A referee whose head turns to reveal a creepy clown. Both reveal a red card.

English pub, the Queen and Mangosteen advertises its live world cup telecast, hoping to lure in the customers. I am sure they'll be rooting for England.

Even Most Original Burgers was advertising live matches. I wonder if it's part of the newly opened Tom N Toms Coffee, because this sign board was put right in front of the just opened VivoCity branch of the Korean Coffee Outlet.

Chocolate Drinks: Max Brenner

2010-07-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

The huge chocolate bars around really get you in the mood for something chocolatey. In my trip to Max Brenner when it first opened at the Esplanade a couple of years ago I had a real lovely hot chocolate that was super rich like something out of that movie I want to rewatch, 'Chocolat'. The time I ordered an iced chocolate it being a hot day and all but I was disappointed as there was too much crushed ice and not enough chocolate. It tasted more like icy chocolate milk then a real pure chocolate experience. It was not worth the hefty $11.65 Singapore dollar price tag. It's especially sad when you're disappointed by chocolate. The next time I'm definitely sticking to the hot chocolate drinks.

Here's an interesting Extract about the multimillionaire, accidental chef, who claims he is creating a chocolate culture, from none other than The New York Times:

They’re called Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man, and belong to a chain spawned in Israel by a pair of businessmen, Max Fichtman and Oded Brenner, who conflated their two names into that of one quasi-fictive candy man. Mr. Brenner indeed happens to be bald, so there’s some follicular truth in the advertising. But there’s no ready clue that Max Brenner is now owned by an Israeli food corporation, which has succeeded in establishing it in Singapore, the Philippines, Australia and the United States.

It’s been saluted in People magazine and featured on cable television news broadcasts. And the Max Brenner restaurants in Manhattan have often been packed, an affirmation of a strategy that strikes me as both novel and shrewd.

Traditions are tweaked. Hot chocolate — dark, milk or white — comes in a handle-less “hug mug” shaped so that you have to cradle it in two hands, the way you would a child’s face.

Max Brenner
#01-116, VivoCity
1 Harbour Front Walk, Singapore 098585

Korean Coffee at VivoCity: Tom N Toms

2010-07-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

I hope I'm not getting boring and predictable. I've now been to all 3 branches of this new Korean coffee place - Tom N Toms. The latest one was at VivoCity where I encountered ugly Singaporean behaviour. You know the jar of liquid sugar they place at the coffee bar for customers to use? This inconsiderate man actually took the whole jar away to his table and never returned it. I waited. And I waited. I thought he might realize that other people in the cafe might want a little sugar in their drinks but oh no, he wasn't at all bothered.

The Korean girl at the counter with retro black glasses was so cute. I just loved her Korean accent when she spoke English and she was really sweet and friendly too. She patiently gave me a small cup of sugar when I asked for a little sugar. She too didn't want to confront that awful man. I wonder what the other customers did, for their very strong bitter iced coffees.

The other Singaporean girl (I can always tell from the accent which I own too) at the counter was very polite too, but the poor girl looked a little sad. I guess it's sad to have to work on a Sunday. I just thought she had a great face for a painting and I hope she didn't mind me capturing her fleeting expression. Maybe someone will give her a job as a face model and she won't have to work Sundays anymore!

Anyway the next time I go to a Tom N Tom's, I need to remember that they provide free flow of ice water - there's a huge thermos at the counter and luckily the rude man didn't take that away as well. The drinks we ordered yesterday were not too great so I ended up sipping on my water. My partner had the green tea with crushed ice which he said tasted it bit like green tea ice-cream (I don't really like green tea ice-cream but you might) and I had the iced milk tea which I found very dilute (made with 2 Lipton teabags - I guess I like my tea Indian style made with real tea leaves - full-bodied and milky). I would suggest sticking with coffee, if you're finicky like me.

Trying to add variety to our life, we decided to go with the apple cinnamon stuffed pretzel. This was a mistake too. It tasted similar to the apple pie at McDonald's and I couldn't taste the lovely pretzel, overpowered by the caramelized apple. The apple cinnamon was as good as it looks but I guess I was craving for the taste of the pretzel. Next time I will just stick to the plain cinnamon pretzel or the original pretzel which is slightly salted. Those are so good! I love their freshly baked pretzels which are steaming as you get them. You can read about my previous visits to the branches at Far East Plaza and Icon Village.

Another lovely thing are the magazines they provide for you to read. Loads on interior design which I love browsing. The warm decor here is great too and the place wasn't very crowded either. I don't like crowded cafes very much. They take away from the relaxation factor.

This is what the place looks like from the outside. I snapped these shots of the inviting decor when I passed by last week and saw that the coffee joint had finally opened.

African Crafts at VivoCity

2010-07-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

I was really impressed by the traditional attire of this African booth owner at VIvoCity. His authentic stall injects a whole load of vibrancy to the mall. I spotted his booth just across from the PageOne bookstore where I sometimes linger.

Blue Drummer Boys

2010-07-02T21:55:00.000-07:00

The mall at VivoCity sure knows how to drum up business (pardon the pun). They really came marching out of the blue (sorry I can't help it). They seemed to be enjoying themselves are they beat their drums and attempted to sing as well.

I love how this mall has live unannounced events that add vibrancy and a fun element to the place.

One little girl (in a red dress), was obviously so impressed, she made her dad follow the drummers.

I checked the official VivoCity website and this is what I found:

VivoCity Drummer Boys

To create an exciting shopping experience for our shoppers, a group of 6 drummers will perform and parade around VivoCity on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Date : Everyday Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Time : 7pm – 7.30pm (Friday, Saturday & Sunday)
Additional show at 4 pm for Saturday and Sunday

Carnivore - Brazilian Churrascaria

2010-06-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

The place is called Carnivore - Brazilian Churrascaria. We have passed by so many time, but have never been hungry enough to attempt a meat buffet. Today we decided to just go for it as we'd heard some friends rave about this place.

The restaurant is spacious and has a great view of the sea.

Churrascaria means barbecue in the Portuguese language. The most amazing part is that for the barbeque portion of the meal you get served at your table by the meat waiters. They come to your table with long skewer of glistening meat and shave off a piece for you with a knife onto your plate. I don't eat beef, so I had pork, chicken, lamb and fish instead which surprised me as it was gourmet standard.

There was also a buffet table with a wide selection of hot and cold salads, pasta and soup. I tried not to indulge too much because I would then be too full to try any of the barbecued meat. I tried a little of the Feijoada (Brazilian national dish of Black bean Stew with pig's tail and spare ribs). I just had a bit of the black beans and it was good.

I am not really much of a meat eater and I was surprised that I really enjoyed the barbequed meats here. There was a whole slew of glistening grilled meat, wonderfully marinated, but the pork sausages were my pick. The chicken was golden and glistening with fat, and it was so good.

Even garlic bread was served by the meat waiters at the table in lavish style.

Who would have thought grilled pineapple could be this good. It went especially well with the honey ham and a great way to end a meal.

We had a discount so it was $32 per person. I would suggest going on a weekday for lunch and it'll be a bit cheaper (but you may end up falling asleep at your desk after that heavy meal). Check out the website for the details about the prices.

Carnivore VivoCity
1 Harbour Front Walk, #01-161/162, Singapore 098585
Tel: 6376 9939

Yigloo at VivoCity Basement 2

2010-06-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Fancy Yoghurt stalls are the trend now, just like donuts were just a year ago and taiwanese bubble tea before that. I am not so much a fan of sweet fancy yoghurt, but since my partner had a plain yoghurt here, so I will do a post on it. It will be an unenthusiastic post where I let the photos do the talking. The young attractive female staff here are not that friendly (perhaps it's too crowded) and there is not much in terms of seating. I think this place at VivoCity will appeal to teen girls who will be drawn to its cute decor or teen boys attracted by the cute girls behind the counter.

I think it's all about the cute all white decor, including a bunk bed and a rocking chair. It looks a little like a kid's nursery.

I guess the free toppings are quite attractive, but my policy is if they are gonna add up to the same amount of calories I'd rather have ice cream. Yoghurt usually has more sugar added, even though there are marketed as 100% fat free.

Anyway this place is located at Basement 2 at VivoCity, if you're a fan of yoghurt.

Australia and Thailand Fairs Coming to VivoCity

2010-05-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

This is what I found out from the Vivocity newsletter. The Live Bee show peaks my interest and of course I am always lured by the prospect of a farmers market. But I am disappointed that the Thai fair doesn't have any mention of food?

BEST OF QUEENSLAND
1 – 6 Jun, Central Court, Level 1
Experience the art, lifestyle, fresh produce and Best of Queensland at VivoCity. Mingle with some of Australia's finest craftsmen and local artists from Eumundi Markets, Sunshine Coast. Grab the freshest produce at the Farmers Market. Kids will be thrilled by the Indian Fairy as she brings fantasy to life with her face-painting and storey-telling activities.

'Live' Bee Show
Presented by Superbee Honeyworld, Gold Coast
Daily at 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 8pm
Aussie Whipcracking & Music Performance
Inspired by the Australian Outback Spectacular &
Paradise Country Aussie Farm Tour
Daily at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm

CREATIVELY THAI
10 – 14 Jun, Central Court, Level 1
Embark on the Siam Fashion Promenade at Creatively Thai, featuring
urban, pop culture, boho hipster and glamorous chic. See the creative
vision of Thailand's fashion cohort come to life in a series of
fashion shows too. The event will be open to public
at 12 noon on 10 Jun.
Fashion Shows
10 Jun at 7pm
11 – 14 Jun at 2pm & 7pm

VivoCity Level 1 Map & Shops Continued

2010-05-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Cellar Door and Max Brenner's Chocolate Bar are the newbies at Vivo. I would love to check them out. I have been yearning for a real cup of hot chocolate ala the movie 'Chocolat' for quite a while.

More Vivocity Level 1 Shops

2010-05-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

I am eagerly awaiting the opening of Tom N Tom's Korean coffee chain at #01-52, that I talked about in my earlier post.

VivoCity Level 1 Map & Shops

2010-05-20T02:20:00.000-07:00

This is a layout of the humongous level 1. It's so easy to get lost here. B always heads to the GAP (#01-129), his favorite store while I am awaiting the opening of a new Coffee place I talked about in my earlier post, Tom N Toms Coffee (#01-80).

I love Camper shoes from Spain, but why must they be so expensive. I need a 90% discount to afford them. Crabtree & Evelyn is another product I like, with beautiful packaging, but again I find it overpriced.

I must actually try out the new dessert place, Fruit Paradise (#01-59), that I blogged about earlier.

Looking at this list with the new burger joint M.O.B. (#01-52) is making me crave for a burger. I hope to check this out one day too. And of course Pincho's that I posted about earlier at the NatGeo Store.

Map of VivoCity Basement 2

2010-05-20T02:04:00.000-07:00

I can't read maps very well myself, but I hope this helps someone out there get their bearing. I guess it you want to shop at the Giant Hyermarket parking at Carpark J would be the best option. You could roll your trolley right out.

I haven't eaten at the Kopitiam because if I want to eat at a food court, I prefer the Food Republic on level 3. Somehow at Kopitiam the ventilation is not as great and I hate it when food smells mingle and linger.

VivoCity Customer Service

2010-05-20T01:43:00.000-07:00

I got so many enquires when I was away from this blog. I felt so bad when I returned that I had left so many people hanging. That's why I decided to provide the customer service hotline number in case you want to find out things like whether certain restaurants take reservations and such. So here goes:

Customer Service Hotlines: (65) 6377 6860/ (65) 6377 6870

Yigloo

2010-05-20T01:28:00.000-07:00

My friend had a bad experience at Yigloo. He was completely ignored by the girl at the counter and he didn't even want a free sample. He had ordered a cup. That's what I call bad service. The shop is very cute though and I love the all white decor. Perhaps there were just too many customers to serve on that Sunday and she was feeling frazzled. Anyone else had a different experience here? I am curious to know.

Superdog and Subway at Basement 2

2010-05-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

If I want to eat healthy I usually go for a subway sandwich with extra lettuce and none of the creamy dressing. But if not I say throw caution to the wind and go for Superdog. I kinda like their iced chocolate as well.

More B2 Outlets at VivoCity

2010-05-20T00:18:00.000-07:00

I snapped the directory with my outdated camera so parts of it might not be clear. The breads at Petit Provence look enticing. I must try them out one day soon.

B loves Chunky Curry Puffs especially the chicken and also the sardine which is quite spicy.

It's good to know there's a Kodak express here in case you need to take a photo for your passport. I was hunting around for photo studios the other day because the ones I took at the self portrait type photo booth sucked.

VivoCity Basement 2 Outlets

2010-05-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't tried the Beard Papa outlet here but I used to love them at Takashimaya when the outlet first opened. I would also like to try out the Japanese Restaurant and maybe Garuda Padang Cuisine one day.

Candy Empire has finally filled in their top 10 shelving which has been lying empty for ages. Somehow looking at their top 10 I suspect that this is more like the top 10 items they wanna get rid off. Just a hunch. Tell me what you think.

I Got Hold of the Latest VivoCity Directory

2010-05-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

Since I have revived this blog which I started on a whim, I decided to get hold of the latest VivoCity Directory. I realized that since I last posted, quaint little shops like Mother Garden have closed down. I thought that shop was so pretty. But since then I am excited that new shops especially eateries have opened. New places to dine? That's always a good thing.

Pools of Water

2010-05-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

Another thing you will notice at VivoCity are the pools of water. I find it soothing and attractive. I love sitting at the cafes with a view of the sea connecting us to Sentosa.

Curves and Skylights at VivoCity

2010-05-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

I just love the architecture here. I'm also a big fan of natural light. All that apple green and white is also very soothing to the eye.

A Place to Rest if Your Partner is Busy Shopping

2010-05-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

I don't enjoy shopping as much as my partner does so I welcome all the seats at Vivo. Its great that you can get off your feet for a bit and do some people watching.

View from the Top at VivoCity

2010-05-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

I love the lilac shade of this new beauty booth. I think it has something to do with makeup. And the girls dressed in kimonos. Kimonos are so elegant!

Universal Studios - A Train Stop Away From VivoCity

2010-05-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

I am not a rollercoaster person, but I did find the walkways with all the props, huge and impressive.

I know some little boys who will love the Shrek 4D movie where you get sneezed at in the face by Donkey. The whole experience might be more fun if you go with kids and see it through their eyes.

I went during the promotional period and got a S$10 food voucher and a S$5 gift shop voucher included in the S$66 weekday entry fee. I don't think they offer that anymore. It would be great if they did.

I need to be perfectly honest. The food served at the Egypt section was actually north indian food and it was pretty bad. It was prepared earlier and left out to congeal. The burgers at the 50's style burger shack were too oily. I wish I had saved my calories for a restaurant at VivoCity or the Chilli's which is just at the entrance before you enter Universal Studios. I would tell my friends who are going there, if you're famished just have some snacks instead.

PageOne Bookstore at VivoCity

2010-05-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

I tend to gravitate towards bookstores. The allure of unread books draws me in. At VivoCity this would be PageOne. What's lovely about this place is the strong element of natural light. The back and sides of the bookstore are floor to ceiling glass panels where you can see Singapore's little island across the waters, Sentosa.

New Eateries at VivoCity

2010-05-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

We usually walk at the malls to get away from the dreaded heat outside. The heat can really make you feel lethargic and a mall (although I hate shopping) seems to be the only place to escape to. It's always nice to see variations, so I get excited when I see something new. Especially a new eatery. I didn't try any of these but I thought I'd share the photos I took.

There's even a new coffee place that's about to be open called Tom N Toms. Did some snooping and found out it's a coffee place from Korea which has pretzels with spicy tuna on the menu. There's already an outlet at the Far East Plaza Shopping Centre, which I haven't been to for ages. And to think I used to hang out there quite a bit as a teen. In my book there can never be too many new coffee places, and at the moment my favourite is Tully's, which always has the added attraction of a Quiznos attached to it. Definitely a sandwich place I love.

Costume Exhibition till 13 June 2010

2010-05-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to see life-sized dolls in various Asian inspired costumes just outside the Timberland store on level 1 of VivoCity. The Exhibition of Costumes is by a Singaporean designer called Moe Kasim. I checked on the official website that it'll be up till 13 Jun 2010. I was curious to have a closer look at the traditional Indian dance inspired outfit, with the peacock feathers. Also displayed was a costume designed for the Miss Singapore International Beauty Pageant.

National Geographic Store

2010-05-16T02:43:00.000-07:00

I just love the decor here. The globes, the gorgeous landscapes, travel books. It makes you want to go somewhere exotic. So this post is just gonna be all pictures. I think I wasn't supposed to take pictures, but yet again I couldn't resist. Luckily no one stopped me. I would have been mortified.

Pincho's - National Geographic Store has a Cafe Now

2010-05-16T02:39:00.000-07:00

I didn't try out the cafe today, but I think it looks really nice and cosy. A peek at the menu revealed Spanish cuisine and various other cafe type snacks and drinks like quiche, coffees, teas, hot chocolate, wine and cocktails. What a nice respite from the Sunday throngs. I love the dark lit interior and the rustic decor. Here's a link to the NatGeo Singapore Cafe Webpage. I just googled it and found that the place is called Pincho's originating from the Basque region in Spain. VivoCity is humongous but it's hard to miss, located at the first floor (#01-19 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk. Singapore)

Latest VivoCity Directory (Interactive)

2009-06-30T02:05:00.001-07:00

I just found an interactive directory on the official vivo website. Thought it might be useful for tourists, expats or locals visiting.

Er by the way, I have totally no affiliation with the store. Am just an ordinary person who started this blog on a whim. At the time there was alot of hype about this mall and that was pretty exciting in excitement deprieved Singapore.

Am now looking forward to more new and exciting malls like the Ion, since its the only place to escape to when the heat gets unbearable. Here goes:

The actual vivo website and its interactive directory.

Thanks a squillion for all the nice comments you've left me. It's a pleasure if I could help you find the store or food place you were seeking :)

Chinese New Year 2007 Decor

2007-02-13T23:34:00.000-08:00

Those 2 orange trees must have cost thousands of dollars. Even a small one for the home costs at least $60. They sure look grand.

Marche's Charming Decor

2007-02-13T23:33:00.001-08:00

B told me that they actually dismantled a hundred year old Swiss Ski Lodge and erected it up as part of the decor. Its really lovely and charming I must say. Way superior to "the other place" which attempted to copy Marche's concept but somehow falls short in terms of food quality.

There are fewer stations and there is a more compact feel. The waitresses looked lovely in their Swiss Milkmaid Outfits. You are surrounded my glass through which natural light permeates.

The prices were a little steep though, and the meal came to $66.60!

The pasta was my favourite dish with a rich cream sauce. B liked the grilled chicken sausages with a melted cheese filling. I would have preferred the crepe to have come with caramelised bananas. Also there was no more chocolate or chocolate chip ice-cream. Those additions would have made the crepe so much better in my book. Perhaps they are still having teething problems and sorting them out before the actual launch. The staff were all so cheerful polite and helpful. Especially the older waitstaff serving the bread and preparing the crepes. He actually came looking for me in another section to serve me my food. Usually you would have to wait to pick up your order at the counter. Really excellent service from this older staff member.

Cost:
Pasta - $9.90
Chocolate Apple Cake - $3.80
3 scoops icecream - $11.40
Banana Crepe - $7.90
1 Hand Buerli (bread) - $1.00
1 Snapple - $4.50
1 Rootbeer - $3.90
Grilled Chicken Breast - $6.80
2 Cheese Chicken Sausages - $13.60
Total with Tax - $66.60

Location:
Marche Singapore
Vivocity #03-14
1 Harbourfront Walk
Tel: 6376 8226
NB: via escalator B or Lift Lobby A...Its near the skypark and amphitheatre.

Valentine's Ralph Lauren Promotion at Vivocity

2007-02-13T22:49:00.001-08:00

I just love all that pink. The scent of the perfume, Romance, is light and refreshing.

Candy Empire's Best Chocolates

2007-01-25T21:03:00.001-08:00

Update: the last time I dropped by they had not replenished the stock. Looks like they are trying to get rid of old inventory first. I do hope they bring in more of these good ones though.

Candy Empire has by far the best chocolates in Singapore. I am a chocoholic so you can take my word for it. I just wish the prices were lower though. They must have a very high profit margin on these. I see that they probably get their stock from factory outlets in Australia at low prices. Wish they would reduce their prices now that sales is up.

The Wonka Whipple Scrumptious Caramel Delight is a 48 gram milk chocolate that has a caramel filling (S$2.40). Feels like it was right out of the storybook Chocolate Factory! Its shaped into - not the usual cubes, but Willy Wonka Hats instead. Eating this is like being in chocolate heaven and you will never look at a mars bar the same way again. When you want some caramel with your chocolate you'll look for whipples only.

The Newman Ginger is a 50 gram dark chocolate bar with real pieces of truffle ginger inside (S$2.50). Its so good and will appeal to dark chocolate and ginger lovers.

My favourite was the 50 gram Ernest Hillier Ultimate Milk Chocolate ($3.80) from Australia. Sometimes you just need plain milk chocolate in its purest form. It just melts in the mouth and leaving you wanting more. Orgasmically good!! Try this and you'll be in chocolate heaven. No need for trips to Australia to get the good stuff. Also the extra cardboard pacakaging will prevent the bar from being crushed in your handbag. We ladies all know how we like to stuff our handbags.

It seems that Ernest Hillier owns the Newman brand.

"Obviously the brand leaders are the brand leaders and should be treated with respect," said Emma Barnett, Marketing Manager, Ernest Hillier. "But we think we offer something different. We have had a good response to our products through the convenience channel and I think retailers recognise there is a clear benefit to having a range of products.

"We are always looking for gaps in the market, something that is innovative and unique," she said. "The Newmans dark ginger bar, which uses Australian Buderim ginger and dark chocolate, has been a huge success and has doubled in sales in the past two years."

PageOne

2007-01-16T09:33:00.000-08:00

A relaxing place to take a breather. There are benches where you can sit and read while gazing at the serenity of the sea. I just love the idea of a bookstore with a sea view. Why didn't someone think of that before.

The Decor within the bookstore, with the lilac and other pastel shades for its cupboards, is also very pleasing.

Ben & Jerry's

2007-01-16T04:42:00.001-08:00

I tried the chocolate fudge brownie which the cheerful severs said is the most popular flavour. I find the young staff at Ben and Jerry's always so polite. Excellent Service experienced at both Raffles City and VivoCity Outlets. My verdict - yumm! B had the strawberry cheesecake shake.

The cow decor here is so cool and fun.

Cost:
1 Regular Milkshake - $8.48
1 Small Cup (1 scoop) - $4.29
Total Cost - $13.40

Pu Tien Kitchen at Food Republic

2007-01-16T04:41:00.001-08:00

Any good photos are courtesy of B since my camera went bust. One day I hope to get a DSLR pro camera. Need one because I am so far from being a pro, I am highly dependant on good equipment. Although I suck at taking pics I am quite addicted to it. Need my daily fix of capturing the memories for the day. Somehow taking pictures allows me to feel like I can make time stand still for just a while and allow me to relive those lovely moments.

Anyway some days ago, they added fairies to the signboard at the Food Republic, in celebration of Christmas. That was quite a nice surprise. There always seems to be something new at this mall.

Tried Pu Tien Kitchen this time. The fried rice went well with the homemade beancurd which is deep fried and really silky soft. My favourite was the pan fried buns which had a tangy taste reminisent of Shanghai Style dumplings. The meal was good but I was just too full after all that food. The portions were enough for 3 persons.

Cost:

Seafood Rice - $5
Homemade Beancurd - $8
Pan Fried Bun - $6 (4 buns)
2 Chrysanthemum teas - $2
Total with tax - $21.

Corduroy Cafe (Milkbar & Bakery)

2007-01-16T04:40:00.002-08:00

Love the ambience at this cafe. It has a lot of natural light and the lovliest scenary of the ships on the sea. The red white and black interior of the cafe is really sophisticated, with comfy yet modern plush chairs and a pretty chandelier. Reading material is provided and the potraits add to the warm decor. Mainly famous photos of people kissing, from Life Magazine. Although you have to place your order for your food and drinks at the counter, the waitstaff are very attentive and keep your water jug filled quite unobtrusively. The prices are rather steep but I guess you pay for the ambience and view. We had the fruit shake (mixture of berries and banana), a cuppacino (just average) and a granny smith apple tart (yummy). The tart was good and tasted freshly baked. The fruit shake was lovely but could be shared among 3 people because its so rich. Like a meal in itself.

Cost:
Fruit Milkshake - $8.50
Cappucino - $4.50
Apple Tart: $6.00
Total: $22.15

Location:
Corduroy Cafe
1 harbourfront walk
#01-106
Vivocity Singapore
Tel: 6376 9895

Website:You must check out the very attractive website. Its under construction but there are lovely pics there..

Claypot Laksa

2007-01-16T04:40:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I came back to Vivocity to try the claypot laksa. Its just as rich and creamy here. The price tag is a little higher as expected. $6.90 (for about a $4 portion - the prawns are shelled but not as huge). The fact that the owner and chef is there makes the quality stay constant. I'm so glad the quality is maintained.

They also offer the claypot laksa with rice instead!

Candy Empire

2007-01-16T04:39:00.000-08:00

Its the smallest bar right at the bottom of the picture. The other milk chocolates (which is usually my preference) didn't taste very good so don't bother buying those.

This small 44gram bar Cavalier Dark Chocolate cost S$2.40, but I found it lovely. It melts in your mouth and is so milky. Somehow I didn't expect a chocolate with "no added sugar" and "25% less calories" on the label to taste so good.

Location:
Candy Empire
1 Habourfront Walk, #B2-32/33
Vivocity
Tel: 6376 9610

Cost:
Small 44 gram bar - S$2.40

Crystal Jade Dining In

2007-01-16T04:38:00.002-08:00

Crystal Jade has always been my favourite place to go for Tim Sum and Catonese Cuisine. But this outlet is kinda expensive. There are fancier dishes here with more expensive ingrediantes, hence the prices as well. I would return here just for the great view (it was blocked by the docked ship when we went there). Don't ask the waitors to recommended dishes, you will get recommended the most expensive ones that we found not very good like the suckling pig, duck and charsiew appetiser which cost nearly $30! The dim sum is the same high quality but I very much prefer the chilli provided at the other not so fancy Crystal Jade restaurants. That might be just my personal preferance though. Go try it out for the experience and see what you think. Do make a reservation to get a good seat near the window as the place is packed. We had to wait 20 min for a seat.

Imperial Herbal Sinchi TCafe

2007-01-16T04:38:00.001-08:00

The chairs in this Chinese restaurant, with a difference, are so quirky and colourful. The positioning of the fingers on the finger-chair is actually in a meditative stance. I found that really cool and my friend found the place quite zen. The chairs were also incredibly plush and comfortable to sit in. There is a bar in the restaurant as well as a counter with chinese medical drinks. The seats remind me of those in a football pub/cafe.

If you're looking to dine where the view is wonderful, this is the place. You can see the bridge leading to Sentosa, monorail and the Cable Cars depending on where you're seated. I was most impressed by the food service manager who served us. He was a young chinese man who welcome us out front at the entrance. He was polite and gracious, which I truly appreciated.

The puff pastry with red bean filling and sugar icing was heavenly -seems to melt in your mouth (its very similar to the one offered at Crystal Jade's Shanghai Kitchen although the one at Crystal Jade seems just a tiny bit better in terms of the creaminess of the filling - I would have to do a blind taste test to be sure, cos I had that so long ago). The pot of flower tea was quite refreshing too. We were even served a plate of salted peanuts which were quite addictive.

Must definitely come here again for dinner at night. The prices are a bit high because most of the items have medicinal properties. I also think the view will be amazing with Sentosa and the bridge lighted up at night.

Cost:
Puff Pastry - 8 pieces for $12
Pot of Chinese Flower Tea - $6

Location:
Vivocity, Level 3

Superdog

2007-01-16T04:37:00.003-08:00

Although the piece of chicken meat in my burger was quite tiny (well hidden inside the buns), the burger was prety yummy. I guess it freshly broiled and thats why they call it the 'Fresh Chicken Burger'? I would rate it above the BK Chicken Whopper which is broiled as well but below the Carl's Junior Charbroiled Chicken Sante Fe which is still my all time fave. The fries here were really good, thick pieces and creamy on the inside. I am a chilli freak and I love that they used gd quality Heinz chilli sauce. The sauce makes all the difference when you have fries. I don't quite like the garlic chilli sauce or sweet chilli at Macdonalds.

My friend, had the hotdog which he said is pretty average.

Cost:
Chicken Burger: $4.50

Location:
Super Dog
Basement, Vivocity

Other Blogger's review:
Read this interesting and fuller review by a very young female reviewer at Some Like it Haute. Its even got menus. I wonder if she got more ingrediants as she's an official food reviewer. The small piece of meat I got in my chicken burger just seemed miniscule in comparison to the other burgers featured in her review. I was disappointed by the vast difference, but I do agree its not frozen meat so its yummier.

Carl's Junior

2007-01-16T04:37:00.001-08:00

I have been craving for this burger for the longest time. And to top that off, I was really starving when I reached Vivo City. To my dismay, the Carl's junior was super crowded and we couldn't even get a seat. Decided to wait as my craving was just too strong and could not be satisfied with anything else. You know how.... when you are craving for something.... you just have to have that something and nothing else? Glad I did cos when we finally got a seat it was worth the while, even sitting in that crowded and as a result rather warm place. The burger really hit the spot! Heaven! The fries were ordinary but the sauce was extra special - seemed like heinz chilli sauce mixed with salsa. Yummy! As you can see from the pictures you can't help but be messy. The chicken burger is so juicy - its charbroiled. So much better than any fried chicken burger I've had. Waaay superior. Worth every cent in my opinion. Was too hungry, so I did not take note of the price. Think it was about S$7 for the burger and S$10 plus for whole meal including fries.

New Restaurants, French Cafe

2007-01-16T04:35:00.000-08:00

Sentosa Express: 15 Jan 2007

2007-01-16T04:34:00.002-08:00

The return fare is $3 on the Sentosa Express. I haven't tried it yet, but it might be fun on a weekday when its not crowded. I just hate going out on the weekends with the thronging crowds. Thats my advice to tourists. Just try to go to the malls on the weekdays to avoid the crowds.

Godiva

2007-01-16T04:34:00.001-08:00

I would love to try out a chocolately drink here one day.

Tram to Sentosa

2007-01-16T04:33:00.002-08:00

I don't think it has officially opened yet.

Sea View

2007-01-16T04:33:00.001-08:00

It will be interesting to take a ride on one of these boats. Wonder where it goes to. Perhaps to Sentosa or maybe its just a cruise to nowhere.

Skinny Snowman

2007-01-16T04:32:00.003-08:00

Daiso Opens

2007-01-16T04:32:00.001-08:00

Daiso finally opened today. Saw many interesting things for kids, like a pretty blue inflatable beach ball, but it was too crowded and I didn't want to queue for just 1 item.

Official Opening: 1 Dec 2006

2007-01-16T04:31:00.003-08:00

Marche

2007-01-16T04:31:00.001-08:00

When the Village Restaurant chain took over Marche at the Heeren in Singapore I was so disappointed. I always thought that Marche was the original and the Village were copycats. They even copied the cow mascots. It was just blatant copying!! I tried a meal at the Village but their ingrediants were totally not up to par, although I think they were a bit cheaper.

I was glad to see that Marche will be opening at Vivocity soon. I just love Marche freshly cooked food concept with its colourful yet rustic decor and various food stations.

Tram to Sentosa: 30 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:30:00.001-08:00

Learn more about Singapore's biggest shopping mall Vivocity at Wikipedia. Here's an extract:

VivoCity was built on the site of the exhibition halls of the former World Trade Centre, now the HarbourFront Centre. VivoCity has 1.5 million square feet of gross floor area and 1.1 million square feet of retail space, larger than Suntec City and Ngee Ann City, the former of which was the largest prior to VivoCity's opening. It was designed by the renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito. Mapletree Investments [1] is the developer of the S$417 million complex.

The HarbourFront terminal of the Sentosa Express monorail will be located inside VivoCity.

I can't wait to take the monorail one day from Vivocity to Sentosa. Been searching for something different to do and I think that will be fun.

Sea View

2007-01-16T04:29:00.002-08:00

Nice enclaves to sit around, chat and gaze at the lovely sea view.

Directory - 28 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:29:00.001-08:00

AMUSEMENT
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
03-03 E-ZONE

BANK & ATM
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
01-05/143-144 Citibank
B2-01 & 01-03 Standard Chartered Bank
01-52 HSBC

BEAUTY ESSENTIALS
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
B2-06 Beauty Credit *
01-09 Crabtree & Evelyn
01-08 I NUOVI PROFESSIONAL
01-11/12 Kiehl's
01-10 L'Occitane
01-02 Make Up Store
02-236 MISSHA
02-176/177 Sa Sa
01-147 The Body Shop
02-99/100 THEFACESHOP
B2-17 Watsons

BOOK & STATIONERY
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-89 King's Bookz
02-41/42 PAGEONE
02-130 SAN Bookshop
03-03A tenchi *

CAFÉ UNIT NO SHOP NAME
01-207 Bakerzin
02-135/136 Ben & Jerry's
B2-34 BreadTalk Transit & Toast Bo
02-105 Coffee & Toast
01-163 Fre(n)sh *
01-100/101 Gloria Jean's Coffees
B2-42 Greenhouse Café
02-150 Haagen-Dazs •
01-187 Island Café
02-149 Pacific Coffee Company •
02-60 Starbucks Coffee
02-03 The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

CHILDREN
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-88 Bossini Kids
02-75 Colettee
02-96 Emiko Arts
01-29 Fox
02-87 Giordano Junior
02-85 Growing Fun
02-90 Hang Ten Kids
02-74/76 Kidstyle
02-70 Lemmi Fashion
02-78 LIFEbaby
02-79 Mothercare
02-68/69 Mother Garden
02-77 Pumpkin Patch
02-183 Toys"R"Us
02-72 VitaKids *

CINEPLEX
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-30 & 03-04 Golden Village

CONFECTIONARY & SNACK
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
B2-K11 Beard Papa Sweets
B2-K13 Bravissimo *
B2-K9 HappyVeg
B2-K8 MiaoKou Taiwan Street Food
B2-K12 Old Chang Kee
02-133 Pat's Oven *
B2-K7 PinLe

CONVENIENCE STORE
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-31 7-Eleven

DEPARTMENT STORE
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
01-187 & 02-189 TANGS

DIY & GENERAL MERCHANDISE
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
03-06 Daiso *
B2-20 SelfFix

ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-07 Best Denki
02-32/33 Canon Link *
02-34/35 Challenger
02-05 CUBE3
02-13 Motorola *
02-27 PK Computer *
02-28 Samsung *

FASHION
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
01-202/202A/203 A|X
01-93 Annef & Dorrell
02-111 Baleno
01-120-125 bebe
02-88 Bossini
01-127/128 Brooks Brothers *
02-201 bYSI®
02-190 Celia Loe
01-119 Chalone
01-23 Charles Tyrwhitt *
02-180/181 Chomel
01-179-182 Club Marc
02-237/238 Crocodile
01-204/205 Diesel
01-177 Dockers San Francisco *
02-56 Domanchi
02-111 ebase
02-49 ebase Garcons
01-73 ESPRIT
01-176 Everywoman
01-29 Fox
01-71 Forever 21
02-24 Freshbox *
02-239 G2000
01-129-131 GAP
02-192 GG<5
02-87 Giordano
02-90 Hang Ten
02-57 HobNob
02-101/102 InnerAffair
02-49 IP Zone
02-55 I.S.O
02-103 Joop *
02-193 Kaco
01-184 La Senza
01-67 Levi's®
01-190 Liz Claiborne
02-21/22 Lonsdale *
02-191 LVER
02-200 M)phosis
01-185 Mango
01-46 Marks & Spencer
02-84 Marton Bell
02-110 MaryJane
01-191 Mexx
02-204 Montagut
01-138-140 Naf Naf
02-198 Nichii Fashion City
01-126 Nota Bene
02-113 Op
01-135-137 Principles
01-28A Pull and Bear
02-160 Qoosh *
02-187 Red2
02-19/20 Rip Curl *
01-41/42 River Island *
02-111 Samuel & Kevin
02-188 Series
02-126 Sheer Romance *
01-18-20 Spain 2 Dream
02-175 Sugarhouse
01-132-134 Ted Baker
02-73 The Maternity House
02-54 thirtysevendegrees
01-81 Timberland
01-80 Tommy Hilfiger
01-70 Topshop/Topman
01-195/196 Trucco
02-178 Utopia
02-199 Valerie
01-72 Warehouse
01-28 Zara

FASHION ACCESSORIES
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
B2-27 Chamelon
02-129 Diva
02-159 Fashion Pals
02-65/66 Fjord
01-186 Guess Accessories & Shoes
02-63 Lafon
02-98 Mintmark & Co.
02-235 Paris Bijoux
02-106 Purple Attic
02-107 SIX
02-112 Sunglass Hut

FAST FOOD
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-80/81 Burger King • •
02-50/51 Carl's Jr •
02-93/94 Long John Silver's • •
B2-40/41 Superdog

FITNESS
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-158 & 03-10/12 Planet Fitness

FOOD COURT
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
03-01 Food Republic
B2-39 Kopitiam/Banquet •

FOOD SPECIALTY
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-134 Boost Juice *
01-165 Bottles & Bottles
B2-32/33 Candy Empire
01-114 Denise The Wine Shop *
01-110 Dragon Bird's Nest
01-116 Godiva
02-143 The Cocoa Trees
02-139 Wang Sang Yang Tea Pavilion *

GIFT & HOBBY
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-38 Action City
02-39 Mini Toons
02-36 Miniture Hobby *
02-40 Mu-EE
02-37 Precious Thots
02-119 Shibuya Connection *

HEALTH & BEAUTY SERVICES
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-228/229 Adonis
02-230 Dental on the Bay
02-227 esBoudoir
01-73 Salon ESPRIT
02-205 Jean Yip Hub
02-231/232 Kenko Reflexology & Massage
02-233A Nails @ The Lacquer Room
02-233 Poly Beauty Sothys
03-09 Red, White & Pure *
02-234 Team Salon
02-172 Usante
02-226 Wen & Weng Medical Group

HYPERMARKET
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
B2-23 & 01-23 VIVOMART

JEWELLERY & WATCHES
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
01-206 BLing
02-61 CASIO G-Factory
B2-02 City Chain
01-183 Coulisse
01-117 Goldheart
01-79 Lee Hwa Jewellery
01-193 Loang & Noi *
01-14 Metropolitan Museum of Art New York
01-25-27 Sincere Fine Watches
01-118 Sub Chrono *
01-15-17 Swarovski
02-170 The Watch House
02-83 TianPo Jewellery
01-01 Unique Fine Pearl & Gem
02-14 Watch It!
01-13 Watches of Switzerland
02-82 ZAP Watches *

LIFESTYLE
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-12 Alessi *
02-154/155 Lim's Arts and Living

MONEY CHANGER
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-171 Sprint *

MUSIC & VIDEO
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-25 MJ Multimedia
01-172-174 Sembawang Music
B2-22 TS

OPTICAL
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
B2-04 Better Vision
01-194 Insight
01-60 Integrated Eyecare
01-148 Paris Miki

PETS
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-68/69 Mother Garden
03-05 The Pet Safari *

PHARMACY, HEALTH FOOD & EQUIPMENT
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
B2-25 AIBI
B2-11 Eu Yan Sang
B2-16 GNC
B2-18 Nature's Farm
01-51 OSIM
B2-24 OTO Bodycare
B2-26 OWELL BodyCare *
B2-19 Unity NTUC Healthcare

RESTAURANT
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-92 2 Hot Café * • •
01-158 Aji by Hanabi Japanese Restaurant
B2-07-09 Akashi Japanese Restaurant
02-156/157 Bosses *
01-149-151 Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant
01-161/162 Carnivore Brazilian Churrascaria *
01-106 Corduroy Café
01-112 Crystal Jade Dining IN
02-137/138 Dian Xiao Er
02-117 Earle Swensen's • •
02-116 Fig & Olive * •
B2-28 Garuda Padang Cuisine *
01-152-155 Go India •
03-07 Harry's Mexican Restaurant & Bar *
02-128 HK Kim Gary Restaurant *
03-07A Hog's Breath Café *
03-08 Imperial Herbal Restaurant & Tcafé
B2-38 Jia Xiang Kuching Restaurant
03-14 Marche *
01-166/167 Modesto's
02-123 The Mussel Guys Restaurant *
03-02 No Signboard Seafood Restaurant *
01-54-56 Nonya & Baba *
02-141 Red, White & Pure *
02-108/109 Secret Recipe •
02-120-122 Shin Kushiya
02-152/153 Sushi Tei •
02-43 Terra Café
02-145/146 Thai Accent
B2-30 Thai Express
B2-29 The Asian Kitchen
B2-37 The Chicken Rice Shop •
01-57 Tung Lok Signatures
02-131/132 White Dog Café

SERVICES
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
B2-05 Kodak Express
B2-42 Pocket Full of Posies

SHOES & BAGS
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
01-192 ALDO
02-206-208 Bata
02-186 Charles & Keith
01-63/64 Crocs
01-22 Ecco
02-209 In:Famous
01-95-97 Kipling
01-92 Marie Claire (Bags)
01-94 Marie Claire (Shoes) *
02-104 Nike (Bags)
02-185 Pedro
02-203 Primavera
02-161 Rachel G *
02-179 U.R.S & inc.
02-184 Vivi
02-118 Zinc *

SPORTS APPAREL & SPORTS GOOD
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
01-38 Adidas
01-66 C.E.D.S. Sportswear
02-59 Converse
02-95 Everlast
02-67 FILA
02-58 Kappa
01-87 Nautica
01-178 NIKE By BIRD *
01-86 NIKE Golf
01-65 PUMA *
02-97 SkateSports *
01-50 World of Golf

TELECOMMUNICATION
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
02-26 M1 *
02-08 Singtel *
02-202 StarHub
02-216 StarHub (Customer Service Centre)

TRAVEL
UNIT NO SHOP NAME
01-91 Samsonite
01-141/141A Traveller World

Legend
* Opening Soon
• Halal
• Kids Menu
• Family Friendly

Updated: 21 November 2006

Source: Vivocity Website

Top 10

2007-01-16T04:27:00.001-08:00

Vivocity is fast becoming my favorite hangout. Its so huge, I thought I would list down 10 must visit places at Singapore's biggest mall. These are my faves.

1. Candy Empire (for your chocolate fix)
2. The Promenade (to see the skinny snowman, sea, ships and Sentosa island)
3. Sinchi Imperial Herbal TCafe with a fabulous sea view (Chinese Tea and Shanghainese red bean puff pastry made with banana)
4. PageOne (Bookstore with an extensive array of books and a view to boot)
5. The Food Republic (will transport you back to Singapore in the 60s and has the best laksa in the world)
6. Mother Garden (the sweetest prettiest Japanese miniatures that will make little girls squeal in delight)
7. Golden Village Theatres (to catch the latest flick)
8. Daiso the Japanese S$2 store which is yet to open but is already a hit at its IMM Jurong location.
9. Vivomart (the huge spacious supermarket)
10. Carl's Junior (for your burger fix)

Update: Mother Garden has since close (that's sad)
Also I found UK cadbury chocolates at Mustafa that taste so good I buy my chocolates from there now.

Pet Safari

2007-01-16T04:26:00.001-08:00

This store at level 3, opened today. I was attracted by the cartoonish characters like the rabbit and parrot on the store facade. The entrance is in the shape of a ship. At first I thought it was a kids comic bookstore but this is actually a pet store that sells pet toys, assesories and food and even puppies! There's a vet right here within the store. I felt sorry for the little puppies though, in their too confined rectangular glass spaces. They were so cute and I am not even an animal lover.

Mother Garden (2nd Visit)

2007-01-16T04:25:00.002-08:00

This is hands down the prettiest, sweetest looking little shop in Singapore.

Playground

2007-01-16T04:25:00.001-08:00

Chinese Junk Boat: 27 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:24:00.001-08:00

Daiso: 25 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:23:00.000-08:00

Daiso was full of Christmas Decorations at only $2 each. Love this Japanese store where everything has a $2 price tag. You end up buying things you don't really need because they are cute or pretty. The Japanese just do things better. For a $2 store I think their quality is pretty good. They pay so much attention to detail. I bought a glass cookie jar that I don't think is very air tight but is soo pretty with its polka dots in different shades of blue. How could I resist? When you look at the stuff here you crack your head thinking of how you can use them. Just an excuse to get another pretty bottle or box.

I was at the IMM branch this afternoon, which is always super crowded on a Saturday. Can't wait for the Vivocity branch to open.

Candy Empire Dark Chocolate: 24 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:22:00.001-08:00

On the cover of the chocolate it said, 25% less calories with no added sugar. I was skeptical about how it was going to taste, but this was the best of the lot that I bought. Not too rich, or bitter. Had the right texture and milkiness. Just seemed to melt in the mouth. Of course the ones you buy direct from the US, Australia, Europe etc taste the best. I wonder why? These are imported but somehow can never match up to those overseas.

Sky Park Amphitheatre

2007-01-16T04:21:00.001-08:00

You must go up to Level 3 at Vivocity. It leads to thee Outdoor area which is called the Sky Park Amphitheatre and there's a splash pool outside. The architecture is curvy and interesting. I like the ovalish skylight at the ceiling of Level 3 just above the escalators. I also spotted Astro Boy and Girl at an Anime Shop at this floor. Can't wait for Daiso (everything for $2 - extensive range of Japanese houseware stuff and stationary etc) to open.

Parking: 20 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:20:00.001-08:00

I love the Anime like Red Rocket which seems to greet you as to enter or exit the Vivocity (biggest mall in Singapore) Carpark.

Previously parking was free when the mall first opened. Now only the first hour is free. I am not sure of the exact fees but For 3 h it cost us $2.30.

Red Rocket

2007-01-16T04:19:00.003-08:00

Like how everything is unique here like this pink sign and the Red rocket outside. You can see how crowded it was today.

PageOne

2007-01-16T04:19:00.001-08:00

It has a fantastic view at the back.

Burger King Mascots: 19 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:17:00.000-08:00

There's always something quirky and fun at Vivocity. Today I saw the Burger, Onions Ring and Drink Mascots. The green uniformed traffic guys were out too. Yup, we Singaporeans are bored and often need to take shelter in the air-condition malls...otherwise I for one would melt in the blazing heat and sweltering humidity. Anyway I like the place because its just so lively and not just about shopping. No wonder they are marketing it as a shopping and lifestyle venue.

Casino Royale: 17 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:16:00.000-08:00

There was a Casino Royale showcase today at Vivocity (North Court, Level 1) featuring cool boys toys (Sony Ericsson K80i silver Bond edition & the limited edition Omega Seamaster Diver 300M) from the movie, including of course the Aston Martin DB9 in Black. Could not resist taking a photo of 007 and his cool car when I spotted it at Vivocity. The car's real, the Bond is cardboard, unfortunately. I just watched the movie and I was expecting the new Bond, Daniel Craig's performance to be cardboard too, but was I wrong! Instead it was astounding and this fine actor has proven the critics wrong.

Don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't watched it yet. Just go see it. Its more raw and a bit violent though. I always shut my eyes during those bits. The Bond girl is very beautiful in a sensuous way. Red lipstick looks amazing on her. She's an intelligent beauty with clever lines that can rival Bond's.

The 007 pictures were taken with the Nokia 2 megapixel camera phone but the one outside vivo city was the last picture taken with my canon ixus 5.1 megapixel camera, before it went kaput. The lower picture quality photo loaded in within a minute though, while the better quality one from the camera took 3 minutes to upload into blogger.

Sob!...you can see the contrast in quality.

Shops are Bigger Here: 15 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:15:00.003-08:00

The usual regular chains you find everywhere on the island like Self-Fix (DIY shop) and Watsons (minimart/pharmacy), seem bigger, more spacious, and take on a nicer facade at Vivocity.

F&B

2007-01-16T04:15:00.001-08:00

Took some shots of some interesting dining choices at Vivocity. Seems like you can get a good waterfront view from some of the restaurants, like Crystal Jade and Go India. I haven't tried them yet though. The establishments you find elsewhere somehow take on a spiffier more upscale look here. There are also the old faves like Carl's Junior and Ben & Jerry's. There are also tons of other food places I have not listed here. I had a Sante Fe Charbroiled Chicken Burger at my current favourite place, Carl's Junior. Yummmm.

Crocs Shoe Design Contest

2007-01-16T04:14:00.001-08:00

You can see the finalists' designs at Vivocity, just outside the Croc Store. The pink design with pale pink pearls and fushia ribbons caught my eye. Anyway I love anything thats a nice shade of pink.

The Gap

2007-01-16T04:13:00.002-08:00

The first Gap and Ted Baker Stores to open in Singapore. Unfortunately they don't seem to carry the larger sizes here that you can get in the US. And thats a real pity.

Mother Garden

2007-01-16T04:13:00.001-08:00

This store Mother Garden, has products from Japan and has the prettiest modern Japanese style decor. It reminded me of a newborn baby girl's room. The decor is the prettiest I've seen in a long time. The pine wood floors and cool white interior are enhanced by all the pretty products displayed inside. There are various unique miniatures and cute soft toys here in lovely shades of cream and pink. At first I thought it was a baby toy store. It sells toys for toddlers and young children and also pet clothes, stationary and items for organising your home. Here's a link to the Mother Garden site in Japan.

Candy Empire: 14 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:12:00.001-08:00

I am glad the no wheelchair signs have been removed and the discriminatory policy changed. This is my first time here and I must say, on first impression, the Candy Empire is really enticing with its rows and rows of chocolates, toffees, biscuits and sweets. Its also visually appealing with its bright orange design. Didn't get anything today because there was so much choice I could not decide and the queue at the cashier was pretty long. I must say the place was pretty packed for a weekday. Can't imagine how crowded it will be on the weekend.

Vivomart

2007-01-16T04:11:00.002-08:00

VivoMart which includes 'Giant' Supermarket is spacious and huge like the American malls. Thats what I really love about it. The space! The colours of the various fresh produce like the salmon and green vegetables, displayed neatly, were really attractive too. I love the clear white fonts used on the signs above each section. It made locating what you want really easy.

Modern Japanese Architecture: 14 Nov 2006

2007-01-16T04:11:00.001-08:00

Vivo City has a beautiful external facade. I was really attracted by the 2 storey tall skinny snowman. It was so quirky and cute, especially in our blazing equatorial heat. Seemed like a Japanese anime character come to life. Read more about this pop art piece here. There's a full image of the snowman here at wikimedia. I love the modern Japanese architectural design of this mall. The vivid apple green and white theme makes everything looks so fresh and full of vitality which is what the designer intended.