We Can Party in Singapore La!!!!!

Someone very rightly said “All Work and No Play makes Johnnie a dull boy” so to get away from the Discounted Cash Flows, Total Quality Management principles and Blue Ocean Strategies which is a staple of a MBA‘s life, I started 'Walking'! This post is dedicated to the Mecca’s of partying which gave me refuge and helped me unwind in Singapore. I would urge you to check these places out whenever you are in the city next.

St James Power Station –

With 70,000 square feet space is huge and it utilizes this by offering 9 distinctive outlets with wide variety of entertainment styles and music options. Set along the seaside space in the premise of Singapore’s first coal-fired power station was built in 1927. Of this my favourite outlet was the Powerhouse which is St James’ largest outlet reflecting the building’s unique architecture, the main room, bars and terrace are all set in a raw and industrial design. The party police states that the 5-floor high ceiling with the electrifying effect of the AV Technology just unifies with the exhilarating music served by the in-house DJ’s.

Operating Hours– Wed-Fri – 9PM -4AM & Sat – 9PM-5AM

Entry Charge – Wed, Fri, Sat, Eve of PH- SGD 20 (Ladies Free Entry)

Happy Hours – Wed, Fri, Sat – 9PM-10PM (50% off on Glasses, Jugs, Buckets & Shuttles)

Ladies Night– Wednesday (10 Complimentary drinks)

Ku Dé Ta Club Lounge

If the New York Times can vouch for it to be one of the Top 10 global hotspots then how can it not be on our list. The Ku Dé Ta Club Lounge & Sky Bar are great vantage points for the best view of Singapore. The place has an intimate ambience by late evening and the romantic candle light sets the mood. Enjoy the entertainment from world famous DJ’s who are rocking the music whilst the Bartenders are whipping some of their delectable creations. They do have a cover charge every Friday and Saturday from 9PM; this is SGD20 and includes a drink and to compare it to your winnings from the casino at Marina Bay Sands this shall be small change. So enjoy!!!

1-Altitude

When The Carpenters sang “Top of the world” they surely hadn’t been to the 1-Altitude bar on top of the Overseas Union Bank Building (Raffle’s Place). This amazing place is apparently the world’s highest roof top bar so needless to talk about the view from the top. The bar menu boasts of a premium selection of single malts & champagnes but also offers an array of wonderful cocktails suiting each occasion.  It is open all week with a cover charge of SGD 25 from Sunday to Thursday but on Friday & Saturday it is SGD 25 till 9PM and after that it increases to SGD30. All these include 1 standard housepour.

Just make note of the strict dress code policy which doesn’t allow Shorts/Bermudas or Slippers/ Flip-flops of any kind and also there is an age limit of  only 25+ for males and 21+ for females so choose your company well. :P

New Asia Bar- Swissotel the Stamford

I see your 1-Altitude and raise you the New Asia Bar! One of the swankiest hangouts in town is perched 71 floors above the city skyline; the world gravitates to New Asia. Now if it is unadulterated fun what you desire then this one is for you. It offers some of the most breathtaking view of Singapore’s evolving landscapes complemented with some alluring & innovative cocktails and wines. The tantalizing beats played out by the resident DJ Chris Smith makes the guests dance the night away. You surely wish to catch the sunset with a martini in your hand while relaxing in one of New Asia’s comfy lounge chairs. There is only one word to describe this - Divine

Long Bar – The Raffles Hotel

I guess the Long Bar would make it to any list counting the Best bars of Singapore owing to it being the birthplace of the iconic Singapore Sling! In contrast to all the bars in the list this bar offers you the old world charm, even allows you to litter (something which you are not allowed in the ‘Fine’ city of Singapore) with your peanut shells like the patrons of the bar in the colonial times. The decor is inspired from the Malayan plantations of the 1920’s. So do have a Sling when you get to visit the bar and be enthralled by some wonderful live performances.

Clarke Quay

If in Singapore you want to have all the fun in one place then this is the place for you, it offers a choice of dining and entertainment destination. Clarke Quay is a colourful kaleidoscope of buildings housing antiques, restaurants, hip cafes, jazz clubs and more.

At night, the entire place is a sight to witness with everything lit up and offering an array of quirky alternative to mainstream clubs. Day or night, you can enjoy a authentic smorgasbord of food, drinks, music and entertainment all conveniently located in the same location separated by short walks along the river or through the beautifully lit streets of Clarke Quay. 

I hope everyone enjoys the list of the popular watering holes in Singapore, looking forward for your views and do share any bars I missed out.

Hang your Hangover!!!

Hey guys welcome back after a week of festivities and I hope you guys thoroughly enjoyed your Diwali week. I am sure many of you were lucky with Cards and celebrated with your friends. I feel people find it very difficult during this period to control their drinks as there are so many parties to attend and this leads to one drink too many, leading to painful Hangovers. So this post is for all the people who have experienced the traumatic headaches and don’t want to revisit them in the future.

First let us start by demystifying the myths around the world of hangovers.

Myth 1: That Hangovers are kind to the fairer sex

Fact 1: Ladies please respect the booze on a Ladies' Night because if a man and woman drink the same amount of alcohol then it is more likely for the lady to feel the effects. This is because men have a higher percentage of water in their bodies, which dilutes the alcohol they drink and reduces the alcohol build up in their blood stream compared to women. 

Myth 2: Wine is the Gentlest Choice

Fact 2: People who feel wines don’t cause hangovers, they are wrong. The Tannins in wine can trigger headaches and other hangover symptoms. In fact Champagnes cause some of the worst hangovers. So be careful when you handle your bubbly.

Myth 3: Hair of the Dog

Fact 3: More alcohol in the morning does nothing but postpone a hangover. So even though Dogs are man’s best friend don’t let the dog bite you again in the morning which bit you in the night. So don’t fix a screwdriver the morning after rather follow the steps listed below.

So now let us see some possible preventions and cures for Hangovers!

• Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate – Drink a lot of water before you start drinking and also alternate it with your drinks when the buzz hits you. This would prevent dehydration and also dilute the alcohol level in your body and tone down the effects. This is also recommended the morning after to counter the dehydration caused by alcohol

• When Pig’s Don’t Fly – My suggestion is to have a rich meal before drinking sessions. I recommend a diet rich in Fat & Carbs like Pastas, Sausages, Steaks or Pizzas. These foods slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream, thus making you sober longer and the life of the party due to your drinking prowess!

• Date with Carbon – This isn’t gourmet food but having burnt toast the morning after is known to be a miracle hangover cure. This because of its richness of Carbon which filters the impurities of the alcohol

• Meds are a No-No - The side effects of Aspirin and Ibuprofen can be magnified when alcohol is in your system, so it is best (even though it may be the first thing you reach for) to avoid them to kill the hangover pain otherwise they may adversely affect your liver.

• Sleep/Rest is your best friend at this point to give your body a recover. It is best to stay in bed so call in to work if you have to, tell them you have the stomach flu. You will sound so horrible on the phone they may believe you (unless they saw you at the bar, not a good idea then)!!!

So I hope all of you found this post helpful and enjoyable, so let us raise a toast to never having to go through the pains of Hangovers ever again. Cheers!

Lights Camera Action & Cheers!!!

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

Rick Blaine, Casablanca (1942)

These legendary lines clearly exemplify the Hollywood’s romance with alcohol. So let us revisit my top #5 Hollywood alcohol moments.

5. Euro Trip (2004) – Absinthe

Who can forget this inane comedy about a guy who is dumped by his girlfriend, and decides to embark on an overseas adventure in Europe. Along the way they visit a club serving Absinthe or the Green Fairy, is an emerald green colored anise flavored liqueur. It is known to be a psychoactive hallucinogen and its effects are hilarious in the movie. Though it was banned in the US till 2007 it is now freely available around the world. So grab your shots and watch the movie if you are looking for some laughs.

4. Cocktail (1988) - Red Eye

Who hasn’t woken up after a party with a hangover? But don’t worry, the answer to your headache is a Red Eye, a heady combination of Vodka, Lager Beer, Tomato Juice and Egg. It is a sure shot cure of hangovers shown in the movie when Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise) walks in to ask for a bar-tending job, Doug Coughlin is mixing up a Red-Eye. 

Recipe

1 oz vodka
6 oz tomato juice
1 can of beer
1 raw egg

Take a tall frosty mug, pour the vodka and tomato juice in it. Then pour in the beer, crack the egg into it. Do not stir and drink your hangovers away

3. Sex and the City (2008) – Cosmopolitan

 

This is for all the single ladies in the house, please put your hands up for Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) favorite tipple - The Cosmopolitan, a 1970’s creation made famous by the characters of Sex and the City, is a cocktail made with vodka, cranberry juice and triple sec with a dash of fresh sweetened lime juice. 

Recipe 

1 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Lime Juice

1/2 oz Cranberry Juice

Shake vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve. 

2. Casablanca (1942) - French 75

 

Numerous cocktails fill the days and nights of Casablanca. Centered around a bar called Rick’s, the characters in this love story swill regularly. However, no drinks are as interesting as the French 75's are  ordered by the German officers before the establishment was shut down on the startling discovery of gambling on the premises. A bulldog of a cocktail, it gets its name from the 75-millimeter M1897, a light but gnarly gun that became the mainstay of the French field artillery in World War I. More than two of these delights and you’ll be kicking down your ex-girlfriend’s door. So enjoy responsibly!!

Recipe
2 oz London dry gin/cognac
1.5 oz of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
5 oz of chilled champagne
1 tsp. superfine sugar
1/2 oz lemon juice

Shake with ice, except the champagne, in a chilled cocktail shaker. Pour into a Collins glass half full of ice and top off with champagne.

1. Casino Royale (2006) - Vesper

 

So the other day I happen to catch the new Bond movie – Skyfall. Boy oh boy was it a treat to watch.  It takes us to dark origins of James Bond and shows us that the character is not all about suave and panache. The 23^rd Bond film in my view is one of the finest maybe challenged only by Casino Royale. The scene in Casino Royale where Bond orders his Martini with immaculate precision is a real treat to a bar enthusiast like me and therefore it is my #1 alcohol movie moment. The drink is named Vesper after Bond’s love interest – Vesper Lynd.

Recipe 

3 measures of Gordon's Gin

1 measure of Vodka

1/2 measure Kina Lillet

Lemon peel for garnish

Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, and then add a large thin slice of lemon peel.

So those were my favorite Hollywood alcohol moments, I hope you enjoyed them. Feel free to share some of your memorable celluloid moments involving booze. Cheers!!!

Next up: How to cure a Hangover?