The Ultimate Singapore Grand Prix Guide 2015
Yalun Tu returns to prep you for the Singapore Grand Prix on September 18-20.
Time to take a victory lap for my (temporary) return to HK Magazine. I’m back to help you plan your ultimate Grand Prix weekend: A weekend so good you’ll remember it for the rest of your life. Or not remember it whatsoever. We’ll be dropping some cash to do this, so it’s probably time to liquidate your remaining mainland stock portfolio.
Friday, September 18
An F1 weekend is a story, so don’t climax at chapter one. This is a power up, night. Repeat after me: Pre-gaming is my friend.
Getting Settled In
Get settled, pick up your tickets that you obviously booked ahead of time (S$258-$1,288 ($1,415-7,000) for 3 days, www. singaporegp.sg/tickets). Grab a quick bite somewhere like the Lau Pa Sat Hawker Market, which has been going since the 1800s. From there head to the race track to see some time trials. Personally I like the Porsche Carerra Cup Asia but the whole schedule is here: singaporegp.sg/raceschedule.
Concert: Pharrell Williams
Our boy Pharrell is in town—thankfully without Robin Thicke— and you can be sure you’ll be hearing a ton of “Happy” and watching Singaporeans bust out their delightfully awkward dance moves. Everybody get up!
Zone 4 Padang Stage, access with Grand Prix ticket.
Clap your hands
Club: Podium Lounge
If you only remember one thing, remember this: the Grand Prix is 25% about the race and 75% about the parties. Party #1 that you must attend: Podium Lounge on Friday night. It’s an action-packed star-studded affair at the Ritz-Carlton with champagne and campaigns, an overhead catwalk, and London’s most sought-after celebrity saxophonist Lady V, whatever that means. But the real reason to come Friday is that Winter is Coming. And ushering it in is headline DJ Kristian Nairn, who plays Hodor on “Game of Thrones.” I interviewed his character:
Yalun Tu: What jams will you be spinning at Podium on Friday?
Hodor: Hodor hodor hodor. Hodor? Hodor! Hodor!
Hodor? Hodor!
S$188 ($1,032), tables from S$1,588-S$28,888 ($8,700-158,500, baller!), www.podiumlounge.com/sg.
Saturday, September 19
When you wake up, you’ll be hung over. That’s fine. It’s happened before. This isn’t our first rodeo. I’d suggest a swim and a light snack. Relax: This is your calm before the storm.
Concert: Maroon 5
Unless they randomly crashed your wedding in Los Angeles you probably haven’t seen Maroon 5 for a while. AXN reruns of the Voice don’t count. Songs you should be excited for: “Sugar,” “Moves like Jagger,” “Harder to Breathe” (shoutout to 2002!)
Zone 4 Padang Stage.
Wil they be loved?
Race: F1 Qualifiers
Fuck yeah. From 9-10 pm it’s the Formula 1 Qualifiers. Instead of the track I’d watch it from the Swissotel: The Singapore Grand Prix is a city race, which means you can see the whole track from a hotel room. Good luck with the booking, or find some kind friends staying there and offer to have their babies.
2 Stamford Rd., Singapore, (+65) 6338-8585, www.swissotel.com/hotels/singapore-stamford.
Room with a view
Party: Boudoir Noire Presents the Box
I am PUMPED for this party. Hosted by luxe lifestyle events company Imaginoire, Singapore’s Capitol Theatre will be taken over by the Box, the New York "dinner theatre" which combines music, theater, burlesque, and (sometimes) erotica. They won’t tell me exactly what they’re doing except that it will be a “specific brand of nightlife entertainment” and Singapore’s first burlesque dancer will be headlining. Oh yeah, and OPEN BAR, bitches. Insane dancing, open bar, craft cocktails, hot girls and a night of splendor. Splurge on this.
From S$856 ($4,750) (includes open bar), (+65) 8283-1446, www.boudoirnoire.com.
Burlesque dancer Sukki Singapora comes home
Sunday, September 20
Holy mackerel. We’re still alive. It’s the big day. No down time here. We’re going to power up and up and up and up. It’s GRAND PRIX time.
Brunch: Edge F1 at Pan Pacific
I don’t care how much glitter was in your hair when you woke up. Get your ass to the Pan Pacific for their Formula 1 Sunday Champagne Brunch at Edge. We’re talking seven live food kitchens all washed down with Veuve Clicquot rosé champagne and too many mojitos. You’re a boss. Act like it.
From S$178 ($980). Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore, (+65) 6826-8240, [email protected].
Grilled everything at the Pan Pacific
Concert: Bon Jovi
Hey, if you want to. Me, I’m continuing to drink.
Zone 4 Padang Stage.
Race: 2015 Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix (8-10pm)
Yes, it’s here. The F1 finals. This is for all the marbles as Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, and some other Euro dudes go for it. Watch it at the Grandstand (entry level), the Swissotel (bird’s eye-view) or the Paddock Lounge (baller!) and make sure to cheer/drink/scream and go CRAAAAZY. And we’re not close to done...
And they're off
Party: Amber Lounge
Move from the racetrack to the party at Amber Lounge. Amber basically a giant tent full of beautiful people, an open bar, and madness. This year they’ve got live performances and a DJ set by Apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas, jeroboams of champagne, and always a surprise or two. The last two years I ended up talking with a bunch of short, incredibly charismatic guys who turned out to be F1 drivers. You want to be part of their party. Splurge on this one, too: Singapore only happens once a year. And if you do it right, that’s all you’ll be able to handle. Good luck.
S$900 ($5,000) (Sat), S$1,200 ($6,600) (Sun), tables S$8,000+ ($44,000), (+377) 97-77-16-34, www.amber-lounge.com.
