Viva la VivoCity


This morning, we woke up to a white cloud enshrouded landscape. No, we are not in Heaven, but instead, enveloped in the year's worst haze attack with PSI levels at ungodly new highs (yes its now at an unhealthy 101!).

To escape the scourge of sulphur-laced nano-scopic particulate matter, my wife has suggested that we check out the new VivoCity. After all, it is just a stone's throw away from our house, and is Singapore's newest and most spanking new retail destination. This mega destination has over 1 million square feet of space, and claims to have up to *gasp* 450 retail, food, beverage and entertainment outlets. Suntec City eat your heart out - that's what they are claiming.

Positioning itself as a "multi-experiential destination", VivoCity will host not only retail or dining festivals, but include cultural and music festivals, purportedly at its outdoor amphitheatre. Other than its array of Singapore Biennale sculptures and artworks, the complex will also tie up with promising artists and designers to showcase their works. This promises to be a visually inspiring, and aesthetically pleasing spectacle, and will hopefully differentiate itself from run-of-the-mill shopping malls offering the wine, dine and shop-till-you-drop experiences.

It also has the largest cinema by Golden Village, with 15 cinema halls and 2,500 seats that offers to screen not only the latest Hollywood blockbuster, but also more eclectic yet quality "indie" offerings. I hear that the screens are different, sound systems are top-end, and seats are also a notch above.

As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Let's go forth and see how it fares.