Weekends can sometimes be a hit or miss depending on what you’ve planned.
Most of us are creatures of habit in one way or another. While I usually find comfort in familiar activities, I do enjoy the adventure of exploring new and exciting activities too. Well, if they don’t burn a hole in my pocket, of course. That’s when I discovered Spark Connections.
Spark Connections creates fun opportunities for individuals to meet and explore their interests through engaging activities. You might even discover new passions and hobbies along the way or make a new friend.
Some these activities include art workshops, pub crawls, heritage tours and more. One of my favourite activities at Spark Connections has got to be longboarding. I had the opportunity to learn a new (and cool) sport and got to know other longboarding beginners while finding my balance on the board.
And if you didn’t know, Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents above 20 will receive S$100 worth of credits when they sign up for a Spark Connections account on Changi Recommends. The credits can be used to offset 50% of the total cost of any activity in the Spark Connections’ list. If you don’t know where to start, here are some that I've tried, enjoyed and would recommend!
For the outdoor-sy and adventurous: Try a new sport
Longboarding can be a fun activity for those looking to learn a new sport.
If you’ve always thought that skateboarding is cool, but your klutzy tendencies constantly remind you that you’re not cut out for it, here's a tip: try longboards. With a wider platform and slower speed than your typical skateboards, beginners will find it easier to balance and actually have some fun. Rather than watching YouTube videos and splurging on a longboard before even figuring out if you would truly enjoy the sport, this class will provide you with the basic skills so you can give it a go before actually committing yourself to anything. Another plus point is the instructors – they will pinpoint areas for corrections that will help you improve!
Once you’ve mastered the art of balancing, the instructors will then share a few novice tricks . The added difficulty from the tricks will also help build your confidence as you, slowly but surely, nail the tricks. After a couple of sessions, I realised that the main hurdle for newbies is actually a matter of confidence. Having seasoned instructors by your side also helps a lot as compared to winging it on your own.
Sessions are available on the weekends at National Stadium from 3pm to 3:55pm. Tickets are available at S$97 per session, before the 50% off for Spark Connections members. Book your first session now and learn a new sport.
For the thrill seekers: Test your wits against the clock
For true crime fans, solve puzzles in immersive escape rooms at The Escape Artist. Image credit: Changi Recommends
Ever Imagined yourself being trapped somewhere, and having to figure a way out, in order to survive the situation? Well, now you can put your survival skills to the test at The Escape Artist! This award-winning company has created over 20 different escape rooms, including the latest Virtual Reality rooms.
Every room is different, with varying themes and difficulty levels. It’s probably the closest you can get to a real-life situation thanks to the realistic set up. Once you’re in, the adrenaline rush is unmissable. Under the time pressure, you quickly learn a lot about your bunch of newfound comrades – their strengths and character, and how to maximise each of them to solve the puzzles. Traversing from room to room, time passes faster than you would expect since you’re having fun so do remember to keep an eye on the clock!
When you finally succeed in escaping, you might find an interesting bond that was built over the past hour with your crew. We decided to hang out after that for coffee to just cool down and chit chat, and till today, we still do stay in touch as social media friends!
Sessions are available on alternate Fridays at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at S$22 per session, before the 50% off for Spark Connections members. Book your first session now to meet your very own A-team!
For the sweet tooth: There’s always room for desserts
Ice cream, games and cocktails - what's there not to like about this Night at the Museum – Spark Connections Edition at the Museum of Ice Cream. Image credit: Spark Connections
Thanks to Singapore’s tropical climate and numerous ice-cream eateries popping up everywhere, it is safe to conclude that ice-cream is one of Singaporeans’ favourite desserts. Being a self-proclaimed ice-cream connoisseur myself, I got all excited when I heard that Spark Connections was launching an exclusive activity with The Museum Of Ice Cream (MOIC) in Singapore! If you love free-flow ice cream, then the Night at the Museum: Spark Connections edition is a must-visit.
Cast aside any impression you have of typical museums. This is the Gen Z/Millennial version where every corner is picture perfect, from popping colours all the way to decor and settings that are made for the gram. The welcome drink was fun, but I was even more impressed with the entire experience. Aside from a diner hall where you get an unlimited supply of ice-cream, there are also various booths along the way where you can sample different ice-cream as you explore. Think velvety soft serve, traditional ice-cream sandwiches, ice-cream cups, an overload of toppings, alcoholic drinks (mocktails are available on request) with ice-cream and so much more. I had an overdose of ice cream (and calories) but it was so worth it!
Sessions are available on alternate Saturdays at Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Tickets are available at S$62, before 50% off for Spark Connections members. Book your first ice-cream buffet here.
For the artsy ones: Unleash your creativity with colourful acrylic pouring
Create your very own artwork and learn the basics of resin pour art. Image credit: Changi Recommends
And not forgetting the artsy ones. Room to Imagine organises a variety of classes that allows participants to experiment with acrylic pours on different canvases. The one I attended was for a cheese board. There are classes for other canvases such as resin coasters. This activity is perfect even for those whose best artworks are stick man drawings – you simply can’t go wrong with acrylic pouring!
The activity kicks off with a little introduction so you’re familiar with the do’s and don’ts when working with acrylic paint pigments and resin. You can then mix and match based on your preferred colour choices. If you just want to play it safe, there are plenty of past works in the room to draw reference from. After selecting your final combination of paint, you will mix them up and gently pour the mix onto your canvas. The direction, amount and placement for where you start pouring all determine how your eventual artwork will turn out! Your one-of-a-kind creation will be left there to dry and conveniently delivered to you over the next few weeks when it is ready.
Book your slots available every alternate Sunday at Room to Imagine from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. Prices are S$90, before 50% off for Spark Connections members. Sign up for your art experience now.
For the green fingers: A mini garden for your desk
Terrarium workshop with J2
Terrariums are all the rage now because they are super easy to care for in all settings, be it in the office or at home. If you’d like to have a plant on your desk, this workshop is the perfect opportunity for you to make your own! Everything will be provided, from soil to plant, to even add-ons like colourful rocks and figurines – you just have to turn up and be ready to design the terrarium you want.
The class starts off with some basic tips on how to care for plants. Next, layering is important because you want the area around the circumference of the terrarium to look pretty, but you need space in the middle for the soil so that the plants can take root. Everything else from here onwards is pretty much up to you – experiment with different styles, colour themes or characters. Just remember to not overwater your plants when you get home!
Workshops are held once a month at A'Posh Bizhub from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Prices are S$48, before 50% off for Spark Connections members. You can book your terrarium-making workshop here.
All in all, there is something for everyone at Spark Connections. It’s a great opportunity to not only try your hands on some cool activities, but also discover new interests. Plus, the 50% subsidy by Spark Connections is great perk if you have been ewanting to try a new activity (and make a new friend in the course of it).
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