Counting the Cafes in

Are you getting sick of the same, picture perfect, beautifully

decorated cups of coffee everyone is posting on Instagram? Or how
about the truffle fries that are so delicately placed on the wooden
plates and then posted on instagram with the caption cafe hopping
x? Well, if you love social media as much as I do, Id get used to it.
The cafe trend has taken Singapore by storm and lo and behold, its
no regular tropical wind.
It is no surprise that many deem these cafes with their unique cafe
designs and meticulously designed food as hipster. In the Urban
Dictionary, the term hipster can be defined as a subculture of young
men and women who value independent thinking, counter culture
and appreciation for art and indie-rock. This can only be related to
the majority of the target market who visits these cafes; flocks of
teenagers with their scarves, beanies, bowler hats and eye-catching
fashion sense.
What could only be a sign of staying true to their hipster vibes,
many of these cafes are sometimes hard to locate and in addition,
their prices differ (usually higher) from your usual fast food outlets
or restaurants at shopping malls. Nonetheless this does not stop the
cafe craze and addiction many have towards dining at these quirky
places. It may or may not be the cool and calm ambience, the
scrumptious cafe food or the mouth-watering desserts but whatever
it is, cafes are growing to be a popular destination among the youth
and will continue to show up on social media for everyone to admire
for a long time. Such cafes include Working Title at Haji Lane, a
petite and humble setup with an indie, rustic and edgy interior as
well as The Dispensary at Tiong Bahru, a cafe area with its old
school retro interior.
What all these cafes have in common is that yes, they may be outof-the-norm dining outlets and they may also be out of the way, but
just because they arent quite like any other, could be the reason
why theyre here to stay after all.

Are they Fairy Tales or Fairy Fails?

It is 2015. The fairy tales that you used to watch on television when
you were 9 are no longer the same ones your little sisters watching
right now. Surely some may expect these remakes to just be an
updated version of the original fairytale; better effects, higher
quality definition and a mind-blowing soundtrack but what none of
us may have anticipated was how the movies became so... dark.
Tracing back to the history of these fairy tales, it is true how dark the
versions were in Grimms Fairytales but could this be the reason
why remakes that are currently churned out by Hollywood more
theatrical and gloomy? If so, is it to pay respects to the original
storyline? Recent releases in the past years include Hansel and
Gretel, Alice In Wonderland and Snow White and the Huntsman.
These are just some of the few examples of remakes that share the
same characters but whose plot contains more action, thrill,
romance and special effects, to make the scary even scarier and the
unimaginable real.
The most recent re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent has
raked in $600 million this year, surpassing any non-superhero movie
profit made in 2014. Once Upon A Time, an ABC show about
various fairy tale characters whose memories were taken away by
an evil curse was released in 2011 and has not only won a series of
awards (ALMA Award for Favourite TV Actress-Drama in 2012, BMI TV
Music Award in 2013) but was also nominated for a Peoples Choice
Award in 2014.
Well, there is one well-known fact that could have supported this era
of remakes times have changed. What was once the traditional
Disney versions that took away all the gruesome details and
transformed these fairy tales into wonderful and musical delights,
are now bigger and better forms of entertainment for everyone of all
ages to enjoy.

It is not so much throwing away the perfect happy ending to make

profit for the growing cinema industry, but it is about keeping them
current and the appreciation for the fairy tales alive for years to
come. It is important to bear in mind that these fairy tales have to
be adapted and retold to keep the happy ever after for-ever after.
So next time you think youre about to take Three Little Pigs off
the shelf for some bedtime reading, think again. You might end up
reaching for a DVD version instead.

TOP 5 SONGS FOR YOUR WEDDING

We all know how stressful it is to pick songs to dance to for your first
dance or something thats family-friendly (for both your nieces and
grandparents to shake their booty to) so here, weve compiled the
sweetest music on that special day where your prince charming
sweeps you off your feet on the dance floor. And the countdown
begins now:
5. Happy by Pharrell
It is almost impossible for anyone to hear this upbeat track and
resist tapping their feet or clapping along. This popular number
would be a hit with both the young and old, getting everybody
together to celebrate the love in the air and the happiness (literally,
yes) of the newly-wed couple.
Because I'm happy/Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof/
Because I'm happy/Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
4. Sugar by Maroon 5
If the music video is not a big enough hint about how appropriate
this song would be for your wedding, then... I suggest you check
that out. This catchy beat enlightens and uplifts even the grumpiest
of guests with Adam Levines high register almost blessing this
sweet (no pun intended) ceremony.
I don't wanna be needing your love/I just wanna be deep in your
love/And it's killing me when you're away

3. Crazy In Love by Beyonce feat. Jay Z

How perfect would this song be for the grooms or bridemaids to
show their playful side and perform? Not only would this be a great
classic to get your groove to, but it is definitely a fun way to declare
how much you love one another. The sexy denim shorts worn by
Beyonce arent compulsory, of course.
Cuz I know I don't understand/Just how your love can do what no
one else can/Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's/Got me
looking so crazy right now (in love)
2. Stay With Me by Sam Smith
Anyone can croon a love song but who can resist the angelic and
soulfulness of the wonderful Sam Smith? His songs have not only
broken records and won grammys but have probably helped
heartbroken star-crossed lovers all over the world weep in peace.
These nights never seem to go to plan/I don't want you to leave,
will you hold my hand? /Oh, won't you stay with me? /Cause you're
all I need
1. All Of Me by John Legend
Legends heartfelt lyrics have not only brought this hit to the top of
the charts but also, brought his wife to tears. Appearing in the music
video (which was filmed days before their actual wedding), Chrissy
Teigen was positively smitten with Legend as he serenades her with
this passionate piano ballad. Selling 5.5 million copies as of this year
and having been nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance at The
Grammys in 2014, surely this is a must-have on your wedding dj list.
Youre my end and my beginning/Even when I lose Im
winning/Cause I give you all of me/And you give me all of you, oh
Its hard to imagine how it could be any more perfect to express
your love to your future husband or wife through these meaningful
melodies. After all, as the saying goes, a picture can speak a
thousand songs. Oh, wait. A song can speak a thousand pictures.
Unless its... a song can speak a thousand words. Aw well, Im sure
you get what I mean.

Koffee Kraze
Koffee Kraze opened Singapores first gourmet coffee house in the
heartland of Bugis in 2001. Since then, the outlet has brought coffee
standards to a new level with the aromatic and flavourful coffee
taste a guaranteed result in each cup served. The on-site coffee
roasting facility available is an added plus to continuously provide
delicious coffee to customers.
Because we value the quality and freshness of our coffee, we source
the coffee beans supplies independently. As we obtain the
ingredients directly from plantation owners, there is complete
control over the standard of our coffee. We take pride in our supply
and process, aiming to deliver a consistent fresh brew every single
time.
Our loyal customers are able to choose from a wide variety of coffee
beans, including our very own signature Koffee Kraze blend, the
Cameroon Charrieriana and the unique, fruity flavours of the
Ethiopian Harar.
In the past decade, Koffee Kraze has accomplished the position of
runner-up in the Singapore Cup Tasters Championship, second
runner-up in the ASEAN Barista Championship and also participated
in the annual coffee festival CoffeeFest, an event showcasing and
promoting the vibrant coffee scene in Singapore.

Today, Koffee Kraze has a total of 23 outlets across Singapore,

Indonesia and Australia, each with the common goal to provide the
enjoyable cafe experience and bring customers the fresh, authentic
brew anytime of the day for a quick pick-me-up in the morning or
for a relaxing session at night with some friends. The comfortable
environment and our friendly staff welcome all coffee lovers
everywhere.