True blue Manileños, recent transplants, and visitors to our city all know — there is never a lack of things to do in Manila. This is Coconuts Manila’s guide to all things good and great happening over the coming weekend. Peruse it, take note of everything that interests you, and hit us up on our Facebook page or on Twitter @CoconutsManila to sound off on what you think.
Start Christmas shopping (already)
Date: Dec. 6 – 9 (Thursday – Sunday)
Venue: Santolan Town Plaza, Santolan Rd., Brgy. Little Baguio, San Juan City
It’s the first week of December, which means Christmas is just weeks away. There are bazaars happening across the metro that have endless rows of stalls, but sometimes, smaller markets actually offer better quality products.
Santolan Town Plaza, a small commercial center in San Juan City, will be holding that kind of smaller, better curated Christmas market starting tomorrow until Sunday. Baked goods, artisan products, and customized crafts will be sold — all ready to be given as gifts to co-workers, friends, or family.
On Sunday, shoppers can also enjoy music from carolers, while children can meet Santa Claus. Because the Plaza was developed by Rockwell, visitors can also expect some pretty dazzling Christmas decor that the developer’s other malls have become known for. For more information, visit the Santolan Town Plaza Facebook page.
Appreciate some European cinema
Date: December 7 (Friday) – 16 (Sunday)
Venue: Shangri-La Plaza Mall, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City
Cine Europa 2018 will be ending its tour around the Philippines this weekend with screenings in the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. The film festival has been showcasing European films in Philippine cities like Cebu, Tacloban, and Iloilo as a way to share European culture to Filipinos.
Part of the festival’s lineup are films from 16 countries including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The best part? Tickets are free. For more information, visit the Cine Europa 2018: The 21st European Film Festival Facebook event page.
Catch a show that blends opera with musical theater
Date: Dec. 8 (Saturday) & 9 (Sunday)
Venue: Manila Pianos, Ronac Lifestyle Center, Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City
Here’s a show that mixes opera with musical theater — Of Thrones and Tiaras, which will be staged by OperaJuan in the Manila Pianos store in the Ronac Lifestyle Center this Saturday and Sunday at 5pm.
Divided into two acts, the first will be dedicated to pieces from famous operas like La Traviata and The Marriage of Figaro, while the second will incorporate songs from musicals like Hamilton, Wicked and Into The Woods into an original story.
Tickets are priced at PHP500 (US$9.48). Those interested in watching can purchase them by calling OperaJuan at +63965-195-1007. For more information, visit the OperaJuan Facebook page.
Celebrate Christmas sustainably
Date: Dec. 9, Sunday
Venue: Skypark Lawn, SM Aura Premier, 26th St. cor. McKinley Pkwy., Taguig City
Christmas — synonymous with gifts and parties, but we often don’t think about the waste that all our festivities create and leave behind.
The upcoming Christmas Sustainability Fair in SM Aura Premier, however, will show attendees that there’s no reason to put zero-waste efforts on pause this season. The event will hold workshops, including one on making Christmas lanterns through upcycling old materials. Visitors can also trade in beverage cartons in exchange for Christmas wrapping paper.
For more information, visit the Christmas Sustainability Fair Facebook event page.
Treat yourself to a lobster roll
Date: Dec. 9, Sunday
Venue: Prominent, 49 Scout O. M. Alcaraz cor. D. Tuazon St., Quezon City
Bun Appetit is known for its decadent lobster rolls. It’s normally only available in Makati City — at The Grid Food Market in Power Plant Mall and the Saturday Salcedo Market — but this weekend, it’ll be serving up goodies to those in northern Metro Manila.
Bun Appetit will be having a pop-up in the Prominent Cafe in Quezon City from 12nn to 7pm.
Apart from lobster rolls (PHP695/US$13.18), Bun Appetit also makes delicious grilled cheese sandwiches (PHP350 – PHP650/US$6.64 – US$12.32, depending on the seafood), lobster mac & cheese (PHP795/US$15.07), and garlic noodles (PHP150/US$2.84).
For more information, visit the Bun Appetit Facebook page.
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