Queue, queue, queue...what will you be queuing for?

[bigozt]

In n Out blur-ger and Kway Filet pop up - that is the best they can do. Uncle MacDonna got the island covered already. Good also, cheaper than these pretenders

 

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Fans wait 7 hours in the rain for (G)I-dle’s Minnie at Chagee VivoCity opening​

(G)I-dle’s Minnie made a special appearance at the opening of Chinese tea brand Chagee’s second flagship store at VivoCity on Jan 11.PHOTO: CHAGEE
Lim Ruey Yan
Jan 13, 2025

SINGAPORE – The incessant rain over the weekend did not deter fans from waiting for up to seven hours to catch a glimpse of K-pop girl group (G)I-dle’s Minnie.

The 27-year-old star made a special appearance at the opening of Chinese tea brand Chagee’s second flagship store at VivoCity on Jan 11.

Some of Neverland, the fandom of (G)I-dle, arrived at the shopping centre as early as 4am, even though the Thai singer arrived only at 11am.

Fans donned raincoats or used umbrellas, with queues stretching to the second and third floors of the mall.

Minnie, whose real name is Nicha Yontararak, greeted them soon after going on stage.

She said that her favourite Singapore food is bak kut teh and that she also likes laksa, kaya toast and chilli crab, the “favourite food” of many South Korean celebrities, Chinese-language evening daily Shin Min Daily News reported on Jan 12.

Minnie also tried three Chagee drinks – Jasmine Green Milk Tea, Peach Oolong Milk Tea and Da Hong Pao Milk Tea – and said her favourite is Da Hong Pao.


Three fans were also invited on stage to perform (G)I-dle’s hit 2023 song Queencard during the Dance Challenge segment of the event. The singer picked a winner, who received a Minnie standee, exclusive signed merchandise and a photo opportunity with her.

Minnie was last in town in October 2023 when (G)I-dle – which also comprise Miyeon, Soyeon, Yuqi and Shuhua – performed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium as part of their I Am Free-ty World Tour.

She is scheduled to release her first mini-album, Her, on Jan 21.

 

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KFC’s Mofusand keychains resold by scalpers for as much as $50 on Carousell on first day of promotion​

The coveted cat keychain is part of a collaboration between KFC and Mofusand.PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI, KFC

Ang Qing
Jan 14, 2025

SINGAPORE - Fans of a dewy-eyed cat donning a chicken bucket sold by fast food chain KFC have become the latest target of scalpers.

The coveted cat keychain is part of a collaboration between KFC and Mofusand, a popular Japanese cat illustration series, which released limited stocks of the trinkets, as well as sticker packs and red packets to dine-in and takeaway customers at 11am on Jan 13 to promote KFC’s cereal chicken.

For every cereal chicken box or cereal chicken burger box purchased, customers are allowed to buy one keychain for $12.95, with a new design launched each week over three weeks.

Each customer is limited to two keychains.

By 4pm, merchandise of the fluffy cat was being resold for up to $50, with The Straits Times finding some 70 listings on shopping platform Carousell.

One reseller even took pre-orders for designs that have not been released, in exchange for $40.

Sticker packs and red packets, which were given away for free with conditions attached, are priced between roughly $8 and $12 on Carousell.

According to KFC, the sticker packs are free for patrons who spend at least $12 in a single receipt on breakfast at its KFC Breakfast stores. The red packets are given out free to those who purchase cereal chicken or cereal chicken burger bundles.

The cat keychain is part of a collaboration between KFC and Japanese brand Mofusand.PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM CAROUSELL
Braving the rain, fans flocked to outlets around the island on Jan 13 to snag queue tickets for the keychain.

However, several reported their disappointment and frustration on Facebook as they left empty-handed.

KFC said on social media on Jan 12 that queue tickets would be handed out by restaurant staff at 11am on each launch date to customers who were physically in the queue.

It added that the ticket must be redeemed by 1pm on the launch dates, and the keychains would be considered sold out once the tickets were fully distributed.

Facebook user Shi Ting claimed to have left empty-handed, despite obtaining a queue ticket and lining up for about two hours for the keychain.

“This is totally ridiculous. What’s the point of having the queue ticket?” she said.

Others expressed confusion about whether the merchandise would be sold for the rest of this week.

In a media reply at about 10pm, a KFC spokesperson said its chicken bucket-wearing cat keychain was “mostly sold out” across all its stores, with many outlets selling out the keychains within three hours of launch.

She also praised several caring customers who were seen giving their queue tickets to strangers so that more people could purchase the merchandise.

Responding to online complaints, she added that KFC is looking into improving the process for the sale of another Mofusand keychain next week.

Fans of the cosplaying cat can try their luck again on Jan 20 and 27, when other designs of the cat donning an egg tart and a drumstick respectively will be released.

Meanwhile, a 20cm-long soft toy of a Mofusand cat wearing a chicken bucket on its head will be launched on Feb 5 for $19.95 at selected stores.

Sales of the exclusive merchandise end on Feb 18.

 

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Jewel’s Pokemon Centre halts card set launch amid 1000-strong crowd; police called in​

Large crowds showed up hours ahead of the 10am launch at Jewel Changi Airport.PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM AWI3GANG/TIKTOK

Ian Cheng
Jan 17, 2025

SINGAPORE - The Pokemon Centre Singapore halted sales of a new trading card game set in its Jewel Changi Airport store on Jan 17, after large crowds showed up hours ahead of its 10am launch.

By about 9.15am, the crowd had swelled to more than 1,000 people and obstructed several walkways in the area, the police said.

Videos posted on social media platforms show throngs of people outside the retail outlet, eager to get their hands on the latest Prismatic Evolutions set featuring fan-favourite Pokemon Eevee and its evolved forms.

One TikTok user said fans had started queueing from 11pm the night before.

However, many left empty-handed and disappointed after the store announced shortly before the scheduled launch that it would not be selling the cards in the physical store, citing safety reasons.

Those present were told that they could buy the cards from Pokemon Centre’s Shopee Singapore online store from 10am instead.

The police said that they received a call for assistance at about 6.10am and found more than 200 people gathered outside the store when they arrived.

Minutes later, the group had swelled to over 500 people, before reaching its peak of more than 1,000 people at around 9.15am.

The Pokemon Centre called off the product launch at around 9.20am, and officers from the Airport Police Division helped with crowd dispersal.

In a post on Jan 17, the Pokemon Singapore Facebook page said that it would not be selling the cards from Jan 17 to 19 in the physical store “to ensure a safe environment” for visitors.

It added that it is “unable to provide a specific date for when in-store sales will resume”.

The sudden announcement drew mixed reactions from social media users, with some saying the move was “understandable” to protect the safety of the public.

Others, however, criticised the store’s lack of crowd control, despite there being expectations that a large number of people would turn up, as with previous launches.

Facebook user Leonard Foo said: “Perhaps (it) would have been less disappointing if there was something like (an) online ballot system.”


The police said they were disappointed that the retailer did not anticipate the huge crowds and put in place adequate crowd control measures, which would minimise public safety risks.

“It was fortunate that no injuries or breaches of peace occurred for this incident,” they said.

They urged retailers and event organisers to work closely with premise owners to implement effective crowd control measures during such events.

These include identifying suitable and sufficient queueing space, establishing proper queue management systems to regulate crowd flow, and deploying additional security personnel and staff to manage crowds.


A spokesperson for Jewel Changi Airport, in response to queries from The Straits Times, said that the safety of visitors is important.

“We work closely with all our retailers for their events, and remain committed to supporting them in the implementation of effective crowd control measures whenever large crowds are anticipated,” the spokesperson added.

In an advisory on Jan 15, the Pokemon Singapore Instagram page said that queueing overnight for the launch was not allowed, and those who did so may be refused entry into the store.

The post added that there were plans to distribute tickets to customers that would allow them to purchase one product each on a first come, first served basis.

However, Pokemon Singapore also said it reserved the right to change the terms and conditions without prior notice.


The Pokemon Centre edition of the Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box contains 11 packs of cards – two more than the nine packs included in regular versions of the product. It also contains two promotional cards, as well as other card game accessories and paraphernalia.

The product was listed on the official Pokemon Store on Shopee Singapore for $109.90, though it was reportedly sold out almost instantly.

Some shops in countries such as Japan and the US have made similar decisions to stop in-store sales of the set, following previous instances of fights breaking out at product launches. There were also cases of fans breaking into shops.

US card shop Retro Emporium, located in Kent City, Washington, said in an Instagram post that it had “struggled with this decision, but at the end of the day, we will NOT sacrifice our safety for... cardboard”.

“The overly aggressive (and entitled) behaviour coming from collectors/resellers has reached a whole new level, so, we’re OUT on this one. Sorry to those who are not part of the problem... we have tried to be fair and keep everything accessible, but we just can’t this time,” it said.

Rarer card variants of Eevee and its evolutions from other Pokemon card sets have been resold at eye-watering prices online.

These include an original printing of the Gold Star Umbreon, an evolved form of Eevee, which was listed on trading card game website Troll And Toad for US$3,299.99 (S$4,510).

An eBay listing of the same card was last sold at £2,999 (S$5,000).

English-language full art special illustration cards featuring Eevee and its evolutions from the latest Prismatic Evolutions set.PHOTO: THE POKEMON COMPANY INTERNATIONAL
Currently, the Japanese full art special illustration versions of Eevee and its evolutions from the Japanese-language equivalent set are valued at around $80 each, with the most expensive of the lot, Umbreon EX, going for $613. The next most expensive is Sylveon EX, which goes for $218.

Market prices for the English-language sets are currently unavailable, but are expected to be higher than the Japanese versions as the odds of getting a specific higher-rarity card are much lower.

For instance, a listing for the English full art special illustration of Sylveon EX sold on eBay for US$729.99 on Jan 16.

The overwhelming demand has prompted stock cuts in trading card game shops worldwide, with the Pokemon Company International releasing a statement to address the shortage.

“We’re aware that some fans may experience difficulties purchasing certain Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG): Scarlet & Violet – Prismatic Evolutions products at launch due to high demand impacting availability,” a spokesperson told gaming website IGN.

“We understand this inconvenience can be disappointing for fans, and we are actively working to print more of the impacted Pokemon TCG products as quickly as possible and at maximum capacity to acknowledge this.”

The Pokemon trading card game has exploded in popularity in recent years – not just among fans of the game, but also among investors who had little or no past interest.

In 2021, US YouTuber Logan Paul made a record-breaking trade worth US$5.28 million in a Dubai hotel room to a “mystery” seller for a professionally graded Pikachu Illustrator card. Only 41 are known to be in circulation, with Mr Paul’s copy being the only one that was professionally graded at a perfect “10”.

The gold rush has also sparked a boom in fake cards. Mr Paul, for instance, paid US$3.75 million in 2021 for a “sealed and authenticated” box of first-edition booster packs that turned out to contain G.I. Joe cards instead, according to one of his videos.

There are currently more than 64.8 billion cards printed worldwide.

 

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Sneakerheads flock to first day of Sneaker Con SEA 2025​

Sneaker Con is in its third year and continuing on Feb 23 from 11am to 9pm.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Srinidhi Ragavendran
Feb 23, 2025

SINGAPORE - The buzz was palpable on day one of Sneaker Con SEA 2025 in Singapore, as sneakerheads roared and cheered – with some even holding their prized sneakers aloft when renowned American sneaker designer Steven Smith and Japanese influencer Rae Lil Black took to the stage during the meet-and-greet on Feb 22.

Now in its third year and continuing on Feb 23 from 11am to 9pm, the convention is set to attract 18,000 attendees across both days. Held in Halls E and F of the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, it hosts top sneaker brands, leading creators and a new non-ticketed food zone, GastroBeats Takes The Streets, featuring 15 street food vendors.

Sneaker Con SEA first-timers Carl Iyog and Sher Low, both 27, made a stylish debut in matching Air Jordan 1s. Eager to refresh their collection, Mr Iyog, an army regular, felt the event was the place to score some “interesting” kicks.

Their search paid off when they discovered a matching pair of grey Air Jordans for sale at one of the booths. The couple will meet the vendor at a later date to collect their sizes.

“The market price is apparently $170 per pair, but we might get it for lower,” said Ms Low, who works in human resources.

Mr Carl Iyog and Ms Sher Low with their matching Air Jordans.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Culture Kicks, a popular Philadelphia-based media and sneaker company known for its unboxing videos and sneaker purchases from fans, drew a snaking queue outside its booth as many hoped to sell their shoes directly to the team.

Standing in line was 22-year-old Sean Seah, who was waiting with 20 boxes of shoes. He said he brought about 80 pairs for resale, with the rest in his car.


The undergraduate, who attended Sneaker Con SEA in 2024, said: “You get to meet people from other countries who own stores. You can make good connections here. I still sell to people I met during the event last year.”

Sneaker aficionados in a queue to sell shoes to Culture Kicks.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
The most expensive pair he plans to resell is the Travis Scott x Fragment Air Jordan 1 Low, which he bought on e-commerce marketplace Carousell for $1,800.

Headlining in 2025 was the “Godfather of Dad Shoes” Smith, 60, who designed iconic creations for major brands like the New Balance 574, Reebok InstaPump Fury and Nike Air Zoom Spiridon Cage, and now serves as head of creative innovation at Crocs.

Designer Steven Smith showing fans at Sneaker Con 2025 his Crocs on Feb 22.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
One of Smith’s fans who managed to snag his autograph was Ms Edlyn Tang, a 20-year-old undergraduate who bought a pair of Jordan Brand: Unbannable sneakers for $269.

Of her third time at the event, she said: “Sneaker Con is meaningful to me as it is a community I have grown to love, from shoe designers, collectors and the average Singaporean who comes to learn more about shoes and leaves as a fan.”

Sneaker aficionado Edlyn Tang, 20, with her Jordan Brand: UnbannableST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Tickets for Sneaker Con SEA 2025 are priced at $35 (general) and $55 (premium) and are available at sea.sneakercon.com

 

[k1976]

We should have a Rolex Con de woh

 

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Burger & Lobster fan braves queue for 1-for 1 deal at Jewel, finds lobster shell in her food​

photo_librarySee 13 More Photoschevron_rightchevron_left

Cherlynn Ng​

24 February 2025
Submitted by Stomper Cappuccino, Latte


A woman who visited Burger & Lobster for a 1-for-1 promotion ended up getting more than she bargained for: Lobster shells in her food.

Stompers Cappuccino and Latte said they visited the restaurant's Jewel Changi Airport outlet on Feb 21, at around 11.45am.

They had headed down together after hearing about a 1-for-1 deal for the restaurant's famed lobster rolls.

Cappuccino recounted: "There was a short queue when we arrived and more people gradually joined the line. We had to wait quite a bit not because there were super duper loads of people, but because of the slow service.

"The staff were slow, appeared uninterested and had no sense of urgency. Customers in line were not seated even though there were several empty tables, some of which remained unclear for some time.

"Jewel's glass ceiling meant it was a rather uncomfortable wait in the heat too."

The duo were seated at about 12.20pm.

Cappuccino added: "The service was more satisfactory this time. A male staff member explained the promotion to us, led us into the restaurant (where it was still very warm) and served us water.

"Our lobster rolls arrived shortly after and it was enjoyable... for me at least."

Unfortunately, Stomper Latte could not say the same as she found lobster shells in her food. She spent the meal picking out the shells.

She told Stomp: "I was disappointed. I'd been really looking forward to the lobster roll and even though it was on offer, it's not the cheapest meal out there.

"The lobster roll was delicious but I cannot deny biting into the pieces of lobster shell halfway through my meal marred the entire experience."

Their pair of friends informed a female staff member about the issue, but the latter simply said she would tell the chef and there was "no apology or anything."

The 1-for-1 lobster roll promotion is available for dine-in at Burger & Lobster's Jewel Changi Airport outlet from Feb 18 to Feb 25. It is an ala carte item and priced at $41++.

According to the restaurant's website, the daily cut off time for customers to have their names on the waiting list is 8pm.

However, some patrons said they were not aware that there was limited availability and ended up making a wasted trip after stocks ran out early.

One diner also noted that service standards were lacklustre, similar to what Stomper Cappuccino said.

While there is at least one positive Google review about the promotion, it seems to have left more people feeling crabby than happy.

Cappuccino added: "The overall experience was appalling, especially considering the touristy setting! What will people think of Singapore?"

 

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Queue for The Monsters x One Piece outside Pop Mart

 

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Eight minutes with Jisoo: Blinks flock to Orchard for Blackpink star’s appearance​

More than 2,000 fans packed the first two levels of Orchard Central for a glimpse of Jisoo.PHOTOS: ST READER, AZMI ATHNI
Srinidhi Ragavendran
Mar 08, 2025

SINGAPORE – Elenore and Isabel Chaudhuri thought they were headed to the Decathlon sporting goods store after school. Instead, the sisters aged 10 and six found themselves in the middle of a sea of screaming fans at Orchard Central, where they saw their idol, Jisoo of Blackpink, in person for the first time.

Their parents, Mr Dip Chaudhuri and Ms Deborah Fray-Chaudhuri, both 41, had secretly planned the surprise for over a week, deciding to skip the girls’ usual gym and piano lessons. The family arrived at around 4.20pm.

“The girls are huge fans of Blackpink. Their songs are the only ones that play in our house and car,” says Mr Chaudhuri. “They even know the Korean lyrics.”

Sisters Elenore (left) and Isabel Chaudhuri, who were surprised by their parents with a chance to see Jisoo at Orchard Central.ST PHOTO: SRINIDHI RAGAVENDRAN
The sisters were among more than 2,000 fans who packed the first two levels of Orchard Central for a glimpse of the 30-year-old K-pop star, who is part of the four-member South Korean superstar girl group, Blackpink. The other members are Jennie, Rose and Lisa.

Jisoo made an appearance at Amortage at Far East Malls, a pop-up concept store celebrating her debut solo mini-album Amortage, which was released on Feb 14.


Arriving at 5.19pm, she waved and blew kisses to her devoted Sooyas – the affectionate name for her fan base – and walked down the snaking queue which stretched throughout the space at level 1.

After interacting with her fans who cheered and waved their handmade signs exuberantly, she signed an Amortage poster and left by 5.27pm.

For many fans, just an eight-minute glimpse of the star was worth the hours-long wait.


Ms Alycia Lee, 24, was one of the first few to arrive at 8am, taking advantage of a class-free day at university to secure a good spot at Coffeesmith cafe.

A fan of Blackpink since their debut showcase in 2016, she also attended the group’s 2023 concert in Singapore at the National Stadium. “It was euphoric, surreal and definitely worth the wait,” she says. “I think I screamed a bit too loudly.”

She also bought the Amortage album and a Singapore-exclusive limited-edition Shumon baby keychain – Jisoo’s hand-drawn character.

Ms Lee also made new friends in the crowd, including Ms Reina Tan, 24, who works in banking and took leave to see Jisoo. A long-time fan, Ms Tan has followed Jisoo before she made her debut, and was her fan of her performance from when she was just a trainee in 2016.

The Amortage pop-up will have a month-long run at Orchard Central from March 5 to April 6.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Some lucky fans managed to snag the coveted Amortage album, worth $23.90 to $29.90, for free.

One of them was 11-year-old Chen Xing Zi, a pupil from St Margaret’s Primary School. She won a copy after correctly naming five of the singer’s nicknames, which include “Jichu” and “Turtle Rabbit Kim”. She attended the event with her friend Goh Jing Ru, 11, heading over after school to catch the rare appearance.

“It is my first time winning something, and I’m super happy since I have been a fan of Blackpink for five years,” says Xing Zi.

Chen Xing Zi (left) and Goh Jing Ru posing with the Amortage album Xing Zi won.ST PHOTO: SRINIDHI RAGAVENDRAN
For a star who needed only eight minutes to leave a lasting impression, Jisoo’s presence was enough to send fans into a frenzy.

The Amortage pop-up, conceptualised to resemble a cinema with different rooms inspired by Jisoo’s music, will have a month-long run at Orchard Central from March 5 to April 6. The Singapore edition is the first of its kind in the region.