Thursday, December 29, 2011

The gorgeous new mall in town: 112 Katong

Living in the Marine Parade area practically my whole life (save for 3 years in overly-crowded Tampines shortly after getting married), I am firstly so glad to move back to this awesome area once again.

And the “rich cousin poor cousin” competition has been on for as long as I can remember. Parkway Parade with its spanking look, and family-friendly tenant mix versus the Katong Mall, with anchor tenant Cold Storage, the cool Awfully Chocolate outlet and… loads of tuition centres.

image 
(Photo credit here)

I used to frequent the Cold Storage, primarily because it offered fresh food stuff… and short cashier queues!

But now… to my delight (as well as to almost all residents in this area…), the mall has now undergone a brand new facelift. But more than a facelift, it is as if it went under some major reconstructive surgery!

Meet 112 Katong. 

image

I was invited for a bloggers’ tour, and saw some of the offerings of this mall.

IMG_5607

It was an enjoyable walk, and we enjoyed a yummy lunch at Nando’s after that too!

For parents especially, this mall should appeal to you (& the kiddos).

Let me introduce you to some of my favourite places in the mall.

#1: For the Foodies

IMG_5606

Any mall worth its chops has to have a food court – with yummy offerings! Since the tour, I have also separately went to try out some of the food offered there.

i12
(Clockwise from top: Popiah, yong tau foo & fishball beehoon soup)

Sure ain’t hawker cheap – but makes for a fulfilling dinner!

Other yummy food offerings include Nando’s (which opens till 3AM on Fridays & Saturdays! Whoopppee!).

Meal-for-6

Nando’s new offering – Meals for 2/4/6 pax… affordable yums! I also heard that they are having a Breakfast menu – so I am looking forward to trying that out one day too!

Other restaurants include Din Tai Fung, Da Paolo Gastronomia, Canton Paradise, Soup Spoon… and more!

#2: For the Kiddies

Jay has found his new favourite toy store – Natures Collection. Check out their window display!

IMG_5609 

Chockful of stuffed animals, and the bear even looks to be snoring! Absolutely adorable. Store stocks Billyland animal figurines – which are right up Jay’s alley with their intricate attention to detail.

Other stores to plonk down money for your children include BabyBaby (selling high-end prams and products) & Zero2Six (catering to well, the 0-6 year olds).

And what better way to remember how the old Katong Mall used to be… by also having some tuition and enrichment centres as well! 112 has PerchingKids (an award-winning early childhood education chain from China), the Ballet & Music Company & Z Fencing!

Oh… and a MUST for the children… 112’s awesome rooftop water playground! (due to the dreary weather, I haven’t had to chance to bring Jay for this yet – though I can’t wait to do so!)

#3: For the Sweeties

112 is a dessert haven. Marble Slab Creamery. Seventh Heaven. Gong Cha. Max Brenner the Chocolate Bar. Obolo. –18 degrees.

Oh gosh… God bless my diet plans!

IMG_5594

Jay with his Cool Mint icecream from Marble Slab… Very yummy!

#4: Our very own GV Theatre!

This is a HUGE plus for the mall. Finally… after the Republic & Liberty theatres have closed down, we have finally a mall to enjoy. GV Katong… 2 Gold Class theatres… Midnight shows without the exorbitant town charges. Aaah… I love it!

Went to catch Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows with Nic on Christmas Day (after my in-laws gamely gave up their afternoon plans to give us some time off) and I loved it! Will need to try out their Gold Class theatres one fine day (when I am in a more splurging mood… perhaps for hubby’s birthday? Which is in a week’s time, actually… haha!)

No comments: