YOUR Weekend Plans Right Here

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Friday

What’s On Screen?

Damon Gameau, an Australian filmmaker, wanted to know what the future would be like for his little daughter. He was asking himself what kind of world would she be facing 20 years from now? And in particular, what kind of environment? The result of his investigation is a documentary that looks at and envisions possibilities that have already been dreamed of and are in our capabilities, and it talks to those who may have more of a say: kids today who will be just setting out on their adult lives by 2040.  

4:30pm, The Flicks, St. 95

What’s On Stage?

Irish folk alternative rock band Riel Capital (who actually hail from Ireland) are playing at Cloud tonight. Which is glorious because that genre is not something you can get in Cambodia every day, and there’s no replacement to fill that unique Pogues/Cranberries/Dropkick Murphys (yeah, I know, they’re from the US) void. I think Riel Capital can describe it best: “Whether it’s the melancholy of Mary Black or an original sea shanty, you’re sure to be swept along on a tide of Gaelic passion.”

8pm, Cloud, St. 9

Two different acts from India will be playing “Bangalore Bookstore Blues” during Farm to Table’s dinner hours. Drawing inspiration from bands like Iron & Wine and Radiohead, the bands are a product of Bangalore’s developing intimate live music experiences that frequently happen in bookstores and coffee shops. Mahesh is a one-man act with a soulful voice, and Cinema of Excess is an acoustic trio that will be playing songs from their EP, launched last year. 

6:30-9:30pm, Farm to Table, St. 360

It’s officially happened: Bassac Lane is turning into a disco. As you turn down the little alley from Street 308, you’ll be transported back in time to wide lapels, high shoes and low necklines (for both men and ladies). To welcome you when you reach the other side is 6-piece band Retro Carnival Disco, playing solid gold.

9-midnight, Bassac Lane

Mirasol Aguila will be sharing her beautiful, soulful voice in the intimate setting of Bodleian’s carpeted and tufted-leather cushioned whiskey and cocktail bar. Joining her on the mic is singer and drummer Euan Gray and Larry Martinez on keys.   

8-11pm, Bodleian, St. 288

What Else?

BritCham Cambodia, the nickname for the British Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, is holding its monthly social at Orphic tonight, providing a networking opportunity for Phnom Penh’s business owners and community leaders. Their event is $20 for non-members and runs from 6-8pm. But it’s hard to believe that it’s a coinkidink that they’ve chosen this Riverside bar and restaurant as their meeting location when you learn that it happens to be at the same time as Orphic’s October Beer Festival, in partnership with Cerevisia Brewery. The beers will be buy one, get one from 5pm to midnight – the magic potion for closing deals.

5pm-midnight, Orphic, Sisowath Quay

Also on Riverside, craft brewers Fuzzy Logic are also having a buy one, get one drink special at Azure Bar & Grill. The deal is for their Dragon Lager, but they also have the Thunderslap IPA on tap, too. DJ L~N [Loads~Nothing] will be spinning the tunes.

8pm-midnight, Azure Bar & Grill, St. 123

What can you do to have an epic birthday party? Well, one thing you can do is to get a DJ to play and have a local artist do a fire show [ahem]. But what if it’s the fire performer’s birthday? Then you get FOUR DJs, have a barbecue and, of course, also have a fire show. DJs Dalah, Marie Thach, Sequence (of PP Underground) and Shadows of Space will serenade the birthday boy as it’s his turn to celebrate. Happy birthday, Aaron!

9pm-2am, Ege Bar, St. 460

What’s On Late?

“World traveling bboy/house dancer extraordinaire” DJ King GNS is coming to Club Love to do “an all-round performance”. And that says it all, really. You know you’re going to have some slick breakdancing moves and breaks and dance music, all from one powerhouse of a performer (from the US). And frankly, you’re probably going to have fun. $5 at the door gets you a free drink.

9pm-4am, Club Love, St. 278 

Saturday

What’s On Screen?

Bophana Center is having a little film fest by screening four films this afternoon.  A very little film fest, as the longest piece is 16 minutes! The first two are directed by Hang Sokharo, in Khmer with English subtitles, and relate stories in which one needs to overcome challenging obstacles in order to obtain a better future. The latter two films were produced by the Cambodia Health Education Media Service (CHEMS) and are also in Khmer with English subtitles. Both films address sexual and reproductive health issues that confront young Cambodians today and relate the challenges of educating people about them. The films themselves are likely informative on these subjects, including HIV infection, STIs, early pregnancy, unsafe abortion, drug abuse and sexual abuse. Free admission.

5-6pm, Bophana Center, St. 200

What Else?

This weekend is home to a massive art fair, with thirty participating artists, art workshops and art market. A third of the artists are Cambodian, a third are Cambodian-based and a third are from elsewhere in Southeast Asia. According to Phsar Art 2019 organisers, the participants were chosen to fulfill a variety of experience level, mediums, techniques and aesthetics. There’s also a wide range of types of art on offer, from illustrations and prints to ceramics to miniature art to comic books…and probably all sorts of clever creativity in between.

Today’s workshops are a woodcut printmaking workshop from 9am-noon and intro to modern calligraphy from 2-4pm. 

9am-6pm, The Plantation Urban Resort and Spa, St. 184

Workspace 1 at The Factory has an extensive book collection – a treasure trove of contemporary and classic literature and nonfiction. If you’d like to peruse the collection, pick out your next read, discuss all the good finds with other attendees and perhaps bring some books of your own to add to it, then you’re in luck! Saturday afternoon they’re holding their monthly book exchange. Share the gift of reading. 🙂 

1-3pm, The Factory, National Road 2

Farm to Table is holding a “Meet the Makers” event with Thyda Thaung, owner of Thyda’s Salt Farm, a fleur de sel producer. She will discuss how this special type of salt is gathered – skimmed from the top of a salt pond by hand – as well as how to taste the subtle flavours and textures. This event, like salt, is neat and subtly different!  

2-4pm, Farm to Table, St. 360

What’s On the Drinks Menu?

Today is a holiday dedicated to life in the tropics – it’s International Gin and Tonic Day. (Haha. No joke.) The gin and tonic is a refreshing beverage, created as an elixir to prevent malaria as well as life’s ennui.  

Local gin distillers Seekers Spirits is celebrating by holding a rooftop Seekers and Tonic sunset and evening soirée at Penh Bar on top of Penh House, with the cocktails personally made by Seeker’s head distiller, Alfie Sean Amayo. Dazzle in his knowledge as well as the view as you tipple one to the setting sun.  

5-11pm, Penh Bar, St. 240

If you’re downtown, Toul Tompoung Lane cocktail bar Fizz will also be celebrating the day by offering a buffet of gin and tonic options to mix and match within your glass. Find out what combination you like best…if you can remember. 

6pm-1am, Fizz, St. 155

Toul Tompoung hipster sports hangout Ege Bar is celebrating its one year anniversary all afternoon and into the night. The party starts with barbecue at 5pm, followed by a show by popular band The Goldilocks Zone at 8:30pm and finally a world house DJ set by the (also popular) Sushi Firas at 11:30pm. Basically, get drunk and full and then dance it off. 😉

4pm, Ege Bar, St. 460

What’s On Stage?

The Box Office is holding a mega comedy night, with British comedian Eddy Brimson headlining, sponsored by Giant Ibis bus company. Though he’s English, he was nominated to be the best headliner of the Scottish Comedy Awards (!) and he’s also written seven (well-selling) books on football fan culture. He shares the stage tonight with Texan via Vietnam Gabriel Villalobos (founder of Comedy Saigon) and with Buckeye (aka Ohioan aka American) Tommy Pruchinski. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. 

7:30-10:30pm, The Box Office, St. 244

Miss Sarawan Band will be bringing her swinging Cambodian rock and soul sound to Qwest Restaurant, performing Cambodian and Western hits from the 60s and 70s. Miss Sarawan will be accompanied in this “Retro Vibes” night by the also talented Euan Gray. 

7-11pm, Qwest Restaurant, Sisowath Quay

The crowd-pleasing Havana Kings are back with their blend of danceable Latin jazz salsa music. They’re playing at Alchemy, which is commemorating the occasion with “Latin-infused cocktails”, which probably means “tequila-based cocktails with lime”. The show is free!

8-11pm, Alchemy Gastropub, St. 123

Siem Reap native Heang switched from her Khmer traditional dance studies to hip hop dance four years ago. Since then, she hasn’t looked back and is now a backup dancer for Laura Mam and has even started to teach her own hip hop dance classes. Tonight she’s sharing the love with a Hip Hop Night at LF Social Club. Learn from a pro and dance your butt off.

9pm-midnight, LF Social Club, St. 308

What’s On Late?

Afro and deep house dance party Vent is back at Reggae Rooftop, with special guest DJ King GNS (who played last night at Club Love). Designed as a way to bring people together and to a pure ecstatic enjoyment of life through dance, party founder Andrew is letting King GNS (aka Jarius) run the show, saying “Jarius is an old friend whom I’ve hired for multiple battles and parties in the US. He is one of the kindest, funniest, funkiest dudes I know and sets dance floors on fire in any continent! I am so excited to bring him here. Y’all gonna be blown away and I promise that we are going to SWEAT IT OUT!” Free before 11pm; $5 after. 

10pm-3am, One Love Reggae Rooftop, St. 172

Sunday

What’s On Screen?

Australian director Rodd Rathjen’s latest film opens this weekend, with two Cambodian actors in leading roles and filmed in the Kingdom’s beautiful countryside as well as in Thailand. Sarm Heng stars as a young teen who is sold into slavery on a Thai fishing vessel and has to endure the sadistic captain’s cruelty. The director said that he made the film as a warning to Cambodians who may seek migrant work on a fishing vessel. “Despite how desperate they were for work, it’s obviously not worth losing their lives or being exposed to that level of trauma,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, as reported by VOA. Buoyancy was shot in Khmer and Thai (with English subtitles) and also stars Mony Ros and Thanawut Kasro. 

Multiple showtimes, Aeon Cinema, Sothearos Blvd. 

What Else?

There are two more workshops today as part of the Phsar Art Fair. 

The first is a miniature rainbow cake making class. Taught by Malaysian artist TinyPinc, participants will learn how to make a tiny cake keychain out of polymer clay, from sculpting to baking. The class is from 9am to noon and costs $30, with advanced registration required. In the afternoon is a bookbinding workshop, from 3:30-5pm. Artist Chelsea Middendorf will show some traditional bookmaking techniques to guide attendees through the process of making their own coptic stitch journals (from recycled materials). The fee is $15 and also requests preregistration.

9am-5pm, The Plantation Urban Resort and Spa, St. 184

Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Center is ringing in Halloween early with an epic (pretend) battle between good and evil. The DarkFantasy Halloween Cosplay asks you to dress up as whatever version of your DarkFantasy self you want to be when you (pretend to) reign down terror on your enemies. Good old-fashioned family fun. 😀

 1-6pm, CKCC, St. 598

Looking for more great suggestions for every day of the week? Check out our full listings here.