If you have a thing for dining by the river, then eating at Lotus On The River would offer you an entirely new perspective. This Lotus Restaurants' Group outlet is an alfresco restaurant set onboard a restored tongkang, a boat that used to ply the once-busy commercial waterways around Clarke Quay.

Diners can take in the sights around the quay and across the river, as well as soak in the breezy riverside atmosphere. Even if the novelty of the locale wears out on you, you can still be awed by the delicious cuisine served to your table. Dig in to fresh seafood (like lobsters, crabs, fish, oysters and more) as well as Asian-styled grilled meat cooked in an open kitchen.

Lotus On The River is open from 6pm to 11pm for dinner. And while you're at Clarke Quay, remember to also check out sister restaurants like Lotus Med (serving food from Greece, Spain and France), Cafe Lotus (Indonesian food) and Lotus Portofino (Italian food) to plan your next gourmet outing.

Place: Lotus On The River, Clarke Quay, Tel: 6334 1983

If you're hung up on movies, get ready to hang around Beach Road a lot when April comes. Yes, it's the event every Singapore movie buff is waiting for -- the 15th Singapore International Film Festival, where a slew of local and foreign films will be screened at cinemas like Prince 1, Prince 2 and Jade 2, as well as the Alliance Francaise auditorium.

This year's festival runs from April 11 to 27, with opening film Kandahar culled from Iran and directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf. The closing film What Time Is It There? is directed by acclaimed Taiwanese director, Tsai Ming-Liang.

In-between, you get to enjoy movies from Asia, Australia, Canada, US, Germany, France and the rest of the world. There are also interesting categories featuring digital films, animation, short films, as well as films focusing on the theme of globalisation. So get ready to squint at subtitles, while munching on popcorn and deep-warming the cinema hotseat.

Place: Prince 1, Prince 2, Jade 2 (Beach Road) (For more info, visit www.filmfest.org.sg)