2 . Art galleries you can visit for free with your Paris Pass

Centre Pompidou

Centre Pompidou is a must-see attraction when you’re visiting Paris. Featuring late 19th-20th century art, the museum has collection of over 50,000 works, including movements from Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism.

Musée Gustave Moreau

Musée Gustave Moreau was designed by the painter himself and includes his private apartment and the large gallery he built to display his work. The apartment is preserved exactly as it was 100 years ago.

Musée de l’Orangerie

The museum is best known for its association with the famous Impressionist painter Claude Monet and his Water Lilies series of paintings. Before it was an art gallery housing some of the most famous pieces in history, Musée de l’Orangerie was used as a storehouse and a home for mobilized soldiers.

Musée d’Orsay

Musée d’Orsay was an old turn-of-the-century railway station that was built on the site of the Palais d’Orsay. Exemplifying the architecture of the Beaux-Arts movement, Musée d’Orsay is one of Paris’ most popular art galleries and houses art and sculpture from 1848 to 1915.

3 . The Ark

Shanghai International Dance Center Theater will present “The Ark” this weekend, a two-dance performance by Chinese and foreign female choreographers (编舞者).

“Build Beauty” by Chinese choreographer Gong Xingxing and “Last Man Standing” by German choreographer Sita Ostheimer, comprise “The Ark”. Artists from Xiexin Dance Theater will perform both works.

Time: December 23, 7:30 pm

Admission:180 — 580 yuan

Venue: Shanghai International Dance Center Theater

Belt and Road Initiative

The exhibition narrates the history of the ancient Silk Road and Shanghai’s modern development. It features over 250 documents, artifacts, photos and videos. About 80 percent of the exhibits are on display in Shanghai for the first time. Highlighted items include a tiny replica (模型) of the treasure ship of Zheng He and some historical documents.

Time: Through late April, 2024

Admission: Free

Venue: Shanghai Archives

Live in Love!

The Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers will lead audiences to welcome the New Year with a concert “Live in Love!”

Starting at 10:00 pm on Sunday, the concert features RCS’s original compositions covering the themes of love, memory, and farewells. The concert will end with the title song “Live in Love!” Audiences will be invited to stand up and set their emotions free together with the singers to welcome the New Year.

Time: December 31, 10:00 pm

Admission:180 — 1,080 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

Inside No. 9

The popular British TV series “Inside No. 9” has been adapted into an immersive (沉浸式的) live theater performance. Three “Inside No. 9” stories will be performed live for the audience. The specially designed seats and stages will provide audiences with a one-of-a-kind immersive theater experience.

Time: Through February 29, 2:50 pm/7:30 pm/8:20 pm

Admission:489 —   589 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater

5 . If you’re an English learner or an English speaker looking to widen your vocabulary, a good dictionary app is a must.

Merriam-Webster

Merriam-Webster is a well-known and highly trusted dictionary. The app provides quality definitions, audio pronunciations and usage examples. It even lets you search for words by speaking them! This feature is perfect when you hear a word you don’t understand but aren’t sure how it’s written.

Oxford Dictionary of English

The Oxford Dictionary of English app is a comprehensive and reliable resource for English language reference. The app provides clear and concise definitions, along with audio pronunciations and example sentences. You can also access synonyms, antonyms and word origins. Additionally, the app offers offline functionality, allowing you to access the dictionary even without an internet connection.

Vocabulary.com

The Vocabulary.com dictionary app is excellent for English learners because it has very easy-to-understand definitions. The site says it’s “as if your favorite teacher were explaining it to you.” Each definition has explanations of what the word means and also when and how you would use it. It even turns learning into a game by letting you earn points!   

FluentU

FluentU takes real-world videos and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. It uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the English language and culture over time. You’ll learn English as it’s spoken in real life. The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It even reminds you when it’s time to review!

6 . Looking for ways to make some extra cash over the holidays? Here are 4 of the best summer break jobs for you.

Food Delivery

If your top priority in a summer break job is flexibility, food delivery might be the perfect fit for you. You can earn around $20 an hour depending on the food delivery service and who you’re delivering to. On top of the wage the delivery service pays you, you also have the potential to get significant tips. Please note: all applicants must have a driver’s license and access to a car.

Gift Wrapper

Love wrapping presents for the holiday? Can’t get enough of wrapping paper and ribbon? If so, you should look into being a gift wrapper during summer break. College students who want to work in something creative will enjoy this summer break job. Candidates will be matched with a task based on skill set.

Pet Sitting

Whether they’re going to another city close by or another state, families tend to leave for vacation for summer break. This means that they need someone to watch their pets while they’re gone. That’s where college students come in. Pet sitting jobs are flexible and not a huge time commitment, depending on what family you’re working with.

Tutor

Good at maths? Majoring in biology? Whatever classes you’re taking in college, this knowledge is transferable to tutoring. College students that are home for summer break can use their time off school to give back to others. Tutoring has the potential to earn a lot of money over the course of a few weeks while students are home for break.

8 . A new museum called Showtown has opened in Blackpool, in north-west England. Blackpool’s miles of sandy beaches, three piers (码头) and giant roller-coaster made it one of the UK’s top holiday destinations. Showtown is the “all-singing,all-dancing museum” situated in the heart of the Golden Mile, close to Blackpool Tower. It’s been 10 years in the making and is the only museum UK dedicated to circus (马戏团), dance and shows.

Showtown features five galleries, including “How’s Tricks?’ where visitors can go behind the scenes in a Blackpool magic shop to try out practical jokes and magic tricks. The “Roll Up! Roll Up!” gallery features ringmasters, acrobats and clowns and highlights the close connection between Blackpool and the circus. Visitors to “It’s Showtime!” can go through a stage door to discover musicians and comedians who have all seen their names up in lights. “It’s Better with the Lights On” gallery celebrates Blackpool’s famous illuminations (huge displays of lights) that date back to 1879, and   “Everybody Dance Now” shows the town’s history of ballroom dancing and Northerm Soul (a style of music and dance).

Showtown is a fascinating, bright, bold collage of all of those stories, those entertainment greats-but done in a really innovative and colourful way.

Rain never stops play at Showtown, one of the must visit Blackpool attractions, so don’t forget to book your tickets online for fast track admission to the museum.

TICKET PRICES —General Admission

Adults aged   16-64 —£15.00

Children aged 4-15 —£11.50

Children aged 3 and under —FREE

Students/Adults age 65+-£13.50

Our address is Showtown, Bank Hey Strect, Blackpool, FY14 TQ.

For booking and general questions, call 08081756929.

10 . VivoCity—Gallery for Lifestyle

As one of the largest iconic retail and lifestyle destinations that offers an exciting mix of ever evolving, refreshing, and new-to-market brands and concepts, VivoCity has been voted as the best shopping mall in Singapore in the Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards 2023. It features wide, open spaces for waterfront entertainment and relaxation, and whenever you need a short break, there is Sky Park with rooftop water feature from where you can enjoy views of Sentosa and catch a breath or two.

Timings: Open from 10 a.m.—10 p.m. daily.

Haji Lane—Boutiques Street

For an extraordinary experience of the city’s greatest boutique shopping down one of the narrowest streets in Singapore, Haji Lane, is the perfect place to be. This narrow alley is lined with cafés, yoga studios, old-school Egyptian restaurants and boutiques by up-and-coming designers. Although this is not high-street luxury, you can definitely find some good-quality gifts here.

Timings: Most of the stores in Haji Lane open around 12 noon and close by 9 pm.

Clarke Quay—Shopping for Fashionistas

Apart from the fancy waterfront restaurants, there are also a great range of fashion boutiques, independent arts and crafts shops along this breathtaking riverside place. Being home to high-end brands from across the world, Clarke Quay is one of the most frequented tourist spots in the city.

Timings: Open from 10 am—12 midnight.

IMM—Home and Clothing

Owned by CapitaLand Mall Trust, The International Merchandising Mart Mall, also known as IMM Mall, is an outlet centre in Jurong East, Singapore. You can enjoy fashion shows while shopping. IMM is now Singapore’s largest outlet mall with 100 outlet stores amongst more than 220 stores, offering 80% discount of local brands all year round, such as 6ixty8ight and Charles & Keith. Aside from the local branded stores, this is one-stop mall specializing in interior furniture, including home renewal essentials, furnishings and fittings.

Timings: Open from 10 am to 10 pm.