What’s on Manila: Best Things to See, Do, Eat, & Drink on Oct. 3-9, 2023

Ahh, another week is upon us, and you’re looking for cool things to get up to in Manila! We’ve saved you the hassle with The Beat Manila’s rundown of the best places to hit up and things to do right now—from blink-and-you'll-miss-it pop-up sights and new restaurant openings, to the hottest activities that you shouldn’t miss.   

To keep your finger on the pulse of the city, follow The Beat Manila to see what’s best in store for the week ahead.  

1. Introduction to Japanese Cooking

If Japanese food is your bias, this cooking class by the Heny Sison Culinary School should be up your alley. If you love Japanese dishes like tempura, udon noodles, sushi, sukiyaki, miso soup, and more, now is your chance to learn how to make them for when you crave these dishes at home! The demonstration class will be taught by chef Koichi Kondo, with slots limited to 20 students only. Sign up here.

When: 11 AM-5 PM, Oct. 3

Where: Heny Sison Culinary School, 33 Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue, Quezon City

How much: P5,000

2. National Arts & Crafts Fair

Artsy, crafty folks, the National Arts and Crafts Fair is happening this week and it's the ultimate event to be in. Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP), the fair aims to spotlight the country's rich and vibrant cultural heritage through various artisan products and treasures. See you there!

When: 10 AM-9 PM, Oct. 4-8

Where: SM Megamall, EDSA corner J. Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong City

How much: Free entry

3. K-World Expo 2023 

If you love Korean products, don't miss the K-World Expo 2023 happening this week. On its maiden expo, K-World promises to bring Korean delights, products, and cuisine for all fans of K-Pop, K-Dramas, and entrepreneurs. Look forward to products at supplier's price, Korean-inspired photobooths, and giveaways. Don't forget to register here.

When: 12 PM-10 PM, Oct. 5

Where: Centris Elements, Eton Centris Complex, Brgy. Pinyahan, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City

How much: Free entry

4. Gateway Art Fair Year 2

Gateway Art Fair is back in its second year, and you can sure count on it to be an elevated experience from its debut. This year's fair promises to be bigger and more exciting, with over 20 booths of artists, creative vendors, student-artists, and art groups. One of the attractions you should look forward to is the changing video art in the Quantum Skyview, which can be found in Gateway Mall. Whether you're just curious or want to get the best art deals, Gateway Art Fair should be on top of your list of events this week. Sign up here to receive an official invitation to the event.

When: Oct. 5-8

Where: Quantum Skyview Atrium, Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City, Quezon City

How much: N/A

5. KCulture at Tiendesitas

Fans of Korean culture, here's another event you should check out. KCulture, organized by KPop Pilipinas, Tiendesitas, and Red Cloud Interactive in cooperation with Dojeon, is here for its first-ever event since the pandemic and it's bringing a ton of fun for you and your friends. Some highlights to look forward to are a K-Pop dance cover competition, quiz random dance competition, karaoke competition, a fashion show, and a cosplay competition. Go here to register for the competitions.

When: Oct. 7

Where: Food Village Tiendesitas, Building B Level 2, Tiendesitas, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Pasig City

How much: N/A

6. 'The Thief of Sacred Things' Exhibition

If you're feeling artsy, the group exhibition "The Thief of Sacred Things" is opening to the public this Saturday. The Grey Space finally launched its physical gallery this month after being online for three years and the exhibit is one to look forward to. Catch the works of Pablo Bermudez, Jigger Cruz, Auggie Fontanilla, Doktor Karayom, Robert Langenegger, Marlo Montoya, Manuel Ocampo, and Jan Sunday. The exhibit is curated by Alessia Terzaghi. See you there!

When: Oct. 7-21

Where: The Grey Space, 331 P. Guevarra Street, San Juan City

How much: N/A

7. Sexy Heels Dance Class

How confident are you to dance in high heels? It's one thing to walk in them, but dancing while wearing them seems like a whole different skill. Don't fret, London-based choreographer Juicy Jo is here to teach you how to dance in heels and get in touch with your feminine energy. Her Sexy Heels Dance Class, which lasts an hour and thirty minutes, involves 30 minutes of warm-up and heels technique, followed by an hour of heels choreography.

When: 10:15 AM-11:45 AM, Oct. 7

Where: Nude Floor, 3F, Ayala Mall Circuit, Makati City

How much: P550 (walk-in)

8. Weave a Wall Hanging at Group & Boiler Coffee

Here's an event for those feeling crafty! Make your own beautiful woven wall hanging in this two-hour workshop by The Art of Yarn. It will be led by instructor Judith Basco, a fiber artist and a peasant advocate, and comes with a Weave-It-Yourself kit Mini to get you started on the basics of weaving. This in-person session is open to beginners. Buy your tickets here.

When: 10 AM-12 NN, Oct. 8

Where: Group & Boiler Coffee Co, Molito, Madrigal Avenue corner Commerce Ave., Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City

How much: P2,500

9. Flower Watercolor Workshop With Iris Uy

Another crafty event you should make a beeline for is this Floral Watercolor Workshop by Iris Uy. In this session, you'll learn how to paint beautiful flowers in watercolor and create soft background washes, light and shadow areas, experiment with warm and cool colors, wet and dry brushstrokes, soft and hard edges, and more. This is a face-to-face workshop, but you may also join via Zoom. Feel free to register here.

When: 2 PM-6 PM, Oct. 8

Where: Pulp and Pigment, 189 A. Mabini Street, Barangay Addition Hills, San Juan City

How much: P2,000

10. UPMV K9 Dog Fun Run

Are you and your fur baby ready for the Big One? The UP MMDA Vanguard's (UPMV) K9 Corps and the UP-Vanguard Makati Chapter are organizing its first human and dog fun run in UP Diliman called Aso Ni Juan: Ready for the Big One 2023 in celebration of the UPMV's sixth anniversary.

Do note that your dog participant must be at least six months old with updated vaccination records and must be leashed during the event. Female dogs in heat are not allowed to join. For more information, go here.

When: 5 AM onwards, Oct. 8

Where: Academic Oval, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Roxas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

How much: P650 (solo runner), P800 (runner and dog)

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