T TALK STREE

HOOD ’ THEIR IN TO LIFE GUIDE R’S INSIDE AN

THE SPECIFICS What street do you live on?

Ridley Park.

Where does it get its name?

It’s as English as a cup of tea! The name comes from Henry Nicholas Ridley who was the first scientific director of the Botanic Gardens and who introduced rubber plants to the Malay Peninsula.

Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home?

“Ridley Park, please – now, let’s turn up that 80s ballad and get all Celine Dion on the ride home!”

Closest MRT station?

Botanic Gardens (Circle Line/ Downtown Line).

How long have you lived here?

Just a few short months.

Why here?

The combination of history, architecture and location, coupled with peace and quiet.

THE SUPERLATIVES

Your hands-down favourite neighbourhood joints are:

Green Door for a thirst-quenching drink outdoors, Open Farm Community for a coffee on the deck, Blu for a relaxed midweek date and La Forketta for a pizza with the kids on a Sunday night. Then there’s Strip for a little de-fuzzing, and Affordable Style files for some homewares heaven.

You won’t find better local food than at:

Long Beach Seafood.

The strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street is:

A rooster.

We love a good bargain. The best deals in your neighbourhood are:

Surely it’s got to be Samy’s curry.

One thing you’d never change is:

The jungle and all the birdlife.

But one thing you wouldn’t mind seeing go is:

The snakes.

The city gives you $5 million to soup up your street; you use it to:

Make sure no one changes a thing.

Why should your neighbourhood be featured in a guidebook?

Because of its history and picturesque setting.