1. The Jennings Hotel, Oregon, USA
The world’s first Kickstarter-funded hotel features just five wood-accentuated rooms. Check out the cedar sauna and stay in Room Eight – it was individually designed by the proprietor, Greg Hennes, as an ode to cabin life. The homely two-storey hotel also has an artist residency programme.
2. The Runaway B&B, Jamaica
Two New Yorkers – Jeff Belizaire and Kalisa Martin – realised their dream of opening a stylish four-room bed and breakfast in Jamaica. Situated on the North Coast, the breezy beachfront townhouse boasts a greenhouse, a garden where vegetables for the restaurant are grown, plus a bar and grill. Practise your downward dog at a dedicated yoga area, then unwind at the property’s spa.
3. Dram Lodge, Colorado, USA
This 19th century building in the quiet town of Silver Plume oozes old world charm, with its apothecary drawers and beds with wrought steel frames. It was lovingly restored by a husband and wife team, who also sell rare organic bitters, tinctures, syrups and teas foraged from the Rocky Mountains.
4. Threes Brewing, New York City, USA
This brewery transformed a neglected lot into a green oasis surrounded by towering skyscrapers. The versatile 3,200 square foot open-air space is punctuated by steel trellises creeping with ivy, wisteria vines and hops, while newly-planted hornbeam apple trees line its south wall.
5. Chartier, Beaumont, Canada
In this rustic space filled with wood and antique farm implements, delicious French-Canadian delicacies like smoked meat sandwiches, duck grunt and Poutine (fries with cheese curds and gravy) are served to hungry diners. Nurse a chai-based cocktail at the bar, which is decorated with a sprawling black and white map filled with the names of its backers.
6. Prequel Restaurant, Washington, USA
Spread across five storeys in Penn Quarter, the 18,000 sq foot Prequel is operated by EquityEats, an online platform for food restaurateurs who hope to secure funding from investors to eventually open their own storefronts. Current pop-up eateries include burrito joint Pedro & Vinny’s and The Forge Café.
7. Brewery Legitimus, Connecticut, USA
Occupying the former Waring factory in the heart of New Hartford, the craft brewery and taproom pours up pints of innovative Belgian and American style craft beers.
8. Lowline, New York City, USA
This underground park will transform an abandoned trolley terminal in the Lower East Side into a vibrant green space. Actual sunlight will be reflected down into the dark cavern via a system of lenses and mirrors so visitors can expect live greenery and an array of herbs and flowers to occupy the 0.4-hectare area. It is set to open in 2021.
9. Vigilante Gaming Bar, Texas, USA
In Austin, geek haven Vigilante is set to become a full-service bar and restaurant dedicated to social board games. When open in December 2016, the space will be filled with gaming-tailored furniture, plus more than 100 titles in their game menu – from Monopoly and Taboo, to Dominion.
10. Thames Bath Lido, London, UK
The River Thames is poised to become a new lifestyle destination, with a 25-metre lap pool and a training pool to be built there. These will be filled with filtered and heated Thames water. There are also plans to organise cinema nights, open a cafe run by local suppliers, and build a haven for wildlife alongside the lido.
11. Hollywood Science Fiction Museum, California, USA
This interactive museum will show the history of sci-fi films, TV, art and literature through props, sets and costumes. You’ll also be wowed by the advancements in space travel and learn about real science through science fiction. Its first exhibition is currently touring USA, and the museum hopes to secure a permanent location in Los Angeles by 2018.
12. The Sioux Chef, Minneapolis, USA
South Dakota-born Sean Sherman will prepare the Native American cuisine at The Sioux Chef. Fundraising has been completed, but the restaurant’s location is yet to be determined. The plan is to have a 4,000 square feet space that can seat a minimum of 100 people, while the menu will feature dishes like rabbit on wojapi (Native American berry) with puffed wild rice, sorrel and dried butternut squash (pictured).
– TEXT BY RACHEL AJ LEE
PHOTOS: The Jennings Hotel, The Runaway B&B, Dram Lodge, Threes Brewing, Chartier, Prequel Restaurant, Brewery Legitimus, Lowline, Vigilante Gaming Bar, Thames Bath Lido, Hollywood Sci-fi Science Fiction Museum, The Sioux Chef
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
