Something’s Brewing
Dempsey’s pretty happening these days, with new bars Jiu Zhuang, The Green Door and Chameleon opening over the last three month and Taphouse (18E Dempsey Hill), by the good people behind Brewerkz, scheduled to open later this month. It will be a smaller, cozier joint compared to their other outlets, and will boast additional pizza and burger options previously unavailable in their menu. There will also be six craft beers on tap, alongside the group’s full selection of imported beers and all of their own bottled and mini-keg styles. “When the opportunity to move into Dempsey came up, we thought that the balance of local and western heritage of the area reflected well with our own vision of ourselves,” says Marketing Manager Paulina Hatta. “As the third microbrewery on the scene—Tawandang is kitty-corner and Red Dot is down the road—Dempsey is no stranger to craft beer, but we think that Taphouse will bring something new to the table. It will be reminiscent of small-town watering holes that so many of us are familiar with—from Portland to Boulder to Brooklyn—combined with a firm nod to the Singaporean history of our well-known homegrown brand.”

For Art Sake’s
Not quite a new addition, but a revamp that we’re also looking forward to is The Butter Factory’s Art Bar, formerly Fash. Not that the parties in Fash have been anything less than zany, but fashionable duo and owners Bobby Luo and Ritz Lim have decided to refresh the space anyways.” Compared to Fash , the Art Bar is definitely a warmer, cozier space,” says Luo. Besides the interior, it will have more focus on the four elements that matter to us: Music, Art & Design, Fashion and Bar Culture. Another two things that separate Art Bar from Fash—there will be no cover charge (except for guest DJ nights and special events), and our exclusive signature cocktails menu prepared by famed mixologist Ethan Leslie Leong from Maison Ikkoku.” Great drinks aside, partygoers can also look forward to new interiors as well, from furniture to wall fixtures and even bill folders, themed around the concept of “Art Upcycling”. Plus, there will also be specially-commissioned artworks by both local and international artists that will grace its walls over the upcoming months.

Fashion Flicks Forward
Following a hiatus last year, The Singapore Fashion Film Festival will return Oct 23-27 across various venues. Although the lineup of the main films is unconfirmed, each will be preceded by a short film screening of the local fashion scene, currently in the works by festival organizer Kevin Seah (of Kevin Seah Bespoke fame) alongside a team of fashion designers, models, choreographers and bloggers. There will also be two short films in the program, curated by the National Museum of Singapore, and fringe events including presentations and seminars by designers Eymeric Francois and Wykidd Song, and photographer Olivier Henry. Stay tuned for more info.