West End Archives - Page 18 of 25

West End Food Bank Sees Long Queues Amidst Diminishing Supplies

West End food bank Community Friends is experiencing an increased demand for food but they have started turning away other beneficiaries due to lack of supplies.

Community Friends founder, Mark McDonnell, said that people missing out on their rations of food has become more common in recent months.

Pre-COVID, the food bank distributed goods and food supplies to an average of 100 people every Wednesday. When the pandemic struck, they had to increase their distribution to 200 a week, not including the 100 students that expect their food at TAFE Queensland.

Despite doubling the rations, Community Friends is seeing longer queues at their West End site on Bunyapa Park in Vulture Street.

Photo Credit: Community Friends/Facebook

Foodbank Queensland chief executive Sara Harrup said that the situation is not isolated. She acknowledged that 10 percent of charities like Community Friends are fast becoming under-resourced because there are more people struggling to make ends meet.

COVID-19 brought on job cuts and income loss even as the government established JobKeeper, an assistance package for the pandemic. Ms Harrup feared that food banks will see more demands by as much as 66 percent once JobKeeper will be rolled back.

Meanwhile, Mr McDonnel is appealing to the community to help with their supplies and donate non-perishables like spaghetti, baked beans and noodles at their location on Vulture Street. His group is also hoping to acquire a van, preferably via donation, so they could facilitate faster deliveries.

Now Hiring! Harris Farm Markets West End Offers 150 New Jobs

Harris Farm Markets has plans to recruit new staff as they open a newer flagship Queensland market — one that might possibly be the greatest market they’ve built yet — at West Village in West End.

Following the success of their first Brisbane branch in Clayfield, Harris Farm Markets intends to set up in West End. To seek out the best potential employees, a recruitment pop-up will be set up on The Common at West Village, Boundary Street from March 5-6 and March 12-13. Interested locals are encouraged to meet with members of the company face-to-face and discuss job opportunities.

With a grand total of 150 spots available, West End locals interested in applying can find windows across senior and junior levels for permanent, temporary, and part-time jobs in the upcoming West End market. “We particularly want to welcome passionate, hard-working food enthusiasts to join the team,” says Harris Farm Markets co-CEO Luke Harris.

Employees are also entitled to a 25% discount on some of the grocery’s products such as fruit and vegetables, among other things. Mr. Harris adds, “Supporting local is key for us. We source from local farmers and suppliers, create job opportunities for locals, and we really want to become part of the Brisbane community by employing Brisbane’s best”.

Harris Farm Markets’ West End branch is set to take over part of the Peters Ice Cream building. “If Clayfield is our historic family home in Brisbane, then West End will be the greatest urban market we have built yet.” says Mr. Harris.

Those interested in applying can visit the Careers page of their website. Further details on job opportunities and Harris Farm Markets in general can be found by visiting their recruitment pop-up at The Common at West Village, West End.

Venue
The Common at West Village, Boundary Street, West End

Times
Friday March 5: 1:00PM to 6:00PM
Saturday March 6: 10:00AM to 3:00PM
Friday March 12: 1:00PM to 6:00PM
Saturday March 13: 10:00AM to 3:00PM

Little Neighbours: West End’s Frog Population on the Rise

Litoria Caerulea — or the Common Green Treefrog — has lived alongside the people of West End for generations, and given the recent levels of rainfall all across the country, their numbers are swiftly rising.

Treefrogs get their name from their arboreal nature, settling under bark or inside hollowed-out trees during drier seasons. Despite this, these brightly-colored critters are, curiously enough, absent in rainforests. Instead, they’d rather move next door, preferring to dwell near within civilized areas where their calls can be heard all throughout the night.

Although it’s arguable the tree frog population has been on the decline given the industrial developments all throughout West End, many locals within the suburb have reported a recent jump in their population. Like most amphibians, treefrogs can often be found in downpipes, toilets, drains, and other wet places.

Photo credit: CC-BY/Stephen Michael Barnett/Flickr

Under most circumstances, frog breeding would peak during the wet season between December and February, but after experiencing a wet summer in 2020, Australian treefrog numbers have skyrocketed. It becomes clear that increased levels of rainfall is responsible for the spike in frog activity.

Though they might seem a nuisance given the volume of their croaks, there are a multitude of benefits that come with their rising numbers. The presence of such creatures could be a good thing, for they’re also a good indicator that the environment is healthy and balanced. They also serve as a valuable alternative to insecticides, eating insects in your garden and around your house.

How ANZ West End’s Closure Impacts More Local Stores

The West End branch of ANZ will permanently close by April 2021, along with 18 other branches across Australia. This will be the third bank to shut its branch operations on Boundary Street amidst the pandemic, after Suncorp and Westpac’s closure in late 2020.

An estimated 105 ANZ workers will be out of a job when the branches close but the company said the decision was made because only 12 percent of its clients visited the branches in the last year. According to the bank executives, foot traffic has been down as customers are choosing digital banking, deemed more convenient and secure in this new normal.

But Finance Sector Union (FSU) Queensland Secretary Wendy Street said branch banking is considered an essential service and branch staff members are also essential workers like healthcare frontline workers.

Ms Street said that foot traffic was down because of the health crisis and not because the customers had a choice. The union leader added that the closure of ANZ will further impact businesses on Boundary Street as people usually do their shopping or dining whenever they stop at the bank. Customers are likely to patronise shops in places where they do their banking.

Meanwhile, it’s unclear how many workers will be affected by the closure of ANZ West End. A spokesperson said the bank redeployed many of its experienced staff during the round of closures in 2020. Retrenchment payments were also increased last year because of the pandemic but ANZ has not indicated if it will do the same this year.

ANZ West End is the lone Queensland branch to close from this batch, whilst the other branches are in NSW and Victoria.

Popular Brisbane Ice Cream Festival Returns to West End!

The Brisbane Ice Cream Festival has finally returned to West End after a hiatus in 2020, and with the festival comes the gathering of a vast assortment of soft serves, gelato, popsicles and other cool desserts!

From April 17-18, you’ll be able to treat your taste buds to some unconventional-yet-delectable serves and scoops from some of the best ice cream vendors in West Village.

And the best part? The tickets are FREE! With the event running the entire weekend, interested participants can register for any of three two-hour session slots per day. On both days, slots begin at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. This year, there’ll be an additional 5:00 p.m. time slot on Saturday.

A Little Something For Everyone

Are dietary restrictions getting in the way of a good time? Don’t worry. The Brisbane Ice Cream Festival’s got you covered. There will be dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options available to any and all who attend the festival on either day; and because tickets are free, you’ll have a little more cash to treat yourself with.

Children under the age of two will also be able to enter the festival, no ticket required, so be sure to bring the entire family!

*Photo credit: Brisbane Ice Cream Festival/Facebook*

Hurry, Limited Registration Means Limited Slots!

Though festival tickets don’t cost any money, registration is still mandatory due to the COVID-19 crowd measures put in place by the Queensland Government. As a result, the number of entries is limited.

If you were too late to nab a ticket, then fear not! You could always make a post on the Brisbane Ice Cream Festival’s Facebook event page, where those who do have tickets but can no longer make it, can offer you theirs.

Details

Venue: 97 Boundary Street, West End QLD 4101

Dates: Saturday, April 17, 2021, to Sunday, April 18, 2021

Saturday Session Times: 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.

Sunday Session Times: 11:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.

Acclaimed Architect Kengo Kuma to Design His First Brisbane Residential Project in West End

Property developer Crown Group has picked Kengo Kuma, a world-renowned architect, for its latest residential project in West End and he will design his very first residential urban resort in Brisbane, which will be unveiled in 2021.

Kengo Kuma & Associates will also collaborate with Plus Architecture for this $500 million development that will elevate the aesthetic and lifestyle of the burgeoning suburb.

The site is on 117 Victoria Street, a 1.25-hectare premier waterfront. It’s deemed as Mr Kuma’s largest residential design, which will feature a mix of terrace homes, apartments and penthouses and take advantage of the breathtaking views of the Brisbane River and the city’s skyline.

The residential facility will also include heaps of recreational areas such as a pool and poolside barbecue, communal room, a gym and spacious gardens.

Mr Kuma is most noted for designing the Bamboo Wall House in China, the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Group’s Japan headquarters, Tokyo’s Suntory Museum of Art and Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium for the 2021 global event. He is known for his expert incorporaton of natural elements in his contemporary urban designs.

The Japanese architect praised Brisbane as a “very beautiful city with rich culture and natural heritage” and he plans to come up with a design that will embrace the locals’ strong connection with nature.

He said that a large part of this residential project will provide a space for residents to relish “the views, sounds, and atmosphere of this beautiful river.”

Crown Group‘s director Trent McLauchlan targets the submission of the development application by mid-2021, saying this will be “a new benchmark for residential living” in Brisbane.

Pastry Lovers Rave About the ‘Best Strawberry Croissant’ from Superthing

Where can one get the best strawberry croissant in West End? Your best bet could be the croissanterie/cafe on Montague Road, named Superthing, which started business in the midst of a lockdown in early 2020.

If you scroll through Superthing’s social media pages, you’re bound to see dozens of appetizing photos of their strawberry croissant, as shared by their customers. But whilst this pastry could be the store’s bestseller, the cafe has since updated and changed its menu since it began trading.

Eddy Tice and Ania Kutek, who have enticed Brisbane with their other shop, NYC Bagel Deli on Vulture Street, are also the pair behind this pink-themed cafe.

Superthing bakes fresh, buttery and flaky croissants and other pastries every day inside a temperature-controlled room that’s visible to the customers behind a quirky rainbow-hued glass. Ania leads the kitchen with head baker Jorja Kena.

The owners, naturally, had some concerns at the beginning of the operation due to the lockdown. Thankfully, their pastries and baked goods are perfect for takeaways, along with some buns and bagels, allowing them to continue trading until Brisbane was ready to open for dine-in customers.

So, whilst their baked treats and sandwiches are perfect for snacking, Superthing also offers a satisfying selection of breakfast and lunch with choices like pulled pork burger, chili chorizo frittatas and the Big Breakfast plate (eggs, bacon, sausage, hash cake, greens, cherry tomatoes and toasted sourdough).

Follow Superthing on Facebook for their trading hours or menu changes or to see what other tasty food you can get from the shop.

“Nice coffee and food. Had forest mushroom croissant (special), really enjoyed it. Will come back for more pastries too. Also like the shop inside, it’s a great idea to showcase how the bakers make croissants.”
Evelyn Xu, Google Reviews

“Some of the yummiest pastries and bagels around Brisbane (if not THE yummiest). They change them up a bit as well so there is always something tempting and delicious to try. Their brisket cheeseburger is mouth-watering too. And great coffee! Yummo!!”
Marina, Google Reviews

“Second visit in 4 days. I love almond croissants and these are easily the best. Took some “take-a-ways”, hope they make it home unlike some people I know eat them soon as back in the car. This place is good, seriously good.”
Col Williamson, Facebook

A Pasta Club Revival Delights in West End

Less than a year after it opened on Hoogley Street in West End, the homestyle Italian restaurant and wholesaler CJ’s Secret Pasta Club went into liquidation. But owners Leila Amirparviz and Darcy Adam quickly bounced back, amidst the pandemic, to establish Pasta Club on the other side of the suburb, where everything about their new restaurant gleams with a delightful revival.

Pasta Club carries over the essence of the old eatery with a changing daily menu handwritten by Darcy, depending on what is available in the kitchen.

As with the old restaurant, all ingredients are sourced locally from Australian suppliers.

The dishes are mostly simple Italian favourites that you’d crave for: risotto, house-made focaccia, fresh burrata with salsa verde, choices of pastas like fusilli with prawns and red sauce or spaghetti carbonara.

Stripping the wholesale aspects of their former business, the partners could now fully focus on improving their restaurant.

Pasta Club showcases the creativity and freedom of Leila and Darcy to whip up comfort food and filling meals in the kitchen. If requested, they can also prepare vegan and gluten-free options, as well as a few delicious desserts as a satisfying finish.

Taking over the former home of Flora By Greenhouse Canteen, Leila and Darcy had two weeks to convert the site into a retro-looking eatery, with a vinyl music corner to boot. Here, customers may enjoy their dining experience by playing an LP of their choice — it’s BYO vinyl!

But the restaurant is also BYO vino whilst the owners are waiting to secure a liquor licence.

This place is meant to be a lounging destination, where diners can have a relaxing meal with wine and music, amidst an intimate space.

Booking a table is highly-recommended if dining in, as per government health and safety guidelines. Follow their Instagram page for updates on store hours, new menu and other deals.

We live next door to Pasta Club and have been so excited to see them working hard to get up and running. Finally made it in for dinner last night and had a great time. Everyone’s meal was delicious, pasta was perfect of course and I’m still dreaming of the Crostini. The energy inside is really warm and comfortable too.
Madeleine Lewis, Google Reviews

Exceptionally delicious and authentic house made pasta. Friendly staff, quick service. Reservations recommended Thursday – Sunday.
Rober Sciberras, Google Reviews

Archive Beer Boutique Reopening for Exclusive Beer Dinners

Archive Beer Boutique is teaming up with some of the best craft beer breweries in Brisbane for a series of intimate beer dinners in West End.

“We’re really excited to be bringing craft beer back to West End with the Archive Beer Boutique intimate beer dinners. We’re teaming up with some of our favourite breweries to bring beer lovers an exciting experience that has definitely been missed during isolation,” General Manager Rick Kay explains.

“We will be following all required procedures to ensure the safety of our customers and team,” he added.

First up is a collaboration with local brewery Green Beacon Brewing and Young Henrys on Friday and Saturday, 29 & 30 May 2020. Excited West Enders eagerly snapped up all the slots for the first two sessions, prompting organisers to add two more sessions to meet demand.

Each dinner includes a drink on arrival and a three-course dinner, paired with carefully curated beers from the selected breweries and a surprise, limited-edition tasting.

Menu for Young Henrys & Green Beacon Brewing Beer Dinner

MENU (Alternate drop)

ENTREE

Chipotle lime barramundi bao

Roast pumpkin, bacon & sage soup with crusty bread

MAIN

Spinach feta chicken roulade on winter smash and broccolini topped with sundried hollandaise

Lamb shoulder pie with winter smash and broccolini

DESSERT

Black forest mousse with chocolate soil and black cherries

Spiced Poached pear with warm custard & nut crumble

Spots are extremely limited with a maximum of 10 guests per session so it’s wise to book fast.

Tickets for the Green Beacon Brewing and Young Henrys dinner are $69 (+BF) and are available here. Stay tuned for future beer dinners and announcing guest breweries on the Archive Beer Boutique event page.

Exciting Boulder Wall Expansion to be Marked With Last Climb

The boulder wall is coming down at Urban Climb in West End! This isn’t the end of a good thing, though, as the site is actually up for an exciting expansion to challenge climbers even more.

But before the old boulder wall closes, Urban Climb is giving it a proper send-off with a short ceremony and a fun party on Saturday, the 22nd of February 2020. Because this wall held so many memories and was an integral part of its guests’ achievements for years, it deserves to be commemorated in a special way.

Here’s what’s going to happen during the wall’s final hours:

5:30 p.m.	The Last Climbs	This is your last chance for you to scale the old boulder wall before it’s gone.
6:30 p.m.	The Service	Guests will be asked to gather around for a moment of silence and share stories of their memories up the wall. Feel free to bring photos or shed some tears (no judgements!) as well. There will be no more climbing during the service.
7:00 p.m.	The Wake	Ballistic Beer Westend Alehouse & Kitchen next door will open its doors for the “wake” (it’s actually a party!).

*Photo Credit: Urban Climb West End/Facebook*

Urban Climb West End’s expansion will include more roped climbing walls — expected to be completed in May — and the largest boulder hall to be ever built in this side of Brisbane — projected to be done by the middle of the year.

The site will also have an upgraded yoga space, a new function space and an air-conditioned cafe for completion later in the year.

For membership enquiries, class schedules, rates and opening hours, please phone 1300 001 203.