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Fortitude Valley to Welcome Cindy Chow Bar with Burlesque Shows

Fortitude Valley, prepare to be in awe! A revival of the liberating nightlife of underground parlours in the 1920s will heat up Brunswick Street as Cindy Chow, a bar and theatre with burlesque shows, will mark its opening soon.

Conceptualised by nightlife hospitality bigwigs Patrick Donohue and Justin Kong, Cindy Chow has been inspired by Shanghai’s clandestine venues or speakeasy bars during the Prohibition Era. She is a fictional character, imagined as the star of an entertainment venue that served booze and held an illegal gambling operation patronised by Americans and Europeans.

“From these times, one lady ruled the darkest of secrets including drinking, gambling and eroticism. This is her story. A tale of black market dealing and gunshot blasts, high powered boats and plenty of late night street fights. The story of an exceptional life of a lady they called CINDY CHOW,” the operators teased on the official website.

To go with the theme, the fit-out of Cindy Chow will feature Chinese awnings, Chinese pottery, golden Buddhas, jade and red upholstery, tables with a lazy Susan, and a stage for the burlesque shows planned for the weekends.

The appeal and the presentations, however, will be as tasty as the food and drinks to be offered at the bar. There will be an initial 10 types of cocktail drinks that will taste better with choices of Asian bar food like san choy bao, canapes, and duck pancakes.

Cindy Chow is projected to open in late May or early June 2021. More details, including the exact location, will be revealed until then.

True Spirit Double-Decker Gin Bus Now Touring Brisbane

The West End-based Brisbane Distillery’s latest double-decker gin bus, aptly named “The True Spirit”, is finally operational, setting up at the Riverside Markets every Sunday and touring the city every other day.

After making its first appearance on Sunday the 9th of May 2021 at the Riverside Markets, The True Spirit has been making rounds across Brisbane.

Here, customers will be able to book a booth in the buses’ top level and be served three cocktails for $24.99, however those who simply wish to visit can enjoy free samples of the mobile bar’s selection: Brisbane Distillery’s Game of Eucalyptus Gin, Queensland Dry Gin, and Brown Snake Rhum.

The minds behind this double-decker bus are none other than Brisbane Distillery, the creators of the gin school, distillery and bar in West End. The True Spirit has been in development for a long time. Now, it’s finally complete and serves as a mobile bar, with a counter and bartender on the bottom level and a roofed lounge area up top.

Photo credit: Instagram/Brisbane Distillery

Brisbane residents might be able to see The True Spirit driving from street to street as it makes its way towards its next stop. Customers will be able to purchase drinks and grab a seat whenever the vehicle is parked. Stocking its shelves is a collection of gin, tonic, and other essentials needed to create a slew of gin-based cocktails.

Since the Brisbane Distillery has obtained the license necessary to operate all throughout Brisbane, people can expect to see it just about everywhere, whether it be parked outside markets or even close to private residences for parties and celebrations.

Though The True Spirit’s location is never fixed as people can make bookings for the site of its next appearance, Brisbane Distillery can be found at 99 Jane St, West End, open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. onwards with the exception of Saturdays, in which case the distillery opens at 12:00 p.m.

Those interested in reserving The True Spirit can make bookings via this link. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on their double-decker gin buses’ location, as well as any other special announcements.

Sushi on Q410, the Latest Sushi Place in Fortitude Valley

Fresh from the minds of William and Jenny Kim, the duo behind Brisbane City’s Sushi Kim and Sunnybank’s Sushi Paradise, the all-new ‘Sushi on Q410’ is the latest sushi place that’s rapidly becoming a star in Fortitude Valley.

The restaurant, which opened in March 2021, offers quality Japanese food for takeaway prices, with their menu featuring some classic sushi dishes such as handmade nori rolls and salmon nigiri, as well as some more unique meals like their fusion sushi rolls.

Customers on a budget who wish to satisfy their cravings for high-grade Japanese food need not look any further. Sushi aside, the restaurant’s menu also offers some famous Japanese rice dishes such as katsudon, shrimp tempura, honey chili chicken, and japanese curry, all for under $13.

The joint’s unique design aesthetic allows people to unwind and relax amidst exposed red brick walls, hanging and potted plants, and dark timber furniture that makes for a rustic atmosphere.

The restaurant can be found at 410 Queen St, Brisbane City, open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, and for the latest updates on meals, deals, and other special announcements, follow their Facebook page.

Archdiocese of Brisbane Lodges Commercial Development Application for St Patrick’s Church

A development application detailing plans to construct an eight-storey building next to St Patrick’s Church in Fortitude Valley was submitted by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane to the Brisbane City Council.

Filed in early April 2021, the development application (DA A005698653) cites that the mixed-use building will also have various public areas, including a communal rooftop terrace overlooking the southeast section of Morgan Street. Views of the church from McLachlan and James Streets will not have any obstructions.

Photo Credit: Developmenti/Brisbane City Council

The second to the seventh level of the building will be leased to commercial and office establishments. The plan also includes two levels of basement parking to accommodate 132 cars and 115 bikes. If approved, the construction will take up 2,441 square metres of space or about 23 percent of the land.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese said that the commercial site will ensure that St Patrick’s Church, one of the oldest churches in the city, will thrive and continue to support the community for years to come.

St Patrick’s Church has been a landmark for more than 140 years. Built around 1880-1882, the property was entered into the Queensland Heritage Listing in 1992 for its cultural, historical and religious significance for Fortitude Valley residents.

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Brisbane is also currently overseeing the refurbishments of St Stephen’s Cathedral. As with St Patrick’s Church, this historical site has been a vital part of the community for more than 150 years.

Cluedo Comes to Life in New Fortitude Valley Event

Fortitude Valley is about to become the stage for the Brisbane Immersive Ensemble’s latest event ‘Cluedo! The New Suspects’ — a new twist on a classic game that brings the board to life.

The Brisbane Immersive Ensemble invites Brisbane to put on their fanciest outfits and get their game on by taking part in their latest interactive experience, Cluedo! The New Suspects, which will feature the cast of the classic board game, reimagined.

In order to create a fully immersive session that makes for an unforgettable night of drinks and detective work, trained actors will channel the characters present in the original Cluedo, and participants will be able to explore a series of scenes and backdrops accompanied by live music from a 1950s big band.

Much like the original game, participants will have to search the area for clues and find hidden items, and the fully interactive cast means people will be free to question suspects to solve the mystery — all while enjoying glasses of wine provided by Baedeker, the venue of the event.

Cluedo! The New Suspects will run from April 29 to May 13 at the wine bar Baedeker. Those interested in learning more can visit their Facebook event page. Tickets can be booked via this website, with prices starting at $72.75. Each session will commence at 7:00 p.m. sharp, and participants will have to be 18 years old or older.

Baedeker can be found at 111 Constance St, Fortitude Valley, open from 4:00 p.m onwards on Friday and Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. onwards on Sunday. For more information, visit their website here.

Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements. Get acquainted with the Brisbane Immersive Ensemble by visiting their website and following their Facebook page.

Roma Street Parkland Free Parking Area to be Sold to Developers

Around 150 free parking spaces at Roma Street Parkland could be removed and replaced with a pay parking facility once the section between College Road and Parkland Boulevard is sold to developers as part of the State Government’s Cross River Rail project.

The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority (CRRDA) released plans to build residential and commercial towers around Roma Street Parkland as it anticipates population growth upon the completion of Cross River Rail.

Details of the redevelopment showed the inclusion of the area currently used as the visitors’ free parking space, as well as the maintenance compound for the operators of the parklands.

Brisbane City Council, the manager of the parklands, has lodged a complaint against this plan to the State Government, which owns the land.

“I don’t know where the State Government thinks all the current lawnmowers, tractors, maintenance equipment and staff facilities will go or where the 149 car parking spaces will be relocated to once 12 story buildings are developed,” Councillor Vicki Howard wrote in her appeal to stop the redevelopment.

“If you are concerned, join me by emailing your thoughts today to central.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au,” Ms Howard added. “Let’s try and convince the State Government that we need to support and protect our open spaces, not sell them off to developers.”

Meanwhile, work on the Roma Street station construction continues with the excavation of the tunnels.

Per the CRRDA, the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are “scheduled to reach the new Roma Street station cavern mid-year” following work on Albert Street. Expect traffic and pedestrian changes in the surrounding streets.

All Hallows’ School Swimming Team Wins CaSSSA Aggregate Cup Championship

Photo credit: All Hallows' School/Facebook

The swimming team of All Hallows’ Girls in Fortitude Valley competed in the Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls’ Sports Association (CaSSSA) in 2021 and won their 10th successive Aggregate cup this year.

The girls managed to achieve a leading position against St Rita’s College during CaSSSA Cup Interschool Carnival, held at Brisbane Aquatic Centre in Chandler on 11 March. The final score for All Hallows’ School was 1309 whilst their biggest opponent, St Rita’s, ended with 1161.

The final points for other competing schools were:

Mt St Michael’s – 1004 points
Loreto College – 944 points
Mt Alvernia College – 717 points
Lourdes Hill – 695 points
Brigidine College – 667 points

Leading the team are captains Elizabeth Dekkers and Piper Brien, who are currently completing their Year 12 at the school. Dekkers, a Newmarkets Racers Swimming Club, is a prospect for the upcoming Summer Olympics this year. She broke the Aussie age record in 2020 after finishing 200m fly in 2:08.46 minutes.

For this year’s event, Dekkers won Div 1, outscoring Hannah Casey from Mt St Michael’s College and Lily Carrick from St Rita’s College.

Meanwhile, Tessa Gibbons secured both the 13 years Div 1 freestyle and the 12 years butterfly. For the 12 years butterfly event, she surpassed Samantha Conias of St Rita’s and Kaitlyn Di Francesco from Mount Alvernia College. Josephine Crimmins also finished first when she represented the team in the 6×50 all age relay, which is the last event of the day.

“We saw some excellent results throughout the day and were ecstatic to see our swimmers break three records,” All Hallows’ School posted on their Facebook page.

Congratulations to our Swimming #ahsisters on an amazing team effort in taking out the CaSSSA Aggregate Cup at…
Posted by All Hallows' School on Thursday, March 11, 2021

The CaSSSA cup was one of the only 13 swim meets approved by Swimming QLD in 2021. It’s considered as the last major sporting event in Queensland last year, before COVID-19 lockdown took place.

Populous: Olympic Architect Firm Opens Asia Pacific HQ on Adelaide Street

Populous, the architectural firm that designed the Olympic venues in London and Tokyo, has established its new Asia Pacific headquarters at the Collin House on Adelaide Street.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the company during a special ceremony held at the office in early March as Brisbane hopes to bid as host for the 2032 Olympics.

The new office, which will be purpose-built, will have 100 local workers. Populous, however, has been working with Brisbane for some time as the company designed Suncorp Stadium, Metricon Stadium and the Queensland Tennis Centre at Tennyson.

“We have been growing our business from Brisbane for 20 years and we are very proud to take this step to recommit our Asian headquarters to Queensland,” Populous Managing Director Paul Henry said.

“This is an exciting day for our staff and clients, and we are very much looking forward to continuing to collaborate across the globe as we have done well before COVID-19 on exciting projects that bring people together in moments of celebration.”

Ms Palaszczuk said that Adelaide Street will be the main headquarters in the Asia Pacific region.

“[This] is a proud and timely moment for the owners and staff, working on the very best of Olympic and other worldwide projects from new premises right here in Brisbane,” the premier said.

It comes as Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced that Brisbane City Council voted “yes” to submit a bid for the 2032 Olympics, which will open thousands of opportunities for jobs, sporting and infrastructure upgrades.

Waterfront Brisbane: Dexus’ New Retail and Office Development Approved

Real estate company Dexus’ controversial two-tower project, the Waterfront Brisbane office development, has been approved by Brisbane City Council despite public backlash.

The project itself revolves around the construction of two towers, one 49-storeys tall and the other 43, along Waterfront Place. Once completed, the development is expected to provide locals from suburbs around the Brisbane River with new retail offerings, promenades, and offices.

A 280-metre riverwalk will also be created as part of the development plan, connecting Waterfront Place to the Riparian Palace. Development costs have totaled to $2.1 billion, and the new riverwalk will be funded by BCC.

The project aims to improve pedestrian view and access of the river, as well create a river link between Eagle St and the river accessible with bicycles and wheelchairs.

Waterfront Brisbane is set to take up a combined area of 120,000-sqm of office and retail space, aiming to make the most out of Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate by creating riverfront dining and retail outlets, public plazas, and gorgeous promenades along the waterfront.

Render of Waterfront Brisbane’s proposed retail area.
Photo credit: Dexus

Despite the promising outcome expected from the Dexus development, concerns over the project and what it means for the future of the waterfront have been expressed by some sectors in the community regarding the possible negative impact on the waterfront as the development would block the view and separate the city from the river.

“What is now proposed is an anathema – “Waterfront Brisbane” appears as an over-scaled wall of glass positioned without any regard to the established principles respected in the design of all other towers…” Penelope Seidler, director of Harry Seidler and Associates said in a public submission of opposition through the Brisbane City Council’s Planning and Developing Online portal.

“The building shape forms a wall separating the city from the river,” she added.

Architects behind Waterfront Brisbane, FJMT and Arkhefield, have updated their design in response to these complaints, opting for a more sub-tropical design that ensures the development adheres to the aesthetic and atmosphere of the waterfront.

Though Dexus had announced the approval of their project in December 2020, construction will not commence until 2022. It is estimated that the first tower will be complete and operational in 2026.

Plans for New Fortitude Valley Hotel Revealed

A development application for FV Hotel, an all-new hotel building at Fortitude Valley’s Ann Street, has been submitted.

621 Ann St, located in the Valley’s wellness precinct, could potentially become the site of the luxurious 15-storey hotel building. FV Hotel, designed by the architectural group Buchan, sports a sub-tropical aesthetic that correlates with and adheres to the Brisbane City Council’s New World City Design Guide.

Render of the proposed FV Hotel.
Photo credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council

The new hotel is expected to revitalise the southern end of Fortitude Valley by creating a vibrant hub that provides the local community with a wider range of functions and facilities.

The hotel facilities will include a gym, pool, rooftop function and bar space, and outdoor cabanas, and it will offer a total of 204 single-bedroom suites for its guests as well as a 209-sqm ground floor complete with a restaurant. Though the rooftop will only be accessible to hotel guests, their outdoor recreational facilities will be available to the public.

FV Hotel also takes the environment into consideration, carefully constructed to accommodate greenery which also provide an array of benefits. The horizontal projection of planting provides shading to residences while simultaneously mitigating acoustics and protection from harsh sunlight. Open-ended corridors also make way for natural ventilation, limiting the need of air conditioning and artificial cooling.

Render of FV Hotel and its green design
Photo credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council

Those interested in learning more about Property Projects Australia’s FV Hotel development can visit their Brisbane City Council’s Planning & Development Online proposal here: A005681170.