Fortitude Valley Archives - Page 20 of 26

Video Editing Platform Clipchamp in Fortitude Valley Rakes 14 Million Users

At the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, Clipchamp had a 160 percent growth in new users. This Brisbane startup, headquartered in Fortitude Valley, continues to impress as it welcomes 2021 with a solid 14 million registered users from around the world.

The video editing platform, which launched in 2014, has made such an impact during the pandemic as companies and individual content creators shifted to video to stay in contact and facilitate a work-from-home environment or to consolidate their presence in their industries and niches when face-to-face meet-ups became too risky.

Co-founder and chief executive Alex Dreiling believes that Clipchamp being “in the right place at the right time” during COVID-19 has sealed the company’s position as a permanent platform of choice for the users. Because of their service, many users are now learning to do video editing themselves, instead of hiring professionals or agencies to make their videos.

The start-up’s platform provides video creators with the crucial tools needed to produce content without using expensive equipment, complicated software, or a substantial production experience. Its service empowers businesses to boost their profile and capacity to disseminate fresh content across many other channels, such as YouTube or TikTok.

In this day and age, when video content creation has ballooned into a $135 billion industry, Clipchamp is becoming essential for marketing. Thus, in 2020, the platform also launched additional features like webcam or screen camera recording, green screen options and audio/video separation.

The company’s staff also increased from 30 to 80, with workers coming from Red Hat, Facebook, Google and Amazon. It has offices in the U.S. and the Philippines as well and has a significant presence in Europe.

However, Mr Dreiling said Brisbane will remain its homebase and it’s where they will continue to develop their product even as they are heading for expansion.

Dine-in Igloos are Coming to Fortitude Valley

All throughout July, Brisbane will be able to cosy up and dine in with friends in their own private igloos at the Cielo Rooftop in Fortitude Valley.

From the 1st of July all the way until the 1st of August, pop up igloos will open up in Fortitude Valley — each coming complete with their own set of furniture, fairy lights, and fleece blankets to help bookers cosy themselves in. The best part? Each booking comes with food packages that come with their choice of drinks.

Those interested in reserving an igloo for themselves as well as their friends and loved ones can do so via this link. Igloo can be booked for up to 1.5 hours at a time. Each igloo can house 2 to 6 people; however, food options must be selected. Igloos cannot be reserved without ordering food packages.

Four different food packages will be available for bookings: the Standard Package, the Premium Package, the VIP Package, and the Vegan Package. Each package come with grazing boards with an array of snacks and finger foods, a main course, and either alcoholic beverages or soda.

The Standard Package entails a grazing board which contains prosciutto, mortadella, pecorino cheese, asiago cheese, hummus, olives, focaccia bread, and pickles as well as a main course in the form of a calamari and arancini plate. Drink options include sparkling, red or white wine, or beer per person.

The Premium Package, on the other hand, offers everything the Standard Package does with the addition of dessert in the form of Tiramisu Bomboloni: Italian doughnuts filled with Tiramisu cream and chocolate sauce. Additional drink options also include espresso martinis and aperol spritz.

However, the VIP Package offers everything the Premium Package does in addition beetroot cured salmon bruschetta and an oyster platter. Margaritas will also be available in the drinks list of this exciting package.

Lastly, the Vegetarian Package offers a completely different set of food options entirely in order to accommodate people’s dietary restrictions. The grazing board contains roasted capsicum, Evoo preserved eggplant, fried artichokes, stuffed olives, hummus, focaccia bread and pickles. Instead of a main course, dessert will be offered in the form of a raspberry tortino topped with chocolate mousse and berry coulis. Drink options are the same as those offered by the Standard Package.

Those interested in booking an igloo can do so by visiting this website.

The Winter Pop Up Igloo Dining event will be held at Cielo Rooftop, 209 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable but may be resold. Those unable to make it to their booked times and dates will lose their space unless they resell their tickets.

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.

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.

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.

Honouring Graham Pampling, Beloved Busker of the Queen Street Mall

A petition has been called by the Brisbane public to erect a statue of the late-yet-legendary busker Graham Pampling at Queen Street Mall, where he played the saxophone six days a week from 1998 to 2018.

Graham Pampling, who passed in 2019, was a beloved busker who had become something of a community staple in Queen Street. It was hard to ignore the blind busker whose music had become an integral part of everyone’s everyday life, regaling the city with his saxophone.

His labradors, who served as his guide dogs and loyal friends, often accompanied him during these sessions. Pampling became something of a local celebrity given his inspiring story.

Pampling was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic condition that slowly causes cells in the retina to die which then leads to blindness.

Throughout his life, he experienced a great many hardships — including the death of his 19-year-old son, who tragically perished in a forklifting accident in 1985.

The marriage between Pampling and his wife of 28 years also broke down, which then led to the busker-to-be to travel to Brisbane with his saxophone, where he stayed for the next three decades. He’d set up in Queen Street Mall and begin busking for every passerby, serenading the public with his beautiful music.

His music wasn’t the only thing that cemented his status as a local icon and inspiration in the city, for Pampling had also volunteered at local schools to teach visually impaired students how to type without using their sight.

Brisbane residents from all around the city have signed a petition, titled Remember Graham Pampling, to immortalise him and celebrate his memory by creating a statue in his honour. As of the 28th of February, 2021, over 6,900 people have signed in hopes of having the statue raised. Those interested in contributing to Graham Pampling’s memory can find and sign the petition here.

Fortitude Valley’s Popular Hellenika Zucchini Chips to be Patented

For nearly 10 years and counting, Hellenika, the Greek restaurant inside The Calile in Fortitude Valley, has been known for its addicting, crunchy and tasty zucchini chips. It’s been on the restaurant’s menu from the beginning and now restaurateur Simon Gloftis plans to patent how it’s made.

Mr Gloftis said that patenting the popular entrée or poolside snack, otherwise also called the Kolokithia, would prevent copycats from developing their version of the Hellenika zucchini chips. He wants to ensure that this product is solely identified with his restaurant because it will never be taken off the menu.

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A post shared by HELLENIKA (@hellenika)

Every week, Hellenika serves thousands of orders of this thinly-sliced batter-fried goodness and the demand hasn’t slowed after the pandemic lockdown.

“You can never have a bad day when Hellenika zucchini chips are involved, it’s a fact,” the restaurant’s Instagram page stated. “Sprinkled with kefalograviera, because cheese makes everything even better.⁠”

Mr Gloftis hasn’t detailed how he’ll acquire the food patent but he’s not the only one planning to patent a signature dish. Detour in Woolloongabba will also patent its recipe and cooking process for its famous Kentucky Fried Duck (KFD).

Meanwhile, Hellenika is the loveliest place for Sunday dining and lounging by The Calile Hotel’s poolside if you want to indulge in a fancy vibe, impressive and authentic Mediterranean food, as well as fantastic Greek pale ale or cocktails.

Book a spot in advance at this sophisticated venue.

The Mason Baker Brings Australia’s First Cupcake ATM to Fortitude Valley

Ever heard of an ATM dispensing cupcakes instead of cash? See Australia’s very first Cupcake ATM in action as it launches in Fortitude Valley courtesy of The Mason Baker.

In 2012, Sprinkles, an innovative foodie company from Beverly Hills changed how sweet-tooth and dessert lovers got an instant and sweet gratification with the Cupcake ATM. Now with an annual revenue of US$16 million, the idea has exploded around the world and it is finally coming to Brisbane on Friday, 5 Feb 2021.

The Mason Baker, a Tennyson-based company best known for its decadent jar cakes, will be setting up its very own Cupcake ATM at 6 Warner Street, right outside the new Kickons bar, for every weekend of February (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

It will be easy to spot the vending machine. Just keep your eyes peeled for a bright pink coloured ATM, which will likely have a long line of cupcake lovers by 5:00 p.m. — cos that’s when the vending machine has a fresh batch of spongy delights.

Owner James Willis said that they have been working with Worldwide Vending to bring this innovative idea amidst the surge of a new contactless economy in the food industry.

The Cupcake ATM will have heaps of choices, including classic favourites like Strawberries and Cream, Chocolate Ganache and Salted Caramel. Each order will be packed in The Mason Baker’s familiar container.

Essentially, if the Cupcake ATM becomes a hit, The Mason Baker plans to put more machines across Brisbane for the rest of 2021.