Fortitude Valley Archives - Page 21 of 26

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.

Instagrammable Pink-Themed Rose Room Cafe Opens in Fortitude Valley

A stunning new function room, aptly named the Rose Room for its splash of pink and blush-coloured hues, has opened this December in Fortitude Valley.

Located on the ground floor of The Constance Hotel, the Rose Room is just as gorgeous as its sister venue, the Dirty Sultan bar and restaurant found on the building’s rooftop.

You’ll gawk at the sight of this space the moment you’ll see the row of rose gold champagne bottles by the entryway. Once you step into the room, the vision before you could take your breath away.

Every design element has a “sharable” character to it — from the rose mural on one part of the walls to the tables and seats, the curtains, and the Turkish-style lighting fixtures.

The restaurant’s food selection even matches the decor with choices like the pink-coloured smoothie bowl, signature thick shake and the Baklava berry pancakes.

The Rose Room is a cafe by the day and a party venue for cocktail parties and intimate gatherings at night, if you’re looking for a venue for a hen’s party or a themed-birthday celebration.

The cafe opens from Wednesday to Sunday for breakfast until noontime. On the other hand, function packages are detailed at the Dirty Sultan official site.

Newly-Opened Eatery Lloyd’s General Store in Fortitude Valley Serves Just One Dish a Night

Do you struggle with deciding what to order from a menu? A newly-opened restaurant in Fortitude Valley is doing away with such a task by serving just one dish every night. Lloyd’s General Store came up with this quirky idea to take the farm-to-plate concept up a notch.

Lloyd’s General Store owners Elizabeth and James Lloyd also limit the number of plates they prepare each night. Taking on a more organic approach, Liz said that she wants the diners to know where the food comes from. Most of the ingredients used in the kitchen are from the farm of Liz’s parents in Ipswich.

Everything is cooked and prepared in front of the customers, within the eatery’s 40-square metre space. Liz said that dining at Lloyd’s General Store feels like you’re just in your mum’s kitchen and waiting for her to finish cooking.

The ambience is as cosy as a home kitchen with brick walls and large glass windows, wooden ceiling beams, vintage and recycled furniture and hand-painted decorations.

Photo Credit: Lloyd’s General Store/Instagram

But the eatery is also a providore with deli items, artisanal food items, pre-packaged terrines and pate, tinned sardines, as well as oil and vinegar for cooking.

Salads, croissants and coffee from Allpress are available during the daytime. At night, the restaurant serves wine and charcuterie, craft beers and hops.

Whilst there’s one main meal on the menu, guests coming in may either construct their own meals from the assorted pantry stuff or have Lloyd’s crew prepare the food. The Lloyds are also considering vegan options and a special dessert available for just one night.

Lloyd’s General Store, at 1 Brunswick Street and the corner of Gregory Terrace, used to be a hairdresser studio, a graphic design office and a florist shop.

For the store’s trading hours, follow @lloydsgeneralstore on Instagram.

Artificial Intelligence Hub to be Built in Fortitude Valley

A $5.5-million+ Artificial Intelligence Hub will soon be built in Fortitude Valley, part of a training hub called The Precinct meant to support businesses, startups, and the innovation sector by providing skills training programs and jobs to people in Queensland.

The state government will provide seed funding for the hub out of its landmark $755-million Advance Queensland initiative, along with some investment from the private sector. The state will also be bringing in international experts in AI and innovation technology as experts-in-residence.

Key Initiatives

To be managed by AI Consortium, the AI Hub will have four key initiatives which are meant to provide jobs to talented AI professionals in the state for a more diversified QLD economy.

grow awareness and connect Queensland businesses, industry, government organisations and universities to local AI talent and technologies;
showcase local AI talent and businesses;
deliver programs to develop AI talent (tertiary students, researchers and emerging AI businesses);
connect Queensland’s AI talent and solutions to other global centres.

(List of key initiatives from: AI Hub | Advance Queensland Initiative)

Annastacia Palaszczuk has been quite vocal about the shortage of talent in the AI industry in Queensland and the need to provide skills training to fill the skills gap.

“Currently we have up to eight times more AI jobs on offer in the state than people with the right skills available to fill them,” she has pointed out in a recent statement about the initiative.

What to Expect

Specialised training and education will be available at the AI Hub for the state’s public sector and industry. Several Australian universities, along with local and international companies, have already expressed interest in participating in or initiating programs at the hub.

Kate Jones, Innovation Minister, explained that the seed funding from the government will act as a catalyst for private sector investment.

Envisioned as a co-working place for startups involved in machine learning, advanced robotics, and speech recognition technology, the hub will also be a place for networking and mentoring as industry experts and talents from the technology sector gather together to teach and learn.

“It will also help to attract investment into Queensland startups and innovative local companies with AI-based solutions for global markets,” Ms Jones said.

Coming Soon

In a statement about the hub on its website, AI Consortium describes itself as “a group of technology-focused businesses…” which “…have been successfully operating, innovating and engaging in the development of artificial intelligence for many years.”

“Right now, due to the unprecedented global crisis we all face, Queensland AI Hub is embracing the virtual world of connection – as we should, given our interests. But, stay tuned, because later this year we will evolve from a just a digital platform to a physical hub where we can’t wait to collaborate face-to-face and build upon the strength of Queensland’s AI community.”