Seventeen years of memorable fun times at The Bowery in Fortitude Valley will come to an end as the owners recently announced they are closing shop. To mark this special, albeit sad day for its patrons, the bar will be hosting a big send-off on Sunday, the 26th of January 2020, its final day of trading.
“We would like to sincerely thank all the people that have made this great bar what it is, the staff, the bands, the DJs and all the customers that frequented the bar throughout its long run as one of Australia’s best cocktail bars,” The Bowery announced on its social media pages.
“The Bowery will be trading as per normal from tonight until Sunday the 26th of Jan. That Sunday we will be holding the official goodbye Bowery party. In which we will send the bar off in style.”
The relaxing and intimate watering hole on Ann Street is credited for moulding Brisbane’s nightlife scene. Patterned after 1920s New York’s dimly-lit dive bars with brick walls and red-leather seats, The Bowery launched in 2003 amidst large-scale drinking venues, which was then the rage in Queensland.
Locals, however, quickly became drawn to The Bowery because of its extensive drink list. The place also provided an easygoing vibe, where both staff and customers could have friendly and pleasant encounters amidst the cool sound of jazz music featuring The Bowery Hot Five.
There’s no need to travel far for a fun summer swim as Fortitude Valley’s X Cargo makes a splash with its unique take on summer swimming — a shipping container pool. The open-air, multi-use entertainment venue, located at a former empty parking lot in McLachlan Street, is also launching its first-ever X Cargo Pool Club to help you beat the summer heat.
Beginning 1 Jan until 1 March 2020, the X Cargo Pool Club will open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. X Cargo is turning its Eats Alley shipping container into a swimming pool to allow Valley locals and their guests to make some cool plans and dive into the summer party vibe.
Guests will have the option to rent a Cabana (for group use) or sunbeds (for individual use). Each rental is time-sensitive as X Cargo Pool Club will only accommodate 65 people per session to avoid crowding the party venue.
Good for eight people Private waiter and waitress service Towel service Ciroc bottle service Sun packs, including sunscreen
11:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. *Strictly a 3-hour session per group
Sunbeds
Sessions
One person per sunbed Towel service
11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. *Strictly a 2-hour session per person
A total of five cabanas and 12 daybeds will be available per session and all guests have access to a private pool club bar with an exclusive menu, a DJ booth and private toilets and change rooms.
Secure your slots online whether you plan to come as a group or soak in the water solo to meet other cool people at the venue. If your group would like the place all to your own for a private party, The X Cargo Pool Club is also available for hire for The Baller package. Inquire about this service by emailing poolclub@xcargo.com.au.
Fortitude Valley’s LONgTIME, a popular Thai restaurant, has evolved into sAme sAme. From its former home in Ann Street, the new foodie spot, which opened in early November, has relocated to the dining precinct on Ada Lane, where its owners hope it will live on with much success as its predecessor.
As they say, it is “same same but different” as the new restaurant‘s core menu pretty much covers the very items served at the old place, such as the lobsters, grilled chicken in lemongrass, crispy pork belly, char-grilled beef short ribs, and curries with coconut and turmeric. However, LONgTIME’s successor will be serving up something new on the menu as well, including some seasonal recipes.
Photo Credit: sAme sAme/Facebook
Photo Credit: sAme sAme/Facebook
The new restaurant’s open kitchen with a charcoal fire pit is two times bigger than Longtime’s, providing the staff, led by head chef Ben Bertei, with more flexibility to work, operate and cook lighter meals. Unlike LONgTIME, this new foodie spot is serving lunch on selected days so visitors have more options to keep coming back.
Seating is 20 seats fewer than the old digs but the ambience is brighter and lighter with its neutral colour scheme. There’s also a long communal table that works as the restaurant’s centrepiece.
However, unlike LONgTIME, there will be no long queues by the back alley whilst guests wait for a table to clear. Instead, diners can head upstairs at LOS (Land of Smiles), where there’s a comfortable 45-seater bar, to enjoy some drinks before meals. LOS boasts of a long drink list, including tequila, and it’s open until 12 midnight.
sAme sAme is open for dinner from Tuesday through Thursday whilst lunch and dinner are served from Friday through Sunday. Meanwhile, LONgTIME will now be used as an events place for group functions.
The former Trails Ltd Ice & Cold Stores heritage-listed site on Bridge Street, Fortitude Valley is now a Stone & Wood Brewery. Officially opening its doors on the 31st of Oct 2019, the famous Byron Bay brewer has 150 seats for the ultimate beer lover thirsting for good-tasting hops.
Stone & Wood Fortitude Valley has the same casual and chill ambience comparable to its first site. As you drink your favourite bottle or glass, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of eats from a rotating selection of local food vendors that will offer food to complement the beer’s taste.
The opening month has kicked off with Mr. Bunz‘s popular crackling pork bao, king brown mushroom bao and peking duck bao.
Stone & Wood Fortitude Valley, however, is not a pub for late-night unwinding with your pals with musicians providing entertainment. It is a purely working brewery for walk-in beer drinkers and there won’t be spirits, TAB and cocktails for sale at this site.
But the venue is spacious enough to hosts community events, private functions, workshops and training. Catering packages will be available by mid-November.
Does your dog like music? Can your four-legged pal groove to the beat? If you’ve got a furry friend who has a penchant for moving and getting up on its hind legs to dance with you, then sign up for the dog-friendly silent disco, Dogs & Beats, that’s rolling in Fortitude Valley this Sunday, the 10th of Nov 2019.
Prohibition Brisbane, a premier party place located at 206 Wickham Street, is hosting its first-ever doggie disco party to benefit the RSPCA. Since it’s a silent disco, presumably with humans wearing the headphones, the loud music won’t be a distraction nor a stressor for the little pooches.
All setup and ready for the dog-friendly silent disco. Photo Credit: Prohibition Brisbane/Facebook
Have a great time on the dance floor as you shake your groove with your dog. You probably do this at home with your furry pal anyway, so why not dance in the company of other dog owners and get to meet new people (and pets!) of the same interest?
It could be fun to make human and furry friends at this event but you’ll never know until you give it a try!
The Dogs & Beats silent disco will run from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, the event is open to doggos less than 25kg only. The puppers must also be leashed during the event to avoid any incident.
For every Dogs & Beats ticket purchased online, half of the proceeds will be donated to the RSPCA.
A sweeping celebration of art, music, food and fashion will be underway at The Hidden Lanes Festival in Fortitude Valley on Saturday, the 26th of Oct 2019. This free event will feature over 50 artists who will showcase their talents, ideas and creations to bring heaps of experiences for families and groups to enjoy.
Celebrating Food and Wine
Little Valley Lane, Bakery Lane, Winn Lane, Lucky Lane and California Lane will each have various establishments participating in the food fare for The Hidden Lanes Festival. Led by The Bowery, visitors may enjoy a sampling of gastronomic delights and satisfying meals from Italian, Korean, Japanese and American cuisines.
Whilst savouring different flavours, visitors can sit down and chill amidst an abundance of live music. Each lane will also feature different musical acts at stages set outside The Bowery, Phase 4 Records, Laruche, Tym Guitars, The Zoo, Little Valley and at corners of Winn Lane, California Lane and Bakery Lane.
Among the featured musical acts and DJs for this year’s Hidden Lanes Festival are:
Some live entertainment and venues are strictly for *18 years old and above. Be sure to show a valid ID in case it will be checked. Look up the schedule of performances so you may be able to plan your visit carefully.
Aside from the live music, there will also be 19 masterclasses and activities where visitors may learn cookie decorating, dumpling making, or preparing cocktails, among other workshops. Below are the schedule of the classes. You may book a slot in advance online as spaces are limited.
Photo Credit: The Hidden Lanes Festival
Celebrating Fashion & Style
When you’re done eating, drinking or joining the activities, you can unwind and do some retail therapy or pampering at the fashion and beauty establishments participating at The Hidden Lanes Festival. So you can cover a lot of ground, check out this map to chart the stores you’d like to visit for discounts and deals.
Photo Credit: The Hidden Lanes Festival
Celebrating the Laneways
Do you have out-of-town guests you’d like to bring to the festival? Sign them up for the Heritage Tour or put your name on the list if you’d like to learn the interesting origin and development of Fortitude Valley’s Laneways. This guided walk will bring you to the oldest preserved commercial buildings in Brisbane, which were built around the 1800s, including an apothecary and one of Brisbane’s longest-running music venues.
The Hidden Lanes Festival is a FREE event. No need to pay for an entrance or masterclass fee. The events begin at 10:00 a.m. and end late in the night.
Australian upscale department store David Jones signed a long-term lease to deliver a unique shopping experience in one of the Fortitude Valley’s best shopping strips. However, as Australia is under a retail recession, David Jones has reportedly struggled to grow its revenue two years since opening on 10 James Street.
David Jones has gone through its second writedown since 2018, as South African owner Woolworths Holdings Limited witnessed its value shrink from its $2.1-B acquisition in 2014 to just $965 million. The writedown does not bode well for the beleaguered retail giant, particularly in light of Australia’s retail recession.
Speculations are rife that the company is “recalibrating operations” at its Fortitude Valley store, although the company has not made any comments on such reports.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
David Jones opened its Fortitude Valley store with high hopes of delivering a very different shopping experience in a vital precinct.
A spokesperson from Woolworths said that operationally, their strategic initiative is to position the store as the “retail environment of the future.”
Colours, bright lights and upbeat music will fill Chinatown Mall in Fortitude Valley this Saturday, the 7th of Sept 2019, as it is time once again to celebrate the annual Chinese Moon Festival.
Some 3,000 years ago, the Chinese Moon Festival was a community gathering during the brightest night of the season to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest. It was also a time to celebrate harmonious relationships, good health and new births.
These traditions have changed over the years as the harvest festival evolved with the times. Nevertheless, modern Chinese and their friends continue to observe the Moon Festival by mounting an all-day celebration that locals in Brisbane will also have the chance to experience.
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council/Facebook
So, this Saturday weekend, Chinatown Mall will be packed with activities from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For this year, the Chinese Moon Festival will also include Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean and Filipino cultural performances:
4:00 p.m.
Dragon dance
4:20 p.m.
Opening and welcome
4:30 p.m.
Crafty up-cycle earring making workshop (one hour)
An amusing roving entertainment featuring the Three Brothers Parade and Grandma Anna Yen, the Chinese Clown, will also be featured at this event whilst visitors check out the market and food stalls to score unique finds and treasures or taste Asian treats.
Don’t miss out on the moon-shaped structure at the centre of the mall. Guests may write down the names of their beloved on this installation to strengthen their bond.
This is a free event sponsored by the Brisbane City Council.
In the decades since its inception, Swedish carmaker Volvo has built its reputation on safety and low-key luxury. Its latest campaign, Vision 2020, aims for a lofty goal — no more deaths or serious injuries in its new cars. In line with this, Volvo is introducing new technology to prevent drink driving, believing that the way to its goal lies in the modification of driver behaviour coupled with leading-edge safety technology. This is a development that should benefit Brisbane car owners greatly, particularly given the prevalence of drink driving incidents in Fortitude Valley and other Brisbane suburbs.
Recently, the Swedish automaker announced that sensor cameras will be installed in the next-generation models for the XC40, XC60 and XC90, which are designed to detect the reaction and behaviour of the Volvo driver. The car will slow down or completely stop and not respond if the sensor determines that the driver is intoxicated.
“Volvo Cars believes intoxication and distraction should be addressed by installing in-car cameras and other sensors that monitor the driver and allow the car to intervene if a clearly intoxicated or distracted driver does not respond to warning signals and is risking an accident involving serious injury or death,” Volvo said in a statement.
Learn more about how Volvo’s drink driving safety feature works in this video:
Volvo’s Outstanding Safety Record
“We want to attract people who think it’s important to drive safely,” Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson said following the announcement of Vision 2020.
Early on, safety has been the cornerstone of its vehicle design as Volvo is the inventor of the three-point seatbelt in 1959. Volvo is also a pioneer of the rearward-facing child safety seat and booster seat in the ’70s. It is the first automaker to introduce side-impact airbags.
In 2008, Volvo was way ahead of other car manufacturers when it launched the City Safety system that allowed its vehicles to slow down and prevent a car crash upon detection of an obstruction. To better understand why Volvo is regarded as the safest car in the world, watch this:
Australia to Require New Car Drink Driving Safety Features
Volvo’s big news comes as Australia could mandate similar safety features among new vehicles for sale by 2025 in line with the guidelines of the United Nations.
“Unfortunately, alcohol remains a major problem [of the road toll] with between 15 and 25 percent of our driver fatalities each year from drivers being under the influence of alcohol,” Transport Road Commission road safety director Samantha Cockfield said.
Crime statistics in Australia also show that Fortitude Valley ranks high for violence and accidents due to alcohol. Since 2014, law enforcers, as well as club and pub owners, are proactively implementing strategies to promote a drink safe precinct. Now, even automakers like Volvo are in on the objective to keep the public safer.
“The first technologies we’ll see are passive systems like passive alcohol and drug interlock systems so they will be within the car and they will be able to test if you’ve got any alcohol on your breath,” Ms Cockfield added.
Expectedly, automakers may still improve on the technology by introducing sensor pads on the steering wheel or infrared light detection at the ignition button. This way, the driver under influence won’t be able to bypass the safety features.
Photo Credit: Volvo Cars Australia/Facebook
“Yes, definitely we will see a day when that technology will be standard in vehicles and I think if you look at Volvo internationally, I think they’ve talked about those kinds of technologies being integrated quite soon,” Ms Cockfield said.
Buying Volvo in Fortitude Valley
As of press time, Volvo Australia has not yet announced the availability for the next generation models with the drink driving safety features. However, if you’re interested in owning the safest car for your family, you may phone Volvo Cars North Brisbane at 07 3177 3181 or visit their showroom in at 773 Ann Street Fortitude Valley for a test drive.
In an elegant collaboration between Tim Gurner and the Signature Hospitality Groupled by CEO James Sinclair, the corner of Brunswick and Alfred Streets in Fortitude Valley has been revitalised with the 4th of July opening of the Foresters Restaurant and Bar, in what is now the Valley’s growing food and beverage precinct.
Heritage Roots
Built in 1889, Foresters Hall is an iconic heritage-listed building that has since gone through some major architectural facelifts whilst still staying true to its turn-of-the-century roots. Originally used by the Foresters and other Friendly societies as a social hub for their predominantly working-class members, the hall also subsequently became the Valley’s very first movie theatre, Cook’s Picture Palace, in 1910.
Photo Credit: WikimediaCommons
In later years, it became an appliance store, as the rest of the neighbourhood slowly declined before the resurgence that the area is experiencing today.
Old But New — Beautifully Repurposed
Currently one of the stops in the Vibrant Valley Heritage Trail, the handsome building’s distinctive facade, characterised by original exposed brick that are over a century old, natural timber detailing, large archways and metal tin tiles, has since been returned to its original glory, with some tastefully added new fixtures to update its look.
Now in its new incarnation, this iconic landmark gleams in its grand whiteness, the hawkishly cool exterior belying the regal warmth of its interior.
The feeling of warmth starts to build as one enters the beautifully restored entryway, into a 140-seat dining area, with large windows providing great views of both Alfred and Brunswick streets. A dimly-lit bar that can comfortably seat 60 people provides the perfect place for an end-of-day pick-me-up or a good weekend unwind.
Extremely elegant yet comfortable dining ambience is available for singles, couples and small groups. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner – from 6:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Get comfortable on one of their posh leather-covered seats and simply allow Chef Peter Popow, Foresters’ master wine and food pairing guru to work his magic. Just a quick tip – try their intriguingly named special Pornstar Martini or their Salted Caramel Espresso Martini, topped with pieces of popcorn. It’s a delightful tribute to the building’s cinematic past.
Photo Credit: Foresters Restaurant & Bar/Facebook
For Simon Barnes, general manager of Foresters, their modern Australian take on traditional gastropub fare is the key to satisfying their now-growing clientele. Visitors are mainly residents and upwardly mobile, young professionals who patronise the place for its cosy ambience, well-rounded wine selection, carefully curated cocktail list, and the opportunity to see and be seen.
Definitely a place to check out, if you’re in the area.
