At the helm of the project are siblings Scott and Angie Taylor. The success of their Mount Lawley restaurant Beaufort Street Merchants has inspired the duo to dream bigger. They’ve restored the building by polishing up the 6 metre art deco ceilings and herringbone parquetry, and adding a huge brass and glass wine vault. There’s also an impressive 17^th century ship figurehead perched above the bar.

Manning the kitchen is celebrity chef Ian Curley, best known from his Melbourne restaurant The European and appearances on Masterchef and Conviction Kitchen. Curley’s trademark is approachable and unpretentious peasant food. Dishes include coq au vin with garlic mash, pork cotoletta with braised witlof and a delectable truffled duck liver and smoked eel parfait with poached pears. The menu also contains a selection of local Angus beef, selected according to the ‘nose-to-tail’ ethos, encouraging a more comprehensive use of cow, including the cheek, flank, rump and fillet.

An avid oenophile, Scott has lovingly compiled a wine list of over 500 food-oriented wines from around the world, with a staggering 50 of them available by the glass (150ml pour) or “intro” (90ml pour).

We’re most excited about the fact the Trustee will soon be serving late-night supper – where else in Perth could you find a nose-to-tail pie at 11:30pm?

Where: 135 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-midnight, Sat 5pm-midnight
Details: thetrustee.com.au/

Boho Espresso is a hip little coffee shop in the heart of Scarborough – just steps away from the sand and within earshot of Scarborough’s famous surf. The place is decked out with potted plants, chairs made from converted skateboards and shabby-chic armchairs, rugs and lamps. An entire wall is adorned with a mural of a sunset on a tropical beach. A series of shelves hold the mini provedore of hot sauces, sugar cubes and grape juice. Yes, we get that they’re going for unconventional, but the décor is really all over the place.

But all’s forgiven upon tasting the coffee, which Boho makes using a special blend of Brazilian and Ethiopian beans from local roasters Ristretto. For the caffeine-averse there’s even an herbal coffee substitute from Dandy Blend.

Breakfast and lunch include classics like eggs Benedict and homemade pancakes, but there are also some off-the-beaten-track options like bagel sandwiches and pan-fried salt and pepper barramundi. But for a liquid meal, the ‘The Cocobee’ wins hands down. It’s an amazing coconut, honey and banana smoothie served in a baby coconut shell. It’s drinkable summer.

The only non-bohemian thing about Boho is the prices, which are as conventional as every other overpriced café in Perth. $8 for juice and $14 for a breakfast wrap is expensive in anyone’s book. We’re not sure how the beach bums and surfer dudes – the clientele Boho seems to be created especially for – can afford it.

Maybe they’re the ones playing the live music at Boho on the weekends. Hm, wonder how many Cocobees they pay per hour?

Where: Shop 5, 241 West Coast Hwy, Scarbourough
Hours: Daily, 6am-4pm
Details: facebook.com/pages/BOHO-Espresso

The café sits in the Northeastern corner of the heritage building, and right in the thick of the Perth Cultural Centre. Inside, there are cushy leather sofas, small tables and lots of open space for post-work mingling. On the walls hang artwork from the gallery that rotates every six weeks. Outside, multi-coloured metal chairs and tables cluster under umbrellas on the alfresco terrace overlooking James Street Mall.

Head Chef Brock Bethune has been practicing his art for years, having previously cooked at The Rocks Restaurant and Café in Victoria and George’s Meze in Subiaco. The all-day breakfast menu includes homemade treats like toasted muesli, pancakes, and for those who crave savoury in the early hours, there’s potato rosti, poached eggs and the Morning Breakfast with the works. We’re keenest on the tapas, which, despite being an overworked and overly expenive concept in Perth, are innovative and refreshingly affordable, costing between $9-18. Most salivation-inducing are the spiced swordfish cakes, seared scallops, grilled eggplant Parmigiana and skewered Torre lamb.

Art has never tasted so good.

Where: 51 James Street, Northbridge
Hours: Tue-Fri 7am-late, Sat-Sun 11am-late
Details: pica.org.au

That’s exactly what Cooking with Ali classes are like, thanks to Ali Sarhan. This Lebanese-born Freo local may not be a trained chef, but he more than makes up for it with a passion for food, or as he calls it, his “addiction to eating”.

Ali has owned seven restaurants in the last 17 years, including Dublin’s first Lebanese restaurant and the beloved Fremantle restaurant The Cedar Tree. He’s since turned his attention to teaching because he simply loves being around people, teaching them his tricks of the trade (“The French call it julienne. I call it small pieces.”) and sharing stories about the way the traditional dishes are prepared and enjoyed back in his home country.

His current series focuses on Middle Eastern tapas, or mezze. Ali shares his recipes and techniques for whipping up dips like hummus, foul and baba ganoush, salads such as tabbouleh and fattoush, and more substantial dishes like coriander chicken, chilli prawns and beef kofta with pomegranate sauce.

Like any good cooking class, half of the fun comes in the tasting. Ali’s cooking debunks whatever preconceptions you might have about Lebanese cooking. It’s not the garlic and spice-laden food you tasted years ago at that bad Middle Eastern restaurant. It’s light, healthy and delicious. And best of all – it’s something you could easily make at home for your next dinner party.

Still not convinced you could pull it off? You’ll be happy to hear that Ali also does in-home cooking classes. We agree, being a guest is much more fun!

Where: The Home Provedore, 39 Market Street, Fremantle
Hours: Wednesdays, 11am-1pm
Price: $80/class
Details: cookingwithali.com

Bobby & Olive is a family affair, and mum Jane Edwards is the designer. After working as a pattern maker for Fenella Peacock and Antipodium, she then branched off to create her own label. Bobby & Olive clothes can be worn by day or dressed up at night. The muted silk shifts, earth-toned jumpers, wool dresses and leather vests all have a touch of flair without being over the top. It’s the wearability – and affordable prices – of the clothes that make them so lovable.

Daughters Leah and Enya manage the boutique and it was their idea to add the café element. Leah, who has spent years working as a barista, said that choice was an easy one since the shop has its own kitchen and toilets, remnants from its previous life as Toscanini’s. “Shopping at Bobby & Olive is an experience. Shoppers can browse, try on clothes and then take a break with coffee and cake,” says Leah.

It’s a brilliant idea that the Freo locals have taken to. The office workers down the street stop by for take away coffees – Rubra is their roaster of choice – and young mums chat over the cakes and slices on the private limestone terrace. On rainy days, shoppers perch on the gorgeous wooden chairs to watch the activity on Essex Street go by

Psst: mothers love coffee, cake and clothes. There’s your Mother’s Day sorted!

Where: 17 Essex Street, Fremantle
Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm
Details: bobbyandolive.com

Thank god for Cheeky Monkey, Margaret River’s newest and most fun-loving microbrewery. It’s a place where your inner cheekiness can run wild. A place that encourages you to “have some laughs and see what you can get away with.” In other words, it’s a playground for all ages.

For the kids, there’s the pimped-out fun zone and acres of lawn to run wild on. And for the adults, it’s a relaxed space where you can drink freshly brewed beer, hang out with friends and enjoy the view. No fancy lingo required.

At the helm of the brewery is beer lover Murray Burton, founder of Ferngrove Wines in Frankland River. Besides presiding over the design of the brewery, he took on Jared Proudfoot – a fresh-faced brewer who picked up some trade secrets while working at Scotland’s largest independently owned brewery, Brewdog. It’s Jared you can thank for the delicious IPA, pale ale, red ale, pilsner and ciders on tap.

While you’re there, visit the adjoining Cheeky’s Restaurant and the Killerby cellar door. Don’t worry – both are monkey-friendly.

Where: 4259 Caves Road, Margaret River
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am-6pm
Details: cheekymonkeybrewery.com.au

Monday: 399 Bar, Northbridge

The bartenders at 399 love a challenge. Every Monday, customers are invited – nay, pleaded with – to bring mystery ingredients that their bartender must incorporate into an original cocktail. But for an extra brain tease, tonight is also the Jim Beam Small Batch Masters cocktail competition. What to order? Whatever the winning bartender whips up.

Tuesday: El Público, Mount Lawley

With over 60 types of tequila and mescal behind the bar, the bartenders at Mexican restaurant El Público are well armed. What to order? Uncle Ron’s Mexican Milkshake.

Wednesday: Kitsch, Leederville
Occasionally, you come across a cocktail so delicious, it sears itself into your memory, bringing water to your mouth at every recollection. The Spicy Gingerbeer at Kitsch does that for us. What (else) to order? The Red Rickshaw.

Thursday: Frisk! Espresso, Northbridge
Frisk! Espresso pours a lot more than just coffee. In the spare moments when the bartenders aren’t posting another social media update, they pour some killer cocktails from their a brand spanking new list. What to order? The Espresso Martini.

Friday: Luxe Bar, Mount Lawley
Luxe is Western Australia’s most awarded cocktail bar. In honour of World Cocktail Week, Luxe will be serving up their winter cocktails at special prices. What to order? The Sloe and Rusty.

Saturday: The Classroom, North Perth

In celebration of Cocktail Week, the bartenders/history teachers at the Classroom are recreating the signature cocktails of six of history’s most influential bartenders such as Jerry Thomas, Sam Ross and Salvatore Calabrese. What to order? The Blue Blazer.

Sunday: Helvetica, Perth

Perth’s favourite whiskey bar serves some lovingly prepared cocktails. The best are those that they let age for two weeks in oak. What to order? The Bijou.

Where: Various locations around Perth

Raah sits at the southern end of Beaufort street in place of Veritas, but completely redecorated in a contemporary style inspired by the Middle-East. The golden yellow stucco-like walls have been sandblasted to reveal undercoats of deep reds and turquoise. A ribbon of rust-brown metal with mirror cut-outs in Islamic arabesque geometric shapes reflect the light from hanging lanterns. The tables are laid simply with linen and traditional Turkish salt and pepper shakers.

Raah’s food is influenced by Syrian, Moroccan and Lebanese cuisine, and everything is designed to be shared. The mezze include classics like gozleme, hummus with Turkish bread and Syrian spiced olives. But Raah’s famous for the prawns that are coated in preserved lemon, Turkish chilli and coriander and grilled to perfection. And then there’s the quail that is poached in cinnamon and then fried to create a crispy skin, served with a tahini, black chilli-cucumber yogurt sauce.

From the “More Substantial” dishes, the unanimous standout is the yogurt-marinated goat with green chilli, coriander and dates, perfect for dipping in the spicy aubergine relish.

If you have any space left, squeeze in a taste of Raah’s dessert. The petite fours offer a great selection of Raah’s best sweets: Turkish delight, chocolate brownie, lemon meringue and pistachio nougat.

Or better yet, skip dessert and order the scrumptious Turkish delight martini.

Where: 484 Beaufort Street, Highgate
Hours: Tue-Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-9:30pm
Details: http://www.raah.com.au/

Open since December, Sake Bar is one part izakaya bar, one part traditional Japanese restaurant in the heart of Northbridge. Walk through the doors, and you’ll immediately notice the long black marble bartop behind which lie row upon row of bottles of sake – a Japanese drink made from fermented rice – on rich mahogany shelves.

They’ll serve it to you in the traditional manner – hot or cold – but you can tell the bartenders get more of a kick out of mixing up a saketini or two. And there are dozens of them. The prize for the most creative goes to Yakuza’s Revenge – a potent mix of Tangumai sake, Yamazaki whiskey, Noilly Prat vermouth, Campari and Heering Cherry Liqueur. They claim it’s for the “distinguished palate”. Maybe. But we reckon it’s also for the brave.

But Sake Bar is much more than just a bar. Venture further in, and you’ll see that the back half of Sake Bar is a long dining room with private rooms, booths and small freestanding tables separated by bamboo partitions. The private rooms – which seat 6-10 people, feature authentic tatami flooring and shoji sliding doors. You’ll definitely forget you’re in Northbridge.

Hungry? There are small izakaya-style dishes designed to share like gyoza, edamame, and the deliciously naughty tori karaage – deep fried chicken with a wasabi mayo dipping sauce. Then there’s the sashimi, sushi and even a Japanese carpaccio of kingfish, salmon and octopus. Good luck choosing!

If you’re up for it, head across the street to Hit Studio Karaoke after dinner. You might as well put your saketini buzz to good use.

Where: 71 Francis Street, Northbridge
Hours: 7 days a week for lunch and dinner

Owner Tony Tricarico, who also owns Duchess Bar and Malt Supper Club, decked the place out in his signature style; over-the-top lavishness. Crystal chandeliers dangle from the ceilings, the walls are swathed in intricately patterned wallpaper and a DJ spins chilled out lounge tunes. The smaller rooms upstairs, which can be hired for private soirees, contain plush sofas, glass tables and incredibly well dressed patrons sipping from delicate glasses. And to top off the look? Two leggy models stand pouting in the alcove near the front entrance. Yes, it’s that kind of place.

Guests can choose from an extensive range of top shelf spirits, wine, beer and bubbles. Then there are the cocktails, which are divine.

If you choose to partake in the supper menu – which is available till 2am – then beware: those models look hungry.

Where: 918 Hay Street, West End, Perth
Hours: Tue-Sat noon-2am
Details: https://www.facebook.com/lostsocietybarperth

The intimate courtyard dining area has been left untouched – wooden tables are still sheltered by leafy and flowering creepers. As always, the open and cheerful yellow gate affords glimpses of the grassy garden, strewn with frolicking children whose energy has outlasted their interest in the art centre’s current exhibition.

The menu, however, has gone through a complete renovation. Chef Nimrod Kazoom has created a Middle Eastern menu inspired by his Israeli background.

Canvas’s signature breakfast is the Shakshuka – the typical breakfast eaten daily by millions in the Middle East and North Africa. Known as huevos flamencos in Spain and menemen in Turkey, Shakshuka comprises eggs poached in an 8-hour tomato sauce, served on Canvas’s homemade Moorish sourdough bread, which is baked daily with herbs grown on the premises by the FAC’s own gardener.

Lunch includes homemade dolmades, Tunisian lamb brains shakshuka, a lamb and kalamata burger, and dips like cumin’d hummus, homemade labneh (a soft cheese made from yogurt) and a smoked eggplant, feta and kalamata olives.

We figure the best way to experience Canvas is to visit on a night that the “Twilight and Tapas” is on. Diners can sample tapas from the a la cart menu while experiencing live Flamenco music and performances.

You can’t help but wonder how the resident artists manage to concentrate with all of those gorgeous smells and sounds wafting about.

Where: 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle
Hours: 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch and occasional dinners
Details: canvasatfremantleartscentre.com/

Obviously, the only safe and sanity-retaining gift is food. Everybody eats and there’s no such thing as having too many boxes of chocolates in the cupboard. Plus, unlike with clothes, no one gets offended if you buy the biggest size.

That’s why we’re so stoked to have found Nosh, a gourmet food and gift shop in East Victoria Park. The small, independent shop stocks local WA-produced foods. There’s Rochelle Adonis’s famous nougat, chocolate from Whistlers and Fremantle Chocolate, infused olive oil from Olio Bello in Margaret River, ready-to-cook dinner mixes from Turban Chopsticks, jars of chutneys and sauces from Greig’s Gourmet in Dunsborough and freshly ground Yahava coffee from the Swan Valley.

Then there are non-edibles like hand made journals, cookbooks, tea sets, cooking tools and serving accessories.

Oh dear, how do you choose? Use our tried-and-true method: close your eyes, twirl a few times and point. Or, if pride prevails, just ask the friendly staff for help in putting together a hamper.

Surely your choice in gift won’t be affected by the fact that food gifts usually get opened and consumed immediately following their unwrapping. But maybe choose your favourite flavour just in case.

Where: 842 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park
Hours: Mon-Wed 10am-7pm, Thu-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Details: noshgourmet.com.au

Piccolo’s Corner is a neighbourhood café on a quiet residential street in the centre of West Leederville, amongst picket fenced cottages. It’s owned by husband and wife team Jesse and Shanel – both West Leederville locals – who named the café after the nickname they give their newborn.

So what exactly makes it so quintessentially Perthian? Well, on first glance, you’d chalk it up to the Stormie Mills paintings perched on the bare brick wall behind the counter. Or the WA products for purchase like the Ellah eggs, New Norcia bread, Bannister Downs milk for sale alongside glass jars of lollies and fresh apples from Mt Hawthorn Fresh.

Then there’s the food, which is all homemade, organic and made with local ingredients. A favourite for breakfast is the sourdough toast with roasted mashed pumpkin, feta and fresh pesto, which is made from basil grown in the back garden. Or the bruschetta salad made with bocconcini so juicy and fresh you’d swear they were buffalo mozzarella.

But what we like best is that all of the furniture and fittings have been recycled from unwanted items found on council collection days. Discarded wooden doors have been repurposed as tables and shelves. The two gorgeous china light fixtures hanging above the register were adopted from a local verge. The fence is from the salvage yard and even the plants were rescued from their doom at the tip.

The garden provides the majority of the tables, an arrangement feasible only in a city with weather as fair as Perth’s. There’s nothing quite like enjoying your breakfast with a cup of 5 Senses coffee – another Western Australian touch, you’ll note – under the branches of a rescued frangipani.

So the next time you’re in Sydney or Melbourne, listen out. We’re willing to bet that the whole “city as an adjective” trend goes both directions.

Where: Corner of St Leonard’s Ave and Woolwich St, West Leederville
Hours: Tue-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8am-2
Details: facebook.com

But not anymore. The humble hotdog is enjoying a revival in Perth. The latest is Snags and Sons – an eatery in Leederville opened by Justin Bell of Jus Burgers – proving that there is, in fact, an art to creating the perfect snag experience.

First, you create a laid-back vibe in the restaurant. You cover the walls with images of iconic Perth landmarks like the Dingo Flour Mill and brightly coloured food adverts for mustard and cider. No girly stuff here. Then you slap some cylindrical surfaces atop some rusted wine barrels – which you then call tables. But most importantly, you fill the entire space with the gorgeous smell and sound of sizzling snags.

The décor sorted, you then turn your attention to the food. To bring the sexy back to the little old snag, you have to get the menu right. Snags and Sons serve only high quality local sausages. They include free range Linley Valley pork, Mt Barker free range chicken and Chittering Valley Venison, and even vegan and gluten free Margaret River tempeh sausages. You serve them on freshly made baby baguettes. Then you offer a collection of no-cutlery-required “dude food”: grilled mettwurst, chorizo and cacciatore with mustard fruits. To avoid neglecting the sweet teeth, you stock treats from Perth’s pastry master Rochelle Adonis. Yep, that’s the winning formula.

But this all begs the question: did Justin create Snags and Sons just to reduce the perma-queue at Jus Burgers two doors down? Hm. Smart man.

Where: 749 Newcastle Street, Leederville
Hours: 7 days/week for lunch and dinner
Details: snagsandsons.com.au

Nevertheless, a mother and daughter team politely disagreed and just last week opened their café Santi’s in the spacious ground floor of the shiny new office building across from Hollywood Private Hospital.  Mary and Daniela have spent their careers in hospitality and have a trick up their sleeve: the Santi family come from a little town just outside of Lucca. And boy, does this family love food.

This Italian influence is evident throughout the café, but nowhere more than in the food. The display case holds freshly fried arancini balls, panini, gigantic side plate-sized biscuits and naughtily delicious looking cakes. The menu, on the other hand, holds surprises like breakfast bruschetta, fresh pasta du jour and the Santi’s Burger, made with Italian mince and sausage. The coffee is made with a special blend served exclusively at Santi’s.

The décor, too, contains touches of the Italian heritage. We love the feminine accents like the paisley lampshades, picture frame table numbers and checkerboard flooring. One wall contains a mosaic of framed black and white photographs taken during the annual visits to their Tuscan hometown. Behind the register is a dramatic black panelling with the scrawled words “Caffé e cibo son fatti con amore”: the coffee and food are made with love.

They sure are.

Where: 52-54 Monash Avenue, Nedlands
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-3:30pm
Details: santis.com.au/

It’s still a little rough around the edges, but if you know where to look, there are a lot of great businesses opening in Vic Park. A great example is The Precinct.

The week-old restaurant’s interior has been decorated to reflect the gritty, industrial and urban landscape outside its doors. The cement floors are left rough, the lights are covered in cages and brick walls wear murals by local artist Marek Szyler.

The Precinct’s chef Richard Tyhy hails from Vancouver and the Canadian influence is evident. For tapas, there are stand-outs like spicy turkey wings and pork scrunchions (a Newfoundland term for pork rind). The steak comes with a cola jus, the fries with a pepper ketchup.

We don’t know if the desserts are Canadian, but we do know they’re delicious. The citrus, chocolate salad is our favourite. A light, fresh and tart finish to a great meal.

But even more refreshing? The prices. The tapas cost around $12, the mains $25 and desserts are $10. You’d be hard pressed to find prices like that in a respectable restaurant north of the river.

If only the council would approve their liquor licence… Now that’s a problem that both sides of the river are all too familiar with.

Where: 834 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-midnight, Sat 8am-midnight, Sun 8am-10pm
Details: theprecinctvicpark.com.au

For Greenhouse co-owner Paul Aron and Cantina 663′s Michael Forde and Alex Cuccovia, the result of their Mexican exploration is newly opened Mt Lawley restaurant El Público.

They, along with head chef Sam Ward, have created a truly authentic menu. There are Mexican street snacks like the esquites: charred kernels of barbecued sweet corn tossed in chilli mayonnaise, lime and a soft feta-like cheese. Or there’s the gorgeous entrée salmon aquachile jalapeno coriander, a cold dish of ceviche-style raw salmon in a spicy-yet-creamy coriander sauce. Our favourite dish might be dessert of cajeta flan, made with caramelised goat’s milk, pureed bananas and homemade peanut ice cream with a crispy sesame biscuit. It tastes even better than it sounds.

The secret to El Público’s amazing mix of flavours is that nearly all the produce is organic and sourced locally – yes, even the eight types of chillies.

But the mezcal and tequila? Don’t worry – it’s all imported from Mexico. The more than 60 varieties are served as shots (which are meant to be savoured, not gulped) and cocktails.

Turns out that Mexican food is more than guacamole and greasy enchiladas. Who knew?

Where: 511 Beaufort Street, Highgate
Hours: Wed-Fri 4pm-midnight, Sat 11:30am-midnight, Sun 11:30am-10pm
Details: elpublico.com.au

Lapa Brazilian Barbecue serves little else than – you guessed it – meat, which it cooks on a giant rodízio. This gas rotisserie can be seen from any seat in the restaurant. It sits behind a giant pane of glass and video of it streams onto flatscreens around the restaurant. A vegetarian might not feel too comfortable here.

While there are a couple of a la cart dishes, most non-vegetarian diners opt for the Endless Feast. Every minute or two, one of the passadores, armed with a knives and long skewers, offer slabs of one of the 16 types of meat they happen to be carrying. There’s pork sausage, lamb rump, beef ribs, pork scotch fillet and chicken wings, to name a few. They all come out juicy, barbecued to perfection and accompanied by three traditional sauces, two types of salad and a never-ending bowl of moreish cheese balls.

A word to the wise: don’t ignore the little red and green coaster marked “Sim por favor” on one side and on the other “Não Obrigado”. It’s nearly impossible to refuse as one of the passadores with their luscious Brazilian accents offers you the umpteenth serve of meat. Flip your coaster to the red side and they’ll have mercy.

Where: 375 Hay Street, Subiaco
Hours: Open for dinner 7 days a week and lunch Thu-Sun
Details: lapa.net.au/

Perth’s newest espresso bar Standing Room Only falls into the second group. As the name suggests, there are no seats in this closet-sized café. Instead, there’s a gorgeous sky blue Synesso espresso machine and – if you’re lucky enough to find a place at the miniscule “brew bar” – the open invitation to chat with the barista and learn a thing or two about the coffee these guys are passionate about making.

So what makes it so special? Well, first there’s the selection of coffee blends. There’s the default house blend (currently a mix of Guatemalan, Ethiopian and Columbian beans), a single-origin “guest” from alternative small-scale roasters from around the world (this month it’s Perth’s own Grand Central Coffee Roasters), and a single-origin bean by 5 Senses’ Backroom Coffee Program.

Standing Room Only’s choice of brewing methods is pretty cool too. Customers can choose from four: espresso, syphon, V60 pour over and cold-drip. Don’t know the difference? Just ask!

Lastly, the baristas make some pretty amazing latte art. In fact, Michael Munroe – whose father owns the joint – won third place in the AASCA WA Coffee Championships a couple weeks ago.

Who needs a chair when your coffee is both delicious and beautiful?

Where: Piccadilly Arcade, Perth
When: Mon-Fri 7am-3:30pm
Details: facebook.com

Opened just last year, and in conjunction with the Carillon City and Perth Fashion Festival, HATCH is acting as a launching pad for emerging WA designers. It carries ladies’ and men’s fashion and accessories, textiles, home wares and visual art – all by local creatives whose work is gaining recognition and deserves to reach a wider audience.

There are the designs of Perth designer Ebony Harding, whose label LittleGracie is catching a lot of attention. She says that nature is the inspiration for her whimsical women’s clothing, most of which incorporate ruffles, frills, pleats and bows.

Elegant, glamorous and edgy are clothes by Zhivago, a label whose name in Russian means ‘daring’. Which is also what you’ll be to wear the pieces. Structured shoulder accents and sharp angles have created statement-making clothes.

Possibly the youngest of the designers featured at HATCH is Dianella-born and raised Steph Audino who describes her style as girly and romantic, yet cheeky. Think itty bitty skirts and flowy chiffon maxi dresses.

There are also heaps of accessories to choose from. Wallets, handbags and clutches come from Subiaco-based Generics Accessories and the handmade jewellery made with semi-precious stones from Fremantle’s Wild Horses.

We especially love the artwork by fashion illustrator Pippa McManus, whose work you may remember from Louis Baxters or the Claremont Quarter.

Need another reason to love Hatch? They’re currently offering 20-60% off their summer stock. Run!

Where: Shop 55, Carillion City, Hay Street Level, Perth
Hours: Mon-Thu 10am-5:30pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm
Details: facebook.com/HATCHshop

And we get it. Local food tastes better since it’s fresher and in season. It’s better for the environment because the food miles and associated emissions are reduced. Plus, eating local supports smaller growers and producers. The trouble is that local produce is often hard to find, expensive or, worse still, requires a long drive to reach – which defeats the purpose of eating local in the first place.

Luckily, local business Urban Locavore has stepped in. Each month, these passionate locavores scour WA to find the freshest local fare, and deliver up to ten of the best products directly to your door. These products range from chutneys to baked goods to preserves to coffee. The surprise of what each month’s hamper will contain is half of the fun.

The March box, for example, contained a bag of saffron and barberry rice mix, sheep cheese, a jar of caper berries, 3 heads of garlic, a satchel of muesli, fig jam, a selection of biscuits and a pack of five teas – all of which was sourced from WA.

Who knows what surprises the April box will hold…

Where: Perth Metropolitan Area
Price: $49.95 + $5 delivery per month
Details: urbanlocavore.com.au/

But it’s the grown-ups who get to have all the fun. Nells Emporium is a quirky clothing shop cum café in a leafy corner of Mosman Park. The brains – and creativity – behind Nells is fashion designer Fenella Peacock, a third of London-based label Antipodium.

Nells Emporium is housed in a gorgeous converted cottage. Between its tall ceilings, hardwood floors and vintage furniture are racks of beautiful women’s clothing. Fenella’s self-titled label makes up the majority of what’s on offer. Silk and the softest of cotton have been transformed into feminine and flowy dresses and shifts. Her brand new Poetica line is a collection of soft and ethereal pieces for Autumn. We fell head over heels for the Noir Sofia Dress. Nells also stocks labels such as TotoMoto, Robert Gordon home wares and ICA jewellery by Jessica Baxter.

Once you’ve had your fix of fashion, venture to the back of the shop to find yourself in Nells café, a pocket-sized café attached to a sun-dappled courtyard. “French inspired food with an exotic twist” is how they describe it. The menu changes daily, but there always seems to be fresh baguettes, crepes and lemons, as well as baked treats from Fremantle’s Little Bakery.

Deciding upon the perfect occasion to wear that Fenella Peacock dress, while sipping a mug of Fiori coffee and nibbling on a slice of red velvet cake? Not a bad way to spend an early Autumn arvo.

Where: 15 Glyde Street, Mosman Park
When: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Details: facebook.com/nellsboutique

Since opening in December, Six Senses has made a name for itself by shaking up notions of Thai food. Its formula: combining fresh Aussie produce with traditional Thai flavours, and serving it in a modern and upscale dining space.

Six Sense’s signature dish is its version of massaman curry – a traditional curry from Southern Thailand – made with Aussie lamb shank rather than the typical beef or chicken. The same lovely spicy peanuty sauce with just-falling-off-the-bone lamb. The warm beef salad is made with Wagyu beef, that has a flavour-packed marble score of 9+, instead of the ho-hum grain fed beef you would find in most Thai restaurants. The chilli and lime dressing make it familiar, but the beef makes the dish sing.

For the purists out there, Six Senses does serve the classics. The Betel Leaf Prawns will bring you straight back to that unforgettable holiday in Bangkok. The Pad Thai is the perfect combination of smoky, sweet and salty that can only come from the hands of a seasoned chef and even more seasoned wok. Our favourite, the Thai Style 3 Flavoured Baby Baramundi, is deep fried pieces of fish in a sweet, sour and spicy sauce. Divine.

The rule bending stops when it comes to the dessert at Six Senses. The chef favours classics like taro and sago in coconut cream, and sticky rice with mango. Guess there are some classics you can’t fusion-ify without angering the culinary gods.

Where: Shop 23, 1731 Rokeby Road, Subiaco
When: 7days, Lunch 11am-3pm, Dinner 5-10pm
Details:

Only two months old, The Cool Room is a funky little café next door to the vintage furniture shop – and Fremantle institution – Old Values. And like its neighbour, The Cool Room is both refreshingly unpretentious and passionate about breathing new life into the discarded and once-loved.

The shop itself was renovated from its previous life as a butcher shop. The retro tables and chairs were sourced from Gumtree and Old Values. A salvaged record player spins 60’s tunes.

Peta, the shop’s gregarious owner, says she was keen on creating a space that promoted art and culture. Dog-eared art and design mags are fanned out on tables. Paintings by local artist Peter Matulich, depicting lonely and abandoned old buildings in Perth, hang on the walls. He certainly shares the shop owner’s nostalgia for what she calls the “forgotten and disappearing urban landscape”.

Ideology aside, The Cool Room is simply a great place to eat. Peta does the cooking herself, and her menu offers a welcome diversion from the typical Perth breaky menu. The muesli, cakes and muffins are homemade. The panini are made with locally baked sourdough bread. The salads are fresh and inventive – how about one with roast sweet potato, beetroot, fresh goats curd and hazelnut? Yum.

If a community’s identity becomes embodied in its neighbourhood café, then Fremantle just got a whole lot cooler.

Details:

Where: 114b Holland St, Fremantle
Hours: Wed-Sun 7:30am-3pm
Details:  facebook.com

So when the Daily Espresso Bar joined Swanbourne’s burgeoning café community three months ago, owners Charlie Galbally and Laurence Greenfield knew that their survival depended on perfecting one thing – coffee. Because while Swanbourne’s other cafés do serve respectable coffee, it falls secondary to their other specialties. Bookcaffe is more about books than long blacks, and you can find better croissants than café au laits at Choux Café. But the Daily Espresso Bar’s forte is coffee and coffee alone.

The boys opened shop in place of the Swanbourne newsagency and decked it out in custom-made wooden tables and shelves from Raw Edge Furniture. The walls have been left bare, and decoration is little more than burlap coffee bags and containers of tea. By keeping the décor minimal, guests are able to focus on what they’ve come for: beautiful coffee.

And oh, how beautiful it is to sip Five Senses coffee while chatting with a friend, watching the wind rustle the boughs of the Norfolk pines just outside the window and sampling some of the cakes, baked fresh from Floreat café and bakery Fortysevenkirwanstreet.

But the ace up Daily Espresso Bar’s sleeve? It turns out that Daily’s Synesso espresso machine was shipped in from Seattle. Figures!

Where: 119 Claremont Crescent, Swanbourne
When: Mon-Fri 6:30-4pm, Sat-Sun 7am-1pm
Details: facebook.com

Juanita’s is a new wine and tapas bar found in the back of Gill & Hille Merchants, a shop selling art supplies, stationery and home wares. Run by husband and wife team Gill and Juanita and open since December, the small bar is chic in a dishevelled way. The furniture comprises a mish-mash of laminex tables, paint-chipped stools, and vintage divans. The walls are dotted with owner cum artist Gill Murray’s own oil paintings. And English appears to be the bar’s second language; the wine list is dominated by Spanish and French, and Italian aphorisms are scrawled on the walls, such as “Solo l’amore é importante”. Only love is important.

Certainly that philosophy has been applied to the food at Juanita’s – just don’t expect a menu. Just as the décor’s charm lies in its eccentricities, the selection of tapas changes daily according to the whim of the owners and the freshness of the produce. Today there might be oysters from Albany. Luck may have it that the arancini were fried fresh that day. Juanita may have decided to make a butter cake instead of a chocolate one. The bad news is that your particular craving may go unsatisfied. The good news is that everything tastes divine.

You’re starting to see that European influence now, aren’t you?

Where: 341 Rokeby Rd, Subiaco
Hours: Mon-Sat noon-9pm, Sun noon-6pm
Details: gillandhille.com.au

So if you have an affliction that can only be remedied by retail, visit Bower – a shop trading in home wares, jewellery and gifts. Barely a year old, this Swanbourne boutique has amassed a seriously impressive collection of beautiful things. Inga, the Latvian owner and former manager of Cottesloe boutique Plane Tree Farm, stocks her shop with a collection of Australian and international designs as well as fair trade products.

There are clothes and accessories by Aussie labels Elk and Firefly. The hand-loomed linen comes from Latvia. Whimsical prints by French design studio Beau Est Mien hang on the walls. Many of the gorgeous handcrafted home wares come from the Melbourne workshop of bonnie and neil. Then there are baskets from Bangladesh and blankets from Zimbabwe, which are all fair trade.

For the olfactorily inclined, there are reed diffusers by French fragrance-makers Geodesis, soaps and lotions by Italian company Nesti Dante and luxury candles by Voluspa.

Set amongst all of this prettiness are Inga’s own works of art made with twigs – intricate little birds nests and bouquets of gnarled branches. Lovely.

Warning: Oniomaniacs ought to leave their credit cards at home.

Where: 119 Claremont Crescent, Swanbourne
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm | Sat 10am-5pm | Sun 10am-3pm

You won’t find boring watercolour landscapes or oil still life paintings here. Instead, this pint-sized gallery on William Street deals in lowbrow, pop surrealism and underground art. In other words, it’s art that’s accessible, unique and fun.

We’re huge fans of the work of Oregon artist Matte Stephens, whose vintage-inspired gouache paintings look like they belong within the pages of a children’s book. Then there’s the work of Mark Ryden, whose paintings are as unsettling as they are hauntingly beautiful, depicting forest animals with psychotic eyes and doll-like little girls covered in fur.

Besides framed art, Outré offers a whole range of books on lowbrow art and design – many of which are printed by Outré Gallery Press itself. If you’re into tattoo, flip through Tattoo Darling by Angelique Houtkamp, a Dutch tattoo artist whose work is depicted in gorgeous photos. Or there’s the coffee table book Apartment Living is Great – a photographic documentation of apartment building names in Southern California.

Thinking outside the Ikea showroom box does take some effort. But just think of all the angst and indigestion you’ll avoid skipping those lines and Swedish meatballs.

Where: 260 William St Northbridge
Hours: Wed-Thu 10:30am-5:30pm, Fri 11am-6:30pm, Sat 10:30am- 5pm, Sun noon-4pm
Details: outregallery.com

Ever wished you could take home the ingredients which went into your muesli and yoghurt or find the same selection of cold meats which arrived at your table? At the Ingredient Tree you can simply enjoy your breakfast or lunch, then take a few sort steps from the cafe into the food-store and buy it to take home for yourself.

While cheap is not a word which springs to mind to describe the food-store goods, the selection makes it a foodies dream; beans and grains of all varieties, organic produce, high-quality olive oil – it’s all here and ready for you to take home. You can even buy tomatoes and cheese straight from the kitchen fridge.

The cafe menu offers a surprising number of options for vegetarians roast vegetable salad with raspberry and hazelnut dressing is delicious and at least four different varieties of pies were also available the day we visited. And of course you can’t forget the coffee – top baristas are at work with Melbourne’s Genovese ‘Super Brazil’ blend. If coffee’s not your thing then try the masala chai latte – you wont regret it!

Where: 87a Herdsman Parade, Wembley
Hours: Weekdays 7:30am-6pm / Weekends 8am-4pm
Details: ingredienttree.com

But a visit to Purl Bar, Subiaco’s newest small bar, is a must. Why? Because it’s one of the only places you can get table service on a Saturday night.  Because it’s impossible to be overdressed within its four lusciously wallpapered walls. Because from your plush booth you can watch the queue grow at the Subi Hotel, and laugh self-congratulatory.

Whilst lunch and dinner is served at Purl Bar, it’s the cocktail menu that is the real hero here. Bartenders shake, stir and muddle some wicked cocktails that you won’t find in other Rockeby bar. For the tequila lovers, there’s the Plata Passion – a mixture of Cazadores blanco tequila, passionfruit, cloudy apple juice and muddled limes with a crème de mure float. We’re loyal to the Hot Apple Pie, a sweet-and-spicy combination of vodka, lemon, apple juice and falernum spices like clove, allspice and vanilla. Delicious.

So this weekend, while plotting your Saturday-in-Subi itinerary, make room for a stop at the Purl Bar – just don’t be surprised if they run out of the Hot Apple Pie. We’re having one right now…

Where: 71-75 Rokeby Road, Subiaco
Hours: Mon – noon-5pm, Tue – noon-midnight, Wed-Sat – noon-1am
Details: purlbar.com.au

And now’s your chance to stock up on the stuff. For the next three months, Northbridge vintage shop Miss Brown will be peddling its vintage wares in the temporary pop-up shop in the city. It’s part of the 140 Pop-up Project, an initiative offering creatives a unique platform to showcase their talents free of the expensive overhead costs associated with a CBD shop. Pretty awesome if you ask us.

Miss Brown is a collection of vintage clothing from the 50′s-90′s, curated by co-owner Madeleine Thomson. With five shops across the country, it’s fair to say she knows what sells and what doesn’t. Her shops are filled with timeless one-off pieces, as well as clothing that has been repaired and re-modified for contemporary tastes. Everything is unique and blessedly affordable.

The vintage shop is best known for its remodified vintage day dresses, many made from repurposed Japanese fabric, that have become a Miss Brown trademark. But there are also colourful handbags, leather boots and brogues, swimwear and hats. For the men, Madeleine has hand-picked a selection of authentic Western and chambray denim shirts in heaps of colours.

There, now that your party outfit is sorted, you can start polishing up those dance moves.

Where: Shop 16, 140 William Street, Perth
Hours: 15 Mar–mid-June : Mon-Thu 10am–5pm | Fri 10am–8pm |  Sat 10am–5pm | Sun 10am–4pm
Details: facebook.com

But finally an affordable – and delicious – restaurant has set up shop in Nedlands: The Bürgermeister. This burger restaurant is all about unpretentious food, funky décor and a door that’s open to everybody.

Walking through said door, you might think you’ve actually stepped into student accommodation. Lava lamps slowly gargle their globules in front of a wall of kitschy wallpaper depicting kimono-clad Japanese girls. One wall is plastered with gig posters, another with a mosaic of multicoloured metal pot lids.

You’ll have to blink a couple of times to shut out the distraction of the décor and focus on the menu. If you’re hanging out for a burger, you have a dozen to choose from. We’d recommend one of the beef burgers, which are made from organic, grass-fed Devon cattle from Bindoon. But we also tasted the Roast Field Mushroom burger – a great choice or vegos and mushroom-lovers.

If you’re more keen on a hotdog, choose between three types of German sausage – frankfurter, bratwurst or wiener – which are sourced from a local German butcher.

At The Bürgermeister, the average burger costs around $12 and a hotdog $10. Just think, with the money you’ll save from dinner, you can start saving for that Nedlands mansion you’ve had your eye on.

Where: 170b Hampden Road, Nedlands
Hours: Mon-Sun: 11am-9:30pm
Details: facebook.com

Behold, Bunkers Beach Cafe, one of the only truly beachside restaurants in WA. Opened in 2006, it has been winning awards ever since and it well deserves it’s sparkling reputation. Award winning Head Chef Hamish McLeay has created a relaxed yet modern Australian fare in an equally relaxed and modern setting.

There can be no better salve for the office weary soul, than sitting in the alfresco dining area enjoying anything from an Aussie Fry up to a Chocolate Breakfast (yes really), with one of the most tranquil backdrops anywhere.  And with a fabulous selection of Australian and imported wines, its endlessly warm and friendly service, Bunkers Beach Cafe is indeed as good as the view.

Where: Bunkers Beach Cafe, Farm Break Lane, Bunker Bay, Naturaliste
Hours:  8.30am – 4.00pm weekdays, 4.30pm weekends
Details: bunkersbeachcafe.com.au

The café is definitely not putting on airs. It’s all about friendly service, great food and a place sip coffee over the morning paper.

Owners Jason and Nooreen opened their business four months ago in a bid to create a totally unique café. Since Noreen was raised in Kenya, they chose to adopt an African theme. Antler chandeliers hang from the ceiling and African artefacts are displayed throughout the café.

The food is delicious and all made fresh on the premises. They serve the usual breakfast options, but if you are the mood for something more exotic, there are savoury dishes like curries and stuffed capsicums that incorporate African flavours. Oh, and we forgot to mention that breaky is served all day. Anyone for some arvo pancakes?

Besides serving a great cup of Fiori coffee, Kahawa also offers Rooibos herbal tea from South Africa. The red-tinged brew contains five times the antioxidants of green tea and is naturally caffeine free. There’s also the “Red Espresso” and “Red Cappuccino”, but in this heat, the Fresh Red is our favourite – it’s Rooibos mixed with apple juice and poured over ice.

Bet you won’t find that over in Claremont Quarter.

Where: 62 Davies Road, Claremont
Hours: Daily, 6:30am-4pm
Details: facebook.com

New Edition Northbridge may only be a sixth of the size of its flagship shop in Fremantle, but it carries just as much charm.

The bookstore’s teeny tiny space is stocked floor to ceiling with Italian modular shelving holding thousands of books. The wooden floors have a pleasant squeak to them as a browser passes over them. The small space doesn’t feel crowded, but cosy.

The books themselves are organised in a logical way, and seem to favour art and culture. There’s a great selection of fashion, photography and design books in one corner, and in another a huge array of cookbooks. The non-fiction section contains Australian authors as well as the classics.

Don’t overlook the espresso machine nestled in the corner. That’s the mini-Grumpy Sailor Café. Like it’s older sibling, it too serves Crema coffee… but sadly, no treats. Lucky for the hungry, Jean Pierre Sancho Bakery is just a few metres down the road.

They say the old fashioned bookstore is in its death throes. Luckily for us, that just ain’t so in Northbridge.

Where: 212 William Street, Northbridge
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-5pm
Details: newedition.com.au

You probably won’t believe us when you first walk into Dough. The place has been decorated in a modern and casual way, with exposed brick, a collage of black and white family portraits and upside down potted plants hanging from the ceiling. The ambiance is great, but it certainly doesn’t resemble a pizzeria in Naples, the majority of which have bare walls adorned with little more than a shabby photo of the city’s beloved Totò in a scene from the Neapolitan classic Miseria e Nobiltà.

You’ll still be dubious as you read through the menu. Yes, you’ll find all of the classics. Entrees like calamari and arancini, dozens of pizzas to choose from, and desserts like gelato, tiramisu and panna cotta. It all looks a little too good to be true, you might think. Plus, gasp, there are even some spelling mistakes – in Italian. Mamma mia!

But then, halfway through your first bite of pizza, the following three thoughts will hit you: 1. This is damn good pizza, 2. AgendaCity was right, and 3. We can scratch that trip to Naples off our bucket list.

Oh, and to let you in on Dough’s secret ingredient: it’s the Neapolitan chef. Figures!

Where: 434a William St, Perth
Hours: Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm, Dinner: Sun-Thu 5:30-10:30pm, Fri and Sat 5:30-late
Details: doughpizza.com.au

Northbridge Piazza will be transformed this weekend when three of Perth’s best and most popular Chinese restaurants; Dragon Palace, Golden Century and Xin Tian Di, get out of the kitchen and take their Yum Cha carts, table and chairs into the sunshine. Iconic Bubble Tea House, Utopia, will also be there with their fresh flavoured range of teas.

But there’s not just the tea and dim sum to tickle your fancy, there’ll be the vibrancy and colour of Chinese entertainment; music, dragon and lion dances. If that’s not enough to get you down to Northbridge this Sunday, you can also take part in perhaps the most unusual competition you’ll come across this year; a chicken feet eating contest. Mmmm chicken feet. Get your chopsticks ready!

Where: Northbridge Piazza
When: 11 Mar (10am-1pm)
Details: eatdrinkperth.showmeperth.com.au

That’s why we’re so happy to have stumbled upon a rarity in this city: a boutique that is fashionable and affordable. The Archive is a brand new second hand shop in Fremantle for women who like to dress well, but have little cash left over to enjoy other things.

If you’re picturing a musty op-shop filled with grandma’s moth-eaten mumus, forget it. The Archive sells lightly used designer duds that look and smell brand new, mingled with some shiny, never-used pieces.

Owners Lisa and Sonya stock their boutique daily with top designer labels like Alice McCall, Mossman, Zimmerman and Sass & Bide. Sizes run between 6-16, and there’s truly something for all ages.

We love the colourful range of jeans by Italian label Naked Ape, which are made with eco-sustainable fabrics and are even unisex. Great for couples that have the same taste – and size – in jeans. Yes, we’re afraid they do exist.

The accessories are as eclectic as the clothes. The vintage jewellery Lisa and Sonya have sourced from New York fly off the shelves and the Quay Eyewear sunglasses – Lady GaGa’s sunnies of choice – are a fun addition to any outfit.

Now you can look great AND afford to drink coffee. Imagine.

Where: 23 Market Street, Fremantle
Hours: Mon-Thu 9:30am-5:30pm | Fri 9:30am-7:30pm | Sat 9:30am-5:30pm | Sun 11am-4pm
Details: thearchive.com.au

Your search is over. Soho Bar and Kitchen, one of the cappuccino strip’s most popular restaurants, has just expanded into the floor above to launch a Saturday night blues supper club complete with live music, burlesque performances and table service.

The Soho Blue Supper Club is the first of its kind for Fremantle. Keen blues and swing fans themselves, Soho owners Gareth and Joanna wanted to give guests the chance to experience the musical genre, but also provide an alternative to the rowdy nightclubs that South Terrace is known for.

The vast upstairs has a distinctive Fremantle vibe. Exposed beams support high ceilings and the outdoor terrace – which doubles as the stage and dance floor – is set against a backdrop of the building’s historical brick façade. The booths lining the walls are comfy and all afford a view of the entertainment.

The Rough House Imperials set the soundtrack to the night that’s up-tempo and danceable. In fact, the band’s light-footed groupies have so much fun on the dance floor, it’ll inspire you to buy a pair of saddle shoes and sign up for swing lessons yourself.

Between sets, the floor is given to the coquettish minxes of Sugar Blue Burlesque, whose shimmying and hipshaking leave a wake of satin opera gloves, boa feathers and rosy-cheeked patrons.

No, this is not your typical Saturday night in Fremantle. And we have Soho to thank for that.

Where: 16 South Terrace, Fremantle
Hours: Saturdays, 8pm-late
Price: free
Details: sohobarandkitchen.com

For $25, you receive a steaming bowl of beef noodle soup. Competitors who finish the soup – broth and all – within 20 minutes receive a t-shirt, a $50 voucher and some serious street cred.

But don’t expect a walk in the park. This isn’t a palm-sized bowl you’d see people eating their morning pho from on the streets of Hanoi. Oh, no. This pho comes in what could easily be mistaken as a salad bowl. It’s packed with a mass of rice noodles, thin slices of beef, onion and bean sprouts. The broth just reaches the brim.

To win this competition takes much more than a simple fondness for the national dish of Vietnam. It requires chopstick-wielding virtuosity, a burn-resistant tongue and a complete disregard for table manners. If you’re not slurping, you’re losing.

If you think you and your appetite have got what it takes, then sign up. Best bring along a bib, while you’re at it.

Where: 57 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge
Hours: Every Wednesday in March, 6-9pm
Price: $25
Details: eatdrinkperth.showmeperth.com.au

Having a bad day at work? A mad chocolate craving? A uni professor you need to suck up to? A girlfriend demanding an apology? With over 200 products to choose from, we’re pretty sure MRCC can fix you up.

There are sauces for giving your dessert some oompf, bars for wolfing down, chips for baking, truffles for transforming into the perfect dinner guest, gift hampers for impending birthdays and even body oil for, ahem, whatever you like.

And for the cheapos out there, there are free tastings of the dark, milk and white chocolate pastelles. MRCC even caters to those looking for something other than chocolate, should they exist. The providore sits in the expansive back room containing rows of infused olive oils, preserves, sauces and nibbles. Yes, there are some nice things. But time spent in the providore is time that could have otherwise been spent at the tastings table. We’re just saying.

The only thing missing is the little window into the Wonka-esque factory that you’ll find at MRCC’s other shops. Those urban oompa loompas must be tough contract negotiators.

Where: 317 Murray St, Perth
Hours: Mon-Thu 9.30am-6pm |  Fri 9.30am-9pm | Sat 9:30am-5pm | Sun noon-5pm
Details: chocolatefactory.com.au

Neither could Perth restaurateur Clint Nolan, apparently. He opened the doors of La Cholita, a Mexican restaurant/small bar in Northbridge, in December last year. If the success of Nolan’s other ventures – small bar Who’s your Mumma? and North Freo restaurant Harvest – is anything to go by, then you know what you’re in for.

La Cholita has a fantastic neighbourhood bar feel. There’s nothing pretentious about the place. Tables are made from rough plywood and beer crates, light fixtures dangle from ropes and pulleys, and tattoo-inspired murals cover the walls. But none of that compares to the ambiance created by the ginormous collection of tequila lining the bar. There are 67 types on offer. If you’re not game for a shot, then order a cocktail. The Mexicana is our fave.

The food is the proper kind of Mexican, not the cheese and bean-laden Tex-Mex variety. The guacamole and pico de gallo taste great on the homemade tortilla chips that come fresh from the wood fire oven in the corner. The tostadas and tacos, at around $6 a pop, give you the chance to sample what La Cholita’s about. Try the crab and avocado tostada if you’re after a nibble, or the quesadillas for something more substantial.

La Cholita is a place to meet friends, have a great meal and discuss how the growing small bar scene is changing this city for the better. Viva Northbridge!

Where: 279 William Street, Northbridge
Hours: Wed-Sun, 5pm-late
Details: facebook.com

Over four nights the best will be screened under the stars at the lovely Camelot Outdoor Cinema. Tonight is opening night and they’ll be screening the best of the Australian Shorts. Friday and Saturday see the best of the international films and Sunday, Short Laugh Comedy.

The lineup includes “The Boy in A Bubble,” from Germany, “Raju,” the moving story of an abducted Indian Orphan; “Las Palmas,” telling the story of a middle-aged lady which is played by the 1 year old daughter of writer and director, Johannes Nyholm, while the rest of the cast consists of puppets. If you’re after something Aussie, you can’t go past the hilarious “Fish and Chips,” a story of young Pauline Hansen.

There is certainly something for everyone at, so wander on down to Perth’s Camelot Outdoor Cinema, find a deckchair under the stars, grab a wine and see some of this year’s best short films.

Where: Camelot Outdoor Cinema, 16 Lochee Street, Mosman Park
When: 1st – 4^th March, 8 pm (including opening night drinks)
Tickets: $16.50 adult/ $12.50 concession/ $12 luna palace card
Details: flickerfest.com.au

In a move that has endeared them to customers even more, The Wine Store has expanded, and just last week opened the doors of its very own wine bar.

The wine bar emulates the breezy, stylish and historically rich neighbourhood surrounding it. Modern, neutral-coloured furniture rest against walls of floor-to-ceiling grainy photographs, punctuated by bright flashes of green from bowls of limes and potted plants.

With an entire bottle shop and basement wine cellar at its disposal, it’s no surprise that The Wine Store offers such unparalleled choice of national and international wines. Just pace yourself, because this is one long wine list.

Given just as much attention is the food at The Wine Store, which has a decidedly European and South American flair. The menu changes on a daily basis, but always utilises the best local produce available. We tried – and loved – the beef empanadas and can’t wait to come back for the Fremantle sardines on toast.

So throw that ratty picnic blanket in the wash, give that picnic basket a break and drop by the wine bar instead. The ants won’t thank you, but your palette sure will.

Where: 48 George Street, East Fremantle
Hours: Tue–Sun 5pm–late
Details: thewinestore.com.au

Kitsch-n Home Economics Cooking Classes is a series of ten classes held in Kitsch Bar’s open kitchen. While each chef demonstrates how to make their seasonal specialty, participants can watch on, taking notes and salivating. After the demonstration, everyone gets to feed on the freshly prepared masterpiece.

Have a sweet tooth? There’ll be a Chocolate and Champagne course  run by chefs Iain Lawless and Liam Atkinson. Like it hot? Clint Nolan, owner of Harvest and Who’s your Mumma?, will be demonstrating recipes from his brand new Mexican restaurant La Cholita. If you’re lucky, he’ll give pointers on how to whip up a wicked margarita, too!

Love beer? Then sign up for one of the two Beer Banquet classes taught by Anthony Williams from BEERtasters. He’ll be demonstrating his favourite dishes incorporating beer and also sharing what he reckons are the summer’s best beers.

We can’t promise you that an evening at Kitsch-n Home Economics will make you a culinary wizard, but we can promise you you’ll leave the class full and contented. Best of all? No ads. Take that, Manu!

Details:

Where: Kitsch Bar, 229 Oxford Street, Leederville
Hours: Throughout the year, classes start at 6pm
Price: $99/person
Details: kitschbar.com.au

As of tomorrow night, Northbridge’s Roe Street car park roof will been transformed into a ‘retro cinema oasis’ oozing a chilled-out, quirky vibe with astro turf, pink flamingoes, palm trees and a series of vintage caravans offering a tapas menu, snacks and a wide range of drinks.

You don’t need to bring a thing, Rooftop Movies have thought of everything. 250 brand new black and white deck chairs have been provided to lounge in, cheap nightly parking is available, built-in ramps have been included for wheel chairs and fully serviced bathroom facilities are available.

What better film to start off Rooftop Movies tomorrow night than with the cult classic, The Big Lebowski. Other films on offer in March include The Dark Knight, the old classic Casablanca, Picnic at hanging rock, The Proposition and the frenchie favourite Amelie.

In true Perth Sunday session style, Stella Artios Sunday Classics are sure to be a favourite with live jazz from 6pm. Head on down to Northbridge to be one of the first in Perth to enjoy Rooftop Movies.

Where: 68 Roe Street, Northbridge, WA
When: From 8pm Sunday to Thursday and 7pm for Weekend Doubles (Friday and Saturday).
Tickets: $10 for a single film or $15 for a weekend double. Add an extra $5 and get 2 hours parking or $8 and get parking all night.
Details: rooftopmovies.com.au

Perched on the prominent corner of William and James streets in Northbridge, the white walls and minimal décor may not catch your attention but the food certainly will. Aisuru Sushi has lovingly created a collection of innovative dishes you won’t find anywhere else in the city.

Are old faithfuls like edamame and California rolls on the menu? Sure. Would you be a fool to order them? We’re afraid so. Instead, do what we did and ask for the chef’s recommendation. He’s right in front of you rolling sushi in the open kitchen, so why not? He’ll recommend you start with the Sweet Corn Tempura. Watch him cut the kernels straight from the cob before frying them in tempura batter. He’ll then drizzle them with truffle oil and spicy shichimi togarashi flakes. The sweet-salty-crunchy-spicy combination will make you want to kiss the cook. Careful – he’s got a knife.

You can’t visit Aisuru Sushi without tasting the sushi, so give the Hawaiian Roll a try. It’s a wacky combination of mango, avocado and crab topped with salmon. Yes, most Japanese would giggle at the combination but that doesn’t make it any less yum.

For lovely Japanese nosh, Aisuru Sushi is where it’s at.

Where: 208 William Street, Northbridge
Hours: Tue–Sat lunch 11:30am–2:30pm and dinner 5–10pm
Phone: 08 9328 8578
Details: facebook.com

Situated inside the swish new Peppermint Grove library The Grove, Monogram Caffé is so much more than the simple coffee stand it appears to be at first glance. In fact, it offers everything you want from a library café – hot Fiori coffee, freshly baked treats – the delish lemon tarts are made by barista Thomas Greene himself – and a blessed absence of the grating sounds you find in most cafes. No grinding from the frappaciaterino-makers or dingalinging of the register. Instead, the only sounds come from murmured conversations, the turning of pages and the clink of cup to saucer. Oh, and did we mention that the black coffee is an unheard of $3?

While you’re there, have a squiz at The Grove itself. The library’s brand new facilities are on the cutting edge of ecological sustainability. The building houses a solar hot water, wind turbine and rainwater harvesting system that keeps the building’s energy use at an impressive low. But besides an interest in its environmental footprint, the library is keen on connecting people with words. There are enough comfy nooks and corners to tempt even the most reluctant reader to open a book or switch on their e-reader.

As long as Monogram keeps the coffee pot on, we’re thinking that readership won’t be a problem.

Where: 1 Leake Street, Peppermint Grove
Hours: From 9am weekdays and Sunday
Details: thegrovelibrary.net

Granted the recreation will be disposable and on a much (much) smaller scale than the real thing, the idea of the Home Sweet Home project is to get the creative juices flowing when it comes to architecture and city design.

You can even take ownership of a bar, nightclub or heck, why not become a zoo-keeper!? Although it may be a fiddly business creating all those animals out of cardboard…

The project is being launched at the WA Museum on Friday and will slowly build up over the ensuing week until completion on March 3. In addition, to celebrate the completion of the project a party will be held on the last night of the project, we’re unsure which cardboard creation will be chosen as the party venue though…

So get down to the WA Museum to play your part in creating a new Perth, and be sure to pop over the course of the project to keep an eye on what your neighbours up to!

Where: WA Museum, Perth Cultural Centre, 228 James Street
When: Feb 24 – Mar 3
Details: perthfestival.com.au

With a mix of Perth, Australian and International work, a large variety of whacky, hilarious, quirky, innovative and just plain cool stuff will be shown to the backdrop of the city lights.

Organised by Aska, a local, passionate animator, it’s a chance for the general public to get in touch with a world usually only viewed by enthusiasts. To make even it more appealing to the uninitiated, the organisers are running a side project that gives us all a chance to prove we too can come up with the next Toy Story.  They’ve called the competition Bunny Cakes; the public are presented with a title, character and piece of  music and asked to come up with either written, drawn or even, for the doodlers amongst us, their own animation. All the best ideas will be worked into a professional animation short film to be shown on the big screen.

Whether you’re a Shrekkie or just love those cartoon capers, Animators Hour is a chance to let your creative spirit run wild. Grab a beanbag and let the fantasy begin.

Where: Northbridge Piazza Super Screen
When: Thurs at 8:30pm 23 Feb-12 April
Details: animatorshour.com

The growing number of quality breweries in the southwest is changing the face of the region – and the festival will prove it. On hand will be breweries such as Bootleg, Colonial, Cowaramup, Cheeky Monkey, Duckstein and almost a dozen others. Besides having the chance to taste the beer, you can learn from the brewers themselves during the ’Meet the Brewer’ and ‘Beer Appreciation’ sessions.

When the need for solid sustenance strikes, twenty local food vendors will be on hand. The Margaret River Burger Bar will be flipping patties, Settlers Tavern will be serving their famed paella and Two Fat Cows will tempt you with gourmet, artisan ice cream. Reckon they’ll have stout-flavoured fro yo?

But the weekend is about more than good eating and drinking. The festival has invited a huge line-up of musical guests. Saturday you’ll be able to see the likes of Kris Buckle, Paige Trantham, Ill Starred Captain and local favourite Cowtown. Sunday will see headliners and Triple J Unearthed winners Spilt Seconds take the stage along with Kate Tillman, Qynn and others.

So ditch the chardonnay and head on down to Margaret River. Just don’t tell Ray Jordan.

Where: 3 Oceans Palandri Estate, corner of Bussell Hwy & Boundary Rd, Metricup
When: 25-26 Feb, 11am – 6pm
Price: $25 pre-sale, $35 at the door
Details: swbeerfest.com.au

This year’s show is set to rival New York’s summer series in Central Park, but forget about a plane ticket, you only have to head to City Beach.

See Serenade, inspired by the work of Tchaikovsky and created by father of American ballet, George Balanchine. A romance with a bite, dancers take you through an edgy tale of love and loss. This has fast become the signature piece of the New York Ballet.

WA ballet artistic director, Ivan Cavallari, follows with a Premier, his Strings 32 is set to the strains of Paganini and Kreisler. And just when you think your cultural bucket is filling up nicely,  WA Ballet  pulls a fast one  with a performance to the strains of Daft Punk and Maroon 5. Inspired by a New York Urban Legend, WA’s own Reed Luplau has created The Sixth Borough, an edgy ballet more like a movie than dance.

So pack your esky, grab a place under the stars and immerse yourself in fabulously choreographed ballet pieces from around the world.

Where: Quarry Amphitheatre, City Beach
When: 10 Feb-3 Mar
Details: www.waballet.com.au/

While the folk in Freo are just as unlikely as the next person to cut out extravagances come Ash Wednesday, they’re certainly welcoming the period of traditional Italian celebrations leading up to Lent.

In traditional times Lent was preceded by festive ‘carnevales’, and the same has been happening in Freo over the past ten days. But don’t worry – the best is yet to come.

In true accordance with traditional Carnevale’s, the last day of indulgence will be celebrated by the ‘trial’ and wake of the reigning king. It’s all about turning social order on its head, and at 6pm tomorrow King’s Square will become a celebration of ‘misrule’.

The celebrations will continue after the trial with a Mardis Gras and ‘wake’ at Clancy’s Fish Pub. The local Junkaholic Roving Brass Band will be doing their stuff with a concordant celebration of their ten years together.

So don your best masquerade outfit and mask and party as though you wont be able to come Wednesday. And don’t worry, we wont tell the big guy upstairs if you don’t actually follow through on your fasting…

Where: Kings Square, Fremantle, 6160
When: 6pm Tuesday 21 February
Details: fremantlecarnevale.org

Then Duchess Bar, the newest addition to Claremont Quarter, is for you. This boutique bar oozes glamour and opulence. Inside, richly wallpapered walls are adorned with ornate mirrors. Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceilings and sumptuously upholstered furniture begs to be reclined in.

Duchess Bar has a huge selection of international and local wines and champagnes and an all-day food menu, which offers a gourmet spin on bar classics. We love the Burger Trio that includes a beef burger with Swiss cheese, house pickles and spicy tomato relish, a lamb burger with roasted capsicum and spiced yoghurt, and a chicken burger with pineapple salsa. Then there’s the Lamb Tagine Pizza with shredded lamb, apricots, almonds, rocket and yoghurt on a spiced tomato base. Perfect food to share with a bottle of bubbly.

But Duchess Bar is more than just an elegant watering hole. Every Wednesday night the bar hosts live jazz shows and on Saturdays, Elegant Tea is served, which includes mini sandwiches, quiches, sweet pastries, mini-scones and cupcakes. Not a bad way to end a day of shopping, really. Just be sure to leave the flip flops at home.

Where: The Lane, Claremont Quarter
Hours: Tue-Sat noon – midnight | Sun noon – 10pm
Details: duchessbar.com.au

Kitted out in retro decor, Run Amuk serves hot dogs made from high quality, locally made bratwurst sausages that comprise 70% pork, 30% beef and a blend of herbs and spices. Their chutneys, relishes, produce and cheeses – also locally sourced – are what turn an otherwise tasty hot dog into a taste explosion and are, according to them, “the best thing since moonshine”.

Take the “Tom Foolery” which contains a premium bratwurst, punchy tamarind chutney, aged cheddar, diced pink lady apple and baby spinach. Or the exhilaratingly spicy “Dare Devil” which includes a premium bratwurst, two specialty chilli sauces, lightly caramelised onions, aged cheddar, baby spinach, sliced green chillies and sour cream. See? They definitely aren’t your average dog.

If your mouth’s not already watering then perhaps you’re vegan or vegetarian? Don’t worry, you haven’t been forgotten. Any hot dog on the menu can be made with Run Amuk’s organic vegan sausages.

Forget New York – we reckon the best hot dogs can be found right on our doorstep. Run Amuk is sure to become a local haunt.

Where: 386A South Terrace, South Fremantle
When: Tue – Sun 11:30am – 9pm
Phone: (08) 9335 1216
Details: runamuk.com.au/

The Poppy Lissiman Addition boutique has popped up in Times Square, Claremont, and is sure to delight with international designs featuring crazy colour blocking and clashing. Who else would bring a garment mixing leopard print and bright stripes to Perth but Poppy Lissiman?

Poppy’s own collection is made for women who know what they want – a girl with confidence and flair. You’ll need to be to pull off some of these creations – check out the website for a taste of the most recent collection which demonstrates distinct middle-eastern flavours mixed with seventies tailoring.

Colour is key for Poppy, and not just during the sweltering summer heat.

The next collection set to fill the boutique shelves is currently being prepared for the oncoming Perth Autumn– we hear it will continue to feature the long flowing style seen in the summer collection, and of course retain the unique emphasis on a vibrant palette.

But the store also offers shoppers a selection of indulges from creators based in the United Kingdom, America and jewellery made specifically for the Perth store.

Poppy Lissiman is certainly succeeding in her goal of bringing something different to the discerning Perth fashionista, so make the most of the physical boutique to wander among the racks and peruse unique creations not offered by other fashion-houses.

Where: Shop 16 Times Square, Claremont, WA
When: Mon-Wed, Fri 10am – 5.30pm | Thurs 10am-8pm | Sat 10am-5pm
Details: poppylissiman.com/

Tucked in a cozy corner of Piazza Arcade in Fremantle is The Raw Kitchen Café, a restaurant proving that these raw foodists are on to something. Absolutely everything on the menu is made entirely from scratch and without the use of wheat, dairy, sugar or gluten.

Open just for lunch five days a week, the menu offers raw versions of lunchtime classics: a club sandwich on dehydrated flax cracker ‘bread’, vegie pizza on buckwheat crust and dehydrated corn chip nachos. Our favourite is the pasta – a dish of zucchini “spaghetti” in a marinara sauce and sprinkled with macadamia “parmesan cheese’. You won’t believe it’s not made from semolina.

Ordering a smoothie is a must, being The Raw Kitchen’s specialty, they are made using fresh almond milk, frozen fruit, greens, spices and a selection of superfoods. There’s even an Iced Coffee Frappe made with coffee, agave and cashew and macadamia milk. Yum!

The best part about lunching at the Raw Kitchen Café is how healthy it leaves you feeling… so healthy, in fact, that you’ll feel you deserve dessert. There are macaroons, organic bliss balls, Florentines and a berry chocolate cheesecake, to name a few.

If eating raw means eating this well, they’ll have to make room for us on the band wagon!

Where: Shop 14 Piazza Arcade, 36 South Terrace, Fremantle
Hours: Wed-Sat 11:30am-3pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am-4pm
Details: therawkitchen.com.au

The owners of Nahm Thai are dedicated to showing Perth a different side to Thai cuisine – one that’s refined, contemporary and thrillingly innovative. And it must be doing something right. The West Australian Good Food Guide 2012 awarded Nahm Thai the coveted two-star status, the highest honour bestowed this year on only 5 Perth restaurants.

The menu created by chef Kevin Pham is a collection of reinvented classics and unique creations, all of which display the chef’s genius. The décor complements the food perfectly, being minimal and classy. It’s refreshingly devoid of typical decorating clichés of Thai restaurants – think buddhas and lotus flowers – and is instead simple and understated. White table clothes are adorned with single candles. Wooden screens and sheer curtains make for elegant partitions.

We’re a wee bit excited that Nahm Thai have recently expanded into the next-door premises. Having just been granted their liquor licence, they plan to transform the space into a cocktail bar serving Thai-style tapas. The doors will open this autumn. If Nahm Thai uses the same innovative passion in its creation of cocktails that it does food, we can expect the bar to be raised a few notches.

Where: 223 Bulwer Street, Perth
Hours: Mon-Sat, 6-10pm
Phone: (08) 9328 7500

And it’s you, the audience and other unsuspecting members of the public that are its stars. Innovative, contemporary performance company, The Gob Squad, is a group of UK and German artists who have gained international acclaim for their cutting edge concepts of theatre.

The group explores the blurry lines where theatre meets performance, art and media as they deliver the banality of everyday life and soak it in the glitz of the big screen blockbuster. Using “super night shot”, a mode on video cameras used to film in dark conditions, four Gob Squaders set out one hour before performance time and take to the streets of Northbridge. They work together, without a director, on the concept and design of the evenings show; devising and performing their work and finding strangers for an onscreen kiss, an unlikely hero and planning car chases.

Filmed randomly as a rap video, musical or action movie, the audience only finds out on the night.  As the film travels through its climax, members of the public are involved in various scenarios, as the final moment is acted out, unwittingly, by the audience.

All four videos are played back simultaneously as a sound artist mixes sound effects live. See your city as never before and your place in it. Are you ready to shine?

Where: Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA, Northbridge
When: 10-12 Feb, 8.30pm
Details: perthfestival.com.au

The project began in St Louis in 2001 when New York artist Kurt Perschke was asked to create a temporary art-work in a random location of his choice. The most unglamorous ‘armpit’ site under a bridge was chosen as the prime spot to inflate the big red ball.

Next on the journey was Barcelona, but Perschke says an invitation to take the project to Sydney was when the ball really starting rolling.

On its return to Australia the ball will be inflated in 15 random locations around the city during the Perth Festival. You could find it an alleyway, park or under another bridge. But no matter where the enticing ball suddenly emerges it will no doubt draw people in.

Is it simply the juxtaposition of such a lively, bright orb against a city backdrop that demands attention? Perschke believes it’s not just about the ball; it’s about what the ball facilitates.

It’s all about interaction – this is a piece of art that’s not based on the ‘look, don’t touch’ theory. Perschke wants people to touch it and even bounce against it. And if someone is driving past and is stunned by the creation without even knowing it’s art, then the project has served its purpose.

So no matter where you’re going over the next three weeks, don’t forget your camera – the RedBall could end up anywhere!

Where: Undisclosed – it’s all part of the fun!
When: 10 Feb – 03 March
Details: www.perthfestival.com.au

Walking through the door, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped straight into Africa. Brightly coloured flags hang from the ceiling, the walls are adorned with traditional woven textiles and artwork and tables are dotted with mesobs – the colourful straw baskets that group meals are served in.

And eating in a group is how this cuisine is best experienced. Ethiopian cuisine characteristically consists of thick, spicy stews called wats, made of vegetables and meat. The different wats are served atop flatbread that resembles sourdough, called injera. Instead of using utensils, Ethiopians eat with their right hands, using chunks of injera to scoop up the wat.

Besides wat and injera, the Ethiopian Café and Artifacts menu offers other traditional dishes such as tibs, marinated meat sautéed with spices, and yeshimbra assa, chickpea fritters cooked with berbere – a mixture of spices that dominates Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine.

Once finished with your meal, don’t pass up the chance to participate in a coffee ceremony, which takes place in a purpose-built tent. In Ethiopian culture, the making and drinking of coffee is revered – surely due to the fact that the drink originated there.

Right in front of your eyes, the coffee beans are roasted over hot coals and then ground in a wooden mortar and pestle. The coffee grounds are then boiled twice in a special pot called a jebena before being poured through a horsehair filter. The perfect end to a delicious meal.

So if you’re tastebuds are in need of an exotic vacation, this Hamilton Hill restaurant is well worth a visit. Because a change really does do you good.

Where: 427 Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill
When: Thu-Sat, 5-10pm
Details: ethioca.com

Pronounced “three-nine-nine”, this quirky little cocktail bar is nestled in the heart of Northbridge’s Chinatown amongst pho bars and Asian grocery stores. In fact, you’d be forgiven for having a hard time spotting it on your first visit. Unassuming though its exterior may be, 399′s interior is anything but. The small venue comprises a long, narrow space punctuated by soft lighting, Elvis gospel melodies and the lovely sound of ice rattling in martini shakers.

Deep booths line the wall facing the bar, filled with happy regulars sipping their favourite cocktails and enjoying the tapas-style menu. Yes, 399 knows how to mix a cocktail. These bartenders are some of Perth’s best – no cocktail request, however unheard-of or imprecise, goes unanswered. The bartenders seem, in fact, to relish the challenge, seeing as how they keep their cocktail menus well out of reach. If you’ll believe it, customers who visit on a Monday are invited to bring a mystery ingredient that the bartender will incorporate into their cocktail. How’s that for fun?

Need another reason to love them? 399 is also open for breakfast 7 days a week. Besides its gorgeous coffee, the kitchen’s claim to fame is the 399 Bloody Breakfast, which, for $20, buys you a full brekky with a Bloody Mary on the side when you drop by on the weekend.

Don’t miss the upcoming Metaxa Triathlon Cocktail Competition held at 399 on 19 February. Teams of two from various Perth bars will compete in this multi-stage competition that requires them to find a quirky cocktail ingredient from the shops of Northbridge’s Chinatown, in costume. The team who uses that ingredient to make the winning drink will be crowned the champions.

Where: 399 William St, Northbridge
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-midnight, Sun 10am – 10pm
Details: 399bar.com

An upscale delicatessen and providore in North Fremantle by the name of The Black Truffle represents the new generation of the Aussie milk bar – a place where, alongside your milk and newspaper, you can find gourmet imported oil, freshly baked bread and a perfectly crafted flat white. How’s that for an improvement?

The husband and wife team behind The Black Truffle ran a successful catering company by the same name before expanding into the shop that opened its doors just three weeks ago. Their passion for food and Italian heritage are evident everywhere. The kitchen creates a huge array of food for customers on the go: pasta dishes, freshly made salad, made-to-order sandwiches and preservative-free, ready-made meals. There’s a gorgeous selection of imported and local cured meat, cheese and antipasti such as arancini and croquettes. Good luck choosing between the dozen olive varieties on offer.

Lining the walls are shelves stocked with items that will take pride of place in your pantry, such as truffle-infused oil, squid ink pasta, preserves and sauces.

The Black Truffle is at its busiest first thing in the morning, as their already loyal local customers complete their morning ritual: a cup of Dimattina coffee, the morning paper, a take-away sandwich for lunch perhaps even a chat with a neighbour who’s there for the same reason. The milk bar may be a thing of the past, but the spirit lives on.

Where: 82 Stirling Hwy, North Fremantle
Hours: Daily 7am – 7pm
Details: theblacktruffle.com.au

The Steel Tree @ The Foreshore is a relaxed, up market cafe/restaurant not to be ignored. Its walls adorned with abstract art, owners Clint, Charlotte have created a cool space by the picturesque foreshore. Named to symbolise Rockingham’s history of transporting Tuart trees, the first Steel Tree restaurant, The Steel Tree @ Settlers in Baldivis, opened in 2006. Its rapid success led to The Steele Tree @ The Foreshore only four years later. In 18 short months, it has gathered a reputation for casual dining by day and more intimate food experiences during the evening.

The extensive menu is a mix of Australian Tucker, Italian and Asian fare with an great vegetarian selection. Head chef, Owen Chaytor, rustles up a delicious Haloumi salad, a welcome tastebud tickler for jaded vego diners used to being offered a one-meal option. And if you’re there for a something a little sweeter, you won’t be disappointed with the selection of sugar overloads on offer; the apple and cinnamon vol au vents are a revelation. With some unusually good value lunch and brekkie specials, being a good reason to pop in before you reach the sea and sand.

Whether you’re in need of a quick stop for a coffee after a briny dip, or something intimate of an evening by the beach, don’t pass this one by.

Where: Shop 3/7 Railway Terrace, Rockingham
When:  7 days, 8.30 til late
Phone:  9527 1777
Details: steeltree.com.au

Using tales from his own run-ins with authority, Captain Ruin shares his observations and ideas for social order. He has travelled some of the most challenging of places of the world, learning the ancient arts of balance from Indian sadhus, drinking bootleg whiskey with atheists in Iran and being incarcerated in a Turkish Prison for six weeks, before popping his handcuffs in the back of a police van.

Captain Ruin’s show is interactive, as he presents cabaret routines that are then chosen by the audience. He deftly weaves this with topical social comedy, satire and circus to create the Perfect One Night Stand; fun, unique, and a little bit dirty. Ruin is funny, playful and irreverent and Melbourne’s Age has called him “Slapstick on Speed.”  If a raw, raunchy, punk variety show is your idea of a perfect one night stand, grab your tickets while you can.

Where: Treasury Mess Hall, Barrack Street, Perth
When: 4-7^th Feb
Details: fringeworld.com.au

See Shakespeare get a serious makeover as the characters in the comedy “Alls Well That Ends Well” are played by tea cups, hobby horses and cartoons. The fun continues with London writer Anna Bennetts double bill of new television sitcom “The Same Paige,” and the hilarious “Janey Does Standup.”

The controversial South African play “Miskien” comes direct from a sell out run at the Amsterdam Fringe.  Performed in English and Afrikaans, best friends, both in dead-end jobs, wait for Happy Hour at the end of each day. It has been called a comedy that takes itself seriously and has received international acclaim. And from Ireland comes the story “Missing”, from young, upcoming writer Sandi Buckley. A young man finds himself homeless. It is an idiosyncratic narrative and despite the seriousness of the subject matter, is infused with plenty of laughs.

And if dance is more your thing, the Summer Nights program provides a third of all the Fringe dance events. Find out what really goes on in the ladies loos with “Occupied.”  Bold, edgy and witty it shows a night out for three young girls that is not as harmless as it seems.

And beyond the laughs at the human condition, is the real life tragedy.  Sydney writer Ali Kennedy Scott brings the award winning “The Day the Sky Turned Black” an examination of the Black Saturday bushfires. With six shows a night across two venues, there’s something here to tickle everyone’s fancy.

Where: Blue Room Theatre | 53 James Street | Northbridge
When: 29 Jan – 19 Feb
Details : pacs.org.au/
Tickets: from $15-$35

We’re especially excited about the Laneway Night Markets, happening this weekend. Over 45 stallholders will be setting up shop in Hook and Lock Lanes in Northbridge, in a weekend devoted to celebrating the kick-off of the festival, Chinese New Year and WA’s amazing local talent.

For the fashionistas, you’ll find stall upon stall selling one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories. Buy a hat from All The Pretty Ones Are, laser-cut jewellery from White Square, or an outfit from Freo-based label Wild.Horses. Or if op shopping is more your flavour, there are heaps of stalls selling vintage threads.

Then there are stalls selling art and home wares, which are sure to remind you of that gift you were meant to buy. Choose from screen prints, stationery, photographs, paintings, toys, flowers and stencil art.

If you’re interested in getting a bite to eat, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Grab some spicy tacos from La Cucaracha or a steaming plate of paella from Ole Paella. Finish it off with a visit to Jean Pierre Sancho, voted best bakery in Australia, for one of their unbelievably delicious macaroons. Or, if the heat is getting to you, pay a visit Delish Ice for a hand-made popsicle made from the season’s freshest produce.

Once you’re finished exploring, sit back and enjoy the free entertainment. Saturday night will see a performance by The Lost Circus – a three-person troupe whose act seeks to remind us of the circus’s long forgotten attractions. On Sunday night, shoppers will be treated to a live performance by the five-piece band Swingset.

Where: Hook and Lock Lanes, Northbridge
Hours: Sat 28 Jan, 5-10pm, Sun 29 Jan, 3-8pm
Details: www.onwilliam.com.au

Orphaned as children, the brother and sister found shelter in a Berlin squat and found their comedic and musical genius. They have, they say, never looked back. Their newest show, Eurosmash, is their fourth full-length performance and has come after five years of sell out performances in New York, Edinburgh, Montreal and Dublin. Just back from Canada and the US, Eurosmash sees its debut in our own fair city.

Watch as the siblings bicker, wrestle with uncooperative equipment, and bash and dance their way through our stereotypes of Euro pop music. They are hilarious and irreverent, and it is often impossible to decide just what is real, and what is actually part of the show.  And this is part of their undoubted magic. And Just when you think it’s all Euro pop, the comic duo lift the roof off with their high octane music. A wild rock n roll cabaret with catchy pop and rock songs interrupted by great comedy, they have received rave reviews around Australia and the World.  So hang on to your seats, the Germans are coming.

Where: Spiegeltent, Fringe World
When: 27 Jan – 1 Feb
Details: fringeworld.com.au

BBQ at The Aviary
The Aviary is taking the traditional Aussie Barbie to new heights by opening up its rooftop for celebrations. Spend the afternoon kicking back in the sun listening to Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown before catching fireworks from surrounding buildings.
Details: theaviaryperth.com.au

Fireworks on the Esplanade
When it comes to big time celebrations, it’s hard to bypass fireworks. If you head on down to the esplanade you will be treated to around 30,000 pyrotechnic shots from 8pm. Set off with a soundtrack from MIX94.5, it’s bound to have jaws dropping.
More info: showmeperth.com.au

Take a cruise with Captain Cook
If the chaos of watching the fireworks from the esplanade is too much for you, Captain Cook Cruises has the answer. They’re offering people an Australia Day special to watch the extravaganza from the water. Departing Freo at either 5:30pm or 6pm, cruise up the Swan River to Barrack Square
More info: captaincookcruises.com.au

Party
The end of the fireworks doesn’t have to mean the end of celebrations – why not hit up one of the many parties planned for the night. The Fringe World Festival kicks off again this week and includes Australia Day celebrations at the Spiegeltent and The Treasure Chest. For something a little different The Bakery in Northbridge is promising the perfect haven. It’s hosting a line-up of Aussie bands from 6pm, as well as House musicians ITAL all the way from the US.
More info: fringeworld.com.au

The Classroom is one part time-capsule and one part trendy small bar. Thanks to donations by local schools and some lucky finds on Ebay, the design pays tribute to school-day memories from the 70s and 80s: the walls are lined with dusty chalkboards, retro lunchboxes, gold embossed encyclopaedia sets, rusty pencil sharpeners and faded school satchels. Recycled wooden school desks and benches make for quirky tables, and the bar’s collection of spirits reside in a row of repurposed gym lockers. A one-of-a-kind mural by celebrated local graffiti artist Stormie Mills shows a sheepish-looking schoolchild under the repeated phrase “I must not draw on the walls”.

But while the bar’s unique fit out is a major draw card, the food and drinks on offer demonstrate the Classroom’s true creative strength. The drinks menu is divided into three “subjects”. The History drinks comprise old school cocktails with decidedly new school flair. For those who love experiments, the Science drinks come bubbling, smoking or aflame. And the Art cocktails are a marriage of colour, flavour and imagination. Naturally, wine and beer are also available. The food menu, on the other hand, is a cheeky – yet gourmet – spin on the canteen classics like mac and cheese, meat pie and the toastie.

Consider this a cheat sheet on the Classroom’s ordering process, which we think is half the fun:

Step #1: Sharpen your no. 2 pencil using the sharpener bolted to your desk
Step #2: Complete the multiple-choice “test” of your order
Step #3: Hand it in to one of the teachers (otherwise known as bartenders) who will give you a pencil case containing your order’s pager in return
Step #4: Bide your time by having a go at the ancient headphones playing beginner lessons in German and Italian
Step #5: Pick up your food from the canteen – don’t forget the tray!
Step #6: Reminisce about your long forgotten school days…. maybe they weren’t so bad after all.

Due to open mid-February it’s a little while off opening, but much like going back to school, we know you’ll need some time to prepare!

Where: 356 Charles Street, North Perth
Hours: Wed – Sun, 11am – late
Details: theclassroom.com.au

Steve Mallinder’s Offworld productions, started in 1996, has the aim of putting on great dance parties everyone can afford. Starting with underground dance parties, attracting big name DJs, since 2004 they have run the successful Good Vibrations event with Jam Music. It is though, without doubt, The Sets of the Beach that is their real jewel in their “King Of Dance Party” crown

This year sees another inspired line-up, headlined by Berlin group The Whitest Boy Alive. This is a band known for creating energetic pop that bridges the gap between dance and rock. With influences from Talking Heads to Daft Punk, their enigmatic live show will undoubtedly shake up the party.

And it can’t get much better than sets from music producer Shazam. Originally from the US, Shazam  has remixed Empire of the Sun, Calvin Harris, Munk, Sneaky Sound System plus many more greats.  Luckily for us, Shazam now calls Perth home. This chart-topping producer of classic dance tracks promises to keep the vibe moving.

This is the first of the years Sets series, the next, Volume 6, is on the 19 Feb. With sell out shows the last couple of years, you’d better grab those tickets while you can.

Where: Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre
When: 22 Jan | 1:30-9pm
Details: offworldproductions.com.au

This one of a kind event in the stunning location of Yallingup, brings together surfers, film buffs, and environmentalists as they share stories of the human spirit.  Brainchild of Jesca Maas, local surfer and film buff, the festival combines her personal love of the sport, passion for nature and films to create an event unique across Australia.

A team of world-class panellists have provided a selection of films to inspire as well as entertain. The film “Minds In The Water” tells the story of professional New Age surfer Dave Rastovich’s mission to help stop the worldwide slaughter of dolphins and whales. It shows how he builds a team of filmmakers, journalists, musicians, eco-pirates, celebrity surfers and even a professional mermaid in his quest. Clive Nesson’s award winning film “Last Paradise” showcases Nesson’s astonishing footage collected over forty years in the quest for extreme sports. And among the hi octane surf, fabulous scenery and inspirational stories, there is the sublimely beautiful “The Still Point” by Taki Bibelas. Inspired by TS Eliot’s poetry it looks at the unique connection we have with the ocean through the voices of the world’s most well known surfers.

Organisers are expecting more than 2000 people to attend this year. So with or without your surfboard; grab your picnic blanket, pack that Esky, head south and get inspired.

Where: Yallingup and Dunsborough
When: 20-22 Jan
Details and tickets: http://www.yallingupsurfilm.com.au

The group will perform at The Bakery in Northbridge on Thursday – if perform is the right word to describe what they do.

Is it art or is it music? Well, apparently it’s both. Lead performer Trash McSweeney suffered a seizure ten years ago and survived with the additional ability of seeing colour through music. The result of tapping into this rare ability has been The Red Paintings collaboration.

The five piece group integrates live art creation alongside musical performance. Views differ on whether the result is visionary and enlightening or just plain disturbing.

But regardless, it’s an event you won’t want to miss if you’re one for delving in to new experiences and worlds. If you’re feeling really adventurous the group is also looking for volunteers to be part of the show – well their body at least.

It’s renowned for creating human canvasses, and need some people willing to help the inspiration flow…

If you’d rather sit back and watch the drama unfold, get in quick to get your hands on tickets. They’re fresh off the boat from the US and have embarked on the Australian tour as a direct result of demand – they asked fans to hit ‘like’ on their Facebook page and promised to tour if the number surpassed 1000. Needless to say, it did. Surely that’s a big enough indicator of the promise these guys hold.

Where: The Bakery, 233 James Street
When: Thursday 19 Jan, 8pm.
Price: $30 nowbaking.com.au
Details: facebook.com

Started in 1995, WA’s Lunar Circus toured some of the most remote regions of Australia and then the world. And since 2004 have taken over a site at Karridale, 30km south of Margaret River, hosting the first WA Circus Festival in 2007. Following their popular circus school in January each year, the festival showcases nonstop circus action with acclaimed performers from Australia and across Europe. It is, say organisers, an acrobatic, musical and comedic spectacle and promises a weekend to entertain and amaze.

Take Belfast’s contemporary Tumble Circus. It is the circus of the absurd as performers Ken Fanning and Tina Segner tell the tale of their own relationship since meeting in Dublin in the mid 1990s. Using slapstick, acrobatics, death defying aerial feats and flying hula hoops they take you on their journey, as they fall in and out of love. Their act attracted rave reviews and a nomination for Best Circus Show at the Adelaide Fringe last year.

And there’s not just the dazzle of the Big Top, an onsite restaurant features live music each day and a workshop tent lets you try your hand, without tinnies, at some circus magic. On Sunday, the festival hosts an adult themed circus show and we can only guess at the kind of juggling this could involve.

Where: Vansitart Rd, Karridale, 6285
When: 21-23rd Jan
Details: lunarcircus.com

Deville’s takes you to a new world of devilment, its Hell with cocktails and comfy seats, instead of demons. Revamping an old Karaoke bar three years ago, Wonder Bar Designs have come up with something unique, cheeky and just plain fun. Catering to the over 25 crew, it maintains its ambiance. And this Friday, Devilles Pad is hosting the Prohibition Party which promises to be anything but, with its vintage glamour and cocktails. Featuring the acclaimed seven piece swing band Lucky Seven from Adelaide in full 1930s gangster garb, the raunchy retro song bird Harry Deluxe and DJs Franco Berry and Alissa Jane spinning the vinyls, it’s a night to pull out your most glam outfits and swing away what’s left of Black Friday. If you dare.

Where: Devilles Pad, Aberdeen Street, Perth, 6000
When: Fri 13 Jan
Details: devillespad.com

Inspired by the Sydney Olympic Beach volleyball competition at Bondi Beach in 2000, festival Director Andrew Lemon masterminded an event to recapture the headiness of that first beach volleyball spectacular. By 2005, SLAM volleyball had grown so much, the event was taken on tour around the nation. There are three levels of competition; the Cup, The Plate and The Bowl. And this year a new “King of The Beach” event will see the volley balling elite of the State smash it out in the sand and sun.

Regularly attracting 400 competitors at each venue, and around 2000 revellers, SLAM also attracts local and national celebs as hosts. Scarborough Beach has hosted the event the past seven years and SLAM is now firmly in the WA festival fixtures. It is without doubt the biggest national volleyball event in the southern hemisphere with 3000 competitors taking part nationally.

And once you’ve watched teams, sweat, leap and throw themselves around the sand, the music kicks its stuff from 5:30. A line up featuring Hook n Sling, the brilliant dance outfit and three times Aria nominee Potbelleez, as well as dance floor rebel Kaz James of the Ministry of Sound, will guarantee burning off any energy you may have left, and keep you jigging till the sun dips.

Where: Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre, Scarborough, 6019
When: 15 Jan starts at 1200-530, music festival 530-8pm
Price: $50
Details: slamfestival.com.au/scarborough.php

The Origins Popup Cafe is the latest edition, with a store now open in the Feast Your Eyes exhibition space on the High Street. It comes following the huge success of the wholesome cafe The Attic, which is housed in an old storeroom off South Terrace.

The love of good coffee creation has flowed down the road to the new Popup and promises to give the caffeine-addicted just the hit they need, with slow drip coffee even available.

It’s clear those making your brew really know their stuff when it looks like a science experiment is being conducted to create the perfect cup.

If coffee’s not for you, then there’s undoubtedly something in the vast array of herbal teas to tickle your taste buds. How about a cup of ‘Blue Mosque’? – the mind boggles…

The great thing about Popups is they’re never really just one thing, and Origins is no exception. Their collaboration with the Feat Your Eyes art collective allows customers the opportunity to muse over work from local artists while waiting for the caffeine to kick in – Sarana Haeata’s first solo exhibition ‘The Show’ will be adorning the walls until January 18.

But like all good things, it’s for a limited time only. As quickly as it came, Origins will vanish again towards the end of March…

Where: 101 High Street, Freemantle, 6160
Hours: Daily 8.30am – 4.00pm
Details: Facebook.com

For heart stopping wave jumps, aerial acrobatics and radical wave rides, check out the wave sailing as competitors attempt to out manoeuvre, out jump and do amazing but downright scary stuff on water. It is by far the most spectacular of the four days. Saturday sees competitor’s splash, fly and leap their way from Ledge Island to Lancelin in the iconic marathon. It is considered the pinnacle of the race. Last year, the marathon trophy was taken by 12 time world champ and wind surfing legend, Bjorn Dunkerbeck.

And if all that hasn’t taken your breath away, Sunday’s slalom is speedster paradise with windsurfers reaching an astounding 90km an hour. For those of us opting to stay on the dry side of the board, and organisers estimate around 3000 spectators to descend on Lancelin, there’s the Party in the Park to kick off the event on Thursday. Then grab your spot on the beach, and gaze in wonder at the world’s best in action.

When: 12-15 Jan
Where: Lancelin
Details: lancelinoceanclassic.com.au

Theatre company Shakespeare WA has been responsible for bringing the Botanic Gardens alive in past years with productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo & Juliet.

But this year the challenge has increased three-fold as the company embarks on a rolling ‘festival’ style event with three different shows lined up.

Audiences have the chance to sit back and be entertained by a 1980s version of The Comedy of Errors, a parody presentation of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare direct from London’s West End, and The Tempest.

With tickets priced at $44 for one show, or $112 for all three plays (Monday to Thursday) it’s a relatively inexpensive opportunity to see some of the greatest works in a setting no doubt much nicer than your own back yard.

So how do you get in? Tickets can be bought online for each of the shows and then it’s just a matter of packing a picnic and lugging along the camping chairs – don’t bring the high-backed ones though or you’ll just get lumped at the back.

Also, no glass, dogs or alcohol unfortunately – but no doubt the performances will be stimulating enough without the need for champers or beer.

Getting along quick it’ll all be wrapped up for another year come February 4^th.

Where: Pioneer Women’s Memorial, Kings Park, West Perth
Hours: Gates open at 7pm, shows start at 8pm
Price: From $19 for students – $44 for adults. Children free
Details: shakespearewa.com/

The cafe has been operating as an independent business within the walls of the local Moores Building for about three years and gives art and coffee lovers a spot to indulge their vices simultaneously.

The ‘creaky and cranky’ atmosphere of the gallery is renowned for giving artists an alternative space to exhibit their talent. Food signs are written straight onto the cabinet daily (pear, chocolate and macadamia tart, cinnamon cake, and mama’s carrot cake…) while the furniture is mismatched in the true eclectic style synonymous with the contemporary art scene.

The menu focuses mainly on brunch offerings with typical Australian meals, but it’s the liquids that really get the juices flowing…

We won’t mention the honeycomb affogato again, ok so we did, but what about a Rooibos latte? Head baristas, Perth brothers Tom and Jessie Wearne, are responsible for giving connoisseurs the traditional herbal tea that’s poured through the coffee machine – difficult to comprehend without experiencing first-hand.

Owner/Manager Simon Maber has made some changes in recent months – a new head chef has taken over the culinary reigns while the kiddies corner is almost up for action. Parents can enjoy a laid back cuppa and soak up the relaxing surroundings, while also being content that the kids are happy tackling the new mini-putt challenge. Could this Freo gem have anything, eh, moore, to offer?

Where: 46 Henry St, Moores Building Art Gallery, Freemantle, WA 6160
Hours:  Mon – Sun 7am – 4
Details: mooreandmoorecafe.com 

It’s like this: Badminton Bandit is a local, independent record label. Coastal Shelf is a DIY print media and publication outlet. And Galleria is an artist-run initiative that sticks its middle finger up at galleries that are dictated by funding and sales.

It’s an interesting mix, and it sure as hell makes for an interesting event. But unlike your average shindig, you don’t have to make a playlist, heat up the party pies or clean up.

You’ll get to hear mixes by Craig McElhinney that sound like backing tracks for tie-dyed trips in Woodstock vans, Rabbit Island’s sweet and mellow acoustics, Traianos Pakioufakis’ drone mixes, and Jane Harris’ soft, folk melodies. Clearly there’s something for everyone.

In place of defrosted party snacks will be homemade veggie treats. It’s to help them “pay the rent” and you won’t be disappointed. For the carnivores, Jame’s Doohan’s Mystery Meats screen-prints will be on display. Admittedly, it has nothing to do with meat or eating, instead it’s an exhibition of posters inspired by music and noise gigs. Sound weird? Badminton Bandit thrives on weird.

Galleria also features a decent spread of art and design books, but if music is more your thing, get involved in the Badminton Bandit post-Christmas record sale. Oh, and the deal-sealer? It’s BYO.

Where: Galleria, 55 Wittenoon St, East Perth
When: Sun Jan 8 | 7pm
Details: badmintonbandit.com

This year Cold Chisel guitarist Ian Moss will woo the crowd alongside acts such as Kyla Brox Band from the UK, the slow Blues/Latin funk of the US Scotties Miller Band and acclaimed Australian folk/indie outfit, The Lucky Wonders.  For festival organiser Rob Wignalls, what started out as a chat with a mate over a pint, has morphed into one of the most iconic festivals in the State. From around 800 people in 1996, this year’s bash is set to attract in excess of 3000.

Rob insists that each year local bands are also on the bill and with that in mind, the brilliant Blue Shaddy, Albany’s own The Pepperjacks and WAMI award winner Simon Keane will have the crowd baying for more of the glorious and diverse sounds that make up The Blues.

Despite the impressive line up, you don’t need to be a hard core, fedora wearing guy swinging his harmonica. Wignalls prides itself on creating a showcase for headline grabbing and emerging artists in a family friendly environment.

Where: Wignalls Winery, Albany
When: Sat Jan 7
Tickets: $60 in advance and $65 at the gate.
Details: www.vintageblues.com.au

For a fifth year, Gloucester Park Race Course is set to host The Nights of Thunder Race heats, giving you the chance to sit back and watch the dust fly to the sound of thundering hooves. Three heats will be run on December 30 with horses finishing first, second, and third gaining a place in the final on January 6 and a chance to pick up $50,000 in winnings. Last year the heats attracted a crowd of 2000 and the final saw more than 3000 spectators.

It is, according to organisers, the perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of the most up and coming class of horses in the state with Nights of Thunder winners tending to go on to be very successful. Four year old Lombo Navigator, owed by Matt White, took first place last year, and is considered a rising star of the circuits.

But it’s not all about the horses, Gloucester Park is laying on live music between the heats and little ones are sure to be kept entertained with the jumping castle.

Of course, after all that trotting, you’ll be needing refreshments and Steelo’s alfresco deck and bar right by the finishing post couldn’t get you much closer to the action. You might also take up the offerings at the award winning Beau Rivage Restaurant with it’s view of the entire racetrack and backdrop of the Swan River.

And if a night of betting of the trots just isn’t enough, perhaps try your luck at the on site casino.

Where: Gloucester Park, 4 Nelson Crescent, East Perth 
When: 30 Dec, Gates open at 5pm (race times to be announced)
Details: gloucesterpark.com.au

The new Barque Restaurant on George Street is tipped to be a sure success with an extensive menu of sharing plates coupled with fine wine, desserts and even cocktails.

The owner of the restaurant, Therese O Toole, has made use of veteran Perth chef Gary Bennett’s talents and they’ve together created a menu which promises to delight. Good old house pickled vegetables, duck and shitake spring rolls and braised pork hock are all on offer.

The pair promise diners an ‘aromatic ocean trail from the lands of spice and cinnamon, schezuan, clove and cassia’. For them, the emphasis has been on creating a ‘culinary journey’ around the Southern lands while using the finest local produce.

The establishment has just opened after a restoration which involved converting a colonial Freo house into the new culinary destination. The result has been the successful creation of a relaxed dining atmosphere with tables big enough to accommodate the idea of sharing numerous plates among friends. We also love the solid wooden look! A bright and breezy interior design also enables the restaurant to easily slide from lunch to evening dining.

As for the liquids – the wine list has something for everyone with delights from both far and wide, there’s Japanese beer, and their cocktail list is truly impressive with concoctions such as the Green Tea Sin, Misty Sailor or Saketini.

Whether you’re in the mood for lunch, dinner or even Sunday brunch, Barque promises to deliver something different while retaining dedication to the cause – a top quality feast of flavours.

Where: 125 George Street, East Fremantle, WA, 6158
When: Wed – Sat 11am – 11 pm | Sun 10am – 4pm
Details: barquerestaurant.com.au

For those lucky enough to live within reach of a Jean Pierre Sancho bakery, we envy you. They beat 338 to claim the title of Australia’s Best Bakery, were named Perth’s Best Coffee Shop by the Restaurant & Catering Association in June 2011 and their macarons and croissants were voted top 3 in Perth by the Sunday Times.

Opened by Albin Sancho back in 1904 in Lodeve, in the south of France, the first Sancho bakery passed from his son Albert to grandson Jean Pierre. When Jean passed his ancient family recipes and baking methods onto Frenchmen Stephane Gruson, Corentin Laumaille and Franck Durolek, plans were in motion for Perth’s first boulangerie-patisserie. Now one of 3 in WA, the trio opened their first Jean Pierre Sancho on Hay Street in 2010 and the Northbridge outpost opened only months ago.

Handmade using the finest, local ingredients, they supply bread to WA’s finest restaurants, including Neil Perry’s Rockpool. A long fermentation process and 100 year old recipe is the key to flavour and keeping qualities.

If you’re early, settle in for a brekkie – perhaps a croissant. For lunch, try one of their quiches or perhaps a baguette or toastie. Made from their own Faluche bread, fillings range from classic ham, cheddar and tomato to chicken, brie and tomato with seeded mustard. Later on, a coffee eclair or delice au chocolate makes the perfect pick-me-up.

All go nicely with an espresso, made using certified fair trade organic beans but when the sun shines, sub your latte for a fruit granite in the sun.

Bon appétit, indeed.

Where: 878 Hay St, Perth | 111 St Georges Terrace, Perth | 270 Williams St, Northbridge
When: Mon-Fri 7am – 6pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 9am-5pm | Mon-Fri 6.30am-4pm | Mon-Fri 8am-4pm | Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-5pm
Details: jpsancho.com.au

This sort of treasure trove is exactly what Northbridge-based company Rummage offers those who may be struggling to find the perfect gift as the big day draws nearer.

It’s somewhat difficult to describe exactly what this store is – other than a delightful accumulation of whimsical clothing and accessories: sexy swimwear, an onslaught of colour-blocked handbags, sunglasses and accessories to bring out the most daring side of every girl’s fashion sense.

The company’s mantra: “Life is too short to blend in” is evident in every piece– you’ll have more difficulty finding a commonplace accessory as opposed to something quirky and fun.

Owner Emily Gibson – a professional costume designer now focussing on fashion – launched Rummage in 2005 in an attempt to give those ‘creative consumers’ artistic treasures which will give them the ability to evoke individuality and a sense of excitement.

Rummage certainly does that. Since the beginning it has brought together individual creations from designers both far and wide, presenting them as wholesale opportunities while also exhibiting at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week and Life Instyle. A little over a year ago Gibson brought the fashion to the streets with the opening of her first ever store in Northbridge.

If everyone made Rummage a destination on their Christmas shopping journey, we seriously doubt people would still be struggling with the “I don’t know what to get…” line.

But Rummage is just not for Christmas. Keep an eye out for exciting 2012 additions as the company launches headlong into its second year of physical operation.

Where: 282 William Street, Northbridge, WA, 6003
When: Mon – Thu 10:30am – 6pm | Fri 10:30am – 7pm | Sat 10:30am – 5pm | Sun 12pm – 5pm
Details: rummagedesigns.com.au

The owners of this new espresso bar have chosen Fremantle’s New Edition Bookshop as the site for coffee lovers and foodies alike to get back to basics with the brilliance that comes only from truly good quality food and caffeine.

Nestled amongst the books in the High Street store, the cafe welcomes visitors with a minimalist and slightly retro tinted ambience – the floral tables and milkos on the counter are bound to take those of a certain age back to their childhood, while the pot plants and locals playing backgammon cultivate a relaxed atmosphere.

The cafe artwork is a spray-painted stencil, the pricing board handwritten (not bad either with coffee and a bagel for less than $10), and the cakes really do look as though they’ve come straight from Mum’s oven.

This is the place to come if you want to feel like you’re spending the afternoon on your front porch, but with better coffee than your own home-made concoction.

And the owners have kept the operation patriotic by sourcing coffee beans direct from Western Australia’s own Crema Gourmet Coffee Roasters. The end result has the cafe already bearing a bold title with locals claiming it’s got the best brew in all of Perth.

With reviews like that we think the cafe with a ‘secret garden’ feel won’t stay that way for long – check it out now before word gets out!

Where: New Edition Bookstore, 82 High Street, Fremantle, WA 6160
When: Mon-Fri 7:30am – 5pm | Sat 8am – 7pm | Sun 9am – 5pm
Details: thegrumpysailor.com.au

The literal meaning of Petite Mort is quite simply ‘little death.’ But dig a little deeper and you discover it’s actually a French idiom for orgasm – not just another innocent French restaurant after all.

It’s not only the name of the restaurant where Todd Stuart and Ash Wilcox have gone out on a limb – they’ve also done away with the traditional line-up of entree, main and dessert.

Instead, this fine dine experience in the former residence of Star Anise on Shenton Park offers diners the opportunity to try numerous entree-sized dishes. It’s recommended about 5-6 of the 17 dishes would satisfy a typical three-course meal appetite. Perfect for the indecisive eaters among us!

Stuart made a mark for himself in Perth’s culinary scene as head chef of Bouchard, and his French inspired expertise are replicated in dishes such as duck liver parfait, marinated octopus and goats cheese pithivier.

But just as the name needs a little digging you may also need to get elbow deep into the pockets to fund at meal at Petite Mort – dishes average about $17, and by taking the 5-6 dish suggestion into account, you’re unlikely to satisfy a healthy hunger without spending over $100 a head.

But wouldn’t you fork out a little more for an evening that’s both exotic and erotic? Even if it’s just your palate that’s satisfied.

Where: 225 Onslow Road. Shenton Park, Perth, WA.
When: Tues-Sat 6pm-10pm | Fri 12pm – 2pm and 6pm – 10pm
Details: petitemort.com.au

A collaboration between the East Perth Redevelopment Authority and the Department of Culture, the Illuminites Festival of Christmas returns this Friday with free festivities kicking off from 5pm.

Firstly, let’s talk fuel. A night kitchen will serve all kinds of street food courtesy of the Urban Orchard, you can get your coffee fix from Polly’s and Pajeco is a sure bet for a refreshing icecream dessert.

For those yet to start the big Christmas shop, shops on Williams St will open late and about 26 boutique gift stalls will line the Museum Plaza. With everything from travel books to jewellery and ceramics, you’re sure to find something for even the most difficult relative.

The whole space is set to be lit by lanterns and a public art installation by local artist Philip Gamblen will light up the area before VJ Zoo paints the State Theatre Centre of WA with projections. The most festive eye-catcher has to be Freo artist Lewis Horne’s six-metre tall ‘Upscycle’ Christmas Tree, which he’s created from old bicycles.

Music-wise, the Wetlands will be transformed into a stage with performances by Wolves at the Door, Josh Fontaine and 6’s & 7’s Horns and James Ireland. Art buffs can head to the WA museum, which will open late with its Princely Treasures: Euro Masterpieces exhibition while PICA will show works by contemporary Japanese artists for the Alternating Currents exhibition. 

Great food, perfect gifts and festive atmosphere. We challenge you to find a brighter way to spend your Friday evening?

When: Friday December 9 and 16 | 5-10pm.
Where: Central Square. Perth Cultural Centre. Corner William and Roe St, Northbridge.
Details: perthculturalcentre.com.au

Serpentine Dam, deep in the Serpentine National Forest is one of the largest dams in Western Australia. Finished in 1961, with a capacity of 194,500,000 cubic metres, it supplies Perth metro with drinking water and is indeed an impressive sight.

A reason to visit? Cafe on the Dam. Perched on top of the scarp above it, there can’t be too many eateries boasting such a spectacular view. Offering up modern Aussie bush tucker in a relaxed and contemporary setting, chef Sarah Maddern knows what makes us tick. Whether it’s whiling away breakfast with fresh baked bread and free range eggs, as native birds fly freely around you in the alfresco area, or lingering over a burger lunch, the food hits the spot. And the setting, overlooking the Dam and Forest, soothes the city wearied soul.

So for pure Aussie bush tucker without the inconvenience, combined with great service and surrounds, The Cafe on the Dam is well worth the drive out.

And it’s a drive that takes you through some of the State’s best native forest and through the Darling Ranges. With a Parterre native garden, an art gallery and shop there is plenty to keep you interested after you’ve filled up on brekkie. And that kid’s corner is sure to keep any tots entertained while you savour that last latte before heading back to those streets of stress.

Where: Serpentine Dam, Kingsbury Drive, Jarrahdale 6124
When: Mon-Wed and Sat 10-4pm | Sun 9-5pm
Details: cafeonthedam.com

One hundred kitesurfers are set to compete alongside last year’s winner, Frenchman Alex Caizergues and current world speed record holder American Rob Douglas.Reaching an astounding 103 kilometers per hour, Douglas is the first kitesurfer to establish an outright world record in speed sailing – the record previously held only by sailboats or windsurfers.

Australia’s current record holder Adelaide’s Tim Pumpa and New Zealand champion Anderson Romero will also be in the mix, among a host of other local, national and international entrants.

With weather conditions permitting, competitors will take off from Philip Point on Rottnest Island at 2:30pm, racing across the Indian Ocean to North Fremantle’s Leighton Beach.

Of course if you don’t fancy a dip in the briny, you can always stay on the warm and dry side of the kiteboard as one of the race’s many spectators (that’s us). The event also features entertainment with music, live DJ sets, kiting demonstrations and commentary, starting at noon at Leighton Beach.

So why not grab your Esky, sit back and watch those boards zip, splash and fly the 19 kilometres to the finish while they attempt to break last years record of 24 minutes held by defending champ Alex Caizergues, who blasted his way across the course last year.

What: Red Bull Lighthouse to Leighton KiteSurfing Race
Where: Leighton Beach, North Fremantle
When: Sunday 18 December | 12pm-4pm. Competitors set to arrive at the finishing line from 2.55pm.
Cost: Free
Details: lighthouse2leighton.com.au

Tuck Shop Pie House and Delicatessen opened its doors just eight weeks ago and is already gathering quite a reputation. With a menu promising healthy, simple and inspired options and coffee by Toby’s Estate, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was their scrumptious cheese kransky with grain mustard potatoes, spinach and fried eggs, causing the stir. Yet it’s their pies that are really stealing the show.

All made from scratch on site by owner and ex-Subiaco chef Paul Cherry, you’ll choose between flavours like Moroccan lamb and chickpea or Spanish beef with paprika, chorizo and white bean as well as traditionals like a beef and stilton. Served with either hand cut fries or a side of creamy dreamy mash potatoes, pie lovers – your Nirvana is definitely here.

Paul, his wife Iva and business partner Vanessa Hondros have created a cosy and welcoming atmosphere and although small, Tuck Shop Cafe is a clean, uncluttered space.  It also has a somewhat organic feel with healthy products lining the shelves and hessian coffee bags scattered tastefully.

A welcome addition to the Northbridge cafe scene, Tuck Shop is definitely worth a try – particularly if you have a fondness for great coffee and home-style pies.

Where: 1/180 Newcastle St.
When: Mon-Fri 9 – 4pm | Sat - Sun 8-2pm
Details: facebook.com/pages/Tuck-Shop-Cafe-Pie-House-and-Delicatessen

Now the Kidogo Arthouse in Fremantle has launched a venture providing just that – KELP Bar @ Kidogo is encompassing all the region’s finest features especially for the Perth ISAF 2011 World’s Festival.

The Bathers Beach venue hopes to ‘redefine bohemian and set the standard for pop up bars’ by featuring art and sculpture, activities and bush tucker and all wrapped up with live music at its Sunset Beach Bar.

Some of Western Australia’s best musicians are set to perform during the event, including The Bartlett Brothers, Billie Rogers, Jon Cope & Blue Celts and the Hilltones. And don’t worry about your pocket, there’s no entry fee.

The location is also providing a historical aspect – the Limestone building was build in 1884 and was used as both a kerosene storehouse and lights department warehouse before becoming an artspace in the early 1970s.

The event is proving to Perthites that they need not go beyond their back-doors to experience an array of culinary delights, and organisers are urging people to get down there to make the most of all that’s on offer. And why wouldn’t you? Even if it’s just to quench your thirst with something from their eclectic range of specialty cocktails.

Either way, you had better hurry – while there’s talk of the associated art institute making the pop up bar and live music event a more permanent fixture, at this stage plans are only in place up until December 18th. 

Where: Kidogo Arthouse, Bathers Beach off Mews Rd, Fremantle. 
When: December 1-18 | 6pm-11.30pm 
Details: facebook.com/events/

Returning to Langley Park, this year marks the sixth anniversary of the Paspaley Polo, which began in Sydney back in ’06. It’s a day to witness some of Australia’s top professional players right in the heart of the city, appreciate and learn about this forever growing sport and well, quite simply, it’s a super day to stand outside in the sun and have a spritzer.

This season, the playing list includes international star and Australia’s top polo player Ruki Baillieu. Also the founder of the event, he’s been described in the mags as ‘a charming devil on horseback.’ Then there’s Argentine-Austrian Jakob Von Plessen, known for his riding expedition company in Buenos Aires and documentary series The Rider.

As for Kiwi player Sam Hopkinson, he stared as Viggo Mortensen’s ‘Lord of The Rings’ riding double, has played polo alongside royals Harry and William and once made the list of Vanity Fair’s ‘Polos 10 Hottest Horseman.’ That sounds good for the ladies and therefore in some strange twist of ironic luck that’s also good for the gentleman.

Now where to watch the action? The Coopers Bar will get you up close and personal. Complete with DJ, food, wine and Coopers, this is the best place to see all these pony riding friends do their thing in a relaxed and casual lounge bar setting.

Food, bubbles, international sports stars, and a little cavorting with glitterati – this is Polo in the City.

Where: Langley Park
When: Saturday 10^th December | 11am – 5.30pm
Get me in: Tix to the Coopers Bar are $70 from Ticketmaster Includes entry, DJ and cash bar serving drinks and food.
Details: polointhecity.com

Lotterywest Festival Films at Somerville | More Info

The Lotterywest Festival Films, part of the annual Perth International Arts Festival, has taken place for the last half of a century at the University of Western Australia. Nestled amongst the pines are rows of canvas deck chairs and space for picnickers to spread a blanket. Food is for sale at the venue, but BYO food and drinks are allowed. This year, the films will be shown from 28 November to 15 April. Movies begin at 7:30.

Moonlight Cinema | More info

This cinema is perched in Synergy Parkland in Kings Park. Gates open at 6:30 and the nightly screenings start at 8. Adult tickets are $16, but only $12 on Wednesdays. There is a Candy Bar on site with food for sale, but BYO food and drink for picnics are welcome. Bean beds are also available for $8. Just get yours early – they run out fast!

Luna Outdoor | More info

The outdoor cinema at Palace Cinemas in Leederville is an intimate courtyard filled with canvas deckchairs and tables. The cinema often screens international and art house films. You’re welcome to bring your picnic food or order Outdoor Cinema Survival Packs (an assortment of dips, cheeses, crackers and olives). No BYO alcohol is permitted, but the cinema is fully licensed and offers a selection of wine and beer. Tickets start at $15.50 for the 8pm start.

Movies by Burswood | More info

Our only south-of-the-Swan pick is Movies by Burswood. Located within the grounds of the Burswood Entertainment Complex, this outdoor cinema offers a range of popular new releases. We especially love this cinema because it’s run by volunteers and ticket proceeds are donated to local children’s charities.

Roll the tape!

The Leopard Lodge, which specialises in South African cuisine, is housed in a former art gallery and boasts a rich wood interior with African artefacts dotting its stone walls. The restaurant features the same unique African flavour and feel of the Serengeti with home-made sauces and a traditional Malva pudding. Fancy a steak 1kg elephant rump steak while a stuffed Leopard eyes you up? (You’ll get a certificate if you finish it!)

While the tantalising menu may be enough to entice dedicated foodies up the coast, the business has a new weapon in its arsenal – the African experience doesn’t end after the meal. Diners will soon be able to stay overnight in the rustic wooden lodge or a ‘luxury’ African tent and they’ve also added an authentic African Boma – a wooden circular enclosed dining area for dining under the stars.

‘Luxury tent’ could well appear an oxymoron, but what better way to fully indulge in an African adventure than by digesting a belly-full of steak in a tent nestled amongst trees – other than, well, going to Africa?

The lodge and tented accommodation is just the beginning of the vision Mark and Theresa hold for the 10 acre patch of land on the fringes of Lake Carabooda. Importing springbok could be the next step in expanding the retreat so as to replicate an opulent African Game Lodge.

Now there’s no excuse not to take a drive up the coast when there’s a full weekend in Africa on offer.

Where: 336 Karoborup Road North, Carabooda WA
When: Wed-Sat 6pm – 11.45pm | Sunday 12pm – 3.30pm
Details: leopardlodge.com.au

Inside, find a contemporary Moroccan-inspired décor with dark wooden tables and a line of soft, stylish two-seater booths. All best appreciated after sunset, when the warm lighting of the small dining room really comes into its own.

As for food, expect a mixture of ‘mezze’ and ‘more substantial’ options – both based firmly in the Middle Eastern food culture of shared, banquet-style eating. A short introduction at the top of the menu explains about the generosity of having lots of little dishes to share between family, friends and “even the unexpected traveller”.

However, don’t go expecting your standard Middle Eastern menu. At Raah – like at MoMo
– the inspiration and influence is patently and proudly Middle Eastern but the delivery is a contemporary blend of flavours and techniques.

You could easily order solely from the mezze menu with everything from Syrian spiced olives and crunchy Turkish chilli spiked chickpeas to larger plates like silky hummus with
minted lamb and toasted almonds. As for those preserved lemon, chilli and coriander prawns, they come in serves of four, eight, 12 and 16 – depending on the size of your party.

If you can resist the temptation to over-order on the mezze, move onto ‘more substantial’ options like mussels with Raki, leek and fennel broth, or the orange infused carrot and currant spitchcock with citrus salad.

To finish, look forward to a light dessert like Turkish delight ice-cream with fresh strawberries or perhaps that flourless chocolate and pistachio cake with orange blossom syrup. 

To drink, choose from a varied wine list but for those not intending on falling asleep too quickly, the Turkish coffee is the perfect parting treat.

Raah is the first of what Agenda hopes will be a long line of modern Middle-Eastern haunts to pop up in Perth.

Where: 484 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley
When: Tues – Sat 12pm – 11pm Sun 12pm – 9.30pm
Phone: (08) 9227 9745

Saturday marks the start of the much-anticipated Perth 2011 Worlds Festival. Running from 3-18 December, this festival coincides with the biggest international sailing event of the year, the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. The competition has attracted over 1200 athletes from 80 countries to Fremantle, whose performance will determine their qualification for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The best of local Perth, West Australian and international artists and contributors have cooked up an awesome line up of entertainment and activities. The event’s theme of “where land meets the sea” is a celebration of West Australian culture and the sport of sailing. INXS will be opening the event followed by 250 free events for all ages.

The epicentre of the action will be the Worlds Village on the Esplanade Park in Freo. A main stage has been set up for music and other performances and presentations. Surrounding that are stalls for displays and demonstrations, as well as information about the countries competing in the Sailing World Championships. Food stalls will also be set up to feed the crowds.

Local Freo organisations have also joined in the spirit including Little Creatures Brewery, Kidogo Arthouse, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and the Moores Building.

This event has provided Perth with a fantastic opportunity to showcase our beautiful corner of Australia to the world – so make sure you’re a part of it.

Where: Fremantle
Hours: 3-18 Dec
Price: $99 for the INXS concert, all other events are free
Details: perth2011.com

This weekend is the three-day Bazaar11, an annual design and craft market that brings the work of the state’s best artists, designers, stylists, craftspeople and cooks to the picturesque grounds of the Fremantle Arts Centre.

For 3 blessed days, the Centre will be filled with stall upon stall of unique items capable of completing any shopper’s to-buy list. Wandering through the gardens, you’ll pass tables of one-of-a-kind clothing created by local designers. Any woman on your list would swoon over the scarves, tops and dresses.

For the art lover, pick up an original artwork by talented painters, sculptors and metal workers. Unique homewares like ceramic dishes and screen-printed tea towels would make a great gift for mum. Then again, you can’t go wrong with jewellery – in no short supply at Bazaar11.

Got a relative who’s a bit of a foodie? There are dozens of vendors selling locally produced olive oil, spreads and dips, as well as cupcakes and confectionary for those with a sweet tooth.

On the off chance that nothing catches your fancy, then duck into FOUND, the Fremantle Art Centre’s gift shop. Absolutely no one leaves empty-handed, so there’s guaranteed to be a gift for absolutely anyone. Get a hand-blown glass vase for Nan, a jarrah chess set for your uncle, a book about Fremantle culture and history for the history buff in your family, and handmade toys for the youngsters.

There, all done!

With all of your holiday shopping sorted you can get back to enjoying your weekends – and have a laugh at your friends who spend theirs inside crowded shopping centres. They’re sure to be at your side for Bazaar12.

Where: 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle
When: 2-4 Dec
Price: $2 for adults, free for children
Details: fac.org.au/Events/bazaar.aspx

Our advice for how to survive the silly season without fizzling out? Find a quiet place away from technology, deadlines and that pesky to-do list. Our fave: Keturah Day Spa.

In business for the last 16 years, and with four locations around Perth, Keturah Day Spa has pampering down pat. Everything from the ambiance to the service encourages you to relax. As soon as you walk through the doors, you’ll feel your heart rate slow to the beat of the chilled-out music, forgetting the hubbub of life beyond.

Keturah’s treatments seek to relax, rejuvenate and energise. For your face, there are skin renewal treatments such as microdermabrasion, skin peels and facials to reduce wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation. For the body, you can indulge in one of Keturah’s massages, full body exfoliations, waxing, manicures and pedicures or a session in the infrared sauna. Even cosmetic surgery options available on request. Most recently, Keturah added hair services to their repertoire, offering cuts, colours and styling for special occasions.

For couples, there are a number of packages that would make for the perfect romantic afternoon together. If you have an hour or two to spare, go for the Couple’s Indulgence Retreat, which includes massage, exfoliation, facial and foot massage. Lovely.

Before you leave, grab a couple of gift certificates. There, now you’ve demolished your stress levels AND ticked a few gifts off of your Christmas list. Feeling better already, aren’t you?

Where: 500 Beaufort St, Highgate; 22 Queen St, Fremantle; Cnr Beach & Davallia Rd, Carine; 133 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands
Details: keturah.com.au

Cyclists will don their best moustaches, flat caps, tailored suits, waistcoats, monocles, patent leather and suspenders for the short – yet impeccably stylish – 5k ride.

What began in London in 2009 as a good-natured nod to a bygone era has since spread around the world to Tokyo, Toronto, New York, San Francisco and Sydney. The quirky festival has been welcomed with open arms to our western shores.

This will be Fremantle’s second Tweed Run, and the organisers are looking to top the success of last year’s inaugural event. The lawn behind Clancy’s Fish Pub will be filled with a circus featuring aerial performances by acrobats, fire-spitters and juggling clowns. The pub will be pouring drinks and music from DJ NORSE (of The Brow Horn Orchestra fame) will be setting the soundtrack to the day.

A market will be selling a little of everything from vintage clothes and wares
to bicycles. It’s a great chance for you to stock up on everything you’ll need to knock the socks off the competition next year.

But for those who came prepared this year, however, the tweed competition will reward their valiant efforts. A panel of judges will crown the day’s best dressed – no small honour as it lasts an entire 365 days. What’s more, the gal deemed most Dashing Damsel and chap named most Dapper Chap will win Gazelle bicycles valued over $1000 each.

So why not raid Gramp’s and Gran’s retro wardrobe, borrow a friend’s rusty ride and get ye to Fremantle. It would be unseemly not to, really.

Where: Fremantle
Hours: 10am-6pm | Sat 26 Nov
Price: Free
Details: facebook.com/events/121074748000444/#!/FreoTweedRun

Then get ready for the Hola Mexico Film Festival at Northbridge’s Cinema Paradiso. The Perth leg of this national tour, straight from its stint in the US, brings together 16 of the countries’ finest documentaries, dramas and comedies as well as the Australian Premier of three Luis Estrada films. Now in its 6th year, it is one of the biggest International film festivals and celebrates the growing Mexican film Industry.

A land of contrast and contradictions amongst spectacular landscapes, Mexico is a place like the movies. Indeed in this inspired showcase, LA-based festival director and founder Samuel Douek hopes to provide an accurate picture of Mexico’s harsh realities – from crime and drugs to corruption and immigration.

Born and raised in Mexico but educated in Sydney, Douek brings a misunderstood Mexican culture to your attention with his diverse selection of films. His dream of expanding it has taken this Australian festival to the US, showcasing the rich tapestry of life and creativity that is Mexico, in a country where it’s least understood.

The sensitive and often volatile cross border relationships, especially with the US, are deftly explored in films like Luis Estrada’s epic black comedy El Infierno on the world of Mafia and organised crime, Alvaro Curiel’s Acorazado, that opens the festival, and Everado Gonzalez’s award winning documentary, El Cielo Abierto.

The festival examines a raft of issues using a variety of styles. From Agnus Dei, a documentary about Jesús, abused by a priest at a young age, to the highly acclaimed political satire La Ley de Herodes (Herod’s Law), a deserving winner of the Best Picture from the Mexican Academy of Film.

With an opening night fiesta sponsored by Sol Beer, we think it’s time to let that Latin spirit free. So tonight, grab that sombrero and catch a flick.

Where: Cinema Paradiso, 164 James Street, Northbridge
When: 24-30 November 2011
How much? Full $16 | Conc $13. Purchase tickets here
Details: holamexicoff.com

The event showcases Aotearoa’s finest musicians including Reggae sensations Katchafire, The Black Seeds, Kiwi Dub outfit Tiki Taane as well as Kiwi Queen of Soul Hollie Smith.

Festival Director Brian Terry promises more than just a music festival. It is, he says, a celebration of Kiwi culture and spirit, bringing together Australians and New Zealanders in the country, as well as from across the Tasman. And the Festival has secured some of New Zealand’s highest profile and in demand acts. As for the reggae based line up, the decision was only natural with Reggae and Dub being at the core of  New Zealand’s music scene.

Hosted at the spectacular Redhill Auditorium, in the Swan Valley and just 30 mins from Perth’s CBD, Red Hill has been described as the country’s most beautiful open-air venue. The 5000 capacity venue lies between the Perth skyline and John Forrest National Park which means you’ll struggle to find a music venue with such ambience.

And with Red Hill set to organise a shuttle bus service running from 22 pubs throughout the city, you’re left with little reason not to get into the Kiwi beat.

Where: Red Hill Auditorium, Swan Valley
When: 26 November
Tickets: $95 purchased here
Details: naturalmusicfest.com.au

Evolving from the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival held in Canada each year, The Radical Reels competition showcases the world’s best high octane sports films. Radical Reels has become so popular, it is now a standalone tour outside Canada and the USA. And it hits Perth this week.

It promises to get your pulse pumping, while sitting comfortably and watching death defying feats of pure genius, verging on insanity. And these remarkable films are shot in some of the planets most spectacular settings. Radical Reels promises the best of BASE jumping, skiing, climbing, biking and kayaking, not to mention human resilience and astounding skill.

Join Nina Caprez and friends in the film “Tuzgle” as they free climb (yes without harnesses) at 4200 metres, and discover what lies beneath the Tuzgle volcano in Argentina. Marvel at the dizzying “Fly or Die” as cutting edge climber Dean Potter pushes the envelope between BASE Jumping and free climbing. And sit back, if you can, as Steve Fisher and mates, brave the ride of their lives down Africa’s formidable Zambezi in “The Ultimate Ride”.

And as you’re sweating over the roll back in the multistorey, spare a thought for the folks of “Second Nature” as they skateboard down the California Sierras. With all that puffing and panting, you’re sure to need a beer afterwards, so raise a toast to the most extreme sports films in the world, and the folk who bring them alive for us.

Where: State Theatre of WA, 174 – 176 William Street,
Northbridge.
When 23-24 November
Tickets: From $30
Details: banffaustralia.com.au

So it’s no wonder that locals were very happy to see the return of Il Bellissimo Di Una Volta to Claremont’s Bayview Terrace, with Albasio LaPegna – the man behind Funtastico, Pronto, and Zafferano (to name a couple) at the helm. 

In Italian, il bellissimo di una volta means ‘the beauty of once upon a time.’ The name pays homage not only to the traditions of Napolitan cuisine but also to the old Bellissimo Restaurant (originally opened by Albasio) that occupied the very same spot some years ago.

The décor is simple but modern and those few al fresco tables out front are sure to take prime position over the summer months. Inside, there’s a large mural you can’t help but be curious about – it’s a painting of the outdoor area as it once was in front of the old Bellissimo Restaurant. Its presence adds even more charm to the story of the name.

The wood-fired Napolitan-style pizzas here are standouts and toppings range from fresh pork with mozzarella, garlic, chilli and brocollini to gorgonzola, mozzarella, zucchini tapenade and prosciutto. As for the pasta, keep it simple with their gnocchi in Napoli sauce or go for the decadent ‘paccheri bechamel’ – tubed pasta, oven baked with ham, mozzarella, parmesan and béchamel sauce.

Chef’s Favourites are an exploration of the broader intricacies of Napolitan cuisine with specialties like bresaola (air cured beef, thinly sliced) with burrata cheese and green olives or fresh peppered mussels in a lemon and herb consume.

And there’s no escape if you have even the slightest sweet tooth as here – like any good
Napolitan would expect – you’ll find a great selection of seriously sweet treats. Agenda went for the Nutella filled calzone pizza but we’re going back for those freshly made doughnuts with cream and berry compote.

Albasio says the Napolitans have food in their blood, and after visiting Il Bellissimo di una volta, there is no denying it.

Where: 3 Bayview Terrace, Claremont
Details: bellissimorestaurant.net.au

All of this tug-of-warring has resulted in a multitude of versions of the dish. In fact, word is there are about 182 thousand ways to make lasagne.

Out to celebrate this variety – and maybe put an end to all of the bickering - is the Lilly Street Lasagne Bake-Off. What began 14 years ago as a good-natured argument over which neighbour’s recipe was best, has now turned into an annual competition attracting between 60-70 entries. For one day each November, hopefuls submit their finest lasagne dishes to a blind taste testing panel, who, by the end of the day, crown two winners: one for current Lilly Street residents, and one for the general public.

Some follow the traditional Italian method with fresh sheets of lasagne, nestled between alternating layers of ragú and béchamel sauce, topped with parmesan. Others take the American route of stuffing in as much cheese as possible. Attempting to catch the judges off-guard are the daring ones who submit Mexican lasagne or seafood lasagna. All entrants are wary of the Bake-Off veterans, such as three-time winners Giovanni and Maria de Cecco, whose lasagne is made entirely from their own vegetable patch.

So head on down and enjoy the street party vibe of the event, and sample dishes for yourself. Who knows, maybe it will inspire you to put forward your own lasagne recipe next year – and you could take home the Bake-Off 2012 crown. Just promise to share the recipe with us!

Where: Lilly Street, South Fremantle
Hours: Sat, 19 November
Price: Free

WA’s festival season has well and truly begun with the arrival of the 106th annual Fremantle Festival, beginning this weekend and running for the next three weeks. With such an extensive line up, here’s Agenda’s top picks:

Coffee Festival | 20 November.
The abundance of cafes and coffee roasters in Freo does not make for an easy decision when the need for caffeine strikes. Thankfully, Freo’s best coffee makers will be setting up mobile coffee carts along the Cappuccino Strip to give festival goers samples of their brew. Beyond the opportunity to get seriously caffeinated, there’s plenty more on offer, such as the spaghetti eating competition, pitting the winners of past events against each other. Kids will go nuts at the Sticky Maze – constructed entirely of sticky tape!

George Street Festival | 27 November.
Now in its 20th year, the George Street Festival is the perfect reason to pay this quaint street a visit. A usually quiet lane dotted with independent fashion boutiques, beauty spas and gourmet cafes will become a bustling boulevard filled with street entertainers, food stalls, children’s activities and cooking demonstrations. The much-loved Artisan Market will feature handmade jewellery, accessories, homewares and skincare products.

Norfolk Lanes Youth Festival | 3 December.
For a taste of Australia’s hottest musical artists under the age of 25, check out Norfolk Lanes. The free event will take place on Norfolk Lane and X-Wray Café Fremantle and features an array of musical acts ranging from hip hop to folk and acoustic. Standout talent is WA’s own Grace Woodroofe and the gorgeous Brisbane-based artist Emma Louise.

Projections on High | 1-4 December.
Fremantle’s High Street will be illuminated for the last 4 nights of the Freo Festival thanks to local video artists Kat Black and Jasper Cook. The project integrates music and nautical-themed artwork into animated projections splashed on the outsides of Freo’s most beautiful historical buildings and insides of shop windows such as Love in Tokyo.

Where: Fremantle
Hours: 18 Nov – 4 Dec
Price: Free
Details: fremantle.wa.gov.au/Festivals/Fremantle_Festival

Don’t worry, you don’t have to cross the ocean to experience churrasco. Boa Brazilian BBQ is WA’s first – and arguably best – churrascaria. It caters almost exclusively to carnivores. Hungry carnivores. While you can choose from an á la carte menu, most people opt for the all-you-can-eat meal with an endless supply of meat - from Brazilian kebab, Argentinian steak and pork ribs to lamb and South American Sausage. For the vegos in the group (if any were foolhardy enough to come along) there are delicious cheese balls, and side dishes such as black beans, potato salad and farofa – a popular Brazilian dish similar to cous cous.

Once you’ve had your fill, sit back and enjoy the other reason this restaurant is so popular: the nightly live performances. Girls dressed in very small traditional costumes shake their hips to the rhythm of the samba, an iconic Brazilian dance. But beware – the girls often invite unsuspecting diners to join in!

If you have any room to spare, order the degustation dessert which comprises a trio of Brazilian treats: chocolate brigadeiro (the Brazilian equivalent of a bonbon), brazil nut brigadeiro and doce de leite-caramel. Heavenly.

There, now you shouldn’t have to eat again for a week or so.

Where: 1 Manning St, Scarborough
Hours: Dinner, Wed – Sun
Details: boabbq.com.au

Locals will sure notice some changes to their favourite haunt. Beaufort Street will undergo a transformation of Tim Burton-esque qualities with Marisa Garreffa of Mondo di Corpo and Lex Randolph of Propel Youth Arts using debris found along the street to create a Steampunk Sideshow.

The street and surrounds will be all done up with art installations, photoexhibits (check out the Queens Hotel driveway), a mini Beaufort Street depiction in the Highgate Drycleaners as well as an outdoor ping pong party at the Flying Scotsman Hotel. They’ll also be snippets of a video documenting a blind date in all of its awkwardness; quite possibly causing many a familiar cringe.

The stages will be set up along Beaufort St and in car parks for all and sundry; from spaced-out hypnotic experimental sounds to pop, rock, jazz and R&B alongside barista competitions, a banana bread bake-off, and dog show. Yes, really.

Secretly tucked behind Luxe Bar, fashionistas can flock to BamBOO amphitheatre to uncover their own Beaufort St ‘look’ with a fashion show revealing the latest trends for men and women available on the strip. With sounds from Lux Bar’s guest and resident DJ’s in the background, you might team a few cocktails with hawker-style dishes prepared by Herb Faust, winner of the 2010 Australian Iron Chef competition.

The party gets started at 7.00pm tonight at the James Squire Festival Bar at number 555 (next to Method Clothing.) And while the festival technically ends at 10.00pm Saturday night – let’s be honest, that’s unlikely in this thriving locale.

When: Fri 11th November 7.00pm | Saturday 12th November 12.00pm – 10.00pm
Where: Beaufort St, Highgate
Details: beaufortstreetfestival.com.au

An event management company that develops and produces Australian performance nationally and internationally, WA Performing Lines produces the work of five independent West Australian dance and theatre artists. Their most recent installments are two world premiers.

Shiver, showing at UWA, is a heady mix of contemporary dance and music. It tells the story of four strangers, trapped in an unknown place with no exit – undoubtedly a metaphor for many of life’s little gags. And we’ve all been there. The performers relive their uncomfortable pasts as they dance through their search for answers. Director Danielle Micich has teamed up with sound designer Kingsley Reeve to weave a rich cinematic soundtrack into the story.

The second romp through other people’s emotional salvage yard is the tragic comedy They Ran ‘Till They Stopped, performed by The Duck House, an independent contemporary theatre company. Directed by Katherine Osborne, it tells the entertaining stories of housemates Caitlin, Aaron and Maggie who wake one morning after suffering a shared loss.

In their chaotic kitchen, they take cover from cornflakes, parties and cabaret. Like us, they do what they can to grab that rice bubble of hope and laughter and move on. It premiers at Perth Institute of Performing Arts (PICA), in the Cultural Centre.

These two unique performances tell universal stories, experiences we all relate to, whether we want to or not. And after you’ve laughed at someone’s else doggy doo, stroll down to Northbridge and grab that beer.

They Ran ‘Till They Stopped
Where: PICA, Perth Cultural Centre
When: 11-19 November

Shiver
Where: The Dolphin Theatre, UWA
When: 17-19 November
Details: performinglineswa.org.au/home/

Three hours drive south of Perth, this usually tranquil and beautiful southern town will open it gates, tripling its population overnight. Now in its 19th Year, what began as a local festival set up by a small group of blues fans has morphed into the giant that now strums its stuff each year at one of the largest Blues Festivals in Australia. Around 12,000 visitors are expected to descend, with or without fedoras, on the lawns and streets of historic Bridgetown.

This year’s line up will cheer hardcore fans with giants such as Aria award winner Ash Grunwald and West Australian greats Blue Shaddy. But Blues ain’t just Blues; there’s rock type Blues, heavy metal Blues, country Blues and even Irish type Blues. There may even be a dance fusions reggae style Blues. Although originating from 19th century African American culture, its long history, influences and evolution has provided an enormously diverse genre. And the festival organisers bring a wide range of performers for the line up.

Held in three main venues, Blue Owls Nest, Geegeelup Marquee and the Festival Club as well as other hotels and restaurants, music will fill the town for the whole three days. On Saturday 12th, a street party is held on Hampton Street with various artists performing, as well a raft of other entertainment for both adults and kids.

With three days of Blues performances, workshops, food and merchandise stalls, and street entertainment, Blues at Bridgetown has something for everyone. So if even you do forget your fedora and harmonica, don’t stress, kick back and enjoy the sounds of the Blues.

Where: Bridgetown, WA
When: 11-13 November, 2011
How much? Prices vary. Click here for tickets
Details: bluesatbridgetown.com

Lucky for us all, the doors have opened to the perfect summer hangout. The Aviary, a sophisticated two-storey restaurant and bar in the centre of the CBD will have its official launch tomorrow.

Walking through the front door, you get a taste of the venue’s unique style. Aviaries and birdcages hang from the entrance, hummingbird carpet adorns the floors and the walls are wrapped in custom-made wallpaper.

With room for over 600 guests, The Aviary offers something for everybody. On level one is The Birdcage restaurant and circular lounge bar, whose floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Murray Street Mall and William Street below.

Executive Chef Telina Menzies, who previously oversaw the kitchens of hotspots The George and The Byrneleigh, has designed simple, seasonal meals from locally sourced ingredients. Like us, you’ll be yearning to try the ginger and nori fried squid, porcini linguini or pea and broad bean risotto.

While the wine list offers affordable, albeit predictable choices, it’s the bird-inspired cocktail list that will have your mouth watering. Try the Woodpecker, a concoction made of Bombay gin, fresh orange and orange blossom water. Then there’s the Pink Flamingo combining Tanqueray, Cointreau, absinthe, passionfruit and Alize. Or how about the drink that is sure to become a summer staple, the Cockatoo Palace with gin, pomegranate, mint, limes and tonic.

After dinner, a visit to the vibrant and playful outdoor rooftop bar called The Nest is in order. Offering a bird’s eye view of Perth’s ever-changing skyline, The Nest is an open-air rooftop oasis complete with bowling green, trees, AstroTurf and decking.

Surely, there’s no better place to hang out under the stars this summer.

Where: Level 1, 140 William St, Perth
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am – midnight | Sun 11am – 10pm
Details: theaviaryperth.com.au

This one’s ideal if you’re up for walking 5 or 6 hours a day, spending lots of time under the sun and using the ocean as a bath. Running from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, it covers the entire Margaret River coastline and takes about 5-8 days to complete, depending on your fitness level and how many swim breaks you take.

When the day’s done, most camp on the beach or in campsites, beloved for their toilets and rainwater collection tanks. But if you insist on a pillow and a shower, take a guided tour with nights spent at local B&Bs!

In addition to the spectacular scenery of the coast’s rugged limestone cliffs, powdery
white sand beaches and pristine forests, there’s wildlife too. While most animals in the area are nocturnal, it’s not unusual to catch sight of red-winged wrens, purple-crowned lorikeets, bobtail lizards, bandicoots and brush-tailed possums. Dolphins, humpback whales and southern right whales are often spotted too.

But it’s not without challenges. First is the sand. When you’re not walking on the beach itself, you’ll be walking on dune trails or 4WD tracks. With soft sand making for slow walking, sore calves and blisters, switching to sandals or bare feet is the best way to go. Second: the flies. A fly net will be your very best friend on the Cape to Cape. Wind, too, if it’s strong enough to blow the critters away. Then, of course, there’s the siren call of the wineries that are so, so close by.

But if you resist that temptation, a week spent like this will see you communing with Margaret River at its most pure. And while the view from the wine tasting van is pretty, we reckon the one away from the somewhat hedonistic oenophiles is even better.

Where: Margaret River
Details: capetocapetrack.com.au

The result is the gorgeous new Japanese eatery Shiro Izakaya Restaurant. Perched on southern edge of Central Park and flanked by Perth’s premier corporate office buildings is this delectably designed space. A modern, minimalist design features unique touches like sake bottle-shaped light fixtures, dark wood walls and tables fitted with embedded lights. Place settings are stylish and classy – you won’t find disposable wooden chopsticks at Shiro. Most impressive are those floor-to-ceiling windows that can be completely opened to maximise the view of Central Park’s verdant oasis and invite the summer breeze inside.

Lunchtime brings throngs to the exterior counter for takeaway meals, and dine-ins to the window-facing benchtop while the dinner rush attracts those looking for a more leisurely meal, or if in a larger group, to the 18-person table upstairs.

The menu is styled after the “Izakaya” of Japan, bars serving drinks and tapas-style food shared at the table. Shiro adds a WA spin by using only the freshest of seafood from the Indian Ocean and locally raised meat. Cold dishes like sashimi, sushi and salads attest to the quality of the produce and innovation of the kitchen. Our favourite is The Rolls Royce – devilishly good sushi with crab, diced prawn tempura, unagi and cucumber, topped with tiered apple sauce, teriyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise.

Equally delicious is the Ocean’s 5 sashimi with melt-in-your-mouth salmon, lemon-spritzed scallops and the hard-to-come-by yellow-fin tuna. Hot dishes include braised fish, yakitori skewers and even Wagyu steak. Japanese tipple-lovers will rejoice at the news of Shiro’s selection of 14 different sakes but there’s wine and beer too. 

The Bahk brothers have definitely outdone themselves. And aren’t we lucky.

Where: 150c St Georges Terrace, Perth
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am – 9:30am, 11am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – late | Sat-Sun 6pm-late
Details: shiroizakaya.com

Like its Mount Lawley counterpart, The Boulevard is divided into various zones, each with distinctly different vibes. The indoor bar is textured with designer wooden feature walls and partitions. With a white marble top, the bar is surrounded by a mix of lounge settings and high bar tables, with loads of room for mingling too.

But it’s the al fresco beer garden that’s the show stealer – especially on a sunny day. This too is divided into areas: a modern-style veranda and art-deco, tropical-like garden with black and white round tables and designer chairs surrounded by a scattering of palm trees.

For drinks there’s everything you could wish for, particularly if you like your beer. Alongside a good variety of draft, The Boulevard offers a ‘packaged’ beer menu, hitting almost 30 different labels. If cocktails are your thing, go for a refreshing Moscow Mule or Whiskey Sour or choose something from the wine list, with around 40 wines by the glass alongside impressive Old World labels.

As for the food, Executive Chef Anthony Schell plates up classic, quality pub fare with a European edge.  The tomato, basil, mozzarella arancini balls are exceptional while the grilled chorizo with olives and homemade sourdough is enough to share as a starter. For mains, go for spaghettini with crab, chilli, garlic, tomato sugo and spinach or beer battered barramundi with fries and tartare sauce. For a truly continental edge, try the prosciutto, pear and gorgonzola or the pancetta, balsamic onion and goat’s cheese pizzas.

Agenda didn’t make it to dessert but the temptation of a mascarpone, raspberry and almond trifle or Spanish doughnuts with chocolate sauce and vanilla anglaise are more than enough incentive to get us back.

Where: Corner of The Boulevard and Howtree Place, Floreat, WA
Hours: 11am – 11pm
Details: theboulevardhotel.com.au

The only race of its kind in Australia, the third and most arduous leg reaches the sleepy town of Augusta on November 6th. Set to attract around 1700 competitors from around the world, it’s considered the largest race of its kind…anywhere.

A field of weekend warriors and elite professionals will be sweating it out; running, swimming, paddling and biking around some of the most the dramatic, and harsh terrain of south west Australia.

Not only competitors, large crowds are also expected to flock to Augusta to watch the event. Organised by Rapid Ascent, Director John Jacoby is the veteran race organiser and one of the most accomplished adventure racers in the world. And he has a well-deserved reputation for creating challenging racecourses.

Starting at the enormous slab of rock at the Cape Leeuwin Light house, competitors will complete a 13.5km run along some of wildest coastal landscapes. At Flinders Bay, they’ll take a cooling dip for a 1.9km ocean swim and run to Hardy Inlet before completing a heart pounding 13km kayak out into the Southern Ocean. It ends with a 32km run through bush and forest.

For those with a desire for more of the same muscle crunching, there’s still the 2.5km fun run. Not for the faint hearted, it promises the wildest of the west’s scenery as competitors get close to nature at its rawest.

With so many spectators flocking to watch the race, the event also features an adventure expo, food and market stalls and family events. And for those with any endurance left, there’s always the après race celebrations.

When: Sunday 6th November
Where: Augusta, WA
Details: rapidascent.com.au/anacondaadventurerace/wa

Deckchair Theatre Company is one of Australia’s most entertaining creative theatre companies. Sometimes provocative, sometimes challenging, Deckchair promotes risk taking in the arts, producing original, high-quality works that stretch boundaries and imaginations.

26 years old, they’ve produced about 80 new Australian plays, many of which have gone on to tour the country, picking up award like the Edinburgh ‘Fringe First’ for Outstanding New Production and WA Equity Guild Award for Best Director. With their 2011 ‘A Season of Voyages’ program coming to a close, their last two installments are certainly worth a look.

Showing at Freo’s Victoria Hall from Saturday Oct 29 to Saturday Nov 12 is a fusion of mystery, romance and caberet: Lorelei, described as one of the most glam 1930′s events of the season.

With a perfect port-side setting, it follows cabaret pair Lorelei and Buzzard (Rhona Lopez and Mark Storen) who set sail from Freo to the Far East on a cruise ship. When Lorelei vanishes in Shanghai, Buzzard embarks on a port-to-port journey into the heart of Europe to find her and uncover her secret past. The collaboration between Chris Bendall, Mark Storen and musical director Tim Cunniffe is set to the music of Cole Porter, Nick Cave, Lily Allen, Tom Waits and Nina Simone.

From Dec 2 to 17, catch acclaimed WA play Taking Liberty. With a cast including skipper John Bertrand, ‘winged keel’ inventor Ben Lexcen and tycoon Alan Bond, it’s the story of the Australia II – a personal and national obsession on the America’s Cup that placed Freo on the sailing world map. With performances coinciding with the Perth Sailing World Champs, expect ingenuity, adventure, risk and dogged determination.

When: Lorelei runs 27 Oct – 12 Nov 2011 | 8pm except 1 & 8 Nov at 6.30pm | Matinees 11am on 10 Nov + 2pm on 12 Nov. Taking Liberty runs 2 Dec — 17 Dec at 8pm.
Where: Deckchair Theatre. Victoria Hall. 179 High St. Fremantle. WA.
Cost: $40 Standard. $35 Concession.
Details and Tickets: deckchairtheatre.com.au

Once merely known to caffeine fiends for its fresh coffee and cupcakes, Frisk is now catering to a wider post-work clientele looking for a relaxed place to unwind. Just around the corner from the Northbridge action, yet sheltered from any rowdiness.

Besides inspiring a new menu and trading hours, the new licence has given owner Michael Cheang the opportunity to renovate the space in an environmentally responsible way, using second hand furniture and décor made from salvaged materials. Frisk’s tables are made from discarded and distressed siding, its lampshades from recycled plastic water containers and its stools from reused oil drums.

Enveloping the intimate space are walls adorned with the spray-painted stylings of the aerosol artists behind Perth-based The Graphite Crew. But don’t expect their artwork to last long. Cheang intends for the walls to change constantly, featuring the work of different local artists. Just to keep Frisk’s interior fresh.

Not that you’d visit Frisk for ambiance alone. A new bar food menu is in the works with nibbles like bread with dips, grilled chorizoand salted nuts. Frisk also welcomes the hungry to order a burger from the neighboring Lacker’s Grill, who deliver straight to your booth in Frisk.

And to wash it all down? We nearly forgot to mention Frisk’s brand spanking new – and stocked to the gills – bar with an impressive selection of boutique beer, cider, West Australian wines, premium spirits and healthy cocktails.

So next time you’re in the area, but not in the mood for the raucous club scene, duck into the spray-painted refuge of Frisk Espresso.

Where: 103 Francis Street, Northbridge
Hours: Mon-Tue 6:30am-3pm | Wed-Thu 6:30am-10pm | Fri-Sat 8:30am-12am | Sun 8:30am-10pm
Details: facebook.com/friskespresso

One of you wants Italian, someone else feels like a burger, a couple of others feel like kebabs and you’re dying for sushi. The larger the group, the longer the argument.

Not to worry. We promise it’s going to be different tonight. Why? Because tonight is the first of a series of Friday night Twilight Hawkers Markets happening in Forrest Place.

Following immense success when first trialled earlier in the year as part of Eat Drink Perth, the City of Perth has decided the markets should run all summer long, taking advantage of the city’s warm summer nights and burgeoning culinary scene.

With international food vendors of every kind, everyone can gratify their own individual craving. A wander through the rows of market stalls will bring you face-to-face with cuisine from all over the globe. Jostling for your nose’s attention will be the aromas of Indonesian chicken satays with chunky peanut sauce, Spanish paella packed with chicken and seafood, Colombian pork and lime empanadas with fresh guacamole, steaming Turkish gozlemes and spicy Moroccan tagines. Just to name a few.

Once you’ve each made your choice, your crew can kick back and enjoy the free live music and roving entertainment which will vary each week, promising to feature some of the state’s best talent. Just be sure to get there early – the market only runs from 5-8pm.

So for a Friday night that will have your tastebuds singing and your friendships intact, head to the Twilight Hawkers Markets.

Where: Forrest Place, Murray St, Perth
When: Fridays 5-8pm, Oct 11 – March 12
Details: cityofperth.wa.gov.au

As any fan of critically acclaimed ’60s advertising drama Mad Men will tell you, aesthetics are key. The exquisitely crafted and period perfect wardrobes and sets are as integral to the show’s appeal, as are its carefully drawn and complex characters.

Not since Sex and the City has a television show had such influence over the world of contemporary fashion. From the moment the first season of Mad Men premiered in 2007, catwalks have been awash with more feminine silhouettes, and men have seen the appeal of the precise tailoring and slim line suits worn by the show’s anti-hero, the aforementioned Mr Draper.

While the fifth season of Mad Men may have been delayed until 2012, there’s no need to drop your whisky on the office floor. Australian fans can still get their fashion fix at Mad for Fashion, which is exhibiting some of the show’s most influential costumes at enex100 until October 30 (this Sunday).

Curated by Janie Bryant, the woman behind the Mad Men wardrobe, the exhibition features 20 iconic top-to-toe looks from the show, which mixes original designs with vintage 1960s items.

Don’t miss the chance to see the handiwork of the Emmy Award-winning costume designer, a woman so adept at distilling the signature style of the show’s key characters that their names have become shorthand in women’s mags for describing a body type, attitude and style. Ladies, you can choose your mould. Gentlemen, feel free to mull which kind you’d most like to have hanging on your arm.

Where: 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA
When: Until October 30
Details: www.enex100.com.au/

From today, Perth Cultural Centre will become a ‘People’s Space’ with live music, craft markets, film, world-class exhibitions and street theatre. Food-wise, multicultural tastes range from Malaysian satays to British cupcakes.

Among the musicians is award-winner Grace Barbé with her mix of Indian Ocean island inspired sounds and reggae, soul, funk and afrobeat; Akwaaba for traditional African drumming and Indigenous rock band The Bartlett Brothers. Street performers Pinstripe Circus will pay tribute to the iconic Aussie livesaver with acrobatics, slapstick comedy and juggling.

Films screening on the PCC LED Screen and at the State Library of WA Theatre include award-winning documentary Fire in Babylon on the rise of the West Indies Cricket Team and user-generated documentary Life in a Day when the global community was enlisted to capture a moment of their lives on camera.

For art lovers, a standout is Noonagar artist’s Charlie Riley’s take on the iconic Ford Falcon which he’s painted inside-out with bright and colourful motifs, animals and dreamtime imagery. Nomad Two Worlds: Portrait of Diversity is one of a few world-class exhibits and features 53 large-scale portrait photos of Western Australian’s born in each of the Commonwealth countries.

On Friday at midday, celebrated WA chef Hadleigh Troy from Amusé is set to treat 20 lucky tasters and some special guests to his take on historic menus from the State archives collection. Iced asparagus anyone?

The festival finishes Sunday with fireworks and a free concert featuring South African Ringo Madlingozi for Afro-pop and our own multi ARIA award winning Dan Sultan (pictured).

With events aplenty, there’s sure to be one for you – no matter where you’re from!

What: Commonwealth Festival 2011
When: October 23 – 30, 2011. Events at Perth Cultural Centre run from 11am-8pm daily.
Details: commonwealthfestival.com

For a French garden-inspired party, head to The Grand Ballroom at Burswood Entertainment Complex for a Garden Soiree. They’ll be live entertainment from Glenn Shorrock and Joe Camilleri and a runway show featuring Aurelio Costarella, Love in Tokyo, Ake’lkemi, Fenella Peacock and Paper Skye. Expect a four-course menu by Executive Sous Chef Sean Marco from poached crayfish all the way to Campari and pink grapefruit sorbet and premium beverages.

Over at Modo Mio, a divine three-course lunch will be served up with fine wine and premium beer before Claremont Quarter showcases the latest in European fashions. Among the offerings, pan-fried barra fillet and their traditional Italian Tiramisu! Post-race celebrations will be at Eve and MINQ nightclubs. 

Trackside at Ascot, place your bets on an 8-race programme and watch the Cup on the big screen before an arvo of live entertainment at Skyy Vodka Bar and Yellowglen Bubbly Bar. Amp it up with a ticket to the Yellowglen Marquee for a 3-course luncheon, fashion parades and other entertainment.

At King’s Park, Frasers have an afternoon of entertainment, fashion, food and fun planned with best hat and best dressed competitions, live music and a fashion parade from Subiaco’s The Colonnade.

1907 Restaurant & Bar will celebrate the big race with draw prizes, a sweepstakes and live broadcast. Look forward to a delectable 3-course lunch with premium wines. Think oysters, prawn cocktails and sparkling on arrival before a complimentary cocktail to finish.

Possibly the hottest ticket is for BamBOO at LuxBar for a glass of Veuve Clicquot NV on arrival, luxury menu from Heyder and Shears, fashion parade featuring Zara Bryson and Betts and live music from Bronze Medallion LIVE and DJ Paul Malone.

Be sure to get your tickets early and wherever go you, arrive in race gear, maybe a hat and definitely an appetite. A race book is of course, optional.

BamBOO @ LuxBar | 446 Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley. $75 Tickets
Garden Soiree @ Burswood Grand Ballroom | Burswood Entertainment Complex, 430 Little Collins St, Melbourne. $205. Tickets.
Cup Day Lunch @ Modo Mio | Burswood Entertainment Complex, 430 Little Collins St, Melbourne. $165. (08) 9362 7551.
Yellowglen Melbourne Cup Day – General Admission/Yellowglen Marquee | Ascot Racecourse, 70 Grandstand Road, Ascot $35/$300 Tickets
1907 Restaurant & Cocktail Bar | 26 Queen St, Perth. $165. Ph: (08) 9436 0233
Frasers Restaurant | Frasers Avenue, Kings Park, West Perth. $120. Ph: (08) 9481 7100

Now you can let one select you at Willie Creek Pearl Company’s latest, most glamorous showroom in Subiaco. Open 7 days, it joins a host of luxury brand retailers on the corner of Rokeby Rd and Hay St, replacing what was once Gant Menswear.

With an elegant, modern fit-out, its unique ceiling feature brings a touch of Broome to town, inspired by the waves of the Willie Creek Farm. One of the best areas to grow Australian South Sea Pearls, pearl luggers sheltered in this ocean-fed tidal estuary on the Kimberley Coastline during the cyclone season. With its pristine, crystal clear waters, the now award-winning tourist magnet has been acquainting visitors with the world of pearling for years.

With a showroom at the farm, a couple more in Broome, Hilary’s Boat Harbour, Sorrento Quay and now Subiaco, Willie Creek Pearls now boasts the largest collection of pearl jewelery in Australia. From the irregular freshwater pearl to the priced cultured, the Keshi (‘poppy seed’ in Japanese) and Mabe (aka half or blister pearl), you’ll find high quality pieces for all budgets and tastes alongside 20 new and exclusive designs. And blokes don’t despair, there’s a host of styles for you too.

A warning though, as stunning as it is, that 18K White Gold Australian South Sea Cultured Pearl Necklace (14-15mm) comes with a $10,970 price tag.

Pearl chooses its wearer though, right?

Where: Shop 2/464 Hay St (Cnr Rokeby Rd and Hay St), Subiaco.
Phone: (08) 9388 1001
Details: williecreekpearls.com.au

Now entering its final week, Agenda checked out what’s coming up…

The End of the Line
Sunday October 23 | 7.30pm

A world without fish? A meal without seafood? Directed by Rupert Murray and shot in locations ranging from the Straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Senegal and Alaska and Tokyo fish market, this film chronicles our love affair with fish as food. Watch as investigative journalist Charles Clover challenges politicians and restaurateurs with the decline of global fish stocks. You won’t think about sushi the same way again!

At The Edge of the World
Sunday October 23 | 9:00pm

This multi-award winning film follows the journey of an international volunteer crew as they attempt to stop an Antarctic whale hunt in the Ross Sea. This David v Goliath adventure has been described as ‘…an epic tale of hunter and hunted: a Moby Dick of the environmental age.’

Manufactured Landscapes
Wednesday October 26 | 7.30pm

Another award-winner, this documentary features renowned artist Edward Burtynsky. With subjects ranging from industrial waste and toxic sludge to quarries and recycling yards, his large-scale photos of ‘manufactured landscapes’ have been described as stunning and beautiful. It’s said to leave audiences pondering questions about ethics and aesthetics and the human impact on our environment.

No Impact Man
Saturday October 29 | 8:30pm

Watch on as New York Liberal and family-man Colin Beavan turns off the electricity, stops making garbage, gives up TV, taxis and take out to become a walking, bicycle composting, tree-hugging, polar bear saving local food-eating citizen! 

Go on, pull up a bean bag at the Piazza this weekend for one of these engaging, entertaining and sustainability-focused flicks!

Where: The Northbridge Piazza, Corner of Lake and James Street, Northbridge.
Cost: Free
Details: northbridgepiazza.showmeperth.com.au

No longer confined to gentleman’s clubs and strip joints, pole dancing has become the exercise trend du jour, promising to build inner core strength, improve flexibility and increase endurance. Believe it or not, even guys are giving it a, um, whirl.

But that’s not all. The International Pole Sports Federation, a committee made up of industry professionals from around the world, are aiming to have pole sports included as a competitive event at the Olympic Games. Yep – one day there might even be medals for this.

To do so, the Federation is doing its darndest to promote the sport around the world – and it’s Perth’s turn to blush next. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, The West Australian Pole Performance Showcase (WAPPS) is set to take centre stage at Eve nightclub tomorrow night.

The WAPPS offers spectators the opportunity to learn more about the art of pole sports. Perhaps you’ve always wondered about moves like the Superman Spin, Gemini Handstand, Bouncing Boomerang or Hummingbird?

Ok, perhaps not. In any case, these moves and more will be demonstrated by some of the region’s best performers, such as Tammy Baxter. This local pole dancing instructor recently competed in the semi-finals at the International Pole World Cup in Rio de Janero, Brazil and will be among the twelve performers sharing skills at the Showcase.

So move aside Zumba – there’s a new kid in town.

Where: Eve Nightclub, Burswood Entertainment Complex, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood
When: 21 October | 7pm
Price: $35
Details: wapole.net.au

Open seven days a week and located within the lush grounds of the historic Fremantle Arts Centre, FOUND is a shop like no other. Manager Carolyn Gorman has packed every nook of the shop with a gorgeous collection of treasures.

For the fashionistas in search of that unique outfit-completing piece, there are hand-printed silk scarves by Marlene Page, one-of-a-kind jewellery in precious metals and gemstones by jewelers Stuart Penny and Marcus Synnot, and quirky clothes by designers Angela Ferolla and Georgina Cresswell. We love the vegetable-dyed leather bags by Henk Berg.

Is that empty space on your lounge wall crying out to be adorned? Prints by French-born and Freo-based artist Magali Dincher would work a treat. Maybe you’re looking for that special touch for your next dinner party? FOUND sells a great selection of table linen, utensils bowls and mugs. We especially love the irony-laced range of glasses made to look like discarded disposable plastic cups.

With the number of unique objects on the shelves of FOUND, there’s guaranteed to be a gift for absolutely anyone. A porcelain tea set for Nan? A jarra chopping board for the budding master chef? A book about Fremantle culture and history for the Freo local in your family? Or how about handmade toys for the kids?

Shopping has quite possibly never been so easy.

Where: 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle
Hours: 10am – 5pm
Details: fac.org.au

Produced by Soul Highway, who aim to build soulful music events for artists and patrons, this year’s line up features 20 Aussie and international music acts and about 10 feature films.

To get there, you’ll take the Brookton Highway 340km east of Perth to Hyden, setting up camp within 100m of Wave Rock: a 15m high, 110m long face of Hyden Rock, a 100 hectare rock formation that’s been sitting in the sun for over a 1000 million years with erosion to thank for its unique shape.

The music line-up includes The Tallest Man for acoustic rock ‘n’ roll, Electric Wire Hustle for a twist on modern hip hop, psychedelic and soul; The Bombay Royale ensemble for slammin’ surf, disco and funk tunes from 60s and 70s Bollywood and the Puta Madre Brothers for mariachi rock n roll soul music. Also staring will be Clairy Browne and her 9 piece rhythm and blues group the Bangin’ Rackettes, who’ve played at Big Day Out, Golden Plains and Melbourne Festival.

Among the films screening on the Wave Rock Weekender Cinema (with bean bags) will be Boy, a hilarious coming-of-age tale about heroes, magic and Michael Jackson; Lake Mungo, a ghost story which sees strange and inexplicable events transpire after a young girl drowns in the local damn as well as powerful crime drama Animal Kingdom, the true story of Lindy Chamberlain Evils Angels and Banksy’s Exit Through the Gift Shop.

With night music under the rock and campfire jams, you might also take a dip in the nearby 20m round, 6pm deep gypsum salt pond. Word is its buoyancy and therapeutic properties are greater than those of the Dead Sea!

A main bar will serve alcohol until 12am while for food, cook your own BBQ or pick up something from the various food vendors.

A pretty unique way to spend the weekend we think.

What: 2011 Wave Rock Weekender
When: 28 October – 30 October
Price: $190 for w/end pass + bf including a campsite suitable for a small tent. No day passes.
Where: Wave Rock Caravan Park, Wave Rock Road
More details: soulhighway.com.au with tickets here

Situated in up-and-coming neighbourhood of Victoria Park, The Imp has spent the last three years contributing to the area’s growing reputation as a foodie destination. It may be most famous for its coffee, but the café has developed an impressive menu to suit any taste or schedule.

For the brekky lovers, The Imp offers classic choices like Bircher muesli, eggs on toast and cinnamon french toast, but for those who prefer to deviate from the norm, the rewards are great. Standout dishes include crepes with caramelised pineapple and butterscotch sauce, buttermilk pancakes or the watermelon salad with agave and fresh mint. Pair these with one of The Imp’s fresh squeezed juices, smoothies or Fiori coffee – the perfect start to the day.

At lunchtime, the café is abuzz with the flurry of local workers seeking a quick, delicious and light bite to eat. Popular choices include the BLT, the burger and an amazing couscous, pepita and beetroot salad. For those who like a later lunch, The Imp starts serving its famed tapas at 1pm daily. We love the vegetarian arancini, sweet paprika crusted lamb cutlets and venison chorizo.

We’re pretty sure The Imp’s dinner crowd come for one thing: the desserts. The sweets menu and the display cabinet is constantly being refreshed with new treats, but regulars include sticky date pudding served in a tea cup, mini carrot cake and chocolate cheesecake.

Mischievous or not, Imp is certainly worth a visit.

Where: 863 Albany Hwy, East Victoria Park
Hours: 7am – 10pm
Details: theimp.com.au

The brains behind the Fine Wine Club is director and wine lover Barry Weinman who established the group several years ago. With some impressive credentials and the right name, he’s the president of the Wine and Food Society of Western Australia which means he can’t help but know his stuff.

Members of the Fine Wine Club are offered tutored wine tastings and open invitations to events. This October, they’ll be heading along to a tasting at La Vigna Liquor Store for a drop of Hunter Valley’s Mount Pleasant labels; the Lovedale Semillon (which is likened to the Penfolds Grange) and the great pedigree of Old Paddock and Old Hill made from old shiraz vines planted in the 1880’s.

There’s also an invitation to Prego, one of Perth’s finest Italian restaurants, to sample wines from a collapsed “heritage” scheme – talk about secret wine business.

The monthly newsletters include wines of the week and recently released labels among other wine and foodie related news. This month you’d be prudent to try the gamey flavours of 2009 Henschke Pinor Noir Giles or Juniper Estate’s Semillon 2009 with its lemon and vanilla undertones.

And don’t be thinking this club is exclusive, anyone is welcome. Barry’s tasting notes are extensive, impress the uninitiated and the intricate rating system is a good guideline if you’re stabbing around in the dark for your next soiree.

So the next time you’re out and happen across some inconspicuous wine tastings, you’ll be in the know.

For more details: finewineclub.com.au

But it’s the siren call of one particular restaurant we think draws the majority: Maya Indian Restaurant.

In business for the last 15 years, Maya continues to pack tables, receive shining reviews and earn dozens of industry accolades, including Best Indian WA in 2011 by The West Australian Good Food Guide.

So how does Maya do it? Perhaps their consistently good service, ambiance and of course their modern Indian cuisine, the kind that satisfies a craving for classic Indian flavours but is still light, sophisticated and surprisingly innovative.

One of head chef Kamal Sharma’s standout dishes is Chicken Mumtaz (aka butter chicken) with tandoor-roasted chicken pieces in a sauce of tomatoes, fenugreek, cream and butter, taking over two days to prepare. Another is the Fish Qmin with barramundi cooked with coconut, tomatoes, chillies, cumin and fenugreek seeds – a dish that strikes an amazing balance of spicy and creamy and tastes delicious with some garlic naan.

First timers ought to start with mixed entrée platter of spiced tiger prawns, lamb seekh kebab, chicken tikka and eggplant pakoras with that coriander yoghurt sauce. It’s the perfect introduction to what an evening at Maya has in store.

Finish with one of Maya’s lauded and curiously described desserts such as the Chocolate Phrini. The menu quips: ‘…please do not disturb others, chocolate fantasy in progress. I am a fusion of rice flour and chocolate pudding.’ Or be sensible and order the tasting plate with ‘…so many sweets and so little time, I am for those who can’t make up their mind.’

We’re sure the only thing left to make up your mind about is when to visit Maya next.

Where: 75 – 77 Market Street, Fremantle
When: Tue – Sun | 6pm till late
Phone: (08) 9335 2796
Details: mayarestaurant.com.au

Feast Your Eyes is a creative festival for emerging visual artists, filmmakers and musicians in WA. Hosted by the Fremantle Arts Centre this Saturday October 15, the event provides an opportunity for local up-and-coming artists to showcase their works to the wider community. This year’s exhibition theme is ‘city space,’ attracting work from 18 visual artists, 20 filmmakers and three WA bands.

A wander through the Fremantle Arts Centre will bring you face to face with artwork in a variety of media – photographs, illustrations, paintings and sketches.

Among them is Steven Christie’s artwork, created with a .13 Faber technical pen and inspired by the ways that music and art culture can influence a city. Acrylic paintings by Anya Brock on the other hand illustrate the artist’s fondness for nature and love hate relationship with the city.

For those who prefer a moving picture, the expansive courtyard will be transformed into an outdoor cinema for the night, screening the work of over 20 emerging local filmmakers. One to look out for is local filmmaker Michelle Williamson’s movie The Craftsman, an animation depicting an old man fighting against the digital revolution threatening his livelihood. Then there’s Living with Benjamin, an award-winning independent short horror film produced by the trio behind local production company Quarter to Four.

Live performances by local acts Billie Rogers, The Lonely Brothers and Voltaire Twins will punctuate the night and offer the perfect opportunity to savour a beer, a bite and a feast of Perth culture.

Where: Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle 
When: 15 October | 6-10pm
Price: $15
Details: sarahblangiardo.blogspot.com

Colloquially termed ‘SUP,’ Stand Up Paddle Board is known as hoe he’e nalu in Hawaiian. Originating in the ’50s on Waikiki Beach as a means for upright surf instructors aka ‘Beach Boys’ to spot surf sets, take photos and keep an eye on pupils, it’s now lamented as one of the world’s fastest growing sports. That, and pretty good form of exercise; low impact, safe and suited to all levels.

To get started, a few hours of instruction will no doubt be called for. Here to help is Elemental SUP, a Perth-based company which operates private and group classes from their base at Point Walter. The team: gym and kitesurf instructor from New Zealand Caroline, Celita from Brazil and Emily from Canada.

When you’re starting out, flat water is key. In a two-hour introductory session, you’ll learn basic theory, stroke correction, paddle techniques, foot placement, stance and self rescue before heading off on a guided paddling trip around the Swan River.

Naturals and the brave meanwhile are welcome to hire a board and go it alone, cruising around Woodmens, through the turquoise waters of Coogee Beach or Swan River.

As for fitness, say hello to your core. You’d be surprised how many muscles are called on to stay upright. SUP is perfect for achieving strength and tone in the upper body, lower back, abs, arms, thighs and butt.

So dig up your old Hawaiian shirt. With a breeze in your face, sun on the back and a beaut coastline to watch, it doesn’t get much better. And for those chasing a bigger challenge, Elemental also has a kiteboarding school, with everything from beginner to advanced lessons held from October through to end of May.

To Book: 0410 142 878 or info@elementalsup.com.au
Details: elementalsup.com.au

Now in its twelfth year, the 2011 Lavazza Italian Film Festival is offering a line-up of 31 new Italian films, including 29 features and 2 documentaries – each lovingly chosen from the world’s most prestigious film festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, Rome and Venice.

Perth’s screenings run from 13-26 October, so with two weeks and so many films to choose from, it’s important to choose your film wisely.

Fancy watching Robert De Niro have a go at role that requires him to speak entirely in Italian? The actor shares the screen with Italian muse Monica Bellucci in The Ages of Love, the third installment of the hugely successful series Manual of Love.

Then there’s Basilicata Coast to Coast, the winner of Best New Director at the 2011 Italian Academy Awards. Created by actor-turned-writer and director Rocco Papaleo, this film is a celebration of this little-known region and is set to a soundtrack written by Papaleo himself.

For those looking for a laugh, you might catch the box office hit Welcome to the South, a remake of the French movie Bienvenue chez les ch’tis, but on Italian soil. It follows the story of an ambitious Milanese post office manager who is transferred to a tiny village near Naples. The film pokes fun at the rivalry between the north and south of Italy, and is hilarious even for those who are unaware of the differences in mentality between the two.

Considering Australia’s rich Italian heritage, it’s little wonder that the festival grows each year. And with the films on offer this year, we think this will be the best one yet.

Where: Fremantle Palace, 13 Essex Street, Fremantle | Cinema Paradiso, 164 James St, Northbridge.
When: October 13 – 26 2011
Details: italianfilmfestival.com.au

Out to change that is Malt Market in Dunsborough, a laid back eatery dedicated to championing local beers. It prides itself on being truly independent, which gives the restaurant the freedom to offer guests the best beer on the market.

The selection includes over 70 beers, 20 of them on tap. Guests can choose from local, small batch brews like the Kolsch from the Colonial Brewing Co in Margaret River or Abbey Ale from New Norcia. International imports range from the US to Japan to Germany.

With a drinks menu that’s constantly being refreshed with new and interesting beers, it’s little wonder that Malt Market took out the 2010 Best Small Beer Venue in Western Australia.

But the beer is not just for drinking. Malt Market’s dishes change with the season, and beer is often a key ingredient. The dishes have a wide variety of culinary influences including Mediterranean, North African and Moroccan – but don’t worry – there’s pizza too. The most popular meal on the menu is the humble Malt burger, a juicy patty on Yalls bread (that’s Yallingup for non-locals) with prosciutto and swiss cheese. Perfect with a glass of the beer du jour.

Weeknights at Malt Market are great for relaxing on the upstairs al fresco area called The Lawn or inside by the fire when temperatures drop. Weekends, though, are when Malt Market really comes into its own. There’s often live music on Friday and Saturday nights and the weekly Sunday Slow Roast is a hit with the locals who swear it’s the perfect cure for Saturday night’s hangover.

Where: 26 Dunn Bay Road, Dunsborough
Hours: Mon-Sat 4pm-12am | Sun 4pm-10pm
Phone: (08) 9759 1720
Details: maltmarket.com.au

What he discovered though was preventable suffering, the direct result of disease and inadequate living standards. So, with the help of two mates (a world renowned public health specialist and lawyer) and a group of local surfers, Jenkins founded the non-for-profit humanitarian organization SurfAid International.

With the aim of improving the health and well being of people living in isolation regions,  the group (95% of whom are Indonesian nationals) work with local community members, targeting nutrition, hygiene and disease prevention with programs and initiatives ranging from mosquito net distribution to emergency preparation.

To raise money for this great organisation and their work in the islands off Sumatra and Aceh, Margaret River’s Must Wine Bar will host SurfAid Surfing Chefs, a gourmet charity dinner.

At 6.30pm on October 13th (next Thursday) five top local chefs including head chef at Must, Russell Blaikie, Leeuwin Estate’s Dany Angove, Vasse Felix’s Aaron Carr, Clairault’s Jake Drachenberg and head chef at Cape Lodge, Tony Howell will prepare a three-course dinner with dessert all served up with premium Margaret River wines and local beverages.

For $150, guests will be treated to drinks and canapes in the bar before the sit down dinner. With entertainment throughout, Jenkins will also give guests a brief overview on SurfAid’s current projects.

Plus, those in the market for a new board might get lucky. A long board signed by world champ Kelly Slater will be auctioned off in the raffle alongside a Quiksilver wetsuit, Russell Ord Art Package and other great items.

Fine food, wine, location, entertainment and great cause. A worthy spend we think. 

What: SurfAid Surfing Chefs Charity Dinner
When: October 13, 2011 | 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Where: Must Wine Bar. 107 Bussell Highway, Margaret River
Details: For tickets, phone Must Wine Bar on (08) 9758 8877 or email bistromr@must.com.au.

Thankfully, there’s a new Freo restaurant spicing things up. The first of its kind in Fremantle, the two-month-old Kaza Blanca Grill is a restaurant serving traditional Moroccan and Middle Eastern halal cuisine.

Tucked in an alleyway just off the main drag behind Soho Burgers, a first-time visitor would think they had entered a Middle Eastern bazaar. It’s hard to know where to look first: the brilliant, multicoloured walls, ceilings draped with flowing embroidered cloth and dotted with Moroccan lamps, a shopfront window filled with traditional clothing or the people happily puffing at herbal shisha from ornate hookahs and lounging on plush cushions.

Inside the restaurant, it’s not the décor that will have you mesmerised, but the gorgeous aromas drifting from the kitchen. Kaza Blanca’s extensive menu represents their unique take on the best of Middle Eastern cuisine. Of course there are everyone’s favourite dips like hommus and baba ganoush that will have your tastebuds singing, convincing you that the store-bought varieties should be ashamed. Entrees like falafel and merguez are delicious, but the star of the menu is the assortment of mains served in steaming tajines filled with moreish grilled meat – great alongside couscous or fried cauliflower.

For a real experience, book a visit on a Friday or Saturday night for the belly dancing shows.

You won’t find that at any Freo pizzeria!

Where: Shop 7, 16 South Terrace, Fremantle
Hours: Lunch and dinner | 7 days a week
Phone: (08) 9335 9005
Details:www.facebook.com/pages/Kaza-Blanca-Grill

The feel is modern European with a distinct nod to Spain. The colours are deep reds, blacks and light greys with flickers of candlelight and glowing, gold hanging lamps. You’ll make your way to a small indoor bar and a larger al fresco dining area which will no doubt show its full potential come summer.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Madrid’s has easily inserted itself into the Claremont scene but its buzzy, eclectic vibe really comes into its own at ‘tapas time’.

The menu offers something for all appetites. The ‘start’ and ‘extras’ selection are more bar snack-types with freshly baked ciabatta bread, warm olives and shoestring fries with truffle salt.

The ‘tapas’ menu is great if you feel like sharing a few plates with friends – perhaps some pan-seared scallops with Persian fetta; some panko-crumbed bocconcini, or the bruschetta with cubed yellow fin tuna, hiramasu kingfish, marjoram and chilli for something a bit different.

If you in for dinner – save the tapas for starters and order from the ‘bigger’ menu. It could be an eye fillet of beef with rocket and those shoestring fries, or some fresh egg linguine with truffle fondue and shaved parmesan.

While the drinks menu is short and sweet, their Spanish-inspired cocktails are particularly alluring. Those in need of a real pick-me-up can go for the ‘Madrid Espresso’ with a double espresso shot, vanilla vodka, Kahlua and Baileys served with a bite of dark chocolate.

Seating is limited so it would wise to book ahead for the evening rush!

Where: 14/22 St Quentin’s Avenue, Claremont
Hours: Mon – Sat: 7am – 12am
Phone: 0410 905 140
Details: facebook.com/pages/Madrid-Tapas-Bar/

Presenting the Margaret River Cycle Trek, a nine-day bike riding expedition through Margaret River, now taking reservations for their annual Regional Environment Centre Challenge. Run by volunteers with proceeds going towards the REC, the trip starts 4km south of Margaret River at Glenbrook Farm Stay on Sunday October 16.

Staying clear of main roads on sealed ones and bush tracks, you and 29 others will travel from Margaret River to Cape Leeuwin; returning via the Willyabrup wine Region, Margaret and Blackwood River catchments, Augusta, Hamelin Bay, Boronup Forrest and Contos Beach.

Camping by fire at night, your hard work will be rewarded with the delivery of warm meals, afternoon tea, coffee and cakes. And expect some gourmet treats too, with a few eats at wineries sprinkled in between rides.

Not all riding, additional activities in 2011 include a behind the scenes tour and wine tasting at Howard Park Winery, a tour of Jewel Cave and rest day at Augusta where you’ll enjoy dinner at the Blue Deck overlooking the Blackwood. Other highlights include whale watching, body surfing and canoeing at Augusta, lunch at Flinders Bay and numerous ocean swims, including one at Hamelin Bay.

As for your guides, there’s semi-retired geologist, environmentalist and enthusiastic mountain biker Peter Lane; windsurfer, mountain biker and foodie Paul Lane; biker rider, marathon runner, traveler and wine enthusiast Ngaire Caruso and outdoor adventurer Tracy Skippings.

To partake, you’ll need a well-serviced bike, repair and first-aid kit, water bottle, back pack and camping gear. Scenic secondary routes can be called upon for tired riders – who’ll look forward to a home cooked curry back at Glenbrook Farm Stay on the final day.

Sure beats weaving through traffic on route to work!

What: Margaret River Cycle Trek. Where: Margaret River, WA. When: Sunday October 16th – Monday October 24th 2011. Price: $1250 per rider (limit 30 riders) Details: margaretrivercycletrek.com.au 

You’ll want to set aside a couple of hours to fully explore the market’s 150 stalls. Wandering through Winthrop Hall, you’ll pass tables of one-of-a-kind clothing created by up-and-coming local designers, framed original paintings by talented artists, an array of picture-perfect home wares that would suit even the most eclectic house, and a staggering amount of jewellery.

Because the artists themselves man the stalls, the shopping experience becomes an incredibly interesting one. You can discover how the stallholder developed their paper-making skills, discover the story behind how the photographer took that tricky shot and maybe even commission a budding artist to create a piece to suit your fancy.

Those looking for something for the kids will rejoice – there’s an entire room dedicated to children’s clothes, toys and decor. As for the foodies, there are dozens of vendors selling locally produced olive oil, spreads and dips, as well as almost-too-perfect-to-eat cupcakes and confectionary. Don’t worry – there’s coffee on hand too.

So whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone who’s got it all, or if you like the idea of buying locally created wares, then Perth Upmarket is not to be missed.

Happy shopping!

Where: 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA
When: Sun 2 Oct | 10am-4pm
Price: free
Details: perthupmarket.com.au

For the ultimate road trip and a taste of the above, head midwest to Meekatharra.

From Friday September 30 to Monday October 3, this little mining and pastoral town which lies 765km from Perth down the Great Northern Highway, welcomes the annual Meeka Outback Festival.

It opens Friday night at the Town Oval with music, market and food stalls, rides and fireworks. While most of that will appeal to families, Saturday sees a morning float parade liven up the main street before an afternoon of classic country horse racing and evening entertainment at the Meekatharra Race Club. The real and more serious action begins on Sunday when the cowgirls and cowboys ride on in, battling it out for big prize money in the Rodeofest Meekatharra, a full points rodeo event.

This year’s festival welcomes everything from the open bull ride, saddle bronc, bareback, rope and tie, team roping and steer wrestling to ladies breakaway roping and steer undecorating as well as novice bull ride, juvenile bull and barrel competitions. With thrills and spills expected, locals and visitors can then spruce up for the Outback Ball with live band and DJ.

But if heat, red dust and livestock don’t do it for you, the town, which recently underwent a facelift has plenty more on offer. For the active and ambitious, the Meeka Rangelands Discovery Trail, equipped with interpretative signs and directional dials, takes you around the Meekatharra Creek while the Meeka Lookout provides stunning town views. For something more relaxed, take a picnic at Peace Gorge, home to some unique granite rock formations.

And in true country style, don’t bunk down anywhere else but the local caravan park.

What: Meeka Outback Festival When: Friday September 30th – Monday October 3rd. Where: Various locations around Meekatharra Details: meekashire.wa.gov.au

So You Think You Can’t Drum? is a Samba Drumming Workshop for new or non-drummers. It’s an initiative of the Sambanistas, a non-for-profit community group of passionate Perth-based drummers founded in September 1990. Named after ‘Sandanista,’ the title of an album by English punk rock band The Clash, they’ve been rehearsing and holding workshops at Perth’s City Farm for over 10 years.

With a playing group of around 30, members volunteer time and energy into performances and costume-design (not to mention repairing and transporting instruments) in exchange for no-cost tuition and training. Often disguised in face paint and costume, they appear at everything from charity runs and fundraisers to international conferences and festivals like the Fairbridge, Freo Arts and Joondalup Festival.

This Saturday from 2.30-4.30pm, people of all ages are invited to liberate their inner drummer for the last Beginner Workshop to be held at City Farm. You’ll get acquainted with the basics of Samba drumming before sitting back and listening as the Sambanistas perform their full repertoire. Plus, after you’ve master the basic level, you may even score an invite to perform with them at upcoming gigs.

They also do So You Think You Can’t Dance Samba Workshops, hosted by one of their sparkling and sequined Samba Dancers who’ve appeared at events like the Pride Parade, Fremantle Prison Parade and Northbridge 20th Anniversary Parade.

With no experience nor wallet required, you’ll be shaking and drumming it Brazilian-style in no time.

Where: 1 City Farm Place, East Perth.
When: So You Think You Can’t Drum? This Saturday 1st October | 2.30-4.30pm
Bookings: Phone 0466426740 or email to secure a place
Details: sambanistas.com

Fremantle has long been known as an artists’ haunt, and doing its part to keep that tradition alive is Hole in the Wall Gallery. Since opening in January, this art gallery makes the most of its small space by supporting and guiding local and international artists.

The gallery’s latest exhibit, named The Collaboration, is opening on Wednesday. Curated by Max Clifford, the mixed media show features illustration and photography on one of Western Australian’s favourite pastimes – surfing.

This group of photographers are at the forefront of the surf industry in Western Australia pushing the limits in surf photography. Photographers include Margaret River based Russell Ord whose images of the region’s perfect waves will have you ready to book your next trip down to Yallingup.

This is the first exhibition for Chris Gurney, a freelance photographer for bodyboarding magazines like Riptide, Movement and Le Boogie. Then there’s self-proclaimed “wave chaser” Caleb Davenport (his image above) who spends his free time in search of the perfect wave to shoot and surf, and somehow manages to do both.

Along with the photographs are a collection of illustrations, such as those of artist – and curator of the show – Max Clifford whose background working in animation studios add a playful, cheeky quality to his work.

Heading down to Freo on Wednesday night for the launch of the exhibition will give you the chance to rub elbows with the artists themselves, have a yarn and maybe – just maybe – pick up a secret or two about where to catch this summer’s killer waves.

Where: Hole in the Wall Gallery, 3a/64 Adelaide St, Fremantle
When: Wednesday 28th September – Wednesday 5th October
How much? Free
Details: hitw.com.au/exhibit/thecollaboration

You’ll find The Village Bar off Hay St, part of Subiaco Village. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner, it fills the gap between small wine bar and restaurant nicely and provides an ideal post-work go to.

Enter via the side laneway and head for the bar. There, you’ll pick from a solid wine list or one of 15 beers before putting in your order for some quality mod-oz fare.

Start with some bar snacks like arancini balls or grilled chorizo or go straight for the share platters. Perhaps one with Hervey Bay baked scallops, local prawns, lemon pepper squid, baby octopus, bread and battered fish and chips or the local cheese platter.

For a sit down lunch or dinner, light choices include Exmouth tiger prawns or grilled asparagus with poached egg, saffron hollandaise and fried bread. Main might be a WA Barramundi or the Village’s lamb burger.

As for decor, they’ve worked wonders for a stylish fit-out. Well-lit with polished concrete underfoot, spy exposed brick, timber tables and a mix of white stools, booth seating and bright striped ottomans. It’s refreshing with a scattering of potted greens.

If it’s a weekend, consider a picnic party. At $40pp, you’ll enjoy bubbly on arrival before a spread of shared platters, fish and chips and cheeses.

In true pub-style, expect mid-week bargains like the $20 ‘Village Burger and Boags’ or ‘Pasta and Wine’ pairing on Wednesdays and $10 curries on Thursdays.

With swift and friendly service, all signs point to this one being around for a while yet.

Where: 10/531 Hay St, Subiaco
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am – 12am | Fri – Sat 11am-1am | Sun 11am – 10pm.
Phone: (08) 9381 5099
Details: villagebar.com.au

As well as clothing and homewares by Stacey and Marianne, you might have seen their brands inuk designs and Tex & Joe at Upmarket, the shop features other handmade items from bags and stationery to luxe skin care products.

Nearly all stock comes from local WA craftspeople with the occasional product from ex-pat Stacey’s native Canada. But nothing gets to the shelves of Foxes of Fancy unless it’s an environmentally-conscious product and something fine and fabulous.

You’ll find the shop on Stirling Highway, close to the corner of Glyde Street. A once cramped ex-record store, architect David Weir has worked a miracle to make it roomy and inviting. It’s the kind of shop you’ll head to looking to find a unique gift but come away with something extra for yourself.

As for the name, it’s nothing deep and meaningful – just a phrase that sounds good. Though there is talk of getting some fox-themed products in (it’s a common question).

While neighborhood cafes deliver smooth post-purchase coffees, an online store awaits for the web-savvy.

Where: 616 Stirling Highway, Mosman Park WA
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm | Sat 10am-1pm
Details: foxesoffancy.com

But really, why not have the best of both? Already with a burgeoning breakfast and lunch trade, owners John and Sandra Vallini have recently opened the doors for weeknight dinners, accompanied by a newly acquired liquor licence.

By night, the bustle of this day-time counter-service café seamlessly morphs into a cosy, laid-back eatery with friendly and attentive table service and a seasonally inspired trattoria-style menu.

To start, don’t go past the ‘vagabondo’ plates. Generous and served on lazy Susan turn plates, they’re ideal for sharing. Choose from the ‘chef’s selection’ with silky-smooth house-made chicken liver pate, marinated olives and crisp arancini balls, a ‘cheese board’ complete with recommendations of well-matched fortified wines or perhaps the ‘Turkish bread and trio of dips.’

For mains, the long list offers something for every and any appetite. Lighter options include grilled Cajun calamari with a tomato and avocado salad or oven roasted mushrooms with blue cheese butter and a rocket pine-nut salad. For something heartier, think delicate pillows of house-made gnocchi in a rich Napolitana sauce or slow-braised lamb shanks.

Desserts are Tarts’ tried and tested selection of cakes, slices and, of course, tarts – all on show in the display counter. Seating about 40, they’ve also got a covered al fresco area out front and a newly renovated patio garden out back, which is sure to shine in the summer months.

And because we all like to feel a bit special, their two private dining rooms are ready and waiting for an intimate dinner party or business meeting.

Succumb to one of many gourmet food products on your way home.

Where: 212 Lake Street, Northbridge
Hours: Mon – Fri 7am – 10pm | Sat – Sun 7am – 5pm
Phone: (08) 9328 6607
Details: tartscafe.com.au

With over 100 art and fashion-related events across 34 locations in Northbridge, the 2011 Outskirts Program is so extensive you can even download an official passport to help you on your way. For one-day only, (this Sunday Sep 25th) expect street stalls, workshops, pop-up stores and a scattering of evening events.

Part of the PFF, 11 boutique windows will receive a make-over by local emerging designers for Popsicle. Fashionistas can also flock to Laneway Vintage Market, Oh Henry Vintage, On a Whim and the delightful Rummage. Those seeking something a little more dramatic can head for the Black Swan State Theatre costume sale.

After fueling up with a treat at the Kustom Cupcakes Street Stall, glamazons can style their own fashion shoot with Shiela Magazine’s Outskirts Project or discover The Secret Garden Party, a fashion-inspired event with whimsical garden.

From there, explore underground culture at Connections Warehouse for artworks and adventures. Swingers (of the dancing kind) can catch 1920′s style vintage swing with the Hullabaloo Hoppers while sneaker-fiends are invited to buy, sell and swap retro or custom kicks at the Perth Sneaker Swapmeet. Meanwhile, pick up a bouquet for your lovely at the Beans & Bunches Flower Show.

Other temporary pop-ups include Futureshelter, Pimped! by Lonely 8-Bit Heroes, Tu Atelier’s design studios, Raspberry & Pop’s Summer range and a music photography exhibit.

You’ll need fast feet to cover it all and while you could let the red flags guide you, having a passport is more fun. Get it stamped at 12 locations where you’ll collect free Outskirts Souvenir Pins. 

When: Sunday 25th September
For details and to download a passport, see onwilliam.com.au/outskirts/

You’ll find the Cheeky Sparrow off Murray Street in the easy-to-miss Wolf Lane, one sneaky lane closer to the Murray St Mall than Tiger Tiger. The new bar and cafe offers a little bit of everything for everyone, be it an early morning coffee en route to the office, a cocktail on your way out or a late night drink on your way home.

Head straight inside where it’s funky and atmospheric. You’ll find plenty of timber with tables bordered by dark bentwoods and burnt orange banquet seats. A series of brush-like wooden light fittings hang overhead with a great sparrow sketch on the wall.

On a sunny day, you might take a relaxed approach with a seat under the awning out front. You’ll sit and ponder the possibilities of city life while gazing towards balconies of the new breed of urban dwellers, something which still has novelty value for the Perth urban sprawler.

To go nicely with drinks are truly decent food options. Snack-sized pizzas, paninis, varied cheese, meat and antipasto boards, pies and salads all make the list.

It all comes courtesy of owner and former Docker Peter Bell, who already has plans for a second Cheeky Sparrow installment in the Claremont Quarter.

Perth, you’ve hatched another beauty!

Where: Wolf Lane, 1/317 Murray St, Perth WA
Hours: Mon-Wed 7am-10pm | Thurs-Fri 7am-12am | Sun 12pm– 12am
Details: cheekysparrow.com.au

From September 22 to 30, our unrivaled WA outback will host the 26th Australasian Safari, aka Australia’s answer to ‘Paris to Dakar.’ Welcoming various vehicles, from motor and quad bikes to 4WDs and showroom spec autos, the aim is to provide the best, safest and most challenging long distance off-road race in the Asia Pacific Region.

Competitors come from all over for the race; the USA, Brazil, France, Poland, New Zealand and even the UAE. Among them, three-time Dakar champ Cyril Despres; V8 Supercar hero Craig Lowndes and National off-road moto champ Ben Grabham.

It goes for 8 days, giving over 100 competitors ample time to cover around 3700km. If you’re Perth based, see riders depart from Hillarys Boat Harbour with a ceremonial start on Thursday from 4pm. You’ll meet the drivers and check out their wheels in the vehicle display.

In the Nations Cup, non-Australian residents compete in teams while for the Production Class, standard vehicles compete with minimum safety modifications. Chasing that title will be young pro rally racer Manuel Lucchese from Italy. Meanwhile, the Adventure Tour sees non-competitive dirt and trail bike riders embark on a fully guided off-road rally, riding the same track as competitors.

Taking to the outback, beyond Geraldton and into the northern goldfields, they’ll camp at mobile safari-like villages in Geraldton, Mt Magnet, Sandstone, Laverton, Leonora and Kalgoorlie where they’ll finish on September 30th.

Other spectacles include a Safari Show and prologue (order determining test run) in Geraldton, a spectator point near Leonora and stage at Kalgoorlie Golf Course, one of the world’s top 10 desert courses.

Battling the bush and elements, it’s an impressive feat for all involved.

Where: Ceremonial Start at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Hillarys, WA
When: Thursday 22 September | 4pm-7pm
Details: australasiansafari.com.au

Starting Sep 21 (next Tuesday) this 7-day fashion feast aims to promote all aspects of WA fashion and style. Now in its 13th year, 2011 promises more than ever with parades, exhibitions, workshops and pop-ups (some free, some ticketed) to be held at all new venues. Among them, WA Museum and Perth’s GPO Building.

Daily throughout the festival, outdoor cinemas at Forrest Place and the Perth Cultural Centre will screen iconic fashion films, designer and model interviews and live runway footage.

For retail therapy, emerging designers are set to hijack the shop windows of independent fashion boutiques in Northbridge for ‘Popsicle,’ filling shelves with their own homemade wares. Meanwhile, find pre-loved treasures at the Restyle Pop-Up Vintage Caravan or Two Bucks ’til Wednesday Vintage Sale at PCC.

On Wednesday 22nd, the coveted 2011 Myer Luncheon is a certain sell-out. For $110, guests will be treated to fashion courtesy of designers Ellery, Manning Cartell, Yeojin Bae, Wayne Cooper and others, not to mention fine food and wine.

Opening night sees Yeojin Bae launch her latest at Fashion Paramount’s Hackett Hall (WA Museum) before the first of 3 Designer Capsules featuring Little Gracie, Lisa Marjanovich and Paper Skye.

On Saturday Sep 25, it’s the WA Designer Collections with collections from 13 of WA’s top designers. From there, see the latest from WA Designer of the Year Ae’lkemi before hitting The Fashion Bar for cocktails.

On Sunday Sep 26 a Student Runway Show will precede the STM Swimwear Show with WA’s best swimwear designers Kooey and Bernice Sara staring. Later, Melbourne-based designer Magdelena Veleveska, one of British Vogues Top Picks, will present her stand-alone show.

Other highlights include a decadent Wheels and Dollbaby 25th Birthday Celebration and Fashion Friday event at the Parmelia Hilton Hotel.

From photography workshops to runway shows, ticketing events will soon sell out. So if you’re a fashion fanatic, get yourself a program.

When: 21 Sep – 27 Sep 2011
For tickets and more info see perthfashionfestival.com.au

This weekend, take a beachside stroll along WA’s finest marina while browsing the best vintage fashion and homewares stalls Perth has to offer.

Keen to bring the popularity of vintage pop-up shops north of the CBD, Kelli Sharp has brought together an array of vintage and antique stall holders for a 3 day event at Hillarys Boat Harbour. The 2011 Hillarys Antique and Vintage Fair will run from Friday ‘thru Sunday with stalls set up in front of the Great Escape and Bella Fonte restaurant. A large marquee near the beachfront will shade the smaller set ups.

Expect stalls from fashion lovers Ninety Seven Clothing, Lady Maple Vintage and Miss Paisley Vintage alongside jewellery and accessory by Michal Negrin, Oh Miss Marilyn and Venice Vintage. And in the spirit of upcycling, one special guest stall will belong to the Waste Not Group, helping to remind us how to keep our ecological footprint as light as possible.

Antique stalls will be full of old treasures too – perhaps a collectible teddy bear for those in need of a good cuddle?

Live music will likely get you in the mood to keep browsing and amidst the colourful stalls, a supply of refreshments and snacks will be close at hand. Plus, if you’ve got your own precious vintage or antique piece hidden away, bring it out. Valuers will be there to suss out its worth.

If crowds at the Saturday morning markets over summer are anything to go by, you’ll be in good company.

Where: Hillarys Boat Harbour, Southside Drive, Hillarys WA
Hours: Fri 16 Sep – Sun 18 Sep | 9am – 5pm
Details: hillarysantiquevintagefair.com

Backed by Clint Nolan from the highly acclaimed Harvest in North Freo, it comes as no surprise that Freo’s latest wine bar Who’s Your Mumma would prove an instant hit. You’ll find his new gem on the corner of Wray Ave and South Terrace, just along from the main drag.

On a pleasant sunny afternoon with the windows open and a prevailing breeze, it’s a hard spot to beat for an afternoon coffee or drink with friends. But it’s the evening vibe that’s got people talking.

The atmosphere is intimate yet laid back, perfect post-work. And it’s good looking too. Modern, Who’s Your Mumma has an undeniably cool industrial-feel, almost basement-like. With plenty of reclaimed timber, there’s a mix of bar-style tables and lounge-style booths. The bar area is dimly lit by bare-bulb globes with naked wires.

Spread over 18 pages, choose from premium beers, spirits and an eclectic, extensive wine list – a mix of new and old world labels for every budget. Later, get excited by unique creations on the Mumma’s Feeling Naughty cocktail list. Perhaps a Lemongrass and Ginger Snapple, a blend of Limoncello, Wyborowa vodka, ginger and lemongrass or an Aperol Spritzer with bittersweet Aperol, prosecco and orange juice.

To taste, the bar menu is short and sweet – a construction of top notch European-style snacks and share plates like freshly shucked oysters, finely sliced salty-sweet prosciutto di parma or pork rilettes. The Ras-el-Hanout duck leg with couscous will suit those keen on something more substantial.

Now open from 4pm on weekdays and midday on weekends, they’re set to start serving brekkie from this weekend. Just in time to take advantage of warmer summer mornings.

Where: Unit 7A, 142 South Terrace (corner Wray Ave), South Fremantle.
Hours: Mon-Fri 4pm-12am | Sat 8am – 12am | Sun 8am – 10pm
Details: whosyourmumma.com.au

The largest Festival of Russian Cinema (outside Russia), the Russian Resurrection, now in its eighth year, has got to be a highlight on the Aussie festival calender.  Celebrating Russian culture in Australia, this unique event will see 15 contemporary features and 5 retrospective classics.

Running September 14 thru 21, opening night at Cinema Paradiso sees the romantic comedy Lucky Trouble.  A No 1 Russian Box Office Hit, Milla Jovovich plays Nadia who fends off an arrogant ex-boyfriend after falling for a tousled schoolteacher in Moscow. Expect deft moves with a sporty twist. After, head to Oliver’s on James for an official party with entertainment by Nick K from KTRFM, Russian canapes, beer wine and plenty of vodka.

On Friday September 16, see epic drama and festival regular The Edge. Nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 2011 Golden Globes and a winner of Best Film at the 2010 Nika and Golden Eagle Awards, stay on for a Q&A with lead actress Anjorka Strechel.

For the retrospectives, Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears should not be missed. Breaking all domestic box office records, this prominent Soviet Era film took out the 1980 Oscars Best Foreign Language Film and follows the loves, dreams, wishes and careers of three provincial girls arriving in Moscow. Or, staring Sean Connery comes true story and psychological drama Red Tent with a mission to salvage the crew of the crashed Airship Italia.

For something light-hearted, catch the animated Kukaracha in 3D. An Armenian-Russian joint produced film, it follows a computer processor bound cockroach ’Bite,’ as he competes with a Rhinoceros Beetle for the affection of fellow female cockroach. Also in 3D is The Nutcracker. Based on the iconic ballet and with a cast of British and Russian actors, expect fairies, sugarplums and nasty creatures!

Be it light hearted 3D or gritty epics, this one has something for everyone – old and not so.

Where: Cinema Paradiso. 164 James St. Northbridge.
When: September 14 – September 21, 2011
Price: Opening Night $40pp (incl after party drinks/food/entertainment) | Adult $17. Concession $14.50 | 3D Sessions $20 (adults) $16 (child)
For more: russianresurrection.com Tickets available at Cinema Paradiso Box Office or online lunapalace.com.au

Back for a third installment, the Montage Collective ‘pop up project’ is a collaboration between 13 local designers and friends, each showcasing original, handmade works under the one roof for a limited time. It’s a simple, smart concept. More permanent than a market, artists avoid the commitment of a stand-alone shop in exchange for an exciting, alluring retail presence.

After success in Fremantle and Northbridge, this time they’ve set up in the newly refurbished one40william retail complex. Found on the corner of Wellington and William Streets, this now cultural hub has become renowned for supporting creative industry and talent, hosting the Made on the Left Markets, a shop for designer Kim Ellery and film clip for Perth indie rockers The Panda Band.

Inside, you’ll find fun, pretty and eco-cred necklaces, brooches and rings by architecture student and Montage Collective founder Lauren O’Brien for her Osier! jewellery range; B.H.O. leather bags and purses; lasercut jewellery, button badges and cute cards by Tall Rabbit; Renee Garabedian’s nature-inspired jewellery label Cocoa Pod or perhaps an owl watch necklace or painted wooden pendant by Nina Aoki for Eeva Margita.

To jot down the all-important, pick up one of Kamma Spring’s lorgie@me recycled timber journals, albums and books. All handmade, they’re sustainably designed and refillable, making them longtime friends. Unlike your old apron – likely to get the boot by one of Karen La Greca’s Neddynibbles colourful and stylish ones.

Other goodies include abstract art, photographs and textile items by Libby Gardiner for her label iheartcharlie (named after her Border Collie Charlotte) and a cute range of crocheted toys by Anna Hadwin. Perfect pick ups for little friends. Before you go, try on a hoodie or t-shirt from inuk designs, each made using 100% Australian-made or Fair Trade organic certified cotton.

Pay them a visit before October 23 and you never no, you might get a pretty hefty start on this year’s Christmas shopping.

Where: 140 Williams St, Perth.
When: Until October 23
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-5pm | Fri 10am-8pm | Sat 10am-6pm | Sun 11am-5pm
Details: http://www.facebook.com/montagecollective

From the comedic to downright raunchy, Feisty Entertainment is a local company offering unique and themed event entertainment. More suited to hens nights or birthdays than corporate gatherings are their Burlesque High Teas.

On Saturday or Sunday afternoons, you’ll cinch yourself into a corset, slide on the stockings and slip on a pair of heels. Held at private residences or your preferred venue, you and 11 of your nearest and dearest are invited to dress to thrill.

Accompanying hostess MC Feisty will engage and entertain with her witty repertoire. A few cheeky games will keep you on your toes; as if those stilettos weren’t already doing the trick.

After all that shimmying, you’ll definitely need a cup of tea. The atmosphere turns more civilised as a high tea is served with an array of finger sandwiches, macarons, pastries, scones and tartlets.

As the organic tea and champagne flows, inhibitions may further shed. Round two anyone? There are sure to be a few more saucy stories or new moves to share.

Bookings can be for as little as two goddesses and the odd male has been known to participate, adding another scintillating dimension to this risqué routine.

Go on. You’ll be working your money-shaker and fluttering those lashes in no time.

Where: Your choice or Feisty Entertainment can suggest venue ideas
Cost: $50 pp or $65 pp with bubbles
Details: feistyentertainment.com.au/index.php/events/burlesque-high-tea

Starting in 1970 to mark close-in-time events; the Japanese Obon, Malaysian Mardeka, end to the pearl harvest, full moon and spring tides, the annual Shinju Matsuri Festival or ‘Festival of the Pearl’ celebrates Broome’s unique pearling and cultural heritage.

Running from Sep 10 thru 18, the opening ceremony sees ‘Sammy the Dragon’ (woken from his year-long slumber) lead a colourful Carnival of Nations and Float Parade from the Courthouse Gardens to Male Oval on Saturday.  There, local musicians  will perform in the Mardi Gras from 5pm.

On Sunday it’s the inaugural Long Table Broome Fusion Lunch at Pearl Luggers. For $60, you’ll sample and savour ‘Broome Fusion’ creations by local Asian restaurants with a backdrop of acoustic tunes.

Browse night markets at Town Beach on Wednesday from 5pm before the Carnival of the Light and Staircase to the Moon. Local musicians will perform amidst the glow of fire dancers, light sculptures and lanterns.

For foodies, the ‘Pearl Meat Cook Off’ at the Mangrove Hotel is also not to be missed. From 6pm next Thursday, chefs and celebrities will cook up this world renowned delicacy for a judging panel comprising Elizabeth Chong, WA food editor Rob Broadfield and one lucky local. $10 will get you a sampler.

Early Saturday Sep 17 it’s the ’11 Broome Dragon Boat Regatta at Town Beach before the Shinju Matsuri Ball at the Shangri-La Broome Turf Club. With all proceeds going to Kimberley Regional kids, your $150 ticket gets you supper and a show. Luxury goods will be auctioned in the raffle before appearances by the Sugar Blue Burlesque girls and six-piece Adam Hall Swing Band.

A free concert at the Cable Beach Amphitheatre on Sunday Sep 18 will conclude the festival with local talent and special guests, night market and fireworks show.

With true community spirit, this one’s a pearler!

What: 2011 Shinju Matsuri Festival of the Pearl, Broome.
When: Sep 10 – Sep 18, 2011
Details: shinjumatsuri.com.au

Perth’s social slumber has been broken with the welcomed arrival of spring, and the sun is set to shine on one of Perth’s most exciting events this season – the Dine for Life 2011 Spring Dinner.

The first of its kind, the Dine for Life Spring Dinner is a bi-regional simultaneous dining experience that will showcase WA food and wine at its finest – all the while raising money for local charity People Who Care, a non-profit volunteer based agency whose aim is to look after WA’s frail aged, younger people with disabilities, carers and other people in need.

With Dine for Life’s approach of mid-week dining with a conscience, guests will be able to dine at some of the best restaurants in WA. Perth restaurants include Jackson’s Restaurant, Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth, Divido, Mosmans Restaurant and Restaurant Amusé. Participating restaurants and wineries in the South West comprise Other Side of the Moon Restaurant, Gnarabar, The Boho Bar and Cape Lodge.

The after party itself – as proven in past events – is always a joyous and bubbly-filled celebration with funds raised for a deserving cause. And two secret after parties are in the works. For Perth guests, there’s word of a dessert and cocktail pairing at a pre-after party venue from expert mixologists Cocktail Gastronomy.

So pack away those comfy trackies, dust off your diary and join in the celebration of spring and Perth’s rejuvenated mid-week dining scene!

Where: Various restaurants and wineries across Perth and the South West
Hours: Thu 13 Oct 7-11:30pm
Price: Minimum donation of $150
Details: dineforlife.com

While that event is VVIP only, Nobu will open to the public at Burswood tonight from 6pm.

Behind this world famous Japanese restaurant is De Niro’s business partner and chef Nobu Matsuhisa, aka ‘Nobu.’ The singular suffices, as in Madonna who once said ‘…you can tell how good a city is going to be if Nobu has a restaurant in it.’ With Michelin stars in three of 27 restaurants, the quality of this ‘New-Style’ Japanese is unparalleled.

Perth should be no exception. Head chef Nicholas Mazier arrives from Nobu Miama where he cooked for El Bulli chef Ferran Adria. Behind the sushi bar is Asao ‘Pepe’ Tsukayama who’s prepped fish for the likes of Stevie Wonder and the Beckham’s. Inspired by his mother’s Peruvian cooking and father’s Japanese, he’s tipped to bring us his ‘house special’ with tuna, kingfisher, salmon, crab, scallions, avocado and smelt eggs.

Both keen to incorporate local WA produce, the signature yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and legendary black cod with miso are certain to appear alongside traditional yakitori, toban yaki and seafood ceviche.

With a private Teppan dining room for a theatrical teppanyaki experience (unseen in any other Nobu) and sake bar with a great list, Nobu will give Perth the chance to shine on an international level. 

Shame the infinity suite, luxury waterfront villas and rooftop gaming salon at the revamped Burswood Intercontinental won’t be ready for De Niro. But as long as the sake’s flowing, we’re sure he’ll be fine.

Where: Great Eastern Highway, Burswood Entertainment Complex, Perth.
When: Mon-Sun 6pm-11pm | Tues-Sun Lunch from Sep 27.
Phone: (08) 9362 7551
Details: burswood.com.au/Nobu

Meet the Collectomaniacs, a group of vintage clothing and accessory obsessed lasses otherwise known as Kate, Claire, Dawn and Kate. They’ve been fueling the addiction of fellow collectomaniacs ever since launching We Heart Vintage Perth in March 2010.

Once a month, hundreds of ladies and a few token males (forgoing the lure of a beer at the pub downstairs) flock together to rummage through vintage pieces from every era and style from the 50′s to 90′s.

Whether they come adorned in full vintage garb or merely to squiz, the atmosphere is full of fun and folly, especially behind the curtains. With shared change-rooms, women in various states of undress gossip and seek advice on chosen garments. The compliments fly thick and fast all body shapes and sizes finds dream pieces to cherish.

Vintage t-shirts and blouses are teamed with contemporary jeans; sweet dresses become versatile additions to modern wardrobes; cropped leather and denim jackets are thrown over cinched-in dresses with knee high boots.

We Heart Vintage is also involved in weekly vintage sales at The Bakery, Polka Dot Vintage Markets; The Vintage, Vixens and Vamps Market and Planet Clothing.

The girls also invite talented artisans and those with retro collections or eco sound creations to get in touch.

So head to The Flying Scotsman at 11am tomorrow to collect some budget keepers for the new season.

Where: The Velvet Lounge, The Flying Scotsman. 639 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley. WA.
When: First Saturday of every month | 11am-5pm
Price: $2
Details: facebook.com/pages/We-Heart-Vintage-Perth

Today we welcome Spring! That, and the 48th Kings Park Festival.

What started with jars of plant specimens on trestles back in ’64, this floral fiesta is now a month-long event. Running from Sep 1 til Oct 2, this year’s festival celebrates Trees for Life for the UNs International Year of Forests.

You’ll enjoy 17 hectares of native WA wildflowers amidst floral displays, live music and entertainment, workshops and walking tours and an outdoor exhibition from leading WA landscape photographer Richard Smyth.

Every Sunday from 10.30am some of WA’s best music talent will hit the main stage for Santos Live Sundays. Expect Botanic Blues and Roots on September 4, talented Indigenous musicians on September 11 and an Everlasting Jazz Picnic on September 25.

Wildflower Wonder Guided Walks will run daily while on Tuesdays at 10.30am you can discover WA’s unique biodiversity with a Botanic Gardens Tour. Or go it alone with the new self-guided Boodja Gnarning Walk for an insight into WA’s Indigenous heritage. Green thumbs can do gardening workshops while creatives can meet artists from Aspects of Kings Park Gallery.

For a bit of green-style retail therapy, a three-day Kings Park Native Plant Sale will run from September 23 while freshly cut and dried flowers are sold on weekends. Ideal to take home for beauties or beaus. Late bloomers and big kids will be entertained with roving performers and tree-climbing exhibitions with a Tree-mendous Family Day on September 18.

So with lemon-scented gum or karri overhead, picnic on a manicured lawn, grab a bite at the kiosk or fine dine at Fraser’s.

However you spend it, it’s a blooming good day out.

Where: Kings Park Botanic Gardens
When: September 1 – October 2, 2011. Open Daily. Activity times vary.
Cost: Free or Gold Coin Donation. Several workshops are fee-based and require booking.
Details: kingsparkfestival.com.au

Tucked away on the train station end of Oxford Street opposite Siena’s in Leederville, the Tutti Frutti Frozen Yoghurt Store is one of those magical places where you can enjoy something super-delicious without the blinder of guilt.

A large sign at the front boldly declares the health benefits – lowered cholesterol, improved digestion, better immune system.

While the health benefits might get you there, it’s the fun of serving your own that keeps you there. Grab a cup and add a bit of every flavour yoghurt before topping it with fruit, nuts, choc bits and more. Friendly staff will then weigh and charge you for your creation.

The yoghurt is made fresh every morning and as many ingredients as possible are sourced locally from WA producers. You might try tangy mango and pina colada but if you feel like something a little decadent, go for the chocolate.

The bonus of all this is the smug feeling you get when you realise that Perth was the first state in Australia to get a Tutti Frutti Frozen Yoghurt Store. Owner Kathy Metaxas discovered the concept when visiting the US. Loving it so much, she soon went about setting one up in Perth.

Three months later, a Melbourne store appeared but it was slow enough for us to tell our eastern states mates that we got one first.

Where: 120A Oxford Street, Leederville
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am – 10pm
Details: tfyoghurt.com

A few of Australia’s best comedians, filmmakers and musicians will be joining YOU, a few Quokkas, 63 pristine beaches and 20 bays on the isle for the 2011 Rottofest.

From 12pm on Saturday, head to the historic Hotel Rottnest for a great line-up of musicians. Among them, one of Perth’s best bands The Brown Horn Orchestra, Sam Perry with his loop station, guitar effects pedal and mic, contemporary folk and country six-piece Ruby Boots and 2011 WAMI Best DJ nominees The Cut & Paste Sound System.

That night, stand up comic and 7pm panelist Dave Thornton will MC the $3000 ‘Launch the Comedian Competition.’ Contenders include ’11 MICF Raw Comedy Competition finalist Damien Power; WA’s own Emma Zammit, who’s performed stand-up with ‘Puppetry of the Penis’ and around regional WA for MICF’S Roadshow; and politically savvy John Brooks, a winner of the ’11 Best Comedy by an Emerging Artist at the Adelaide Fringe who’s also opened gigs for Mikey Robins and Wil Anderson.

Your also likely to spot some street performers for everything from circus, vaudeville, beat box and vocals to freestyle juggling, ukelele serenading and uni-cycling.

A series of stand-up shows will also take place at the Governors Bar throughout the weekend. Two same-name comic rivals will battle it out for the Corey White Australia Title while The Gov’s Blender will see a variety of comedians perform, among them Triple J’s 2011 WA Raw Comedy Winner. New talent will also be on show at the Rottnest Picture Hall where comedy skits and short films from the Search for Australia’s Funniest Filmmakers will be screened before a winner is crowned on Sunday.

To finish, head back to the Rottnest Hotel on Sunday to hear beat extraordinaires like Australia’s hip-hop preeminent lyricist Mathas.

Oh and we’re taking a dip at Pinky’s Bay (pictured) before the ferry home. Join us.

Where: Rottnest Island, WA
When: Sep 3-4 2011
Price: $185 for w/end pass incl 1 night accommodation, ferry and all events. $79 for day tripper pass inc return ferry and all events.
Details: 2011.rottofest.com.au

To celebrate, Claremont Quarter has in store one fab Fashion Fortnight.

Seafood mecca Beluga is set to host four exclusive designer lunches. For $120, you’ll receive a glass of Laurent Perrier on arrival before a 3-course lunch from executive chef Peter Manifis with West Cape Howe Wines. Not to mention salon-style fashion parades and talks by fashion authorities. Among them, Megan Park for Adam Heath Boutique, DJs General Manager Womenswear David Bush, Belle Bijoux and Zara Bryson for Zara Bryson Shop and Ginger & Smart’s Genevieve Smart.

Beluga will also host a series of ‘Pret-a-Portea’ morning teas.  For $60, enjoy a glass of The Lane Vineyard sparkling on arrival, a spread of tea-style delicacies and more salon-style fashion parades. CQ’s Style Ambassador, fashion writer and stylist Elizabeth Clarke (who’s worked with everyone from Miranda Kerr to Candace Bushnell) will reveal the ’Perfect 10 Spring Summer Essentials’ on Sep 5 and 12, Sam Wagner from Sambag will discuss spring trends on Sep 6 while Morrison’s Kylie Radford will show her latest collection on Sep 13.

But serious shoppers won’t miss CQs free VIP Shopping Party on Sep 1 from 5-9pm. Look forward to a glass of Devil’s Corner Sparkling, babyCakes macarons, fashion workshops and shop up a storm with great retailer offers. Across the two weeks, Clarke will also be discussing the latest SS trends in a series of fashion workshops.

Then watch on as Perth’s freshest faces compete in PFF’s International Model Search on Sep 8 and 10. Among the judges, Gail Elliot, the original 80′s supermodel and designer behind fashion label Little Joe Woman.

Fashion savvy, stocked up and set for Spring Summer 2011/12. With two weeks at CQ, sure it can be done!

Where: Claremont Quarter. 23 St Quentin Ave. Claremont. 6010.
When: Aug 31 – Sep 14 2011
Tickets and more details: claremontquarter.com.au

But if it’s caffeine you’re chasing, we’ve found Freo’s newest hub. Introducing The Attic, an honest, wholesome cafe replacing what once was an old storeroom. You’ll find it down a side street off South Terrace.

On entering, you’ll pass by a couple of wooden crate stools out front. But unless you’re in for takeaway it’s best to head upstairs to the small dining area. Bordered by recycled red brick and lit by a couple of golden vintage-style globe lights, you’ll spy old suitcases, vases of natives and pieces of antique furniture.

If you go alone, sink quietly into one of their comfy retro couches or prop on a miss-matched stool by the long rustic timber communal.

Settled, order from a menu with an exotic Middle-eastern twist. Brunch could be the Abhis Fruit toast with tahini and local honey or homemade zucchini and cranberry bread. For fast fuel, opt for Arabian-style bircher with pistachios, Hungarian baked beans or the Shakshouka – free range eggs baked Tunisian style on toast with a tomato reduction, chorizo and black olives.

Handmade organic croissants will trample the best of sugar cravings. Made only better with a cup of freshly brewed chai!

Where: 16 Bannister St, Fremantle.
Hours: Wed – Sun 7am-4pm
Phone: (08) 9385 6248
Details: theatticfremantle.com.au

Renowned for drawing big crowds and starting today, the free spectator event runs until Aug 28, offering plenty of live rally action, a chance to meet the drivers and admire their wheels.

In everything from classic Holdens and Fords to modern Porsches and Mitsubishis, competitors will cover around 212kms over four days, tearing through Perth and surrounding suburbs, from Bullsbrook to Kalamunda and Toodyay.

With four winners in the past six years, a strong field is tipped in ’11 with Aussie race legend Jim Richards (Porsche GT2 RS) and two-time winner Steve Jones (Nissan GTR 35) both vying for the Competition Modern title.

Those lucky enough to live nearby can cheer fenceside in their PJs. If not, it’s best to check the schedule.

Browse cars outside the Motor Museum today at Whiteman Park and meet drivers before they depart on the order-determining Prologue and Special Stages 1 and 2. Early tomorrow, head to Forrest Place as the entire field converges at 9am for a ceremonial start.

Drivers complete stages through the John Forrest National Park, along the Kalamunda Zig Zag Scenic Drive and Mundaring Weir Road so grab a bite at the MW Hotel as cars pass in comp mode.  That night, visit Northbridge’s cafe strip for a static ‘Show n Shine.’

Over the weekend, they’ll drive through historic Toodyay where you’ll see cars in the Service Park at the Showgrounds as they prepare for stages in Bullsbrook.

On Sunday, it’s Classic Race Car Sprints and a Car Display at Langley Park before drivers assemble at Riverside Drive for the afternoon finale – the Killarnée City of Perth Super Stage. Stay on for a Champagne Finish and Presentations under the Arch on Plain Street.

So rev your engines, driving is tough.

Want more? Get full spectator info, maps and times at targawest.com.au

The atmosphere, effortlessly arty and laid-back is a relaxing contrast to the bustling backdrop of one of Northbridge’s busiest strips. And with the Blue Room Theatre next door, it’s fit for a pre or post-show wine or bite.

Short and sweet, a Mediterranean-inspired menu sees influences from the Middle East, Greece and Italy and every aspect is intricately thought out.

With brunch running till 3pm, their ‘Eggs and Boozy’ combo is a revelation – a choice of three brunch options and a glass of just the right grog. The ‘Gypsy Baked Eggs’ with chorizo, potato, red pepper ragù, simmered egg and toasted sourdough is delivered alongside a sharp, spicy Bloody Mary.

At lunch and dinner, it’s a choice of ‘bigs’ and ‘smalls,’ pizzas and rustic salads. ‘Smalls’ are simple, tapas-style share plates like eggplant chips with saffron aioli and ouzo braised octopus. More substantial ‘bigs’ range from beetroot risotto with mascarpone to roast Linley valley pork belly with celeriac puree. Both prepared to perfection.

So too is the charcuterie board which comes stacked high with one of the best selections in town.

A house blend of coffee goes down well with their crisp, sticky baklava but if you’re keen to share, order a deconstructed tira-mi-su, browsing artwork from emerging locals in between bites. Until Oct 1 it’s Anya Brock’s acryllic on canvas Bird Paintings.

Drawing its title from a temporary camp or refuge frequented by hungry soldiers or adventurers (a ‘bivouac’), we’re tipping this one will be around for a while yet.

Where: 198 William Street, Northbridge
Hours: Tues – Fri  12pm – late | Sat 10am (for brunch) – late
Phone: (08) 9227 088
Details: bivouac.com.au

Science and history aside, every year since, local and international opera stars and local musicians have performed much loved favourites and lesser known pieces at Broome’s Opera Under the Stars.

Only metres from one of, if not the world’s most picturesque beaches, (just a reminder) the location in the amphitheatre adjacent to Cable Beach is prime and gives rise to a star studded sky and stage.  

’96 saw Jolanta Nagajek perform highlights from Carmen, in ’98 Kathryn McCusker and Adrian McEniery did some from La Bohème while The Three Chinese Tenors turned it on in ’99.

Now a highlight on the Kimberley Cultural Events Calender and Tourism Council Australia ‘Event of Excellence,’ 2011 marks the 19^th anniversary of this unique event. So whether you’re an opera lover or absolute novice, ascend to balmy Broome this weekend and help celebrate.   

At 8pm on Saturday Aug 27, five international and local artists are set to perform. There’s Perth-born Soprano Emma Pearson, Mezzo-Soprano Milijana Nikolic from Serbia (making her WA debut) alongside Tenor Robert Abate, Bass Wade Kernot and Francis Gree, a pianist who’s collaborated in recital with many of our leading Aussie singers.

As for the programme, expect the exhilarating Je veux vivre dans ce rêve from Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, the sultry Habañera from Carmen by Bizet and The Flower Duet from Lakme by Delibes, among others.

With a fully licenced bar, your sustenance is sorted with coffee, cake and other bites on offer at the venue. Or go all out and pre-purchase a pre-show ‘Opera Hamper’ from the Cable Beach Resort and Spa.

Show over, wander home or take the town bus back to your resort or bungalow.

Where: Cable Beach Amphitheatre, Broome
When: Sat 27^th Aug | 8pm
Price: $190 Premium Reserve. $95 / $45 (6-16yrs) Unreserved.
For tickets: Phone 1800 883 777 or visit operaunderthestars.com.au

Judged by this eloquent quote, Vanity Fair’s Joel Fleischman was fairly fond of Pinot. But ask the winemaker and the story turns slightly sour. Delicate and thin-skinned, Pinot has secured itself a troublesome reputation – needy, in constant need of attention, difficult to grow and cultivate.

But on a good day, Parker describes Pinot Noir as producing ‘….the most complex, hedonist, and remarkably thrilling wine in the world.’

And with descriptors ranging from ‘sex in a glass’ to ‘a seductive yet fickle mistress,’ it’s fast becoming one of the world’s most popular varieties, bolstered by drinking habits tending towards lighter, more restrained and less alcoholic wine styles.

Must Winebar invites you to help celebrate this ‘avant-grape’ with International Pinot Week. From 6-8pm on Tuesday, head there for an Underground Wine Tasting in the Private Dining Room. For $70, you’ll taste a selection of eclectic Pinots from all over the world – old and new, sexy and modern, authentic and intriguing.

Then on Thursday at 7pm, they’re putting on a tempting Duck Duck Pinot Dinner. For $150, Chef Russell Blaikie has created a delicious five-course duck menu, each dish ‘harmonized’ by beguiling Pinots from our finest wordly corners. Word is this wine and food match is a mouth-watering MUST try and judging by what Russell puts on in the bistro, things are looking up – from breast to whole roasted and confit legs.

But if Pinot doesn’t do it for you, their weekly Champagne Sessions might. Usually poured by the glass in the lounge upstairs, their divine range descends to the bar on Sundays alongside tunes from resident DJs.

What: International Pinot Week 2011
Where: Must Winebar, 519 Beauford St. Highgate
When: Aug 22 – Aug 28.
For bookings: info@must.com.au or (08) 9328 8255

Drawing parallels between Busselton and the pristine waters of St Tropez in the south of France (which showcases great Aussie and NZ films at its annual Cinema of the Antipodes), a group of local film buffs started CinéfestOZ.

Now in its fourth year, the unique festival brings to the South West a series of contemporary Australian and French documentaries and short films.

From Aug 24 to 28, see 17 of them for free at Busselton’s ARtGeo Gallery. Among them French documentary ‘To Be and To Have,’ ‘Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop Door’ and Indigenous film ‘Jandamarra.’

It opens on Wed Aug 24 with ‘Birthday.’ An Aussie film, in which co-producer Natalie Eleftheriadis and winner of the Best Actor award at Cannes IFF plays a young sex worker reflecting on an un-extraordinary 25th Birthday. The red-carpet cocktail event concludes with a director Q&A.

Then, Busselton’s Orana Cinema will host a series of WA premieres. ‘Falling for Sahara’ follows three young African refugees competing for the same girl in Melbourne’s west while ‘Toomelah’ sees a young Indigenous boy caught in the middle of a bitter gang rivalry. ‘Eye of the Storm’ staring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis will also premiere on Aug 27 before a Gala Dinner at The Goose Restaurant.

And for a chance to mingle with filmmakers, head to Aravina Estate for a decadent three-course Directors Lunch on Fri Aug 26 with matched local award-winning wines and Little Creatures Ales.

Dunsborough’s Maltmarket is also set to show a series of short films. You’ll interact with leading Aussie filmmakers, listen to music by Randa and the Soul Kingdom and look forward to over 100 craft beers, bistro-style food and gourmet pizza at maltmarket bar + kitchen. BoHo Bar in Margaret River will also be showing a couple.

So if its ‘people’ classics that take your fancy or something more, help celebrate our French influences and get a visual (and gastronomic) taste of the South West.

Where: Busselton, WA
When: Aug 24- Aug 28
Price: Directors Lunch @ $115 per head. $45 per head for opening night.
Details: cinefestoz.com

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s at night that its vibey, modern European edge really comes into its own. Hints of an old-school Italian trattoria play out in the pint-sized dining room where every available corner is paying its way.

But it’s shared tables or no tables here – unless you dine al fresco out front, so you might expect the odd brush of elbows with your table neighbour on busy nights or the occasional ‘pass the salt, please.’

The dinner menu, type-writer printed on lined note cards is short, simple and perfectly true to its Italian influences with fresh, quality produce taking prime position.

A throw back to Italy is the daily antipasti spread, laid out on the bench top for patrons to help themselves. Choices of mains are slim but nothing disappoints – the polpette bucatini pasta with pork and veal meatballs in a rich, unctuous red sauce is one we’ll definitely be going back for.

And the wood-fired pizza is an absolute stunner. Named only with numbers (in Italian), it doesn’t talk itself up but is easily one of the best in town, cooked to perfection and covered with fresh, bright, imaginative toppings. It’s surely a list to work your way down.

For dessert, it’s house-made gelato, chocolate brownie, or chocolate brownie with gelato. Never a bad way to go, especially when done this well.

It was hard to see how Napoleon Street could have got any cooler. But it just did.

Where: 38 Napoleon St, Cottesloe.
Hours: Tues-Sat 8am-10pm
Phone: (08) 9383 3545
Details: facebook.com/kimsfoodbar

Chances are they’re part of PerthFreeRunners, a community of approximately 120 members who perform acrobatics in the urban environment.

Likened to the international sport ‘parkour’ and often used interchangeably, FreeRunning is really about moving through sequences creatively whereas with parkour, followers re-act to emergency situations by flipping to safety using whatever’s around.

Sounds to us like a fine way to escape a dark alley with finesse. But it’s perfectly legit. PerthFreeRunners was founded in ’09 by youngster Jordan Hile and given he’s now only 18 years old, it’s quite incredible he’s been able to generate such a following. In fact, he’s even been recognised by the WACA and is set to perform with them at the end of the year.

Members keep up-to-date virtually through the usual social network channels and while the flexible among us may be tempted to join, Armchair FreeRunners can always fulfill their back-flipping fantasies with Jackie Chan movies or Jump London, where the term FreeRunning was first coined.

No structure or earthy substance is safe from back-flips, side-slips or round-off back-flips. Trees, playgrounds, walls… basically anything secure enough to keep a freerunner steady is fair game. No wonder the beach is a popular choice.

With Jordan’s passion and talent, it might not be too long until we see him and his comrades competing internationally, if not immortalised on the big-screen.

For more: perthfreerunners.ning.com

It was on the set of Celebrity MasterChef that Laki met ultimate winner, pro-swimmer Eamon Sullivan. Sharing a passion for good food and coffee, the pair soon schemed the idea of a cafe.

Introducing Louis Baxters, their new espresso bar now open in Subiaco Square. Opening day saw plenty coming and going and while a touch of celebrity no doubt helps, it’s clear that more than a bit of planning has gone into this one.

With a warehouse-like design, you’ll sit on locally designed furniture under bare bulb pendant lights and marvel at wall art by Perth-based artist Pippa McManus.

Josh, the barista, who’s working alongside a TV producer and swimmer jokes he’s the only professional in the place before telling us about their choice of coffee. It’s coming from Campos, a popular supplier in the eastern states but only found at Louis Baxters in Perth.

After lots of recipe testing, Eamon has designed a menu full of local, seasonal produce (with recipes drawn from his own in-progress cookbook). Early birds can get quinoa porridge, toasties or Spanish eggs. For lunch, it might be a salad or slow roasted lamb sanga. From there, you’re unlikely to go past a mini version of Eamon’s signature MasterChef dessert -yep, his signature Chocolate Delice returns.

Oh, and before you go Googling for a famous namesake, the name literally went to the dogs – drawn from Laki’s French bulldog ‘Louis’ and Eamon’s slightly darker version ’Baxter.’

Where: Shop 2, 50 Subiaco Square Rd. Subiaco. WA
When: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm | Sat 8am-4pm
Details: louisbaxters.com.au

Sure, Riesling is great in isolation. But pair it with some of WA’s finest rock oysters from the glistening waters of Albany and things take a drastic turn…for the better.

Spend the better half of this Sunday by the Swan River at the Royal Perth Yacht Club. WA’s best Riesling producers (among them Leeuwin Estate and Lamont’s) will be pouring current release drops and select vintages (‘06 and older). For $40, expect tastings and a spread of the finest Albany Rock Oysters.

Riesling Rocks! is part of Hyatt Food & Wine Week, a celebration of the west’s best wine and food, meaning if the zesty zing of the great white grape or those oysters don’t do it for you, there’s heaps of other events, from tastings and dinners to afternoon teas.

Houghton’s celebrates a massive 175 years with a three-course dinner with senior winemaker Ross Pamment. The meal, created by the hotel’s Executive Chef Mark Sainsbury will be paired with Museum Release wines (including a first release Jack Mann ’94, ’01) alongside some of their latest vintages (’06 and older).

Or with canapés in palm, learn the secrets of blending with winemakers from Xanadu before creating your own vintage. Then, WA’s finest Cabernet regions; Margaret River and The Great Southern go head to head in the Perth Cup Great Wine Taste-Off. You’ll taste 18 of the best – 3 from each region and vintage (‘07 , ’08, ‘09) and enjoy pre and post tasting nibbles as the panel decides a verdict.

Sniff, swirl and sip over 200 premium wines and take part in hourly master classes with well-known wine makers  at the Liquor Barons WA’s Premier Wine Show. Also imparting wine wisdom will be leading winemakers Paul Callaghan of Cape Mentelle, Keith and Clare Mugford of Moss Wood, Vanya Cullen of Cullen Wines and wine enthusiast John Lens.

Where: Hyatt Regency Perth. Royal Perth Yacht Club, Australia II Drive, Crawley
Prices: Various
When: Fri 19th Aug – Sat 27th Aug. Various times. Riesling Rocks! will be held at 3pm on Sun 21.
Details: hyattwineweek.com rieslingrocks.net

Day-dreaming done, we bring you a worthy Italian-style reco to liven up Friday.

Modo Mio (meaning ‘my way’) is one of a series of premium 5-star venues now residing in the plush Burswood Entertainment Complex, among them Neil Perry’s Rockpool and (A)Lure.

Only two months old, Burswood’s new baby has brought a bit of Italy to Riverside Entrance. Open for lunch and dinner, any day you like, it’s the solution to a date night dilemma, that or a mid-week craving for handmade wood-fire pizza (be it a classic margherita or seafood laden al frutti di mare).

Chef Giampaolo Maffini pleases Perth palates, putting a modern twist on authentic Italian fare using secret family recipes. And no wonder, hailing from Milan where he worked in the two-Michelin star Gualtiero Marchesi, he’s worked all over from Japan to Hong Kong.

Arrive to notice a rustic Italian-style design aesthetic. Singapore based architect Miachael Fiebrich (also busy with the complex’s next installment) gives the place a contemporary edge, adding mosaic-tiled walls and white and clear glass to a dining room lit with Italian style blown glass chandeliers.

So start with an Italian wine. For entree, share garlic bread or if your date’s newish go safe with a signature Burrata of cheese, fresh tomato and basil with watercress salad or the veal in tuna capers sauce with crispy celery salad, quail egg and black truffle. For mains, tuck into fresh pasta with homemade sauces.

If nothing else, look forward to the cioccolato fondente con gelato alla vaniglia, a chocolate fondant dessert which you’ll agree sounds best untranslated. But if you’re one for sharing, step things up with a tiramisu and two spoons.

Where: Burswood Entertainment Complex. Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood. WA.
Hours: Mon-Sun Lunch 12pm-2pm | Dinner 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Phone: (08) 9362 7551
Details: burswood.com.au/Restaurants/Modo-Mio

Takeru’s effort inspired us to find Perth’s BEST burger.

Let’s meet the contenders -

Jus Burgers || 743 Newcastle St, Leederville; 1 Rokeby Rd, Subiaco; 189-199 William St,
Northbridge; 74 South Terrace, Fremantle. jusburgers.com.au

Any self-proclaimed gourmet Perth eatery might lay claim to Waygu beef, Amelia Park Lamb, and Mount Barker chicken. But to cocoon such meaty delights in Turkish buns with house-made aioli and onion rings with a side of hand-cut chips is another story. Graffiti-ridden walls and an ingenious hole-in-the-wall outlet in Subiaco escorts Jus to the front of the queue.

Flipside Burgers || 239 Queen Victoria St, North Fremantle; 294 Cambridge St, Wembley.
flipsideburgerbar.com.au

A burger with a bevy or two equals a great night out. With outlets next door to wine bars, Flipside encourages patrons to prop on couches with made-to-order burger in hand. Those after something more innovative might call in a ’TAXI C.A.B’ with free range chicken, avo and crispy bacon.

Missy Moos || 400 South Terrace, South Fremantle. missymoosburgerbar.com.au

Started by a mother and daughter team, it’s wholesome nursery rhyme name burgers here. From the Jack and Jill to the Humpty Dumpty, each stars premium grade meat and fresh WA greens. Mini burgers cater for mini appetites while add-ons like blue cheese, caramalised onion, avocado and chilli jam please the more mature. With the beach in close range, soak up the sun and walk it off later.

Alfred’s Kitchen || Cnr Meadow & James St, Guildford. alfredskitchen.com.au.

An aroma of bacon has been wafting across Guildford ever since Alfred’s opened way back in 1949, making it Perth’s longest running roadside hamburger kitchen. All 40 burgers come with lettuce, tomato, onions and sauce, leaving requests for gourmet add-ons like avo or beetroot politely refused. A fire blazes every night, warming you while you wait.

Bilby’s Chargrilled || 64 Davies Rd, Claremont. bilbys.com.au

Perthites may have got on the gourmet-burger bandwagon, but Bilby’s takes it to the extreme with barramundi, camel, crocodile and kangaroo. Free range chicken and eggs, fresh buns and a secret sauce, mayo and marinade recipe is what continues to attract crowds to this affluent Claremont address. And rest assured, the cute indigenous mascot remains conspicuous.

V Burger Bar || 12/910 Albany Highway, Victoria Park. vburgerbar.com.au

Here, you might get your prime beef pattie with salad and relish. Or hows this… an Eggy Steaky features one succulent 150g MSA rump steak with melted brie, fried egg, caramelised onion jam and salad.  Taking advantage of some of our finest Aussie produce, the ‘Mr Pinky’ features Tassie salmon while vegetarians take a ‘Med-Veg.’

So to receive the age old question ‘do you want fries with that?’ is perfectly admirable!

Leave home looking all purposeful with pencils, a sketchpad or maybe an easel.

Enter a room full of amateur artists, all focused on glamorous but unusual life models, all fully clothed (yep, birthday suits stay home). Subjects range from Burlesque queens and glittering showgirls to circus performers, body builders, drag queens and pro dancers. Each as beautiful as they are bizarre.

Welcome to Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School – where art school meets cabaret monthly at The Bakery.

Suitable for beginners and pros (talent non-compulsory) Dr Sketchy’s is the brainchild of New Yorker, illustrator and former life model Molly Crabapple who started running classes in New York City back in 2005. It’s now going on in 50 countries across 4 continents.

So get comfortable, grab a drink and loosen your creative mind. Evenings are hosted by the hilarious Barry Umenema who intersperses macabre humour and comedic skits with bizarre games, live performances, va-voom tunes, prizes and giveaways.

Initial giggles over, the room is soon silenced by the sound of pencil to paper, brush to canvas and probably some more giggles in between.

Tomorrow night, your muse for the evening is the foxy, flame follicled Ginger La Minge, a Vintage Reds Artiste and winner of Miss Burlesque Perth.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be one of them? Become a muse yourself. Go on, we dare you!

Where: The Bakery. 233 James St, Northbridge (enter around the back through the carpark)
When: Wednesday 10th July. 6.30pm.
Cost: $15 on arrival.
Details: drsketchyperth.com.au

Pam and Tanya, those charming ladies from The Cheesemaker have turned cheese making into something of a modern day ‘skill tester,’ getting Perth cheese lovers creating some of the freshest and tastiest homemade cheeses you can find this side of Italy or France.

And if you’re good, both your taste buds and next dinner guests will turn happy, quickly.

But weight watchers – heed our warning, participants not only get to make their own cheese but are treated with regular tastings.

It might be ricotta or camembert, fetta or mascarpone but if you’re a mozzarella fan, sign on for Mozzarella Madness.  Essentially, it’s a race against the clock to turn milk into something more, a lot more and as the title suggests, it may require an element of insanity to get through.

Plenty of muscle is needed to stretch your mozzarella, and then stretch it some more so its a good idea to get your training in ahead of time. The result – some of the tastiest cheese around.

Once you’ve made it, cook-off against your fellow amateur cheese makers, using your newly-brewed mozzarella for your own pizza creation in an evening cocktail-style wrap up.

So whether it’s mozzarella that’s calling you or one of the other workshops, you’ll go home with samples, a tub of your own fresh bocconcini and a ‘Mozzarella Making Guide.’ Not to mention a newfound desire to eat more cheese – homemade of course.  

Where: 15/5 Rowallan Street Business Centre, Osborne Park, WA
Hours: Sat 13 Aug 3pm-7pm
Price: $149
Details: thecheesemaker.com.au

So what is all the fuss at the suburban end of Cambridge Street? Well, this Italian gem comes with a twist.

At the helm is Israeli chef Joseph Souti who adds a middle-eastern flair to all the Italian classics, from spaghetti and meatballs to squid ink seafood lasagna with a chardonnay and saffron sauce.  Meanwhile, his wood-fired oven is kept busy with everything from Italian bread to veal and lamb filled braised artichokes.

And with homemade pasta, the gamberi allaglio will leave you yearning with wood-fired prawns.

After such extravagance you may feel there’s not much room left for dessert. But to flee without tasting their baklava would be beyond foolish, that delicate pastry fixed in a sweet bath of caramelized sugar.

Embossed napkins and quality glassware, complimentary dishes, a visit from the chef and waiters who charm with foreign accents set Prego apart.

With reasonable prices, diners leave content, happy to forgo that bowl of spag bol at the usual hot spots.

Where: 5/440 Cambridge St, Floreat.
Hours: Tue-Fri 12.00pm-3.00pm | Tue-Sat 6.00pm-late
Details: pregorestaurant.com.au

Like most country race meets, it’s a relaxed affair. Usually hot and humid, the first time we visited we packed a picnic, donned denim shorts, a singlet, thongs and fitted in perfectly.

While we’d amp it up for Fashions on the Field, you can forget designer name drops – the ladies dress themselves and white is definitely out - those rich red Kimberley sands make dust, the result potentially worse than a bad fake tan.

Kicking off Cup Week is Ladies Day on Tuesday 9th August. Gate entry is free for ladies and grants access to all trackside action, from racing to live music, local performers and the ’11 Autore Ladies Day Fashions on the Field, the winner of which goes home with a $3000 Autore South Sea Pearl Pendant.  

The final and most lucrative race meet of the ’11 season happens on Saturday 13^th with the first past the post in the inaugural 2200m Broome Cup claiming $80,000. Meanwhile, the ’11 Linneys Fashion on the Field competition moves to the Members Pavilion with judges scouting entrants outside from 1pm to 2.40pm. And dress nice – first prize is an Australian South Sea Pearl pendant (also valued at $3000).

You might grab a spot on the lawn or book a stylishly decorated Cup Day Tent, complete with champas, canapés and DJ entertainment.  Because we sometimes like to feel a bit special.

From 6pm, start post-race celebrations with a game of Two-Up.  

Where: Broome Turf Club. Gantheaume Point Rd. Broome.
Hours: Tuesday 9th August – Ladies Day | Saturday 13^th August – Broome Cup
Details: Day Memberships are available to purchase for $90 (inc $20 gate fee) from 11am-1pm on Race Day (dress code applies). Gate admission is free to ladies on Ladies Day. Broome Cup Day Tents are $250 for members; $300 for non-members and $325 for reserved seating.

Introducing Breastique Art Workshops where breasts and torsos are dunked into liquid hues before hitting canvases using techniques ranging from the Shimmy to the Spolge, the Quick Press and the Slide.

Inspired to create something unique, Shiona Herbert developed the concept after her and some creative friends got all adventurous with paint and body parts at a housewarming.

Fun and liberating, workshops recognise how no two pieces of art, just like breasts, are the same and the resulting art work lends itself to abstract forms - going beyond canvases to one-off designs imprinted on everything from drink coasters to aprons.

But as fun and titillating as it sounds, there remains an underlying seriousness to sessions. Suitable for all audiences and body shapes, from professional artists to first timers, participants artistically express themselves while at the same time supporting Breast Cancer Care WA and raising awareness about the disease. Proceeds from workshops and sales in the Breastique Art Gallery are donated to the charity.

The cost of a workshop includes paint, materials and Franc Essential Beauty Product nourishment prior to and after painting and while Shiona would be more than happy to host one in your vineyard, private jet or yacht, they’re mostly held in the privacy of suburban lounge rooms, gardens or workplaces.

You’ll soon be viewing your breasts, not to mention your walls in a whole new light but gents, our apologies, this one’s for the girls.

Where: Your choice
Hours: Your choice
Price: Prices start at $60.00 per person and includes materials and equipment
Details: breastiqueart.com

Ardent Crumpler fans may have been able to find a small stock of laptop and camera bags tucked away with the luggage in the corner of Myer’s third floor, but their new dedicated store on the outside of the Wesley Quarter is clearly a superior situation.

With shiny polished concrete floors and shop displays made from bright blue bars, it’s bound to attract the Crumpler carrying kind. Architect Ryan Russell was responsible for getting the trademark Crumpler stitching incorporated into the design and having already won an award for a Crumpler store in the eastern states, he was keen to get this one looking pretty smart too.

From a product which began with a young Aussie guy trying to tack something together on his grandmother’s sewing machine, we’ve long admired their daring colours. While a quick browse through their online shop got us concerned Crumpler has gone all subdued with grey and black laptop bags featuring heavily, in store there are more of the familiar bold colours. And they assure us there’s a range of new brightly-coloured bags to be released in October.

They’re also moving toward a greater range of smart travel bags which means roadies will soon be able to match their luggage to their laptop. And that’s important stuff.

Where: Shop T11, Wesley Quarter, Corner William St and Hay St, Perth
Hours: Mon-Thu 10am-5.30pm | Fri 10am-6.30pm | Sat 10am-5pm | Sun 12pm-4pm
Details: crumpler.com

You’ll find The Conservatory Bar and Restaurant on top of Carnegie’s. Accessible via a private entry from Prince Lane, scale three stories up the industrial staircase and peruse a bit of wall art on your way.

You’ll soon alight to a rooftop wonderland adorned with faux grass, green walls, palm trees and luxurious fabrics but most alluring is the 14-metre retractable roof overhead, perfect for inviting summer sunshine.

On top of the world, well at least the skyline, you’ll listen to some swingin’ lounge tunes and sip one of their signature cocktails. Perhaps the Fig and Ginger Mojo finished with a flaming high strength rum or a Sky’s The Limit with 42 Below, ginger, grapes, and passion fruit.

A private dining-room hides behind a wall of glass for functions (with scrumptious set menus) but for less formal soirees, indulge with an array of tapas delicacies, order something from the BBQ menu, or cook your own. Yep – imported from the UK, book one of two 10-seater self-BBQ tables in the alfresco area and cook up some fresh local South West produce.

With the twinkling skyline as a backdrop, this deluxe BBQ is a far cry from the usual Aussie backyard affair and its Miami-like feel tells us the odd Don Johnson lookalike wouldn’t be out of sorts amongst the eclectic crowd.

So join us, we’ll be having our cocktail of sun, stars, and the moon shaken…not stirred.

Where: 356 Murray St (cnr Prince Lane) Perth
Hours: Tue-Thu 11.00am-1.00am, Fri-Sat 11.00am-3.00am, Sun 11.00am-12.00am
Details: theconservatory.net.au

What is it? In short, customized coolness! Jellybean Bikes are bespoke bikes made to order and shipped to you direct. Choose the rainbow colours of your ride, from the handlebar, frames, wheels and seat. This is an opportunity to fashion your own statement two-wheeler by selecting colours and specifications to your whimsical fancy. With a view-before-you-buy feature you can experiment to your frustrated bike designer’s desire.

As for the specifications, it looks and feels ‘fixie’ but you can choose from a free wheel, three-speed or the standard fixed wheel. Let’s face it, for some of us the concept of pedaling non-stop is just a touch much.

You’re now thinking how much. Sleek sexy bikes designed by you, online, and delivered to your door. Must be expensive. This fashion statement on wheels is delivered to your door for $528.

Get riding…sorry, designing will come first.

Get me one: Jellybeanbikes.com.au

Loose Box | 6826 Great Eastern Hwy
Friday 29^th & Saturday 30^th July
French food guru Alain Fabregues has a truffle plastered to his nose whenever possible. His truffle gala menu ($300 including matched wine) borders on the obscene and ensures no ingredient is safe from a decadent truffle infusion.

Darlington Estate | 1495 Nelson Rd, Darlington | Darlingtonestate.com
Thursday 28^th, Friday 29^th & Saturday 30^th July
A 10-course homage that draws aficionados far and wide to sample innovative truffle foam, syrup, sorbet, caviar, and cream.

Wine & Truffle Co. | Seven Day Road, Manjimup | WineandTruffle.com.au
The largest source of this famed fungus! The Wine & Truffle Co.’s intimate Gala Degustation Dinners ($175 per head) are always sell-out events. Book your place for either the 5^th or 20^th August as Perth’s finest chefs indulge guests in a truffle feast.

Now widely recognised as the best of the best you’ll find our famed West Australian truffles in Michelin starred restaurants the world over. Lucky you – these are in your own backyard. Time to dine decadently local.

It’s a chance to connect with the current ideas and characters in our city at a gathering that has a global relevance. The next Perth PechaKucha is on this Thursday 28th July.

In this Perth chapter the local reps have collaborated with ‘Hidden Treasures- Fremantle’s Winter Music Series’ to present a PechaKucha based around the brilliance of the local music scene. Thursday’s (28th July) PechaKucha is hosted at the Moores Building in Fremantle.

Doors and bar open at 6:00pm for the 6:30pm talk start. May we suggest that this is a great option for after work drinks in an environment that will lift conversation beyond office politics to the creativity and culture of our diverse part of the world?

Notes -

Details: Adults $5 + booking fee

Get me in: Book here or visit PechaKucha for more details.

Where: The Moores Building, 46 Henry Street Fremantle

Welcome to the inexcusably under-appreciated 1UP Microcinema. A home cinema away from home where you and your mates, plus a few other random ring-ins can go and watch cult classics, low budget horror films, and movies you’ve never heard of but will watch just for the sake of sitting at 1Up.

It’s above the 1UP clothes store on William Street in Northbridge. 1Up is stocking independent Australian labels; they say clothes to wear on campus, at gigs and on first dates. Or, wear it up one more flight of stairs and pop yourself down for some movie viewing.

A 20-25 seater complete with bar so go and grab yourself a couple of spritzers before settling in for one of these up coming titles:

31^st July | 2.15pm, 5.15pm, 7.15pm – The Parking Lot Movie

Often described as the documentary version of Clerks, The Parking Lot Movie follows a select group of parking lot attendants who work at The Corner Parking Lot in Charlottesvile, Virginia. The eccentric brotherhood of attendants consist of grad students, overeducated philosophers, surly artists, middle-age slackers and more.

3^rd August  | 7.45pm – Herpes Boy

A social outcast with a facial birthmark finds his world flipped upside down after he posts videos of his quirky life onto the Internet and becomes an unwilling cyber-celebrity. (Fancy that…)

7^th August | 5.15pm – Future Shorts

Screening at 1UP every Sunday in August, Future Shorts is a global film festival showcasing the world’s best short films across 18 countries worldwide. Check out http://www.futureshorts.com/ for more info. This is the pick of the bunch at 1Up.

Need to Know

Where: 1UP is located at 312B William Street, Northbridge

When: Refer above movie screening times or check details at Microcinema

It’s rather fitting for a tiny gallery in our isolated home to host two exhibits that couldn’t be further apart geographically, pictorially, and climatically.

Bindi Cole’s Sistagirls and Kristian Haggblom’s Suomi are on display at the Perth Centre for Photography thru’ July 31st; with each photo demanding long ‘looks’ to absorb and understand their splendour.

As if Perth’s cold snap wasn’t enough to give you the shivers, Suomi’s snow landscapes will tip you over the edge. You’ll be left wondering why anyone in their right mind would spend three months in the snow, but Haggblom’s refined appearance gives no hint of insanity. An artist’s residency is what brought him to Helsinki, which translates to Suomi in Finnish. His images of rugged and snowy landscapes include the occasional element of humanity, and the very serendipity of a snow-bunny enchants. There’s no staging. These are not photos for a tourist brochure. They are a quiet contemplation of the environment allowing the viewer to lose themselves in thoughts and snow; an unusual whitewashed landscape for this sunburnt country.

At the other end of the spectrum, Bindi Cole inspires the shedding of clothing and inhibitions. The Sistagirls is a term used in the Tiwi Islands, just off the coast of Darwin, to describe a transgender person. With a population of 2000 Tiwi inhabitants, there are approximately 50 Sistagirls. Unlike Suomi, the images are staged and although far from the conventional tourist trail, it does leave those so inclined wondering if they’re missing out on some mardi gras party. The girls pose in various locations around the island looking as exquisite as their backdrops and each and every one tells an intriguing and unique tale.

Where: 91 Brisbane Street Perth
Hours: Thru’ July 31st |Thurs-Fri 12pm-5pm / Sat-Sun 12pm-4pm
Details: www.pcp.org.au

You can escape all that this Winter, kick back and celebrate the joy of the human spirit with the Magnificent People Film Season, part of the Perth Winter Arts Festival.

Since July 3 at the Northbridge Piazza, a community hub for all things cultural and creative, visitors on beanbags (for early arrivals) have been seeing extraordinary lives take unthinkable turns on the big screen. Each Sunday at 6pm (with 2 sessions a night from July 31, second at 8.30pm) until 28 Aug, see films and documentaries about people, some true, some fictional, from top picks at Cannes and Sundance to select Australian and International favourites.

Each narrative will unfold on Perth’s first permanent LED Super Screen which rotates films, creative presentations, sport and music over 24-hours. ‘Man on Wire’ (on 24 July) follows the story of Philippe Petit, a French wire walker while the Academy award-winning ‘Shine,’ on Pianist David Helfgott screens on 21 Aug.

On 31 July, a poignant ‘Persepolis’ follows a young, outspoken Iranian girl during the Islamic Revolution while ‘My Tehran for Sale’ on Aug 7 sees how an actress in Tehran led a double life to keep her professional secret.

If that’s all a bit foreign, familiar additions include ‘Coco Avant Chanel’ and ‘Thelma and Louise.’ And yes, while you could always rent these films, this festival is well… festive and free so the only spend looks like dinner and drinks. Spoilt for choice with eateries, we’re going after kebabs at the local Shiraz Persian Restaurant.

Where: Northbridge Piazza, Corner James and Lake Streets, Northbridge
Cost: Free When: 3 July to 28 August, Sun 6pm & 8.30pm
Details: www.perthwinterarts.com.au/blog/winter-arts-season-presents-magnificent-people-film-season

Opened in February, VENN has injected a slice of New York into our humble little city. A first of its kind for Perth, the gallery, studios, shop, bar and cafe combo has breathed new life into a century old flour-mill nestled on Queen Street and given us hope that maybe, just maybe, some of Perth’s fresh talent will remain local.

And magic does happen, especially in the downstairs studios available for rent. Exciting goings-on in basements are no longer just an urban myth.

Get all respectable upstairs in the shop with the latest La Valise, a fancy portable filing system, or the glamorous bowls known as Cylindas, which should provide all the decorum required; particularly on Friday nights where the bar is heaving with an after-work crowd. More civiliased are day-times in the cafe which encourages all-day coffees and grazing.

But what VENN is truly all about lies upstairs in the gallery. Changing exhibits keep patrons returning every few weeks for the latest photographs, printmaking, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and installation pieces. Joel Wynn Rees currently inspires the patriotic among us with his photographic journey through the North-West and from 22nd July, emerging artist Tane Andrews mesmerises with his intricate botanical drawings.

With culture oozing from every fibre of the sleek industrial space, philistines needn’t bother – there’s plenty of other retail outlets and watering holes within reach.

Where: 16 Queen St, Perth.
Hours: Cafe/Bar Mon-Tue 7am-5pm, Wed-Fri 7.00am-12.00pm, Sat 9.00am-12.00pm. Gallery Tue-
Sat 10.00am-5.00pm, Fri 10.00-7.00pm. Shop Mon-Thur 9.00-5.00pm, Fri 9.00am-8.00pm; Sat
10.00am-5.00pm
Details: www.venn.net

If you haven’t yet sampled Koko Black, in the Claremont Quarter, now is your chance. Although with a twist…their upcoming Koko Black Winter Evenings are extra special and just that little bit decadent.

One in particular stands out; the Chocolate & Wine evening on 17 August (selling out quickly so get in now). You can either arrive straight from work for the 6pm session or grab a light snack first and join the 8.30pm show. We’ll be there for the early one.

What is this all about? Chocolate education from a chocolatier of course, tastings, and all this with matched wines. Partner for the evening is Margaret River’s well-known Voyager Estate. Learn the similarities between cocoa beans and grapes (are there any?) then taste…you’ll be offered a range of single origin chocolate and handmade truffles matched expertly with Voyager’s collection.

Sounds heavenly but may spell trouble for you in the future. Can you avoid one blissful sin without the other?

Need to Know
Where: Claremont Quarter, 23 St Quentin Ave, Claremont, WA
Hours: Wed 17 Aug 6pm or 8.30pm
Price: $65
Details: kokoblack.com.au / 9284 2049

Mostly finding favor with females, its estimated there’s about 600 women’s leagues across 20 countries.

The roller revival has also spread to Aus. In fact, this Saturday16^th July, the WA Roller Derby (aka WARDs of the Skate) will flaunt their speed, endurance and strength as they take on Melbourne’s South Sea Sirens in ‘Skate Across the Divide’, in WA’s first ever interstate bout.

For lighting pace and hard hits, $11 gets you a position in the suicide zone as the two teams of five don quad-wheel skates and colorful uniforms, each skating counterclockwise around a flat, oval track.

A jammer (probably called Sheila Getchugood or Rayne N’Blood) scores points by lapping an opposing skater while four blockers help their jammer weave through and out of the pack whilst stopping the opposing jammer.  Get it?

So after you’ve loved it and want to get involved, get equipped at Talk to Me Derby, Perth’s first roller derby store. Owned and operated by expert skaters Macy Hammer and Annie Thingoes, they’ll advise and motivate as you select the colour of everything from your new stakes to elbow pads, wrist guards, helmet and mouth guard. Trust them, it’s rough out there.

Talk to Me Derby

Where: Unit 3, 872 Beaufort St. Inglewood. Perth. Australia.

Hours: Wed 12pm-3pm; Thurs 6pm-9pm; Sat 11am-4pm

Details: talktomederby.com.au

Skate Across the Divide

Where: Speed Dome, Eddie Barron Drive, Midvale

When: Sat 16^th July. Doors open at 6.15pm. Bout begins at 7pm.

Tickets: warollerderby.epicevent.com/Acrosstheskatedivide

The conceptual art installation plays with optical illusions and bends the mind as much as the ground sponges beneath your padded feet. Decorated with Wiradjuri-op designs and measuring 6 x 12.5 metres this is truly an interactive work of art.  Viewers must don the above mentioned outfit in order to crawl through the tunnel and into its cushioned womb. Once inside, you’re only limited by your imagination as to how you spend your imprisonment. Some may use the time for total immersion and quiet contemplation. Others may embrace a sense of displacement much like an asylum seeker, or you could simply go mad and pretend you’ve run away to join the circus. Whether you take a parochial or an abstract approach, we guarantee that it will be a truly individual experience.

Originally created for Sydney Design 2010 and exhibited at The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, The Cell has been doing the art circuit around Australia and New Zealand and is available at PICA until 21^st August. Like a hyperactive toddler, The Cell literally has some down time and deflates for a daily nap between 2.00pm-3.00pm. Ssshhhh, whatever you do, don’t wake the baby or it may just spit the dummy or blow a gasket, if not your very mind.

Where: PICA, Perth Cultural Centre, James St, Northbridge

Hours: Tues-Sun 11pm-2pm / 3pm-6pm

Price: Free

Details: www.pica.org.au

It turns out we’re not the only ones feeling lucky, and after a quiet opening just a few weeks back, Shou is drawing a crowd from all over Perth. And with good reason. Recent immigrants from Niigata, the staff at Shou know their Japanese cuisine and they do it very well – it’s more than authentic, it’s what we like to call proper Japanese!

Meals are served up Bento-style. The teriyaki salmon is the dish we just can’t get enough of, but there are also meals like gyu tataki (a raw beef specialty) and shoga yaki (ginger pork) too. Well priced too – meals between $10 and $15.

It’s a small restaurant with a good dose of takeaway clientele, but most of their dishes are made to order. We’ve even ordered vegetable tempura and witnessed the zucchini washed and sliced directly before our eyes before being served up perfectly light and crispy.

With so many Japanese restaurants in Perth being run with an odd Asian fusion mix on the menu, finding Shou with its straight up and down Japanese style is very fitting of our social Agenda.

Where: Shop 24, Greenwood Shopping Village, Calectasia Street, Greenwood WA
Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm | Dinner Mon-Sat 5pm-9pm

Did you know the 38 laneways of our Eastern counterpart are owned by the City of Melbourne and most (25 to be exact) of Perth’s 34 laneways are owned privately? And yet the City of Perth is commissioning artists left, right, and centre to ‘beautify’ our city. All this just for us…

So, allow us to present the Light Locker Art Space in Grand Laneway, created by the spray can waving members of Foodchain. The massive 99-metre mural was created by Scott Neoh and Hiroyasu Tsuri, aka Bonsai and Two-One. They’ve applied their signature design of geometry and nature and splashed up this beauty of our native birds and the former Grand Theatre in just 2-weeks. The space will be used by talented young things to exhibit both 2D and 3D works…

And, on the opposite wall Tim Rolands is in the throws of a mural depicting local residents in flaming orange and reds. We always knew we were hot stuff.

Take a walk by!

In other creatively curated worthy news; talented artist Clare McFarlane is currently at work in the laneway next to London Court running off the Hay Street Mall, and; you may have seen the installation of Haul Pack, a replica dump truck on show in Murray Street Mall. It’s a poignant tie between the mining industry and the arts.

Settled then:

-        we’re no longer culturally shy

-        we have gentrified graffiti like everyone else

It seems the resource boom breeds more than just “cashed up bogans” then  — derogatory comments courtesy of Lonely Planet’s latest WA guide. How dare they!?

Need to know:

Where: Light Locker is at Grand Laneway. Meander off the Murray St Mall towards Wellington St and turns right onto Barrack St.

Found in the backstreets of a leafy, residential area of East Perth behind a brown brick façade, we hear you…suburban house? No, Restaurant Amuse. Opened in August 2007 we’ve learnt you don’t need ocean views or skyline vistas to make restaurant royalty.

But you do need a great chef. Training at Perth’s The Loose Box and Jackson’s and Melbourne’s Langton’s, head chef Hadleigh has worked alongside Phillip Mouchel, at Michelin-starred The Green House in London’s Mayfair and La Noisette in Knightsbridge.

Add to that great service. Carolynne leads a team who add personal insights to intro spiels for each item of a 10-course degustation. Herself a sommelier, she’ll also share insightful rationales for matched wines (which you’ll add an extra $65 for).

Bring an open mind for arty, inventive, adventurous mouthfuls. Hadleigh uses tricks and gadgets, merging ingredients which change seasonal and on whim in unsuspecting ways. Take the nashi pear and chestnut polenta with Manjimup black truffle slices. For dessert, a honeycomb parfait with a salty ribbon of caramel, chocolate crumbs and air bubble-filled chocolate ice-cream.  This winter, you might encounter Pemberton Finger Limes and Blue Ridge Marron.

The dining room is spacious but minimalist. With carpet and upholstered wall paneling in chocolate brown hues, it’s dimly lit. Surrounded by pieces of abstract art, you’ll sit on white Eames bucket chairs beside white linen clothed tables. Nice!

Scarcely a once-a-week sojourn; it handles a special occasion nicely.

Where: 64 Bronte St, East Perth
Hours: Thurs – Sat from 6.30pm
Details: (08) 9325 4900 restaurantamuse.com.au

Started by Despina Tanner, this cosy café has a bohemian-look, almost resembling an antique store. Family photos sit alongside eclectic furnishings and collectables; from silverware to mosaics and tapestries. In fact, the whole place has a family vibe, paying homage to the Greek Island of Kastelorizo, Despina’s birthplace. And it hasn’t landed on any old Subiaco strip, her father, migrating from Greece in 1946 ran a tailor shop on Rokeby Rd while her aunt had a greengrocer there.

From the aroma you’ll soon learn she’s cooked up something fantastic. Helping out is hubby Brian who makes stocks using herbs from their quaint on-site kitchen garden. A simple Mediterranean menu, mostly Greek, has some Middle-Eastern tweaks.  You might settle for a lamb and pine nut pie or roast vegetable and cous cous salad. Tuck into a slice of Brian’s light, flaky spanakopita and you won’t look back.

Though you might look forward. To something from the acclaimed range of home-made cakes and pastries (most likely the best in Perth). A slice of French buttercake with pears, some pistachio-covered soufra with custard, or her aunts own baklava are must-trys.

And could it be true? Yes, cakes are complemented by consistently good coffee. There’s also exotic teas (like Persian rose) though a rich hot chocolate will maintain sugar levels thru to midday.

Where: 349 Rokeby Rd.
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8.30-3pm
Details: boucla.com or Ph: (08) 9381 2841

Ryan Gregory and Carla Arevalo (who has a Spanish heritage) enlisted local architect Brandon Cross for the fit out of their first venture. Using choc-brown hues and dark wood panels interspersed with metal beams; you’ll see Ulf Moritz wallpaper from Germany, Bizazza tiles from Italy. Under foot, there’s polished concrete and those lights fittings – also Spanish imports. Mood-lighting, low ceilings and grand mirrors adds to old-world vibe.

Perfect for a quiet mid-week drink, it buzzes on Friday for after-work drinks. So find a spot, ideally in one of those mysteriously intimate dining alcoves or dine alfresco in the side courtyard – perfect for mild nights. If it’s cool, settle by the fireplace. There, melt into an antique red-leather chesterfield.

And don’t expect any bar-side elbow bashing. With on-song table service, order one of five Sherries, classic martini or Manhattan, for perhaps their French Silk – a dark and elegant mix of Absolut Vanilla Vodka and Chambord with freshly muddled blackberries and lime. Wine buffs pick from a concise, pricey list featuring Spanish or Italian labels.

To bite, chef Brenton Pyke constructs contemporary Spanish tapas, mixing quality ingredients for modest, flavour filled portions, each expertly presented. And it’s authentic as, so graze away. Seared scallops team with Berkshire pork cheek confit with sticky Alvear PX and muscatels, or try those smoked cod, egg and morcilla croquettes with roasted garlic and lemon thyme aioli.

Finish with some Spanish and French cheeses, served with Marmelada Caseira quince paste, honeyed walnuts and candied fruits or the daily Postres special (that’s dessert). Could be the ‘Milk and Cookies,’ a glass bottle filled with vanilla crème anglaise and ice cream sandwich.

Hmm…milk and cookies, comfy couch, open fire, ugg boots…Forget that, tonight we’re going out.

Where: Basement Level, 21 Howard St. Perth

Hours: Mon-Thurs 12pm-12am; Fri 12pm-1am, Sat 6pm-1am. Bookings only for Lunch between 12pm-3pm.

Details: andaluzbar.com.au or ph: (08) 9481 0092

Born from a love of great beer and now a Fremantle landmark, Little Creatures is a bustling boutique brewery, bar and restaurant housed in a converted boatshed on Fishing Boat Harbour.

Awarded Champion Australasian Brewery in 2006, the operational brewery is open to the public so you’ll see technicians working by metallic-conditioning tanks. And the home brews flow freely. Unlike any other, the Rogers Ale is velvet smooth; weaving the best whole, hop flowers and toasted malts into a silky session. Equally popular is their Pale Ale and Pipsqueak Cider.  

With a soaring ceiling and metal beans, the 300-person dining hall has an industrial feel but laidback atmosphere. Prized are one of six private booths or a spot in the garden courtyard overlooking the marina, which fioods in summer with locals and tourists for renowned Sunday sessions. Later, you’ll migrate to the upper level Creatures Loft to see independent local bands and DJs and local artwork.

And behind that bustling, all-day open kitchen is executive chef Mark Gill, who does share dishes, renowned ‘frites,’ wood fire pizzas and showier offerings like prawns in prosciutto.

Afterwards, lend one of their red Kronan bikes and head out for a spin.

Dreaming of a Melbourne holiday but can’t quite afford the flight? Never mind, book yourself into The Melbourne for a night! Located in the heart of the city, everything you could need is within reach of this charming heritage listed hotel.

2. The Richardson Hotel and Spa // 32 Richardson St, West Perth. Ph: (08) 9217 8888. therichardson.com.au.

Located in the quiet end of West Perth, yet fantastically close to all the wonderful attractions the city has to offer, once checked into this hotel, you may never wish to leave. With luxurious rooms, each with a balcony showcasing the Perth skyline and a Day Spa within – a stay at this hotel is sure to be a memorable experience.

3. Eight Nicholson || 8 Nicholson Rd, Subiaco. Ph. (08) 9382 1881. 8nicholson.com.au

The ultimate in luxury and exclusivity, Eight Nicholson imbues old world charm, in both the building and the service, with modern conveniences in their four rooms. Be sure to book in advance for this rare gem.

4. Clarion Suite Mullaloo Beach || 10 Oceanside Promenade, Mullaloo. Ph:(08) 9404 1200. mullaloobeach.com.au.

Would you like to wake up each morning, step out on your balcony and be greeted by the stunning Indian Ocean but not be surrounded by hundreds of fellow travellers? Well, look no further than this boutique hotel situated right on the gorgeous Mullaloo Beach, north of Perth.

5. The Bannister Suites || 22 Bannister St, Fremantle. (08) 9435 1288. bannistersuitesfremantle.com.au.

These brand new rooms are stylish, affordable and modern. Best of all they are just metres away from Fremantle’s iconic Cappuccino Strip so your next great cup of coffee is never far away.

Looking for flowers in the heart of the city that have a certain unique flair? Funktion Art is the place for you! The staff are friendly and creative and the flowers are some of the freshest around; meaning a long lasting, stylish arrangement.

2. Blush Flowers || Ph: 0405 012 192. blushflowers.com.au.

Blush is a unique online boutique florist and are available via appointment to discuss your needs. And they will most certainly surpass them with stunning, long lasting arrangements.

3. Flowers in Bloom || 2A Hislop Rd, Attadale. Ph: (08) 9330 2468. flowersinbloomwa.com.au.

This quaint little florist shop in Attadale has some of the best floral arrangements. Speak to one of their qualified designers to create the bouquet of your dreams for your special day. They also cater to individual and corporate needs.

4. Manic Botanic Flowers || 225 Oxford St, Leederville. Ph. (08) 9242 4552. manicbotanic.com.au.

For flowers and gifts that are that extra bit special, you must pop into Manic Botanic! Select something from their Global Collection for a truly unique arrangement. You’ll find something for every occasion from first date to wedding to sympathy and everything in between.

5. Urban Flowers || Shop 4, Forrest Walk, 103 Rokeby Rd, Subiaco. Ph. (08) 6161 2546 or 0488 745 897. urbanflowers.com.au.

Urban Flowers is creating stunning and unique bouquets of flowers. This Perth online florist has a great range of fresh flower arrangements, bouquets and plants, hampers and corporate gifts to suit any occasion. Plus, all are available for delivery within Perth.

For live stand up comedy head to The Charles on a Thursday night and Little Creatures on a Saturday night. You’ll be entertained by some of the best local, national and international talent that Perth has to offer.

2. Girlz Night Out || Rosie O’Grady’s Irish Pub, 205 James St, Northbridge. Ph: (08) 9309 1139. girlznightout.com.au.

Designed for an exclusively female audience, this comedy night only happens once a month on a Friday night, so grab your girlfriends and head out for a night of
fun and laughter.

3. The Laugh Resort Comedy Club || The Brass Monkey, corner James and Williams St, Northbridge. Ph. 0417 185 905. laughresort.com.au.

The place to head on a Wednesday night for the past 18 years has been and remains The Laugh Resort. It is Australia’s only incorporated comedy club but that doesn’t mean that they take things too seriously!

4. Chuckles Comedy Co. || Elephant and Wheelbarrow, 52 – 55 Lake St, Northbridge. Ph: 0424 571 388. chucklestheelephant.com.au.

The public decides what is funny at this comedy club. On the last Monday of every month comedians throw one liners, audience heckles and more to try and make it past the 5 minute mark on stage after which those remaining battle for a cash prize. Join in if you dare!

5. Lazy Susan’s Comedy Den // The Brisbane Hotel, corner Brisbane and Beaufort St, Highgate. Ph: (08) 9328 2543. lazysusans.com.au.

Now in its seventh year, Lazy Susan’s offers four different comedy nights to tickle your funny bone. From stand up comedy on a Friday night to improvised comedy sport on Saturdays, the mix of local, interstate and international talent is sure to entertain.

At this cute shop, you’re invited to keep it simple with a classic choc or vanilla, satisfy a sweet tooth with a cookie dough or vanilla marshmallow or go all out – perhaps with a Ferrero. Filled with choc hazelnut filling and adorned with crushed peanuts and a ferrero choc, its mouth-watering stuff. If you can’t decide, go for a mix with their Lolly Bag. Catering for events, from birthdays to weddings, they also do classes.

2. Little Miss Cupcake || 3 Haynes St. Kalamunda. Ph: (08) 6293 1850. littlemisscupcake.net.au.

Chef Nadene Weaver started making cupcakes at home before selling her delights at the Kalamunda Markets. While she still attends the market, she opened her own boutique cupcake store in 2008. Her devilishly gourmet delights include the choc vanilla swirl topped with vanilla and choc buttercream, choc sprinkles and a lonely malteser alongside a moist carrot and walnut and lemon merinque. Get a dozen!

3. Cupcake Creations. Ph: 0401 256 730. cupcakecreations.net.au.

Since 2006, Brenda and Lance have been making some of Perth’s best home-made cupcakes. Starting out at fetes and fairs, they now do made-to-order cakes for any occasion. Flavours available include Double Choc D’Lite but who can go past the classic vanilla? If it’s a special occasion, order one of their Pure Indulgence Hampers – which includes four decadent cupcakes, Fardoulis chocolates, Wild Hibiscus flowers in syrup and quality bubbles!

4. Velvet Cupcakes || kim@velvetcupcakes.com.au.

Baked 100% from scratch, this home-based business make cupcakes on request for any occasion – from Valentines Day to Baby Showers. With a philosophy that small and simple is best, they offer three sizes (standard, mini or a bite-sized cocktail) in three delicious flavours – a rich, velvety chocolate, a moist fluffy vanilla and a signature red-velvet. Each divine morsel comes topped with a swirl of buttercream icing!

5. Cupcakes by Katie. cupcakesbykatieperth@gmail​.com.

Another buzzing home-based boutique cupcake business, Katie offers some of the best made to order cupcakes out of Perth. She books out quick so email her your details and requirements (i.e. quantities) and she’ll help you make your next function a cupcake lover delight!

Taking out the ‘Champion Chocolate’ award at the 2010 Perth Royal Show, you’ll peruse, salivate over and taste over 300 different choc products at this 100% Aussie owned, environ-friendly chocolate factory. From bars and truffles to pralines and fudge (from their sister company the Margaret River Fudge Factory) they offer something for every chocolate lover and a factory tour guarantees education alongside free test/tastings!

2. John Walker Chocolatier || Shop G70B Karrinyup Shopping Centre. Karrinyup Rd. Karrinyup. Ph: (08) 9446 4300. johnwalkerchocolatier.com.au.

Starting by the Walker brothers during depression as a wholesale confectionery company, this family-run and award-winning chocolate company’s Karrinyup store has been going since 1987. Made fresh in WA, all products are gluten and preservative free and the dark variety is dairy free. Pick up a novelty creation like a chocolate cricket bat or indulge with a few of their truffles. They sell to 5-star hotels and restaurants so its quality assured and you’ll taste the difference!

3. Koko Black || 23 St Quentin Ave. Claremont. Ph: (08) 9284 2049. kokoblack.com.

With shops Australia wide, Koko Black draws customers for a variety of superb handcrafted chocolates, each made using European techniques. Take home a few of their fresh chocolate truffles or stay in for something from the mouth-watering menu. Indulge in winter with a warm chocolate tart (made using 80% dark coverture plus orange coulis and vanilla clotted cream) or a freshly brewed Belgian hot chocolate or go all out with Belgian Spoil, a traditional choccy platter with choc cake, two Belgian individuals, a shortbread, choc ice-cream and of course the mousse. They’re also serving prized St Ali (Melbourne-born) coffee blends.

4. Margaret River Chocolate Company || Cnr Harman’s Mill Road and Harman’s South Road. Metricup. Margaret River. Ph: (08) 9755 6555. Or… 5123 West Swan Road. West Swan. Swan Valley. Ph: (08) 9250 1588. chocolatefactory.com.au

Since 1999, the MRCC has been making chocolates in its twin factories – one in MR, the other in the Swan Valley. Visit either to savor free tastings, peruse interactive displays and watch chocolate in the making before taking home a few of their award-winning delights. With around 200 products to choose from, traditional favorites include the fruit and nut and coconut rough and those home-made truffles (in flavours like Caramel Flower and Cafe Royal) are must-trys.

5. Chocolate Drops || Yanchep National Park. Wanneroo Rd. Yanchep. Ph: (08) 9561 5305. chocolatedrops.com.au.

A bit of a drive, this specialty Chocolate Shop and Tearoom is 45 minutes from Perth. Found in a gorgeous national park, the scenery is brilliant with great views of Wagardu Lake. You’ll enjoy simple meals and a great range of teas before checking out their range of quality, handmade chocolates. From chocolate frogs and frilled neck lizards to decadent Honeycomb and award-winning chocolate freckles, take home a box of assorted delights!

Simple really. Premium ice-cream put into freshly baked waffle cones. Ice-cream flavors include their classic banana walnut or cookies n’ cream but they also offer more innovative creations like Asian Ginger Fig and Persian Rosewater. They’ve also got a range of low fat frozen yogurt (with flavors like apple pie crunch) and some beaut sorbets. Found in many locations around AUS, they’ve got 16 in WA.

2. Collodel Ice-Cream & Sorbet || 30 Haynes St. Kalamunda. Ph: (08) 6293 1462.

If its a warm day, go for a drive and stop for an afternoon pick-me-up at this little, very basic ice-cream parlor. You’ll certainly be in for a treat! Try a few scoops of their soft and refreshing lemon sorbet or a large cup of the decadent and creamy Fererro Rocher or creme caramel!

3. Amore Gelato || 87 James Rd. Northbridge. Ph: (08) 9228 2400. amoregelato.com.au

The folks at Amore are whipping up some of Perth’s softest, tastiest most authentic Italian-style gelato. Made (with love) and fresh daily, flavors include white chocolate coconut, hazelnut and classic choc chip. Every scoop brings a smile!

4. Il Gelato || 115 Oxford St. Leederville. Ph: (08) 94444 8844.

These award-winners have eight stores across Perth. Their Ferrero Gelato took out the Gold medal at the Perth Royal Show while their Peach & Mango, Wildberry Yoghurt and Pistachio and Tiramisu took home silver. Using a traditional Italian recipe, they source ingredients locally – like Harvey Fresh Milk for ice-cream which is 50% lower in fat than your standard and the sorbet is 99% fat free. They also do beaut occasion cakes!

5. Simmo’s Ice-Creamery || 161 Commonage Rd. Dunsborough (among others). Ph: (08) 9755 3745. simmos.com.au.

Not exactly close proximity if the cravings come on but Simmo’s does some of the best ice-cream in the South-West. Started in 1993 in Dunsborough by Irish father and son, Gordon and Garth Simpson, this rural ice-creamery (plus Fun park) and now tourist icon, attracts thousands daily in summer. Spreading to Mandurah and Margaret River, they do around 100 flavours of rich and creamy ice-cream including their Gold-medal winning Strawberry Cointreau Cheesecake. Others champions include the classic Vanilla and Coffee Crunch but we like the sound of White Choc Malteaser.

Open since 2006 in the heartland of Leederville, join regulars and nab a spot on the couch at Sayers. Enjoy a cup of their own blend of coffee and pick something scrumptious from the brekkie menu. Passionate chef and co-owner Mark Sayers plates up classic eggs (free range from Pioneer Farms) on ciabatta but for something more innovative, try the coriander and cumin beans claypot with babaganoush, poached egg and Barretts toasted Turkish bread or the cured vodka and lime salmon with spring onion and feta scrambled. Love it? They do lunches and cater too.

2. Toast || Shop 21. 60 Royal St. East Perth. Ph: (08) 9221 0771. toasteastperth.com.

With a perfect view and mismatched décor, you’ll find this casual much-talked-about waterfront café on Claisebrook Cove near the Royal Hotel in East Perth. Spoilt for choice with its big menu, try the banana bread with mascarpone, toasted almonds and honey, eggs every-which-way or a bowl of porridge (like grandma used to make) amongst other offerings. Never disappointing, savor Rubra coffee or a glass of crisp watermelon juice.

3. Mrs. S || 178 Whatley Cres. Maylands. Ph: (08) 9271 6690.

Found on Eighth Ave, the friendly folks behind Mrs. S, with its high ceiling and pastel coloured mis-match décor, know the importance of a great brekkie. So prop at the communal and pick from a simple, home-style and well-priced menu (inside an old-school Golden Book). They do sweet starters like coconut bread with citrus curd and fresh fruit but there’s always Granny June’s cornbread or a serve of perfectly poached eggs. Linger mid-morning and indulge with a slice of home-style cake. BYO brekkie bubbles too!

4. City Farm Café || 1 City Farm Place. East Perth. Ph: (08) 9325 7229 perthcityfarm.org.au.

Before you go to market, head for this all-organic suburban garden cafe. A volunteer not-for-profit community project, you’ll want to wake up to this fresh, seasonal produce. How about some Merri Bee bacon with scrambled or fried free-range eggs? Or maybe some spelt pancakes with yoghurt, biodynamic boysenberries and maple syrup? Friendly staff locate you by animal not table number and they’ll deliver freshly ground Rubra organic coffee.

5. West End Deli || 95 Carr St. West Perth. Ph: (08) 9328 3605. westenddeli.net.au.

In a residential area of West Perth, this corner bistro does a beaut brekkie. All meals come perfectly presented by chef and co-owner Justin Peters (previously of Duende, Il Lido and Verve).  Brekkie options include crepes with poached rhubarb, mascarpone and pistachios, a popular smoked salmon with brioche, creamed spinach, slow cooked egg and tobikko dressing or go for the classic blt with grilled slab bacon, marinated tomatoes and fromage blanc.

It’s tapas, wine and comfy chesterfields at this award-winner on Howard St. The laneway bar off St Georges Terrace hides in the basement of the heritage-listed Parker & Parker building. With on-song table service, sink into an antique red-leather couch and order up something French or Italian from the concise, pricey list.

2. Mrs Brown || 241 Queen Victoria St. North Fremantle. Ph: (08) 9366 1887. mrsbrownbar.com.au.

Surround yourself with hoc, eclectic décor like old-school lampshades at the retro-esque Mrs Brown. Offering up some great quality wines, pick a boardgame from the shelves and challenge your mates to a game of scramble between pours. Flipside burgers come delivered for hungry patrons. Rumor is the name comes from an alleged informal relationship between a servant John Brown and Queen Victoria herself.

3. Whisper Wine Bar | 15 Essex St. Fremantle. Ph: (08) 9335 7632. whisperwinebar.com.au.

For a taste of France, this trendy bar lies in a historic building in the heart of Freo. Hailing from France, Helene and Thierry invite you to pair a glass of Australian, NZ or French wine with something from the simple menu – perhaps an authentic French baguette or antipasto platter. Perfect for people watching, a seat upstairs grants great views over Essex St.

4. Helvetica || 101 St Georges Terrace. Perth. Ph: (08) 9321 4422. helveticabar.com.au.

In the heart of Perth surrounded by office buildings, the title of this laneway wine bar is the Latin name for Switzerland. By the bottle or glass, choose from a changing wine list with labels from France, Spain and Italy alongside familiar Australians. Great whiskey selection too!

5. The Stanley | 294 Cambridge St. Wembley. Ph: (08) 9387 4482.

With vintage décor and comfy red leather sofas, this small, sophisticated suburban bar boasts a relaxed, unpretentious vibe. A courtyard with bentwoods finds the sun and while they don’t do meals, order a tasting platter or burger in from Flipside next door.

Benny’s Parma’s are large and unpretentious, yet simply delicious. Most nights you can enjoy your Parma with a serve of live music or a shot of vodka from the bar’s newly installed vodka Bar.

2. Inglewood Hotel || Beaufort St, Mt Lawley. Ph. (08) 9370 5511. inglewoodhotel.com.au.

The Inglewood is a great suburban pub that does pub food right, including a perfectly crisp
chicken and ham Parma. It has been described as having the perfect balance of rich tomato sauce, cheese and ham.

3. Catalano’s Cafe || 266 Albany Hwy, Victoria Park. Ph. (08) 9362 1121.

A truly satisfying Parma awaits you at bustling Catalano’s. Big servings ensure you won’t leave hungry and traditional recipes that have been passed down three generations mean the food is authentically delicious.

4. Paddy Maguire’s Irish Pub || 328 Barker Rd, Subiaco. Ph. (08) 9381 8400.
paddymaguires.com.au.

When Irish eyes are smiling you can be sure that there is a good time to be had and in this case that includes good food and beer. At Paddy’s you can enjoy your traditional chicken parma while watching your favourite sport. Perhaps while taking part in their weekly quiz night.

5. Ciao Italia || 273 Mill Point Rd, South Perth. Ph. (08) 9368 5500. ciaoitalia.com.au.

The weekend queues wrapped around the shop front attest to the quality of the food here.
Choose between chicken or veal parma, both cooked to traditional recipes and both very
generous serves.

Internationally recognised as a lawn bowls venue, the Club has arguably the best vantage point in Perth. Take in the magnificent views of the beautiful Swan River back-dropped by the Perth city skyline and the Darling Ranges.

2. Melville Bowling Club || 592 Canning Highway, Alfred Cove. (08) 9330 3370.

Located on the banks of the Swan River in Alfred Cove, this club has enviable views over the river to the city skyline and beyond. This easily accessible club is close to both the city centre and to Fremantle and has a bus stop practically at the front door.

3. South Perth Bowling Club || 2 Mends St, South Perth. Ph. (08) 9367 2784.

Located next to the Perth Zoo and a short stroll up from the river, you may find yourself with an interesting opponent, a lion or tiger or bear? Oh my!

4. North Fremantle Bowling Club || Ph. (08) 9335 1509.

If you are looking for a club that offers a community spirit and more, then this is the club for you. Join in social and competitive bowls as well as the more casual ‘Barefoot’ bowls which are held each Sunday afternoon.

5. Mt. Lawley Bowling Club || Corner of Storthes and Rookwood St, Mt. Lawley. (08) 9370 5070.

Mt. Lawley is a club with a long tradition having recently celebrated their 100th birthday in 2009. The club rooms are as impressive as the greens, which are, of course real
lawn as convention would demand. If you are tradition is your thing, then this is the club for you.