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Discover the Naughty Side of This Artisan Bakery in Paddington

Have you checked out this sassy bakery on Given Terrace yet? Cakes & Shit is an artisan bakery that specialises in cheeky, naughty cakes and other baked goodies that are guaranteed to be the talk of the party.

Cakes & Shit is the brainchild of Samantha Holman who opened her first shop on Bakery Lane in 2018. Since then, the talented confectioner has attracted quite a following, and when she decided to move to Paddington, new and old customers made sure she was well-received.

artisan bakery Cakes & Shit — Photo Credit: Cakes & Sht / Facebook

The shop at Given Terrace, Paddington sports a colourful interior, with available seating for customers who wish to dine in. There’s a cabinet, a shelf, and a retail area filled with sweet creations that customers can enjoy onsite or take home. Most everyone that comes in leaves with cookies, brownies, and cakes happily in hand.

The artisan bakery also accepts made-to-order cakes for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, and other special occasions. They also have a range of bold and cheeky merchandise and gift items guaranteed to elicit a few giggles.

Cakes & Shit also offers workshops where attendees can learn how to bake cookies, cupcakes, and cakes. starting at $65 per class.

workshops at Cakes & Sht — Workshops at Cakes & Sht | Photo Credit: Cakes & Sht / Facebook

Cakes & Shit is located at 233b Given Terrace, Paddington. Hours of operation are from 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday to Wednesday and from 9 am to 9 pm, Thursday to Saturday.

Check out their website here to order online or book a session.

Cakes & Shit | 233b Given Terrace, Paddington, QLD, Australia, 4064

Looking Back at the Paddington Tram Depot Fire 60 Years Ago

One of Brisbane’s largest fires in history occurred 60 years ago when the Paddington Tram Depot fire destroyed 67 trams, more than 20 per cent of the city’s entire fleet. Here’s a look back.

In the early evening of 28 Sept 1962, residents near the two-storey depot alerted the staff about sparks underneath the facility. Though the actual site where the fire started was never determined, many believed that the spark came from the storage area.

Whilst waiting for the firefighters, some of the staff attempted to drive the trams out of the site and at least three were rescued before the fire eventually cut the electricity.

Firefighters were challenged to control the blaze due to very low water pressure. It did not help that the Paddington Tram Depot had heaps of tyres, oil and grease as well, due to the nature of its operation.

Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

As the fire progressed, it was becoming clearer that the building would collapse and can no longer be saved. Thus, the local fighters shifted their focus to ensure that the blaze will not impact neighbouring homes and buildings. Dozens of residents packed their belongings within a flash and evacuated away from the site.

Firefighters called to the scene recalled that the depot continued to smoke and burn for over a week.

Unfortunately, the trams and the depot were not insured and various conspiracy theories snowballed about its fate. Prior to the fire, plans have been discussed to replace the trams with buses from private operators.

A year after the Paddington Tram Depot fire, however, tram lines in Bulimba, Kalinga, Rainworth, and Toowong were switched to bus routes. Brisbane City Council had to ask help from New South Wales Transport Department for additional buses.

The tram system officially ended in April 1969. The former Paddington Tram Depot, on the hand, was sold and redeveloped as Paddington Central in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, the Brisbane Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove has commemorated the Paddington Tram Depot fire every year. The museum’s vice president, Peter Hyde, believes that it’s still important to keep the history of Brisbane’s tram system alive.

“People enjoy reliving the time of their parents and grandparents,” Mr Hyde said in a radio interview. “They can see how these past events have led to the nature of the city at the present time and possibly give an indication of how the city will continue to develop in the future.”

Historic Thomas Mathewson Home in Auchenflower Now Fully Renovated

Photo Credit: Google Maps

‘Monterey’ is a grand, old Queenslander built in 1912 by pioneering photographer Thomas Mathewson on Aldridge Street in Auchenflower. What used to be student accommodation in the ’70s and ’80s has been given a new lease on life through a careful, yet extensive, renovation.

“Monterey” is a 5-bedroom. 3-bathroom grand Queenslander that sits on 1,012 sqm of prime land at 18 Aldridge Street. It comprises three flats with 12-foot ceilings, double-hung windows, ornate timberwork, and wrap-around verandah.

The property was previously owned by Thomas Mathewson who was known as the “Father of Photography in Queensland” but its most recent owner, developer Ms Michelle Cao, didn’t have any idea about its history until after she had acquired it.

Who was Thomas Mathewson?

Thomas Mathewson was born in Helensburgh, Scotland in 1842 and emigrated to Australia when he was just ten years old.

Whilst he was trained as a carpenter during his teenage years, he later showed talent in design and artistic work and became a leading Queensland Photographer.

Mathewson family — Photo Credit: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

Between 1864 and 1876, Thomas opened several Photographic Studios throughout the state including locations in Ipswich, Toowoomba, Dalby, Gympie, Rockhampton, and Bowen.

Thomas served on the Council of the Historical Society of Queensland and became a Councillor in what would later become the Brisbane City Council. He was a photographer in Brisbane from 1876 until 1922 when he sold the business to two of his staff which was later renamed Regent Studios.

Passion Project

The renovation of the former Mathewson home took eight months to complete, with the external part of the house requiring much restoration work.

Judging from how Mr Mathewson’s surviving family loved the final outcome of the project, Ms Cao has succeeded in paying homage to the historic roots of the home of the early pioneer, photographer, and historian with what she refers to as her “passion project.”.

Ms Cao has since subdivided the property and sold 18 Aldridge St for $1.48 million. She is building five apartment units valued at over $6 million on the other half of the block.

Cascade House In Paddington Recognised At Houses Awards 2022

A renovated Cascade House, originally an early 1900s timber cottage sitting on one of Paddington’s hilly streets, has received the ‘House Alteration and Addition under 200 sqm’ award at the Houses Awards 2022.

Read: New Childcare Centre Planned at Popular Paddington Site

Designed by architect John Ellway, Cascade House is a bright family home which was extended to include open living spaces.

Owners Jacqueline and Oscar requested from their builders a grassy space to picnic under a tree and the sky. They also wanted to have some space where kids can play independently, but just in sight.

paddington houses — Photo credit: Toby Scott/John Ellway

Two of the challenges encountered in designing the house was managing the connection to the ground on a sloping site and providing protection from afternoon sun.

A four-metre level change across the site breaks up the entry sequence into a series of split levels whilst screened doors lead the way into the garden, creating an uninterrupted connection to a grassy courtyard.

cascade house brisbane — Photo credit: Toby Scott/John Ellway

“Key to unlocking the diagram of the project was managing the western afternoon sun, but not losing the outlook. With the site sloping away, there was an opportunity to simply extend the pitch of the verandah roof over the cascading split levels below,” Ellway said.

The designer highlighted the importance of working with a talented garden designer, in being able to create a landscape that reinforces this separation. It was designed by Tom Collins, a landscape designer who’s also a graduate of Architecture.

The entire site measures 402 sqm and the additions made, which include the pool and the courtyard, measured approximately 65 sqm of the space.

john ellway — Photo credit: Toby Scott/John Ellway

The new centre of the house is the lounge, made with built-in seating to reduce building footprint. Facing the lounge is the kitchen, which features a window to the south overlooking the pool.

For this design, Mr Ellway came up with the new extension that sits below eye level, editing out the foreground, and allowing an uninterrupted outlook to the sunset, valley, and hills.

This isn’t the first time that Mr Ellway has been recognised for his projects in Paddington. His ‘Three House,’ located in a flood-prone site at Norwood Terrace was previously recognised as the Australian Home of the Year in 2021.

Paddington Local Samuel Gay Debuts Indie Movie Passion Project at Palace Cinemas

“A Guide To Dating At The End Of The World,” a Brisbane-made indie film by Paddington director Samuel Gay, will finally hit the big screen at the Palace Cinemas, years after pouring his heart and soul into this passion project.

From 26 to 31 Aug 2022, the Palace Cinemas screening will also include live events featuring the director and the stars of the film — Kerith Atkinson (“Mako Mermaids”),Tony Brockman (“Hobsons Choice: Martin”), Jacki Mison (“Remember My Name”) — who will sit down for the Q & A on these dates and times:

When	Where
FRIDAY August 26 7:30 pm	Palace Barracks Cinema
SATURDAY August 27 3:30 pm	Palace James St Cinema
SUNDAY August 28 4:00 pm	Palace Barracks Cinema
WEDNESDAY August 31 6:30 pm	Palace James St Cinema

Grab Tickets

“A Guide To Dating At The End Of The World” is filmed entirely in Brisbane with an all-Queensland cast and crew. Mr Gay, a graduate of Queensland College of Arts, co-wrote the movie’s script with his friend, Stewart Klein.

A Guide to Dating Poster — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

A Guide To Dating At The End Of The World tells the story of a single woman who survives the apocalypse only to be reacquainted with her blind date from hell. When Alex meets John on a blind date set up by her friends, she declares that she ‘wouldn’t see him again even if he were the last man on earth!’ The next day Alex wakes to find that a scientific experiment seems to have wiped out the rest of humanity. The streets of Brisbane are deserted; her annoying boss has disappeared and no longer does she have to put up with her friends trying to set her up with losers. Finding that she has the City of Sunshine to herself – at first it’s bliss. no traffic, no queues, no deadlines – though the novelty wears thin after a few weeks of harmless carjacking, home-invasions and tinned food. Until Alex discovers there is someone else alive and it’s John! Neither understands why they are the last two standing but in the idyllic new environment Alex starts to appreciate John’s finer qualities until they meet Wendy and Alex discovers that two is company and three’s a crowd.

“I’ve always loved post-apocalyptic storylines ever since I read Stephen King’s “The Stand” as a kid,” Mr Gay said. “I remember daydreaming a lot about what it would be like if everyone suddenly disappeared. And when we decided to make this film of course there was no question we would shoot it in Brisbane!”

Director Samuel Gay
Photo Credit: Supplied

Tait Brady, the co-producer from Label Distribution, said this is “a genuine Brisbane-indie film” that they’ve been waiting for.

“Sam and his team worked for years to make and complete the film – it’s been a marathon but a fun ride.”

“A Guide To Dating At The End Of The World” was screened at the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival and at festivals here and abroad, including WorldFest Houston. Kerith Atkinson and Tony Brockman were both nominated for Best Actor awards.

WHAT’s SHOWING in West Brisbane?

Inside ‘Wine Experience’: A Bar Within A Bottle Shop

‘Sampling the wares’ has taken on new meaning at Wine Experience, a bottle shop in Paddington that has evolved into a wine bar, the culmination of the owner’s nearly two decades of experience operating a retail wine store in Rosalie Village.

Read: Fundraiser Launched for Planned New Paddington Bistro and Wine Bar

After 16 years of running a bottle shop, Michael Nolan established the bar within his retail store, giving oenophiles a place to enjoy their wine.

Nolan, who has visited many bars across Europe, wanted to create something like the tiny bars in Spain, which encourages intimate get-togethers.

Every bit of this bar takes inspiration from typical European bars, from the compact seating that can accommodate a small group to the selection of food options for guests to enjoy with their wines.

rosalie wine bar — Photo credit: Wine Experience/Google Maps

“The space itself is intimate; designed so that guests can chat freely with the chef and staff about their experience. We have capacity for only nine guests around the curved timber bar, but there are two small outside tables for those who prefer an al fresco experience,” Wine Experience said.

They bring the taste of Spain into the wine bar with their Sardine and Green Mojo Pintxo, which goes perfectly with a glass of sparkling white wine.

wine experience — Photo credit: Wine Experience/Facebook

What sets it apart from most bars in Brisbane is that they have wines that people struggle to find elsewhere.

The ‘Winemaker Series,’ for instance, features wines that are made just for them by some of Australia’s leading winemakers sourcing grapes from exceptional vineyards in the most sought after regions. The current selection includes a juicy Barossa Valley Shiraz from ninth-generation winemaker Marco Cirillo.

They also run free weekly Friday night tastings, where everyone is welcome to come in and try what’s on offer each week.

Over the past year, they quickly built a following, with customers popping in on the way home from shopping or stopping for an afternoon drink before heading off to a restaurant or movie.

Anthony, one of their patrons, shares that visiting the bottle shop and wine bar “feels like entering an Aladdin’s cave of fabulous wine.”

“A huge range and some very knowledgeable and helpful staff who take the time to assist you in choosing the right wine,” he shared.

Wine Experience’s bar and kitchen are open on a walk-in basis Wednesday to Sunday from 3:00 p.m.

Here’s Where To Get Your Boozy Brunch In Paddington

Fancy a mojito with your morning meal? With a welcoming and cosy vibe that will make you feel at home, Kettle and Tin is the perfect spot in Paddington for catching up with friends over a boozy brunch.

Read: Fancy Some Middle Eastern Cuisine? Check Out This Paddo Cafe

A fixture in Given Terrace for over a decade now, Kettle and Tin is a fully-licensed restaurant, which means you can have some mojito with your breakfast, or choose from their wines, liquors, spirits, and beers for the perfect morning libation with your meal.

kettle tin bne — Photo credit: Kettle & Tin/Google Maps

Boozy is only half of “boozy brunch” and this trendy bar/cafe knows that for sure, as they pay close attention to the food menu beyond the drinks.

Grab some eggs benny, omelette, avo smash, or chicken and waffles from this cafe for a satisfying meal as you enjoy your drinks all morning long.

Or delight in their cheese arepa, with scrambled eggs, avocado and beans if you’re craving a Colombian breakfast; or maybe tortillas served with fried eggs, beans, guacamole, and salsa roja for a Mexican-inspired breakfast.

paddington — Photo credit: Thi Ngoc Anh Nguyen/Google Maps

They also recently launched a new tapas menu for dinner, which you can order every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

If you think it’s too early for some booze, you can have some coffee courtesy of Bear Bones Coffee, as well as smoothies, milkshakes, cold-pressed juices, and mocktails.

paddo cafe — Photo credit: Kettle & Tin/Google Maps

Housed in a quaint cottage filled with artwork and a nursery of plants, Kettle and Tin isn’t just a place for some boozy brunch, because they have a few events to look forward to, such as the Latin Dinner on Wednesdays and Trivia Night on Thursdays.

Kettle and Tin is located at 215 Given Terrace, Paddington. You can follow them on Instagram @kettleandtin for updates.

Reuben’s Deli & Bar Paddington Closes For Good

After three years of operating in Paddington, Reuben’s Deli & Bar has closed its doors for good, with the owners bidding farewell to their loyal customers through a social media post.

Read: Fundraiser Launched for Planned New Paddington Bistro and Wine Bar

“It’s been an absolute honour to get to know the best damn customers in the world. We’ve met amazing people during our three years, and have many new friends,” owners Manny and Peggy Rosenberg wrote on a Facebook post.

reuben deli and bar — Reuben’s owners Manny and Peggy Rosenberg (Photo credit: Reuben’s Deli & Bar/Facebook)

The Rosenbergs shared they will also miss their neighbors, the shop owners of Paddington who were very supportive.

“We are happy you liked our favourite American foods as much as we do. But the pleasure was all ours. Love you all,” they said.

Locals are sorry to hear about Reuben’s Deli & Bar’s permanent closure, which, like its namesake, is popular for their Reubens.

“The best Reuben sandwich in Brisbane gone. Best of luck for your future but wow what a loss for Brisbane,” local John said.

“So thankful for the taste of home away from home you provided. Wishing you both the best. We’ll miss you!” wrote Danielle.

reubens in brisbane — Photo credit: Reuben’s Deli & Bar/Facebook

Although closing their beloved restaurant was difficult, they were forced to stop trading after facing two years of debt which piled up during the pandemic. Fortunately, a buyer contacted the Rosenbergs, who wanted to take over the space at Given Terrace.

Besides their signature New York deli sandwich, the deli was best known for their South Philly Cheesesteak, Italian Hoagie, and smoked chicken salad sandwich.

Aside from notifying customers of their sudden closure, the owners also announced that they settled with the new buyer in July 2022, who will develop their own concept and not trade as Reuben’s.

Mr Rosenberg, who had Total Reverse Shoulder Replacement Surgery in June 2022, will also focus on his health for now.

ARLC Buys Gambaro Hotel Brisbane in Petrie Terrace

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) is expanding its hospitality assets with the purchase of Gambaro Hotel Brisbane in Petrie Terrace, located some 300 metres away from the Suncorp Stadium.

The hotel, established by the Gambaro family in the 1950s, has been sold for the very first time in over 65 years and will be rebranded as the NRL with rooms named after some of the league’s famous players.

The Gambro family will still manage the hotel and restaurant. Gambaro Group director John Gambaro said that they are excited to work with the ARLC to continue to grow the hotel’s operation. HTL Property brokered the deal with the ARLC.

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A post shared by Gambaro Hotel (@gambarohotel)

In a statement, the ARLC said that its first investment into the property market will allow the commission to “strengthen its balance sheet with stable, secure investments that provide steady income, long-term capital growth and to protect the game against major interruptions.”

Gambaro Hotel Brisbane has hosted several Brisbane Broncos home games over the years, and will also host the Dolphin home games for 2023. It is also expected to boost its revenue with the upcoming Olympics and the Women’s World Cup Football series.

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A post shared by Gambaro Hotel (@gambarohotel)

The Gambaro site has 68 rooms and is considered an upscale hotel with ancillary facilities. The family’s name has been linked to Brisbane’s food and beverage industry after they opened their first fish and chip store along Caxton St.

The award-winning Gambaro Seafood Restaurant, on the hotel’s ground floor, has been a landmark for the last five decades.

Fundraiser Launched for Planned New Paddington Bistro and Wine Bar

Photo Credit: KnowOne KnowWhere / Instagram

This GoFundMe campaign aims to help launch a new bistro and wine bar on Given Terrace, Paddington. But what’s in it for the donors?

Top chef and owner of Kould be Anywhere and catering company KnowOne KnowWhere Scott Webster launched the fundraiser to finance the down payment and equipment needed to open the European Bistro and High-end Wine Bar. In return, those who donated will receive a meal voucher, equivalent to the donated amount, once the venue opens.

“We aim to bring our Michelin star backgrounds to Brisbane. High-end consist food of the greatest quality and service that will ensure the rest of Brisbane will follow suit,” his GoFundMe page reads.

The campaign aims to raise $150,000 which Scott hopes will be reached soon enough so he can open the bistro by mid-2023.

Scott’s career as a chef started at Heston Blumenthal’s The Hind’s Head in Bray, the UK assuming the role of Sous Chef. Their team was awarded a Michelin Star for their excellent cooking skills and the top-notch quality of their food offering. He would later move to the sister restaurant The Perfectionists’ Cafe as its Executive Sous Chef.

Seven years ago, Scott and his wife, Rita, came to Australia. Soon after, West End’s Billykart took Scott as its Head Chef and in 2020, the couple launched their own private catering business KnowOne KnowWhere. A year later, Kould be AnyWhere, a 52sqm grab-and-go style cafe, opened in Woolloongabba.

So far, Scott’s campaign has raised $5,720. If you would like to help Scoot launch his “dream restaurant”, you may visit this link.