Ku-ring-gai Council will host live screenings of the Matilda’s FIFA rounds and the World Cup Final! You can catch all the action for each round at St Ives Village Green, where the screenings will be held. Screenings will begin at 6 pm for each game with kick-off at 8 pm. Food and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase to enjoy while watching the Matildas (hopefully) bring it home! The Screenings will include: Round 2 Thursday 27th July Australia v Nigeria Round 3 Monday 31st July Australia v Canada In addition to watching the game – local sporting clubs will run fun clinics and competitions prior to kick-off. This is sure to be a lively and engaging event! Mayor Jeff Pettett had this to say; “This is the most exciting event for football lovers since the men’s World Cup last year”. “We plan to screen the final on Sunday, 20th of August and other games may also be screened, assuming the Matildas reach the finals.” The screenings are FREE to attend - under an agreement reached with FIFA and in partnership with local sporting clubs. For more information, head to: www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Things-to-do/Whats-on/Womens-World-Cup-live-site

Found By Laura is a personal collection of handwritten notes that have literally been found on the ground over sixteen years of collecting and turned into an exhibition of life. From love letters to break-up notes and naughty shopping lists, founder Laura turned this little collection into an art exhibition. Since then, she has produced several exhibitions, made a coffee table book and a range of other merchandise she now sells online. The origins of Found by Laura go back to 2005 when she found a shopping list written on a bright orange Post-It note at Carlingford Woolworths. One side had a basic shopping list written on it and the other side had something more personal: "Andrew - App Drug + Alcohol counsellor 1st Feb." Laura instantly felt a connection to the writer and just couldn't bring herself to throw it away. Not long after that she found another note on a blank receipt that said "I love you BeBe, your angel", and then another two that read "do me slowly" and "you would look good on me." The one note that really resonates with Laura is one she found on the floor of a New York subway in 2007. It was a piece of note paper with beautiful handwriting on it that read "Jealousy, denial of pleasure, denial of happiness, satisfaction, development, aware of others’ resentment.” At the bottom it read "I often refuse to admit how I am feeling because it is so painful." Reflecting on it now, Laura knew she was going through her own personal pain and struggle so this raw piece of someone else's life, just lying there on the dirty subway floor, really spoke to her. “It's the perfect note that encapsulates everything I love about finding these gems,” Laura revealed. “The juxtaposition of the beautiful handwriting, the location of it in the subway and the words. I often wonder how this person is doing today.” It would seem that becoming an art curator was on the cards for Laura, who herself has a background in the arts. She is a television editor selling stories for a living. And it's the stories that intrigue her most as she tries to envisage the lives of the note writers. After time Laura started to realise that the tiny collection of notes on her shelf at home was growing, so she decided to give them a new life and social media played an important role in doing this. Laura uploaded them to Instagram for others to enjoy. In Laura’s view, humans crave connection and seeing snippets of other people’s lives helps remind them how important this connection is. You can find these fascinating insights into people’s lives on Intagram @foundbylaura. She posts every time a new note is found. In her own words: “Found By Laura is my first passion project. I'll always be finding notes so it's something that will remain with me forever.”

By JESSICA BAHR We spoke to the brains behind the new King Street Carnival festival, where music, local businesses and the food and beverage scene all come together in Newtown, Enmore and Erskineville for an epic celebration of the Inner West. For Matt and Jack Rule, King Street Carnival is the culmination of years of dreaming, planning and hard work. The carnival, which the brothers have launched alongside their company, The Music and Booze Co, has evolved from their popular King Street Crawl and was inspired by major street festivals overseas. “We are really passionate about the Inner West,” said Matt, “the wonderful creative aspects, the diverse community, accepting nature, the food and beverages… We’ve worked and lived in the area for over 20 years and have been part of the community for a long time. “We wanted to show everything we love about it and felt this was a great way to do it,” he considered. “We feel there’s enough in it to become a major event that this city hosts each year and could rival some of the biggest events that are being produced in New South Wales. “We want to attract locals as well as people from intrastate and interstate; our big goal is to grow and eventually become internationally recognised.” Over a three-day period from March 11-13, the festival will light up the Inner West with concert-style stages showcasing both well-known musicians and up-and-coming artists. Unfortunately, the team made the difficult decision to cancel the outdoor ticketed events due to the wild weather and heavy rainfall, which has made the parks unsafe for use. However, there will still be a plethora of free music and entertainment on offer at participating venues on King Street, Enmore Road and Erskineville Road. Additionally, many of the artists who were scheduled to play on the outdoor stages have offered to move their shows to smaller indoor venues, with set times currently being finalised. “They understand that it’s a community event and we’re trying to slot them in wherever we can find spots,” Matt explained. “We are just directing everybody to keep an eye on socials as to how we announce those last-minute secret shows. “The large majority will only announce the morning of, or even hour before their shows,” he revealed. “If we were to announce too early, it would be too busy and nobody would get in! “We are keen for people to wander around the area, and hopefully they might be in the right place at the right time to catch some special shows.” The team has also worked to ensure the festival is accessible and appropriate for a wide range of ages and abilities, with mostly flat surfaces, a variety of music and family-friendly events. After years of planning, a global pandemic, several rescheduled dates, constantly-changing restrictions and some recent wild weather, the lead-up to the event has certainly not been simple. “There have been challenges with Covid,” Matt confirmed, “and we have had to reschedule a few times, but we are feeling confident now. “I think we’ve come up with something that is a really great offering, and whether you’ve got tickets or not, we’re really encouraging people to donate to the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre which is an incredible local charity. “It was important to us that the experience would be good for everybody, so we’ve been very conscious of set timings, the family aspect, affordability, and we’re hoping people can see the value in that. We’ve really concentrated on that to try and keep it accessible and community focused. “(Our team) has done an incredible job; there have been so many false starts and the amount of free work we’ve done is incredible. Chris Shepherd was our head booker and integral from the start; he has been at the forefront of getting this off the ground and it wouldn’t be where it is without him.” King Street Carnival will be running from March 11-13. Information/tickets: https://kingstreetcarnival.com.au =======================

For the sustainably minded and ethically conscious, shopping is often regarded as a capitalist pursuit that’s rarely great for the planet. But what if your purchase could make the world a better place? By Adeline Teoh Alfalfa House (alfalfahouse.org) 113 Enmore Road, Newtown This neighbourhood corner store is a small but friendly community co-op where the shop buys minimally processed products in bulk – think fruits and vege, dry goods like grains, pasta, legumes and spices, plus liquid condiments and household items such as cleaning products. Customers purchase as much as they need using their own containers to minimise waste. Much of what they offer is organic and everything is ethically sourced, often direct from farmers and producers. As a not-for-profit co-operative, the shop is partially funded by members (who get a 10% discount) and run by volunteers (who get a 20% discount for a two-hour shift). Cat Boutique (catprotection.org.au) 85 Enmore Road, Newtown Formerly an op shop, the Cat Boutique is now a dedicated retail space selling cat products with the proceeds directly benefitting the Cat Protection Society. Here you’ll find cat toys and accessories, food and treats with some merchandise for the felines’ human companions such as clothing, jewellery and stationery. Make no mistake: this is a store for cat lovers. Profits are funnelled into the charity’s cat welfare programs. Noffs Op Shop (noffs.org.au/social-enterprises) 461 King Street, Newtown The Noffs Op Shop is part of the social enterprise arm of the Noffs Foundation, which helps socially disadvantaged and disconnected young people through drug rehabilitation, counselling and mentorship programs. As an op shop, the goods here are secondhand donations ranging from clothing, shoes and accessories to a small selection of homewares, books and toys. All proceeds go back to the Foundation. Red Cross Op Shop (redcross.org.au/places/retail-stores/newtown) 359 King Street, Newtown Focusing on a curated range of fashion, both vintage and modern, the Red Cross Op Shop is a boutique-style thrift store that offers both donated secondhand and retail overstock items. Come here for the clothing, but also browse its small selection of homewares, books and accessories. Funds go to the Australian Red Cross, which provides a range of services, from disaster aid and community assistance, to blood donation collection. The Social Outfit (thesocialoutfit.org) 188 King Street, Newtown A clothing label that is the antithesis of a fast-fashion sweatshop has its headquarters on King Street. A retail boutique is downstairs where you can try on and buy a range of styles, from colourful prints to smartly tailored pants, eye-catching totes to vibrant scarves. The Social Outfit provides employment to people from refugee and new migrant backgrounds who make the ethical and sustainable clothing in the workroom above the store. They are fairly paid for their work and all additional revenue goes back to the charity behind the label so it can run training and education programs for that same demographic. Vinnies (vinnies.org.au/shops/view/1392) 187 King Street, Newtown Once upon a time, you had to steel yourself for a trip to Vinnies Newtown and prepare to rummage. These days, the staff and volunteers keep the sizeable store orderly. Expect a classic secondhand shopping experience with numerous racks of clothing but also a solid offering of homewares, books and even a substantial record collection. Sourcing from individual and brand donations, the stock is in good nick and, being Newtown, you’re likely to find something quirky without browsing for long. Revenue flows back to the St Vincent de Paul Society, a charity that provides a range of services, from disaster recovery to support for homelessness, addiction and food insecurity.

If you’ve managed to drive down Carrington Road of late, you’ll have no doubt noticed, or driven up to, the red building with its neon sign hung on a wooden pallet and a loading dock full of bagels, breads, croissants, great coffee and more. Brooklyn Boy Bagels began as a small bar pop-up in 2013 and relocated its authentic New York bagels to Marrickville 4.5 years ago, but it took a Covid pivot this time last year, and a collaboration with Little Marionette coffee, to convince founder Michael Shafran that it was a good idea to open his doors to the public along this industrial stretch. The Brooklyn Boy “Drive-Thru” is more of a driveway drive-up (or a cycle up from the Cooks River bike path), but it’s an easy place to pick up a flat-white and what Shafran says are the best bagels in Australia. He should know, being born in Brooklyn and raised in the NYC metro area, where bagels are king. “All I could find were rolls with a hole” Shafran explains, “so I started making them at home for 12 years. Here we don’t cut corners: we always boil, not steam, which creates the right stretchiness of the dough, we use quality products like single-origin flour and American malt, and we take two days to slow-prove and develop a depth of flavour that you won’t find anywhere else in Sydney.” The most popular bagel is the ‘everything’ bagel – topped with poppy, sesame, onion, garlic and caraway seeds – which can be paired with housemade, soft-whipped cream cheeses like jalapeno, or smoked salmon “lox”, red onion and dill. It’s a very Williamsburg, warehouse vibe, with a wall-sized graffiti of NY hip-hop legend Grandmaster Flash overlooking the handful of tables in this airy space. Aside from the bakery, you can also find Brooklyn Boy at farmers’ markets across the city, including local ones like the Marrickville Organic Food Markets and Summer Hill’s Flour Mill Markets. “I love my local Inner West customers,” says Shafran. “They’re often creative, they’re chilled, and they know and appreciate good food.” Brooklyn Boy Bagels can be found at 19 Carrington Road, or for more details or home delivery, visit www.brooklynboy.com.au

From barefoot bowls to the more traditional type (ie, with your shoes on!), Marrickville Bowling Club hosts competitive and social games, including the LGBTQIA-friendly Unbiased Bowls on Sundays from 10:30am. Although they’re well known across Sydney as a popular live music venue, Marrickville Bowling Club is also a renowned sports facility, with male, female and mixed doubles competing in the Royal NSW Bowling Association championship tournaments. With live music in the main bar from Thursdays to Sundays, a games machine area, large TV screens hosting popular sports matches, and sheltered outdoor seating alongside 9 bowling greens (all of which are accessible to hire for private parties or functions, pending availability), Marrickville Bowling Club is an all-year-round entertainment and dining mecca. They’ve even been known to host indoor bowls matches! There’s also a bistro, Fitzroy’s Kitchen, open Tuesdays to Sundays for lunch and dinners, providing snacks, main meals and desserts, with options for the ankle-biters and dishes to share. Marrickville Bowling & Recreation Club A: 91 Sydenham Road (corner Fitzroy Street) Marrickville W: http://www.marrickvillebowlingclub.com.au/ FB: www.facebook.com/marrickvillebowlo I: @marrickvillebowlo E: info@mvillebowling.com.au Ph: (02) 9557 1185 =================================== Bowls photo: Alec Smart

Activist, publisher, poet and inventor – the remarkable Louisa Lawson was once known as the 'mother of suffrage' in NSW, helping Australian women to obtain the vote in 1902. Despite this Louisa is most famous for being the inspiration for her son Henry Lawson's titular character in The Drover's Wife. But her story is far more interesting than fiction. Born on a cattle station near Mudgee in 1848, Louisa was the second eldest of 12 children. A bright and academically dedicated girl, Louisa was denied the chance to become a teacher in her teens and instead made to look after her younger siblings. She married Norwegian sailor Niels Hertzberg Larsen (later Anglicised as Peter Lawson) to escape a small country life, only to find herself trapped by motherhood and her husband's gold fever, which prompted them to move several times in search of better prospects. Tired of this itinerant existence, she struck a deal with Peter: they would separate and she would take the children to live in Sydney. It was a decision that would change the course of her life. While Peter sent money for the upkeep of the children from his various jobs, Louisa ran a boarding house and began saving money for important projects of her own, namely the purchase of a printing press and the publication of a women's paper called The Dawn, launched in 1888. Louisa used The Dawn to present what would now be considered feminist concepts, including equal rights in marriage, divorce and child-rearing, as well as suffrage – women's right to vote – among fashion and household tips, short stories and poems. Having grown up in poverty, Louisa also lent strong support to the socialist cause and was a staunch unionist. (Though she did have a run-in with the NSW Typographical Association for using non-union typesetters; as she had a staff of all women. During this time women were not allowed to join the union.) Unlike many suffragists at the time, who were wives of prominent men, Lawson was a working woman's voice in the suffrage movement, which achieved its goal when the Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 granted most Australian men and women the right to vote and to stand in federal elections. Not just an activist, publisher and poet, Louisa was also an inventor. Earlier in her marriage, she and Peter had converted their homestead at what is now known as Eurunderee into a general store and Peter was appointed as the postmaster there – though with a goldrush on his doorstep it was no surprise that she did a great deal of the work. Her work as a postmistress prompted her to develop a better way to fasten mailbags and she went on to invent and patent a new type of buckle. Unfortunately, a man pirated the design, and the subsequent court case to defend her invention wore her out mentally and financially. Louisa spent her latter years in Marrickville in a cottage known as the Old Stone House, formerly located near Tempe Station. In the mid-20th century, this area was turned into an industrial estate and the property no longer exists. Instead, Inner West Council now commemorates Louisa at 6-10 Roach Street, Marrickville, also known as Louisa Lawson Reserve, where you'll find a mural celebrating this extraordinary woman. By Adeline Teoh

Flight Path Theatre Break Boundaries for Inaugural Co-production Marrickville’s Flight Path Theatre has partnered with the Melbourne-based Divergent Theatre Collective for the Sydney premiere of Mike Lew’s acclaimed play, Teenage Dick. Since its establishment in July 2019, Flight Path Theatre has been dedicated to providing a platform for independent productions in the Inner West. While the theatre typically hosts productions with little creative involvement, this inaugural co-production marks a departure from their norm while still highlighting their commitment to fostering inclusivity and diverse storytelling. A contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Teenage Dick delves into topics like perception, disability, and the treacherous path to power. Flight Path and Divergent Theatre Collective’s co-production sets itself apart with a diversity-identifying team, including four creative artists with disabilities. The collaboration is helmed by Kate Bookallil and Siobhan Lawless, co-directors of Flight Path Theatre and Marrickville locals, and Roman Berry of Divergent Theatre Collective. We spoke with Kate about the innovative and boundary-pushing production. What motivated you to put on the co-production? Did you miss the creative input of theatre-making? Siobhan and I have been thinking about producing an in-house production since we took over Flight Path Theatre in July 2019. We had a fundraiser staged reading of a brilliant play we planned on giving a full season, and we just got too busy running the space. When Dan Graham pitched Teenage Dick to us last year, we were really excited by the play itself. At that stage, it had a producer attached, and we had scheduled Teenage Dick in our season. When the producer fell off the project, we knew we wanted to be involved. Creatively, we are fulfilled by our drama student productions through our education arm, Inner West Drama, but being able to co-produce our first in-house play feels very timely. What influenced your decision to collaborate with Roman Berry, especially given his location in Melbourne? While we were sure about scheduling Teenage Dick at Flight Path Theatre, we were both very busy. Siobhan and I were both cast in plays over the last few months and knew we would not be able to put in the necessary production hours involved. So when Dan said he had worked with a fabulous producer last year, we were keen to catch up with Roman. As soon as we met Roman over zoom, we knew that we wanted to work with him. His energy was positive and creative and totally can-do. The fact that Roman lives in Melbourne has not been an obstacle, and he has made a big effort to be in Sydney as often as possible. Are there any themes or messages in Teenage Dick that inspired you to bring this play to your community? Teenage Dick immediately jumped out to us during the pitch sessions last year because we had not encountered a play that highlighted in the cast description that actors with a disability must be cast. The story is based on Richard The Third and is set in an American high school. There are all the regular themes you may expect in a high school play, with a brilliant spotlight on being a teen with a disability. Richard has hemiplegia, and Buck is in a wheelchair. One of the exciting aspects of the play is that at no stage do we excuse any of Richard’s behaviour because he has a disability, and the playwright, Mike Lew, does not shy away from ensuring Richard is a full-rounded character with many of the flaws from Shakespeare’s text. So, to answer your question more directly, we are thrilled to present a play that brings disability front and centre. How does this production align with DTC and your shared values around disability advocacy and representation of diverse experiences? Flight Path Theatre is relatively young, but our philosophy is clear. We are a space for everyone. We have spent the last four years making our venue as physically and philosophically accessible as possible. We are still learning and open to improvements, as there are many things we do not know. We do know that our community is diverse and creative and we want to be as inclusive as we can. We are very proud to co-produce a play that celebrates individuality and difference. Dean Nash, playing Richard, is also our sound designer and Holly-Jane Cohle, playing Buck is our production designer, so we are beyond thrilled to be showcasing their multiple talents. Teenage Dick runs from July 19 – August 5 at Flight Path Theatre, Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. Tickets and more information on the performances can be found at: www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/teenage-dick Production Team: Director - Dan Graham Assistant Director & Stage Manager - Pearl Junor Assistant Stage Manager - Keira Fairley Production Designer - Holly-Jane Cohle Sound Designer - Dean Nash Intimacy Director - Shondelle Pratt Movement/ Choreographer - Roman Berry Accent/ Vocal Coach – Robert Lewis Co-Producers: Flight Path Theatre - Kate Bookallil & Siobhan Lawless Divergent Theatre Collective - Roman Berry (Production Manager) By Tahney Fosdike

Theodora Gianniotis Is on a Mission to Gracefully Restore Popular Inner West Heritage Sites Renovating heritage-listed sites is often perceived as a challenge too difficult to tackle. However, Theodora Gianniotis, Director of Built Environmental Heritage Group (BE Heritage), is out to disrupt this misconception. Instead of viewing the constraints that can emerge from working with these buildings, Gianniotis only sees opportunities. As a qualified lawyer with over 20 years of experience, she established this company to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all heritage-listed property work. The team guides their clients through the entire process – from buying to selling and completing development applications, working across residential and commercial properties. They’re expert in connecting you with all the relevant stakeholders. Their legal arm, BEH Legal Services, also does property transactions, such as conveyancing and leasing. Sydney’s Inner West has an abundance of heritage-listed properties. It adds to the charm of our neighbourhoods, and we should be proud of the history that lines our streets. If you have an upcoming heritage-listed project, we’ve sat down with Gianniotis to ask some of the key questions you may want to know about this space and her company. What made you get into this space and create this company? I have always been involved in the heritage space, having completed a Master of Environmental Law with a focus on heritage. I saw a real gap in people’s understanding of heritage sites when it came to their properties. My goal in starting BE Heritage was to work with these people and help them understand what they want from their property. I also think having a legal background means I can offer more than just a historical overview. I can help guide them through any local government requirements and look for opportunities within their property. Sustainability is a hot topic right now – what does BE Heritage do to place sustainability at the core of all projects? I am incredibly passionate about sustainability when it comes to the company. The worst outcome for a heritage site is that it is not sustainable and, therefore, it is not viable for modern owners. Many houses were built when we were not in a climate crisis. Our heritage buildings must evolve to meet these needs and adopt beautiful designs that align with our new way of living. Solar panel placements and designs that allow for natural light filtrations and cross-ventilation are just a few ways to achieve heritage and sustainability outcomes. Also, restoring a heritage property rather than demolishing it is an incredibly sustainable approach for our environment. In commercial venues, accessibility is the other hot topic. I enjoy working closely with designers and clients to ensure all our heritage buildings are accessible and everyone can enjoy them. Which project are you most proud of to date? That would have to be Tempe Hotel which was once an old, run-down venue. To be involved in the research, see the layers slowly coming back to life and to work with a client with the same passion for heritage buildings as myself, was so rewarding. How long does each project take? This depends on the project and the amount of work. I have had projects go through within 6 months, but this needs strong project management and a team of consultants who can specialise in the area and are aware of the opportunities and constraints from the start. What's the most challenging part of a heritage project? Residentially, kitchens are demanding because that area requires the most change but will have the most significant impact. In commercial buildings, it would be the installation of lifts. This is why a great team will always look for these as additions rather than alterations. However, working with a specialised team guided by heritage input will achieve an excellent outcome regardless of the difficulty. Have you always been based in Marrickville? The business has always been in Marrickville because I love working with the architectural diversity in the suburb and being able to complement historical layers with modern architecture. People or Developers should not fear working with Heritage Sites. By engaging with BE Heritage from the beginning of your project, you will see the opportunity a heritage property can offer.

Designing beautiful & functional spaces in Marrickville As you wander through the streets of Marrickville you’ll pass by a wide array of different buildings & structures. Some of these will be very simple, industrial designs while others will be highly complex & beautiful. Marrickville locals, Kreis Grennan Architecture believe these two styles don’t necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. We spoke with Christian Grennan & Chris Kreis recently about their shared journey with architecture. The pair then gave us their top tips for anybody looking to employ the services of an architect to design a home or workspace. Developing a passion for architecture For both men, the passion for buildings was passed down to them by their families. “I got my passion for building through my father who was a property developer and my sister, an interior architect,” recalled Chris. From there Chris quickly found ways to feed his passion, “Since childhood, I have always liked building things, starting with small hobby projects and eventually progressing to building houses. Whenever I can I love getting involved hands-on, putting things together to make them function and look good.” According to Christian, this idea of immersing yourself in building & design is exactly how he found his path into architecture. “I have lived on building sites all my life. My father always wanted to be a builder but was expected to study at university. At the time building was not a university degree so that resulted in us living in houses that were always being renovated. Mum always joked she has never lived in a finished house,” explained Christian. “My brother then became a builder so then I worked alongside him & my father as soon as they could make me productive.” Forming Kreiss Grennan Architecture Although both men love to get their hands dirty down on the building site they found their true calling when they delved into the world of architecture & started working together in 2013. When asked how they came to join forces Christain said, “It all happened quite organically. Chris had a project for the conversion of a warehouse into residential apartments so we started talking and working on the project together. We respected each other's strengths and were able to build upon them to get a better result than if either of us had done the project on our own.” The decision to form a single firm rather than working as separate entities came down to this idea of building off of each other’s individual strengths. “Together we have experience in property development, design, architecture and building,” said Christian. “Design is a continual loop of evaluation/ criticism and testing possibilities.” Since their each had similar, yet divergent backgrounds, the pair could be very open, honest & insightful with their feedback to each other. A process that they ultimately believe leads to better designs. Tips For Home Buildings Looking To Employ An Architect In closing out our conversation with the Kreiss Grennan Architecture team we wanted to get some tips to help anybody looking to build their dream home. According to the duo ultimately the project must cater to the client & their design aesthetic. But most of all, how the client will live or work in the space. In saying that though the biggest tip they have for potential clients is to “find an architect who fits your needs & has a style you like.” Christian explained that it’s important to keep in mind when approaching an architect that it’s not going to be a fast process. “You are going to be spending a fair amount of time discussing what’s important to you. Don’t save money on design fees and select the cheapest architect, you will later regret spending a lot of money on something that doesn’t work for you. Good design takes time. The decisions made during the early planning and design stages are the most important ones. Building upon good decisions ensures a smooth and efficient construction stage.” Check out Kreiss Grennan Architecture at www.kreissgrennan.com.au

For a town that sits beside a river, Lane Cove has very few seafood restaurants. However, if you’ve got a hankering for the salty taste of ocean wildlife, here are a couple of places that will satisfy that desire. Poseidon’s Catch Selling both fresh and cooked seafood, this is a great beachside-style, on-the-street, fish and chips and other tasty seafood shop. A Local Business Award winner, they sell all your favourites in simple, fresh, delicious meals. Firm bright orange prawns, fresh fish, tender calamari, thick fluffy fries. Great for a quick fix or economical lunch/dinner. Shop 6, 225 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove Fourth Fish Cafe and Restaurant This is sit-down dining. It’s a nice eat-in experience with indoor and outdoor areas and they’ve bought into the whole nautical decor concept hook, line, and sinker (‘scuse the pun). The unusual name is derived from the chef’s desire to create four new specials each month. The varied menu includes oysters, prawns, soft-shelled crab, octopus, mussels and other delights for entree/share plates, and several fish species for main. If you’re with a non-seafood lover, the restaurant also offers beef, pork and chicken alternatives. Shop 1/12-16 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove Lane Cove Sushi Bar This is definitely the kind of place you go to with a group of people because you’ll want to be able to order lots of different dishes. The sushi platters look amazing and are presented really nicely. They offer a great selection of sushi and sashimi, bento boxes, tempura, Japanese salads, interesting entrees, and mains served with rice. Plus udon, ramen and authentic Japanese beer. 122 Longueville Rd, Lane Cove

Welcome to Cronulla – where the sun always shines, and the beachside cocktails are next level! This little slice of heaven in Sydney's south is not just about the surf and sand; it's also home to a wicked cocktail scene that perfectly captures the chill and charm of this beachy town. You'll find much more than just stunning ocean views and sandy shores in Cronulla, Beyond the beachfront, you'll find creative mixologists whipping up drinks that match the easygoing vibes of the Aussie coast. From classics to new twists, there's a sip for every mood. We've put together a roundup of some of Cronulla's favourite cocktails – each drink telling a tale of sunny days, sea breezes, and good times. Cheers to that! Blackwood Pantry 5/33 Surf Ln, Cronulla $18 - Watermelon and Kaffir Lime Margarita watermelon, kaffir lime, tequila, Cointreau, lime Beach Burrito 3/1 Kingsway, Cronulla $17 - Coconut Margarita 1800 coconut tequila, fresh lime, agave, kaffir lime leaf and roasted coconut. Cronulla RSL 38R Gerrale St, Cronulla $15/$17 - Passionfruit Mojito White rum, fresh mint, limes & sugar shaken & served over ice Marvelicious Dessert Bar & Cafe 22 Cronulla St, Cronulla $19 - Lemon Meringu Vodka, limoncello, Cointreau, lemon curd, whipped cream, biscoff crumb Always drink responsibly.