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After what has been a pretty miserable week (weather-wise, at least), it seems the clouds are parting to ensure we can all get out in the sun this weekend. Hallelujah! Here, as we do every Friday, we’ve brought together a bunch of cool stuff you can get onboard with this weekend, as well as some good news for the weeks ahead.
This week we’ve got ways for you to get some free grub, a way to meet the head brewer for James Squire, as well as the makings of a new National Park here in NSW. Welcome to this week’s Feel-Good Friday.
‘Meet the Brewer’ at The Squires Landing
If you’re keen for a cheeky bev this Saturday, why not head to The Squires Landing for an afternoon of craft knowledge from the mind behind the Landings’ onsite brewing, Jack Fox. Fox will be sharing his insights into the craft, as well as delivering a unique behind-the-scenes look at James Squires’ history and operations, at an exclusive ‘Meet the Brewer’ event.
It’s all delivered with a set of canapés ranging from crab and salmon roe dressed in lemon myrtle mayo, to chorizo and manchego croquette with smoked paprika aioli, all paired with complementary James Squire beers—some exclusive to the Landing.
Get in quick though, the ‘Meet the Brewer’ event is kicking off at 12-2pm on Saturday, 13 September, with tickets costing $49.
Swell Sculpture Festival Seems Swell
For all our Gold Coast readers, you have even more reason to head to the beach this weekend: Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition, the Swell Sculpture Festival, kicks off on Saturday.
Over 80 large-scale contemporary sculptures are to be set against the natural landscape of Currumbin Beach, though there will be additional pop-up exhibitions along the coast. Both national and international artists will be reflected this year, with artist talks and masterclasses set to be delivered throughout the festival.
The best part of all? It’s free, and a great family-friendly way to get some culture into your next beach day. The 23rd annual Swell Festival kicks off on Saturday, 12 September, and will run until 21 September.
Get Some Free ‘Butter’ Crispy Chicken on Prime Video’s Dime
If you’re looking for some free lunch next week, Prime Video and Butter Sydney has you covered. Next Wednesday, 17 September, you’ll be able to head to the Surry Hills establishment and get your hands on some crispy fried chicken wings and fries, all to celebrate the launch of the second season of Gen V on Prime Video.
You’ll also get access to two exclusive sauces—one of which is fashioned after the show’s Compound V, and which is apparently really, really hot.
The catch? You’ll have to be among the first 200 people through the door from midday Wednesday to get the food for free, and the timed Gen V combo will only be available until it’s sold out. So if you’re a fan of great chicken, or just really like The Boys, try to get there on time.
NSW Proposes The ‘Great Koala National Park’
In a win for conservationists, the New South Wales State Government has said it will create an $80 million, 476,000 hectare ‘Great Koala National Park’ in an effort to protect one of Australia’s most recognisable animals. The reserve will double up as both a “centrepiece of koala conservation”, as well as a tourist destination, and will largely exist within existing state forests along the north coast of NSW.
Without intervention, a recent NSW Inquiry found that koalas would become extinct in NSW by 2050, largely due to habitat loss. Koala habitats have become under threat in recent years due to the impact of logging, mining, agriculture, and urban development. By settling Koalas into state-controlled forest, the NSW Government argues, it can protect some of our most beloved native fauna from extinction.
Despite earning top billing, the Great Koala National Park won’t just be about keeling koalas safe: the park will also seek to house 66 threatened species of fauna and 37 species of flora, including the yellow-bellied glider, glossy-black cockatoo, and spider orchids.
Game Designers Descend on ‘PAX Aus’ in Melbourne Next Month
This is a call to all the gamers out there: this year’s Penny Arcade Expo (more commonly known as PAX) is bringing some amazing talent to the stage next month. Kicking off the weekend of October 10, PAX is an annual celebration of gaming culture, and brings panels, a massive expo hall, as well as the ability to connect and hang out with your fellow fans.
This year, the event is being headlined by Magic The Gathering’s Principal Designer, Gavin Verhey, who will talk through what its like to create and design one of the biggest collectable card games on the planet. But Verhey isn’t the only big name coming Down Under for PAX.
Josh Sawyer, of Obsidian Entertainment, will be bringing his decades of experience creating immersive and reactive RPGs to the world, from Fallout New Vegas, to 2025’s Avowed, and Rainbow Six Siege’s game director Joshua Mills, and 20th Century Games’ creative lead Lis Moberly will also be dropping in to chat video game design.
If that sounds like a good time to you, get in quick before the event sells out.
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