Feel-Good Friday: May 30—Climate Champs, Cold Beers, and Smoky Drams

We made it! It’s time to get stuck into another Feel-Good Friday, and we couldn’t be happier. This week, whether you’re looking to kick your feet up and watch some TV (or, like me, you’re probably diving into Elden Ring: Nightreign—pray for me) or you want to get out of the house, there’s always plenty to celebrate. This week, we’re highlighting a couple of things we like the look of, including a new documentary by Patagonia celebrating the people hard at work on the frontlines of the climate crisis and an exciting whisky event happening in Sydney this weekend! If you love smoky whisky, strap in! Here’s this week’s Feel-Good Friday.

Ardbeg Day is Coming to Sydney This Weekend

• When: 1 pm Sunday 1st June 2025
• ‍Price: AUD$99 per person

Fresh off our highly successful Sydney Whisky Month 2025 events, there’s another exciting dram festival coming to Sydney this weekend at The Roosevelt. Designed for high-end whisky fanatics and those curious about the smoky, fun side of whisky, this event celebrates Ardbeg on its special day. Here, you’ll be trying the new Ardbeg Smokiverse alongside three intergalactic cocktails and a special Ardburger. There’s a prize for best-dressed space traveller and an opportunity to purchase exclusive drams and flights from Ardbeg because the venue has a very large collection of Committee & Special Ardbeg releases available at a discounted rate! Rob and Ben from Man of Many will be in attendance, so come ay hello!

Heaps Normal Giving Away Free Cases to Your Local

We love a few Heaps Normals every now and again, and now you can share a free case with your favourite local watering hole. Starting today, when you purchase a case of any of Heaps Normal’s beers online, you can also opt to send a free case to your local pub, as ‘Karma Case’, as the brewery is calling it. It’s obviously a cheeky marketing tactic, but one that also serves to get more non-alc options into the hands of willing customers, so we’re not too upset about it.

“Aussie hospo venues – particularly live music venues – have been doing it tough lately and we’re keen to give back,” said Heaps Normal’s chief brand officer, Tim Snape. “We figured the best way to do that was to let our community decide where the good karma should flow… We’ll even throw in a handwritten love letter from you in there, too.”

The beer brand also recently kicked off a new initiative where it helps local musicians get their first album recorded – Heaps Normal Records – which is a left turn for a beer brand, but not an unwelcome one. Feel free to send a few Karma Cases our way if your local is a bit average.

Smirnoff Launches Freeze and Fire Igloos for Vivid

Forget Game of Thrones, iconic drinks brand Smirnoff is bringing the real song of fire and ice Down Under. To mark the official launch of its new Lemon Freeze and Espresso Fire releases, Smirnoff has launched a limited-time pop-up that offers Sydneysiders an exciting opportunity to try the new flavours, on the house.

Held as part of Carriageworks’ Vivid Sydney 2025 program, the exclusive Smirnoff Freeze and Fire Igloos will open to the public for a full-flavour experience running across two weekends from Friday, 6 June to Saturday, 14 June. Across the period, guests will be taken on an “unexpected, multi-sensory experience” within the Smirnoff Freeze and Fire Igloos, with one offering a citrus blast that delivers an icy cool sensation, and the other a fiery caramel espresso shot with a warm kick that ignites the senses.

“We’re thrilled to be working with our partners at Carriageworks to give people their first chance to try Smirnoff Lemon Freeze & Espresso Fire, free of charge,” Maddy Stockwell, Smirnoff marketing manager said. “We co-created these products with some of our core consumers to ensure they not only taste great, but also bring an exciting sensory experience – the shot literally has a ‘cooling’ or ‘warming’ sensation.

Smirnoff Lemon Freeze and Smirnoff Espresso Fire are available at bottle shops, bars and clubs nationwide, and available for purchase for $53 RRP.

Smirnoff Fire and Freeze Igloos

• Location: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015  
• Date: Running across weekends from Friday 6 June to Saturday 14 June*  
• Time: Times vary, see below: 
  • 6 June from 7PM – 8:30PM 
  • 7 June from 4:30PM – 6:30PM  and 9:30PM -10:30PM/11:00PM 
  • 8 June from 6:00PM – 8:00PM 
  • 13 June from 6:00PM – 8:00PM 
  • 14 June from 6:00PM – 8:00PM 

Fujifilm hosting Vivid ‘Light and Lens Photowalk’

If you’re in the Sydney area, you probably are already well aware, but the annual ‘Vivid’ festival is underway for the next few weeks. While wandering an LED-infused Darling Harbour at night is already a good time, Fujifilm is taking it one step further.

Next Thursday, 5 June, Fujifilm Australia is hosting award-winning photojournalist Dr. Michael Coyne, who will give a keynote address to aspiring photographers and facilitate a ‘light and lens’ photowalk around the city of Sydney during Vivid, giving film-fans the opportunity to get some stellar shots of the festival.

All of this is tied up in the return of the World Press Photo Exhibition to Sydney, which runs until Friday 6 July at the NSW State Library, and brings 42 incredible images, chosen from an international stock of almost 60,000 entries. If you’re keen to check out Dr. Coyne’s talk, you can buy tickets here. If you’d prefer to be a part of the photowalk, tickets are here.

Patagonia Celebrates Climate Champions

Outdoor brand Patagonia has launched a documentary celebrating First Nations People’s leadership in ocean protection and climate justice in the Torres Strait. The film, called ‘Sea Country—Malu Lag’ is available to watch on Patagonia’s website, and is the final part of the brand’s ‘Marine Life’ series – a collection of short films highlighting the climate champions fighting to better our coeans.

“Our oceans are not only vital to the health of our planet, but they are also a legacy we must protect for future generations,” Patagonia Australia country director Dane O’Shanassy said.

Climate activist Tishiko King, who stars in the film, added that she believes that by sharing her story, culture, and connection to the ocean, Patagonia will be able to empower communities elsewhere.

“We can walk shoulder to shoulder to address the climate crisis and safeguard the future for not only Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Island) people, but all people,” she said.