Meet Idle—the next chapter in the Agnes Bakery journey serving all-day dining alongside many of the original venue’s celebrated handmade offerings. 

The latest venture from Anyday Group (Agnes, sAme sAme, Hôntô, Biànca), Idle is the bridge between house-baked breads, pastries, and generous brunch dishes. “Idle was born from a desire to grow beyond the walls of Agnes Bakery,” said the Anyday team. “It’s a natural evolution that holds onto the spirit of Agnes Bakery while creating something new. We wanted to provide a place for people to have room to slow down, settle in and stay a while.” 

The New Farm spot will offer a seasonal menu, which includes made-to-order savoury dishes, coal fired rotisserie chickens, handmade salads, and a curation of artisanal provisions for home.  Well suited for solo lunches, long catch-ups or a pantry restock, Idle is bound to be your new go-to for honest flavours and time spent at ease. “New Farm felt like the right fit. It is a beautiful neighbourhood—we were drawn to the strong sense of community and the opportunity to create a space that feels lived-in and loved.” 

So what’s on the menu? Start your day with a Euro-inspired continental breakfast featuring prosciutto cotto, Asiago cheese, soft-boiled egg and baguette. A heartier start to your day lies in the Baghdad eggs with smoked almond crumb and labne, while the house-made sourdough crumpets served with crème fraîche and berry compote sits on the sweeter side. As for lunch, the charcoal-roasted chicken with both staple and globally inspired bastes will undoubtedly be a crowd-favourite, or take your pick from a selection of nourishing grain salads and sandwiches. 

On the coffee front, Single O is the brew of choice and make sure to explore Idle’s retail offering which includes housemade dips, garnishes, jams, and thoughtfully selected artisanal pantry staples like sardines, honey, preserves, and Anyday’s own boutique wines and small-batch spirits. 

The fitout of Idle is also a departure from the cosy Agnes Bakery interiors, premiering as one of three new group venue openings slated for 2025—and the first in collaboration with internationally recognised interior designer Tamsin Johnson. Seating 36 guests on a sleek and industrial backdrop accented by rich furnishings and custom terrazzo tiles, Idle is a looker.

“Idle is not just a new venue, but the next part of a story that started with pop up origins, then a place on James Street and a team all about connection. It carries the same intention: thoughtful food, good people and a space that brings all of these things together.”

Idle opens on Saturday 21 June and accepts walk-ins only.

Source: The Urban List

From barge-staged ceremonies to bridge-spanning installations, Brisbane Festival is set to return this September with its most ambitious and expansive program to date, rounding off artistic director Louise Bezzina’s six-year tenure.

Unveiled on Wednesday, the 2025 program will run from September 5-27, featuring 106 productions, 21 world premieres and more than 1000 performances across theatres, parks, laneways and along the Brisbane River.

“This year’s program is a love letter to Brisbane, bold, joyful and created with and for the city,” Bezzina said.

“My final festival is a celebration of everything Brisbane Festival has become: a world-class event with a fiercely local heart.”

One of this year’s headline commissions is ANZ’s Walk This Way, which will see internationally acclaimed art duo Craig & Karl transform three major pedestrian bridges, including the newly opened Kangaroo Point crossing, into walkable large-scale artworks.

The duo will also present Craig & Karl: Double Vision, a retrospective exhibition at Griffith University Art Museum, where they first met as students.

Another major centrepiece, Baleen Moondjan by Bangarra founder Stephen Page, will transform the Brisbane River into a dramatic stage, with a First Nations performance set on a floating barge beneath towering whalebone sculptures.

On the international front, Gems will make its world premiere in Brisbane, a cross-disciplinary production led by Black Swan and Dune choreographer Benjamin Millepied. Commissioned by Van Cleef & Arpels, the trilogy blends dance, music, visual art and fashion, featuring music by Philip Glass, visuals by Barbara Kruger and designs by Alessandro Sartori.

Opening weekend festivities will include Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust and Skylore, a dazzling 400-drone spectacle above the river.

Replacing the festival’s former Lightscape installation, a new large-scale experience titled Afterglow will transform the City Botanic Gardens into a glowing dreamscape of fire sculptures, candlelit installations and live performance.

Music lovers will be treated to Night at the Parkland, featuring headline sets from Amy Shark, Icehouse, Lime Cordiale, Xavier Rudd and more.

Nearly half the program will be free, reflecting the festival’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and community connection.

“Over 39 per cent of the program will be offered free to the public, reflecting an ongoing commitment to accessibility and bringing world-class art and performance to every corner of the city,” organisers said.

Tickets are on sale now at brisbanefestival.com.au.

Who doesn’t love a delicious cocktail? Better yet, who doesn’t love a delicious cocktail made with fresh ingredients right before your eyes?

Join The Calile Hotel for the second iteration of their Rooftop Harvest event on Tuesday 17 June as the award-winning bar and self-proclaimed micro mezcal Mecca, Cantina OK! shake things with a cocktail party get-together at Lobby Bar. Not just any old boozy affair, the master mixologists from both Cantina OK! and Lobby Bar will be crafting customised cocktails using ingredients from the hotel’s Rooftop Garden winter harvest in a celebration of home-grown, seasonal produce.

As an ode to The Calile Cantina OK! will be shaking up the Sandia OK! – a green and pink Margarita, inspired by the colours of the hotel pool, made with Makrut Lime Leaf tequila, fresh lime, sugarcane syrup and topped with fluffy shaved watermelon and a Cranberry Hibiscus leaf garnish.

The Calile’s Lobby Bar team will be mixing up their custom created Marigold Highballs. Crafted with house-made shrub with marigold leaves and coconut vinegar, served with Red Mill Coconut Rum and soda water. 

Registration is free and highly recommended.

Cocktails will be available to purchase and enjoy at Lobby Bar from 5PM – 7PM on Tuesday 17 June only.

Source: https://jamesst.com.au/events/rooftop-harvest-cantina-ok-lobby-bar-cocktail-party-takeover