Poison Ivy
The multiverse is colliding at California Lane, with the crew behind comic-themed cocktail joints 1st Edition and Harley Quinn set to welcome new nightcap spot Poison Ivy this week. Set to officially open on Friday August 16, Poison Ivy (previously Viva La Cali) has been given a fresh look, with the 40-seat venue now boasting an open-plan layout overlooking California Lane, with a new mural of the bar’s villainous namesake adding a green hue to the locale. Launching in tandem with Poison Ivy’s arrival is the Multiverse Menu – a unified offering that spans all three venues, giving guests the chance to enjoy a Justice League-level line-up of libations no matter which venue they visit. Owner/operator Marc Grey is pouring a wealth of technical ability into the drinks list, using fat washes, milk punches and infusions to elevate each elixir. Take the Poison Ivy cocktail, for example, which mixes gin with bay leaf cordial and celery shrub for a herbaceous hit, contoured by a sprinkle of sea salt for briny bite and burnt bay leaf for an aromatic garnish. The Multiverse Menu also extends to food, with chef Steve Maiden dishing up the likes of beef carnita gyoza with pineapple and parmesan, mac ‘n’ cheese spring rolls, salt and vinegar calamari served with spiced aioli. Soon, the 1st Edition Team will host regular laneway parties on the last Saturday of every month, starting with Lonely Disco – a night of killer house music taking place on Saturday August 31. Stay tuned for an up-close look at Poison Ivy very soon.

The West End Electric
Brisbane Festival is almost here, which means soon the city will be inundated with a jam-packed schedule of must-see theatrical productions. This year, however, Brisbane Festival will also mark the opening of a brand-new bespoke live-entertainment space imbued with aesthetic nods to London’s West End theatre district. The West End Electric is the newest concept from Strut & Fret, the independent theatre company famed for productions like Blanc de Blanc, as well as the operators behind Sydney’s world-class theatre space The Grand Electric. The team has snagged the history laden site previously home to The Hi-Fi and Max Watt’s, with talented designer James Browne giving the 400-pax venue a chic and luxurious makeover imbued with “the essence of historical vaudeville, bohemian hedonism and abandonment”. The West End Electric will officially open its doors on Thursday August 29, launching with a run of Strut & Fret’s smash-hit circus-cabaret, LIMBO – The Return, a production that features a dazzling mix of circus, acrobatics, cabaret and live music from New York Jank maestro Sxip Shirey. Tickets for the show are available now – get yours from the Strut & Fret or Brisbane Festival websites.

Fraser’s Newstead
Good news for coffee lovers of Brisbane’s inner north – a brand-new caffeine dealer is set to open before the end of August and it’s looking to make a great first impression with a week of $2 coffees. Fraser’s Newstead is the brainchild of Fraser Rubens, a hospitality veteran with more than a decade of experience slinging brews at some of Newstead’s and Teneriffe’s best joints, including Salt., Sippy Tom and Drip. Fraser is now venturing out on his own, taking over the site formerly home to Cabin on the corner of Commercial Road and Stratton Street. Here, Fraser will be using a San Remo F18 2 Group coffee machine to dispense his own coffee (roasted at Coffee Alliance in Bowen Hills), with espresso pours expected to be available alongside self-serve batch brew and pour-over coffees. Fraser’s will also boast a tight food menu of bagels, toasties and pastries to start, with plans to potentially expand the offering to brunch next year. As for the space itself, Fraser is making the most of the site’s existing woodsy fit-out, which boasts exposed wood features and textured-stone benches. Fraser’s Newstead is on track to open on Monday August 26, with $2 coffees available until the end of the month. Keep your eyes peeled for a peek at Fraser’s Newstead later this month.

Laneway Bagels
If you’re seeking a quick bite on your next James Street shopping outing, there’s a new bagel spot that’s right up your alley. Laneway Bagels is the name of the newcomer, which has taken over the Cantinho space in Gerard’s Lane. Boasting a slick white and red colour scheme (as well as a vibrant new artwork courtesy of local artist Kiel Tillman), the pint-sized eatery is slinging a tight menu of all-day breakfast bites (think eggs Benny, baked zuchini and tomato frittatas, and breakfast muffins), sourdough toasties, wraps and a range of signature bagels. The latter includes tempting options such as the Smoked Beef (beef brisket, fried egg, chimichurri, aged cheddar, lettuce and mustard), the Chicken & Bacon Chipotle (chicken, bacon, coleslaw, caramelised onion and cheddar) and the Smoked Salmon (smoked salmon, fried egg, dill labneh sauce, pickled onion and rocket). Laneway Bagels is also serving barista-brewed coffee from Piazza D’Oro, so it’s got your caffeination needs covered. Here’s a hot tip – Laneway Bagels is currently offering a ‘buy one breakfast item or bagel, get one free deal’ until Thursday August 15.

Barry Parade Coffee House
A pair of talented tipple slingers are teaming up to open an approachable neighbourhood bar on the outskirts of Fortitude Valley. Next month, hospitality veterans Daniel Gregory and Brennen Eaton, and barrister Lachlan Henry will open Barry Parade Public House in a quiet pocket slightly removed from the bustle of the entertainment precinct. Taking over the character-filled space previously come to Sedo Coffee, the team will be transforming the site into a 60-seat haunt serving inventive cocktails, a crowd-pleasing selection of wines and a culinary offering featuring bar snacks and Creole-inspired dishes. A range of vintage spirits will also anchor the back bar, giving drinks enthusiasts a chance to sip rare whiskies and rums. Barry Parade Public House is targeting a late-September opening – read more about the newcomer here.

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].

LIMBO image credit: Damian Bredburg for Strut & Fret