Hank’s Wine Bar
When we think of James Street, we envision the glitzy exterior of The Calile Hotel and the bars, restaurants and boutiques clustered in and around it. But James Street is a long street. Bec and Will Rubiano, owners of popular local cafe Blue Bear Coffee House, are giving New Farm residents a local haunt to call their own slightly removed from the bustle of James Street’s glamorous northern end. The couple will be taking advantage of the space they already have with Hank’s, a wine-bar concept that will take over the Blue Bear space in the evenings. Hank’s – named after the couple’s great dane puppy – will be designed to offer a more casual, family-friendly option for those living in the area, with snacks, share-style mains, kid-friendly eats and specially selected vino set to star. Plates will include battered whiting sliders with picked salad and dill cream, smoked salmon on Wholly sourdough crumpets with whipped fetta, heirloom tomatoes, basil and pickled onions, smoked-pork toasties with Swiss cheese, pineapple-and-habanero jam, and lamb-shank bourguignon with pancetta, charred broccolini and crispy potatoes. As for the beverage list, expect to see a tight but considered list of vino – including the likes of Delinquente’s ‘Pretty Boy’ rosato, Adlib’s ‘Cirque’ cinsault and Vino Intrepido’s ‘Pound of Flesh’ skin-contact vermentino, as well as craft tins from BrewDog and Fick Brewing, plus canned cocktails from Bizarro. Hank’s will be opening this Friday – keep your eyes peeled for an up-close look soon!

Kommunity Nightclub
Here’s some big news for the party people out there – Luna Group, the team behind nightlife staples Su Casa and Kenjin, will soon add Kommunity Nightclub to its portfolio when it opens on Brunswick Street on Saturday October 28. In what the Luna Group promises will be a revolutionary addition to Fortitude Valley’s after-dark scene, this two-level venue will give revellers the chance to embark on a mini choose-your-own experience during their night out. The space will boast two distinct sections – one will be playing Top-40 hits, R&B, hip-hop and dance anthems, while the second room will be the spot to hear thumping house beats and EDM bangers. Kommunity will boast custom booth seating, a premium beverage selection, performances from professional dancers and appearances from international DJs. Be sure to keep an eye on the nightclub’s website for information on its grand-opening celebrations.

And if you missed the news last week …

Pneuma
Two of Brisbane’s best chefs are teaming up to open a brand-new restaurant on George Street. Dan Arnold (head chef and owner of Fortitude Valley institution Restaurant Dan Arnold) is partnering with Matt Blackwell (former head chef of GOMA Restaurant) to open Pneuma in the space formerly home to Greenglass. The duo will be launching the restaurant initially as a pop-up on Wednesday November 1, testing the city market with a predominantly lunch-oriented menu that is expected to evolve over time. Matt and Dan won’t be adhering to any guidelines, as far as cuisine is concerned – they’re keeping things fluid and interesting. That said, the crew confirms that guests will be able to choose from an a la carte menu of dishes that range from small to large, a two-to-three course ensemble, or an extended tasting menu. On the drinks front, Dan will leverage his established connections through Restaurant Dan Arnold and La Cache à Vín to amass a reference list sitting somewhere between 100 and 150 wines from smaller producers. The Pneuma team will be switching over tables and chairs for an initial aesthetic refresher, though any structural changes will take place in the new year. Bookings are live now and can be made via the Pneuma website.

Superordinary
The brains behind some of Brisbane’s best arts initiatives is looking to change the game. Next month will see the official launch of Superordinary, a Brisbane-first multi-arts space encompassing artist studios, gallery spaces, live-music capabilities and an on-site kitchen and bar. The venue is taking shape inside a cavernous Northshore warehouse, with the warehouse’s currently being configured into a mostly open-plan layout subdivided by half-height walls and curtains. Gallery space will be found at the front, kitchen and bar (currently being built by Lowry Group) will occupy the the middle, and artist studios will be accessible at the rear. Superordinary can also be configured to host large-scale festivals, with room for stages inside in the outdoor courtyard. Superordinary’s on-site kitchen and bar will operate as a cafe during the week and a drink-and-snack dispensing anchor point on exhibition nights. It will also host a fluid array of pop-up concepts – including some overseen by guest chefs from Brisbane and interstate. A string of festivities are already planned for weekend of November 18–19 – read all about it in our comprehensive breakdown here.

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