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Folio Books to Relocate Due to Mary Street Building Demolition

A specialty bookstore patronised by all types of readers in Brisbane is temporarily scaling down its operations as it looks for a new home. Folio Books has to relocate as soon as possible because its seven-year lease on Mary Street has been terminated.

The owner of the CBD building on Mary Street plans to demolish the site to make way for a 23-level office tower with food and drink outlets on the ground floor. Property manager ARA Private Funds lodged the development application in September 2020 (DA A005559278) but Council has yet to make a decision.

Folio Books, however, said that their landlord informed them in mid-March to vacate the site so they had to suspend gift voucher sales and online trading.

Photo Credit: Darshan Pandya/Google Maps

“All online orders are currently suspended due to our shop having to relocate after April, due to the building being demolished,” the bookstore owners wrote on their website. “Please email us at folio@foliobooks.com.au or call us on 07 3210 0500 for all enquiries.”

Earlier, the bookstore operators said that they could close the store for a period of time as they set up a still-undetermined new venue.

Pre-COVID, it was usual to find booklovers loitering at this Mary Street bookstore to browse its extensive book hard-to-find book collection. When the pandemic struck, Folio Books successfully shifted to online service and offered free deliveries for more than two book purchases.

Meanwhile, RACQ has written to the Council about the planned redevelopment of the Mary Street location. Whilst RACQ is not opposed to the new building, it has raised concerns about the bulk of the planned tower and the potential disruption of the sightlines on Edward Street.

Dawn: New Mediterranean Bar Opens in Spencer Lane

Spencer Lane’s latest bar and restaurant, Dawn, offers Brisbane a new venue for people to enjoy Mediterranean-inspired meals with an expansive cocktail menu.

Dawn, which recently opened in late March 2021, sports a design inspired by the French Riviera, featuring grey marble furniture, plush booths, and a bar counter. The restaurant currently occupies the former site of the now-closed Spencer Lane restaurant, The Euro Garden.

Their menu draws culinary inspiration from countries like Spain, Italy, France and Greece, consisting of snacks and share plates like their cheese and charcuterie boards, their jamón ibérico with honey fermented garlic and bread, or their saltbush and mountain pepper fried calamari served with chili mayo and lemon.

The venue has more to offer than just food, however. Featuring a curated collection of alcoholic concoctions from their award-winning mixologist Marco Nunes, Dawn offers their customers a variety of drinks to complement their meals. Rare spirits, aperitif and curious cocktails are all present in the bar’s drink menu.

Dawn can be found at Spencer Lane, Brisbane City, at the site that was once the home of The Euro. The bar is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays from 3pm till late. For more information, visit their website. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements.

Little Scholars: Brisbane CBD Childcare Centre Introduces Valet Service

Little Scholars, a family-owned childcare facility in Brisbane CBD, has introduced a first-of-its-kind valet service to ease the drop-off point in a busy section of George Street.

The school has set up a separate secured “drop and go” meeting area for the educators to fetch the children from their parents or guardians as they arrive at school. Following a consultation with the parents, the move was made to limit the stress the kids experience, especially at the start of the day.

In a survey in early 2021, the families told the campus of their struggles with this daily routine that includes the commute, locating a parking space, and then going up the elevator to bring the kids to Little Scholars. The whole process apparently takes at least 30 minutes every morning.

Little Scholars Founder and Managing Director Jae Fraser said that they had to make the adjustments as parents are slowly returning to work following the lockdowns.

Last year, when the pandemic started, Brisbane CBD was quite deserted and their school’s enrollment dropped to 40 percent. However, as more establishments reopen and resume work, Mr Fraser said they recognise the need to “create a less stressful childcare experience” not just for the kids but also for the parents who have to juggle their home and work life.

Parents love the valet service, which has been maximised since its introduction. The adults said that this initiative has been more enjoyable and they could see their children feeling more positive about going to the childcare centre.

Little Scholars has been opened since 2017 and caters to children between the ages of six weeks to six years old. The centre is located via a short walk near the train station on Roma Street.

China Sea: Bringing Popular and Authentic Cantonese Cuisine to Milton

Ever since it moved to Park Road in 2005, the family-owned Cantonese restaurant China Sea has supplied the Milton community with elite and authentic East-Asian dining experiences.

Veteran restaurateur Stanley Cheung has owned China Sea since the ‘80s. In the past, the restaurant was based in Brisbane’s Chinatown located in Fortitude Valley, where it operated from 1980 to 2005. After 25 years of running a successful restaurant, Stanley opted to pack up and move to Park Road, Milton. Today, over 30 years later, the restaurant’s still standing strong with the help of his family.

Stanley’s sons, Jason and Philip Cheung, are established chefs in their own right and work to deliver fine, authentic Cantonese cuisine to the China Sea’s customers. The restaurant takes pride in its menu, serving a huge variety of dishes such as peking duck, chili mud crab, honey sesame king prawns, and hokkien fried rice.

China Sea Milton’s Chili Mud Crab
Photo credit: China Sea Milton

For those with dietary restrictions, the restaurant has a gluten-free menu with options such as gluten-free ma po tofu, bok choi with garlic or ginger, or crackling roast pork. Desserts are also among the restaurant’s specialties, offering deep fried ice cream, panna cotta, and banana fritters.

Reviewers on Tripadvisor raved over the restaurant’s seafood-based dishes such as the salt and pepper calamari and the prawn dumplings. Service was also spot-on, according to numerous customers who left the restaurant with five-star reviews, lauding the Cheungs for being welcoming.

Photo credit: Tripadvisor/China Sea Milton

China Sea Milton can be found at 60 Park Rd, open seven days a week with lunch from 12pm-3pm, and dinner from 5:30pm-9:30pm. Takeout and delivery is available. Visit their website for more information.

Milton Green Development Adding 14-Storey Tower on Little Cribb Street

Another commercial building will be added to Milton Green precinct, located by the Brisbane River, as part of the four-hectare inner-city re-development of the former Coronation Drive Office Park.

Building 7 was part of the approved development plans, submitted in 2012, on Little Crib Street in Milton and it will feature a subtropical and contemporary facade as designed by Hassell and Richards & Spence.

The commercial space will have campus-style facilities, multi-level parking spaces, as well as a tennis court and childcare centre for the employees’ use. Tenants who have pre-committed to this development have asked for these facilities from AMP Capital Funds Management and Sunsuper, which jointly owns Milton Green.

Milton Green’s commercial spaces are on 6, 12 and 18 Little Cribb Street but the precinct has plenty of spaces for outdoor events and socialisation, play, fitness and recreation. The precinct is also a dining venue with heaps of choices.

The developers aim to make Milton Green a “truly integrated community” of the most inclusive commercial hub in Brisbane.

“From weekly farmers’ markets held on-site, to pop up food trucks, Brisbane’s trendiest café and restaurant operators, customer-facing networking events and public-facing markets – Milton Green’s rich events and retail mix provides an evolving experience for those who live, work or play here,” the developers said.

Brace Yourselves for a Beer Run in Milton!

How good are you at running and chugging a lot of beer at the same time? Prove your skills at the upcoming beer run, which will cover five locations across Milton and the nearby suburbs.

You’ve got more than a whole month to get ready and “train” for this beer run as it’s happening on Sunday, 2 8 March 2021.

If this is your first time though — no pressure! You don’t have to bust your chops and do a lot of legwork as a beer run is simply another exciting pub crawl. All you need to do is run (or walk, or hop!) to five pre-selected pit stops and drink with your buds!

This event will kick off at the Newstead Brewing Co and then moving to the Milton Common. The rest of the pit stops are at Fritzenberger in Petrie Terrace, Brisbane Brewery Co. in West End and the Charming Squire in South Bank.

There will be running leaders to guide participants at the routes. The event is expected to last for three hours but if the runners want to stay at the last brewery for a party, then it’s all well and good!

To score tickets for this event, register online for $55, which covers five beers and a Beer Run bib.

Participants also get a novelty Beer Run bottle opener medal when they “cross” the “finish line,” whether sober or drunk! Runners in their wackiest costumes will also win a prize. Good luck!

Tickets Out for First Nitro World Games in Australia

A major sports event that’s usually held in the U.S. is coming to Australia for the first time. Nitro World Games, an Elite action BMX, skate and scooter competition, will be staged at the Suncorp Stadium in Milton.

Ticket sales for this event, with more than 60 competitors around the world, will go up on Sunday, 7 Feb 2021 via the official site. The exclusive two-day passes will be released until 11 Feb 2021.

Spectators can expect exciting matches and exhibitions from world-class athletes in Freestyle Motocross, BMX, Skateboarding and Scooter.

“Nitro World Games at Suncorp Stadium is predicted to deliver more that $20 million to Queensland’s tourism economy, attracting up to 76,000 visitor nights,” Tourism and Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said. “That’s a spectacular and welcome boost for accommodation and transport providers, cafes, restaurants and local tourism businesses.”

The State Government said that this is a major coup for Australia’s sporting capital, validating the effective COVID-19 measures adopted in Queensland.

“Nitro world Games is a destination event that will bring visitors to South East Queensland and support local jobs for Queensland’s economic recovery,” Mr Hinchcliffe added.

“The hard work of Queenslanders on COVID-19 means we’re able to enjoy safe, elite action events like the World Nitro Games. “

Andy Edwards, the President of Asia Pacific for Thrill One Sports & Entertainment, said that it feels good to have this anticipation for the first-ever Nitro World Games outside of its usual venue, the United States, following the games’ cancellation in 2020.

Mr Edwards said that they’ve been receiving an unprecedented pre-sale ticket demand in the last week.

“[It] just makes the prospect of staging this unique event in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium of screaming fans all the more exciting.”

The games will run from 23 to 24 Oct 2021.

Junior Learning Centre at Milton State School On Track for Mid-2021 Completion

Construction of the new three-level Junior Learning Centre at Milton State School is on track to finish by mid-2021 and once opened, it’s expected to accommodate an additional 150 local students.

The new school will stand at the old tennis courts facing a Haig Road entrance. It will feature six classrooms for prep students on the top level, whilst eight classrooms for general use and two outdoor learning areas with associated amenities will be set in the lower levels.

An elevated walkway will be built to connect the new building to the heritage-listed building. The first Milton State School block, which faces Bayswater Street, was built in 1923.

In addition to the new vertical learning site, major service upgrades will also be undertaken as a flood mitigation strategy, given that the school has had significant flooding and was under three metres of water during the 2011 floods in Brisbane.

The tennis courts will also be transferred to the Baroona Road section, where an existing building will be taken down.

In October, Principal Paul Zernike said that the new building’s construction will run for 12 months. Once completed, the school will still follow its existing enrolment management plan, where only students from the local area will be accepted.

Paynters won the tender for this project.

The Ambrose Luxury Residential Tower to Rise in Milton in 2022

Construction has been underway for The Ambrose, a new $150 million residential luxury tower set to rise with 19 storeys on McDougall Street in Milton.

The building is the second Brisbane project for Kokoda Property after Chester & Ella apartments in Newstead. Kokoda re-hired Hutchinson Builders to build The Ambrose, which has an expected completion in 2022.

“The selection of Hutchinson Builders, being Australia’s second-largest residential builder, means that purchasers at The Ambrose can not only have every confidence that the project will be delivered reliably on schedule, but to a standard of workmanship that they can be truly proud of,” Kokoda’s founder Mark Stevens said.

“The Brisbane property market has faired comparatively well amidst the headwinds of 2020, and with falling residential supply over the last four years we are optimistic that The Ambrose is launching at an opportune time to take advantage of what we anticipate to be a strong market rebound.”

The Ambrose has been designed by Cottee Parker with 181 units, its own cinema centre, a gym and rooftop pool. The site will also have 14 units eligible for disability housing, in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act of Australia.

The price range per unit is expected to fall between $400,000 to $2 million, depending on the number of rooms.

The construction project itself, however, has been projected to generate 500 local jobs.

The Ambrose is located near the Miton Station and several cultural sites like the QPAC and the GOMA.

Milton Welcomes New Gin and Vodka Distillery, Bar and Restaurant

Photo Credit: Warehouse 25 / Facebook

Brisbane’s inner west opens its doors to its newest gin and vodka distillery, casual bar, and kitchen — Warehouse 25 in Milton.

Perched between XXXX brewery and Suncorp Stadium, Warehouse 25 is every gin and vodka lover’s haven. The 436sqm venue boasts of 100 litre vodka still and a 50 litre gin still for both indoor and outdoor dining.

Apart from the classic cocktails, Warehouse 25 will feature its signature spirits such as Lavender Martini, Ginger & Rhubarb Spritz, Spiced Iced Tea, and Grapefruit and Rosemary Sour.

Warehouse 25 will also be bottling and selling their very own spirits under the Calm Spirits Co label. The spirits are infused with calming botanical extracts including juniper, lavender, rose and lemon. A number of Australian wines are also on offer, by the glass for $9 and by the bottle for $40 whilst the distillery’s cocktails will be $16 each.

Being the former home to secret underground electronica parties, the venue’s indoor/outdoor split-level area is keeping its musical roots alive with the mezzanine level offering guests plenty of dancefloor space to party the night away whilst the basement area is an ideal spot for exhibitions, product launches, and other special events.

Meanwhile, the kitchen serves up red- and white-based pizzas including margherita (sugo, fior di latte and fresh basil); capricciosa (sugo, mozzarella, olives, artichoke, mushroom and ham); pistachio and pumpkin; and quattro formaggi (ricotta, fior di latte, gorgonzola, and mozzarella). There is also a variety of snack and share plates caprese (tomato, basil, and fior di latte), pumpkin and pistachio insalada (rocket salad with roast pumpkin, toasted pistachio, and red onion), burnt broccoli (charred florets with toasted almonds and lime), warm olives, chips, and arancini (mushroom arancini balls with capsicum and fennel salsa)

Warehouse 25 gin and vodka distillery, bar and restaurant is located at 25 Finchley Street, Milton. They are open Monday to Wednesday from 11a.m.–2p.m., Thursday 11a.m.–10p.m., Friday to Sunday 11a.m.–1a.m.