Something about 2022 in review just flows, and that about sums up this year. Finally getting back into the swing of things after a whirl wind few years has been met with a warm welcome on our sunny street.
This year saw a lot less of the C-word that has dominated the globe for the last 3-years and a whole lot more community, charity, clothes, culture and of course COCKTAILS. Combined, these have made for one interesting (in a good way) year, see our summary below.
Our new (and returning) friends
We said hello to some new and welcomed back some old (and certainly missed) friends on our street.
- Sushi Room brought some Tokyo cool to The Calile.
- Jocelyn’s Provisions returned triumphantly after being hit hard by the 2022 floods.
- Studio Gallery arrived with a big colourful culture hit of art from local and international artists.
- Bared Footwear caused a well-heeled stampede when they arrived on Wandoo St.
- SIR added to the outstanding line up of quality Australian fashion.
- Désordre arrived in time for sparkle season.
Starting off with lighting up the night sky for our tenth (you read that right) year of Up Late. It was a dangerous night for the credit card but the perfect night for shopping, sips, and some super cool tunes from our friends at Twin Palms. The Fashion for the Floods pop up was our personal highlight with 100% of the proceeds being donated to GIVT to help those affected by the floods.
The spicy cough may have shut us down at the eleventh hour last year, but this year we came back better than ever. James St Food + Wine Trail saw four days of events including:
- 6 dedicated in-venue restaurant events
- 400 metres of James St become one large communal dining room
- 32 pop up market restaurants and bar stalls
- 5 live music stages
…and euphoric dance parties popping up throughout the street. In short it was both delicious and joyous.
The James St Series continued its cultural and disruptive program this year most notably with ‘Pleasure’. The Listening Suite #03 hosted by Vault Magazine Editor Alison Kubler, saw artist Gerwyn Davies introduce his photographic series ‘Pleasure’ shot on location at The Calile Hotel.
James St Eats welcomed a new event into the mix, James St Lunch Club. If you asked us to describe it in three words it’d be dining, drinking and dancing. Lots of dancing. Diners who lunched at one of the 12 participating James St restaurants in the Lunch Club received a limited key to join the after party at Studio Gallery. The drinks flowed (thanks LOS), the coolest beats were brought by The Kite String Tangle DJ set and Lunch Club goers danced off their lunch. Again, delicious and joyous.
Little shoutout for some BIG things
Now last but certainly not least we wanted to give a little shoutout for some big things that happened on the street this year.
- Fashion for the Floods turned designer goods into funds for families affected by the floods.
- The Calile Charity Gala raised awareness and funding for Reason to Thrive
- 10% of the Delicious 100 list were James St venues – hello BIÀNCA, Essa Restaurant, Gemelli, Gerard’s Bar, Hellenika, Mosconi, sAme sAme, SK Steak & Oyster and SUSHI ROOM)
- Condé Nast Traveler readers named The Calile Hotel number 2 in Australia and New Zealand and number 23 in the world (ok, wow).
- Cru Bar + Cellar swept the floor at Australia’s Wine List of The Year 2022 awards with four top awards, including the highest honour of all, Australia’s Wine List of The Year. If you need an excuse to enjoy a glass or two, this is it.
- Essa was named restaurant of the year by Gourmet Traveller. Huge.
- The James St Markets celebrated two decades of being open, with tenants including, Cru Bar & Cellar, Flower Trap, Fresh Fish Co, Fresh Sushi Co, James St Bakery, Quench, Spoon Deli and Cafe, The Nut Market, The Standard Market Company Deli, The Standard Market Company Grocer, The Standard Market Company Meats and Wheel & Barrow.
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December 1, 2022
