Happy Easter, everyone!
There is so much to unpack right now. Daylight savings has given every parent of small people extra eye bags and an increased coffee addition, rate hikes have finally (finally!) paused, school holidays are back like they never ended and you’ve all cleared out every shop from Av to Manly of mini Easter eggs. Looks like they’ll be hunting jumbo Darrell Lea licorice bunnies at this point. Sorry kids. Thank god Classic Coffee is open Good Friday and Saturday, you’ve still got time to order your hot cross buns and the NB is alive and kicking for the long weekend, as you’ll see below.
Market wrap
There it is. Some sweet relief. The RBA has finally paused rate hikes for the first time since May last year, holding steady at 3.6 per cent… for now. While there was chat from RBA governor Philip Lowe that it probably ain’t over ‘til it’s over (or we get a handle on inflation), the pause is a welcome reprieve from 10 straight months of doom, gloom and those stating-the-obvious letters in the mail. But a hold-steady doesn’t mean the squeeze isn’t still being felt across Australia and in our community. The team over at Canstar have done some modeling on what you can do to save around $1300 a month on your cost of living. It’s not an easy pill to swallow (goodbye aforementioned coffees, farewell Binge) and it might not make a dent, but if you need a nudge in the right direction, we recommend you give it a read. Always nice for someone else to do the thinking for you.
What’s on
The cult-like worship of the Queen Ester falafel is like no other, mostly because it’s utter perfection. Crispy yet moist, aromatic, herby and filling, sitting pretty amongst lovingly house-made pickled goods, hummus you could bathe in and a piping hot pita to carry it all around. Not to mention the infamous fries, eggplant shawarma, Rowie’s Cakes and precision on the coffee machine. So! You’ll be (we are) very happy to hear the good-time gang are opening their second site on Darley St, Mona Vale underneath Chilli Surfboards later this month! The new digs will have your favourites, as well as some fun new items on the menu and enough space for catering. Prayers, answered. Well done Hila, Mandy, Niko and Liron, thank you for giving us even more places to falafel.
In another equally exciting episode of entrepreneurial locals doing brilliant things for our NB community, surf commentator Ronnie Blakey and a bunch of mates have re-invented the former Terrey Hills Par 3 and it’s officially opened this week. Now Shortees Golf Club, it’s the only green in Sydney where you can play under lights — so you can tee off anytime from 8am until 10pm. Plus they’re bringing live music, pop up events and soon-to-be coveted merch to make you look good while you play, or pick up the groceries. As we said last week about The Palms, Terrey Hills is in its renaissance. Their event calendar is packed for the long weekend, so head up for 18 holes and a beer.
To keep the good times rolling post golf, Bar Elvina has a lineup of long weekend events we can definitely get around. Alongside their resident DJ night tonight – with negroni and margarita happy hour in action mind you – they’re putting on a seafood extravaganza Saturday eve and a particularly boujee Easter Sunday roast for those who’d rather be entertained than entertain. Zero washing, maximum socialising. We like the sound of that. Book to nab a sought-after spot.
Bar Elvina Credit – @barelvina
Classic Coffee Credit – @classiccoffee
Queen Ester Credit – @queenester_falafel
Shortees Golf Credit – @shorteesgolf