About Inner West Guide

Inner West Guide is a free weekly newsletter helping locals make the most of their weekends across Sydney's Inner West.

It was born during my second maternity leave in 2024. After nearly six years living in the Inner West, I kept discovering great events after they'd already happened. It drove me mad.

My journey here started when I moved to the area just as I was having my first child. Covid hit during that first maternity leave and we were stuck at home, which meant we never really got to experience the Inner West or make the most of living in such a great part of Sydney.

When my second child came along, I was determined things would be different.

Each week, I found myself on a treasure hunt across council websites, venue social media pages, Facebook groups and event platforms, piecing together what was actually happening locally. The more I searched, the more I realised just how rich and varied the Inner West events scene really is. It was just hard to find in one place.

What started as a personal list of weekend ideas for my family slowly became something bigger. I realised other locals were probably facing the same challenge: wanting to make the most of their weekends, without the endless scroll.

From personal list to community guide

In August 2024, towards the end of my second maternity leave, Inner West Guide officially launched as a simple weekly email.

Today, it covers 59 suburbs across Sydney's Inner West and surrounding areas, helping families, couples, music lovers and locals of all ages discover what's on each weekend, all in one place.

The focus is on relevance, clarity and genuinely local insight. If something is featured, it's because it's timely, useful, or something I genuinely think locals will enjoy.

How events are chosen

Events and listings featured in Inner West Guide are sourced from a mix of:

• Official venue and event websites
• Council and community listings
• Direct communication with event organisers
• Tips and submissions from the local community

Details are checked at the time of publishing, but events can change. Readers are always encouraged to click through to venues or organisers to confirm the latest information.

Inner West Guide is completely independent. We don't charge businesses to be featured, and we don't publish paid placements disguised as editorial. If something makes the list, it's because it earned its spot.

Why the Inner West

After nearly six years of calling this area home, my love for the Inner West has only deepened.

It's the mix that makes it special. Leafy village pockets and busy high streets. Foreshore walks and late-night music. Serious food, galleries, markets and community events.

On any given weekend, you might find me walking the Glebe Foreshore or Bay Run with my family, hunting down a great croissant at a new bakery, enjoying brunch at a local café, or checking out live music in Newtown or Enmore.

It's eclectic, creative, inclusive, food-obsessed and proudly local. There really isn't anywhere else like it in Sydney.

About me

I'm Jess Thorning, a local parent of two and a marketer by trade, with a background in performance marketing and customer acquisition, largely in fintech.

More importantly, I'm someone who cares deeply about local connection, between neighbours, community groups and the small businesses that give the Inner West its character.

Inner West Guide is my way of helping locals feel more connected to where they live, and making weekends a little easier to plan.

What's next

Inner West Guide is continuing to grow, with more local openings, expanded coverage, new sections and more ways to help locals discover what's happening around them.

Thank you for being part of the journey.